Results of the percutaneous pinning of proximal humerus fractures with a modified palm tree technique

Purpose  

Many techniques are available for closed reduction and percutaneous fixation of proximal humeral fractures. The palm tree technique was described by Kapandji in 1989. In that technique three curved wires are inserted through one hole at the V-shaped insertion of the deltoid muscle. It is a good technique but it has some disadvantages. In this study we introduced some modifications for the technique, and we evaluated the clinical results of the modified technique in treatment of 18 cases.     

c.1643_1644delTG XPC mutation is more frequent in Moroccan patients with xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by hypersensitivity to UV light which is due to alterations of the nucleotide excision repair pathway. Eight genes (XPA to XPG and XPV) are responsible for the disease. Among them, the XPC gene is known to be the most mutated in Mediterranean patients. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the most common XPC mutation and describe the clinical features of Moroccan patients with xeroderma pigmentosum. Twenty four patients belonging to 21 unrelated Moroccan families and 58 healthy subjects were investigated. After clinical examination, the screening for the c.1643_1644delTG (p.Val548AlafsX25) mutation in the XPC gene was performed by PCR and automated sequencing of exon 9 in all patients and controls. The molecular analysis showed that among the 24 patients, 17 were homozygous for the c.1643_1644delTG mutation and all their tested parents were heterozygous, whereas the others (7 patients) did not carry the mutation. The frequency of this mutation was estimated to be 76.19 % (16/21 families). None of the 58 healthy individuals carried this mutation. In addition, clinical investigation showed that the majority of the patients bearing this mutation have the same clinical features. Our results revealed that the p.Val548AlafsX25 mutation is the major cause (76.19 %) of xeroderma pigmentosum in Moroccan families. This would have an important impact on improving management of patients and their relatives.     

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase content in adipose tissue from obese and lean African American and white American women

It has been demonstrated that the enzyme endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is present in adipose tissue, resulting in nitric oxide production and subsequent inhibition of lipolysis. A higher eNOS content has also been reported in the subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue of obese than in that of lean white men. Furthermore, a lower lipolytic rate in obese than in lean women and a lower lipolytic rate in African American (AA) than in white American (WA) women have been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to determine if eNOS protein content is higher in the subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues of obese than in those of lean women and if eNOS protein content is higher in the subcutaneous and omental adipose tissues of AA than in those of WA women. Whole tissue homogenates were prepared from frozen omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples obtained from lean and obese and AA and WA elective abdominal surgery patients and were analyzed for eNOS protein content using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The adipose tissue eNOS protein content was approximately 40% higher in obese than in lean individuals (omental, 326.9 +/- 40.5 pg/mL lean and 445.3 +/- 38.0 pg/mL obese; subcutaneous, 246.8 +/- 20.8 pg/mL lean and 343.1 +/- 19.0 pg/mL obese; P < .05). There was no difference between the races for eNOS protein content in omental adipose tissue. In subcutaneous adipose tissue, there was a higher eNOS content in obese (417.1 +/- 78.9 pg/mg total protein) than in lean (216.7 +/- 29.9 pg/mg total protein) (P < .05) WA women, but there was no difference in subcutaneous adipose eNOS content between obese and lean AA women (250.7 +/- 47.4 and 294.1 +/- 42.2 pg/mg total protein, respectively). The higher eNOS content in the adipose tissue of obese than in that of lean WA women in the fasted state may contribute to the reduced lipolytic activity in WA women; however, eNOS protein content probably does not contribute to differences in lipolytic rates between AA and WA women.     

Gadolinium-enhanced MRI features of acute gouty arthritis on top of chronic gouty involvement in different joints

The aims of the current study are to describe gadolinium-enhanced MRI features of an acute flare of established gouty arthritis in different joints and to examine a possible association between serum uric acid and MRI signs indicative of ongoing inflammation and/or structural joint damage as well as association with disease characteristics and laboratory findings. Twenty-seven male patients with established chronic gout agreed to participate, mean age 47.6 years, and mean disease duration in months 43.2 (±31.8). For all patients, detailed demographic, disease characteristics, and laboratory findings were obtained and correlated with MRI findings. In 27 patients with established gout, a total of 50 MRI studies were performed of the following joints: feet joints (n?=?23), ankles (n?=?18), knees (n?=?5), and hand and wrist joints (n?=?4). MRI revealed capsular thickening in 19 patients, bone marrow edema (BME) in 15, soft tissue edema (STE) in 20, joint effusion in 21, bone erosions in 17, cartilaginous erosions in 4, and tenosynovitis in 9 cases. In 17 cases, tophaceous lesions were found. Post contrast MRI showed synovial thickening in seven cases. Positive correlations were observed between serum uric acid levels and the following MRI findings: capsular thickening (r?=?0.552, p?=?0.003), BME (r?=?0.668, p?≤?0.0001), STE (r?=?0.559, p?=?0.002), and tenosynovitis (r?=?0.513, p?=?0.006). Using MRI in chronic gout, important features can be detected like BME, minute cartilaginous erosions, and hypertrophic synovial inflammation in post contrast MR images. Serum uric acid (SUA) was positively correlated with capsular thickening, BME, STE, and tenosynovitis.     

Comparative Cytotoxicity of Glycyrrhiza glabra Roots from Different Geographical Origins Against Immortal Human Keratinocyte (HaCaT), Lung Adenocarcinoma (A549) and Liver Carcinoma (HepG2) Cells

Glycyrrhiza glabra L. (Fabaceae), commonly known as ‘liquorice’, is a well‐known medicinal plant. Roots of this plant have long been used as a sweetening and flavouring agent in food and pharmaceutical products, and also as a traditional remedy for cough, upper and lower respiratory ailments, kidney stones, hepatitis C, skin disorder, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, gastrointestinal ulcers and stomach ache. Previous pharmacological and clinical studies have revealed its antitussive, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective properties. While glycyrrhizin, a sweet‐tasting triterpene saponin, is the principal bioactive compound, several bioactive flavonoids and isoflavonoids are also present in the roots of this plant. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts of nine samples of the roots of G. glabra, collected from various geographical origins, was assessed against immortal human keratinocyte (HaCaT), lung adenocarcinoma (A549) and liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines using the in vitro 3‐[4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl]‐2,5‐diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide cell toxicity/viability assay. Considerable variations in levels of cytotoxicity were observed among various samples of G. glabra. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.