bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of frailty on outcomes of elderly patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wang Shi-Shi , Liu Wang-Hao
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Frailty is a common condition in elderly patients who receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, how frailty affects clinical outcomes in this group is unclear.

AIM

To assess the link between frailty and the outcomes, such as in-hospital complications, post-procedural complications, and mortality, in elderly patients post-PCI.

METHODS

The PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were screened for publications up to August 2023. The primary outcomes assessed were in-hospital and all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), and major bleeding. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment.

RESULTS

Twenty-one studies with 739693 elderly patients undergoing PCI were included. Frailty was consistently associated with adverse outcomes. Frail patients had significantly higher risks of in-hospital mortality [risk ratio: 3.45, 95% confidence interval (95%CI): 1.90-6.25], all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR): 2.08, 95%CI: 1.78-2.43], MACEs (HR: 2.92, 95%CI: 1.85-4.60), and major bleeding (HR: 4.60, 95%CI: 2.89-7.32) compared to non-frail patients.

CONCLUSION

Frailty is a pivotal determinant in the prediction of risk of mortality, development of MACEs, and major bleeding in elderly individuals undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention.
Labial inverse dilaceration of bilateral maxillary central incisors: A case report
Authors: Wang Jun-Min , Guo Li-Feng , Ma Li-Qiong , Zhang Jing
Published: January 2024

BACKGROUND

Dilaceration is a rare dental developmental anomaly characterized by an abrupt deviation along the longitudinal axis of the root in which an angulation forms between the root and the crown. Here, we report on dilacerated bilateral maxillary central incisors in mixed dentition.

CASE SUMMARY

A 10-year-old girl presented with a chief complaint of unerupted central incisors. An oral examination and radiography provided the basis for a diagnosis of dilaceration of the maxillary central incisors. After surgical exposure of the impacted teeth, a button with an attached chain was applied to the palatal surface of teeth 11 and 21. After 8 mo, a button was bonded to the labial surface of the crown to fix an elastic chain and move the teeth toward the maxillary arch. Finally, a fixed appliance was applied to tooth alignment to Class 1 malocclusion using a 0.019 × 0.025-inch nickel-titanium wire. After 3 years of follow-up, the clinical findings and radiographic assessment showed that the roots had developed with vital dental pulp and healthy periodontium, were acceptable aesthetically, and showed no resorption.

CONCLUSION

The rare occurrences of dilacerated bilateral maxillary central incisors can be successfully treated through surgical exposure and orthodontics.
DOES INFLAMMATORY AND METABOLOMIC ACTIVITY ON NORMAL AND OSTEOARTHRITIC CHONDROCYTES DIFFER BETWEEN MESENCHYMAL STEM CELLS (MSCS) DERIVED FROM THE INFRAPATELLAR FAT, SYNOVIUM, AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUES?
Authors: Karaçoban L. , Gizer M. , Fidan B. Basak , Kaplan O. , Çelebier M. , Korkusuz P. , Turhan E. , Korkusuz F.
Published: January 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disabling disease depriving the quality of life of patients. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are recently used to modify the inflammatory and degenerative cascade of the disease. Source of MSCs could change the progression and symptoms of OA due to their different metabolomic activities. We asked whether MSCs derived from the infrapatellar fat (IPF), synovium (Sy) and subcutaneous (SC) tissues will decrease inflammatory and degenerative markers of normal and OA chondrocytes and improve regeneration in culture. Tissues were obtained from three male patients undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery due to sports injuries after ethical board approval. TNFa concentration decreased in all MSC groups (Sy=156,6±79, SC=42,1±6 and IPF=35,5±3 pg/ml; p=0,036) on day 14 in culture. On day seven (Sy=87,4±43,7, SC=23±8,9 and IPF=14,7±3,3 pg/ml, p=0,043) and 14 (Sy=29,1±11,2, SC=28,3±18,5 and IPF=20,3±16,2 pg/ml, p=0,043), MMP3 concentration decreased in all groups. COMP concentration changes however were not significant. Plot scores of tissues for PC2-13,4% were significantly different. Based on the results of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomics coupled with recent data processing strategies, clinically relevant seven metabolites (L-fructose, a-tocotrienol, coproporphyrin, nicotinamide, bilirubin, tauro-deoxycholic acid and galactose-sphingosine) were found statistically different (p<0.05 and fold change>1.5) ratios in tissue samples. Focusing on these metabolites as potential therapeutics could enhance MSC therapies.

