Computational Mechanical Analysis of AO 44A1, 44B1, and 44C1 Fractures with Finite Element Modeling: Evaluation of Screw, Plate, and Kirschner Wire Fixation

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to create AO 44A1, 44B1, and 44C1 fractures using finite element analysis to determine the stability of Kirschner wire, intramedullary screw, and plate-screw fixation methods in fracture.

METHODS

Using finite element analysis, the postreduction behavior of AO 44A1, 44B1, and 44C1 fractures with Kirschner wire, intramedullary screw, and plate-screw fixation methods was analyzed and compared in terms of displacement and stress.

RESULTS

The lowest amount of displacement was provided with the intramedullary screw method in AO 44A1 and 44B1 fractures and with the 4-mm Kirschner wire method in AO 44C1 fractures. The total displacement of the intramedullary screw system used for fixation in AO 44A1, 44B1, and 44C1 fractures was lower.

CONCLUSIONS

According to finite element analysis results, the lowest amount of displacement was obtained with intramedullary screw fixation in AO 44A1 and 44B1 fractures, and 4-mm Kirschner wire fixation was achieved in AO 44C1 fractures.

Two-Point Discrimination in Feet with Ankle Sprains

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to compare two-point discrimination in feet with ankle sprains and feet without ankle problems, and to determine whether there was a change in the two-point discrimination values in ankle sprains.

METHODS

A total of 108 people were included in the study. These subjects were aged between 18 and 40 years and visited the Medical Faculty of Yozgat Bozok University for various reasons in July and September of 2022. These people were divided into two groups: subjects with an ankle sprain and subjects with no ankle problems. Two-point discrimination values measured in mm were recorded for both groups using a caliper (esthesiometer) used in six regions of 216 feet. The two-point discrimination threshold values of the feet were compared statistically according to feet with ankle sprains and feet without ankle problems, as well as in right and left feet.

RESULTS

The study determined that the two-point discrimination threshold values measured at the 1st toe tip, heel, 3rd plantar metatarsal head, medial malleolus, and lateral malleolus in subjects with an ankle sprain was higher than in subjects with no ankle problems. When comparing both feet of the subjects with an ankle sprain, the two-point discrimination threshold value in the heel of the foot with an ankle sprain was higher than in the heel of the foot without ankle problems.

CONCLUSIONS

The two-point discrimination threshold value was higher in subjects with an ankle sprain than in subjects with no ankle problems. The data suggest that the two-point discrimination threshold may be higher in people with an ankle sprain. Further studies are needed to better understand the two-point discrimination threshold in ankle sprains.

Biomechanical effect of ankle ligament injury in AO 44B2.1 lateral malleolus fractures after lateral plate fixation: A finite element analysis

BACKGROUND

Distal fibula fractures at the ankle level are common and are usually accompanied by ligament injuries. This study aims to evaluate the effects of ankle ligament ruptures on ankle joints, fracture instability, and plate stress after distal fibula fracture fixed with plate created by finite element analysis (FEA) modeling and loading applied to ligament rupture models that may accompany this fracture.

METHODS

A finite element model consisting of 3-D (3D) fibula, tibia, foot bones, and ankle ligaments was designed to investigate the effects of ligament injuries accompanying plate-detected Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO 44B2.1)-type fractures on fracture detection, fixation material, and ankle joints. Then, the results were evaluated by modeling ligament rupture in 6 different ways.

RESULTS

In the modeling where the deltoid and the talofibular ligament are broken together, instability is the highest in the ankle (2.31 mm) and fracture line (0.15 mm). In our study, the rupture of the tibiofibular anterior and posterior ligaments associated with syndesmosis caused less instability in the fracture and ankle than the single rupture models of both the deltoid and the talofibular ligament.

CONCLUSIONS

In the finite element modeling of AO 44B2.1-type fractures detected with plate, the importance and potential effects of often overlooked ankle ligaments are pointed out shown. It is important to keep in mind that when treating ankle injuries, the ankle should be treated as a whole, with both bone and soft tissue. In some cases, the fracture may represent the visible tip of the iceberg.

Evaluation Of YouTube Information Quality About Pes Planus

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to measure the quality of information about 'flatfoot' and 'pes planus' presented online on the social media site YouTube and to determine the trends of viewers to medical information on YouTube.

METHODS

'flatfoot and pes planus' was typed into the YouTube search module. From the search results, videos with 50000 views or more, longer than 45 seconds, containing information about flatfoot and pes planus disease were selected. DISCERN, JAMA scoring, daily average views, number of likes, number of comments were collected from 53 videos that met the criteria. The profession of the sharer was evaluated in terms of the information quality of the sharing and the orientation of the audience.

