Inflammatory and immune variables as predictors of survival in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Background: We aimed to investigate the association between selected inflammatory and immune variables and survival of dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). We evaluated data of 62 client-owned dogs with MMVD, grouped into preclinical, stable congestive heart failure (CHF) and unstable CHF. Univariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to quantify the association of white blood cell count, concentrations and percentages of T lymphocytes and their subtypes (T helper lymphocytes, cytotoxic T lymphocytes, double positive T lymphocytes, double negative T lymphocytes) and B lymphocytes with survival.

Carbapenemase and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria in waters originating from a single landfill in Slovenia.

Groundwater, rainwater, and leachate associated with a single landfill were analysed to detect extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing and carbapenemase (CP)-producing bacteria. After cultivation on three commercial selective-differential media, 240 bacterial isolates were obtained and identified by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Isolates from clinically relevant species were further genotyped by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction, and tested for antibiotic susceptibility and presence of CPs and ESBL enzymes.

Reproducibility and content validity of the Slovenian version of the STarT Back Screening Tool for chronicity risk assessment in patients with low back pain.

Chronic pain is the most common cause of impaired work ability and thus represents a significant social and economic burden. STarT Back Screening Tool (SBT) is the most often used screening tool for rapid identification and classification of patients for their risk of development of chronic low back pain, which is valid and reliable in the original English version and translation into other languages. The aim of the present study was to translate the SBT into Slovenian and to evaluate its content validity and reliability.

Hygiene of Medical Devices and Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations for Alcohol-Based and QAC Disinfectants among Isolates from Physical Therapy Departments.

Disinfectants are used intensively to control and prevent healthcare-associated infections. With continuous use and exposure to disinfectants, bacteria may develop reduced susceptibility. The study aimed to check the hygiene of devices in the physiotherapy department.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the rehabilitation of patients after arthroscopic knee surgery at IPRM in UCM Maribor, Slovenia.

Objectives: We wanted to analyze the impact of the pandemic on the treatment and rehabilitation of these patients.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on medical services globally and it also affected the field of elective surgery and rehabilitation medicine. Among the most common procedures is the arthroscopic knee surgery, which is an intervention that warrants postoperative physical therapy.

3D model-assisted instrumentation of the pediatric spine: a technical note.

Background: Instrumentation of the pediatric spine is challenging due to anatomical constraints and the absence of specific instrumentation, which may result in iatrogenic injury and implant failure, especially in occipito-cervical constructs. Therefore, preoperative planning and in vitro testing of instrumentation may be necessary.

Methods: In this paper, we present a technical note on the use of 1:1 scale patient-specific 3D printed spinal models for preoperative assessment of feasibility of spinal instrumentation with conventional spinal implants in pediatric spinal pathologies.

Causes for Delay to Surgery in Hip Fractures and How It Impacts on Mortality: a Single Level 1 Trauma Center Experience.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The increasing number of hip fractures puts enormous demand on our level 1 trauma centre. Because we have to synchronize hip fracture treatment with all other injuries delays to surgery can occur. In this study, we analysed the reasons for delay to surgery and how it impacts on mortality of hip fracture patients in our institution.

Cemented stems in healthy elderly patients result in higher hypoxia despite a paradoxical lower femoral increase of intramedullary pressure.

Purpose: Hypoxia is a well-known complication in cemented arthroplasty; however, it is not known whether the level of hypoxia is related to the intramedullary pressure or to the age of the patient; therefore, we studied the intramedullary pressure and level of hypoxia in patients undergoing cemented arthroplasty.

Methods: A prospective study was performed during cemented arthroplasties in 25 patients with an average age of 66.2 ± 12.

When does hip fracture surgery delay affects the length of hospital stay?

Purpose: To define factors influencing length of hospital stay (LOS) besides surgery delay.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 634 patients operated for hip fractures in 1-year period. Investigated characteristics were age, gender, American Society of Anesthesiologists score (ASA), time to surgery (first 48 h was considered early), type of surgery, anticoagulant therapy and non-routine pre-operative tests.

Fractures of the acetabulum: from yesterday to tomorrow.

Purpose: The aim of this article is to present history, state of the art, and future trends in the treatment of acetabular fractures.

Methods: Review of recent and historical literature.

Results: Acetabular fractures are difficult to treat.

Window of opportunity for surgical decompression in patients with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury.

Objective: The objective of this prospective study was to determine the optimal timing for surgical decompression (SD) in patients with acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (tSCI) within the first 24 hours of injury.

Methods: In successive patients with fracture and/or dislocation of the subaxial cervical spine and American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (AIS) grades A-C, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was used to determine the optimal timing for SD within the first 24 hours of cervical tSCI to obtain a neurological recovery of at least two AIS grades. Multivariate logistic regression was used to model significant neurological recovery with time to SD, degree of spinal canal compromise (SCC), and severity of injury.

Hip stress distribution - Predictor of dislocation in hip arthroplasties. A retrospective study of 149 arthroplasties.

Dislocation after hip arthroplasty is still a major concern. Recent study of the volumetric wear of the cup has suggested that stresses studied in a one-legged stance model could predispose arthroplasty dislocation. The aim of this work was to study whether biomechanical parameters of contact stress distribution in total hip arthroplasty during a neutral hip position can predict a higher possibility of the arthroplasty dislocating.

