No abstract available.
Cicatrix* ; Endometriosis* ; Female

No abstract available.
Cicatrix* ; Endometriosis* ; Female

BACKGROUND: Bisphosphonates are generally known to adversely affect fracture healing because they inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption. However, some authors argue that bisphosphonates have no adverse effect on the restoration of the mechanical integrity of long bones after fractures. It is unclear whether bisphosphonates can be initiated safely in patients with acute proximal humerus fractures. The aim of this study was to determine whether the early use of a bisphosphonate affects healing and outcomes of osteoporotic proximal humerus fractures treated with a locking compression plate. METHODS: Between August 2004 and June 2013, a total of 82 osteoporotic patients who underwent locking plate fixation of proximal humerus fractures were enrolled retrospectively. The patients were divided into two groups according to the timing of the commencement of treatment with alendronate after surgery: group A (n = 34, initiation of the bisphosphonate treatment within two weeks after surgery) and group B (n = 48, control group, initiation of the treatment three months after surgery). Patients were assessed for radiographic union at 2, 6, 10, and 16 weeks, 6 months, and 1 year after surgery. Clinical assessments were performed using the Constant score and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score at 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to radiographic and clinical outcomes after locking plate fixation. All patients obtained fracture union, and the mean time to radiographic union was similar in group A and group B (6.3 and 6.6 weeks, respectively; p = 0.67). CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that the early initiation of bisphosphonate treatment does not affect bone union or clinical outcomes in patients with an osteoporotic proximal humerus fracture treated by locking compression plate fixation.
Alendronate ; Bone Resorption ; Diphosphonates ; Elbow ; Fracture Healing* ; Humans ; Humerus* ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Fractures ; Surgeons

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of arthroscopic debridement with mini-open ulnar nerve decompression in primary osteoarthritis of the elbow with ulnar neuropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between May of 2006 and July of 2014, a total of 43 patients who had undergone surgery for primary osteoarthritis of the elbow with ulnar neuropathy were included in this study. We divided the subjects into two groups according to the method of surgery: group 1 (n=18) received mini-open ulnar nerve decompression only, and group 2 (n=25) received arthroscopic debridement with mini-open ulnar nerve decompression. Patients were assessed for the following clinical outcomes: visual analogue scales (VAS) score, range of motion of the elbow joint, Mayo elbow performance score (MEPS), and disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand (DASH) at the time before surgery and 6 months after surgery. We analyzed the recovery of the ulnar nerve by the McGowan grade and Bishop rating score preoperatively and at 6 months after the surgery. RESULTS: The VAS score, range of motion of the elbow joint, MEPS, and DASH showed significant statistical difference after the surgery (p <0.05). However, between the 2 groups, there was no significant difference. For the McGowan grade, all cases of both groups–except one case each group–showed at least one grade improvement. Moreover, group 2 showed a greater significant difference than group 1 (p=0.001). At the final follow-up, according to the Bishop rating score, group 2 had a greater significant difference than group 1 (p=0.036). CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic debridement with mini-open ulnar nerve decompression in primary osteoarthritis of the elbow with ulnar neuropathy is a useful technique, which has several advantages, including the benefits associated with a minimally invasive surgery and also the improvement of elbow joint function and excellent recovery of the ulnar nerve.
Arm ; Arthroscopy ; Debridement* ; Decompression* ; Elbow Joint ; Elbow* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Methods ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Osteoarthritis* ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Shoulder ; Ulnar Nerve* ; Ulnar Neuropathies* ; Weights and Measures

BACKGROUND: We investigated the relationship between endothelial dysfunction and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We used a cross-sectional design to examine 167 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. All patients underwent biochemical and ophthalmological examination. We assessed endothelial dysfunction by a flow-mediated vasodilation method of the brachial artery. Changes in vasodilation (flow-mediated vasodilatation, %FMD) were expressed as percent change over baseline values. RESULTS: The mean+/-standard deviation of patient age was 54.1+/-8.6 years. The %FMD was significantly lower in patients with DR than without DR. The prevalence of retinopathy decreased across increasing tertiles of %FMD. After adjusting for patients' age, sex, diabetes duration, use of insulin, use of antihypertensive, antiplatelet, and lipid lowering medications, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, 2-hour plasma glucose, glycated hemoglobin, and urinary albumin excretion, participants with a reduced %FMD were more likely to have DR (odds ratio, 11.819; 95% confidence interval, 2.201 to 63.461; P=0.004, comparing the lowest and highest tertiles of %FMD). CONCLUSION: Endothelial dysfunction was associated with DR, which was most apparent when the endothelial dysfunction was severe. Our study provides insights into the possible mechanism of the influence of endothelial dysfunction on the development of DR.
Blood Pressure ; Brachial Artery ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Insulin ; Plasma ; Prevalence ; Vasodilation

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Glucose-insulin-potassium (GIK) fluid infusion may improve the myocardial energy metabolism in the ischemic condition. A prospective randomized clinical trial was designed to determine whether a GIK fluid infusion can reduce the ventricular remodeling in acute myocardial infarction. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: For the patients with acute myocardial infarction, during thrombolytic therapy with urokinase, GIK fluid (26% glucose 1000 mL, 50 IU insulin, and 80 mmol KCl) was administered for 24 hours. The ventricular volumes and function were evaluated by echocardiography during the admission period, at 6 months and at 12 months following discharge. RESULTS: This trial was done prospectively for 2 years in 73 patients; the GIK group included 41 patients and the control group included 32 patients. The median value of "the pain to door time" was 195 minutes in the GIK group and it was 120 minutes in the control group (p=NS). The wall motion score was 1.52+/-0.39 in the GIK group and it was 1.39+/-0.35 in the control group. The left ventricular volumes, ejection fractions, cardiac indices and the globular indices showed no significant difference between the two groups. The side effects of the GIK fluid were mild phlebitis in 6 patients (14.6%) and congestive heart failure in 5 patients (12.2%). CONCLUSION: This trial could not verify the beneficial effects of administering GIK fluid on the ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction. The limitations of this trial were as follows: "the pain to door time" was too long and the severity of the myocardial infarction was mild. Low rates for the echocardiogrphy follow-up and the randomization failure in a few patients were also noted.
Echocardiography ; Energy Metabolism ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glucose ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Insulin ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Phlebitis ; Prospective Studies ; Random Allocation ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator ; Ventricular Remodeling