Acknowledgment: Hacettepe University, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit (#THD-2020-18692) and Turkish Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology (#TOTBID-89) funded this project. Feza Korkusuz MD is a member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA).
CUSTOMIZED COATINGS FUNCTIONALIZED WITH METALS TO PREVENT PROSTHESIS INFECTIONS CAUSED BY MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT BACTERIA
Authors: Ghezzi D. , Sartori M. , Boi M. , Montesissa M. , Sassoni E. , Fini M. , Baldini N. , Cappelletti M. , Graziani G.
Published: January 2024

Prosthetic joint infections represent complications connected to the implantation of biomedical devices, they have high incidence, interfere with osseointegration, and lead to a high societal burden. The microbial biofilm, which is a complex structure of microbial cells firmly attached to a surface, is one of the main issues causing infections. Biofilm- forming bacteria are acquiring more and more resistances to common clinical treatments due to the abuse of antibiotics administration. Therefore, there is increasing need to develop alternative methods exerting antibacterial activities against multidrug-resistant biofilm-forming bacteria. In this context, metal-based coatings with antimicrobial activities have been investigated and are currently used in the clinical practice. However, traditional coatings exhibit some drawbacks related to the insufficient adhesion to the substrate, scarce uniformity and scarce control over the toxic metal release reducing their efficacy. Here, we propose the use of antimicrobial silver-based nanostructured thin films to discourage bacterial infections. Coatings are obtained by Ionized Jet Deposition, a plasma-assisted technique that permits to manufacture films of submicrometric thickness having a nanostructured surface texture, allow tuning silver release, and avoid delamination. To mitigate interference with osseointegration, here silver composites with bone apatite and hydroxyapatite were explored. The antibacterial efficacy of silver films was tested in vitro against gram- positive and gram-negative species to determine the optimal coatings characteristics by assessing reduction of bacterial viability, adhesion to substrate, and biofilm formation. Efficacy was tested in an in vivo rabbit model, using a multidrug-resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus showing significant reduction of the bacterial load on the silver prosthesis both when coated with the metal only (>99% reduction) and when in combination with bone apatite (>86% reduction). These studies indicate that IJD films are highly tunable and can be a promising route to overcome the main challenges in orthopedic prostheses.
THE ROLE OF MECHANOSENSORY NEURONS IN MUSCULOSKELETAL DISEASES
Authors: Ma S. , Dubin A. , Romero L. , Loud M. , Salazar A. , Chu S. , Klier N. , Masri S. , Zhang Y. , Wang Y. , Chesler A. , Wilkinson K. , Vásquez V. , Marshall K. , Patapoutian A.
Published: January 2024

Distal arthrogryposis (DA) is a collection of rare developmental disorders characterized by congenital joint contractures. Most arthrogryposis mutations are in muscle- and joint-related genes, and the anatomical defects originate cell-autonomously within the musculoskeletal tissues. However, gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in PIEZO2, a principal mechanosensor in somatosensation, cause DA subtype 5 via unknown mechanisms. We show that expression of a GOF PIEZO2 mutation in proprioceptive sensory neurons mainly innervating muscle spindles and tendons is sufficient to induce DA5-like phenotypes in mice. Overactive PIEZO2 causes anatomical defects via increased activity within the peripheral nervous system during postnatal development. Surprisingly, overactive PIEZO2 is likely to cause joint abnormalities via increased exocytosis from sensory neuron endings without involving motor circuitry. This reveals a role for somatosensory neurons: excessive mechanosensation within these neurons disrupts musculoskeletal development. We also present proof-of-concept that Botox injection or dietary treatment can counteract the effect of overactive PIEZO2 function to evade DA-like phenotypes in mice when applied during a developmental critical period. These approaches might have clinical applications. Beyond this, our findings call attention to the importance of considering sensory mechanotransduction when diagnosing and treating other musculoskeletal disorders.

Acknowledgements: Our work is supported by National Institutes of Health grant (R35 NS105067, R01 DE022358, R25 SC3GM127195, R25 GM07138, R01GM133845, intramural) and Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
SUBCHONDRAL MICROCHANNEL NETWORK CHANGES IN EARLY OSTEOARTHRITIS
Authors: Taheri S. , Yoshida T. , Böker K. O. , Foerster R.H. , Jochim L. , Flux A.L. , Grosskopf B. , Hawellek T. , Lehmann W. , Schilling A.F.
Published: January 2024

Articular cartilage (AC) and subchondral bone (SB) are intimately intertwined, forming a complex unit called the AC-SB interface. Our recent studies have shown that cartilage and bone marrow are connected by a three-dimensional network of microchannels (i.e. cartilage-bone marrow microchannel connector; CMMC), which differ microarchitecturally in number, size and morphology depending on the maturation stage of the bone and the region of the joint. However, the pathological significance of CMMC is largely unknown. Here, we quantitatively assessed how CMMC microarchitecture relates to cartilage condition and regional differences in early idiopathic osteoarthritis (OA).

Two groups of cadaveric female human femoral heads (intact cartilage vs early cartilage lesions) were identified and biopsy-based high-resolution micro-CT imaging was used. Subchondral bone (SB) thickness, CMMC number, maximum and minimum CMMC size, and CMMC morphology were quantified and compared between the two groups. The effect of joint region and cartilage condition on each dependent variable was examined.

The number and morphology of CMMCs were influenced by the region of the joint, but not by the cartilage condition. On the other hand, the minimum and maximum CMMC size was modified by both joint location and cartilage condition. The smallest CMMCs were consistently found in the load bearing region (LBR) of the joint. Compared to healthy subjects, the size of the microchannels was increased in early OA, most notably in the non-load bearing region (NLBR) and the peripheral rim (PR) of the femoral head. In addition, subchondral bone thinning was observed in early OA as a localized event associated with areas of partial chondral defect.

