Acute scaphoid fracture: a review

The scaphoid is by far the most commonly fractured carpal bone. Occult fractures, imperceptible on initial radiographs and a reputation for non-union make diagnosis and management challenging. The past few years have seen significant advances in the assessment and surgical treatment of scaphoid fractures. This article reviews the published literature relating to acute scaphoid fractures and examines the advances that have been made in management.

Production and characterization of biosurfactants produced by microorganisms isolated from milk factory wastewaters

Biosurfactants or surface-active compounds are produced by microorganisms. These molecules reduce the surface tension of both aqueous solutions and hydrocarbon mixtures. In this study, the isolation and identification of biosurfactant-producing microorganisms were assessed. The characterization of biosurfactant produced by microorganisms isolated from milk factory wastewaters was investigated. For this purpose, five different microorganisms were isolated and identified. In order to determine the biosurfactant production, the 'drop-collapse' method was applied and it was determined that only three species, Yarrowia lipolytica MFW5 (yeast), Micrococcus luteus MFW1 (cocci) and Burkholderia cepacia MFW2 (bacillus), were able to produce biosurfactant. Biosurfactants produced by Yarrowia lipolytica, Micrococcus luteus and Burkholderia cepacia were coded as BS-I, BS-II and BS-III, respectively. After the initial biosurfactant production and characterization studies were completed, isolates of these three species were incubated with whey wastewaters at 35 degrees C for 10 days for biosurfactant production. At the end of the incubation period, the biosurfactants were extracted and further characterized with biochemical analysis, FTIR spectra, haemolysis test, emulsification test and determination of the surface tension.

Greater osteoporosis educational outreach is desirable among Chinese immigrants in Chinatown, Chicago

Osteoporosis beliefs were assessed in immigrant Chinese women in Chinatown, Chicago. Results from a survey utilizing the Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale showed that women expressed concern about osteoporosis but lacked both knowledge of preventive care and health motivation.

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to assess osteoporosis beliefs in immigrant Chinese women in Chinatown, Chicago.

METHODS

In a community-based health fair, osteoporosis knowledge and self-efficacy among postmenopausal Chinese immigrants were assessed using the translated Osteoporosis Health Belief Scale. Bone mineral density (BMD) was assessed with calcaneal ultrasound.

RESULTS

The study population included 94 women with mean age of 51 +/- 9 years, mean length of residence in the United States of 9 +/- 7 years, and 73% (n = 76) of whom were recent immigrants. Women expressed concern about the seriousness of osteoporosis and their relative susceptibility to osteoporosis. In particular, women with a prior fracture reported higher seriousness to osteoporosis. Nonetheless, women exhibited low health motivation and low awareness of the benefits of calcium and exercise. Bone densitometry results corresponded to a T score of -1.2 +/- 1.5. Multiple regression analysis revealed that a younger age and longer length of residence in the USA were associated with higher BMD.

CONCLUSION

Chinese immigrant women in Chicago exhibit concern regarding osteoporosis, but are unaware of the benefits of calcium and exercise, and exhibit low health motivation. Chinese women in Chinatown lack necessary knowledge about osteoporosis to develop adequate self-efficacy. Public health initiatives should be undertaken among recent immigrant Chinese women.

Selective Enrichment of Hepatocellular Cancer Stem Cells by Chemotherapy

This study investigated the enrichment of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by chemotherapy. SMMC-7721 cells were inoculated into mice treated with 0, 2, 5 or 10 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (CTX). Tissue from the resulting tumours was re-inoculated into CTX-treated mice two more times, thus producing three generations of tumour cells for each dose of CTX. Chromosome and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analyses were performed to determine the purity of the enriched cells. Sphere culture, colony formation and proliferation assays demonstrated that the self-renewal potential, proliferative activity and clonogenicity of the enriched cells in vitro increased with increasing chemotherapy dose and generation. The ability of the enriched cells to produce xenograft tumours in mice was also dependent on chemotherapy dose and generation. In conclusion, subjecting HCC cells to chemotherapy in vivo enriched the samples for HCC CSCs in a dose-and generation-dependent manner.

Traveller health: prevalence of diabetes, pre diabetes and the metabolic syndrome

Irish Travellers are an ethnic minority group exposed to a myriad of social and health inequalities. Their current life expectancy equals that of the background population in the 1940s and one of the main causes of death is cardiovascular disease (CVD). There is a paucity of information on CVD risk factor assessment in the research literature in this population. This study assesses the prevalence of Diabetes, Pre-Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in a sample population from this community. Working with the Galway Traveller Movement, and following an overnight fast we measured fasting plasma glucose, HDL-cholesterol and Triglycerides. In addition weight, height, waist circumference (WC) and blood pressure (BP) were recorded. Of the 47 subjects, there were 4 (8.5%) participants identified as having diabetes, 5 (10.6%) pre-diabetes and 25 (53.2%) with the metabolic syndrome. The point prevalence of diabetes was calculated as 8.5%, pre-diabetes 10.6% and the metabolic syndrome 53.2%. In addition abdominal obesity was present in 70% and hypertension in 43%. Targeted screening for glucose abnormalities and traditional CVD risk factors is needed. Based on current literature, appropriate interventions might reasonably be expected to lower mortality and increase life expectancy.

