Assessment of Anteroposterior Diameter and Interpedicular Distance in the Approximation of Cervical Spinal Canal Area.

Rationale and objectives This study seeks to generate a model based on two linear measurements, anteroposterior (AP) diameter and interpedicular (IPD) distance, to approximate the cervical central canal (CCC) area in a non-pathologic patient population by employing area calculations of shapes such as ellipse, rectangle, and triangle. Secondarily, this study aims to generate second-order approximations (SOAs), using the aforementioned shape approximations, to increase the utility of this linear measurement-based model. Methods The authors reviewed medical and radiographic records of patients aged 18-35 who received computed tomography (CT) imaging of the cervical spine to collect AP diameter, IPD distance, and area of the CCC from C2-3 to C6-7.

Diagnosing the Severity of Knee Osteoarthritis Using Regression Scores From Artificial Intelligence Convolution Neural Networks.

Background: This study focused on using deep learning neural networks to classify the severity of osteoarthritis in the knee. A continuous regression score of osteoarthritis severity has yet to be explored using artificial intelligence machine learning, which could offer a more nuanced assessment of osteoarthritis.

Materials And Methods: This study used 8260 radiographic images from The Osteoarthritis Initiative to develop and assess four neural network models (VGG16, EfficientNetV2 small, ResNet34, and DenseNet196).

Use of locking fibular plates versus non-locking dual plate fixation: A biomechanical study.

Introduction: Distal fibula osteoporotic comminuted fractures are challenging to treat and are often treated with periarticular locking plates. This study examined the biomechanical difference between locked plating and dual non-locked one-third tubular plating.

Methods: Using an osteoporotic Sawbones fibula model, simulated fracture were fixated with one-third tubular dual plating and locked periarticular plating.

Machine learning used to determine features of importance linked to overnight stay after patellar tendon repair.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine if machine learning is an effective method to identify features of patients who may need a longer postoperative stay following a patellar tendon repair.

Methods: The American College of Surgeons National Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) was used to collect 1173 patients who underwent patellar tendon repair. Machine learning (ML) was then applied to determine features of importance in this patient population.

Random forest identifies predictors of discharge destination following total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Machine learning algorithms are finding increasing use in prediction of surgical outcomes in orthopedics. Random forest is one of such algorithms popular for its relative ease of application and high predictability. In the process of sample classification, algorithms also generate a list of variables most crucial in the sorting process.

Recent Trends in the Effect of Race and Gender on the Orthopedics Match.

Introduction Orthopedics has a reputation for being competitive but not diverse. Leaders of the orthopedics community have been making efforts to increase the participation of women and minorities in the field by raising awareness and strengthening pipeline programs. We aim to explore the trends in the risk of not matching by comparing the proportions of women and underrepresented populations in the applicant pools versus proportions in residency programs.

Spin in the Abstracts of Meta-analyses and Systematic Reviews: Quadriceps Tendon Graft for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Background: Spin is a reporting bias that misrepresents research. Ultimately it can affect surgeon decision making and patient care. Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is common, but debate continues over optimal treatment modalities.

Intracranial hemorrhage after spinal surgery: a literature review.

Background And Objective: Intracranial hemorrhage following spinal surgery is an infrequent but severe complication. Due to its rarity, the etiology, clinical characteristics, and treatment have not yet been fully elucidated. This literature review analyzed the incidence, clinical manifestations, hemorrhage location, current therapeutic strategies, location of operation, and interval time between surgery and bleeding.

Spin in the Abstracts of Meta-analyses and Systematic Reviews: Midshaft Clavicle Fracture.

Objectives: Spin is a reporting bias that presents the beneficial effect of an experimental treatment as greater than what is found in the results of the study. This bias can result in patient care recommendations that are more subjective than objective. The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of spin in meta-analysis and systematic review abstracts regarding treatment of midshaft clavicle fractures.

Preoperative opiate use leads to increased postoperative opiate use and readmissions after anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Background: Determine effects of pre-operative opiate use on anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgery outcomes.

Methods: The study design was a single center retrospective cohort study. Patient records were reviewed from 2013 and 2018 for elective 1 to 2 level ACDF surgeries.

Opportunistic assessment of bone density in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis using MRI-based vertebral bone quality.

Patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) have increased prevalence of lower bone mineral density (BMD) compared to healthy adolescents. Our goal was to compare bone density in patients with AIS and a nonaffected control group using an MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score. We reviewed 50 consecutive lumbar MRIs of patients with AIS and of 50 nonaffected controls that were matched for age and sex.

Intra- and inter-observer reliability of the novel vertebral bone quality score.

Purpose: To assess the intra- and inter-observer reliability of the novel vertebral bone quality (VBQ) scoring system.

Methods: Four orthopedic surgery residents at various levels of training (PGY1-4) evaluated 100 noncontrast, T1-weighted MRIs of the lumbar spine. VBQ was calculated as quotient of the median of L1-L4 average signal intensity (SI) and the L3 cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) SI, as described by Ehresman et al.

Comparison of Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Renal Transplantation With Impaired vs Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction.

Background: Renal transplantation improves long-term outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD); however, patients with impaired left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) are less likely to be selected for renal transplantation. We sought to evaluate the effect of renal transplantation in this population.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 181 patients who underwent renal transplantation between 2011 and 2016.