Our data suggest an enlargement of the SB microchannel network and a collective structural deterioration of the SB in early idiopathic OA.
THE EPIGENETIC LANDSCAPE IN SOFT-TISSUE FIBROSIS
Authors: Akbar M. , Crowe L.A.N. , Woolcock K. , Cole J. , McInnes I.B. , Millar N.L.
Published: January 2024

Dupuytren's disease (DD) is a fibroproliferative soft tissue disease affecting the palmar fascia of the hand causing permanent and irreversible flexion contracture. Aberrant fibrosis is likely to manifest through a combination of extrinsic, intrinsic, and environmental factors, including genetics and epigenetics. However, the role of epigenetics in soft tissue fibrosis in diseases such as DD is not well established. Therefore, we conducted a comprehensive multi-omic study investigating the epigenetic profiles that influence gene expression in DD pathology. Using control (patients undergoing carpal tunnel release) and diseased fibroblasts (patients undergoing Dupuytren's fasciectomy), we conducted ATAC-seq to assess differential chromatin accessibility between control and diseased fibroblasts. Additionally, ChIP-seq mapped common histone modifications (histone H4; H3K4me3, H3K9me3, H3K27me3, H4K16Ac, H4K20Me3) associated with fibrosis. Furthermore, we extracted RNA from control and DD tissue and performed bulk RNA-seq.

ATAC-seq analysis identified 2470 accessible genomic loci significantly more accessible in diseased fibroblasts compared to control. Comparison between diseased and control cells identified numerous significantly different peaks in histone modifications (H4K20me3, H3K27me3, H3K9me3) associated with gene repression in control cells but not in diseased cells. Pathway analysis demonstrated a substantial overlap in genes being de-repressed across these histone modifications (Figure 1). Both, ATAC-seq and ChIP-seq analysis indicated pathways such as cell adhesion, differentiation, and extracellular matrix organisation were dysregulated as a result of epigenetic changes. Moreover, de novo motif enrichment analysis identified transcription factors that possibly contributed to the differential gene expression between control and diseased tissue, including HIC1, NFATC1 and TEAD2. RNA-seq analysis found that these transcription factors were upregulated in DD tissue compared to control tissue.

The current epigenetic study provides insights into the aberrant fibrotic processes associated with soft tissue diseases such as DD and indicates that epigenetic-targeted therapies may be an interesting viable treatment option in future.

For any figures or tables, please contact the authors directly.
BONE AND ITS INTERACTION WITH OTHER ORGAN SYSTEMS IN HEALTH AND DISEASE
Authors: van Griensven M.
Published: January 2024

Anatomically, bone consists of building blocks called osteons, which in turn comprise a central canal that contains nerves and blood vessels. This indicates that bone is a highly innervated and vascularized tissue. The function of vascularization in bone (development) is well-established: providing oxygen and nutrients that are necessary for the formation, maintenance, and healing. As a result, in the field of bone tissue engineering many research efforts take vascularization into account, focusing on engineering vascularized bone. In contrast, while bone anatomy indicates that the role of innervation in bone is equally important, the role of innervation in bone tissue engineering has often been disregarded.

For many years, the role of innervation in bone was mostly clear in physiology, where innervation of a skeleton is responsible for sensing pain and other sensory stimuli. Unraveling its role on a cellular level is far more complex, yet more recent research efforts have unveiled that innervation has an influence on osteoblast and osteoclast activity. Such innervation activities have an important role in the regulation of bone homeostasis, stimulating bone formation and inhibiting resorption. Furthermore, due to their anatomical proximity, skeletal nerves and blood vessels interact and influence each other, which is also demonstrated by pathways cross-over and joint responses to stimuli.

Besides those closely connected sytems, the immune system plays also a pivotal role in bone regeneration. Certain cytokines are important to attract osteogenic cells and (partially) inhibit bone resorption. Several leukocytes also play a role in the bone regeneration process.

Overall, bone interacts with several systems. Aberrations in those systems affect the bone and are important to understand in the context of bone regeneration. This crosstalk has become more evident and is taken more into consideration. This leads to more complex tissue regeneration, but may recapitulate better physiological situations.
Sleep Stage Transition of Sleep Onset Rapid Eye Movement Periods Suggesting REM Dysregulation in Narcolepsy
Authors: Lee Sujin , Seong Min Jae , Joo Eun Yeon
Published: January 2024

Objectives: Narcolepsy diagnosis is often complicated, using relatively simple criteria that rely on sleep onset rapid eye movement periods (SOREMP) and average sleep latency in the multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Therefore, the main goal of this study was to gain a new perspective on narcolepsy diagnosis and explore the role of rapid eye movement (REM) dysregulation by examining the progression of sleep stage transitions leading to SOREMP.Methods: From 2008 to 2022, 109 patients diagnosed with narcolepsy who underwent polysomnography and MSLT were included. Comprehensive data on clinical features, polysomnography, and MSLT findings were collected. For the MSLT, we not only considered SOREMP and mean sleep latency but also the sleep stage transition preceding SOREMP, the presence of N3, and the average SOREMP duration.Results: Among the 109 patients enrolled in the study, 59 were diagnosed with narcolepsy type 1 (NT1) and 50 with narcolepsy type 2 (NT2). We observed a high frequency of transitions in the MSLT of waking to REM (W-R) in patients with NT1. Moreover, the occurrence of W-R was associated with a higher number of SOREMPs. The temporal distribution of the MSLT results revealed a significant correlation; W-R occurrences were more frequent during the third nap.Conclusions: W-R occurrence was frequent in patients with NT1, indicating more pronounced REM dysregulation than in patients with NT2.
Prioritization of Sleep: Discrepancies Between Attitude and Practice
Authors: Huang Ya-Chuan , Lin Tzu-Ting , Yang Chien-Ming
Published: January 2024

