Two-, Three-, or Four-Corner Arthrodesis for Midcarpal Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: Several limited midcarpal arthrodeses have been used in the treatment of midcarpal osteoarthritis as part of scapholunate advanced collapse and scaphoid nonunion advanced collapse. There is no consensus on whether two-carpal arthrodesis (2CA), three-carpal arthrodesis (3CA), bicolumnar arthrodesis, or four-carpal arthrodesis (FCA) results in the best outcomes. The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a difference in outcomes in patients undergoing FCA, 3CA, 2CA, or bicolumnar arthrodesis for midcarpal osteoarthritis.

Joint Distraction for Thumb Carpometacarpal Osteoarthritis: 2-Year Follow-up Results of 20 Patients.

 Joint distraction is a fairly new treatment for patients with symptomatic thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis (CMC1 OA). A previous pilot study of five patients showed that CMC1 joint distraction is technically feasible. The current study presents the results of CMC1 joint distraction in 20 patients with a 2-year follow-up period.

Retrospective Study of a Series of 20 Ivory Prostheses in the Treatment of Trapeziometacarpal Osteoarthritis.

Background Many surgical treatment options for osteoarthritis (OA) of the trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint exist. However, no procedure has been proven superior. Good results have been described for TMC joint replacement.

Replantation versus Prosthetic Fitting in Traumatic Arm Amputations: A Systematic Review.

Background: Traumatic arm amputations can be treated with replantation or surgical formalization of the stump with or without subsequent prosthetic fitting. In the literature, many authors suggest the superiority of replantation. This systematic review compared available literature to analyze whether replantation is functionally and psychologically more profitable than formalization and prosthetic fitting in patients with traumatic arm amputation.

Conservative treatment of thumb base osteoarthritis: a systematic review.

Purpose: To provide a systematic review of randomized controlled trials regarding the conservative treatment of thumb base osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted in the electronic bibliographic databases Medline (Pubmed) and Embase (both starting year to May 2014) using predetermined criteria for studies on nonoperative treatment of thumb base OA.

Results: Twenty-three articles fulfilled our inclusion criteria.

Soluble mediators in posttraumatic wrist and primary knee osteoarthritis.

Background: New discoveries about the pathophysiology changed the concept that all forms of osteoarthritis are alike; this lead to the delineation of different phenotypes such as age, trauma or obese related forms. We aim to compare soluble mediator profiles in primary knee and posttraumatic wrist osteoarthritis. Based on the general faster progression rate of wrist osteoarthritis, we hypothesize a more inflammatory profile.

The value of 3.0-tesla MRI in diagnosing scapholunate ligament injury.

Objective To determine the sensitivity and specificity of 3.0-tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and a dedicated hand coil in diagnosing scapholunate ligament (SLL) injury compared with intraoperative findings. Methods From January 2006 until September 2010, 3.

An alternative suspension technique after trapeziectomy for advanced thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis of the first carpometacarpal joint is often treated by (partial) trapeziectomy and tendon interposition or suspension arthroplasty procedures. In this article, an alternative suspension technique, using 2 osseous tunnels (through the first and second metacarpal) and a flexor carpi radialis tendon strip, is described.

Correlation between protection against sepsis by probiotic therapy and stimulation of a novel bacterial phylotype.

Prophylactic probiotic therapy has shown beneficial effects in an experimental rat model for acute pancreatitis on the health status of the animals. Mechanisms by which probiotic therapy interferes with severity of acute pancreatitis and associated sepsis, however, are poorly understood. The aims of this study were to identify the probiotic-induced changes in the gut microbiota and to correlate these changes to disease outcome.

[Treatment of osteoarthritis of the thumb basal joint].

Osteoarthritis in the carpometacarpal joint of the thumb (CMC1) is described in three patients who were all restricted in their daily activities by the disease. CMC1 osteoarthritis is a common disease affecting mainly postmenopausal women and individuals who use the joint intensively. Two of our patients, a 52-year-old female teacher and a 45-year-old male dentist, were treated by resection of the articular surfaces and interposition of a tendon or a polycarbon disc into the joint.

Probiotics prevent intestinal barrier dysfunction in acute pancreatitis in rats via induction of ileal mucosal glutathione biosynthesis.

Background: During acute pancreatitis (AP), oxidative stress contributes to intestinal barrier failure. We studied actions of multispecies probiotics on barrier dysfunction and oxidative stress in experimental AP.

Methodology/principal Findings: Fifty-three male Spraque-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into five groups: 1) controls, non-operated, 2) sham-operated, 3) AP, 4) AP and probiotics and 5) AP and placebo.

Pretreatment but not treatment with probiotics abolishes mouse intestinal barrier dysfunction in acute pancreatitis.

Background: Intestinal barrier failure during acute pancreatitis (AP) is associated with translocation of luminal bacteria, resulting in infectious complications. We examined the effects of multispecies probiotics on the intestinal barrier impairment in a murine model of AP.

Methods: Mice were injected with cerulein to induce AP and were sacrificed 11 (early AP) or 72 hours (late AP) after start of induction.

Probiotics enhance pancreatic glutathione biosynthesis and reduce oxidative stress in experimental acute pancreatitis.

Factors determining severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) are poorly understood. Oxidative stress causes acinar cell injury and contributes to the severity, whereas prophylactic probiotics ameliorate experimental pancreatitis. Our objective was to study how probiotics affect oxidative stress, inflammation, and acinar cell injury during the early phase of AP.

Modification of intestinal flora with multispecies probiotics reduces bacterial translocation and improves clinical course in a rat model of acute pancreatitis.

Background: Infection of pancreatic necrosis by gut bacteria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with severe acute pancreatitis. Use of prophylactic antibiotics remains controversial. The aim of this experiment was assess if modification of intestinal flora with specifically designed multispecies probiotics reduces bacterial translocation or improves outcome in a rat model of acute pancreatitis.

Cholesterol crystals enhance and phospholipids protect against pancreatitis induced by hydrophobic bile salts: a rat model study.

Objectives: The role of bile composition in the pathogenesis of biliary pancreatitis is unknown. The objective of this experiment was to explore the potential role of bile salts, phospholipids, and cholesterol crystals in the pathogenesis of biliary pancreatitis in a rat model.

Methods: Model systems composed of taurodeoxycholate (TDC), mixed bile salts (MBS), or tauroursodeoxycholate (TUDC) [in 10 mM phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), pH 7.

Effects of subtotal colectomy on bacterial translocation during experimental acute pancreatitis.

Objectives: The colon is considered a major source of bacteria causing infection of pancreatic necrosis in acute pancreatitis (AP). Subtotal colectomy before AP in rats reduces mortality, but its role in affecting small bowel flora, bacterial translocation, and infection of pancreatic necrosis is unknown. Our aim was to study these phenomena in rats with AP.

Prevention of infectious complications in surgical patients: potential role of probiotics.

Infectious complications in surgical patients often originate from the intestinal microflora. In the critically ill patient, small bowel motility is disturbed, leading to bacterial overgrowth and subsequent bacterial translocation due to dysfunction of the gut mucosal barrier. The optimal prophylactic strategy should act on all these factors, but such a strategy is not yet available.