Growth of Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped CaMoO4 thin film by a spray coating and its upconverting luminescence.

Polycrystalline Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped CaMoO4 (CaMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+) film was successfully fabricated by a spray coating method. Crystal structure, surface morphology and upconversion (UC) luminescent properties were investigated. Under 980-nm excitation, CaMoO4:Er3+/Yb3+ film exhibited strong green UC emissions at 530 and 550 nm (2H,11/2 --> 4S3/2 - 4I15/2) visible to the naked eye with a weak red emission near 660 nm (4F9/2 --> 4I15/2) corresponding to the intra 4f transitions of Er3+.

Laboratory evaluation of three rapid diagnostic tests for dual detection of HIV and Treponema pallidum antibodies.

The performance of three research-use-only, dual HIV and syphilis rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) was evaluated for 150 patient serum samples and compared to reference HIV and Treponema pallidum antibody detection methods. The RDTs performed comparably, with sensitivities of 93 to 99% and specificities of 97 to 100%. The kappa statistic between the RDTs was 0.

Green lighting upconversion luminescence of Yb3+, Er3+ co-doped BaMoO4.

A green lighting upconversion (UC) system was successfully achieved from Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped BaMoO4 synthesized by the complex citrate-gel method. Under 980 nm laser excitation, the Er3+/Yb3+ co-doped BaMoO4 emitted strong green luminescence around 530 and 550 nm and weak red luminescence near 660 nm, which corresponded to the intra 4f-4f transitions in Er3+. Optimal doping concentrations of Er3+/Yb3+ into the BaMoO4 matrix were investigated.

Cell-free production of functional antibody fragments.

Botulinum neurotoxin serotype B (BoNT/B)-specific Fab was expressed in a cell-free protein synthesis system derived from an E. coli extract. The cell-free synthesized antibody fragment was found to be effective in neutralizing the toxicity of BoNT/B in animal studies.

Age associated high level of major vault protein is p53 dependent.

Major vault protein (MVP) represents the main component of vaults and has been linked to multi-drug resistance (MDR) in cancer cells. We previously reported that MVP plays an important role in the resistance of senescent human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) to apoptosis and also that MVP expression is markedly reduced in young HDFs but not in senescent HDFs. In this study, designed to elucidate the regulation of MVP in young and senescent HDFs, we examined the levels of transcriptional factors for the MVP gene, which revealed that among the putative transcriptional factors, p53 decreased only in young HDFs, but not in senescent HDFs in response to H(2)O(2) treatment in the same mode as the expression of MVP.

Metabolic loading of guanosine induces chondrocyte apoptosis via the Fas pathway.

Although the apoptosis of chondrocytes plays an important role in endochondral ossification, its mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we show that guanosine induces chondrocyte apoptosis based on the results of acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, caspase-3 activation, and sub-G1 fraction analysis. The potent inhibitory effect of dipyridamole, a nucleoside transporter blocker, indicates that extracellular guanosine must enter the chondrocytes to induce apoptosis.

Improvement of neutralizing activity of human scFv antibodies against hepatitis B virus binding using CDR3 V(H) mutant library.

CDR3 of the heavy-chain variable region of immunoglobulin is a region in which somatic mutation occurs heavily after secondary antibody response, resulting in an affinity maturation of antibodies in vivo. The aim of this study was to improve the affinity of a human single-chain variable fragment (scFv) specific for pre-S1 of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by introducing random mutagenesis in CDR3 variable region of heavy chain (V(H)) of the parental scFv clone 1E4. By using a BIAcore for panning and screening, we have selected three clones (A9, B2, and B9) with lower highest affinity (K(D)) than 1E4.

Enhanced anticancer efficacy of alpha-tocopheryl succinate by conjugation with polyethylene glycol.

Alpha-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) has been used to enhance the bioavailability of poorly absorbed drugs and as a vehicle for drug delivery systems. In response to recent reports that alpha-tocopheryl succinate (TOS) acts as an anticancer agent, we investigated whether its polyethylene glycol (PEG) conjugate, TPGS, also possesses anticancer activity. TPGS inhibited the growth of human lung carcinoma cells implanted in nude mice, and in an in vitro cell culture, even more potently than TOS.

A teratoproteomics analysis: heat shock protein 70 is upregulated in mouse forelimb bud by methoxyacetic acid treatment.

Background: Methoxyacetic acid (MAA) causes fetal limb abnormalities when the substance is administrated on gestation day (GD) 11 in mice. Limb abnormalities are caused mainly by extensive cell death in the mesoderm of the limb plate. This investigation focused on identifying a protein that is linked with mouse limb teratogenicity.

Platelet microparticles induce angiogenesis in vitro.

Platelet microparticles (PMP) are endogenous substances generated during the coagulation process in a hypercoagulable state. This study demonstrated that PMP promote the proliferation and survival, migration, and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Heat-treated PMP did not significantly decrease the angiogenic activity in HUVEC compared with that of the untreated PMP.

Generation and characterization of IgG monoclonal antibodies specific for malondialdehyde.

Numerous studies have indicated that the oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Malondialdehyde-modified LDL (MDA-LDL) is one of the candidate oxidative products. Therefore, to allow the assessment of oxidized LDL in human serum, we developed monoclonal antibodies for MDA-LDL.