Objectives: With the promotion of sleep through education, an increasing recognition of the importance of sleep among the general public has been observed. However, whether this increased recognition affects sleep practices is unknown. To provide direction for future sleep education programs, this study aimed to explore the consistency between people’s prioritization of sleep among their daily life activities and their actual practice when sleep conflicts with other activities.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional online survey with 898 adults (male:female=372:526; age=39.74±10.04 years). The participants were asked to complete an online survey that required them to 1) rate how important sleep was; 2) prioritize daily life activities including sleep, work, family activities, leisure activities, social activities, and exercise; and 3) recall the actions they undertook at the most recent instance when sleep conflicted with each of the other activities.Results: Although 70.7% of the participants prioritized sleep by placing it in their top three daily life activities, only 35.7% and 38.1% chose to go to sleep when it conflicted with work and family activities, respectively. Gender and occupational factors also significantly influenced the discrepancy between sleep attitudes and practices.Conclusions: Our study demonstrated an inconsistency between reporting sleep as a priority in daily life activities and actual behavioral practices when sleep conflicted with other activities. The results suggest that sleep education should not only emphasize the importance of sleep but also provide practical solutions for circumstances when sleep conflicts with other activities.
Nightmare Distress and Dream Recall in Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Kang Yu-Jin , Han Su-Hyun
Published: January 2024

Objectives: We aimed to examine dream recall and nightmare distress in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and identify the associating factors.Methods: This cross-sectional study retrospectively enrolled adult participants (age ≥18 years) with newly diagnosed OSA that was confirmed by full-night polysomnography between 2016 and 2022. Dreaming components were assessed using a nine-item dreaming questionnaire (nightmare distress and dream recall). We compared the clinical and polysomnographic findings according to OSA severity and the presence of rapid eye movement (REM)-dependent OSA. Additionally, we assessed factors that related to nightmare distress and dream recall in patients with OSA.Results: Patients with mild OSA had significantly higher nightmare distress than those with moderate to severe OSA (p=0.044). Univariate linear regression analysis showed negative correlations between the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and nightmare distress (β=-0.105; p=0.040). Conversely, multivariate analyses indicated that the AHI and the presence of REM-dependent OSA were not significantly associated with nightmare distress and dream recall. Wakefulness after sleep onset (β=0.083; p=0.066), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (β=0.271; p<0.001), the Beck Depression Inventory (β=0.242; p<0.001), and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-State (STAI-S) (β=0.123; p=0.047) were related to nightmare distress. In contrast, younger age (β=-0.144; p=0.004), PSQI (β=0.098; p=0.058), STAI-S (β=0.156; p=0.003) were associated with dream recall.Conclusions: Depression, anxiety, and poor sleep quality were related to nightmare distress, while younger age and anxiety were associated with dream recall. OSA severity and the presence of REM-dependent OSA were not significantly associated with nightmare distress or dream recall.
The Association Between Short Sleep Duration and Depressive Symptoms Among Elderly Farmers
Authors: Song Sung Wook , Lee Hyun Jung , Yoo Jeong Rae , Oh Jung-Hwan
Published: January 2024

Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the association between short sleep duration and depressive symptoms among elderly farmers.Methods: This study analyzed the Safety for Agricultural Injuries of Farmers cohort data collected from September 2015 to June 2018. The data were based on an agricultural survey of the health and behaviors of adult farmers on Jeju Island in South Korea. Depressive symptoms were defined as a score of 8 or higher according to the short form of the geriatric depression scale. Short sleep duration was defined as less than 6 hours of average daily sleep duration.Results: The analysis included 507 participants, aged over 60 years. Of these, 87 (17.2%) demonstrated depressive symptoms. The prevalence of depressive symptoms differed significantly between farmers with <6 h (25.8%) and those with ≥6 h (13.5%) of sleep (p=0.001). Multivariable analyses confirmed that short sleep duration was significantly associated with depressive symptoms (odds ratio=1.876, 95% confidence interval=1.129–3.118).Conclusions: Our findings suggest that short sleep duration increases the risk of depressive symptoms among elderly farmers. Adequate daily sleep duration may prevent depressive symptoms in the population.
Clinical and Polysomnographic Characteristics of Patients With Periodic Limb Movements During Sleep and Insomnia
Authors: Kim Yong Kyun , Hwang Yoonha , Joo Eun Yeon
Published: January 2024

