Just Soaping Them: The Simplest Method for Converting Metal Organic Frameworks into Superhydrophobic Materials.

The incorporation of superhydrophobic properties into metal organic framework (MOF) materials is highly desirable to enhance their hydrolytic stability, gas capture selectivity in the presence of humidity and efficiency in oil-water separations, among others. The existing strategies for inducing superhydrophobicity into MOFs have several weaknesses, such as increased cost, utilization of toxic reagents and solvents, applicability for limited MOFs, etc. Here, we report the simplest, most eco-friendly, and cost-effective process to impart superhydrophobicity to MOFs, involving a rapid (90 min) treatment of MOF materials with solutions of sodium oleate, a main component of soap. The method can be applied to both hydrolytically stable and unstable MOFs, with the porosity of modified MOFs approaching, in most cases, that of the pristine materials. Interestingly, this approach was used to isolate superhydrophobic magnetic MOF composites, and one of these materials formed stable liquid marbles, whose motion could be easily guided using an external magnetic field. We also successfully fabricated superhydrophobic MOF-coated cotton fabric and fiber composites. These composites exhibited exceptional oil sorption properties achieving rapid removal of floating crude oil from water, as well as efficient purification of oil-in-water emulsions. They are also regenerable and reusable for multiple sorption processes. Overall, the results described here pave the way for an unprecedented expansion of the family of MOF-based superhydrophobic materials, as virtually any MOF could be converted into a superhydrophobic compound by applying the new synthetic approach.

Advanced Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) Technologies for Engineering Multifunctional Nanostructures and Nanodevices.

Flame spray pyrolysis (FSP) is an industrially scalable technology that enables the engineering of a wide range of metal-based nanomaterials with tailored properties nanoparticles. In the present review, we discuss the recent state-of-the-art advances in FSP technology with regard to nanostructure engineering as well as the FSP reactor setup designs. The challenges of in situ incorporation of nanoparticles into complex functional arrays are reviewed, underscoring FSP's transformative potential in next-generation nanodevice fabrication. Key areas of focus include the integration of FSP into the technology readiness level (TRL) for nanomaterials production, the FSP process design, and recent advancements in nanodevice development. With a comprehensive overview of engineering methodologies such as the oxygen-deficient process, double-nozzle configuration, and in situ coatings deposition, this review charts the trajectory of FSP from its foundational roots to its contemporary applications in intricate nanostructure and nanodevice synthesis.

Correlation of magnetic resonance (EPR, ssNMR) parameters and crystal-microstrain in marbles as a tool to probe their provenance.

Marbles constitute a significant family of materials, for antiquities, as well as modern constructions. Herein, we have studied Greek marbles, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopies, focusing on their structural microenvironment. Spin-Hamiltonian parameters derived from EPR spectra of naturally occurring 55Mn2+ (S = 5/2, I = 5/2) atoms in marbles, were studied as structural-probes. EPR data at 300 K provide a library of 55Mn2+ zero-field-splitting parameters (E, D). The effect of temperature (300 up to 700 K) on 55Mn2+-ZFS (E, D) and the strain of the D-tensor (Dstrain) was studied by high-temperature EPR spectroscopy. The EPR data, combined with 13C-ssNMR, provide detailed physicochemical information of the calcite and dolomite crystal phases in the marbles. In parallel, we have analyzed the lattice-microstrain (ε0) of the marbles' crystallites using high-resolution XRD data. Analysis of the correlation between the D-values of Mn2+ centers and (ε0)-XRD, reveals trends that reflect the provenance of the marbles. In this context, we discuss the correlation between the D-values of Mn2+ centers and (ε0)-microstrain as a novel tool to elucidate the provenance of marbles.

Bulk RNA sequencing analysis of developing human induced pluripotent cell-derived retinal organoids.

Retinogenesis involves the transformation of the anterior developing brain into organized retinal lamellae coordinated by intricate gene signalling networks. This complex process has been investigated in several model organisms such as birds, fish, mammals and amphibians, yet many facets of retinal development are different in humans and remain unexplored. In this regard, human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived 3D retinal organoids and Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) have emerged as key technologies that have facilitated the discovery of previously unknown details about cell fate specification and gene regulation in the retina. Here we utilized hPSCs integrated with fluorescent reporter genes (SIX6-p2A-eGFP/CRX-p2A-h2b-mRuby3) to generate retinal organoids and carry out bulk RNA sequencing of samples encompassing the majority of retinogenesis (D0-D280). This data set will serve as a valuable reference for the vision research community to characterize differentially expressed genes in the developing human eye.

