Comparative Study between Operative versus Non-operative Treatment for Base of Fifth Metatarsal Fractures in Young Adults.

Background The treatment of displaced base of fifth metatarsal fracture remains controversial regarding the conservative and operative treatment. Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of operative and non-operative treatment for base of fifth metatarsal fractures. Method This was retrospective comparative study performed in Civil Service Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal from December 2014 to November 2019. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by computer generated technique. Group1 included 17 patients who underwent open reduction and internal fixation using tension band wiring, whereas group 2 included 17 patients who underwent non-operative treatment with boot cast. Result The AOFAS and VAS-FA scores at 3 months in operative and non-operative groups were 89.34±2.14 versus 86.94±2.22 (p < 0.05) and 5.58±0.87 versus 3.58±0.93 (p < 0.05). Similarly, AOFAS and VAS-FA at 12 months after treatment were 90.94±2.43 versus 90.17±1.55 (p > 0.05) and 0.64±0.280.94±0.39 (p > 0.05) in operative and non-operative groups respectively. The average time to bear full weight and return to work were 6.82±1.13 versus 7.08±1.24 weeks (p > 0.05) and 8.76±1.20 versus 10.35±1.41 weeks ( p < 0.05) respectively. The mean of VAS score at 3months of treatment is 5.58±0.87 for non-operative group and 3.58±0.93 for operative group (p <0.05). Conclusion Operative intervention has been preferred over the non-operative treatment in young adults or athletes with more than 3 mm displaced fifth metatarsal base fracture to achieve anatomical reduction of fracture, hasten the recovery and rehabilitation and to decrease the complications associated with non-operative treatment.

Microsurgical Treatment for Complex Basilar Artery Aneurysms with Long-Term Follow-Up in a Series of 35 Cases.

BACKGROUND: There has been a massive shift in the balance toward endovascular therapy for basilar artery (BA) aneurysms in the modern era. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed clinical and radiologic data from patients with BA aneurysms who were treated in a single medical center during a 10-year period from August 2006 to May 2016. RESULTS: Thirty-five consecutive patients with 46 aneurysms during the 10-year period were included. The rate of complete aneurysm occlusion in 35 cases using a 1-stage operation was 58.8% (20/34). The graft patency rates of 13 bypass surgeries were 84.6% (11/13) within 1 week and 69.2% (9/13) at 3 months after surgery. The cut flow index for all bypass cases was 0.79. The overall survival was 94% at discharge (2 patients died). The 3-month outcome was favorable (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) for 27 patients (77.1%) and poor (modified Rankin Scale score 3-5) for 5 patients (14.2%), and 3 patients died (8.6%). The survival for patients with BA apex aneurysms was higher than the survival observed for patients with BA trunk/vertebrobasilar junction aneurysms. CONCLUSIONS: Microsurgical treatments for BA aneurysms can be effective, with good patient outcomes in the early stage after operation. Patients with wide-necked, fusiform, or dolichoectatic aneurysms seem to exclude the aneurysm, preventing unnecessary retreatments with bypass techniques. The potential for a poor prognosis of patients with BA trunk/vertebrobasilar junction aneurysms was higher than that for patients with basilar apex aneurysms who presented with unfavorable subsequent events.

Titanium Elastic Nailing System (TENS) for Tibia Fractures in Children: Functional Outcomes and Complications.

