Low-Dose Aspirin Is Adequate for Venous Thromboembolism Prevention Following Total Joint Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review.

Background: Patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are at risk of developing venous thromboembolism (VTE) without adequate prophylaxis. Since the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons issued guidelines in 2007 recommending aspirin 325 mg bis in die for 6 weeks, aspirin has been favored as the main VTE prophylaxis. However, the appropriate dose and duration of aspirin are not well-studied.

Excess Mortality in Istanbul during Extreme Heat Waves between 2013 and 2017.

Heat waves are one of the most common direct impacts of anthropogenic climate change and excess mortality their most apparent impact. While Turkey has experienced an increase in heat wave episodes between 1971 and 2016, no epidemiological studies have examined their potential impacts on public health so far. In this study excess mortality in Istanbul attributable to extreme heat wave episodes between 2013 and 2017 is presented.

Effects of etanercept, a tumor necrosis factor receptor fusion protein, on primary cell cultures prepared from intact human intervertebral disc tissue.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of etanercept (ETA), a tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor, on human cell cultures prepared from intact intervertebral disc tissue. ETA is used as a treatment for cases of rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, axial spondyloarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis accompanied by moderate or severe joint pain. ETA was applied to primary cell cultures [annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus (NP) from intact intervertebral disc tissue].

Does Nimodipine, a Selective Calcium Channel Blocker, Impair Chondrocyte Proliferation or Damage Extracellular Matrix Structures?

Background: The study aimed to investigate the effects of the active ingredient, nimodipine, on chondrocyte proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) structures in cartilage tissue cells.

Methods: Chondrocyte cultures were prepared from tissues resected via surgical operations. Nimodipine was then applied to these cultures and molecular analysis was performed.

Bilateral Femoroacetabular Impingement: What is the Fate of the Asymptomatic Hip?

Background: Bilateral symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) is common. However, the fate of asymptomatic hip in patients with the radiographic diagnosis of bilateral FAI and unilateral symptoms remains unknown.

Questions/purposes: (1) What is the likelihood of the asymptomatic hip becoming painful in patients with unilateral symptoms but with radiographic evidence of bilateral femoroacetabular impingement? (2) What radiological and clinical factors are associated with the development of symptoms in an asymptomatic hip diagnosed with FAI?

Methods: A longitudinally maintained institutional FAI database was queried to collect relevant data for this retrospective study.

Relation of HLA-DRB1 to IgG4 autoantibody and cytokine production in muscle-specific tyrosine kinase myasthenia gravis (MuSK-MG).

A small subset of myasthenia gravis (MG) patients develop autoantibodies against muscle-specific kinase (MuSK), which are predominantly of the immunoglobulin (Ig)G4 isotype. MuSK-MG is strongly associated with HLA-DRB1*14, HLA-DRB1*16 and HLA-DQB1*05. In this study, the possible effects of these HLA associations on MuSK IgG autoantibody or cytokine production were investigated.

Hydatid disease of the liver with portal vein invasion mimicking portal vein thrombosis.

Hydatid cyst disease is a zoonosis caused by the parasite Echinococcus. It may infest any organ of the body, but it most frequently involves the liver, lungs, and nervous system. Portal vein involvement by hydatid cyst disease is extremely rare with only five cases published in the English literature to our knowledge.

Pregabalin Attenuates Carrageenan-Induced Acute Inflammation in Rats by Inhibiting Proinflammatory Cytokine Levels.

Objective: Pregabalin (PGB) is a compound used in the treatment of epilepsy, anxiety, and neuropathic pain. Experimental data also indicate that PGB can reduce inflammatory pain. We aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of PGB on carrageenan (CAR)-induced paw edema and its effects on tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukine-1β (IL-1β) acting as acute phase cytokines in inflammation, and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, in rats.

Is there any Correlation between Red Cell Distribution Width, Mean Platelet Volume Neutrophil Count, Lymphocyte Count, and Psoriasis Area Severity Index in Patients Under Treatment for Psoriasis?

Psoriasis vulgaris is a well-known systemic inflammatory disease accompanied by many cardiac, renal, and metabolic manifestations. In recent years, hematological parameters have been studied in different systemic diseases as markers for inflammation. In this study, we investigated the possible association between the hematological parameters, namely neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), red cell distribution width (RDW), and Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores, in patients under treatment for psoriasis.

Femur neck fracture in young adults, is it really an urgent surgery indication: retrospective clinical study.

Introduction: Femur neck fracture comprises a significant part of intracapsular femur fracture in the intracapsular area of proximal femur and it is mostly seen in elder people. However, these kinds of fractures may be seen in young adults. The present study aims to search factors that affect femoral neck fractures in young adults after surgery carried out by internal determination method.

Are radio-contrast agents commonly used in discography toxic to the intact intervertebral disc tissue cells?

In the literature, there have been no studies showing clear results on how radio-contrast pharmaceuticals would affect intact disc tissue cells. In this context, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of iopromide and gadoxetic acid, frequently used in the discography, on intact lumbar disc tissue in pharmaco-molecular and histopathological level. Primary cell cultures were prepared from the healthy disc tissue of the patients operated in the neurosurgery clinic.