Tricortical Bone Grafting with Limited Midcarpal and Carpometacarpal Fusion for the Treatment of Giant Cell Tumor of the Capitate.

Background Giant cell tumor (GCT) of capitate is a rare lesion that is challenging to treat. Case Description We present a case of a 12-year-old girl suffering from a GCT of the capitate. Wide excision combined with adjuvant treatment including hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, tricortical bone grafting, and limited midcarpal and carpometacarpal fusion achieved good functional result without evidence of tumor recurrence or radiocarpal degeneration at 8 years postoperatively. Clinical Relevance In this case with long-term follow-up, surgical treatment of capitate GCT with limited midcarpal and carpometacarpal fusion led to a satisfactory outcome despite the alteration of wrist kinematics.

Intratendinous Ganglion Cyst of the Hand: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Intratendinous ganglion of the hand is an extremely rare benign tumor, and only few cases have been reported so far in the literature. We present a case with an intratendinous ganglion of the extensor digitorum communis that treated with en bloc resection and subsequent tendon repair. According to the review of the literature and published data, the ganglion is predominantly located at hand extensor tendons (82%), and it is more frequent among females (75%) and shows a high incidence in 5th and 6th decades of life (94.5%). Surgical excision with or without side-to-side repair and/or tendon transfer leads to excellent outcome and low potential for recurrence.

Heterogeneous colonic content: A prenatal sonographic manifestation of lysinuric protein intolerance.

We report a fetus with heterogeneous colonic content, an isolated sonographic prenatal sign of lysinuric protein intolerance, a very rare metabolic disease. Familial genetic enquiries confirmed heterozygote mutation in the implicated gene in parents. The prenatal diagnosis led to neonatal dietary adaptation and avoided acute complications.

Talonavicular Dislocation-What Lies Beneath?

BACKGROUND: The talonavicular joint is a rare site of dislocation. Its etiology varies and can be the result of either acute trauma or a chronic degenerative process that most commonly occurs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or Charcot arthropathy. Our aim is to highlight the relationship between the underlying pathology of talonavicular dislocations and the final outcome in the case of operative management. METHODS: We present three cases of talonavicular dislocation with the dislocation itself as the only common denominator, and a completely different etiology, natural history, treatment, and prognosis among them. RESULTS: There was one case of a traumatic talocalcaneonavicular dislocation in a healthy individual, one case in a rheumatoid arthritis patient, and one case in a patient with diabetes mellitus. All patients were treated surgically. The outcomes were excellent, fair, and poor, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among many factors that influence prognosis, it is equally critical to evaluate the overall background in which the dislocation occurs so as to apply the suitable treatment. The surgeon not only needs to treat the local incident but also appreciate the general medical condition to provide the best final outcome to the patient.

Imaging of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is an umbrella term covering several distinct categories that share common features. The European League Against Rheumatism and the Pediatric Rheumatology European Society have published a consensus article with recommendations to guide radiologists and clinicians in choosing the best imaging technique for each particular clinical setting. A reproducible, accurate, validated, and long-established scoring system to use in everyday practice for monitoring and predicting long-term response to therapy is still to be developed on MR imaging for each joint.

One portal simultaneous bilateral endoscopic carpal tunnel release under local anaesthesia. Do the results justify the effort?

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether simultaneous bilateral endoscopic carpal tunnel release could be effectively and safely performed under local anaesthesia. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated 85 consecutive patients (62 females) who underwent simultaneous one portal endoscopic bilateral carpal tunnel release with subcutaneous injection of 2 mL 2 % lidocaine. In case of pain after discharge, all patients were advised to take paracetamol (i.e., acetaminophen) and to record the dose of drug taken. Patients were reviewed at regular intervals until one year postoperatively. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 31.2 min. Postoperatively, only nine patients (10.6 %) received on average 611 mg of paracetamol. Significant improvement was noticed in the parameters of numbness, pain, positive Phalen and Tinel tests, pinch strength, grip strength, tip pinch strength and Quick DASH Score. Patients returned fully to work after surgery in average 2.2 weeks. Conversion to open release took place in four wrists (2.4 %). Discomfort and pain from tourniquet pressure was reported from two patients (2.4 %). Two wrists (1.2 %) required revision surgery. One patient (1.2 %) reported temporary thenar numbness and another (1.2 %) had slight scar hypersensitivity. CONCLUSIONS: Simultaneous bilateral endoscopic carpal tunnel release under local anaesthesia is well tolerated by patients. The technique may be of benefit in young, active, high-demand patients who require fast recovery, early return to work and less disability time.

