Could radio-morphological changes in humerus greater tuberosity be an early indicator of rotator cuff tendon injuries?

OBJECTIVES

To reveal the possible relationship between greater tuberosity volume with rotator cuff tendon injuries.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In our study, the morphology of the greater tuberosity was evaluated retrospectively by using radiographs and MR images of 335 cases. While critical shoulder angle (CSA) was measured on radiographs, greater tuberosity (GT) area and volume were calculated, and also supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor tendons were evaluated, on MR images. The relationship of the measurements with the tendon injuries was analyzed statistically.

RESULTS

Among 188 female and 147 male patients, no statistically significant relationship was found between tendon injuries in terms of gender. The relationships between supra and infraspinatus tendon injuries and GT angle, area, and volume measurements were statistically significant. There was a statistically significant relationship between teres minor injury and GT angle, but no significant correlation with GT area and volume. Finally, there was no statistically significant correlation between all three tendon pathologies and CSA.

CONCLUSION

Area, and especially volume measurements, which are morphological features of the GT, may reflect tendon damage without significant degenerative changes in the bone structure. In examinations before tendon damage progresses, GT volume is a morphological feature that needs to be evaluated and may facilitate early recognition of tendinopathies and be an early marker of rotator cuff injuries.

Investigation of Blood Betatrophin Levels in Obese Children with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

PURPOSE

The prevalence of obesity has significantly increased among children and adolescents worldwide and is becoming an important health care problem in parallel with the increased prevalence of obesity pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Betatrophin is a newly define hormone that is commonly secreted by liver and plays role in glucose tolerance. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between serum betatrophin levels and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese children.

METHODS

The study included 40 obese children with a body mass index (BMI) above 95th centile, and 35 non-obese subjects with a BMI 3-85th centile, whose age and gender were similar to those of the patient group. For the evaluation of metabolic parameters fasting serum glucose, insulin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, lipid profile and serum betatrophin levels were measured. Total cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol: high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratios were calculated as "atherogenic indices."

RESULTS

Serum betatrophin levels of the obese subjects were similar to that of non-obese subjects (p=0.90). Betatrophin levels were not correlated with the metabolic parameters.

CONCLUSION

In the present study, levels of betatrophin are not different between obese and insulin resistant children and non-obese subjects, and they are not correlated with atherogenic indices. To elucidate the exact role of betatrophin in obesity, further studies are required to identify the betatrophin receptor and/or other possible cofactors.

Amyand's hernia detected incidentally in two patients

The appendix is rarely present inside the inguinal hernia sac. The risk of appendicitis increases in these patients since the blood supply to the appendix can be impaired. The condition is frequently asymptomatic, and even if symptomatic it gives rise to non-specific symptoms. There is no specific laboratory finding. Diagnosis is frequently made with radiological imaging. We report two cases diagnosed as Amyand's hernia with CT.

Relationship between Abdominal Aortic Intima Media Thickness and Central Obesity in Children

BACKGROUND

Childhood obesity is one of the important risk factors for early atherosclerosis. We aimed to evaluate the effect of obesity on abdominal aortic intima media thickness (aaIMT) in children.

METHODS

We consecutively recruited 60 obese and 28 healthy children from the outpatient clinic of pediatrics. In all patients, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) were measured, and fasting serum lipid profile, plasma glucose and plasma insulin were studied. Homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated for the obese group. All children underwent ultrasonography to evaluate hepatosteatosis and to measure aaIMT.

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the groups in terms of aaIMT, insulin, glucose, HOMA-IR, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglyceride and hepatosteatosis. aaIMT was 1.12 ± 0.25 and 0.61 ± 0.18 mm in the obese and nonobese groups, respectively (p < 0.001). In the obese group, there was a positive correlation between aaIMT and WC, WC/height ratio, BMI, HC and hepatosteatosis (p < 0.05 for all), with the highest significance for WC.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that aaIMT was significantly higher in obese children than in nonobese children, and that WC was a strong predictor for aaIMT. Early detection of an increased aaIMT in obese children may guide the follow-up of these patients in terms of developing atherosclerosis and its complications.