Molecular Mimicry Between Gut Microbiome and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Concepts.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) represents an autoimmune condition impacted by a combination of genetic and environmental factors, with the gut microbiome (GMB) being one of the influential environmental factors. Patients with RA display notable modifications in the composition of their GMB, characterised by decreased diversity and distinct bacterial alterations. The GMB, comprising an extensive array of approximately 35,000 bacterial species residing within the gastrointestinal tract, has garnered considerable attention as a pivotal contributor to both human health and the pathogenesis of diseases.

The inactivation of the Niemann Pick C1 cholesterol transporter restricts SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells by decreasing ACE2 abundance at the plasma membrane.

Background: The Niemann Pick C1 (NPC1) protein is an intracellular cholesterol transporter located in the late endosome/lysosome (LE/Ly) that is involved in the mobilization of endocytosed cholesterol. Loss-of-function mutations in the NPC1 gene lead to the accumulation of cholesterol and sphingolipids in LE/Ly, resulting in severe fatal NPC1 disease. Cellular alterations associated with NPC1 inactivation affect both the integrity of lipid rafts and the endocytic pathway.

The ligamentum teres and its role in hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement: a systematic review.

Background: The ligamentum teres (LT) has received attention in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy (HA) for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). Indeed, a better understanding of the function of the LT and its implications for clinical outcomes in the presence of a torn LT is required. This systematic review analyses the patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and the complication rate when an intact or torn LT is encountered during HA for FAI.

Arthroscopic lateral ligament reconstruction for isolated chronic lateral ankle instability is associated with longer recovery compared to arthroscopic Broström repair and inferior extensor retinaculum augmentation.

Background: Patients with chronic lateral ankle instability (CLAI) can be managed with arthroscopic Broström repair and inferior extensor retinaculum augmentation or arthroscopic assisted lateral ligament reconstruction using ipsilateral semitendinosus autograft, with good functional outcomes in patients. It is unclear whether one offers better outcome that the other. This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data compared the outcomes of repair and reconstruction.

Early vs Late Anticoagulation After Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation and Covert Brain Infarcts.

Background And Objectives: Covert brain infarcts (CBIs) in patients with first-ever ischemic stroke (IS) and atrial fibrillation (AF) are associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence. We aimed to assess whether CBIs modify the treatment effect of early vs late initiation of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with IS and AF.

Methods: We conducted a post hoc analysis of the international, multicenter, randomized-controlled ELAN trial, which compared early (<48 hours after ischemic stroke for minor and moderate stroke, 6-7 days for major stroke) vs late (>48 hours for minor, 3-4 days for moderate, 12-14 days for major stroke) initiation of DOACs in patients with IS and AF.

Similar efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections and other biologically active injections in patients with early stages knee osteoarthritis: a level I meta-analysis.

Introduction: The present meta-analysis compared the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections in patients with early to mild knee osteoarthritis (OA) (Kellgren Lawrence I-II) versus other commonly injected biologically active compounds using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The outcomes of interest were the visual analogue scale (VAS) and the Western Ontario McMaster Osteo-Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores.

Methods: This study was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA statement.

A Meta-Analysis of Mitral Surgery in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Anomalous Left Coronary Artery: When to Perform Repair?

The present study is the first meta-analysis comparing long-term outcomes in patients undergoing correction for anomalous left coronary artery (ALCAPA) regarding concomitant mitral valve surgery. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify all relevant studies with comparative data on mitral valve surgery performed during surgery for ALCAPA correction. Predefined primary end points included mortality and mitral valve (re)operation.

Ancient genomics support deep divergence between Eastern and Western Mediterranean Indo-European languages.

The Indo-European languages are among the most widely spoken in the world, yet their early diversification remains contentious. It is widely accepted that the spread of this language family across Europe from the 5th millennium BP correlates with the expansion and diversification of steppe-related genetic ancestry from the onset of the Bronze Age. However, multiple steppe-derived populations co-existed in Europe during this period, and it remains unclear how these populations diverged and which provided the demographic channels for the ancestral forms of the Italic, Celtic, Greek, and Armenian languages.

Allograft versus autograft ACL reconstruction in skeletally immature patients: a systematic review.

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries in children and adolescents with open physes are common.

Areas Of Agreement: Evidence of ACL reconstruction using allografts in children with open physes is limited.

Areas Of Controversy: Whether the outcomes of ACL allograft reconstruction in children and adolescents with open physes are superior to autograft ACL reconstruction is unclear, with contrasting evidence.

Percutaneous repair of the Achilles tendon with one knot offers equivalent results as the same procedure with two knots. A comparative prospective study.