Cuff width increases the serum biochemical markers of tourniquet-induced skeletal muscle ischemia in rabbits.

Tourniquet application is a widely accepted adjuvant technique in extremity surgery. The purpose of this prospective, randomized trial was to evaluate the effect of cuff width on skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury. A 2- or 4-cm wide curved tourniquet cuff was applied around the midthigh of 36 New Zealand White rabbits and inflated to a pressure of 200 or 400 mm Hg for 2 hours: group A=2 cm to 200 mm Hg; group B=2 cm to 400 mm Hg; group C=4 cm to 200 mm Hg; group D=4 cm to 400 mm Hg. Blood levels of potassium, lactic acid, urea, lactic dehydrogenase, and creatinine phosphokinase MM isoenzyme (CPK-MM) were measured as basic indicators for limb ischemia before tourniquet inflation and 1, 5, and 30 minutes after cuff release.Potassium values did not differ among the 4 groups. Lactic acid and urea concentrations were always higher in the 400 mm Hg groups (B and D) (P<.001). However, cuff width did not affect their levels (P>.16). Lactic dehydrogenase and CPK-MM values were also greater in the 400 mm Hg groups at all times (P<.001). Further subgroup analysis of 200 mm Hg pressure groups showed higher lactic dehydrogenase (P<.02) but not CPK-MM (P>.9) concentrations in group C than in group A during the 30-minute period. At 400 mm Hg, lactic dehydrogenase and CPK-MM values were higher in group D compared with group B only 30 minutes after cuff deflation (P<.001). Broad tourniquets are associated with significantly greater and prolonged elevation of serum biochemical markers of inducible skeletal muscle ischemia-reperfusion injury compared with narrow ones. This difference is more prominent when a wide cuff is inflated to a high pressure.

Rotaglide total knee arthroplasty: a long-term follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Mobile-bearing knee designs represent an alternative to conventional fixed-bearing implants in total knee arthroplasty. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical results of a mobile-bearing knee implant. METHODS: From 1990 to 1998, 326 primary consecutive mobile-bearing total knee prostheses were implanted in 260 patients who had a mean age and standard deviation of 66.7 ± 6.9 years. Femoral and tibial components were cemented in all knees, and the patella was resurfaced in 199 knees (61%). Patients were evaluated with the use of the Knee Society clinical rating system and radiographic examinations. Complications were noted, and survivorship of the prostheses was determined. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 156 ± 27.3 months, with maximum follow-up at eighteen years. The mean Knee Society knee score improved from 32.4 ± 21.2 preoperatively to 92.6 ± 10.0 at the time of the last follow-up (p = 0.00), and the mean Knee Society functional score improved from 39.3 ± 18.7 preoperatively to 66.7 ± 18.6 at the time of the last follow-up (p = 0.00). Mean knee flexion improved from 92.3° ± 14.5° preoperatively to 112.1° ± 13.4° at the time of the last follow-up (p = 0.00). There were twenty-four (7.4%) knees that required revision. In eighteen (5.5%) knees, worn out or broken polyethylene was found and a polyethylene-only exchange was done. Six knees (1.8%) were fully revised. The survival rate was 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.93 to 0.98) at ten years and 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.79 to 0.93) at eighteen years. CONCLUSIONS: A fully congruent, mobile-bearing total knee prosthesis had excellent survivorship during the ten to eighteen-year follow-up interval.

The effect of transverse carpal ligament lengthening on carpal tunnel volumetry: a comparison between four techniques.

