Valved Conduits for Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction: A Review of Current Technologies and Future Directions.

The need for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction is common and growing in congenital heart surgery given expanding indications for the repair of congenital as well as acquired heart disease. Various valved conduit options currently exist including homografts, xenograft pulmonary valved conduits (Contegra™), and porcine valved conduits. The major limitation for all conduits is implant durability, which requires reoperation. Currently, cryopreserved homografts are often used given their superiority shown in long-term data. Significant limitations remain in the cost and availability of the graft, particularly for smaller sizes. Contegra conduits are available in a variety of sizes. Nonetheless, the data regarding long-term durability are less robust and studies comparing durability with homografts have been conflicting. Additionally, there is concern for increased rates of late endocarditis in this conduit. Porcine valved conduits offer a reliable option but are limited by structural valve degeneration associated with all types of bioprosthetic heart valve replacements. New developments in the field of tissue engineering have produced promising bio-restorative valved conduits that may overcome many of the limitations of previous conduit technologies. These remain in the early stages of clinical testing. This review summarizes the clinical data surrounding the conduits used most commonly in clinical practice today and explores emerging technologies that may bring us closer to developing the ideal conduit.

Use of Metamaterials to Reduce Acoustic Noise Emissions from Lower Limb Prostheses: An Experimental Validation.

Recent human-centred design studies suggest that acoustic noise could affect the physical use and psychological acceptance of a biomedical device. These aspects are especially relevant in the prosthetic field, in which device loudness is often related to rejection. The aim of the study is to inquire on the possibility to reduce the acoustic noise emitted by a robotic leg prosthesis by improving its casing. First, acoustic noise emissions are characterized experimentally using an anechoic chamber, both for the whole prosthesis, and for its actuator (i.e., noise source) in isolation. The characterizations show that the whole prosthesis including its casing amplify the actuator noise, and that noise emissions are concentrated within a certain frequency range. Based on these findings, the prosthesis casing has been redesigned to include a panel of Helmholtz resonator-based acoustic metamaterials as proof of concept, which attenuate respective noise emissions. Experimental validations show that the use of such metamaterials in the prosthesis casing can significantly reduce noise emissions without compromising on prosthesis size and weight.

Long sports career and satisfactory clinical outcomes after Meniscal Allograft Transplantation (MAT) in young professional athletes involved in strenuous sports.

PURPOSE: To assess the return to sport rate of young professional athletes, to analyze their careers in terms of matches played and league participation over a minimum period of 6 years after Meniscal Allograft Transplantation (MAT), as well as to assess the long-term clinical subjective outcomes and satisfaction. METHODS: Thirteen professional athletes (ten soccer and one basketball players, one fencer and one wrestler) with a mean age at surgery of 23.4 ± 4.0 underwent MAT (six medial, seven lateral). The time required to return to sport, post-operative performance level and the number of reoperations were evaluated. At an average follow-up of 9.0 ± 2.8 years, Lysholm, KOOS and Cincinnati scores were administered and collected. RESULTS: Thirteen patients (100%) returned to sports practice after an average period of 11.8 ± 3.8 months. Nine athletes (69%) returned to sports at the same pre-injury level. Overall, 93%, 85%, 62% and 55% were active until the 3rd, the 5th, the 7th and the 9th season after MAT, respectively. Seven patients (54%) underwent a reoperation after MAT, where only two of them (15%) were related to graft problems (one meniscectomy and one graft suture). Of the ten athletes that completed subjective evaluation, the mean Lysholm score was 72 ± 15 (0% "Excellent", 10% "Good", 60% "Fair", 30% "Poor"). Of the athletes with lower scores, one suffered from patellar tendon rupture, one from post-operative infection and one from a previous femoral fracture. The mean Cincinnati knee score was 77 ± 18, while the average KOOS values were 60 ± 34 for sports. CONCLUSION: Meniscal Allograft Transplantation (MAT) in young professional athletes involved in strenuous activities allowed all patients to return to pre-injury sport and in nearly 70% of cases at their pre-injury level. After five seasons following MAT, 85% of patients were still active or playing more than 20-30 matches per season. On the other hand, nearly 50% underwent at least one reoperation and only 70% of patients were rated as "Good", or "Fair" using the Lysholm score. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.

Quantitative Musculoskeletal Ultrasound.

Ultrasound (US) imaging plays a crucial role in the assessment of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders. Several quantitative tools are offered by US systems and add information to conventional US imaging. This article reviews the quantitative US imaging tools currently available in MSK radiology, specifically focusing on the evaluation of elasticity with shear-wave elastography, perfusion with contrast-enhanced US and noncontrast superb microvascular imaging, and bone and muscle mass with quantitative US methods. Some of them are well established and already of clinical value, such as elasticity and contrast-enhanced perfusion assessment in muscles and tendons. MSK radiologists should be aware of the potential of quantitative US tools and take advantage of their use in everyday practice, both for clinical and research purposes.

