Nail-plate combination constructs versus single traditional constructs for distal femur fractures: a systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative studies.

Objectives: Distal femur fractures (DFF) are frequently treated surgically with single traditional constructs (STC), such as with a lateral plate or intramedullary nail, although nail-plate combination constructs (NPCC) are gaining attention. The purpose of this study is to compare outcomes between NPCC and STC for surgical fixation of DFF to guide surgeon decision-making.

Methods: Data Sources: This study is a systematic review and meta-analysis using PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Science Direct, and SPORTDiscus from database inception until January 10th, 2024.

[Tribology in arthroplasty : Friction and wear, a key to a long lifetime].

This article is intended to highlight one of the key roles in endoprosthetic treatment with artificial implants and the extension of service life. Like every joint, artificial joints are subject to the physical laws of friction and wear-in short, tribology. Material pairings, surfaces and mechanisms of action in particular play a decisive role here.

Fast and furious: successful survival and resumption of meiosis in immature human oocytes vitrified and warmed using a short protocol.

Research Question: Can immature oocytes vitrified and warmed using a short protocol survive and resume meiosis?

Design: This study examined modifications of oocyte vitrification and warming protocols that reduce the length of exposure to vitrification and warming solutions. In total, 561 germinal vesicles and 218 metaphase I oocytes that were immature at oocyte retrieval were vitrified at room temperature for 2 min. Warming was performed at 37°C for 2 min.

Impact of time interval from cesarean delivery to frozen embryo transfer on reproductive and neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate differences in reproductive and neonatal outcomes on the basis of the time interval from cesarean delivery to subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET).

Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Multicenter fertility practice.

Mild obesity does not affect perinatal outcome in gestational carrier cycles.

Study Question: Does BMI of gestational carriers (GCs) affect perinatal outcomes after embryo transfer?

Summary Answer: Overweight and class I obesity in GCs does not affect the rate of good perinatal outcomes.

What Is Known Already: The use of GCs is increasing, but uniform guidance regarding optimal BMI for GCs is lacking. Women with obesity who conceive without fertility treatment or through autologous or donor in vitro fertilization are at higher risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, but data on obesity in GCs are very limited.

Fast and furious: pregnancy outcome with one-step rehydration in the warming protocol for human blastocysts.

Research Question: Do embryos warmed using a one-step rehydration protocol with a more efficient workflow result in comparable pregnancy rates to the standard multi-step rehydration protocol?

Design: A retrospective cohort study of 3439 frozen embryo transfers (FET). Clinical outcomes of 833 FETs using a one-step rehydration protocol were reviewed and compared with results from the control group (2606 FETs using standard multi-step rehydration protocol). Primary outcome was ongoing pregnancy rate.

The Utilization of Preoperative Steroids Safely Decreases the Risk of Postoperative Delirium in Geriatric Patients After Hip Fracture Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objectives: Postoperative delirium is an acute neurocognitive complication that can have adverse effects on outcomes of geriatric patients after undergoing hip fracture surgery. The objective of this study was to examine the efficacy of preoperative steroids in preventing postoperative delirium after hip fracture surgery.

Data Sources: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using PubMed, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science from database inception until September 28, 2023.

The Impact of Ketorolac Utilization on Outcomes for Lumbar Spine Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Objective: Ketorolac is one of the most potent nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs commonly used in spine surgery. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of ketorolac utilization with or without other medications on a patient's postoperative course after lumbar surgery.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed using PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science in July 2023.

The Impact of the FertiStrong Mobile Application on Anxiety and Depression in Men: A Randomised Control Pilot Study.

Background: Male factor accounts for up to half of all cases of infertility. Previously, research has focused on the psychological effects of infertility on female partners, but recent studies show negative consequences on male patients as well. Despite evidence that men are affected by infertility, there is limited studies focusing on coping methods for them.

Protocol for selecting single human pluripotent stem cells using a modified micropipetter.

Single-cell clonal selection is a critical procedure for generating a homogeneous population of human pluripotent stem cells. Here, we present a protocol that repurposes the STRIPPER Micropipetter, normally used for in vitro fertilization, to pick single stem cells. We describe steps for tool and reagent preparation, single-cell picking, and colony passaging.

Fertility knowledge and views on egg freezing and family planning among surgical specialty trainees.

Background: There are limited studies focusing on resident and fellow attitudes on family planning and egg freezing. Surgical training programs are often longer and more time consuming than other fields. It is important to understand how this training affects family planning decisions.

Species-specific differences in NPC1 protein trafficking govern therapeutic response in Niemann-Pick type C disease.

The folding and trafficking of transmembrane glycoproteins are essential for cellular homeostasis and are compromised in many diseases. In Niemann-Pick type C disease, a lysosomal disorder characterized by impaired intracellular cholesterol trafficking, the transmembrane glycoprotein NPC1 misfolds due to disease-causing missense mutations. While mutant NPC1 has emerged as a robust target for proteostasis modulators, drug development efforts have been unsuccessful in mouse models.

