Efficacy of Intra-Articular Polynucleotides Associated With Hyaluronic Acid Versus Hyaluronic Acid Alone in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objective: Pain and range of motion loss are the main clinical features of osteoarthritis (OA). Hyaluronic acid (HA) is one of the infiltrative therapies for OA treatment; however, its effectiveness is a matter of an ongoing debate in clinical practice. Polynucleotides (PNs), a DNA-derived macromolecule with natural origin and trophic activity, were found to favor cell growth and collagen production, in preclinical and clinical studies regarding cartilage regeneration.

Time evolution of restless legs syndrome in haemodialysis patients.

Background: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is characterized by an urge to move the extremities, accompanied by paraesthesiae, in the evening and at night. Uraemic RLS, a type of secondary RLS, occurs commonly in chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease. Progression of uraemic RLS over time is unclear.

One-year mortality after hip fracture surgery and prognostic factors: a prospective cohort study.

Older adult patients with hip fractures are 3-4 times more likely to die within one-year after surgery than general population. The study aimed to identify independent predictive factors associated with one-year mortality after hip fracture surgery. A prospective prognostic cohort study was performed.

Ultrasound-Guided Treatment of Extrusive Medial Meniscopathy: A 3-Step Protocol.

Medial knee pain is commonplace in clinical practice and can be related to several pathologic conditions: ie, medial plica syndrome, saphenous nerve entrapment, pes anserine syndrome, medial collateral ligament injury, and medial meniscus disorders. Ultrasound (US) imaging represents a valuable first-line diagnostic approach to adequately visualize the superficial structures in the medial compartment of the knee to easily plan for prompt treatment. Currently, the management of chronic degenerative diseases involving the menisci, and causing their extrusion, consists of surgery (arthroscopic partial meniscectomy).

Efficacy of the "Salento technique", a modified two-incision approach in distal biceps brachii tendon repair. Surgical description and outcomes analysis.

Introduction: The biceps brachii lesion needs to be treated surgically. A modified two incisions technique is proposed and reviewed. Material and Methods: All patients were treated with the same technique.

Predictive factors for category II pressure ulcers in older patients with hip fractures: a prospective study.

Objective: To identify the incidence of category II or higher hospital-acquired pressure ulcers (HAPU) and significantly associated factors in older patients with hip fractures. PUs are a frequent complication in hip fracture patients, negatively impacting patients' quality of life, the health-care system and society.

Method: A prospective cohort study was conducted.

Quadratus Femoris muscle causing deep gluteal syndrome: A rare cause of refractory sciatica of extraspinal origin in the presence of an anatomic variation.

Background: Sciatica of extraspinal origin represents both a diagnostic and a therapeutic challenge for spine specialists. Among these, quadratus femoris muscle (QF) is often overlooked as a pain-generator.

Reported Case: A 62-year old man was referred from general practitioner for isolated sciatica in the left leg, refractory to conservative treatments.

Parosteal osteosarcoma: a monocentric retrospective analysis of 195 patients.

Parosteal osteosarcoma is a low-grade malignant bone tumor that can undergo dedifferentiation. The aim of this study was to analyze clinicopathologic features associated with clinical outcome in a large cohort of patients. Patients consecutively treated for parosteal osteosarcoma at Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute from 1900 to 2018 were reviewed and analyzed.

When neurosurgery and orthopedics were close in the past: Harvey Cushing and Vittorio Putti.

Harvey Cushing and Vittorio Putti are well-recognized medical authorities. The Italian orthopedic surgeon Vittorio Putti was an advocate of modern orthopedics and a scholar in orthopedic history. Putti was a frequent traveler and an esteemed lecturer, and a close friend of the American neurosurgeon, pathologist, and writer Dr.

The Impact of Caloric Restriction on the Epigenetic Signatures of Aging.

Aging is characterized by an extensive remodeling of epigenetic patterns, which has been implicated in the physiopathology of age-related diseases. Nutrition plays a significant role in modulating the epigenome, and a growing amount of data indicate that dietary changes can modify the epigenetic marks associated with aging. In this review, we will assess the current advances in the relationship between caloric restriction, a proven anti-aging intervention, and epigenetic signatures of aging.