Objectives: Periodic limb movements of sleep (PLMS) is known to accompany restless legs syndrome, and studies on PLMS are limited. Moreover, the relationship between insomnia and PLMS is underrecognized. This study aimed to investigate the polysomnography (PSG) data, questionnaires, and iron-related laboratory data of patients with insomnia and were confirmed PLMS.Methods: Between April 2015 and May 2022, 423 patients with insomnia as the primary symptom who were diagnosed with PLMS based on overnight PSG were included and divided into three groups based on their PLM index (PLMI). The participants’ demographics, insomnia-related questionnaires, PSG findings, and iron-related laboratory findings were used in the analysis.Results: The severe PLMS group (PLMI >50) were mostly males, had more individuals taking sleeping pills, and had higher body mass index than the mild PLMS group (PLMI 5–25). Significant differences were not found in questionnaire about insomnia and sleep quality. In PSG, the severe PLMS group showed shorter total sleep time and low spontaneous arousal index than the mild to moderate PLMS groups. Moreover, more patients in the severe PLMS group showed arrhythmia than the mild PLMS group. Ferritin and transferrin saturation results had no significant difference between the three groups.Conclusions: PLMS did not affect the severity of insomnia and fatigue. The results shown in PSG may be influenced by age or sleeping pills intake. Arrhythmia was higher in the severe PLMS group. More studies on the causal relationship between PLM and cardiac diseases are needed.
Permanent Subluxation of the Lateral Meniscus in a 10-year-old Boy: A Case Report with Short Literature Review
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India,, Kuruwa Deven R , Andrade Renato ,   Clínica Espregueira - FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence, Porto, Portugal,, Espregueira Mendes João ,   School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal,
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Locking of the knee attributed to non-discoid lateral meniscus in an atraumatic setting is a rare phenomenon. One such cause is permanent subluxation of lateral meniscus (PSLM). In the entire literature, there is only one documented case of a 37-year-old female. Case Report: We present a case of a 10-year-old boy who suffered two episodes of knee locking reported radiologically as a bucket handle tear of the lateral meniscus. No tear was found during arthroscopy. The lateral meniscus was malformed with meniscocapsular discontinuity and irreducibly subluxated into the intercondylar space. No salvage procedure was possible. We ended up performing a subtotal meniscectomy. Conclusion: This is the first case of PSLM reported in the pediatric age group and second overall. Management options are limited. Further genetic and fetal studies are needed in this area to determine the exact causality. Keywords: Permanent subluxation of lateral meniscus, lateral meniscus malformation, irreducible non-discoid lateral meniscus, meniscocapsular discontinuity.
Posterior Sternoclavicular Dislocation in Children: A Case Report
Authors:   Department Pediatric Orthopedic, Mother and Child Unit, University Hospital Mohamed VI of Marrakech, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco., Khassoui Amine El , Bahre Mohamed Naoufal Idrissi ,   Department Pediatric Orthopedic, Mother and Child Unit, University Hospital Mohamed VI of Marrakech, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco., Tahiri Driss ,   Department Pediatric Orthopedic, Mother and Child Unit, University Hospital Mohamed VI of Marrakech, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco.,   Department Pediatric Orthopedic, Mother and Child Unit, University Hospital Mohamed VI of Marrakech, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco., Salama Tarik ,   Department Pediatric Orthopedic, Mother and Child Unit, University Hospital Mohamed VI of Marrakech, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco., Aghoutane El Mouhtadi ,   Department Pediatric Orthopedic, Mother and Child Unit, University Hospital Mohamed VI of Marrakech, Faculty of Medecine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University, 40000 Marrakech, Morocco.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Sternoclavicular dislocation (SCD) occurs very rarely in children. There is different clinical manifestations that reflect the direction of displacement; diagnosis is difficult, especially if the dislocation was initially unnoticed. We will report this case while conducting a review of the literature to evaluate and adapt our management. Case Report: We report the case of a 12-year-old boy who presented with a right posterior SCD after a trauma occurring 24 h earlier at a sports activity. Clinical examination and radiological investigations by X-ray and computed tomography scan leads to diagnosis. He underwent an orthopedic closed reduction treatment without complications at 24 months of follow-up. Conclusion: Management of posterior sternoclavicular dislocation is different between teams, with a tendency to use orthopedic reduction in case of fresh dislocation and absence of complications. Late diagnosis and management, as well as the presence of complications, may be difficult and life-threatening (due to vascular or tracheal compression). Keywords: Sternoclavicular dislocation, posterior displacement, child, sports, orthopedic treatment.
Spinal cord compression from malignant relapsed Hodgkin’s lymphoma presenting with neurological symptoms – Case report
Authors:   Department of Orthopaedics, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, India., Patel Jenil , Nair Vishnu Vikraman ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, India., Kundnani Vishal ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, India., Chodavadiya Sunil ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, India., Patil Maitreya ,   Department of Orthopaedics, Bombay Hospital and Medical Research Institute, Mumbai, India.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Hodgkin's lymphoma has been observed to rarely manifest with extra nodal involvement, typically occurring in the latter stages of the disease. However, spinal cord compression may also be regarded as a rare predominant symptom to occur in this context. In this case report, we discuss the clinical details of a 37-year-old patient who exhibited upper motor neuron symptoms and gait imbalance. The patient's medical history includes a confirmed diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Case Report: A 37-year-old male patient reported to the outpatient department with bilateral upper limb weakness and gait impairment. The individual presented as a documented case of previous Hodgkin’s lymphoma, with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealing the presence of anterior epidural soft tissue mass at the C6-D1 vertebral levels. This pathological condition resulted in the compression and posterior displacement of the spinal cord. The patient was scheduled to have an emergency decompression surgery involving a C7 corpectomy and C6-D1 fusion procedure utilizing a mesh cage and plate. Conclusion: The conventional approach of utilizing only Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma should be reevaluated, as it is imperative to address neurological symptoms resulting from spinal cord compression which also can indicate the stage of the disease. Incorporating surgical interventions into the treatment plan can contribute to the restoration of function in affected patients. Keywords: Corpectomy, spinal cord compression, Hodgkin’s Lymphoma(HL), Relapse
The Past, Present, and Future of Unilateral Biportal Endoscopy with a Technical Note on Novel Endoscopic Visualization Pedicle Screw Insertion Technique and UBE-transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion Technique with Literature Review
Authors:   Department of Spine Surgery, Yonsei Okay Hospital, Seoul, South Korea., Sakhrekar Rajendra , Ha Ji Soo ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Yonsei Okay Hospital, Seoul, South Korea., Han Hee-Don ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Yonsei Okay Hospital, Seoul, South Korea., Kim Do-Hyoung ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Yonsei Okay Hospital, Seoul, South Korea., Kim Chang Wook ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Yonsei Okay Hospital, Seoul, South Korea., Kulkarni Shreenidhi ,   Department of Spine Surgery, Yonsei Okay Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Over the past two decades, unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE) has brought a new paradigm shift in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders with its innovative technique. This study aims to review the development of the UBE technique with a technical note on the novel endoscopic visualization pedicle screw (EVPS) insertion technique and UBE-transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion technique (UBE-TLIF). Case Report: A 66-year-old female presented with severe back pain (Visual Analog Scale [VAS] 8/10) and radicular pain in both legs (left > right) (left VAS 7/10 and right VAS 7/10) for one year with an Oswestry disability index (ODI) score of 70%. Her pain aggravated when bending forward and performing daily routine activities. She also complained of severe intermittent neurological claudication at a distance of <50 m. On physical examination, power in the lower limbs was 5/5 as per the Medical Research Council grading, and deep tendon reflexes were normal. She had a known case of diabetes mellitus and hypertension and was on treatment with oral medications. Pre-operative X-ray and magnetic resonance imaging showed dynamic instability with spondylolisthesis at L4–5. We performed UBE-TLIF with the EVPS insertion technique to resolve her symptoms. The operative time was 122 min; blood loss was 40 mL. After surgery, the patient was followed up at one week, six weeks, three months, six months, 12 months, and two years. The pain and tingling sensation in the legs improved at the 1-week follow-up, with a VAS score of 0/10 and an ODI score of 10% at the 2-year follow-up. Patient satisfaction was surveyed using Macnab’s criteria at the final follow-up visit of 2 years and was found to be excellent. Post-operative imaging showed a good reduction and canal decompression at L4–5. Conclusion: The novel EVPS insertion technique and UBE-TLIF have the advantages of minimally invasive spine surgery; they are a safe and effective treatment option for treating lumbar spine pathologies. Keywords: Unilateral biportal endoscopy, Endoscopic visualization pedicle screw insertion technique, Visual Analog Scale score, Oswestry disability index score
SIGNIFICANCE OF CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS IN COMBATING POLLUTANTS FROM WASTEWATER: A SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVE
Authors:   NAVTTAC, Lahore, Pakistan, Mohsin Habiba , Amina Norheen , Irfan Amina ,   UOL, Civil Engineering Technology, 54000, Lahore, Pakistan,   Pak Safety Solution, 54770, Lahore, Pakistan, Ishtiaq Hira ,   NAVTTAC, Lahore, Pakistan, Riaz Huda ,   Department of Architectural Engineering, UET, 54890, Lahore, Pakistan, Shahbaz Ahsan ,   Pak Safety Solution, 54770, Lahore, Pakistan, Shahbaz Imran ,   Massey University, Aukland, 4472, New Zealand
Published: January 2024