Does Kinematic Alignment Increase Polyethylene Wear Compared With Mechanically Aligned Components? A Wear Simulation Study.

Background: Kinematic alignment is an alternative approach to mechanical alignment. Kinematic alignment can restore the joint line to its prearthritic condition, and its advocates have suggested it may be associated with other benefits. But this alignment approach often results in tibial components that are placed in varus and femoral components that are placed in valgus alignment, which may result in an increased risk of component loosening because of wear.

Wear investigation based on a novel, anatomic shoulder prosthesis with bearing materials inversion.

Introduction: In shoulder arthroplasty, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene is used as standard material for glenoid components. The emergence of wear particles and their influence on the aseptic loosening of joint replacements are well known. The aim of the present study is to investigate the wear behaviour of the implant combinations as well as the size and morphology of the released wear particles from novel anatomic shoulder prosthesis.

Amorphous Carbon Coatings for Total Knee Replacements-Part II: Tribological Behavior.

Diamond-like carbon coatings may decrease implant wear, therefore, they are helping to reduce aseptic loosening and increase service life of total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). This two-part study addresses the development of such coatings for ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) tibial inlays as well as cobalt-chromium-molybdenum (CoCr) and titanium (Ti64) alloy femoral components. While the deposition of a pure (a-C:H) and tungsten-doped hydrogen-containing amorphous carbon coating (a-C:H:W) as well as the detailed characterization of mechanical and adhesion properties were the subject of Part I, the tribological behavior is studied in Part II.

Rheologic Behavior of Bovine Calf Serum.

Recent studies have illuminated the rheological behavior of synovial fluid and the role of protein and hyaluronan (HA). However, with respect to artificial joint replacement in standardized wear simulations, bovine serum is used as fluid test medium. Little is known about the rheological characteristics of bovine serum, which are needed for precise tribological investigations.

microRNA-mRNA Profile of Skeletal Muscle Differentiation and Relevance to Congenital Myotonic Dystrophy.

microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate messenger RNA (mRNA) abundance and translation during key developmental processes including muscle differentiation. Assessment of miRNA targets can provide insight into muscle biology and gene expression profiles altered by disease. mRNA and miRNA libraries were generated from C2C12 myoblasts during differentiation, and predicted miRNA targets were identified based on presence of miRNA binding sites and reciprocal expression.

[Tribology in hip arthroplasty : Benefits of different materials].

When it comes to total hip replacements, choosing the suitable material combination is of clinical relevance. The present review article examines the technical differences in wear and corrosion of the relevant material combinations of ceramics, metals, ceramized metals and various types of polyethylene. The material characteristics, which were often tested under standardized conditions in the laboratory, are compared with clinical results on the basis of evidence-graded clinical studies and on the basis of register studies.

Rheological behavior of an artificial synovial fluid - influence of temperature, shear rate and pressure.

Despite the excellent clinical performance of joint replacements, wear-induced aseptic loosening is a main cause of premature implant failure. Tribological testing is usually carried out using bovine serum as an artificial synovial fluid. In order to gain new insights into the suitability to simulate human synovial fluid and provide recommendations for the conditions of tribological testing, accurate rheological measurements on the influence of temperature, shear rate and pressure on density and viscosity were performed.

Black recipients of oocyte donation experience lower live birth rates compared with White recipients.

Research Question: Is minority race associated with worse oocyte donation outcomes?

Design: Retrospective analysis of 926 oocyte recipients who underwent a donor cycle with fresh embryo transfer at a single fertility centre between January 2009 and June 2015. Race was self-reported. To adjust for repeat donors within the sample, mixed models were used to analyse donor parameters and recipient outcomes.

Evaluating the Utility of Intralipid Infusion to Improve Live Birth Rates in Patients with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss or Recurrent Implantation Failure.

Context: Intralipid is used to improve clinical outcomes in patients with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) or recurrent implantation failure (RIF) with elevated natural killer (NK) cells. Data supporting this practice is conflicting but suggestive of minimal benefit.

Aims: The aims of this study are to determine if intralipid infusion improves live birth rates and if is a cost-effective therapy in the RPL/RIF population.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 regulates activity and gene expression of human post-mitotic excitatory neurons.

Many neuropsychiatric disorders are thought to result from subtle changes in neural circuit formation. We used human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to model mature, post-mitotic excitatory neurons and examine effects of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). FGF2 gene expression is known to be altered in brain regions of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and FGF2 has anti-depressive effects in animal models of depression.

Rapid Generation of Human Genetic Loss-of-Function iPSC Lines by Simultaneous Reprogramming and Gene Editing.

Specifically ablating genes in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) allows for studies of gene function as well as disease mechanisms in disorders caused by loss-of-function (LOF) mutations. While techniques exist for engineering such lines, we have developed and rigorously validated a method of simultaneous iPSC reprogramming while generating CRISPR/Cas9-dependent insertions/deletions (indels). This approach allows for the efficient and rapid formation of genetic LOF human disease cell models with isogenic controls.