Prognostic significance of human telomerase reverse transcriptase promoter region mutations C228T and C250T for overall survival in spinal chordomas.

Background: Spinal chordomas, a subtype of primary spinal column malignancies (PSCM), are rare tumors with poor prognosis, and we have limited understanding of the molecular drivers of neoplasia.

Methods: Study design was a retrospective review of prospectively collected data with cross-sectional survival. Archived paraffin embedded pathologic specimens were collected for 133 patients from 6 centers within Europe and North America between 1987 and 2012.

The knockout zebrafish line: a model to study Vici syndrome.

The EPG5 protein is a RAB7A effector involved in fusion specificity between autophagosomes and late endosomes or lysosomes during macroautophagy/autophagy. Mutations in the human gene cause a rare and severe multisystem disorder called Vici syndrome. In this work, we show that zebrafish mutants from both heterozygous and incrossed homozygous matings are viable and can develop to the age of sexual maturity without conspicuous defects in external appearance.

Combined ascorbic acid and T produce better healing compared to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in an Achilles tendon injury rat model: a proof of concept study.

Background: This pilot study aimed to ascertain whether the local application of ascorbic acid (AA), of T, and of rat (r) bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), alone or in all possible combinations, promoted healing after an Achilles tendon injury in a rat model.

Methods: An Achilles tendon defect was produced in 24 6-8-week-old male inbred Lewis rats. The animals were then randomly divided into eight groups of three rats each.

Genomic stability, anti-inflammatory phenotype, and up-regulation of the RNAseH2 in cells from centenarians.

Current literature agrees on the notion that efficient DNA repair favors longevity across evolution. The DNA damage response machinery activates inflammation and type I interferon signaling. Both pathways play an acknowledged role in the pathogenesis of a variety of age-related diseases and are expected to be detrimental for human longevity.

Evaluation of Blood Loss and Implant Alignment after Total Knee Arthroplasty with Inertial Based Extramedullary Femoral Cutting Guide.

 The purpose of this study was to compare, in terms of blood loss and implant alignment, a new generation of smart extramedullary (EM) cutting guides with the conventional intramedullary (IM) guide for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The hypothesis was that the EM system would result in less blood loss and fewer days of hospitalization, while ensuring equal or higher accuracy in the alignment of the femoral implant.  Thirty-six patients were enrolled for the present study: 18 patients underwent TKA using the EM guide and for the other 18 patients the IM guide was used.

Antiresorptive properties of strontium substituted and alendronate functionalized hydroxyapatite nanocrystals in an ovariectomized rat spinal arthrodesis model.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to comparatively investigate the posterolateral fusion rate in ovariectomized (OVX) rats using two new bone graft materials: strontium (Sr) substituted hydroxyapatite (HA) nanocrystals and alendronate (AL) functionalized HA nanocrystals. SrHA was synthesized in presence of different Sr concentrations (SrHA5; SrHA10) and HA-AL nanocrystals at increasing bisphosphonate (BP) content (HA-AL7; HA-AL28).

Methods: A posterolateral spinal fusion model in twenty-five Sham operated and in twenty-five OVX female rats was used and materials were bilaterally implanted between transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae.

miR‑494.3p expression in synovial sarcoma: Role of CXCR4 as a potential target gene.

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare tumour, with dismal survival when metastasis occurs. SS contains a characteristic translocation (X;18)(p11;q11) and the fusion genes appear to be mutually exclusive and concordant in primary and metastatic tumours. Novel prognostic and predictive factors are required.

HIFU for Bone Metastases and other Musculoskeletal Applications.

High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a totally noninvasive procedure that has shown promising results in the management of numerous malignant and nonmalignant conditions. Under magnetic resonance or ultrasound guidance, high-intensity ultrasound waves are focused on a small, well-defined target region, inducing biologic tissue heating and coagulative necrosis, thus resulting in a precise and localized ablation. This treatment has shown both great safety and efficacy profiles, and may offer a multimodal approach to different diseases, providing pain palliation, potential local tumor control, and, in some cases, remineralization of trabecular bone.