Inhibition of Smad3 promotes the healing of rotator cuff injury in a rat model

To investigate the effect of inhibiting transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β1)/Smad2/3 signaling on rotator cuff (RC) healing. A bilateral supraspinatus tendon detachment‐repair model of Sprague‐Dawley (SD) rats was utilized. A total of 120 SD rats were randomly assigned to six groups and each group received the subacromial injection of normal saline, empty vectors, or lentiviral vectors containing small interfering RNA against TGF‐β1, Smad2, Smad3 at the bone‐tendon junction. Biomechanical and histological analyses were performed to evaluate bone‐tendon junction healing quality at 8 weeks after repair. Histologically, scar healing was found in all surgical groups. Animals with inhibited Smad3 exhibited better bone‐tendon junction structures with higher density, parallel orientation, and collagen fiber continuity than other surgical group animals. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the protein expression level of collagen I in animals with inhibited Smad3 was more prominent compared with all other surgical groups. Biomechanically, Animals with inhibited Smad3 showed better results in the maximum load at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after surgery compared with other surgical groups. Besides, C3H10T1/2 (Smad3?) cells increased TT‐D6 cell migration and tendon‐associated genes expression (scleraxis, tenascin C, collagen I) in coculture system. We conclude that inhibition of Smad3 promotes RC tendon healing in the rat supraspinatus model.     

Simultaneous bilateral versus unilateral tibial tubercle fractures

PurposeTibial tubercle/tuberosity fractures are rare injuries in young patients accounting for less than one percent of physeal fractures. Bilateral simultaneous fractures are even rarer, with only a few case reports in literature. The purpose of our study was to describe the largest case series of bilateral simultaneous tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures and compare it with unilateral fractures. We also wanted to compare our bilateral fractures case series with all the cases reported in the last 65 years.MethodsIRB approved retrospective study involving patients under age 18 years with tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures. Bilateral simultaneous fractures were compared to a unilateral group including demographic data, mechanism of injury, clinical exam findings, complication rates, and outcomes including return to function. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney and Fisher Exact tests to compare the different groups.Results138 patients (131 males, 7 females) from a tertiary children’s hospital between 2012 and 2019 with tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures were included. 11 bilateral simultaneous fractures (BL Group) were identified and compared to age matched cohort from the 127 unilateral fracture patients (UL group). There was no significant difference found in BMI, height, weight, age, sex, mechanism of injury, return to functional range of motion, and return to sports between the groups. 7/11 (63%) of the patients in the BL group who sustained simultaneous fractures had to be home bound and could not attend school for an average of 8.3 weeks. There was a higher rate of complications in the BL group (63.3%) compared to the UL group (21.1%), which was statistically significant. The most common complications in the bilateral group were hardware removal and wound dehiscence.ConclusionThis first case series comparing unilateral versus bilateral simultaneous tibial tuberosity avulsion fractures suggests that the final outcomes of the two groups are similar, however it shows a significantly higher complication rate and hardware removal rate in the BL group. This study is also the first to highlight the significant initial morbidity in the BL fracture group with issues with regards to early mobility and loss of school-days. Keeping in mind the profound initial impact the bilateral injury poses to the patient; surgeons can possibly plan for rigid fixation for early mobilization to better prepare bilateral fracture patients for the early post-operative recovery process.     

高分辨率MR血管壁成像测量壁强化指数评估颅内动脉瘤不稳定性

目的探讨高分辨率MR(HRMR)血管壁成像(VWI)所测壁强化指数(WEI)评估颅内动脉瘤不稳定性的价值。方法回顾性分析174例未破裂颅内动脉瘤患者。以3D-DSA观察动脉瘤大小、位置、形态。基于HRMR血管壁成像主观评估是否有动脉瘤壁强化(AWE),并采用软件计算WEI。采用ELAPSS及PHASES评分评估动脉瘤生长风险及破裂风险。以Spearman相关分析观察WEI与动脉瘤生长及破裂风险的相关性。结果 174例患者共248个无症状未破裂颅内囊状动脉瘤,HRMR VWI示AWE 78个、无AWE 170个。AWE与无AWE动脉瘤大小、位置、形态、ELAPSS评分、生长风险、PHASES评分、5年破裂风险差异均有统计学意义(P均0.05)。AWE动脉瘤WEI高于无AWE动脉瘤(P0.001)。Spearman相关分析显示,WEI与动脉瘤3年、5年生长风险(r_s=0.40、0.40,P均0.01)及5年破裂风险(r_s=0.24,P0.01)均呈正相关。结论 HRMR VWI所测WEI越高,提示动脉瘤不稳定性越高。     

Peliosis lienalis with atraumatic splenic rupture in a patient with chronic myelomonocytic leukemia: A case report

IntroductionAtraumatic splenic rupture is a rare but life-threatening condition which may be associated with hematological malignancies.Presentation of caseWe present the case of a 63-year-old male patient with a history of chronic myelomonocytic leukemia and sarcoidosis under therapy with prednisone, who suffered an atraumatic splenic rupture with hemodynamic instability. He was managed with proximal splenic artery embolization and secondary open splenectomy. On pathology the diagnosis of peliosis lienalis was established.DiscussionPeliosis is a rare pathological entity, which presents with multiple blood-filled cavities within parenchymatous organs and is of unknown etiology and pathogenesis. In retrospect a rapid increase in splenomegaly and inhomogeneous parenchyma of the spleen on sonography was realized.ConclusionSonographic changes in size and parenchyma of the spleen in patients with hematological malignancies might help suspecting peliosis lienalis with impending splenic rupture and could alter clinical management towards a prophylactic splenectomy.