The effect of ciprofloxacin on tendon, paratenon, and capsular fibroblast metabolism

The pathologic mechanisms underlying fluoroquinolone-induced tendinopathy are poorly understood. The observed incidence of tendinitis and tendon rupture in patients treated with ciprofloxacin hydrochloride suggests that the fluoroquinolone antibiotics alter tendon fibroblast metabolism. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of ciprofloxacin on fibroblast metabolism in vitro. Canine Achilles tendon, paratenon, and shoulder capsule specimens were maintained in culture with ciprofloxacin (5, 10, or 50 microg/ml). Fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, proteoglycan synthesis, and matrix-degrading activity were analyzed. Incubation of Achilles tendon, Achilles paratenon, and shoulder capsule fibroblasts with ciprofloxacin resulted in a statistically significant 66% to 68% decrease in cell proliferation compared with control cells at day 3 in culture. Ciprofloxacin caused a statistically significant 36% to 48% decrease in collagen synthesis compared with controls in all fibroblast cultures. Ciprofloxacin caused a statistically significant 14% to 60% decrease in proteoglycan synthesis in all fibroblast cell lines. Compared with unstimulated control fibroblasts, culture media from Achilles tendon, paratenon, and shoulder capsule cells that were exposed to ciprofloxacin demonstrated statistically significant increases in matrix-degrading proteolytic activity after 72 hours in culture. This study demonstrates that ciprofloxacin stimulates matrix-degrading protease activity from fibroblasts and that it exerts an inhibitory effect on fibroblast metabolism. The increase in protease activity and the inhibition of both cell proliferation and the synthesis of matrix ground substance may contribute to the clinically described tendinopathies associated with ciprofloxacin therapy.     

Dental arch changes after anterior open bite treatment in the mixed dentition produced by miniscrew-supported palatal crib vs conventional fixed palatal crib:: A randomized clinical trial

ObjectivesTo evaluate the dental arch changes produced by the miniscrew-supported palatal crib (MSPC) and the conventional fixed palatal crib (CFPC) after the treatment of patients with anterior open bite (AOB) attributed to the tongue-thrusting habit in the mixed dentition stage.Materials and MethodsA total of 26 children aged 8 to 11 years with an AOB were randomly distributed into two equal groups; the MSPC group was treated using a palatal crib supported by two miniscrews inserted paramedially, whereas the CFPC group was treated using a conventional fixed palatal crib soldered to bands. Digital models were obtained pretreatment and after a follow-up duration of 9 months.ResultsThe MSPC group included 12 participants (9 girls and 3 boys; mean age, 9.4 ± 0.75 years), and the CFPC group included 12 participants (10 girls and 2 boys; mean age, 9.0 ± 0.73 years). The amount of AOB closure was similar in both groups: 3.97 ± 1.44 mm in the MSPC group and 3.97 ± 0.89 mm in the CFPC group. There was significant mesial movement of the maxillary first molar in the CFPC (−1.42 ± 0.99 mm) compared with the MSPC group (−0.53 ± 0.32 mm).ConclusionsBoth appliances resulted in similar improvement in the amount of AOB closure. There was significantly more mesial movement of the maxillary first molars in the CFPC group compared with the MSPC group.     

Assessment of antifungal efficacy of itraconazole loaded aspasomal cream: comparative clinical study

Topical conveyance of antifungal agents like itraconazole ITZ has been giving good grounds for expecting felicitous antifungal medicines. The defiance of topical delivery of this poorly water soluble and high-molecular-weight drug, however, mightily entail an adequate vehiculation. ITZ aspasomes, newer antioxidant generation of liposomes, have been designed and enclosed in a cream to ameliorate skin deposition. The proposed creams containing non-formulated ITZ or encapsulated in aspasomes (0.1% or 0.5%) were topically applied in patients with diagnosed diaper dermatitis complicated by candidiasis, tinea corporis (TC), and tinea versicolor (TVC). Placebos (void aspasomal cream and cream base) were also utilized. The obtained results for diaper rash revealed that aspasomal cream (0.5% ITZ) was eminent with respect to complete cure and negative candida culture after 10-day therapy relative to counterparts containing 0.1% ITZ aspasomes or non-formulated ITZ (0.1% and 0.5%). For tinea, the same trend was manifested in terms of ‘cleared’ clinical response in 90% of patients and absence of fungal elements after 4-week treatment. Relative to non-formulated ITZ, ITZ aspasomal cream was endorsed to be auspicious especially when ITZ concentration was lowered to half commercially available cream concentration (1%), pushing further exploitation in other dermal fungal infections.     

Acute otomastoiditis and its complications: role of CT

Acute bacterial (suppurative) otomastoiditis responds to antibiotic treatment; radiologic study is required only when there is clinical suggestion of coalescent mastoiditis, intracranial complications, or an underlying chronic disease. Computed tomography (CT) is the method of choice for evaluating otogenic intra- or extra-cranial complications. CT scans can show stages of disease progression when infection has spread by way of soft tissue, blood, and bone pathways into the dural venous sinuses, meninges, labyrinth, facial nerves, epidural and other intracranial spaces. When there is clinical suggestion of acute coalescent mastoiditis, a CT scan of the temporal bone can confirm the presence of rarefying osteitis, coalescence of the air cells, and subperiosteal abscess.     