RESULTS

The mean number of views per day of the examined videos was 2047. Mean video presentation time was 8 minutes 50 seconds. The mean JAMA score was 2/4 and the mean DISCERN score was 38.16/75. According to the DISCERN score according to the professions, the video quality was moderate in doctors (41.44±12.99), moderate in physiotherapists (41.91±9.04), poor in coaches (32.78±7.87), poor in patients (34.50±5.32) and weak in others (34.89±14.00). According to the Spearman correlation between DISCERN score and mean daily viewing significant relationships were found in the doctors group p:0.0102 and the others group p:0.0033, however, no significant relationships were observed in the physiotherapists group p:0.1073, the flatfoot patients group p:0.5363 and the coaches group p:0.9111. There were significant relationships between like and comment counts in all groups (doctors p:0.0088, coaches p:0.0069, physiotherapists p:0.0007, others p:0.0018, patients p:0.0066).

CONCLUSIONS

Looking at previous studies, it was observed that the quality of online health information was historically inadequate. Likewise, in our study on YouTube, we found that the quality of flatfoot and pes planus information was poor to moderate.

Eco-friendly Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles using Juglans regia Extract and their Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis, Anticancer, and Antimicrobial Effects

BACKGROUND

Green synthesis is an efficient and eco-friendly method that has been used frequently in silver nanoparticle production in recent years. This method facilitates the production of nanoparticles using various organisms, such as plants, and is also cheaper and easier to apply than the other techniques.

AIMS

This study aims to find possible mechanisms and pharmacological effects of cubic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs).

OBJECTIVES

This study characterizes cubic AgNPs and describes in detail their anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti- Trichomonas vaginalis abilities.

METHODS

Silver nanoparticles were produced by green synthesis using Juglans regia (walnut) leaf aqueous extract. We validated the formation of AgNPs by UV-vis spectroscopy, FTIR analysis, and SEM micrographs. To determine the pharmacological effects of the AgNPs, we conducted anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, and anti-parasitic activity experiments.

RESULTS

Cytotoxicity data revealed that AgNPs have cellular inhibitory properties on cancerous MCF7 (breast), HeLa (cervix), C6 (glioma), and HT29 (colorectal) cell lines. Similar results are also obtained with anti-bacterial and anti- Trichomonas vaginalis activity experiments. At certain concentrations, AgNPs displayed stronger anti-bacterial activities than the sulbactam/cefoperazone antibiotic combination in five bacteria species. Furthermore, the 12-h AgNPs treatment exhibited satisfactory anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity similar to the FDA-approved metronidazole.

CONCLUSION

Consequently, AgNPs produced by the green synthesis method by Juglans regia leaves showed remarkable anti-carcinogenic, anti-bacterial, and anti-trichomonas vaginalis activities. We propose the potential usefulness of green synthesized AgNPs as therapeutics.

Effects of personality traits on severity of sepsis

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to reveal the effect of the individual's lifestyle and personality traits on the disease process in patients with sepsis and to have clinical predictions about these patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was planned as a multi-center, prospective, observational study after obtaining the approval of the local ethics committee. Patients were hospitalized in different intensive care units. Besides demographics and personal characteristics of patients, laboratory data, length of hospital and ICU stay, and mortality was recorded. Two hundred and fifty-nine patients were followed up in 11 different intensive care units. Mortality rates, morbidities, blood analyses, and personality traits were evaluated as primary outcomes.

RESULT

Of the 259 patients followed up, mortality rates were significantly higher in men than in women (p= 0.008). No significant difference was found between the patients' daily activity, tea and coffee consumption, reading habits, smoking habits, blood groups, atopy histories and mortality rates. Examining the personal traits, it was seen that 90 people had A-type personality structure and 51 (56.7%) of them died with higher mortality rate compared to type B (p= 0.038). There was no difference between personalities, in concomitant ARDS occurrence, need for sedation and renal replacement therapies.

CONCLUSIONS

Among individuals diagnosed with sepsis/septic shock, mortality increased significantly in patients with A-type personality trait compared to other personality traits. These results showed that personal traits may be useful in predicting the severity of disease and mortality in patients with sepsis/septic shock.

[Mortality prediction ability of phycians in intensive care units of Turkey (MOPAP)]

Introduction

Intensive care physicians are increasingly involved in decision making about the prognosis of intensive care unit ICU patients. With this study; we aimed to evaluate the power of clinician foresight at prediction of mortality in patient at triage to intensive care and patient follow-up.

Materials and Methods

This study was conducted in ICUs located in various geographical regions of Turkey between January 1, 2017-April 30, 2017.The clinical research was planned as observational, multicenter, cross-sectional.

