Social Media and Total Joint Arthroplasty: An Analysis of Patient Utilization on Instagram.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the nature of shared content of total joint arthroplasty patients on Instagram. Specifically, we evaluated social media posts for: (1) perspective and timing; (2) tone; (3) focus (activities of daily living [ADLs], rehabilitation, return-to-work); and (4) the comparison between hip and knee arthroplasties. METHODS: A search of the public Instagram domain was performed over a 6-month period. Total hip and knee arthroplasties (THA and TKA) were selected for the analysis using the following terms: "#totalhipreplacement," "#totalkneereplacement," and associated terms. 1287 individual public posts of human subjects were shared during the period. A categorical scoring system was utilized for media format (photo or video), time (preoperative, perioperative, or postoperative) period, tone (positive or negative), return-to-work, ADLs, rehabilitation, surgical site, radiograph image, satisfaction, and dissatisfaction. RESULTS: Ninety-one percent of the posts were shared during the postoperative period. Ninety-three percent of posts had a positive tone. Thirty-four percent of posts focused on both ADLs and 33.8% on rehabilitation. TKA patients shared more about their surgical site (14.5% vs 3.3%, P < .001) and rehabilitation (58.9% vs 8.8%, P < .001) than THA patients, whereas THA patients shared more about ADLs than TKA patients (60.5% vs 7.6%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: When sharing their experience on Instagram, arthroplasty patients did so with a positive tone, starting a week after surgery. TKA posts focused more on rehabilitation and wound healing than THA patients, whereas THA patients shared more posts on ADLs. The analysis of social media posts provides insight into what matters to patients after total joint arthroplasty.

Establishment of a rat and guinea pig aortic interposition graft model reveals model-specific patterns of intimal hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: Although the aortic interposition bypass model has been widely used to evaluate biomaterials for bypass grafting, there is no comprehensive description of the procedure or of the distribution of intimal hyperplasia that results. The objectives of this study were to (1) review and summarize approaches of aortic interposition grafting in animal models, (2) determine the pertinent anatomy for this procedure, (3) validate this model in the rat and guinea pig, and (4) compare the distribution of intimal hyperplasia that develops in each species. METHODS: A literature search was performed in PubMed from 1980 to the present to analyze the use of anesthesia, anticoagulation, antiplatelet agents, graft material, suture, and anastomotic techniques. Using 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats and Hartley guinea pigs, we established pertinent aortic anatomy, developed comparable models, and assessed complications for each model. At 30 days, the graft and associated aorta were explanted, intimal formation was assessed morphometrically, and cellularity was assessed via nuclear counting. RESULTS: We reviewed 30 articles and summarized the pertinent procedural findings. Upon establishing both animal models, key anatomic differences between the species that affect this model were noted. Guinea pigs have a much larger cecum, increased retroperitoneal fat, and lack the iliolumbar vessels compared with the rat. Surgical outcomes for the rat model included a 53% technical success rate and a 32% technical error rate. Surgical outcomes for the guinea pig model included a 69% technical success rate and a 31% technical error rate. These two species demonstrated unique distribution of intimal hyperplasia at 30 days. Intimal hyperplasia in the rat model was greatest at two areas, the proximal graft (5400 µm2; P < .001) and distal graft (2800 µm2; P < .04), whereas the guinea pig model developed similar intimal hyperplasia throughout the graft (4500-5100 µm2; P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: In this report, we summarize the literature on the aortic interposition graft model, present a detailed description of the anatomy and aortic interposition graft procedure in the rat and guinea pig, and describe a unique distribution of intimal formation that results in both species. This information will be helpful when designing studies to evaluate novel graft materials in the future.

Microparticle levels after arterial injury and NO therapy in diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about how arterial injury, nitric oxide (NO), or the diabetic milieu impact microparticle (MP) levels in the vasculature. We hypothesized that MP levels would increase following local arterial injury, and that NO would modify MP levels differently based on the metabolic environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Type 1 diabetes was induced in male Lean Zucker (LZ) rats with streptozotocin, and type 2 diabetes was induced in male Zucker diabetic fatty rats through diet. Lean Zucker rats served as nondiabetic controls. The rat carotid balloon injury was performed ± NO (n > 4/group). Blood was obtained at intervals from baseline to 14 d after injury and analyzed for platelet MP (PMP), leukocyte MP (LMP), and endothelial MP (EMP) using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis. RESULTS: At baseline, type 1 diabetic rats had the highest EMP levels (P < 0.05). After arterial injury, type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats had a transient increase in EMP levels (P < 0.05) before decreasing below baseline levels. Both LMP and PMP levels generally declined after injury in all three animal models but were the lowest in both type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats. NO therapy had little impact on MP levels in nondiabetic and type 1 diabetic rats after injury. Conversely, NO caused a dramatic increase in EMP, LMP, and PMP levels in type 2 diabetic animals at early time points after injury (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that the diabetic milieu impacts MP levels at baseline, after arterial injury and with NO treatment.