Water contamination is the greatest hazard to public health. Addressing water scarcity and protecting accessible water sources necessitates the effective treatment of wastewater. This makes the use of sustainable solutions such as constructed wetlands (CWs) essential. CWs leverage natural processes involving wetland vegetation, soils, and microbial communities. This study evaluates the efficiency of a horizontal sub-surface flow CW, established with local plants at Hudiara drain, in removing pollutants such as Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Turbidity, Nitrates, Phosphates, and pH, across different months. The study reveals that while temperature and precipitation rates influence the CW's efficacy, the linear regression model indicates a strong correlation between phosphorus and BOD levels with precipitation. However, nitrates are sensitive to temperature, and turbidity is influenced by both temperature and precipitation within certain limits. Additional factors impacting CW performance include wastewater characteristics, design flow, and wetland location. When compared with Pakistan Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS), it is concluded that CWs are effective in wastewater treatment. By constructing CWs along the banks of wastewater drains, treated water from the outlet chamber can be collected and redirected, offering a viable solution to water scarcity challenges.
January 2024 Medical Image of the Month: Polyangiitis Overlap Syndrome (POS) Mimicking Fungal Pneumonia
Authors:   Mayo Clinic Arizona, Phoenix, AZ USA, Fanous John , Jokerst Clint , Cartin-Ceba Rodrigo
Published: January 2024