Result

A total of 1169 intubated patients were followed in 37 different ICU. At the beginning of the follow-up we asked the physician who will follow the patient in the ICU to give a score for the probability of survival of the patients. Scoring included a total of 6 scores from 0 to 5, with the "0" the worst probability "5" being the best. According to this distribution, only 1 (0.9%) of 113 patients who were given 0 points survived. Three (6.1%) of 49 with the best score of 5 died. Survival rates were significantly different in each score group (r: -0.488; p<0.001). After the combined mortality estimation scores based on the clinical observations of the physicians (0 and 1 point score was combined as non-survive, 4 and 5 score was combined as survived) 320 of the 545 patients were estimated to be dead and 225 were predicted survival. Sensitivity and spesifity of scoring system to predict mortality was 91.56% (95% CI: 87.96-94.37), 76.89% (95% CI: 70.82-82.23) respectively.

Conclusions

In this study, we concluded that the physicians who follow the patients in the ICU can predict the poor prognosis at the time of admission and the high mortality rate. The physician's opinion on mortality estimation should be considered in intensive care mortality scoring in addition to other laboratory and clinical parameters.

The Combination of Amygdalin with Some Anticancer, Antiparasitic, and Antigout Drugs Against MG63, Saos2, SW1353, and FL Cells In Vitro

Osteosarcoma has a poor prognosis and survival rate due to inadequate chemotherapy, high recurrence ability, high metastasis potential, and almost no radiotherapy being applied. One of the strategies to solve these problems is to develop the pharmacologically active plant metabolite, amygdalin, in combination therapeutic systems. In this project, the antiproliferative effects of amygdalin alone and in binary or ternary combinations with some anticancer drugs (cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and camptothecin), antiparasitic drugs (metronidazole and miltefosine), and an antigout drug (colchicine) were examined using human bone osteosarcoma cell lines (MG-63 and Saos2), the chondrosarcoma cell line (SW1353), and the normal human cell line (FL). Known half-maximal inhibitory concentration values of the drugs were taken into consideration, and the recommended combination ratios were used in the Chou-Talalay method. The strong synergistic effect commonly seen in the combination of amygdalin with miltefosine, metronidazole, camptothecin, colchicine, oxaliplatin, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin dual drug indicates that these combinations can be used in cancer treatment. The synergistic effect caused by amygdalin decreases toxicity by increasing drug yield. However, amygdalin antagonism seen in several combinations may prevent these pairs from being used together. In combination with antagonistic effects, it may be preferable to use amygdalin alone as it generally causes strong antiproliferative effects. Besides, there is a more potent synergism between amygdalin and triple drug combinations. Overall, these results emphasize that amygdalin combinations in treatment of bone cancer are significant.

Prognostic evaluation of cases with thoracic trauma admitted to the intensive care unit: 10-year clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND

Multiple traumas are a leading cause of mortality among young adults worldwide. Thoracic trauma causes approximately 25% of all trauma-associated deaths. This study aims to determine the independent prognostic factors of mortality in cases with thoracic trauma (isolated or with accompanying organ injuries) who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed data from patients with thoracic trauma who were admitted to our ICU between 2007 and 2016. After excluding pediatric patients (aged <18 years), the study sample included 564 cases. From the records, we collected the patients' demographical data, comorbid diseases, primary trauma as an indication for ICU admission, other traumas accompanying thoracic trauma, type of thoracic injury, and therapeutic interventions. The study sample was divided into two subsets: survival and non-survival groups. These two groups were compared with regards to first ICU day laboratory results and intensive care scores, mechanical ventilation times, and ICU stay lengths.

RESULTS

Of the 8063 patients admitted to the ICU between 2007 and 2016, 616 (7.6%) had thoracic trauma. The median age (min-max) of the 564 patients eligible for this study was 43 (18-87) years. Mortality occurred in 159 (28.1%) cases, while 405 (71.8%) were discharged from the ICU. Multivariate regression analyses were also performed, in which every increment in age was associated with a 1.025-fold increase in the odds of mortality due to thoracic trauma. Additionally, the presence of central nervous system (CNS) trauma was associated with a 2.147-fold increase, and the presence of pulmonary contusion was associated with a 1.752-fold increase.

CONCLUSION

Results of this study indicate that advanced age, the presence of pulmonary contusion, and accompanying CNS trauma are independent predictors of mortality in patients with thoracic trauma in the ICU. Our non-invasive approach is further supported by the trauma and injury severity score (TRISS) scoring system, which is one of the latest scoring systems used in trauma cases.

