OBJECTIVE: To explore the effectiveness and advantages of using Fastpass Scorpion suture passer to stitch the inferior capsulolabral complex in arthroscopic Bankart repair compared with traditional arthroscopic suture shuttle. METHODS: The clinical data of 41 patients with Bankart lesion, who met the selection criteria and were admitted between August 2019 and October 2021, was retrospectively analyzed. Under arthroscopy, the inferior capsulolabral complex was stitched with Fastpass Scorpion suture passer in 27 patients (FS group) and with arthroscopic suture shuttle in 14 patients (ASS group). There was no significant difference between the two groups ( P>0.05) in gender, age, injured side, frequency of shoulder dislocation, time from first dislocation to operation, and preoperative Rowe score of shoulder. Taking successful suture and pull-tightening as the criteria for completion of repair, the number of patients that were repaired at 5∶00 to 6∶00 (<6:00) and 6∶00 to 7∶00 positions of the glenoid in the two groups was compared. The operation time, and the difference of Rowe shoulder score betwee pre- and post-operation, the occurrence of shoulder joint dislocation, the results of apprehension test, and the constituent ratio of recovery to the pre-injury movement level between the two groups at 1 year after operation. RESULTS: Both groups completed the repair at 5∶00 to 6∶00 (<6∶00), and the constituent ratio of patients completed at 6∶00 to 7∶00 was significantly greater in the FS group than in the ASS group ( P<0.05). The operation time was significantly shorter in the FS group than in the ASS group ( P<0.05). All incisions in the two groups healed by first intention. All patients were followed up 12-36 months (mean, 19.1 months). No anchor displacement or neurovascular injury occurred during follow-up. Rowe score of shoulder in the two groups significantly improved at 1 year after operation than preoperative scores ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in the difference of Rowe shoulder score between pre- and post-operation between the two groups ( P>0.05). At 1 year after operation, no re-dislocation occurred, and there was no significant difference in the apprehension test and the constituent ratio of recovery to the pre-injury movement level between the two groups ( P>0.05). CONCLUSION Compared with the arthroscopic suture shuttle, using Fastpass Scorpion suture passer to stitch the inferior capsulolabral complex in arthroscopic Bankart repair is more convenient, saves operation time, and has good effectiveness.
Humans ; Animals ; Arthroscopy/methods* ; Scorpions ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome ; Shoulder Dislocation/surgery* ; Sutures ; Equidae ; Shoulder Joint/surgery* ; Joint Instability/surgery* ; Suture Anchors ; Recurrence ; Range of Motion, Articular

Evolution and natural selection have endowed animal venoms, including scorpion venoms, with a wide range of pharmacological properties. Consequently, scorpions, their venoms, and/or their body parts have been used since time immemorial in traditional medicines, especially in Africa and Asia. With respect to their pharmacological potential, bioactive peptides from scorpion venoms have become an important source of scientific research. With the rapid increase in the characterization of various components from scorpion venoms, a large number of peptides are identified with an aim of combating a myriad of emerging global health problems. Moreover, some scorpion venom-derived peptides have been established as potential scaffolds helpful for drug development. In this review, we summarize the promising scorpion venoms-derived peptides as drug candidates. Accordingly, we highlight the data and knowledge needed for continuous characterization and development of additional natural peptides from scorpion venoms, as potential drugs that can treat related diseases.
Animals ; Scorpion Venoms/pharmacology* ; Peptides/pharmacology* ; Scorpions ; Drug Development ; Medicine, Traditional

The East Asian scorpion Buthus martensii Karsch (BmK) is one of the classical traditional Chinese medicines for treating epilepsy for over a thousand years. Neurotoxins purified from BmK venom are considered as the main active ingredients, acting on membrane ion channels. Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) play a crucial role in the occurrence of epilepsy, which make them become important drug targets for epilepsy. Long chain toxins of BmK, composed of 60-70 amino acid residues, could specifically recognize VGSCs. Among them, α-like neurotoxins, binding to the receptor site-3 of VGSC, induce epilepsy in rodents and can be used to establish seizure models. The β or β-like neurotoxins, binding to the receptor site-4 of VGSC, have significant anticonvulsant effects in epileptic models. This review aims to illuminate the anticonvulsant/convulsant effects of BmK polypeptides by acting on VGSCs, and provide potential frameworks for the anti-epileptic drug-design.
Animals ; Anticonvulsants/therapeutic use* ; Neurotoxins/pharmacology* ; Scorpion Venoms/pharmacology* ; Scorpions/chemistry* ; Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral avulsions are a rare entity mainly seen in children. We describe a unique case of a bony ACL avulsion with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral meniscus (LM) tear in a 37-year-old patient who sustained a two-wheeler accident. The ACL femoral avulsion was fixed arthroscopically using a Knee Scorpion and a FiberTape fixed over a suture disc on the lateral cortex. The MCL was repaired with an internal brace using a FiberTape and two SwiveLocks and the torn LM was repaired using all-inside sutures. At 2 years of follow-up, the fragment was united, knee range of motion was 0° to 130°, and Knee Society Score was 98. This is the first case report of a femoral avulsion of the ACL combined with an MCL injury and a meniscus tear where all three were repaired with a unique technique and good results were obtained.
Adult ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Arthroscopy ; Braces ; Child ; Collateral Ligaments ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Menisci, Tibial ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Scorpions ; Sutures ; Tears