INTRODUCTION: Closed reduction and cast application is still regarded as first line treatment for pediatric tibial fractures. Over the past few decades, management of pediatric tibial fractures has shifted more towards operative intervention because of quicker recovery, shorter rehabilitation period, less immobilization, lack of stiffness of adjoining joints, and less psychological impact to the children. Flexible intramedullary nails not only fulfill the above advantage but also maintain alignment and rotation. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of pediatric tibial fractures fixed with two titanium elastic nails through proximal ends of bones. Alignment of fracture, any infection, delayed union, non union, limb length discrepancy, motion of knee joint, and fracture union time were measured during follow-up examination. RESULTS: Forty-five patients were enrolled into the study out of which 28 (62.2%) were male and 17 (37.8%) were female. Average age of patient was 9.48±2.17 years and average time taken to heal the fractures (both clinical and radiological) was 11.17±2.81 weeks. There were 2 (4.4%) of malunion, 4 (8.8%) of delayed union, 3 (6.6%) of limb shortening, 2 (4.4%) of limb lengthening, 6 (13.6%) of nail prominence and skin irritation, 2 (4.4%) of superficial infection at nail entry site and one case of re-fracture. CONCLUSIONS: Titanium elastic nail fixation is a simple, easy, rapid, reliable and effective method for management of pediatric tibial fractures in patients with operative indications. There may be the chances of complication following the TENS in tibia but these are avoidable as well as manageable with careful precautions.

The role of heat shock proteins and glucose regulated proteins in cancer.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are a family of evolutionary conserved proteins that work as molecular chaperones for cellular proteins essential for cell viability and growth as well as having numerous cyto-protective roles. They are sub-categorised based on their molecular weights; amongst which some of the most extensively studied are the HSP90 and HSP70 families. Important members of these two families; Heat shock proteins 70 and heat shock proteins 90 (Hsp70/90), are the glucose regulated proteins (GRP). These stress-inducible chaperones possess distinct roles from that of the other HSPs, residing mostly in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, but they can also be translocated to other cellular locations. Their ability in adapting to stress conditions in the tumour microenvironment suggests novel functions in cancer. GRPs have been implicated in many crucial steps of carcinogenesis to include stabilization of oncogenic proteins, induction of tumour angiogenesis, inhibition of apoptosis and replicative senescence, and promotion of invasion and metastasis.

Neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor 1 is a direct transcriptional and epigenetic target of IL-13 involved in allergic inflammation.

Although interleukin (IL)-13 and neurotrophins are functionally important for the pathogenesis of immune responses, the interaction of these pathways has not been explored. Herein, by interrogating IL-13-induced responses in human epithelial cells we show that neurotrophic tyrosine kinase receptor, type 1 (NTRK1), a cognate, high-affinity receptor for nerve growth factor (NGF), is an early transcriptional IL-13 target. Induction of NTRK1 was accompanied by accumulation of activating epigenetic marks in the promoter; transcriptional and epigenetic changes were signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 dependent. Using eosinophilic esophagitis as a model for human allergic inflammation, we found that NTRK1 was increased in inflamed tissue and dynamically expressed as a function of disease activity and that the downstream mediator of NTRK1 signaling early growth response 1 protein was elevated in allergic inflammatory tissue compared with control tissue. Unlike NTRK1, its ligand NGF was constitutively expressed in control and disease states, indicating that IL-13-stimulated NTRK1 induction is a limiting factor in pathway activation. In epithelial cells, NGF and IL-13 synergistically induced several target genes, including chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 26 (eotaxin-3). In summary, we have demonstrated that IL-13 confers epithelial cell responsiveness to NGF by regulating NTRK1 levels by a transcriptional and epigenetic mechanism and that this process likely contributes to allergic inflammation.

Desmoglein-1 regulates esophageal epithelial barrier function and immune responses in eosinophilic esophagitis.

The desmosomal cadherin desmoglein-1 (DSG1) is an essential intercellular adhesion molecule that is altered in various human cutaneous disorders; however, its regulation and function in allergic disease remains unexplored. Herein, we demonstrate a specific reduction in DSG1 in esophageal biopsies from patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), an emerging allergic disorder characterized by chronic inflammation within the esophageal mucosa. Further, we show that DSG1 gene silencing weakens esophageal epithelial integrity, and induces cell separation and impaired barrier function (IBF) despite high levels of desmoglein-3. Moreover, DSG1 deficiency induces transcriptional changes that partially overlap with the transcriptome of inflamed esophageal mucosa; notably, periostin (POSTN), a multipotent pro-inflammatory extracellular matrix molecule, is the top induced overlapping gene. We further demonstrate that IBF is a pathological feature in EoE, which can be partially induced through the downregulation of DSG1 by interleukin-13 (IL-13). Taken together, these data identify a functional role for DSG1 and its dysregulation by IL-13 in the pathophysiology of EoE and suggest that the loss of DSG1 may potentiate allergic inflammation through the induction of pro-inflammatory mediators such as POSTN.

