Genomic characterization of peritoneal lavage cytology-positive gastric cancer

Objective: Positive peritoneal lavege cytology(CY1) gastric cancer is featured by dismal prognosis, with high risks of peritoneal metastasis. However, there is a lack of evidence on pathogenic mechanism and signature of CY1and there is a continuous debate on CY1 therapy. Therefore, exploring the mechanism of CY1 is crucial for treatment strategies and targets for CY1 gastric cancer.Methods: In order to figure out specific driver genes and marker genes of CY1 gastric cancer, and ultimately offer clues for potential marker and risk assessment of CY1, 17 cytology-positive gastric cancer patients and 31matched cytology-negative gastric cancer patients were enrolled in this study. The enrollment criteria were based on the results of diagnostic laparoscopy staging and cytology inspection of exfoliated cells. Whole exome sequencing was then performed on tumor samples to evaluate genomic characterization of cytology-positive gastric cancer.Results: Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator(LASSO) algorithm identified 43 cytology-positive marker genes, while Mut Sig CV identified 42 cytology-positive specific driver genes. CD3G and CDKL2 were both driver and marker genes of CY1. Regarding mutational signatures, driver gene mutation and tumor subclone architecture, no significant differences were observed between CY1 and negative peritoneal lavege cytology(CY0).Conclusions: There might not be distinct differences between CY1 and CY0, and CY1 might represent the progression of CY0 gastric cancer rather than constituting an independent subtype. This genomic analysis will thus provide key molecular insights into CY1, which may have a direct effect on treatment recommendations for CY1and CY0 patients, and provides opportunities for genome-guided clinical trials and drug development.

Tendoscopic Surgery for Peroneal Tendons Instability: A Literature Review

Introduction: There has been a surge in the use of tendoscopic surgery for treating peroneal tendons instability. The novelty of this approach demanded a literature review of its indications, limitations, and clinical outcomes. Aim: a literature review of the clinical studies reporting on tendoscopic peroneal tendon stabilisation surgery along with its outcomes and complications. Methods: We carried out a comprehensive review of the literature up until September 2022 with an extensive search of the MEDLINE, Embase and Cochrane library databases. Results: Initial search resulted in 66 articles. Four duplicate articles were removed. Further 30 articles were excluded after title and abstract screening. Eight studies satisfied the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. Articles were analysed for outcomes and complications. Conclusion: The tendoscopic technique for peroneal tendon instability is an effective and safe surgical technique with very low failure rate. Levels of Evidence: Level IV.

Impact of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy on gastric cancer survival: Peritoneal metastasis and cytology perspectives

BACKGROUND Gastric cancer presenting with peritoneal metastasis is notably associated with diminished survival prospects.The use of cytoreductive surgery in conjunction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy(HIPEC)has been shown to increase survival rates in these patients.Despite these advancements,debates persist regarding the magnitude of survival improvement attributed to this treatment modality.The present investigation examined survival outcomes following HIPEC in individuals diagnosed with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastasis,and it took a comparative analysis of patients exhibiting positive and negative cytological findings.Between April 2013 and March 2020,84 patients with advanced gastric cancer treated at our institution were categorized into three cohorts:HIPEC(20 patients with peritoneal metastasis),cytology-positive(23 patients without peritoneal nodules but with positive wash cytology),and cytology-negative(41 patients with advanced gastric cancer,no peritoneal nodules,and negative wash cytology).The HIPEC cohort underwent gastrectomy with HIPEC,while the cytology-positive and cytology-negative groups received gastrectomy alone.The demographic,pat-hological,and survival data of the groups were compared.RESULTS The HIPEC cohort-predominantly younger females-exhibited relatively extended surgical durations and high blood loss.Nevertheless,the complication rates were consistent across all three groups.Median survival in the HIPEC group was 20.00±4.89 months,with 1-year,2-year,and 3-year overall survival rates of 73.90%,28.70%,and 9.60%,respectively.These figures paralleled the survival rates of the cytology-positive group(52.20%at 1 year,28.50%at 2 years,and 19.00%at 3 years).Notably,47%of patients experienced peritoneal recurrence.CONCLUSION HIPEC may offer a modest improvement in short-term survival for patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastasis,mirroring the outcomes in cytology-positive patients.However,peritoneal recurrence remained high.

Application Analysis of High Risk HPV Detection Combined with Cervical Cytology, Colposcopy and Pathology in Cervical Lesions of Women in Tiandeng County