Transitional fracture of the distal radius: a rare injury in adolescent athletes. Case series and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Transitional fractures are fractures in adolescents where partial closure of the epiphyseal growth plate has occurred. These fractures are most commonly reported in the distal tibia. With respect to the distal radius, only a few case reports describing transitional fractures exist. Furthermore, relatively little is known about epiphyseal closure of the distal radius. A case series of four transitional fractures of the distal radius is presented by comparing non-operative and operative treatment options. At present, this is the largest case series in the literature dealing with this rare injury. CASE PRESENTATION: We present three cases of four transitional fractures of the distal radius including 1-year follow-up. Patient age ranged from 16 to 18 years including a gender ratio of two males to one female. Clinical and radiographic assessments took place 6 and 12 weeks and 1 year after trauma/surgery. Three transitional fractures were treated with open reduction and internal volar plate fixation followed by functional rehabilitation. One transitional fracture was treated non-operatively. All cases showed an excellent functional outcome. CONCLUSIONS: The primary treatment goal in transitional fractures is anatomic reduction of the articular surface. Non-operative treatment of transitional fractures of the distal radius is the most commonly reported treatment option. Additionally, different fixation options have been described, including the use of Kirschner wires (K-wires) and lag screws. The presented cases demonstrate that volar plate fixation followed by functional rehabilitation is a valuable treatment option in significantly displaced transitional fractures of the distal radius. Furthermore, we discuss the pathogenesis as well as the different treatment options by critical reviewing the literature.

Haemophilic arthropathy: A narrative review on the use of intra-articular drugs for arthritis.

INTRODUCTION: Intra-articular injections of various drugs are commonly used in patients with degenerative osteoarthritis and also in haemophilic patients. Haemophilic arthropathy is a particular type of secondary osteoarthritis (OA), but the degeneration of strong synovial, cartilaginous and subchondral constituents is provoked by the direct action of iron and blood in the joint. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study is to review the literature regarding the use of various intra-articular drugs in joints affected by haemophilic arthropathy. METHODS: We reviewed the data from the literature; the search was performed on three medical electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library and Scopus Web of Science) by three authors (B. E., A. M. and V. N.) from 3 December 2018 till 15 December 2018. The search string was as follows: (hyaluronic acid OR viscosupplementation OR platelet-rich plasma OR corticosteroid OR mesenchymal stem cells) AND (haemophilia OR haemophilic arthropathy OR haemophilic arthritis). RESULTS: Once the research was performed, a total of 300 articles were identified. 47 selected articles were analysed by the reviewers, and the eligibility of the study inclusion was assessed independently. Twelve papers were included based on clear fulfilment of the inclusion criteria. Thirty-five articles were excluded for the following reasons: no full text or accessible data for 14 of them, 15 involved surgery or rehabilitation therapy as the primary topic and 6 were systematic reviews (the main topics were beyond the haemophilic arthropathy). CONCLUSION: Although the degree of scientific evidence of the publications on intra-articular injections of various drugs (hyaluronic acid, corticosteriods, PRP and MSCs) in haemophilia is very low, it seems that intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid can relieve joint pain for months and can be repeated every 6-12 months, which is why they can be recommended. Corticosteroid injections seem to relieve joint pain for a few weeks, but their routine use is not recommended in haemophilia. The efficacy of PRP and MSCs in haemophilic arthropathy is pending confirmation, which is why they are not currently recommended.

Innovative regenerative medicine in the management of knee OA: The role of Autologous Protein Solution.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most common causes of chronic disability in adults due to pain and altered joint function. Although most patients report pain and functional limitation, symptoms, age of onset and disease progression are extremely variable. While inflammation could play a central role in the OA pathogenesis and progression, many underpinning mechanisms are still unclear. A number of proinflammatory mediators have been found in OA joints and could play a role, such as IL-1, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, TNF-alpha, macrophage chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, interferon-induced protein (IP)-10, monokine induced by interferon (MIG), oncostatin M (OSM), growth-related oncogene (GRO)-alpha, chemokine (C-C-motif) ligand 19 (CCL19), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1beta, and TGF-alpha. Biological approaches have recently got increasing interest due to their anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, regenerative potential, and high tolerability. The primary aim of this paper is to report the current concepts on regenerative medicine for knee OA with a particular focus on Autologous Protein solution (APS). APS is a blood derived product obtained by using a proprietary device, made of APS Separator, which isolates WBCs and platelets in a small volume of plasma, and APS Concentrator, which further concentrates platelets, WBCs and plasma proteins. The result is a peculiar formulation differing from other biologic products as it contains high levels of growth factors (EGF, IGF-1, PDGF-AB, PDGF-BB, VEGF, TGF-ß1) along with high concentrations of anti-inflammatory mediators (IL-1ra, sIL-1RII, sTNF-RI, sTNF-RII) and low levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (Il-1ß and TNF-α). While emerging evidence supports the use of APS, as confirmed by in vitro studies and preliminary clinical results, the real clinical potential of APS and its benefits are still under investigation.

Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Treatments and Formulations.

This article analyzes the current literature on the use of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) to evaluate the available evidence regarding their therapeutic potential in the treatment of cartilage pathology. Seventeen articles were included and analyzed, showing that there is overall a lack of high-quality evidence concerning the use of ASCs. Most trials are case series with short-term evaluation. The most adopted approach consists of an intra-articular injection of the stromal vascular fraction (SVF) rather than the expanded cells. Based on the available data, no specific preparation method or formulation could be considered as the preferred choice in clinical practice.

Level- and sport-specific Star Excursion Balance Test performance in female volleyball players.

BACKGROUND: Investigations of Star Excursion Balance Test (SEBT) performance differences between competition levels and sports are limited and results are inconsistent. The aim of the present study are: 1) to compare SEBT performance between elite and semi-professional female volleyball players; 2) to evaluate differences in SEBT scores between positions (Hitters, Middle Blockers, Setters, and Liberoes); and 3) to compare dynamic balance characteristics between professional female Italian volleyball players with NCAA Division I female athletes practicing six different sports (hockey, football, basketball, golf, softball, and volleyball). For the latter comparison, previously published data obtained from a study were used. METHODS: Fifty-one female volleyball players were grouped in two groups, elite athletes (EG; N.=27) and semi-professional players (SG; N.=24), and further categorized into hitters, middle blockers, setters, and liberos. Anterior (A), posteromedial (PM), and posterolateral (PL) distances, and composite score (COMP) of SEBT short form were studied. COMP was calculated as the average of the normalized distances across the three directions. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed for the A (right, P=0.014 and left, P=0.011), PL (right, P=0.017 and left, P=0.008), PM (P<0.001) directions, and COMP scores (right, P=0.008 and left, P=0.009), with higher normalized distances noted for the EG and no differences between different positions. COMP scores were lower for the EG than the NCAA Division I female hockey (P<0.001) and football players (P=0.031) but similar to those of basketball, golf, softball, and volleyball players. CONCLUSIONS: The EG scored higher on dynamic postural-control tasks than the SG. SEBT performance varied significantly between sports. Clinicians and strength coaches need to be aware of sport specific differences in dynamic postural control measurements in both rehabilitation and athletic development.

The Role of Wnt Pathway in the Pathogenesis of OA and Its Potential Therapeutic Implications in the Field of Regenerative Medicine.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degradation, subchondral damage, and bone remodelling, affecting most commonly weight-bearing joints, such as the knee and hip. The loss of cartilage leads to joint space narrowing, pain, and loss of function which could ultimately require total joint replacement. The Wnt/ß catenin pathway is involved in the pathophysiology of OA and has been proposed as a therapeutic target. Endogenous and pharmacological inhibitors of this pathway were recently investigated within innovative therapies including the use of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). METHODS: A review of the literature was performed on the PubMed database based on the following inclusion criteria: article written in English language in the last 20 years and dealing with (1) the role of Wnt-ß catenin pathway in the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis and (2) pharmacologic or biologic strategies modulating the Wnt-ß catenin pathway in the OA setting. RESULTS: Evidences support that Wnt signalling pathway is likely linked to OA progression and severity. Its inhibition through natural antagonists and new synthetic or biological drugs shares the potential to improve the clinical condition of the patients by affecting the pathological activity of Wnt/ß-catenin signalling. CONCLUSIONS: While further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms regulating the molecular interaction between OA regenerative therapies and Wnt, it seems that biologic therapies for OA exert modulation on Wnt/ß catenin pathway that might be relevant in achieving the beneficial clinical effect of those therapeutic strategies.

The effect of two different speed endurance training protocols on a multiple shuttle run performance in young elite male soccer players.

There is not enough evidence on the impact of different speed endurance training regimes on footballers' ability to perform multiple shuttle run performance. This study examined the effect of 4 weeks of speed endurance maintenance (SEM) and speed endurance production (SEP) training on the 5-meter multiple shuttle run test (5-m MST) performance in young elite soccer players. A parallel two-groups, longitudinal design was used. Fifteen players were divided to either SEM (8 repetitions of 20-s all-out sprint interspersed with 40 s of recovery) or SEP (8 repetitions of 20-s all-out bout interspersed with 120 s of recovery) training group. SEM improved the ability to tolerate fatigue and maintained the performance development during the 5-m MST while SEP increased only the 1st sprint showing, simultaneously, an increased fatigue index and performance decrement. The selection of which training regimes to prioritize should be based on the players' characteristics and individual game requirements Abbreviations: SEP: Speed Endurance Production; SEM: Speed Endurance Maintenance; PRE: Baseline; POST: End of experimental protocol; 5-m MST: 5-meters Multiple Shuttle Run Test; TD: Total Distance; FI: Fatigue Index; MSTdec: Percentage Decrement Score; BMI: Body Mass Index.