Two-year MRI-defined structural damage and patient-reported outcomes following surgery or exercise for meniscal tears in young adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate potential differences in structural knee joint damage assessed by MRI and patient-reported outcomes (PROMs) at 2-year follow-up between young adults randomised to early surgery or exercise and education with optional delayed surgery for a meniscal tear. METHODS: A secondary analysis of a multicentre randomised controlled trial including 121 patients (18-40 years) with an MRI-verified meniscal tear. For this study, only patients with 2-year follow-up were included. The main outcomes were the difference in worsening of structural knee damage, assessed by MRI using the Anterior Cruciate Ligament OsteoArthrits Score, and the difference in change in the mean score of four Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS4) subscales covering pain, symptoms, function in sport and recreation, and quality of life, from baseline to 2 years. RESULTS: In total, 82/121 (68%) patients completed the 2-year follow-up (39 from the surgical group and 43 from the exercise group). MRI-defined cartilage damage had developed or progressed in seven (9.1%) patients and osteophytes developed in two (2.6%) patients. The worsening of structural damage from baseline to 2-year follow-up was similar between groups. The mean (95% CI) adjusted differences in change in KOOS4 between intervention groups from baseline to 2 years was -1.4 (-9.1, 6.2) points. The mean improvement in KOOS4 was 16.4 (10.4, 22.4) in the surgical group and 21.5 (15.0, 28.0) in the exercise group. No between group differences in improvement were found in the KOOS subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The 2-year worsening of MRI-defined structural damage was limited and similar in young adult patients with a meniscal tear treated with surgery or exercise with optional delayed surgery. Both groups had similar clinically relevant improvements in KOOS4, suggesting the choice of treatment strategy does not impact 2-year structural knee damage or PROMs. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02995551.

The role of adropin, HIF-1α and apelin biomarkers in the diagnosis of acute mesentaric ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: The absence of a specific biomarker for acute mesenteric ischemia diagnosis results in a delay in diagnosis and treatment, as well as a high mortality rate. The current research examined whether the proteins adropin, HIF-1α, and apelin may be used to help in the early detection of acute mesenteric ischemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 20 patients with acute mesenteric ischemia, 20 patients with abdominal pain, and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. The levels of adropin, HIF-1, and apelin in the serum were determined using the ELISA method. RESULTS: Adropin concentrations were significantly higher in the acute mesenteric ischemia group than in the abdominal pain and healthy control groups (p < 0.05). HIF-1α levels were considerably greater in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia compared to both the abdominal pain group and the healthy control group (p < 0.05). There was no difference in apelin levels between the acute mesenteric ischemia and abdominal pain groups (p > 0.05). HIF-1α was found to be moderate (AUC: 0.705) and adropin was found to be a weak biomarker (AUC: 0.692) in the ROC analysis for acute mesenteric ischemia. CONCLUSION: In this study of 20 patients with acute mesenteric ischemia, we found adropin and HIF-1α levels to be increased compared to patients with abdominal pain who did not have acute mesenteric ischemia.

Role of tissue perfusion, muscle strength recovery, and pain in rehabilitation after acute muscle strain injury: A randomized controlled trial comparing early and delayed rehabilitation.

Muscle strain injuries disrupt the muscle-tendon unit, early rehabilitation is associated with a faster return to sports (RTS), but the time course of tissue healing remains sparsely described. The purpose was to examine tissue regeneration and the effectiveness of early versus delayed rehabilitation onset on functional and structural recovery after strain injuries. A total of 50 recreational athletes with a severe acute strain injury in their thigh or calf muscles were randomized to early or delayed rehabilitation onset. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was obtained initially, 3 and 6 months postinjury, and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) estimated tissue inflammation initially and after 6 months. Muscle strength was determined 5 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postinjury, and a questionnaire determined soreness, pain, and confidence. DCE-MRI microvascular perfusion was higher in the injured compared to an uninjured muscle acutely (P < 0.01) and after 6 months (P < 0.01), for both groups (P > 0.05) and unrelated to RTS (P > 0.05). Total volume of the injured muscle decreased from the acute to the 3-month scan, and to the 6-month scan (P < 0.01) in both groups. Muscle strength was similar in both groups at any time. There was a nonsignificant trend (P ≤ 0.1) toward less pain and higher confidence with early rehabilitation. One reinjury was recorded. In conclusion, our data showed prolonged tissue repair with the initial response linked to muscle atrophy but did not explain why early rehabilitation onset accelerated recovery considering that structural and functional recovery was similar with early and delayed rehabilitation.