Interethnic differences in Cyp3A4 inhibition by ketoconazole on docetaxel pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD)

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Background: Use of concomitant medications that inhibit drug metabolizing enzymes such as Cyp3A4 is common and may affect chemotherapy PK/PD. We studied the effects of Cyp3A4 inhibition with ketoconazole on docetaxel PK/PD in 3 Asian ethnic groups. Methods: Two cohorts of chemonaive breast cancer patients were compared. The first cohort comprised of 95 patients (62 Chinese, 26 Malay, 7 Indian) treated with 75mg/m2 docetaxel unmodulated by ketoconazole, while the second cohort comprised of 31 patients (14 Chinese, 14 Malay, 3 Indian) treated with docetaxel 70mg flat dose modulated by oral ketoconazole, a regimen we previously reported to result in comparable docetaxel AUC as 75mg/m2 docetaxel. Plasma docetaxel concentrations were obtained at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 7 and 24 hours, and blood counts monitored on days 8 and 15 of cycle 1. Results: No significant differences in docetaxel PK or neutropenia between the races were observed in response to 75mg/m2 docetaxel unmodulated by ketoconazole (docetaxel clearance 36.4±16.9, 34.3±12.5, 44.2±27.7L/h, p=0.702; docetaxel AUC 3.6±2.7, 3.5±1.2, 2.9±1.3mg/L h, p=0.418; day 8 neutrophil count 0.5±0.6, 0.8±0.8, 0.4±0.3x109/L, p=0.138; grade 4 neutropenia 66%, 50%, 86%, p=0.157). In contrast, when docetaxel was administered with ketoconazole to inhibit Cyp3A4, inter-ethnic differences in docetaxel PK/PD were observed, with Chinese having the lowest docetaxel clearance and highest docetaxel AUC, followed by Malays and Indians (docetaxel clearance 18.6±5.7, 23.7±9.3, 30.6±6.7L/h, p=0.048; p=0.017 trend test; docetaxel AUC 4.2±1.4, 4.1±3.9, 2.4±0.5 mg/L h, p=0.048, p=0.017 trend test), although there were no statistically significant differences in body weight or surface area between the races. In concordance, Chinese patients experienced greatest degree of myelosuppression, followed by Malays and Indians (day 8 neutrophil count 0.8±0.8, 1.5±1.1, 1.7±1.1x109/L, p=0.046, p=0.013 trend test), and were more likely to develop grade 4 neutropenia (57%, 14%, 0%, p=0.024) from docetaxel + ketoconazole. Conclusions: Inter-ethnic differences in CYP3A inhibition by ketoconazole exist, and are important when evaluating the impact of concomitant medications with chemotherapy that may inhibit Cyp3A4.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Use of peripheral blood genomic markers whose expression levels reflect that of breast tumor genomic markers to predict drug treatment and sensitivity

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Background: Tumor gene expression signatures have been used to predict drug response, and we have previously reported drug-induced signatures to be more informative than the untreated baseline signatures. However, repeated tumor sampling during treatment is not feasible for most patients. We studied peripheral mononuclear cell (PBMC) gene expression levels in association with tumor gene expression levels in an attempt to identify peripheral blood markers that may serve as more accessible surrogates to predict drug treatment and response. Methods: Chemonaive breast cancer patients were treated with an alternating sequential regimen of doxorubicin and docetaxel and randomized to start with either drug. RNA from primary tumor before and 3 weeks, and from PBMC before and 24 hours after the first cycle of each drug was hybridized on the Affymetrix HG-U133+2 array containing 54,675 probe sets. Results: Pre- and post-treatment tumors from 47 patients were studied, including 35 with paired PBMC samples. 230 pre- and 85 posttreatment PBMC probe sets showed strong correlation in expression level (Pearson correlation coefficient >0.9) with the corresponding pre- and posttreatment tumor probe set, and included genes involved in transcription regulation and binding. Of the 975 tumor probe sets whose changes distinguished doxorubicin from docetaxel treatment, 12 corresponding PBMC probe sets were identified (p < 0.001) whose changes at 24 hours distinguished the two treatments with 77% accuracy. Of the 1,081 and 1,526 tumor probe sets whose changes predicted treatment response to doxorubicin and docetaxel, 19 and 15 informative PBMC probe sets predicted response to each drug with 100% and 80% accuracy, and included TNF receptor associated protein 1 and trefoil factor 1 for doxorubicin-, and folliculin and dynein for docetaxel-response. When the PBMC probe sets were validated in an independent test set treated with docetaxel (n = 23), 87% was correctly classified as docetaxel-treated, while 89% of non-responders clustered together. Conclusions: Peripheral blood contains genomic markers whose expression levels closely reflect that of breast tumor markers, and may be promising as surrogates to predict drug treatment and sensitivity.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Effects of obesity on neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and immune cell responses to acute psychosocial stress in premenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the neuroendocrine and immune cell responses to acute psychosocial stress in obese compared to non-obese premenopausal women.

