Increased interleukin-6 and TP53 levels in rotator cuff tendon repair patients with hypercholesterolemia

Background@#A previous study reported that hyperlipidemia increases the incidence of tears in the rotator cuff tendon and affects healing after repair. The aim of our study was to compare the gene and protein expression of torn rotator cuff tendons in patients both with and without hypercholesterolemia. @*Methods@#Thirty patients who provided rotator cuff tendon samples were classified into either a non-hypercholesterolemia group (n=19, serum total cholesterol [TC] <200 mg/dL) and hypercholesterolemia group (n=11, serum TC ≥240 mg/dL) based on their concentrations of serum TC. The expression of various genes of interest, including COL1A1, IGF1, IL-6, MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, MMP13, TNMD, and TP53, was analyzed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). In addition, Western blot analysis was performed on the proteins encoded by interleukin (IL)-6 and TP53 that showed significantly different expression levels in real-time qRT-PCR. @*Results@#Except for IGF1, the gene expression levels of IL-6, MMP2, MMP9, and TP53 were significantly higher in the hypercholesterolemic group than in the non-hypercholesterolemia group. Western blot analysis confirmed significantly higher protein levels of IL-6 and TP53 in the hypercholesterolemic group (p<0.05). @*Conclusions@#We observed an increase in inflammatory cytokine and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) levels in hypercholesterolemic patients with rotator cuff tears. Increased levels of IL-6 and TP53 were observed at both the mRNA and protein levels. We suggest that the overexpression of IL-6 and TP53 may be a specific feature in rotator cuff disease patients with hypercholesterolemia.

Concomitant Coracoid Process Fracture with Bony Bankart Lesion Treated with the Latarjet Procedure

Bony lesions of the glenoid and Hill-Sachs lesions are the most common injuries after a first-time traumatic shoulder dislocation. However, fracture of the coracoid process after traumatic shoulder dislocation is rare. A single, open surgical procedure could be performed by a Latarjet procedure using a fractured fragment of the coracoid process. If a fracture of the coracoid process is associated with a traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation, the Latarjet procedure may be the most appropriate surgical option.

Biological Enhancement of Healing with Kartogenin Injection at the Tendon-to-Bone Interface in a Rat Rotator Cuff Tear Model / 대한스포츠의학회지

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of kartogenin (KGN) on the tendon-bone interface in a rat rotator cuff tear model. @*Methods@#Twenty male rats were divided into two equal groups; group 1 (repair only) and group 2 (KGN single injection). A rat rotator cuff rupture model was prepared, and KGN (500 μM) was injected into the repair site. The specimens were collected after 8 weeks, and biomechanical and histological analyses were performed. We assessed the healing quality of the tendon-to-bone repair site using six aspects of tendon tissue. The histological findings were classified semiquantitatively into four grades (grade 0, the poorest appearance; grade 1, poorer; grade 2, better; and grade 3, marked regeneration). @*Results@#Group 2 showed a higher mean ultimate load to failure than the control group (group 1: 25.78±31.38 N, group 2: 55.64±36.02 N; p=0.011). On histological analysis, group 2 exhibited a significantly greater total score (group 1: 7.20±2.14, group 2: 9.50±1.84; p=0.019), collagen fiber continuity (group 1: 1.20±0.42, group 2: 1.70±0.48; p=0.024), and collagen fiber density (group 1: 1.50±0.52, group 2: 2.20±0.63; p=0.080). Metachromasia were more intense in group 2 than in the control group. @*Conclusion@#A single injection of KGN reinforces biomechanical strength and the formation of collagen and fibrocartilage at the tendon-to-bone interface in a rat rotator cuff tear model.

Evaluation of Infection after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction during a Short Period

PURPOSE: We encountered 7 cases (7.1%) of infection (5 deep and 2 superficial) in 98 cases of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction using hamstring autografts in a 17-month period. The aim of this study was to analyze the causes of infection and to introduce our treatment strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the shelf-life of the fixation implants, the order of surgery, previous knee surgery, infectious pathogen, treatment of infection, and results of treatment. RESULTS: There was no problem with the expiration date of the fixation implants. The order of surgery was either the last or second to the last of all those performed on the same day. One patient had undergone knee surgery 8 months previously. The treatment after infection included aggressive debridement in all cases. Revision ACL reconstruction with graft removal was performed in 1 case of persistent infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. All cases had satisfactory clinical results without recurrence during a mean 24.9 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: We could not verify the exact cause of the high incidence of infection during the 17-month period. However, preventive measures are important to decrease the incidence of infection after ACL reconstruction.