Nitric oxide differentially affects proteasome activator 28 after arterial injury in type 1 and type 2 diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic patients display aggressive restenosis after vascular interventions, likely because of proproliferative influences of hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia. We have shown that nitric oxide (NO) inhibits neointimal hyperplasia in type 2, but not in type 1, diabetic rats. Here, we examined proteasome activator 28 (PA28) after arterial injury in different diabetic environments, with or without NO. We hypothesize that NO differentially affects PA28 levels based on metabolic environment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) lysates from male, nondiabetic Lean Zucker (LZ) and Zucker Diabetic Fatty (ZDF) rats were assayed for 26S proteasome activity with or without PA28 and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine. LZ and ZDF VSMCs were treated with (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate for 24 h. Balloon-injured carotid arteries from LZ, streptozotocin-injected LZ (STZ, type 1), and ZDF (type 2) rats treated with disodium 1-[2-(carboxylato)pyrrolidin-1-iyl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate were harvested at 3 or 14 d. PA28α was assessed by Western blotting and immunofluorescent staining. RESULTS: S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine reversed PA28-stimulated increases in 26S proteasome activity in LZ and ZDF VSMCs. Increased (Z)-1-[N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-ammonioethyl)amino]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate lowered PA28α in LZ VSMCs but increased PA28α in ZDF VSMCs. At 3 d after injury, disodium 1-[2-(carboxylato)pyrrolidin-1-iyl]diazen-1-ium-1,2-diolate potentiated injury-induced PA28α decreases in LZ, STZ, and ZDF rats, suggesting VSMCs, depleted at this early time point, are major sources of PA28α. At 14 d after injury, total PA28α staining returned to baseline. However, although intimal and medial PA28α staining increased in injured STZ rats, adventitial PA28α staining increased in injured ZDF rats. CONCLUSIONS: PA28 dysregulation may explain the differential ability of NO to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia in type 1 versus type 2 diabetes.

Periadventitial atRA citrate-based polyester membranes reduce neointimal hyperplasia and restenosis after carotid injury in rats.

Oral all-trans retinoic acid (atRA) has been shown to reduce the formation of neointimal hyperplasia; however, the dose required was 30 times the chemotherapeutic dose, which already has reported side effects. As neointimal formation is a localized process, new approaches to localized delivery are required. This study assessed whether atRA within a citrate-based polyester, poly(1,8 octanediolcitrate) (POC), perivascular membrane would prevent neointimal hyperplasia following arterial injury. atRA-POC membranes were prepared and characterized for atRA release via high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection. Rat adventitial fibroblasts (AF) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were exposed to various concentrations of atRA; proliferation, apoptosis, and necrosis were assessed in vitro. The rat carotid artery balloon injury model was used to evaluate the impact of the atRA-POC membranes on neointimal formation, cell proliferation, apoptosis, macrophage infiltration, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression in vivo. atRA-POC membranes released 12 µg of atRA over 2 wk, with 92% of the release occurring in the first week. At 24 h, atRA (200 µmol/l) inhibited [(3)H]-thymidine incorporation into AF and VSMC by 78% and 72%, respectively (*P = 0.001), with negligible apoptosis or necrosis. Histomorphometry analysis showed that atRA-POC membranes inhibited neointimal formation after balloon injury, with a 56%, 57%, and 50% decrease in the intimal area, intima-to-media area ratio, and percent stenosis, respectively (P = 0.001). atRA-POC membranes had no appreciable effect on apoptosis or proliferation at 2 wk. Regarding biocompatibility, we found a 76% decrease in macrophage infiltration in the intima layer (P < 0.003) in animals treated with atRA-POC membranes, with a coinciding 53% reduction in VCAM-1 staining (P < 0.001). In conclusion, perivascular delivery of atRA inhibited neointimal formation and restenosis. These data suggest that atRA-POC membranes may be suitable as localized therapy to inhibit neointimal hyperplasia following open cardiovascular procedures.

Endoscopic Gluteus Medius Repair Replicates Open, Knotless Repair With Similar Cyclic Loading Properties: A Cadaveric Study.