METHODS

N=15 obese (BMI> or =30) and N=24 (BMI<30) non-obese premenopausal women underwent public speaking stress. State anxiety, ACTH, cortisol, and the redistribution of immune cells were measured before, during, and 10 and 45min after public speaking. Serum hsCRP and serum IL-6 levels were analyzed before, and IL-6 additionally 45min after stress.

RESULTS

In response to public speaking stress, both groups showed significant but comparable increases in state anxiety, plasma ACTH, and blood pressure (all p<0.01; time effects). The cortisol stress response was significantly enhanced in obese women (p<0.05; interaction effect). In addition, heart rate and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in obese women 10min following stress (p<0.05, t-tests). Public speaking stress led to a significant increase in IL-6 concentrations (p<0.001; time effect), and obese women displayed higher IL-6 levels both pre- and post-stress (p<0.05; group effect; between-group t-tests: pre-stress p<0.05; post-stress p<0.01). Baseline numbers of circulating leukocytes, granulocytes, CD3+ cells and hsCRP concentration were significantly higher in obese women (between-group t-tests: all p<0.05, but the groups did not differ in the stress-induced redistribution of circulating leukocyte subpopulations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data reveal a strong association of obesity with chronic low-grade inflammation in premenopausal women. This pro-inflammatory state, together with altered neuroendocrine and cardiovascular stress responsiveness, may conceivably constitute one of the mechanisms linking psychological stress and the long-term health risks associated with obesity.

The role of wrist anthropometric measurement in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome

Anthropometric wrist measurement ratios were examined for an association with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Wrist measurements were recorded in 67 patients with CTS and in a matched control group of 67 healthy volunteers. The Wrist Ratio (WR) (wrist anterior to posterior dimension/wrist medial-lateral dimension) and the Wrist Palm Ratio (wrist anterior to posterior dimension/palm length) were calculated for each case. We found that a WR of > or =0.70 and a Wrist Palm Ratio of >0.342 were significantly associated with idiopathic CTS.

Polymorphism of HLA-DRB1, -DQB1 and -DPB1 genes in Bai ethnic group in southwestern China

In this work, polymorphism of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1, -DQB1 and -DPB1 genes was detected using polymerase chain reaction-sequence-based typing method in 128 healthy unrelated volunteers from the Bai ethnic group of Yunnan province of southwest China. Among all the 28 alleles detected for the DRB1 gene, the most common allele was DRB1*120201 with a frequency of 16.41%, followed by DRB1*090102, DRB1*080302, DRB1*1404, DRB1*150101, DRB1*140101 and DRB1*160201, with frequencies of 10.16%, 9.77%, 9.38%, 8.98%, 8.59% and 8.21%, respectively. Among 19 DQB1 alleles detected, the most frequent allele was DQB1*030101/0309 (35.94%), followed by DQB1*050201 (11.33%), DQB1*060101/060103 (10.54%) and DQB1*0401 (10.16%). For the DPB1 locus, the most common alleles were DPB1*0501 (42.19%), DPB1*1301 (13.28%), DPB1*020102 (10.93%) and DPB1*040101 (9.77%). The comparison of HLA class II allele frequencies of Bais with those of other Chinese populations suggested that the Bai ethnic group belonged to the southern group of Chinese.

Recurrent episodic foot-drop following surgery to the thigh

Subject. We present the case history of a 47-year-old lady who, 10 months following excision of a soft tissue sarcoma from the left thigh, was struck with recurrent episodes of foot drop.

Discussion. The curious phenomenon of recurrent foot drop was found to be secondary to pressure symptoms from a tense seroma of the thigh. She underwent surgical excision of the sac and had immediate and complete relief of symptoms.

Genes involved in the transforming growth factor beta signalling pathway and the risk of intracranial aneurysms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The 19q13.3 locus for intracranial aneurysms (IA) partly overlaps with the 19q13 locus for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). A common genetic risk factor located in this locus for the two aneurysm types seems plausible. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) signalling pathway plays a role in aortic aneurysms but may also play a role in aneurysms in general. In the combined region of the 19q13 loci for IA and AAA we identified two candidate genes that are both involved in the TGF-beta signalling pathway: hepsin (HPN) and the latent transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 4 (LTBP4). We hypothesised that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the HPN and LTBP4 genes are associated with IA.

METHODS

We analyzed all the common variations using tag SNP in the HPN and LTBP4 genes for association with IA in 390 patients and 642 controls in the Dutch population. Six tag SNP in the HPN gene and five tag SNP in the LTBP4 gene were genotyped.

RESULTS

No differences in SNP frequency were observed for both the HPN and LTBP4 gene between patients and controls.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that variations in or near the HPN and LTBP4 genes do not play a role in the susceptibility to IA in the Dutch population.