Chondroprotective effect of Nigella sativa oil in the early stages of osteoarthritis: an experimental study in rabbits

PURPOSE

Nigella sativa oil possesses a well-known ability to protect certain organs from oxidative, neoplastic, and inflammatory damage. This study investigated the potential chondroprotective effects of intraarticular injections of Nigella sativa oil in a rabbit osteoarthritis model.

METHODS

Osteoarthritis models were created by performing anterior cruciate ligament transections in 20 New Zealand rabbits. Rabbits were randomly divided into two groups of 10 and given intraarticular injections in their right knees weekly for 5 weeks, beginning in the third week post-operation. Injections given to the first group contained whole Nigella sativa oil, whereas the second group was injected with a saline solution. Knee joints were harvested 8 weeks after surgery. Knee joint surfaces were examined macroscopically, and medial femoral condyle sections were examined microscopically.

RESULTS

There was a statistically significant difference in the macroscopic grading results of the groups, with the Nigella sativa group having better results (p=0.001). The Nigella sativa group also received significantly better total Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) scores (p=0.035).

CONCLUSIONS

Intraarticular administration of Nigella sativa oil has the potential to protect cartilage from degeneration in the early stages of osteoarthritis.

[From carbonmonoxide intoxication to organ donation; organ protective mechanic ventilation in severe pulmonary damage]

Organ donation is a matter of concern in critically ill patients who need intensive care after carbonmonoxide (CO) intoxication. A 26-year-old female patient was unconscious after having spent 20 minutes in the bathroom with a water heater (70% butane and 30% propane mixture). In the CT of the patient with Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3, ventricular system was erased, white-gray matter separation was lost and fissures were observed as erased. Torax CT showed conspicuous areas showing air bronchograms in both lung bases and posterior areas and diffuse frosted glass densities in other areas. In a patient with no improvement in consciousness; apnea test, neurological examination and CT angiography showed that there was no blood flow in the brain and brain death was confirmed. On the second day of hospitalization, the relatives gave their approval for the donation. It may also be advantageous to use oxygen at high concentrations in carbonmonoxide poisoning as it may allow recruitment of closed alveoli. Successful kidney, heart, lung, liver and pancreas transplants from donors exposed to CO have been reported. Carbonmonoxide intoxication may be appropriate for transplantation for patients who are waiting for organs of brain death cases where the organ preservation is well done. Although carbonmonoxide intoxication has failed in the literature, it shows that there is no definite contraindication.

Effectiveness and safety of cabazitaxel chemotherapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostatic carcinoma on Turkish patients (The Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology)

OBJECTIVE

Prostate cancer is among the most common cancers in males. Prostate cancer is androgen dependent in the beginning, but as time progresses, it becomes refractory to androgen deprivation treatment. At this stage, docetaxel has been used as standard treatment for years. Cabazitaxel has become the first chemotherapeutic agent which has been shown to increase survival for patients with metastatic Castrate Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) that progresses after docetaxel. Phase 3 TROPIC study demonstrated that cabazitaxel prolongs survival.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this study, we evaluated a total of 103 patients who took cabazitaxel chemotherapy for mCRPC diagnosis in 21 centers of Turkey, retrospectively. This study included patients who progressed despite docetaxel treatments, had ECOG performance score between 0-2, and used cabazitaxel treatment. Patients received cabazitaxel 25 mg/m2 at every 3 weeks, and prednisolone 5 mg twice a day.

RESULTS

Median number of cabazitaxel cures was 5.03 (range: 1-17). Cabazitaxel response evaluation detected that 34% of the patients had a partial response, 22.3% had stable disease and 32% had a progressive disease. Grade 3-4 hematological toxicities were neutropenia (28.2%), neutropenic fever (14.5%), anemia (6.7%), and thrombocytopenia (3.8%). In our study, median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.7 months and overall survival (OS) was 10.6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reflects toxicity profile of Turkish patients as a Caucasian race. We suggest that cabazitaxel is a safe and effective treatment option for mCRPC patients who progress after docetaxel. Moreover, ethnicity may play important roles both in treatment response and in toxicity profile.

A rare clinical presentation of sarcoidosis; gingivitis

Gingivitis due to sarcoidosis is a relatively rare condition. Gingivitis or isolated gingival involvement may be the first sign of systemic sarcoidosis. We report the case of a 37 year-old woman with isolated gingivitis due to sarcoidosis confirmed by biopsy. Following treatment with a systemic corticosteroid (prednisolone 40 mg/day), all clinical and radiologic findings were completely improved. In cases of chronic and intractable gingivitis, systemic sarcoidosis should be suspected. It should be confirmed with a biopsy, and the patient should be referred to a chest disease clinic to exclude other organ involvement.