Transverse carpal ligament (TCL) reconstruction after open carpal tunnel release has been advocated to restore wrist kinematics and grip strength. This study investigates the effect of TCL reconstruction in carpal tunnel volume (CTV). Thirty-eight cadaveric wrists were volarly approached and TCL was exposed to its proximal and distal edges. Carpal tunnel contents were removed and the CTV was measured considering that carpal tunnel resembled the shape of a truncated cone. TCL was then dissected and subsequently reconstructed by using 4 different surgical lengthening techniques. Three of these techniques were retrieved from the literature. The fourth was proposed and performed by the authors. Postreconstruction calculation of CTV was done with the same method. In 6 cadavers, a magnetic resonance imaging-based measurement of CTV was performed to assess the validity and reliability of simulation method. The average increase of CTV ranged from 31% to 44% (P < 0.001 for all techniques). However, no statistical significant difference was found between the 4 techniques (P = 0.097). Magnetic resonance imaging volumetric values were equal to simulation measured values before and after reconstruction of TCL (P = 0.224 and P = 0.674, respectively). Lengthening of TCL substantially increases the carpal tunnel capacity regardless the applied surgical technique. The simulation model method seems to be an accurate, precise, and cost-effective approach for the evaluation of CTV.

Brucella cervical spondylitis complicated by spinal cord compression: a case report.

A case of 65-year-old farmer who presented with Brucella-related cervical spondylitis is described. Because of the advanced form of the infection resulted in neurological impairment, cervical vertebra corpectomy and debridement of the paravertebral granulomatous tissue deposits were performed followed by stabilization with anterior plating and bone grafting. In addition, double antimicrobial chemotherapy regimen was administered for 12 weeks. After one year, follow up evaluation demonstrated resolution of the infection. The authors recommend that brucellosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of cervical spondylitis, particularly in patients who reside in countries where the zoonosis is still endemic.

Reamed interlocking intramedullary nailing for the treatment of tibial diaphyseal fractures and aseptic nonunions. Can we expect an optimum result?

The need for reaming and the number of locking screws to be used in intramedullary (IM) tibial nailing of acute fractures as well as routine bone grafting of tibial aseptic nonunions have not been clearly defined. We describe the results of reamed interlocked IM nails in 233 patients with 247 tibial fractures (190 closed, 27 open and 30 nonunions). Ninety-six percent of the fractures were united at review after an average of 4.9 years. No correlation was found between union and nail diameter (P = 0.501) or the number of locking screws used (P = 0.287). Nail dynamization was effective in 82% of fractures. Locking screw(s) breakage was associated with nonunion in 25% of cases. Bone grafting during IM nailing was found not to increase the healing rate in tibial nonunions (P = 0.623). None of the IM nails were removed or revised due to infection. A dropped hallux and postoperative compartment syndrome were found in 0.8 and 1.6% of cases, respectively. Anterior knee pain was reported in 42% of patients but nail removal did not alleviate the symptoms in almost half. This series confirms the place of reamed intramedullary nailing for the vast majority of tibial diaphyseal fractures. It provides an optimum outcome and minimizes the need for supplementary bone grafting in aseptic nonunions.

Aspiration alone versus aspiration and bupivacaine injection in the treatment of undisplaced radial head fractures: a prospective randomized study.

HYPOTHESIS: Some physicians advocate that aspiration of elbow joint hematoma in radial head fractures is helpful not only for determining a mechanical block to motion from a fracture fragment but also for improving the elbow motion and pain. However, the supplementary role of intra-articular anaesthetic injection is unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective randomized study, 40 patients with undisplaced radial head fractures (Mason I) were treated with elbow joint aspiration alone (20 patients) or aspiration plus intra-articular injection of 3 mL of bupivacaine 0.5% (20 patients). Active elbow exercises were immediately commenced. The patients were evaluated at 1 day, 1, 3, and 6 weeks, 3 and 6 months, and 1 year. RESULTS: No difference was found in terms of range of motion, pain and elbow function between the 2 groups in all the examined time points. The improvement in the above parameters achieved a plateau at 3 weeks in both groups. DISCUSSION: Intra-articular use of local anaesthetic after joint aspiration does not offer any benefit over aspiration alone in the treatment of undisplaced radial head fractures and its routine application is not supported by the clinical data.

Intercalary bone grafting for the reconstruction of phalangeal osteolysis in disappearing bone disease: case report.

Disappearing bone disease (DBD) is a rare condition of unknown etiology that may cause massive hand deformity due to severe osteolysis and soft-tissue atrophy. Bone grafting of the affected metacarpal bones or wrist has been described with moderate success in only 4 cases, but phalanx reconstruction has not been attempted. We report a case with multicentric DBD that was treated with staged intercalary iliac bone grafting of the phalanges of the dominant thumb and index finger. After 3 years, no graft resorption was noticed and the patient reported considerable functional improvement.