3D printing of implants for patient-specific acetabular fracture fixation: an experimental study.

Purpose: To test the effect of 3D printed implants, designed according to surgeon's individual plan, on the accuracy of reduction of an acetabular fracture model.

Methods: Seven identical standardized plastic bone models of an anterior column/posterior hemi-transverse acetabular fracture were used. A CT of one plastic fracture model was made.

Threatening Fracture of Intraosseous Lipoma Treated by Internal Fixation .

Intraosseous lipomas are rare benign bone neoplasms with an incidence of less than 0.1%; origin in the calcaneus has been reported in only a few patients. First-line treatment remains conservative, but several surgical techniques have also been described.

Increased perioperative C-reactive protein and decreased postoperative albumin is associated with acute posttraumatic osteomyelitis in patients with high-energy tibial fractures.

Background: Early diagnosis of acute posttraumatic osteomyelitis (POM) is of vital importance for avoiding devastating complications. Diagnosing POM is difficult due to the lack of a highly specific and sensitive test, such as in myocardial infarct, stroke and intracranial bleeding. Serum inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), white blood cells (WBC) can support clinical findings but they are not able to differentiate between inflammatory response to infection and the host response to non-infection insult with high specificity and sensitivity.

Population structure and attribution of human clinical Campylobacter jejuni isolates from central Europe to livestock and environmental sources.

Campylobacter jejuni is among the most prevalent causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Domesticated animals and, especially, chicken meat are considered to be the main sources of infections. However, the contribution of surface waters and wildlife in C.

Radiological Changes after Interspinous Dynamic Stabilisation for Lateral Stenosis of Lumbar Spinal Canal: A Parallel Group Randomised Trial.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Interspinous dynamic stabilisation devices (IDSDs) are used for stabilisation and indirect decompression of the spinal motion segment in minimally invasive treatment of degenerative conditions of lumbar spine. Good methodological quality studies on biomechanical effects of IDSDs are lacking in scientific literature. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical effect of dynamic IDSD implantation on a spinal motion segment.

Guided tissue regeneration with heterologous materials in primary subtalar arthrodesis: a case report.

Background: Calcaneal fractures are relatively rare and difficult to treat. Treatment options vary based on the type of fracture and the surgeon's experiences. In recent years, surgical procedures have increasingly been used due to the better long-term results.

Scapula fractures: interobserver reliability of classification and treatment.

Objectives: There is substantial variation in the classification and management of scapula fractures. The first purpose of this study was to analyze the interobserver reliability of the OTA/AO classification and the New International Classification for Scapula Fractures. The second purpose was to assess the proportion of agreement among orthopaedic surgeons on operative or nonoperative treatment.

Prevaccination genomic diversity of human papillomavirus genotype 6 (HPV 6).

Prevaccination genomic diversity of human papillomavirus genotype 6 (HPV 6) was established by sequencing 3798 bp of 77 clinically important HPV 6 isolates obtained from 45 and 32 patients with genital warts and laryngeal papillomas, respectively. By analyzing pooled L1, LCR, E6, E2, and E5 nucleotide data of an individual isolate, a total of 36 different genomic variants were identified, of which six (12 isolates), one (one isolate) and 29 (64 isolates) corresponded to HPV 6b, HPV 6a, and HPV 6vc genetic lineages, respectively. Several novel, potentially important mutations were identified.

Genomic diversity of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype 38.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype HPV 38 is a HPV genotype associated with skin cancer and is classified taxonomically in the beta-PV genus-species 2. At least six genomic variants of HPV 38, including prototype isolate and its subtype FA125, have been characterized so far. In order to investigate further the genomic diversity of HPV 38, a total of 39 HPV 38 positive samples obtained from hairs plucked from pubic, scrotal, perianal or eyebrow regions from 31 immunocompetent healthy male individuals were analyzed.

Acetabular loading in active abduction.

Operative fixation of fragments in acetabular fracture treatment is not strong enough to allow weight bearing before the bone is healed. In some patients, even passive or active nonweight-bearing exercises could lead to dislocation of fragments and posttraumatic osteoarthritis. Therefore, early rehabilitation should avoid loading the acetabulum in the regions of fracture lines.

Preoperative planning in pelvic and acetabular surgery: the value of advanced computerised planning modules.

An experimental computer program for virtual operation of fractured pelvis and acetabulum based on real data of the fracture is presented. The program consists of two closely integrated tools, the 3D viewing tools and the surgeon simulation tools. Using 3D viewing tools the virtual model of a fractured pelvis is built.

Microstructural analysis of implant-bone interface of hydroxyapatite-coated and uncoated Schanz screws.

The aim of the study was to compare the pin-bone interface microstructural characteristics of hydroxyapatite-coated (HAC) and stainless steel Schanz screws after 2, 4 and 6 months of implantation in a sheep model. The microstructure and composition of the hydroxyapatite coating were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Twelve coated and 12 uncoated screws were implanted into both femora of three sheep, each sheep receiving eight screws.

Femur osteomyelitis due to a mixed fungal infection in a previously healthy man.

We describe a previously healthy, 22-year-old man who, after a closed fracture of the femur and subsequent operation, developed chronic osteomyelitis. Within a few days, infected bone fragments, bone, and wound drainage repeatedly yielded three different filamentous fungi: Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Chalara ellisii. Histologic examination of the bone revealed septate hyphae.