The effect of educational internships on medical students' perceptions of plastic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery educational internships on medical students' perceptions of the scope of plastic surgery. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the Gulhane Medical Faculty, Ankara, Turkey, from 2012 to 2013, and comprised 4th-, 5th- and 6th-year medical students. Students were given a questionnaire consisting of 28 questions related to maxillofacial and upper and lower extremity medical conditions, and skin, aesthetic and congenital anomalies. They were asked to correlate the treatment of certain medical conditions to the correct specialist clinics. SPSS 19 was used for data analysis. RESULTS: Of the 145 participants, 65(44.83%) had received internship education of plastic surgery while 80(55.17%) had not received internship training. In 27(96.4%) of the 28 medical conditions covered, patient referral to plastic surgery specialists was found to be significantly higher in the student group that participated in educational internships (p<0.05). For this same group of students, certain medical conditions, such as ptosis, pressure sores, parotid gland masses, venous ulcerations, facial nerve paralysis, septum deviations and large soft tissue defects with open tibia fracture, were less commonly referred to plastic surgery (<50% each). CONCLUSIONS: Short duration of educational plastic surgery internships prevented instructors from giving complete and detailed information to their students.

Quality of an Informed Consent Prior to a Surgical Intervention? Experience of a Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how far the information given by the physicians for the informed consent prior to the surgical intervention is comprehended by the patients. METHODS: The study was carried out between July 1(st), 2012 and July 1(st), 2013 at Gulhane Medical Faculty. A total of 400 patients, who were in the third postoperative day after various surgical procedures (orthopedics, urology, ophthalmology, plastic surgery and breast surgery), were included in the study. RESULTS: Of all the patients, 73.5% stated that the operative information was provided by physicians, whereas 22.7% claimed that no information was given in this regard. The patients who knew the name of the disease was 78%, while 18.3% did not know. Of all the patients, 25.7% knew the name of the operation, in contrast to of 52.3% who did not know it. About 12.5% of patients stated that they were not informed about the likely complications during the surgery, whereas 13.7% of patients reported that they were not informed about the post-operative complications. CONCLUSION: The verbal information and the written texts, different approaches such as drawings and visual materials (i.e. video's and photographs) should be considered while providing information to the patients. While doing so the level of education of the community should also be taken into account.

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography for optimized colon cancer staging and follow up.

OBJECTIVES: Optimal management of colon cancer (CC) requires detailed assessment of extent of disease. This study prospectively investigates the diagnostic accuracy of 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for staging and detection of recurrence in primary CC. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PET/CT for preoperative staging was performed in 66 prospectively included patients with primary CC. Diagnostic accuracy for PET/CT and CT was analyzed. In addition to routine follow up, 42 stages I-III CC patients had postoperative PET/CT examinations every 6 months for 2 years. Serological levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), carcinoembryonic antigen, and liberated domain I of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor were analyzed. RESULTS: Accuracy for tumor, nodal, and metastases staging by PET/CT were 82% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 70; 91), 66% (CI: 51; 78), and 89% (CI: 79; 96); for CT the accuracy was 77% (CI: 64; 87), 60% (CI: 46; 73), and 69% (CI: 57; 80). Cumulative relapse incidences for stages I-III CC at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months were 7.1% (CI: 0; 15); 14.3% (CI: 4; 25); 19% (CI: 7; 31), and 21.4% (CI: 9; 34). PET/CT diagnosed all relapses detected during the first 2 years. High preoperative TIMP-1 levels were associated with significant hazards toward risk of recurrence and shorter overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates PET/CT as a valuable tool for staging and follow up in CC. TIMP-1 provided prognostic information potentially useful in selection of patients for intensive follow up.

