Ultrasound follow-up study of arthroscoped patients with gonitis.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate by ultrasound methods and carry out a one-year follow-up study of synovial proliferation in the knee joint of patients with rheumatoid arthritis prior to and after arthroscopy and arthroscopic (AS) synovectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 24 patients with a proven rheumatoid arthritis and affected knee joints were recruited for the study. Arthroscopic synovectomy of one of the affected joints was performed in all of them. The synovitis was evaluated clinically and ultrasonographically in 24 knee joints prior to the AS synovectomy and 7 days, and 3, 6 and 12 months after it. RESULTS: Either synovial thickening or villonodular proliferation in the knee joints were the findings in the examined patients using arthrosonography. All patient showed improvement of the disease activity index after the arthroscopic synovectomy and weakening of the baseline ultrasound evidence for synovial thickening and villonodular proliferation (p < 0.001). During the 12-month follow up study two patients were found at ultrasonography to have (without any clinical evidence for that) recurrence of the synovial thickening three months after arthroscopy. Ten patients had synovial thickening or villonodular proliferation recurrence during the 12 months of follow up with clinical evidence of gonitis; one case showed ultrasonographic evidence of hydrops. There was a complete consistency between the ultrasound and arthroscopic protocols with respect to the presence of synovial proliferation and intra-articular effusion. CONCLUSION: Arthosonography is an easy, safe, low-cost, non-invasive modality for diagnosis and follow-up of patients with rheumatoid arthritis prior to and after arthroscopic synovectomy and for assessment of the clinical prognosis in such patients.     

Mandibular fractures in children. A retrospective study

This study reviews the treatment of mandibular fractures in children for the period 1986-1995. The sample included 107 children under 15 years of age, which were studied by age, sex, cause and type of fracture, method of treatment and complications. The children were divided into four groups according to the development of the dentition: 0-5 years, 6-9 years, 10-12 years and 13-15 years. Boys to girls ratio was 3.46:1 and the highest incidence was observed in boys over 13 years of age. Associated injuries were more common in younger children (56%). Most of the fractures were the results of traffic accidents (28.97%), games and sports (25.23%), beating (19.63%) or falls (15.88%). Unilateral fractures were more common (69.16%) than bilateral (30.84%). Intermaxillar fixation for 3 weeks was the method of treatment used in 84.12% of the patients. Complications appeared to be rare.     

Glucose biosensors based on oxygen electrode with sandwich-type membranes

A glucose biosensor based on an amperometric oxygen electrode has been developed. Polycarbonate and Silastic membranes were assembled (glued together) to form a multilayer sandwich glucose diffusion barrier. The effects of the glue layer composition and thickness of the Silastic membrane on sensor response parameters have been investigated in order to optimize the sensor. The parameters measured were the sensitivity, the concentration range of the linear dependence of the sensor response to glucose, and the long-term operation time. The sensors with the sandwich-type glucose diffusion membrane (Silastic membrane prepared from 20% Silastic suspension, glue layer prepared from polyurethane, 0.5 w/v % in THF solution and standard polycarbonate membrane) demonstrated linearity of response up to 520 mg/dl glucose at 25°C and up to 400 mg/dl at 37°C. These sensor showed good reproducibility of response without significant interference effects (from 1 to 5% of the background current value). The long-term continuous operational time of the sensors was over 40 days at 37°C, and over 60 days at 25°C.     

Official Websites Providing Information on COVID-19 Vaccination: Readability and Content Analysis

BackgroundOnline information on COVID-19 vaccination may influence people’s perception and willingness to be vaccinated. Official websites of vaccination programs have not been systematically assessed before.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess and compare the readability and content quality of web-based information on COVID-19 vaccination posted on official/governmental websites. Furthermore, the relationship between evaluated website parameters and country vaccination rates were calculated.MethodsBy referring to an open data set hosted at Our World in Data, the 58 countries/regions with the highest total vaccination count as of July 8, 2021, were identified. Together with the websites from the World Health Organization and European Union, a total of 60 vaccination campaign websites were targeted. The “frequently asked questions” or “questions and answers” section of the websites were evaluated in terms of readability (Flesch Reading Ease score and Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level), quality (Health On the Net Foundation code [HONcode] certification and Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool), and content stating vaccination duration of protection and potential side effects.ResultsIn terms of readability, the Flesch Reading Ease score of the vaccination frequently asked questions websites ranged between 11.2 and 69.5, with a mean of 40.9 (SD 13.2). Meanwhile, the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level ranged between 6.5 and 17.6, with a mean of 12.1 (SD 2.8). In terms of quality, only 2 websites were HONcode certified, and the Quality Evaluation Scoring Tool score of the websites ranged between 7 and 20, with a mean of 15.3 (SD 3.1). Half of the websites (25/50) did not present a publication date or date of the last update. Regarding the duration of protection offered by the vaccines, 46% (23/50) of the websites stated that they do not know, and another 40% (20/50) did not address it. Five side effects of the vaccinations were most frequently mentioned, namely, fever/chill (41/50, 82%), various injection site discomfort events (eg, swelling, redness, or pain; 39/50, 78%), headache (36/50, 72%), fatigue (33/50, 66%), and muscle/joint pain (31/50, 62%).ConclusionsIn general, the content quality of most of the evaluated websites was good, but HONcode certification should be considered, content should be written in a more readable manner, and a publication date or date of the last update should be presented.     

Organotins disrupt the 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2-dependent local inactivation of glucocorticoids

Organotins, important environmental pollutants widely used in agricultural and industrial applications, accumulate in the food chain and induce imposex in several marine species as well as neurotoxic and immunotoxic effects in higher animals. Reduced birth weight and thymus involution, observed upon exposure to organotins, can also be caused by excessive glucocorticoid levels. We now demonstrate that organotins efficiently inhibit 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2), converting active 11beta-hydroxyglucocorticoids into inactive 11-ketoglucocorticoids, but not 11beta-HSD1, which catalyzes the reverse reaction. Di- and tributyltin as well as di- and triphenyltin inhibited recombinant and endogenous 11beta-HSD2 in lysates and intact cells with IC50 values between 500 nM and 3 microM. Dithiothreitol protected 11beta-HSD2 from organotin-dependent inhibition, indicating that organotins act by binding to one or more cysteines. Mutational analysis and 3-D structural modeling revealed several important interactions of cysteines in 11beta-HSD2. Cys90, Cys228, and Cys264 were essential for enzymatic stability and catalytic activity, suggesting that disruption of such interactions by organotins leads to inhibition of 11beta-HSD2. Enhanced glucocorticoid concentrations due to disruption of 11beta-HSD2 function may contribute to the observed organotin-dependent toxicity in some glucocorticoid-sensitive tissues such as thymus and placenta.     

Intermaxillary transalveolar fixation for treatment of mandibular fractures

The author describes a technique for intermaxillary transalveolar fixation for management of mandibular fractures and discusses the results of treatment of 25 patients (19 male and 6 female) with 39 fractures (12 unilateral, 12 bilateral and 1 triple fracture). The technique was used as the only treatment (22 fractures in 14 patients) or in combination with intraosseous osteosynthesis by wires or miniplates (17 fractures in 11 patients). In comparison to traditional techniques the discussed method is simple and easy to implement, suitable for partially or totally edentulous patients. The indications for using this procedure as an alternative way of treating patients with inadequate dentition or edentulous jaws are presented.