Pregabalin treatment for neuropathic pain may damage intervertebral disc tissue.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether pharmaceutical preparations with pregabalin (PGB) as an active ingredient, which are widely prescribed by clinicians, exert toxic effects on human primary nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosis (AF). Primary human cell cultures were obtained from intact (n=6) and degenerated (n=6) tissues resected from the two groups of patients. Different doses of PGB were applied to these cultures and cells were subjected to molecular analyses at 0, 24 and 48 h.

Differences in Reported Outcomes in Industry-Funded vs Nonfunded Studies Assessing Thromboprophylaxis After Total Joint Arthroplasty.

Background: There are numerous studies discussing thromboprophylaxis after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), with varying conclusions. Patient inclusion criteria may be different for each study, which may lead to selection bias and misrepresentation of data. This study aimed to investigate if industry funding impacted patient demographics and overall reported outcomes of studies analyzing venous thromboembolism (VTE) prevention after TJA.

Role of erythropoietin and its receptor in the development of endometriosis in rats.

Objective: Besides its hematopoietic function, erythropoietin (EPO) may protect tissues from degenerative disorders. As such, EPO and its receptors were revealed in nonhematopoietic cells, including stromal and endometrial epithelial cells. However, the role of EPO in endometrial disorders is still unknown.

The association between different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid and CHAD, HIF-1α, COL2A1 expression in chondrocyte cultures.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of three different formulations of hyaluronic acid (HA): Low molecular weight (MW) Sinovial One, medium MW Viscoplus and high MW Durolane, on chondrocyte proliferation and collagen type II (COL2A1), hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and chondroadherin (CHAD) expression in primary chondrocyte cultures. Standard primary chondrocyte cultures were established from osteochondral tissues surgically obtained from 6 patients with gonarthrosis. Cell morphology was evaluated using an inverted light microscope; cell proliferation was determined with a MTT assay and confirmed with acridine orange/propidium iodide staining.

Aneurysm of Portosystemic Fistula: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Aim: A case of asymptomatic aneurysm of spontaneous portosystemic venous fistula (SPVF) with the radiologic findings is described.

Background: Although advances and more widespread use of ultrasound (US) and computed tomog -raphy angiography (CTA) have enabled more detection of SPVF in the liver, it is a rare entity.

Case Report: A 49-year-old male was referred to our hospital's nephrology outpatient clinic due to hypertension.

Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy: Spontaneous Fertilization.

Aim: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is the most common liver disease in pregnancy. Although it was shown that multiple pregnancy and hormone therapies increase the risk of ICP, there is limited information that compared spontaneous fertilization and fertilization (IVF) from the aspect of developing ICP. In our study, we investigated the potential relationship between ICP and IVF/ spontaneous pregnancy.

Are We Using Slow-Acting Symptomatic Chondroprotective Drugs Conscious Enough?

Background: Osteochondral injuries constitute an entity that is widespread and can be seen in patients of all ages. Actual treatment modalities aim to relieve pain, obtain full range of movement of the joint, and improve the quality of life. There are many slow-acting chondroprotective agents prevalently used in the United States that are classified as nutritional support but not as medicines .

Evaluation of the morphology of the canalis sinuosus using cone-beam computed tomography in patients with maxillary impacted canines.

Purpose: The nasopalatine canal is a well-known, important anatomical structure in the anterior maxilla, but this region contains many accessory canals. The canalis sinuosus (CS) is one of these canals; it contains the anterior superior alveolar nerve, along with veins and arteries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the CS using conebeam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with maxillary impacted canines.

Clinical, Electrophysiological, and Serological Evaluation of Patients with Cramp-Fasciculation Syndrome.

Introduction: Cramp-fasciculation syndrome (CFS) is a rare peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndrome. There are only a few reports on clinical and serological profile of a CFS cohort that was followed up by a single outpatient clinic.

Methods: Clinical, electrophysiological, and serological features of 6 CFS patients (5 men, 1 woman; 27-65 years old) were investigated.

Assessment of efficacy of topical azithromycin 1.5 per cent ophthalmic solution for the treatment of meibomian gland dysfunction.

Background: The aim was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of topical azithromycin 1.5 per cent ophthalmic solution in treatment of the clinical signs and symptoms associated with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD).

Methods: In this retrospective study, 35 patients with MGD were treated with topical azithromycin 1.

Can a Biodegradable Implanted Bilayered Drug Delivery System Loaded with BMP-2/BMP-12 Take an Effective Role in the Biological Repair Process of Bone-Tendon Injuries? A Preliminary Report.

Background: Use of biodegradable and biocompatible materials in the orthopedic surgery is gaining popularity. In this research, the rate of controlled release of a bilayered prototype biomaterial designed to promote osteoblastic and tenoblastic activity was calculated using pharmacochemical methods.

Methods: The first part of the design, composed of a sodium tetraborate, polyvinyl alcohol, and starch based hydrogel, was loaded with bone morphogenic protein-2.

Iopromide- and gadopentetic acid-derived preparates used in MR arthrography may be harmful to chondrocytes.

Background: Magnetic resonance arthrography, a procedure through which contrast agents containing gadolinium and/or iopromide are administered intra-articularly, has become a useful tool in musculoskeletal diagnosis. Nevertheless, despite being considered safe for systemic use, certain tissue toxicities have been identified for both drugs. In this study, the effects of short-term exposure of human primary chondrocyte cell cultures to gadolinium and/or iopromide contrast agents were examined by assaying for stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 (SSEA-1) protein expression (a chondrogenic differentiation marker), cell viability, toxicity, and proliferation.