Distribution of injected technetium99m‐labeled mesenchymal stem cells in horses with naturally occurring tendinopathy

This study aimed to investigate immediate cell survival and distribution following different administration routes of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into naturally occurring tendon injuries. Ten million MSCs, labeled with technetium‐99m hexamethylpropyleneamine oxime, were implanted into 13 horses with naturally occurring tendon or ligament injuries intra‐lesionally, intravenously and by regional perfusion, and traced for up to 48 h using planar gamma scintigraphy. Labeling efficiencies varied between 1.8% and 18.5% (mean 9.3%). Cells were retained in the damaged area after intra‐lesional administration but only 24% of cells were still present within the tendon after 24 h. After intravenous injection, cells largely distributed to the lung fields, with no detectable cells in the tendon lesions. Significant labeling of the tendon lesions was observed in 11/12 horses following regional perfusion but at a lower level to intra‐lesional injection. The highest cell numbers were retained after intra‐lesional injection, although with considerable cell loss, while regional perfusion may be a viable alternative for MSC delivery. Cells did not “home” to damaged tendon in large numbers after intravenous administration. Cells were detected in the lungs most frequently after intravascular administration, although with no adverse effects. Low cell retention has important implications for designing effective clinical therapies for human clinical use. © 2013 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 31:1096–1102, 2013     

Negative association between quantities of body fat and physical fitness of university football players

Sport Sciences for Health - The aim of the present study was to assess, analyze and correlate tests of physical abilities (acceleration and maximum speed in 30 m, Balsom agility test and...     

12 weeks of Brazilian jiu-jitsu training improves functional fitness in elderly men

Worldwide, there are up to 900 million people over 60 years old, of which more than half are physically inactive. Low physical fitness seems to be the major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and mortality in this population. Alternative methods of exercise, such as martial arts, may be an option to improve physical fitness in the elderly. This study aimed to verify the effects of Brazilian jiu-jitsu (BJJ) training on the functional fitness of elderly men. Sixty-two elderly men were divided in two groups (experimental and control). The experimental group was submitted to a 12-week intervention of BJJ (2 times week^?1; 90-min session^?1). Physical fitness tests and anthropometric measurements were performed before and after intervention in both groups. No statistical differences were found between groups before and after the intervention. The experimental group improved in all performed physical fitness tests. Effect size showed that intervention had a small effect on upper body flexibility; a moderate effect for upper body strength, lower body flexibility, and motor agility/dynamic balance; and a large effect on lower body strength and aerobic endurance. BJJ seems to improve functional fitness in elderly men and may be an alternative method to enhance this population’s health and quality of life.     

Local adjunct effect of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for the treatment of chronic periodontitis in type 2 diabetics: split-mouth double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial

Diabetes has become a global epidemic. Its complications can have a significant impact on quality of life, longevity, and public health costs. The presence of diabetes might impair the prognosis of periodontal treatments due to its negative influence on wound healing. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a local approach that can promote bacterial decontamination in periodontal pockets. The aim of this study was to investigate the local effect of adjunct aPDT to ultrasonic periodontal debridement (UPD) and compare it to UD only for the treatment of chronic periodontitis in type 2 diabetic patients. Twenty type 2 diabetic patients with moderate to severe generalized chronic periodontitis were selected. Two periodontal pockets with probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL) ≥5 mm received UPD only (UPD group) or UPD plus adjunct aPDT (UPD?+?aPDT group). Periodontal clinical measures were collected and compared at baseline and 30, 90, and 180 days. After 180 days of follow-up, there were statistically significant reductions in PD from 5.75?±?0.91 to 3.47?±?0.97 mm in the UPD group and from 6.15?±?1.27 to 3.71?±?1.63 mm in the UPD?+?aPDT group. However, intergroup analysis did not reveal statistically significant differences in any of the evaluated clinical parameters (p?>?0.05). The adjunct application of aPDT to UPD did not present additional benefits for the treatment of chronic periodontitis in type 2 diabetic patients. The ClinicalTrials.gov identifier of the present study is NCT02627534.     

Paediatric cervical spine injures. Nineteen years experience of a single centre

Purpose

This observational study aims to describe pediatric C-spine injuries from a level 1 trauma centre through a period of 19 years.

Methods

Clinical records of pediatric trauma patients admitted to a level 1 trauma centre between 1991 and 2009 were analyzed. Patients were stratified by age into groups A (8 or less) and B (9 to 16), and in lower (C0-C2) and upper (C3-C7) spine injuries. Several variables were studied.

Results

Seventy-five cases of C-spine injuries (nine SCIWORA) were identified. Group A included 23 patients and group B 52. In group A, skeletal injuries at the upper C-spine were more common than injuries at the lower C-spine, whereas in group B, injuries of the lower C-spine were more frequent (p?=?0.035). Motor vehicle accidents were the main cause of injury (44 %); 25.3 % of patients were surgically treated. Thirty-nine patients presented neurologic deficits, 16 of which improved. The overall mortality rate was 18.7 % and significantly higher in patients with neurological damages (p?<?0.001)

Conclusions

This study revealed a low incidence of cervical spine injuries in the paediatric population. As in previous reports younger children mainly sustained injuries at the upper C-spine, higher incidence of spinal injuries, and higher risk of death than older children.

     

Luteinizing hormone beta mutation and hypogonadism in men and women

Selective luteinizing hormone deficiency due to mutations in the luteinizing hormone beta-subunit gene (LHB) is a rare cause of hypogonadism. We describe the clinical features of a consanguineous family in which three siblings, two men and one woman, had hypogonadism related to isolated luteinizing hormone deficiency. These subjects have a newly discovered homozygous mutation of a 5' splice site in LHB: IVS2+1G-->C. This mutation disrupts the splicing of messenger RNA (mRNA), generating a gross abnormality in the processing of the luteinizing hormone beta-subunit mRNA, which abrogates the secretion of luteinizing hormone. We also determined that the female phenotype of this LHB mutation is characterized by normal pubertal development, secondary amenorrhea, and infertility.