Application of external torque enhances the detection of subtle syndesmotic ankle instability in a weight-bearing CT.

PURPOSE: Acute syndesmotic ankle injuries continue to impose a diagnostic dilemma and it remains unclear whether weightbearing and/or external rotation should be added during the imaging process. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess if combined weightbearing and external rotation increases the diagnostic sensitivity of syndesmotic ankle instability using weightbearing CT (WBCT) imaging, compared to isolated weightbearing. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with an acute syndesmotic ankle injury were analysed using a WBCT (N = 21; Age = 31.6 ± 14.1 years old). Inclusion criteria were an MRI confirmed syndesmotic ligament injury imaged by a WBCT of the ankle during weightbearing and combined weightbearing-external rotation. Exclusion criteria consisted of fracture associated syndesmotic injuries. Three-dimensional (3D) models were generated from the CT slices. Tibiofibular displacement and talar rotation were quantified using automated 3D measurements (anterior tibiofibular distance (ATFD), Alpha angle, posterior Tibiofibular distance (PTFD) and Talar rotation (TR) angle in comparison to the contralateral non-injured ankle. RESULTS: The difference in neutral-stressed Alpha angle and ATFD showed a significant difference between patients with a syndesmotic ankle lesion and contralateral control (P = 0.046 and P = 0.039, respectively). The difference in neutral-stressed PTFD and TR angle did not show a significant difference between patients with a syndesmotic ankle lesion and healthy ankles (n.s.). CONCLUSION: Application of combined weightbearing-external rotation reveals an increased ATFD in patients with syndesmotic ligament injuries. This study provides the first insights based on 3D measurements to support the potential relevance of applying external rotation during WBCT imaging. In clinical practice, this could enhance the current diagnostic accuracy of subtle syndesmotic instability in a non-invasive manner. However, to what extent certain displacement patterns require operative treatment strategies has yet to be determined in future studies. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

EFFECTS OF ARNEBIA EUCHROMA EXTRACT ON STREPTOZOTOCIN INDUCED DIABETES IN RATS: A STEREOLOGICAL STUDY.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is considered as an important health confounder in our world, which necessitates its better management by new methods. In this study, we have evaluated the effects of oral Arnebia Euchroma (AE) extract on different stereological parameters of the pancreas as well as blood glucose in Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. METHODS: We divided 48 Wistar rats into 4 groups: C1 including normal rats, C2 not-treated diabetic rats, E1 with diabetic rats receiving 100 mg/kg AE extract orally, and E2 including diabetic rats treated with 300 mg/kg AE extract. Stereological study was done and the levels of blood glucose were also estimated and compared between experimental and control groups. RESULTS: There were significant differences in volumes of pancreatic islets, ß cell populations, blood glucose levels in AE treated groups compared with not-treated diabetic group. CONCLUSION: Although AE did not completely prevent or heal the pancreatic damage, its oral administration showed promising effects on maintaining the population of beta cells, the main insulin secreting cells, after STZ-induced injury and also lowered blood glucose levels compared to the not-treated diabetic group.

Investigation of osteopontin levels and genomic variation of osteopontin and its receptors in Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Failure in self-tolerance towards ß-cells in diabetes mellitus (DM) pathogenesis involves a series of complex events that are governed by environmental and genetic factors. Considering the importance of osteopontin (OPN) in T-helper-1 (Th1) cells development, the aim of this study was to evaluate the serum level and gene polymorphism of OPN in Iranian Type 1 diabetic (T1DM) children. METHODS: In this case-control study, 87 T1DM children and 86 healthy ones were enrolled. Blood samples of both groups were checked for OPN level. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were genotyped by RFLP analysis for OPN rs1126772, its receptor integrin α4 (ITGA4) rs 1449263, and CD44 rs8193. RESULTS: Serum levels of OPN in diabetic children were significantly higher in cases compared to the control group (p=0.023), but there was no significant relationship between OPN rs1126772 (p=0.79), its receptor integrin α4 (p=0.31), and CD44 rs8193 (p=0.45), and T1DM. CONCLUSION: Higher amounts of OPN were seen in T1DM children. It is assumed that OPN might have inducing effects on T1DM development, particularly when genetically susceptible individuals are predisposed by an environmental insult. However, the 3 SNPs of OPN and its receptors did not show noticeable association with T1DM. The power of our study (~19%) was insufficient to observe any significant statistical difference between the groups; moreover, this study does not exclude the possibility of association of other SNPs of OPN and its receptors with this disease, and more studies are needed to clarify the issue.

The healing effect of arnebia euchroma in second degree burn wounds in rat as an animal model.

BACKGROUND: Finding more efficient agents with fewer side effects for treatment of burns has always been a concern for researchers. Silver sulfadiazine (SSD), apparently due to its antimicrobial effect, is still one of the most common prescribed agents. Previous studies suggested that Arnebia euchroma (AE) has shown antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. This study investigates the healing effect of AE extract in comparison with SSD in second degree burn wounds. METHODS: Fort eight female Wistar rats (220±20 g) were divided into four groups. Standard second degree burn wounds were induced on the back of their necks. One group was treated with SSD; two groups were treated with AE cream at concentrations of 10% (AE10) and 20% (AE20) and the control group which received no treatment. The duration of treatment was 28 days. RESULTS: This study revealed that AE and SSD noticeably improved re-epithelization, fibroblasts proliferation, and collagen bundle synthesis and had a noticeable anti-inflammatory effect compared with the control group. CONCLUSION: Results of the present study revealed that Arnebia euchroma herbal extract was an effective treatment for second degree burn wounds when compared with SSD.