Rethinking Repeat Two-Stage Knee Exchange Arthroplasty: Outcomes, Risks, and Decision-Making.

Background: Chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) presents a major challenge in knee arthroplasty, with varying success rates reported for two-stage exchange arthroplasty (EA) and a lack of consensus on managing failures from such procedures. This study evaluated repeat two-stage EA outcomes for knee PJI after initial treatment failure to identify the risk factors for reimplantation unsuitability and reinfection.

Methods: We analyzed 114 patients who underwent repeat EA for chronic knee PJI between 2010 and 2018.

Prognostic Implications of Unexpected Positive Intraoperative Cultures in Two-Stage Knee Arthroplasty Reimplantations: A Minimum Five-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Background: The clinical challenge of unexpected positive intraoperative cultures (UPICs) persists in 2-stage resection arthroplasty for managing periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following total knee arthroplasty.(TKA). This study aimed to investigate the incidence of UPICs during the definitive reimplantation phase of 2-stage resection arthroplasty of the knee and to assess both the infection-free and revision-free survivorship of the implanted prosthesis.

Key risk factors and adverse outcomes in metachronous vertebral osteomyelitis following periprosthetic joint infection: A 5-year retrospective study.

Purpose: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a leading cause of joint arthroplasty failure, potentially leading to critical complications like vertebral osteomyelitis (VO). The factors contributing to VO after PJI and the outcomes for these patients are not well understood. Our study aims to (1) identify risk factors for VO following PJI and (2) assess the clinical outcomes in these cases.

Impact of unplanned second debridement, antibiotics and implant retention on long-term outcomes in knee exchange arthroplasty: Elevated risk of failure and reinfection.

Purpose: This study investigates the outcomes of two-stage exchange arthroplasty (EA) for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following initial or unplanned repeat debridement antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases of knee arthroplasty infection treated with two-stage EA after DAIR, spanning from January 1994 to December 2010. A total of 138 patients were included, comprising 112 with initial DAIR and 26 with an unplanned second DAIR.

Exposure to incense burning, biomarkers, and the physical health of temple workers in Taiwan.

Incense burning releases heavy particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO), known to have adverse effects on human health. Long-term exposure to PM and NO increases inflammatory cytokine levels and can induce respiratory diseases. This study examined the association between incense burning exposure and the health status, especially inflammatory biomarkers, of temple workers and volunteers in Taiwan.

Higher reinfection rate after two-stage revision arthroplasty in patients with refractory diabetes mellitus: a retrospective analysis with a minimum ten-year follow up.

Background: Treatment protocols for two-stage revision arthroplasty with diabetes mellitus (DM) have not yet been established. The control of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in two-stage revision arthroplasty is still debated. This study aimed to clarify the importance of preoperative HbA1c levels before each stage of revision arthroplasty and to analyze the risk factors for reinfection.

The Risk Factor and Outcome of Metachronous Periprosthetic Joint Infections: A Retrospective Analysis With a Minimum Ten-Year Follow-Up.

Background: Patients with multiple prosthetic joints are at risk of developing periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). We aimed to determine whether PJI development at one site may lead to infection at another prosthetic joint site and assess the risk factors leading to this subsequent infection.

Methods: We reviewed all cases (294 patients with first-time PJI [159 hips, 135 knees]) with PJI treated at our institute between January 1994 and December 2020.

Controlling Cu Migration on Resistive Switching, Artificial Synapse, and Glucose/Saliva Detection by Using an Optimized AlO Interfacial Layer in a-CO -Based Conductive Bridge Random Access Memory.

The Cu migration is controlled by using an optimized AlO interfacial layer, and effects on resistive switching performance, artificial synapse, and human saliva detection in an amorphous-oxygenated-carbon (a-CO )-based CBRAM platform have been investigated for the first time. The 4 nm-thick AlO layer in the Cu/AlO /a-CO /TiN O /TiN structure shows consecutive >2000 DC switching, tight distribution of SET/RESET voltages, a long program/erase (P/E) endurance of >10 cycles at a low operation current of 300 μA, and artificial synaptic characteristics under a small pulse width of 100 ns. After a P/E endurance of >10 cycles, the Cu migration is observed by both ex situ high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy mapping images.

Understanding of multi-level resistive switching mechanism in GeO through redox reaction in HO/sarcosine prostate cancer biomarker detection.

Formation-free multi-level resistive switching characteristics by using 10 nm-thick polycrystalline GeO film in a simple W/GeO/W structure and understanding of switching mechanism through redox reaction in HO/sarcosine sensing (or changing Ge°/Ge oxidation states under external bias) have been reported for the first time. Oxidation states of Ge/Ge are confirmed by both XPS and HO sensing of GeO membrane in electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor structure. Highly repeatable 1000 dc cycles and stable program/erase (P/E) endurance of >10 cycles at a small pulse width of 100 ns are achieved at a low operation current of 0.

Detection of pH and Enzyme-Free H2O2 Sensing Mechanism by Using GdO x Membrane in Electrolyte-Insulator-Semiconductor Structure.

A 15-nm-thick GdO x membrane in an electrolyte-insulator-semiconductor (EIS) structure shows a higher pH sensitivity of 54.2 mV/pH and enzyme-free hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection than those of the bare SiO2 and 3-nm-thick GdO x membranes for the first time. Polycrystalline grain and higher Gd content of the thicker GdO x films are confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively.

A healthcare integration system for disease assessment and safety monitoring of dementia patients.

Elderly dementia patients often get lost due to lack of a sense of direction. This may put them at risk and cause their families much worry. The goal of this study is to use information technology to enhance the professional judgment of caregivers, strengthen internal safety monitoring at care organizations, and improve the quality of care for dementia patients.