Association between phosphodiesterase 4D gene and ischaemic stroke

Background

An association between the phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) gene and risk of ischaemic stroke in an Icelandic population has been suggested by the deCODE group.

Methods

A case–control study of 151 hospitalised patients with first‐ever ischaemic stroke and 164 randomly selected age‐matched and sex‐matched community controls was conducted. PDE4D genotypes for the six single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously reported to be independently associated with stroke were determined, common haplotypes were inferred using the expectation‐maximisation algorithm, and SNP and haplotype associations with stroke were examined. A meta‐analysis of published studies examining the association between PDE4D and stroke was also carried out.

Results

Our study of Australian patients with stroke showed an independent association between ischaemic stroke and PDE4D SNP 89 (CC: odds ratio (OR) 5.55, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02 to 30.19; CA: OR 1.68, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.96; AA: OR 1 (reference)), SNP 87 (CC: OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.20; TC: OR 1.64, 95% CI 0.89 to 3.00; TT: OR 1 (reference)) and SNP 83 (TT: OR 2.16, 95% CI 1.08 to 4.32; TC: OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.77 to 2.43; CC: OR 1 (reference)), and between ischaemic stroke and PDE4D haplotypes at SNP 89–87–83 (A–C–C: OR 2.13, 95% CI 1.15 to 3.96; C–C–T: OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.92), but no association between ischaemic stroke and PDE4D SNP 56, SNP 45 or SNP 41, or with PDE4D haplotypes at SNP 56–45–41. A meta‐analysis of nine case–control studies (including our current results) of 3808 stroke cases and 4377 controls confirmed a significant association between stroke and PDE SNP 87 (pooled p = 0.002), SNP 83 (0.003) and SNP 41 (0.003). However, there was statistical heterogeneity (p<0.1) among the studies in the direction of association for each of the individual SNPs tested.

Conclusions

Our results and the pooled analyses from all the studies indicate a strong association between PDE4D and ischaemic stroke. This strengthens the evidence that PDE4D plays a key part in the pathogenesis of ischaemic stroke. Heterogeneity among the studies in the direction of association between individual SNPs and stroke suggests that the SNPs tested are in linkage disequilibrium with the causal allele(s).Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and long‐term disability worldwide. About 80% of strokes are ischaemic in origin, most commonly caused by atherosclerosis.¹ By recognising and treating individuals and populations at risk, the burden of stroke can be reduced. As only about two thirds of ischaemic strokes seem to be attributable to known environmental risk factors,² there are likely to be other as yet unknown causal risk factors for ischaemic stroke.In recent years, there have been several reports of genetic polymorphisms that are associated with an increased (or decreased) risk of stroke.^3,4,5,6 In 2002, the deCODE group published the results of a genomewide screen for stroke susceptibility genes in Iceland.⁷ Among 260 phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) examined, six were significantly associated with stroke after adjustment for multiple comparisons.To establish a causal association between the PDE4D gene and stroke, the results of the study by the deCODE group need to be validated externally in independent datasets. Recently published studies from different populations^{8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15} provide apparently conflicting evidence on the association between the PDE4D gene and stroke. We explored the relationship between PDE4D genotype and ischaemic stroke in a case–control study of consecutive Australian patients admitted to hospital with ischaemic stroke and a similar number of randomly selected community controls. We determined PDE4D genotypes among patients and controls for the six SNPs found by the deCODE group to be markedly associated with stroke (SNP 89, SNP 87, SNP 83, SNP 56, SNP 45 and SNP 41) and examined the association between these SNPs and PDE4D haplotypes and ischaemic stroke. We also carried out a meta‐analysis of published studies to explore the consistency of the association between PDE4D and stroke.     

数字化导航模板辅助全膝关节置换的模拟研究

 目的 探讨数字化导航模板辅助全膝关节置换的准确性和可行性。方法 取成年尸体下肢标本 20具,随机分为导航模板组和传统方法组,每组 10具 20个膝关节。导航模板组术前行下肢全长 CT扫描,利用逆向工程软件对 CT数据进行处理,设计与股骨远端和胫骨近端匹配的可定位截骨平面和外旋轴的导航模板,通过快速成型机制作模板实物用于尸体标本的全膝关节置换手术操作。传统方法组按常规全膝关节置换手术操作。术后通过 CT扫描比较两种方法定位的截骨准确性。结果 导航模板与股骨髁和胫骨平台贴合紧密,无明显移动。导航模板组 18个膝关节的股骨远端和胫骨近端截骨面与下肢机械轴垂直,2个膝关节内翻; 17个膝关节后髁截骨面与通髁轴完全平行,3个膝关节有成角。传统方法组 20个膝关节均出现下肢机械轴内外翻,其中 5个膝关节大于 5°; 20个膝关节均出现后髁截骨面与通髁轴成角,其中 10个膝关节大于 3°。结论 导航模板法的股骨远端、胫骨近端和股骨外旋截骨准确性均高于传统手术方法。