When is hemiarthroplasty preferable to intramedullary prophylactic fixation of malignant lesions of the proximal femur?

Background: Malignant hip lesions can be managed operatively by intramedullary (IM) nail fixation and hemiarthroplasty.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on 86 patients who underwent hemiarthroplasty (n = 22) or IM nail fixation (n = 64) for prophylactic treatment of impending pathologic fracture due to malignant lesions of the hip. Cox proportional hazards and logistic regression modeling were performed to determine risk of death, fixation failure, pain relief, and return to ambulation without gait aids.

Primary Care Continuity Improves Diabetic Health Outcomes: From Free Clinics to Federally Qualified Health Centers.

Introduction: There are a number of well-established barriers to accessing primary care. The LINKED Study set out to improve primary care usage through 1-on-1 counseling and referrals for patients with diabetes being treated at local free clinics. We hypothesized that this educational intervention paired with expedited referral would increase the use of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) as a source of health care and ultimately lead to improved diabetic health.

Smoking Predisposes to Rotator Cuff Pathology and Shoulder Dysfunction: A Systematic Review.

Purpose: To investigate the association of smoking with rotator cuff (RTC) disease and shoulder dysfunction, defined as poor scores on shoulder rating scales.

Methods: A systematic review was performed using a search strategy based on "shoulder AND [smoke OR smoking OR nicotine OR tobacco]." English-language clinical or basic science studies testing the association of smoking and shoulder dysfunction on shoulder rating scales or disease of the soft tissue of the shoulder were included.

Fetal vs adult mesenchymal stem cells achieve greater gene expression, but less osteoinduction.

Aim: To investigate adenoviral transduction in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and effects on stemness in vitro and function as a cell therapy in vivo.

Methods: Bone marrow-derived adult and fetal MSC were isolated from an equine source and expanded in monolayer tissue culture. Polyethylenimine (PEI)-mediated transfection of pcDNA3-eGFP or adenoviral transduction of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was evaluated in fetal MSCs.