Purpose: To compare the repair strength, gap formation, and mode of failure between endoscopic and open double-row gluteus medius repairs in a cadaveric model. Methods: Six pairs of fresh-frozen human cadavers were used in this study. Gluteus medius tears were created in an open fashion and then repaired with either open or endoscopic techniques. Specimens were manually preloaded to 5 N, then cycled between 20-50 N for 150 cycles s. Then, a ramp to/s. Specimens were then returned to 10 N and ramped to failure at 1 mm/s. Gap formation and strengths of the construct were compared for the 2 techniques. Results: Biomechanical testing resulted in no significant differences in ultimate load (P = .86) or gap formation (P > .10) between groups. Ninety-two percent of specimens failed near the muscle origin on the ilium. Conclusions: This study shows that both open and endoscopic gluteus medius repairs are stronger than the muscle-bone interface in a cadaveric model and loaded biomechanically in tension between the ilium origin and femoral insertion. Further, endoscopic technique is able to replicate open, knotless gluteus medius repair technique in terms of gap formation in physiologic (i.e., subfailure) cyclic loading. Clinical Relevance: Gluteus medius tendinopathy is an increasingly common recognized etiology of lateral hip pain. When tears occur, debate exists over whether open or endoscopic repair procedures are optimal. Double-row endoscopic gluteus medius repair with knotless suture anchors may be an alternative to open repair.

Long-term effect of PROLI/NO on cellular proliferation and phenotype after arterial injury.

Vascular interventions are associated with high failure rates from restenosis secondary to negative remodeling and neointimal hyperplasia. Periadventitial delivery of nitric oxide (NO) inhibits neointimal hyperplasia, preserving lumen patency. With the development of new localized delivery vehicles, NO-based therapies remain a promising therapeutic avenue for the prevention of restenosis. While the time course of events during neointimal development has been well established, a full characterization of the impact of NO donors on the cells that comprise the arterial wall has not been performed. Thus, the aim of our study was to perform a detailed assessment of proliferation, cellularity, inflammation, and phenotypic cellular modulation in injured arteries treated with the short-lived NO donor, PROLI/NO. PROLI/NO provided durable inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia for 6 months after arterial injury. PROLI/NO inhibited proliferation and cellularity in the media and intima at all of the time points studied. However, PROLI/NO caused an increase in adventitial proliferation at 2 weeks, resulting in increased cellularity at 2 and 8 weeks compared to injury alone. PROLI/NO promoted local protein S-nitrosation and increased local tyrosine nitration, without measurable systemic effects. PROLI/NO predominantly inhibited contractile smooth muscle cells in the intima and media, and had little to no effect on vascular smooth muscle cells or myofibroblasts in the adventitia. Finally, PROLI/NO caused a delayed and decreased leukocyte infiltration response after injury. Our results show that a short-lived NO donor exerts durable effects on proliferation, phenotype modulation, and inflammation that result in long-term inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia.

Targeted Nitric Oxide Delivery by Supramolecular Nanofibers for the Prevention of Restenosis After Arterial Injury.

AIMS: Cardiovascular interventions continue to fail as a result of arterial restenosis secondary to neointimal hyperplasia. We sought to develop and evaluate a systemically delivered nanostructure targeted to the site of arterial injury to prevent neointimal hyperplasia. Nanostructures were based on self-assembling biodegradable molecules known as peptide amphiphiles. The targeting motif was a collagen-binding peptide, and the therapeutic moiety was added by S-nitrosylation of cysteine residues. RESULTS: Structure of the nanofibers was characterized by transmission electron microscopy and small-angle X-ray scattering. S-nitrosylation was confirmed by mass spectrometry, and nitric oxide (NO) release was assessed electrochemically and by chemiluminescent detection. The balloon carotid artery injury model was performed on 10-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats. Immediately after injury, nanofibers were administered systemically via tail vein injection. S-nitrosylated (S-nitrosyl [SNO])-targeted nanofibers significantly reduced neointimal hyperplasia 2 weeks and 7 months following balloon angioplasty, with no change in inflammation. INNOVATION: This is the first time that an S-nitrosothiol (RSNO)-based therapeutic was shown to have targeted local effects after systemic administration. This approach, combining supramolecular nanostructures with a therapeutic NO-based payload and a targeting moiety, overcomes the limitations of delivering NO to a site of interest, avoiding undesirable systemic side effects. CONCLUSION: We successfully synthesized and characterized an RSNO-based therapy that when administered systemically, targets directly to the site of vascular injury. By integrating therapeutic and targeting chemistries, these targeted SNO nanofibers provided durable inhibition of neointimal hyperplasia in vivo and show great potential as a platform to treat cardiovascular diseases.