No abstract available. Manuscript truncated after 150 words. A 32-year-old woman with a history including hypertension, end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, asthma, nonischemic cardiomyopathy, and migraines, was directly transferred to our hospital in November 2023 for the evaluation of hemoptysis. The patient reported a two-week history of a nonproductive cough, runny nose, muscle aches, subjective fevers, chills, fatigue, nausea, and decreased appetite. Within the past 2 days the patient had also developed hemoptysis, with 5-6 episodes per day. Initial investigations, including chest X-ray and CT chest, revealed large biapical pulmonary consolidations with cavitation. Multiple nodular densities were observed throughout both lungs (Figures 1 and 2). The patient denied any recent sick contacts, travel history, and prior tuberculosis infection. She did, however, disclose a period of incarceration from 2011 to 2019. Upon arrival at our hospital, the patient recounted a relatively normal state of health until January 2023 when she underwent a two-month hospitalization, culminating in the diagnosis of …
‘Speaking proper French’: citizen bids for state recognition in Chad and Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Daga Moudwe , Gallagher Julia
Published: January 2024

Theories of international recognition posit that states’ identities are formed through dialogical relations with other states. However, they often overlook the ways in which weaker states’ struggles, constrained within the languages of the powerful, produce misrecognition and inhibit identity formation. This is the experience of many post-colonial francophone African states whose search for international recognition has been inhibited by their special relationship with France, their former coloniser. This article shows how such struggles for recognition can fail. It draws on two examples of francophone African countries, showing how their search for recognition sprung from the misrecognition of colonial experiences. Each has made explicit attempts to attract richer forms of state recognition through purposive acts but has continued to do so within post-colonial conditions. Using citizens’ understandings of these struggles, the article explores what drove them, how they manifested and how they unravelled. It draws on Frantz Fanon’s account of misrecognition, making a novel interpretation based on his concept of ‘speaking proper French’, or how experiences of ‘identity alienation’ can only produce further misrecognition.
Making sense of what families leave behind: a middle-class schoolgirl’s diaries in 1920s London
Authors: Brannen Julia
Published: January 2024

The article is based on original, contemporaneous data in the form of personal diaries from the perspective of a middle-class secondary schoolgirl living in North London in the 1920s. It first considers the use of personal diaries in social science. The article’s particular contribution is to demonstrate the value of diaries to understanding everyday social practices in relation to family life, school and friends and to make sense of them through the intersecting lenses of gender, social class, time and place. The article’s overall argument is that a focus on a particular case enables the researcher to set everyday social practices within a particular social context.
On-chip hybrid integration of swept frequency distributed-feedback laser with silicon photonic circuits using photonic wire bonding
Authors: Chowdhury Sheri Jahan , Wickremasinghe Kithmin , Grist Samantha M. , Zou Hang , Mitchell Matthew , Al-Qadasi Mohammed A. , Lin Becky , Birdi Davin , Smythe Shannon , Shekhar Sudip , Cheung Karen C. , Chrostowski Lukas
Published: January 2024

This paper presents a novel co-packaging approach through on-chip hybrid laser integration with photonic circuits using photonic wire bonding. The process involves die-bonding a low-cost semiconductor distributed-feedback (DFB) laser into a deep trench on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) chip and coupling it to the silicon circuitry through photonic wire bonding (PWB). After characterizing the power-current-voltage (LIV) and optical spectrum of the laser, a wavelength-current relationship utilizing its tunability through self-heating a swept-frequency laser (SFL) is developed. Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) resonators are successfully characterized using the SFL method, demonstrating signal detection with a quality factor comparable to measurements conducted with an off-chip benchtop laser.
Growth, spectroscopy and SESAM mode-locking of a “mixed” Yb:Ca(Gd,Y)AlO4 disordered crystal
Authors: Zhang Peixiong , Wu Wenjie , Lin Zhang-Lang , Li Zhi-Qiang , Loiko Pavel , Normani Simone , Chen Zhenqiang , Li Zhen , Elabedine Ghassen Zin , Mateos Xavier , Zeng Huang-Jun , Zhang Ge , Nie Hai-Yu , Braud Alain , Camy Patrice , Petrov Valentin , Chen Weidong
Published: January 2024

We present the growth, spectroscopy, continuous-wave (CW) and passively mode-locked (ML) operation of a novel “mixed” tetragonal calcium rare-earth aluminate crystal, Yb3+:Ca(Gd,Y)AlO4. The absorption, stimulated-emission, and gain cross-sections are derived for π and σ polarizations. The laser performance of a
c
-cut Yb:Ca(Gd,Y)AlO4 crystal is studied using a spatially single-mode, 976-nm fiber-coupled laser diode as a pump source. A maximum output power of 347 mW is obtained in the CW regime with a slope efficiency of 48.9%. The emission wavelength is continuously tunable across 90 nm (1010 – 1100 nm) using a quartz-based Lyot filter. With a commercial SEmiconductor Saturable Absorber Mirror to initiate and maintain ML operation, soliton pulses as short as 35 fs are generated at 1059.8 nm with an average output power of 51 mW at ∼65.95 MHz. The average output power can be scaled to 105 mW for slightly longer pulses of 42 fs at 1063.5 nm.
Laser frequency noise characterization using high-finesse plano–concave optical microresonators
Authors: Martin-Sanchez David , Zhang Edward Z. , Paterson Jake , Guggenheim James A. , Liu Zhixin , Beard Paul C.
Published: January 2024