OBJECTIVEScorpion (Hemiscorpius lepturus) stings are a public health concern in Iran, particularly in south and southwestern regions of Iran. The gold standard for the treatment of a scorpion sting is anti-venom therapy. However, immunotherapy can have serious side effects, such as anaphylactic shock (which can sometimes even lead to death). The aim of the current study was to demonstrate the protective effect of ozone against toxicity induced by Hemiscorpius lepturus (H. lepturus) venom in mice.

METHODSEight hours after the injection of ozone to the experimental design groups, the male mice were decapitated and mitochondria were isolated from five different tissues (liver, kidney, heart, brain, and spinal cord) using differential ultracentrifugation. Then, assessment of mitochondrial parameters including mitochondrial reactive oxidative species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP level, and the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria was performed.

RESULTSOur results showed that H. lepturus venom-induced oxidative stress is related to ROS production and MMP collapse, which is correlated with cytochrome c release and ATP depletion, indicating the predisposition to the cell death signaling.

CONCLUSIONIn general, ozone therapy in moderate dose can be considered as clinically effective for the treatment of H. lepturus sting as a protective and antioxidant agent.

Animals ; Brain ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Cytochromes c ; metabolism ; Heart ; drug effects ; Kidney ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial ; drug effects ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Muscle, Skeletal ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; metabolism ; Ozone ; pharmacology ; Scorpion Venoms ; toxicity ; Scorpions ; physiology ; Spinal Cord ; drug effects ; metabolism

BACKGROUND: The blunted tip of a reusable with multiple uses can cause problems with the passing procedure in arthroscopic Bankart repair. This study assessed the advantage of Scorpion with a 70° arthroscope in arthroscopic Bankart repair compared to hook typed suture passer. METHODS: Scorpion in 19 patients, the hook type suture passer (conventional group) in 18 patients were used. All patients underwent the same procedure except for the type of suture passer used. Another different point of the procedure were telescopes and the number of portals used; three arthroscopic portals (posterior, anterorsuperiorlateral, and mid-anterior) and a 30° arthroscope in the conventional group, but two portals and a 70° arthroscope as well as the 30° one in the Scorpion group. The surgery time and the surgical complications including an iatrogenic axillary nerve injury were recorded. RESULTS: The Scorpion group showed a significant decrease in surgery time compared to the conventional group. In contrast to the conventional group, Scorpion provided an easy estimation of the exit of suture passing, no iatrogenic labral injury during the passing procedure with straight movement and the sharp tip of the knife installed. Iatrogenic supraspinatus injuries could be avoided when making an accessory anteosuperiorlateral portal due to the 70° arthroscope. CONCLUSIONS: In arthroscopic Bankart repair, the use of the Scorpion suture passer and a 70° arthroscope can reduce the surgery time, avoid unnecessary supraspinatus injury, and avoid iatrogenic axillary nerve damage through the relatively easy and precise suture passing and saving of the anterosuperior portal.
Arthroscopes* ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Scorpions* ; Sutures* ; Telescopes

The present study evaluated the effects of Androctonus amoreuxi scorpion venom, Cerastes cerastes snake venom and their mixture on prostate cancer cells (PC3). An MTT assay was used to determine the anti-proliferative effect of the venoms, while quantitative real time PCR was used to evaluate the expression of apoptosis-related genes (Bax and Bcl-2). Furthermore, colorimetric assays were used to measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzymes. Our results show that the venoms significantly reduced PC3 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. On the other hand, these venoms significantly decreased Bcl-2 gene expression. Additionally, C. cerastes venom significantly reduced Bax gene expression, while A. amoreuxi venom and a mixture of A. amoreuxi & C. cerastes venoms did not alter Bax expression. Consequently, these venoms significantly increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and the oxidative stress biomarker MDA. Furthermore, these venoms also increased the activity levels of the antioxidant enzymes, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione-S-transferase. Overall, the venoms have cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects on PC3 cells.
Apoptosis ; Catalase ; Cell Survival ; Gene Expression ; Genes, bcl-2 ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; Glutathione Reductase ; Hand ; Humans* ; Malondialdehyde ; Oxidative Stress ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms* ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Scorpion Venoms ; Scorpions* ; Snake Venoms* ; Snakes* ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Venoms ; Viper Venoms ; Viperidae*