Clinical outcomes of vitrified-thawed embryo transfer using a pull and cut straw method

OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcomes of patients with vitrified-thawed embryos transferred using either the 0.25 mL straw method and the pull and cut straw (PNC) method. To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with transferred embryos that underwent assisted hatching at the cleaved embryo (day 3) or the blastocyst (day 5) stage. METHODS: The study population consisted of women who underwent vitrified-warmed embryo transfer between May 2000 and December 2011 and assisted hatching was performed after warming of embryos. Cycles of thawing between assisted hatching treated and non treated groups were compared for survival and pregnancy rates. RESULTS: The PNC vitrification method improved survival and pregnancy rates in partial lysed embryos. While assisted hatching did not affect the developmental and clinical pregnancy rates of the vitrified-warmed blastocyst group, it did increase the pregnancy rate of poor quality vitrified-warmed cleaved embryos. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that PNC may increase the number of clinical pregnancies via the vitrification of both cleaved embryos and blastocysts. In addition, selective assisted hatching treatment of embryos that show a poor prognosis after warming may increase the rate of clinical pregnancy.

Clinical Significance of Vesicoureteral Reflux in Renal Transplant Recipients / 대한신장학회잡지

BACKGROUND: We investigated the frequency and clinical impact on vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in the transplanted kidney. METHODS: In this study 55 CsA - treated patients were enrolled who received kidney transplantation between 1993 and 1997. They survived for at least one year while taking Voiding cystourethrography. With the results, we divided into two classes, with and with out VUR, where we found such as graft survival, prevalence of hypertension, frequency of urinary tract infection (UTI), creatinine clearance (Ccr) and proteinuria (mg/day) at 1, 5, 7 years after transplantation. RESULTS: VUR was detected in 39 (71%) patients. Patients with no VUR, the prevalence of hypertension, graft failure, the number of UTI episodes/patient were 16 (100%), 1 (6.25%), 2.14+/-0.40 (mean+/-SEM) and patients with VUR were 33 (84.6%), 2 (5.12%), 1.37+/-0.26 respectively. There was no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.2). Patients with no VUR, Ccr (mean+/-SEM) at 1, 5, 7 years after transplantation were 69.9+/-9.1 (mL/ min), 59.4+/-3.6, 57.3+/-3.5 and proteinuria were 171+/-48.2 (mg/day), 188+/-74.5, 249+/-119.6 respectively. Patients with VUR, Ccr were 72.0+/-7.2, 55.5+/-2.6, 54.1+/-2.8 and proteinuria were 192+/-33.8, 148+/-29.0, 207+/-74.4 respectively. Also, there was no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.4). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that the presence of VUR did not harm graft function or survival.

Complex distraction osteogenesis on hemimandibular hypoplasia: A case report

Uni- or bilateral mandibular hypoplasia can be associated with various syndromes or is acquired after early traumatic or inflammatory disease in the temporomandibular joint(TMJ). Early treatment is necessary to avoid consequent impairment of midfacial growth. The standard treatment of these malformations consists of the application of bone grafts which can lead to unpredictable growth, but the new procedure of bone lengthening which was presented by McCarthy et al. represents a limited surgical intervention and therefore open up a new perspective of treatment, especially in younger children with severe deformities. Patients with hemifacial microsomia and facial asymmetry have a vertically short maxilla, a tilted occlusal plane, and a short mandible. A 14-years-old boy with facial asymmetry, who was fractured on both condyle and mandibular symphysis before 8 years ago, was treated by mandibular ramus lengthening, symphysial widening and surgically assisted rapid palatal expansion with corticotomy. After allowing 1 week for the healing of the periosteum, the distraction was performed at the rate of 0.5-1.0mm per day for 7 days on maxilla and 14 days on mandible. The device was maintained on maxilla and mandible for 12 weeks following distraction. The difference in ramus and mandibular transverse deficiency were corrected and facial asymmetry was improved with complex distraction osteogenesis.