Characterizing laser frequency noise is essential for applications including optical sensing and coherent optical communications. Accurate measurement of ultra-narrow linewidth lasers over a wide frequency range using existing methods is still challenging. Here we present a method for characterizing the frequency noise of lasers using a high-finesse plano–concave optical microresonator (PCMR) acting as a frequency discriminator. To enable noise measurements at a wide range of laser frequencies, an array of PCMRs was produced with slight variations of thickness resulting in a series of discriminators operating at a series of periodical frequencies. This method enables measuring the frequency noise over a wide linewidth range (15 Hz to <100 MHz) over the 1440–1630 nm wavelength range. To assess the performance of the method, four different lasers were characterized, and the results were compared to the estimations of a commercial frequency noise analyzer.
Investigation of low pulse repetition passively mode-locked Nd:YVO4 lasers via multi-pass periodic trajectories in a confocal cavity
Authors: Liang Hsing-Chih , Hsu Yu-Hsin , Cheng Pin-Wen , Chiang Hai-Pang
Published: January 2024

We derive the parametric equations for the geometric rays of a periodic orbit inside a confocal cavity. Based on the derived formula, we demonstrate a passively mode-locked solid-state laser with a low pulse repetition rate to obtain a pulse train traveling along zigzag multi-pass trajectories. We achieve a stable mode-locked pulse train with a pulse repetition rate of 18 MHz by designing the cavity to satisfy the dual-M trajectory. Furthermore, by precisely adjusting cavity mirrors under the same experimental setup, we can reach pulse repetition rates of 12 and 9 MHz for the mode-locked laser. It is believed that the numerical calculation and the developed experiment can provide a straightforward and convenient way to achieve a low pulse repetition rate for passively mode-locked lasers.
Optical activation of implanted lanthanoid ions in aluminum nitride semiconductors by high temperature annealing
Authors: Sato Shin-ichiro , Shojiki Kanako , Yoshida Ken-ichi , Minagawa Hideaki , Miyake Hideto
Published: January 2024

Lanthanoid (Ln)-doped aluminum nitride (AlN) semiconductors are one candidate for optoelectric devices and single photon sources, although their optical properties are less understood. We clarify the room temperature optical properties of Ln ion implanted single crystal AlN semiconductors and their changes upon thermal annealing by up to 1700 °C. Photoluminescence (PL), cathodoluminescence (CL), and time-resolved PL for praseodymium (Pr), europium (Eu), and neodymium (Nd) ion implanted AlN are analyzed. Recovery of implantation induced damages and thermal diffusion of implanted Ln ions by thermal annealing are also investigated. Our systematic studies reveal that there is a trade-off between optical activation of implanted Ln ions due to recovery of implantation damage and deactivation (quenching) due to complex formation and aggregation of Ln ions. The PL intensity of implanted Pr ions increases with increasing annealing temperature in the case of high-dose implantation (above 1020 cm-3), whereas it rather decreases in the case of low-dose implantation (below 4 × 1019 cm-3). However, the PL intensity is significantly reduced after annealing at 1700 °C in both cases, indicating that the quenching factor is dominant in this temperature range.
Label-free multimodal polarization-sensitive optical microscope for multiparametric quantitative characterization of collagen
Authors: Yang Lingxiao , Iyer Rishyashring R. , Sorrells Janet E. , Chaney Eric J. , Boppart Stephen A.
Published: January 2024

Collagen is an essential component of biological tissues with a variety of subtypes. To be able to capture these subtypes, fully exploit the polarization-sensitive light-collagen interactions, and provide comprehensive information of collagen, we integrated polarization-sensitive second-harmonic generation (PSHG) microscopy, polarization-sensitive optical coherence microscopy (PSOCM), and two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy into a single-source multimodal system in a simultaneous and spatially co-registered configuration. PSOCM information is used in the PSHG numerical model to enable accurate PSHG analysis of unsectioned fresh tissue. This polarization-sensitive multimodal system provides quantitative multiparametric characterization of collagen and facilitates the fundamental understanding of collagen in the unperturbed tissue microenvironment, which can enable future studies into the role of collagen in various diseases.
Spiral diopter: freeform lenses with enhanced multifocal behavior
Authors: Galinier Laurent , Renaud-Goud Philippe , Brusau Jean , Kergadallan Lucien , Augereau Jean , Simon Bertrand
Published: January 2024

Lens design is of paramount importance in the evolving world of
technology, where compactness and high optical performance are a
necessity, ranging from smartphones and wearable devices to vehicles
and virtual reality. Freeform design techniques allow us to transcend
traditional limitations, but creating new optics remains a substantial
challenge unless we consider unconventional physical phenomena. Here,
we introduce a lens type based on freeform design, employing
spiralization of one of its diopters that results in optical vortices.
This enables multifocality, primarily serving needs in ophthalmology;
however, its potential applications could broadly impact many other
domains. In particular, this lens design could be crucial in
miniaturizing emerging technologies while retaining their optical
quality.