[Radiological and functional results in high-energy tibial plate fractures]

INTRODUCTION

The tibial plateau fractures due to high-energy mechanisms are serious injuries that occur on a load bearing joint. These are difficult to approach because, also affect the bone structure of the leg, they usually have associated soft tissue injuries.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the radiological and functional results of high-energy tibial plateau fractures with a minimum follow-up of one year.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective, observational and multicenter study. Analysis of radiological and functional outcomes in the treatment of high-energy tibial plateau fractures, treated by open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) between 2014 and 2019.

RESULTS

54 fractures treated by ORIF. Follow-up one year. 98.1% consolidation in 13 weeks on average. 83.4% without alterations of the axis in the coronal plane. 74% without postoperative joint widening. Functional scores: Lysholm 82.1 average points and Oxford Knee Score (OKS) 39.5 average points.

CONCLUSION

The joint range of motion was reduced after a high-energy tibial plateau fracture, but with good functional results. The less off axis and less post-operative radiographic widening, the better results are obtained.

Effect of exercise on circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in overweight and obese subjects

Exercise increases the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in rodents and in healthy humans. Its relationship with weight loss and improvement in metabolic parameters, in obese human subjects, has not been elucidated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of an aerobic exercise program on circulating levels of BDNF in overweight and obese subjects. We measured anthropometric and metabolic parameters in 15 male and female nondiabetic outpatients (age 38.3±9.5 years, BMI 27-35 kg/m2), before and after 30 sessions of aerobic exercise (3 sessions per week). Plasma (p), serum (s), and platelet (plat) BDNF concentrations were measured at basal condition and after completing 15 and 30 sessions of exercise. Subjects were advised to continue their usual food intake. A significant decrease in weight, BMI, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure and total cholesterol was observed at the end of the study (p<0.02). Serum and platBDNF showed a significant increase during the training period (p=0.005 and 0.04 respectively). However, pBDNF showed no significant increase. Area under the curve of glucose at baseline, was inversely correlated with sBDNF (r= - 0.53, p=0.04) and platBDNF (r= - 0.6, p=0.01) after session 15. Also, platBDNF was correlated inversely with post load insulin and HOMA2-IR at the end of the training program (r= - 0.53, p=0.03 and r= - 0.52, p=0.04, respectively). In overweight and obese subjects, serum and platBDNF levels increase after 30 sessions of aerobic exercise. This is accompanied with the improvement of anthropometric and metabolic parameters and modest weight loss.

Malignant hemispheric infarction of the middle cerebral artery. Diagnostic considerations and treatment options

INTRODUCTION

Malignant hemispheric infarction (MHI) is a specific and devastating type of ischemic stroke. It usually affects all or part of the territory of the middle cerebral artery although its effects may extend to other territories as well. Its clinical outcome is frequently catastrophic when only conventional medical treatment is applied.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this review is to analyse the available scientific evidence on the treatment of this entity.

DEVELOPMENT

MHI is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Its clinical characteristics are early neurological deterioration and severe hemispheric syndrome. Its hallmark is the development of space-occupying cerebral oedema between day 1 and day 3 after symptom onset. The mass effect causes displacement, distortion, and herniation of brain structures even when intracranial hypertension is initially absent. Until recently, MHI was thought to be fatal and untreatable because mortality rates with conventional medical treatment could exceed 80%. In this unfavourable context, decompressive hemicraniectomy has re-emerged as a therapeutic alternative for selected cases, with reported decreases in mortality ranging between 15% and 40%.

CONCLUSIONS

In recent years, several randomised clinical trials have demonstrated the benefit of decompressive hemicraniectomy in patients with MHI. This treatment reduces mortality in addition to improving functional outcomes.

Genetic variation at the perilipin (PLIN) locus is associated with obesity-related phenotypes in White women

Perilipin coats intracellular lipid droplets and modulates adipocyte lipolysis. We have evaluated the association between several polymorphisms at the perilipin (PLIN) locus (PLIN1 : 6209T > C, PLIN4 : 11482G > A, PLIN5 : 13041A > G, and PLIN6 : 14995A > T) with obesity-related phenotypes in 1589 White subjects randomly selected from a general Spanish population. In women (n = 801), the less common alleles of PLIN1 and PLIN4, in strong linkage disequilibrium (D' : 0.96), were significantly associated with lower body mass index. Carriers of the allele 2 (6209C) at the PLIN1 locus weighed significantly less (-2.2 kg; p = 0.007) than women homozygotes for the wild-type genotype. The same was true for 11482A carriers at PLIN4 (p = 0.01). Moreover, the PLIN4 variant was associated with significantly lower waist-to-hip ratio, plasma glucose, and triacylglycerol concentrations. No significant associations with these obesity-related phenotypes were found in men. In agreement with these results, statistically significant gene-gender interactions were obtained when the risk of obesity was estimated (281 subjects were obese and 1308 non-obese). Only in women, PLIN1 and PLIN4 variant alleles (6209C and 11482A) were associated with a lower obesity risk [Odds ratio (OR) = 0.58, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.38-0.93 and OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.36-0.89, respectively]. In summary, our data suggest that common alleles at the PLIN locus modulate body weight and metabolic variables in humans.

[Systemic inflammatory response syndrome and primary of spontaneous intracerebral haemorrhage]

OBJECTIVE

Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) without infection is a well known phenomenon that accompanies various acute cerebral insults. We in tented to determine whether SIRS was associated with outcome in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, the occurrence of SIRS was assessed according to the guidelines of the 1992 Consensus Conference. SIRS criteria and other prognostic parameters were evaluated as predictors of final outcome.

RESULTS

SIRS was highly related to poor clinical grade (Glasgow coma scale), hemorrhage volume on CT scan and intraventricular extension of hemorrhage. By univariate analysis,the occurrence of SIRS was associated with higher mortality and morbidity rates than was the nonoccurrence (p<0.005).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, SIRS reflected the extent of tissue damage and predicted a poor outcome.

[Acute post-partum infarct of the myocardium secondary to a spontaneous dissection of the coronary artery]

A 38 year-old woman had an anterolateral wall myocardial infarction and acute left ventricular failure 11 days after a cesarean section. Coronary angiography performed 14 days later because of recurrent angina disclosed dissection of the left main coronary artery. She subsequently underwent aorto coronary bypass surgery uneventfully. Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a rare entity that mainly affects women in peripartum periods and presents a high mortality rate.

[Constrictive pericarditis: diagnostic aspects and surgical results in 23 cases]

We reviewed the clinical data on 23 patients operated on for constrictive pericarditis. Mean age was 35 years and 17 were males. The chief complaint was dyspnea (87%). Outstanding physical findings were venous hypertension (96%), hepatomegaly (78%), ascitis (57%), pulsus paradoxus (57%) and Kussmaul sign (43%). The ECG, although always abnormal was non contributory. Chest X ray findings included cardiomegaly (48%) and pericardial calcification (35%). Half of the cases showed pericardial thickening and abnormal septal motion on M mode echocardiography. An equalization of diastolic pressures and the dip and plateau sign was confirmed at cardiac catheterization in all cases. The etiology could be established in only 6 patients (tuberculosis 3, traumatic 2 and septic 1). Surgical mortality was 9% (2 patients). Follow up was available on 10 patients at a mean of 35 months, 9 in functional class I and 1 in FC II.