The role of blood nitric oxide level in predicting return of spontaneous circulation: a prospective case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in serum nitric oxide levels between patients who return spontaneously after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and those who do not. We also examined the potential of using serum nitric oxide levels as a marker to make an accurate decision about patient survival. METHODS: We included 100 consecutive patients who were brought to the emergency clinic due to cardiac arrest. Blood samples were taken from these patients at admission, 30 min after admission, and when resuscitation was terminated. RESULTS: We found that there was a significant difference in NO1 and NO3 values between the group of patients who did not return after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the group in which spontaneous circulation returned. The NO1 value was significant in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, while the NO3 value was not. A higher NO1 value provided a higher rate of survival. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that nitric oxide may be a useful parameter to support the decision about patient survival. A higher NO1 value is associated with a better prognosis and survival rate. Therefore, serum nitric oxide levels may be a suitable indicator to support the decision-making process regarding patient survival.

The role of blood nitric oxide level in predicting return of spontaneous circulation: a prospective case-control study

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a difference in serum nitric oxide levels between patients who return spontaneously after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and those who do not. We also examined the potential of using serum nitric oxide levels as a marker to make an accurate decision about patient survival. METHODS: We included 100 consecutive patients who were brought to the emergency clinic due to cardiac arrest. Blood samples were taken from these patients at admission, 30 min after admission, and when resuscitation was terminated. RESULTS: We found that there was a significant difference in NO1 and NO3 values between the group of patients who did not return after cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the group in which spontaneous circulation returned. The NO1 value was significant in the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, while the NO3 value was not. A higher NO1 value provided a higher rate of survival. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that nitric oxide may be a useful parameter to support the decision about patient survival. A higher NO1 value is associated with a better prognosis and survival rate. Therefore, serum nitric oxide levels may be a suitable indicator to support the decision-making process regarding patient survival.

Prediction and prognostication of neurological deterioration in patients with acute ICH: a hospital-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) are at high risk of neurological deterioration (ND). We aimed at establishing predictors of early ND (END) as well as late ND (LND) and at exploring the impact of neurological stability during the first week on long-term prognosis. DESIGN: We conducted this study as a retrospective cohort study. ND was evaluated based on the consciousness and severity of neurological symptoms. ND during the first 24 h after admission was defined as early ND and from 24 h to 7 days as LND. Patients were followed up until February 2015. PARTICIPANTS: We included 300 patients with acute ICH (≤4.5 h from symptom onset) who were admitted to our institution from March 2009 to January 2015. SETTING: Section of Acute Neurology, Department of Neurology, Bispebjerg Hospital is a specialised referral centre receiving patients with acute stroke from the entire capital region of Denmark. RESULTS: We found that a spot sign on CT angiography (OR 10.7 CI 4.79 to 24.3) and extensive degree of interventricular haemorrhage (IVH) (OR 8.73 CI 2.87 to 26.5) were independent predictors of END, whereas a degree of comorbidity (Charlton Index), admission stroke severity and degree of IVH predicted LND. On follow-up imaging, haematoma expansion was independently associated with END (OR 6.1 CI 2.2 to 17.3), and expansion of IVH was independently associated with both END (OR 1.7 CI 1.2 to 2.3 per point increase) and LND (OR 2.3 CI 1.3 to 4.2 per point increase). ND during the first week was associated with a 1-year mortality of 60.5%, compared with 9.2% among the patients who remained stable. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that stability during the first week entails an optimistic prognosis. A relatively easy and effective risk stratification of END and LND is possible on admission based on the spot sign, IVH and clinical parameters.