Therapeutic implications of mesenchymal stem cells in liver injury. J Biomed Biotechnol. 2011;2011:860578. [PMID: 22228987 DOI: 10.1155/2011/]

MAKO robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty cannot reduce the aggravation of ankle varus incongruence after genu varus correction ≥ 10°: a radiographic assessment

INTRODUCTION

The objective of this study was to investigate the ankle alignment alterations after the correction of knee varus deformity in MAKO robot-assisted total knee arthroplasty (MA-TKA).

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was conducted for 108 patients with TKA from February 2021 to February 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on MAKO robot involvement during the procedure: the MA-TKA group (n = 36) and the conventional manual total knee arthroplasty (CM-TKA) group (n = 72). The patients were divided into four subgroups according to the degree of surgical correction of the knee varus deformity. Seven radiological measurements were evaluated pre and post-surgery: mechanical tibiofemoral angle (mTFA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), medial proximal tibial angle (MPTA), lateral distal tibial angle (LDTA), tibial plafond inclination angle (TPIA), talar inclination angle (TIA), and tibiotalar tilt angle (TTTA). TTTA is a quantitative representation of the extent of ankle incongruence.

RESULTS

The number of mTFA, mLDFA, and MPTA outliers in the MA-TKA group was significantly lower compared to the CM-TKA group (P<0.05). Knee varus deformity was properly corrected and the mechanical axis was restored in all patients, regardless of the treatment group. Only for varus corrections ≥ 10° did TTTA change significantly (p < 0.01) and ankle varus incongruence aggravate post-operation. The ΔTTTA correlated negatively with ΔTFA (r=-0.310,P = 0.001) and correlated positively with ΔTPIA (r = 0.490,P = 0.000). When the varus correction was ≥ 7.55°, the probability of ankle varus incongruence exacerbation increased 4.86-fold.

CONCLUSION

Compared with CM-TKA, MA-TKA osteotomy showed more precision but was unable to reduce post-operation ankle varus incongruence. When the varus correction ≥ 10°, ankle varus incongruence aggravated, while when the varus correction ≥ 7.55°, the probability of ankle varus incongruence increased 4.86-fold. This may occasion the pathogenesis of ankle pain following TKA.

Screening for urinary incontinence in acute care for elders unit: comparative performance analysis of Katz's ADL and ICIQ-UI-SF

BACKGROUND

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a frequent, but neglected geriatric syndrome, particularly in vulnerable older patients. Optimizing screening procedures is necessary.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the clinometric performances of the "continence" item of the Katz's ADL scale and the ICIQ-UI-sf for the screening of UI in vulnerable aged patients.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in the acute care for elders (ACE) unit of an academic centre. Two independent nurses screened all patients with spontaneous urination for UI with Katz's ADL item and ICIQ-UI-sf upon the hospital admission. The diagnosis of UI resulted from an interdisciplinary conciliating meeting for urinary functional disorders (TOFU), gathering geriatricians and neuro-urologists and was considered as reference.

RESULTS

294 consecutive patients (mean age 86.2 ± 6.5 years; 76.5% female) admitted to the ACE unit were screened; 169 were incontinent (57.5%) according to TOFU. The Katz's ADL item identified 106 incontinent patients with 20 false positives; 83 incontinent patients were not identified. If the sensitivity and specificity of the ICIQ-UI-sf were 100.0%, they were, respectively, 50.9 and 84.0% for the Katz's ADL item. Positive and negative predictive values were 100.0% for ICIQ-UI-sf; 81.1 and 55.9% for ADL, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This study validates the ICIQ-UI-sf as a simple and effective screening tool for UI in vulnerable and complex hospitalized aged patients. It also demonstrates that the "continence" item of the Katz's ADL scale is not sensitive enough for UI screening in this population.

Acceptance of a pre-visit intervention to engage teens in pediatric asthma visits

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this study were to: (a) describe teen feedback on an asthma question prompt list/video intervention designed to motivate teens to be more engaged during visits and (b) examine teen demographics associated with teen acceptance of the intervention.

METHODS

Two hundred and fifty-nine teens ages 11 to 17 with persistent asthma were enrolled into a randomized, controlled trial and assigned to either a standard care or an intervention group where they watched an educational video with their parents and received a prompt list to complete before visits. Teens were interviewed after visits.

RESULTS

Of the 185 teens randomized to the intervention group: 93% said teens should complete the prompt lists before visits; 95% recommended teens should watch the video before visits; teens with moderate/severe persistent asthma were significantly more likely to find the prompt list useful; non-White teens were significantly more likely to find the prompt list and video more useful.

CONCLUSIONS

Teens exposed to the question prompt list/video had very positive feedback about the intervention.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Providers/practices should consider having teens complete question prompt lists during pre-visit wait time for use during visits and watch the video with their parents before visits.

Construction, packaging and identification of a lentiviral vector carrying the fibroblast growth factor 4 gene

AIM: To construct, package and identify a lentiviral vector carrying the fibroblast growth factor 4 gene (pGC-FU-FGF4).

METHODS: A plasmid containing the FGF4 gene was digested using BamH Ⅰ/Age Ⅰ restriction enzymes, and the target gene fragment was cloned into the pGC-FU vector to result in a recombinant lentiviral vector (pGC-FU-FGF4). pGC-FU-FGF4 was then transformed into competent Escherichia coli cells, and the positive clones were identified by PCR. The identified recombinant vector was used to infect 293T cells. The titer of packaged virus was determined using real-time quantitative PCR 24 h after infection.

RESULTS: PCR analysis showed that the amplified target gene was inserted in the pGC-FU vector. Digestion analysis showed that the reconstructed plasmid was consistent with the theoretical fragment, and the sequencing result showed that the positive fragment was exactly the same as the target gene. Twenty-four hours after infection, almost 100% of cells displayed green fluorescence. Real-time quantitative PCR assay showed that the packaged viral titer was 2×10⁸ TU/mL.

CONCLUSION: A lentiviral vector carrying the FGF4 gene has been successfully constructed.

Reproductive biology of squaretail coralgrouper Plectropomus areolatus using age-based techniques

The squaretail coralgrouper Plectropomus areolatus was identified as a fast-growing, early maturing and relatively short-lived aggregation-spawning epinephelid. Examinations of sectioned otoliths found females and males first maturing at 2 and 3 years, respectively, suggesting protogynous hermaphroditism; however, no transitionals were observed in samples. Age distribution for the two sexes was similar and both were represented in the oldest age class; however, significant sex-specific differences in size-at-age were identified. Both sexes fully recruit into the fishery at age 4 years and reach 90% of asymptotic length by age 3 years. Underwater visual assessments, combined with the gonado-somatic indices, revealed a 5 month reproductive season, with interannual variability observed in the month of highest density within the spawning aggregation. Catch restrictions on adults during spawning times and at reproductive sites, combined with gear-based management and enhanced enforcement, are recommended to maintain spawning stocks. Based on the available evidence, the sexual pattern for this species is unresolved.