Correlation between obesity and severity of distal radius fractures.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of obesity has increased significantly worldwide. Our hypothesis was that patients with obesity have a more severe distal radius fracture and we realized a study to evaluate this correlation between obesity and severity of distal radius fractures caused by low-energy injuries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 114 patients with distal radius fracture were examined in a cross-sectional, observational study. Fractures were classified according to the international AO-Müller/Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification in order to determine the severity. The patient's Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated and a Pearson correlation was performed. RESULTS: The patients were predominantly female, and left side was more frequently affected. Most of the fractures were AO/OTA type A (71 patients). The majority of the involved patients in our study were overweighed or obese. We do not observe a direct correlation between grade of obesity and distal radius fracture severity. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results of this study obesity and severity of distal radius fractures do not correlate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic. Level IV.

In vitro interferon gamma regulation of CCR-3 mRNA expression in peripheral blood leukocytes from atopic asthmatics.

Interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) exerts major pro-inflammatory, regulatory, and anti-inflammatory actions in immune defense responses. In asthma the infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes is a critical event. Chemokines stimulate the migration of the susceptible subset of inflammatory cells. The chemokine receptors CCR-3 are mainly expressed in eosinophils, basophils, and Th2 cells. More recently it has been demonstrated that the IFN-gamma downregulates the expression of some chemokine receptors. IgE determinations were performed using an ELISA for total IgE Peripheral blood leukocytes from patients and controls were isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque gradient. The cells were incubated in the absence or presence of 500 IU/ml of recombinant human IFN-gamma for different times. After incubation the cells were washed and lyzed for reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. RT-PCR was performed using a Perkin-Elmer kit. The amplified bands were run in 2% agarose gels and quantified. The basal levels of CCR-3 in asthmatic patients with IgE > 150 IU/ml tend to be higher than in controls. IFN-gamma down-regulates the expression of CCR-3 in peripheral blood leukocytes from asthmatics with IgE >150 IU/ml, when compared with the basal levels of expression. In conclusions, through the modification of the expression of CCR-3 in peripheral blood leukocytes from atopic asthmatics, IFN-gamma could exert a beneficial effect in patients with asthma, regulating the migration of some inflammatory cells involved in the pathogenesis of the disease.