Collagen Gene Variants and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture in Italian Athletes: A Preliminary Report.

Several studies have investigated the role of genetics in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, often returning conflicting results. The present pilot study aimed to analyze the association between six Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1800012; rs12722; rs13946; rs240736; rs970547; and rs4870723, located on the COL1A1, COL5A1, COL12A1, and COL14A1 genes), and ACL rupture, among Italian athletes. A hypothesis-driven association study was conducted. In total, 181 male and female athletes (n = 86 injured; n = 96 non-injured) were genotyped for the prioritized variants. All polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR RFLP, with the only exception being the rs1800012 on the COL1A1 gene, which was detected using MTPA PCR. The allele frequency distribution fell within the worldwide range. Despite the evident population variability, no selective pressure signals were recorded using PBS analysis. No significant difference was detected between the cases and controls for any of the SNPs (rs1800012; rs13946; rs240736; rs970547, and rs4870723) included in the analyses (p > 0.008, Bonferroni-adjusted for multiple comparisons). Moreover, no significant differences were found when males and females were assessed separately. Further investigations based on a larger sample size are needed, in order to draw solid conclusions for the influence between collagen genes and ACL rupture.

The loss of extension test (LOE test): a new clinical sign for the anterior cruciate ligament insufficient knee.

BACKGROUND: This prospective study was created to evaluate the reliability of a new clinical test, which we termed the "loss of extension test" (LOE test). The LOE test investigates the loss of normal maximum passive extension (MPE) of the knee due to an anterior cruciate ligament tear in comparison to the normal MPE of the healthy knee. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was divided into two consecutive parts. Part 1 was designed to assess the side-to-side difference in normal MPE in a healthy population. In part 1, 100 healthy adults were enrolled. Part 2 was designed to evaluate the LOE test reliability in injured knees. In part 2, we included 196 selected patients. RESULTS: In part 1, the average side-to-side difference in MPE in the healthy population was not statistically significant. In part 2, the overall average side-to-side difference in MPE of the injured group was 10.1 mm ± 14.1 (min -20; max 60), which was not statistically significant (p = 0.52). An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear was found in 121 knees among 196 patients. The average side-to-side difference in MPE in the ACL-insufficient group was 16.9 mm ± 13.4 (min -20; max 60), which was statistically significant (p < 0.0001). The accuracy of the loss of extension test was 83.7%, its specificity was 93.3%, its sensitivity was 77.7%, its positive predictive value was 95%, and its negative predictive value was 72.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The reliability of the LOE test is comparable to those reported in the literature for the Lachman test and dynamic tests, so the LOE test could represent a useful tool for the diagnosis of the anterior cruciate ligament insufficient knee.

Surgical approaches in total knee arthroplasty.

Total knee replacement surgery begins with correct planning of both the incision and the exposure of the joint. Indeed, these are factors that are just as crucial to an optimal outcome as choosing the right implant, positioning the components, and balancing the ligaments. While it is true that the standard incision and arthrotomy (with which we are most familiar) will, in most primary implant cases, provide adequate joint exposure, it is also true that cases characterized by certain conditions, such as previous cutaneous incisions, a stiff knee or patella baja, present specific skin and exposure problems that need to be recognized, planned for and overcome.

Improving physical quality of life with group physical activity in the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to compare the change in quality of life over 32 weeks in depressed women assuming antidepressant drug with (experimental group) or without (control group) physical exercise from a study which results on objective dimension of outcome were already published. METHODS: Trial with randomized naturalistic control. Patients selected from the clinical activity registries of a Psychiatric University Unit. INCLUSION CRITERIA: female, between 40 and 60 years, diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorders (MMD, DSM-IV TR) resistant to ongoing treatment. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: diagnosis of psychotic disorders; any contraindications to physical activity. 30 patients (71.4% of the eligible) participated to the study. CASES: 10 randomized patients undergoing pharmacological treatment plus physical activity. CONTROLS: 20 patients undergoing only pharmacological therapy. Quality of life was measured by means of WHOQOL-Bref. RESULTS: The patients that made physical activity had their WHOQOL-Bref physical score improved from T0 to T8, the differences was statistically significant. In the control group WHOQOL-Bref physical remains the same and, consequentially, the difference between T0 and T8 do not reach any statistical significance.The perceived quality of life in the other domains did not change during the treatment in both groups. Thus no other differences were found between and within groups. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The data presented in the previous paper found that physical activity seems a good adjunctive treatment in the long term management of patients with MDD. These new data indicated that physical activity may also improve the perceived physical quality of life. The dimensions related with social functioning, environment and psychical well being seem do not improved, unexpectedly, during the trial. Two objective dimension not strictly related to the depressive symptoms improved: social functioning and Clinical Global Impression, this discrepancy with a subjective and objective dimension of the well being may supported the Goldberg point of view that subjective quality of life in bipolar and unipolar severe depression patients may not accurately reflect objective functional outcome status, potentially due to diminished insight, demoralization, or altered life expectations over time. It may be that physical activity improve the self perception of physical well being. The physical domains of WHOQOL-Bref inquiry about conditions as sleep, pain, energy, body satisfaction that seems frequently problematic also in remission due to the pharmacotherapy and may be risk factor for relapse/recurrence. Thus physical therapy seems to determinate improvement in depressive aspects not frequently responsive to the drug treatment.

Efficacy of physical activity in the adjunctive treatment of major depressive disorders: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND: No controlled trials have evaluated the long term efficacy of exercise activity to improve the treatment of patients with Major Depressive Disorders. The aim of the present study was to confirm the efficacy of the adjunctive physical activity in the treatment of major depressive disorders, with a long term follow up (8 months). METHODS: Trial with randomized naturalistic control. Patients selected from the clinical activity registries of the Psychiatric Unit of the University of Cagliari, Italy. INCLUSION CRITERIA: female, between 40 and 60 years, diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorders (DSM-IV TR) resistant to the ongoing treatment. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: diagnosis of psychotic disorders; any contraindications to physical activity.30 patients (71.4% of the eligible) participated to the study. CASES: 10 randomized patients undergoing pharmacological treatment plus physical activity. CONTROLS: 20 patients undergoing only pharmacological therapy.The following tools were collected from each patient by two different psychiatric physicians at baseline and 8 month after the beginning of exercise program: SCID-I, HAM-D, CGI (Clinical Global Impression), GAF. RESULTS: The patients that made physical activity had their HAM-D, GAF and CGI score improved from T0 to T8, all differences were statistically significant. In the control group HAM-D, GAF and CGI scores do not show any statistically significant differences between T0 and T8. LIMITS: Small sample size limited to female in adult age; control group was not subject to any structured rehabilitation activity or placebo so it was impossible to evaluate if the improvement was due to a non specific therapeutic effect associated with taking part in a social activity. CONCLUSION: Physical activity seems a good adjunctive treatment in the long term management of patients with MDD. Randomized placebo controlled trials are needed to confirm the results.