Another diagnostic tool in thoracolumbar posterior ligament complex injury: interspinous distance ratio.

PURPOSE: The increased interspinous distance ratio (ISDR) at the fracture site in plain X-ray is useful as an indicator of injury of the posterior ligament complex in thoracolumbar fractures. METHODS: 154 patients of thoracolumbar junctional fracture (T12, L1, L2) were subjects for this study. The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of MRI was measured by comparing the surgery findings for the two analysis groups: one in which indeterminate cases were included in the intact group and another in which the indeterminate cases were included in the ruptured group. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy of ISDR (measured in lateral decubitus X-ray) were measured after dividing patients into 3 groups (110, 120, 130 % increased). RESULTS: MRI's sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 70.8, 100, and 80.5 %, respectively, when the indeterminate was assumed to have intact PLC. After assuming the indeterminate to have ruptured PLC, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 99.1, 52.4, and 85.7 %, respectively. In 53 cases with indeterminate MRI reading, sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 81.2, 76.2, and 79.2 % %, respectively. CONCLUSION: In this study, in cases where it was difficult to make a diagnosis of the injury in the posterior ligament complex, based on the interspinous distance ratio (ISDR) of 120 % measured in plain X-ray in a lateral decubitus position, the sensitivity was 81.3 %, the specificity was 76.2 %, and the accuracy was 79.2 %. Therefore, measuring the ISDR will be helpful in determining whether surgical treatment is required in patients with thoracolumbar injury.

Clinical and radiological outcomes of ultrasound-guided barbotage using a spinal needle and subacromial steroid injection for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.

BACKGROUND: Ultrasound (US)-guided techniques reported for the treatment of calcific tendinitis have mostly demonstrated good results. This study investigates the effect of US-guided barbotage using a spinal needle in patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. METHODS: Thirty-six patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder treated by US-guided barbotage with a spinal needle and subacromial steroid injection were included in the study. We evaluated clinical outcomes based on American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, Constant score, and visual analog scale (VAS) for pain score. Radiological outcomes were assessed by X-ray imaging at each visit. RESULTS: Our results showed that US-guided barbotage and subacromial steroid injection produced good clinical and radiological outcomes in patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Of the 36 patients, only one required surgical treatment, while the others showed improvement without any complications. Compared to values before the procedure, calcific deposit size and VAS, ASES, and Constant scores showed significant improvement 6 weeks after the procedure. No significant correlation was found between the initial calcific deposit size and clinical outcomes at each time point. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, US-guided barbotage using a spinal needle and subacromial steroid injection can yield satisfactory clinical and radiological results.

Fracture in a Young Male Patient Leading to the Diagnosis of Wilson's Disease: A Case Report.

Wilson's disease is a rare genetic disorder that has abnormal copper metabolism. Although the disease's main problems are found in liver and brain, some studies revealed manifestation of various musculoskeletal problems in the patients. In this report, we encountered a young patient who had fracture in the forearm bone. Initially, exception to a previous history of fracture from a motorcycle accident, the patient did not have any medical or drug use history, and laboratory work-ups were insignificant. However, with suspicion on his bone's integrity, bone densitometry was recommended and revealed osteopenic change. To disclose a cause for the change, questions were made to recall any particular history or event, and his complaint of recent vision loss led to ophthalmologic consultation where under slit-lamp test found Kayser-Fleischer ring. Further laboratory work-up found low levels of serum copper and ceruloplasmin and high copper level in 24-hr urine sample that led to the diagnosis of Wilson's disease. Although Wilson's disease has been frequently noticed with considerable musculoskeletal manifestation, it rarity makes the diagnosis illusive to a physician. Hence, despite of its rarity, it is imperative to remember the disease's bony manifestation, and it should be suspected in young patients with demineralized bone when the reason for brittle bone cannot be answered with other better known conditions.

Effects of SO2 and NO on growth of Chlorella sp. KR-1.

Effects of the toxic compounds in flue gas, SOx and NOx, on growth of Chlorella sp. KR-1 have been determined. Although growth of KR-1 was suppressed by the toxic compounds, KR-1 exhibited excellent tolerances to SOx compared to other algal strains. When Chlorella KR-1 was cultured with the model gas containing 60 ppm SO2, the linear growth rate was 1.24 g/l day which is about 25% lower than that of the control culture aerated with the gas mixture containing no toxic compounds, SO2 and NO. KR-1 could grow even with the model gas containing 100 ppm SO2 and the linear growth rate of KR-1 in the culture was 0.78 g/l day. The period for lag phase was increased with increasing of SO2 concentration that also resulted in the decrease of the linear growth rate and the maximum cell concentration. Direct CO2 fixation by Chlorella KR-1 has been successfully done using actual flue gases from a liquified natural gas (LNG)- or diesel-fueled boiler. These results indicated that Chlorella KR-1 may be applied for direct CO2 fixation from actual flue gas.