BACKGROUND: The blunted tip of a reusable with multiple uses can cause problems with the passing procedure in arthroscopic Bankart repair. This study assessed the advantage of Scorpion with a 70° arthroscope in arthroscopic Bankart repair compared to hook typed suture passer. METHODS: Scorpion in 19 patients, the hook type suture passer (conventional group) in 18 patients were used. All patients underwent the same procedure except for the type of suture passer used. Another different point of the procedure were telescopes and the number of portals used; three arthroscopic portals (posterior, anterorsuperiorlateral, and mid-anterior) and a 30° arthroscope in the conventional group, but two portals and a 70° arthroscope as well as the 30° one in the Scorpion group. The surgery time and the surgical complications including an iatrogenic axillary nerve injury were recorded. RESULTS: The Scorpion group showed a significant decrease in surgery time compared to the conventional group. In contrast to the conventional group, Scorpion provided an easy estimation of the exit of suture passing, no iatrogenic labral injury during the passing procedure with straight movement and the sharp tip of the knife installed. Iatrogenic supraspinatus injuries could be avoided when making an accessory anteosuperiorlateral portal due to the 70° arthroscope. CONCLUSIONS: In arthroscopic Bankart repair, the use of the Scorpion suture passer and a 70° arthroscope can reduce the surgery time, avoid unnecessary supraspinatus injury, and avoid iatrogenic axillary nerve damage through the relatively easy and precise suture passing and saving of the anterosuperior portal.
Arthroscopes ; Arthroscopy ; Humans ; Scorpions ; Sutures ; Telescopes

Specific anti-venom used to treat scorpion envenomation is usually obtained from horses after hyperimmunization with crude scorpion venom. However, immunized animals often become ill because of the toxic effects of the immunogens used. This study was conducted to evaluate the toxic and immunogenic activities of crude and detoxified Tityus serrulatus (Ts) venom in sheep during the production of anti-scorpionic anti-venom. Sheep were categorized into three groups: G1, control, immunized with buffer only; G2, immunized with crude Ts venom; and G3, immunized with glutaraldehyde-detoxified Ts venom. All animals were subjected to clinical exams and supplementary tests. G2 sheep showed mild clinical changes, but the other groups tolerated the immunization program well. Specific antibodies generated in animals immunized with either Ts crude venom or glutaraldehyde-detoxified Ts venom recognized the crude Ts venom in both assays. To evaluate the lethality neutralization potential of the produced sera, individual serum samples were pre-incubated with Ts crude venom, then subcutaneously injected into mice. Efficient immune protection of 56.3% and 43.8% against Ts crude venom was observed in G2 and G3, respectively. Overall, the results of this study support the use of sheep and glutaraldehyde-detoxified Ts venom for alternative production of specific anti-venom.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Horses ; Immunization Programs ; Mice ; Scorpion Venoms ; Scorpions ; Sheep* ; Venoms*

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to highlight some epidemiological aspects of scorpion envenomations, to analyse and interpret the available data for Biskra province, Algeria, and to develop a forecasting model for scorpion sting cases in Biskra province, which records the highest number of scorpion stings in Algeria. METHODS: In addition to analysing the epidemiological profile of scorpion stings that occurred throughout the year 2013, we used the Box-Jenkins approach to fit a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model to the monthly recorded scorpion sting cases in Biskra from 2000 to 2012. RESULTS: The epidemiological analysis revealed that scorpion stings were reported continuously throughout the year, with peaks in the summer months. The most affected age group was 15 to 49 years old, with a male predominance. The most prone human body areas were the upper and lower limbs. The majority of cases (95.9%) were classified as mild envenomations. The time series analysis showed that a (5,1,0)×(0,1,1)12 SARIMA model offered the best fit to the scorpion sting surveillance data. This model was used to predict scorpion sting cases for the year 2013, and the fitted data showed considerable agreement with the actual data. CONCLUSIONS: SARIMA models are useful for monitoring scorpion sting cases, and provide an estimate of the variability to be expected in future scorpion sting cases. This knowledge is helpful in predicting whether an unusual situation is developing or not, and could therefore assist decision-makers in strengthening the province’s prevention and control measures and in initiating rapid response measures.
Algeria* ; Epidemiology ; Forecasting* ; Human Body ; Humans ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Scorpion Stings* ; Scorpions* ; Seasons*