Discoid meniscus: Treatment considerations and updates.

A discoid meniscus is a morphological abnormality wherein the meniscus loses its normal 'C' shape. Although most patients are asymptomatic, patients might still present with symptoms such as locking, pain, swelling, or giving way. Magnetic resonance imaging is usually needed for confirmation of diagnosis.

Osteoid Osteoma of the Calcaneus in a Young Patient Treated With Radiofrequency Ablation: A Case Report.

Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a common benign tumor that tends to affect children and young adults. Patients typically present with nocturnal pain that is relieved with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and a unique round or oval radiolucent area with surrounding sclerotic bone on X-ray. The cortex of the diaphysis or metaphysis of long bones is the usual anatomical location, with only 4% of cases localizing to the foot and ankle.

Naproxen induces type X collagen expression in human bone-marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells through the upregulation of 5-lipoxygenase.

Several studies have shown that type X collagen (COL X), a marker of late-stage chondrocyte hypertrophy, is expressed in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from osteoarthritis (OA) patients. We recently found that Naproxen, but not other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (Ibuprofen, Celebrex, Diclofenac), can induce type X collagen gene (COL10A1) expression in bone-marrow-derived MSCs from healthy and OA donors. In this study we determined the effect of Naproxen on COL X protein expression and investigated the intracellular signaling pathways that mediate Naproxen-induced COL10A1 expression in normal and OA hMSCs.

Naproxen affects osteogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells via regulation of Indian hedgehog signaling molecules.

Introduction: We previously showed that type X collagen, a marker of late stage chondrocyte hypertrophy (associated with endochondral ossification), is constitutively expressed by mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from osteoarthritis patients and this may be related to Naproxen (Npx), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug used for therapy. Hedgehog (HH) signaling plays an important role during the development of bone. We tested the hypothesis that Npx affected osteogenic differentiation of human MSCs through the expression of Indian hedgehog (IHH), Patched-1 (PTC1) and GLI family members GLI1, GLI2, GLI3 in vitro.

The effect of Link N on differentiation of human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Introduction: We previously showed that Link N can stimulate extracellular matrix biosynthesis by intervertebral disc (IVD) cells, both in vitro and in vivo, and is therefore a potential stimulator of IVD repair. The purpose of the present study was to determine how Link N may influence human mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) differentiation, as a prelude to using Link N and MSC supplementation in unison for optimal repair of the degenerated disc.

Methods: MSCs isolated from the bone marrow of three osteoarthritis patients were cultured in chondrogenic or osteogenic differentiation medium without or with Link N for 21 days.

The relationship between sleep and wake habits and academic performance in medical students: a cross-sectional study.

Background: The relationship between the sleep/wake habits and the academic performance of medical students is insufficiently addressed in the literature. This study aimed to assess the relationship between sleep habits and sleep duration with academic performance in medical students.

Methods: This study was conducted between December 2009 and January 2010 at the College of Medicine, King Saud University, and included a systematic random sample of healthy medical students in the first (L1), second (L2) and third (L3) academic levels.