Fusion of the Tarsometatarsal Joints: A Focus on Lateral Column Fusion Nonunion Rates.

The literature has previously criticized lateral column arthrodesis, stating this procedure should be avoided to preserve biomechanical function. For patients with recurrent pain secondary to posttraumatic degenerative joint disease (PT-DJD) or dysfunction secondary to Charcot tarsometatarsal collapse, however, this procedure could provide a positive alternative to conservative measures. In our study, 37 patients underwent fourth and/or fifth metatarsal to cuboid arthrodesis, either in isolation or in combination with other tarsometatarsal arthrodeses, with an average follow-up of 27.

Mycobacterium chelonae-abscessus Complex Infection After Flatfoot Reconstruction.

Mycobacterium infections involving tuberculosis in the foot are rare but cases are readily available in published studies. Atypical or nontuberculosis mycobacterium foot infections are rare, especially those involving the soft tissue and bone, and have been infrequently reported. To date, no case reports involving atypical mycobacterium infection after elective foot surgery have been reported.

A zebrafish model of diabetes mellitus and metabolic memory.

Diabetes mellitus currently affects 346 million individuals and this is projected to increase to 400 million by 2030. Evidence from both the laboratory and large scale clinical trials has revealed that diabetic complications progress unimpeded via the phenomenon of metabolic memory even when glycemic control is pharmaceutically achieved. Gene expression can be stably altered through epigenetic changes which not only allow cells and organisms to quickly respond to changing environmental stimuli but also confer the ability of the cell to "memorize" these encounters once the stimulus is removed.

Impaired tissue regeneration corresponds with altered expression of developmental genes that persists in the metabolic memory state of diabetic zebrafish.

As previously reported by our laboratory, streptozocin-induced diabetes mellitus (DM) in adult zebrafish results in an impairment of tissue regeneration as monitored by caudal fin regeneration. Following streptozocin withdrawal, a recovery phase occurs to reestablish euglycemia, via pancreatic beta-cell regeneration. However, DM-associated impaired fin regeneration continues indefinitely in the metabolic memory (MM) state, allowing for subsequent molecular analysis of the underlying mechanisms of MM.

Heritable transmission of diabetic metabolic memory in zebrafish correlates with DNA hypomethylation and aberrant gene expression.

Metabolic memory (MM) is the phenomenon whereby diabetes complications persist and progress after glycemic recovery is achieved. Here, we present data showing that MM is heritable and that the transmission correlates with hyperglycemia-induced DNA hypomethylation and aberrant gene expression. Streptozocin was used to induce hyperglycemia in adult zebrafish, and then, following streptozocin withdrawal, a recovery phase was allowed to reestablish a euglycemic state.

Limb regeneration is impaired in an adult zebrafish model of diabetes mellitus.

The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an established model organism for the study of developmental processes, human disease, and tissue regeneration. We report that limb regeneration is severely impaired in our newly developed adult zebrafish model of type I diabetes mellitus. Intraperitoneal streptozocin injection of adult, wild-type zebrafish results in a sustained hyperglycemic state as determined by elevated fasting blood glucose values and increased glycation of serum protein.

Lysozyme secretion by submucosal glands protects the airway from bacterial infection.

Submucosal glands are abundant (approximately 1 gland/mm2) secretory structures in the tracheobronchial airways of the human lung. Because submucosal glands express antibacterial proteins, it has been proposed that they contribute to lung defense. However, this concept is challenged by the fact that mice do not have submucosal glands in their bronchial airways, yet are quite resistant to bacterial lung infection.