Comparative study of sensitivity of rapid diagnostic (hexagon) test with calculated malarial parasitic density in peripheral blood.

BACKGROUND: Different diagnostic test kits are used for rapid diagnosis of malaria. Most are based on antigen detection (pLDH, Pan Aldolase, HRP-2). In context of Nepal the diagnostic reliability and sensitivity of these tests is unknown. Hexagon Malaria Combi™ is one of the most commonly used test kit in Nepal for rapid diagnosis of malaria. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the sensitivity of the Hexagon malaria Combi test in comparison with parasitic density by microscopy technique. METHODS: A Cross sectional prospective study was conducted in three districts of Nepal from September to November 2009. Blood samples were collected from the suspected cases of malaria. Thick and thin smear were prepared from all the samples and Giemsa stain was done. Simultaneously RDT (hexagon) for malaria was done. When RDT was found to be positive, blood was serially diluted in 6 tubes as 1:2, 1:4, 1:8, 1:16, 1:32 and 1:64. RDT was done on diluted blood till RDT test gave negative result. Parasitic density was calculated for undiluted and diluted blood samples and sensitivity of RDT in various parasitic densities was calculated. RESULTS: Hexagon malaria combi test is sensitive (86%) when malarial parasitic density is >500/µl. Sensitivity was found to be directly related to parasitic density. Its sensitivity is very low (2.9%) when parasitic density is less than 500/ µl. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity of rapid diagnostic test (hexagon Combi test detecting malarial pLDH antigen) is high only if the parasitic density is more than 500/µl.

Elbow dislocation with ipsilateral radius and ulna fracture: is it so common?

Elbow dislocation with ipsilateral diaphyseal fracture of both radius and ulna is a rare injury. However, elbow dislocation with either radius or ulnar diaphyseal fracture is commonly reported. We report an uncommon injury of a 16 years old male who had his elbow dislocation with ipsilateral both bones forearm fractures. Elbow dislocation was reduced and fracture both bones were fixed with dynamic compression plate under brachial block.

Values of lymphocyte subsets in Nepalese healthy adult population.

INTRODUCTION: CD4 T lymphocyte is the most commonly used cellular marker in tracking Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection progression and monitoring effect of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Due to lack of local reference values of CD4 and other T lymphocytes in Nepal, most clinical decisions are based on the reference ranges of western countries. METHODS: This study was conducted at three major hospitals/laboratory of central, eastern and western Nepal during November 2008 through July 2009. Using the predefined criteria, 602 (200, 202 and 200 from central, eastern and western regions respectively) healthy adult volunteers of age range 18-60 years were recruited with equal representation from each age group and sex. Blood specimens were screened for HIV following standard algorithm using ELISA and two rapid test kits based on different principles. Samples with discordant test-results were excluded. HIV sero-negative specimens were further analyzed for CD4, CD8, and CD4:CD8 ratio, and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) by FACS count (Becton Dickinson, USA) and automated cell counter (BC-3000 Plus, Shenzhen Mindray Biomedical Electronics, Germany) respectively. RESULTS: The average value (mean± standard deviation) of CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 ratio and ALC of Nepalese adult population were found to be 786 ± 248, 567±230, 1.52 ± 0.59 and 2712 ± 836 respectively. All four parameters but CD8 were significantly different with sex and females had relatively higher values. However, none of these parameters reported significant difference with age except the ALC. CONCLUSIONS: Nepalese healthy adult populations have significantly different T lymphocyte subsets compared to other countries. The present reference ranges of CD4 and other T lymphocytes may be used for any clinical purposes including classifying and monitoring disease status in HIV infected individuals, immune status evaluation, monitoring ART and accordingly making amendment in national HIV treatment guidelines in Nepal.