Purpose: The present prospective comparative study included patients with acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) who underwent percutaneous repair with one knot compared to percutaneous repair with two knots.

Methods: All patients underwent the procedure under local anesthesia. A total of 29 patients underwent percutaneous repair with two knots (Group A), and 33 patients underwent percutaneous repair with one knot (Group B).

Less Pain with Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis Compared to Placebo: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials.

The present meta-analysis investigated the efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections for knee osteoarthritis. The outcomes of interest were the visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario McMaster Osteo-Arthritis Index (WOMAC) scores. This study was conducted according to the 2020 PRISMA statement.

Coronal deformity of the knee in childrens and adolescents. A systematic review of current orthopaedics treatments.

Objectives: Coronal deformities of the knee in skeletally immature patients are often physiological and resolve spontaneously. When this is not the case a surgical correction is required. As limited data are available on the effectiveness of the different surgical procedures to correct coronal deformities in skeletal immature patients, a systematic review was conducted to analyse the surgical outcomes, complications and recurrent deformity rate in idiopathic and pathologic coronal deformities.

The bidirectional brain-cochlea axis: a scaffold for neurologic disease-associated hearing loss.

This scientific commentary refers to 'Beyond the cochlea: exploring the multifaceted nature of hearing loss in primary mitochondrial diseases', by Koohi . (https://doi.org/10.

TikTok and frozen shoulder: a cross-sectional study of social media content quality.

Purpose: This study aimed to assess the validity and informational value of the material provided on TikTok regarding frozen shoulders. The hypothesis was that the video content on this platform would not provide adequate and valid information.

Methods: The current study focused on frozen shoulder videos on the TikTok social media platform.

Intra-articular injections of ozone versus hyaluronic acid for knee osteoarthritis: a level I meta-analysis.

Introduction: Intra-articular injections of ozone and hyaluronic acid (HA) are routinely performed for the management of knee osteoarthritis. The present meta-analysis compared intra-articular injections of HA versus ozone in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). The outcomes of interest were to determine if intra-articular ozone injections show comparable visual analogue scale (VAS) and Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores compared to intra-articular HA injections.

Autologous Peripheral Blood-Derived Orthobiologics for the Management of Shoulder Disorders: A Review of Current Clinical Evidence.

Introduction: A multidisciplinary approach is recommended to manage shoulder pain, the third most common musculoskeletal disorder, but traditional modalities have limitations, providing only temporary symptomatic pain relief instead of targeting the underlying pathophysiology. Recently, autologous peripheral blood-derived orthobiologics (APBOs) have become popular for the management of shoulder disorders. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is the most frequently used APBO, but its efficacy remains disputable.

Floating knee: A new prognostic classification.

Introduction: Usually ipsilateral fractures of the femur and tibia are not compatible with good results and require surgery. The unsatisfactory results are more likely due to complex patterns of fractures, compromised soft tissue, associated ligament injuries, and concomitant vital organ injuries. There are many classifications to describe this type of fracture but none of them is a prognostic classification.

Subsidence of the Corail stem in total hip arthroplasty: no influence of bony contact.

Introduction: This study investigated stem subsidence following primary total hip arthroplasty (THA) with a Corail stem in patients who underwent two-staged bilateral THA. The second outcome of interest was to investigate whether a specific single cortical bone contact point might reduce postoperative stem subsidence.

Methods: The present study was conducted following the STROBE guidelines.

Management of knee osteoarthritis using bone marrow aspirate concentrate: a systematic review.

Introduction: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint condition and a major cause of disability in the general population.

Source Of Data: Recent published literature identified from PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Scopus.

Areas Of Agreement: Orthobiological therapies try to regenerate articular cartilage and stop the progression of the degenerative lesion.

Treatment strategies with electrochemotherapy for limb in-transit melanoma: Real-world outcomes from a European, retrospective, cohort study.

Background: This study analysed treatment strategies with electrochemotherapy (ECT) in melanoma with limb in-transit metastases (ITM).

Methods: We audited AJCC v.8 stage IIIB-IIID patients treated across 22 centres (2006-2020) within the International Network for Sharing Practices of ECT (InspECT).

Mortality of alzheimer's disease in Italy from 1980 to 2015.

Objective: To evaluate mortality for Alzheimer's Disease (AD) in Italy over more than three decades (1980-2015) and discuss the possible role of general and specific contributing factors.

Methods: Mortality data were extracted by the Italian National Institute of Statistics: crude mortality rates were computed for sex and age, considering the whole country and its five main geographical sub-areas. Rates were standardized in two ways: directly (annual mortality rates AMRs) and indirectly (standardized mortality rates, SMRs).