Purpose: To understand the application of high-risk HPV detection combined with cervical cytology, colposcopy and pathology in cervical lesions of women in Tiandeng County. Method: Women in the outpatient and inpatient departments of our hospital from January 2021 to October 2022 were collected for high-risk HPV testing, TCT, colposcopy and pathological examination according to their personal wishes, to understand the application of relevant examinations in cervical lesions. Result: In 2021, the number of patients was 5801, among whom 1743 patients had received cervical cancer examination in the past, accounting for 30.05% of the total number of patients, and 5795 who had volunteered for TCT examination this time, accounting for 99.90% of the total;A total of 289 cases of atypical squamous cells with unclear significance (ASC-US) were detected, excluding 11 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASC-H), 122 cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 16 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), 2 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and 4 cases of atypical adenocyte (AGC);Atypical cervical adenocytosis and cervical carcinoma in situ were not detected. The number of people who volunteered for high-risk HPV testing was 4237, and the number of positive cases was 740, accounting for 17.47% of the screening population;Among 740 HPV-positive patients, 488 high-risk HPV-positive patients were selected for TCT examination, and 87 patients were found to be TCT positive;From 401 high-risk HPV-positive and TCT negative patients, 287 patients with possible lesions were screened out for colposcopy;The results showed that 60 patients may have certain cervical lesions and need further pathological examination and the results showed that 28 patients had CTN1 and 18 patients had CIN2 - 3. In 2022, 8840 patients received medical treatment, among which 3188 patients had received cervical cancer examination in the past, accounting for 36.06% of the total number of patients, and 8314 patients voluntarily underwent TCT examination, accounting for 94.05% of the total number of patients. 434 cases of atypical squamous cells with ambiguous meaning (ASC-US) were detected, excluding 13 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (ASC-H), 217 cases of low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 35 cases of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL), 1 case of squamous cell carcinoma, and 4 cases of atypical adenocarcinoma (AGC);Atypical cervical adenocytosis and cervical carcinoma in situ were not detected. The number of volunteers for high-risk HPV testing was 3871 cases, and the number of positive cases was 654 cases, accounting for 16.89% of the screening number. 527 high-risk HPV-positive patients were selected from 654 HPV-positive patients for TCT examination, and the number of TCT-positive patients was found to be 49. From 478 high-risk HPV-positive patients with TCT negative, 276 patients with possible lesions were screened out for colposcopy;The results showed that 66 patients may have certain cervical lesions and need further pathological examination;and then the results showed that 31 cases of CTN1 and 6 cases of CIN2 - 3. Conclusion: Gynecological high-risk HPV examination can provide better etiological sources for cervical cancer screening;Cervical cytology examination has high sensitivity;Colposcopy examination has high specificity;Pathological examination can be used as an effective supplement for cervical cytology examination and colposcopy;So high-risk HPV combined with cytology examination, colposcopy examination and pathological examination has high clinical application value;It is worth popularizing and applying.

Exosomes derived from tendon stem/progenitor cells enhance tendon-bone interface healing after rotator cuff repair in a rat model

The rate of retear after surgical repair remains high.Mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)have been extensively employed in regenerative medicine for several decades.However,safety and ethical concerns constrain their clinical application.Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells(TSPCs)-derived exosomes have emerged as promising cellfree therapeutic agents.Therefore,urgent studies are needed to investigate whether TSPC-Exos could enhance tendon-bone healing and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.In this study,TSPC-Exos were found to promote the proliferation,migration,and expression of fibrogenesis markers in BMSCs.Furthermore,TSPC-Exos demonstrated an ability to suppress the polarization of M1 macrophages while promoting M2 macrophage polarization.In a rat model of rotator cuff repair,TSPC-Exos modulated inflammation and improved the histological structure of the tendon-bone interface,the biomechanical properties of the repaired tendon,and the function of the joint.Mechanistically,TSPC-Exos exhibited high expression of miR-21a-5p,which regulated the expression of PDCD4.The PDCD4/AKT/mTOR axis was implicated in the therapeutic effects of TSPC-Exos on proliferation,migration,and fibrogenesis in BMSCs.This study introduces a novel approach utilizing TSPC-Exos therapy as a promising strategy for cell-free therapies,potentially benefiting patients with rotator cuff tear in the future.

Elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content in the Achilles tendon contribute to higher intratendinous pressures:Implications for Achilles tendinopathy

Background:Tendinopathy alters the compositional properties of the Achilles tendon by increasing fluid and glycosaminoglycan content.It has been speculated that these changes may affect intratendinous pressure,but the extent of this relationship remains unclear.Therefore,we aimed to investigate the impact of elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content on Achilles tendon intratendinous pressure and to determine whether hyaluronidase(HYAL) therapy can intervene in this potential relationship.Methods:Twenty paired fresh-frozen cadaveric Achilles tendons were mounted in a tensile-testing machine and loaded up to 5% strain.Intratendinous resting(at 0% strain) and dynamic pressure(at 5% strain) were assessed using the microcapillary infusion technique.First,intratendinous pressure was measured under native conditions before and after infusion of 2 mL physiological saline.Next,80 mg of glycosaminoglycans were administered bilaterally to the paired tendons.The right tendons were additionally treated with 1500 units of HYAL.Finally,both groups were retested,and the glycosaminoglycan content was analyzed.Results:It was found that both elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content resulted in higher intratendinous resting and dynamic pressures(p <0.001).HYAL treatment induced a 2.3-fold reduction in glycosaminoglycan content(p=0.002) and restored intratendinous pressures.Conclusion:The results of this study demonstrated that elevated fluid and glycosaminoglycan content in Achilles tendinopathy contribute to increased intratendinous re sting and dynamic pressures,which can be explained by the associated increased volume and reduced permeability of the tendon matrix,respectively.HYAL degrades glycosaminoglycans sufficiently to lower intratendinous pressures and may,therefore,serve as a promising treatment.

Multi-omics analysis of human tendon adhesion reveals that ACKR1-regulated macrophage migration is involved in regeneration

Tendon adhesion is a common complication after tendon injury with the development of accumulated fibrotic tissues without effective anti-fibrotic therapies,resulting in severe disability.Macrophages are widely recognized as a fibrotic trigger during peritendinous adhesion formation.However,different clusters of macrophages have various functions and receive multiple regulation,which are both still unknown.In our current study,multi-omics analysis including single-cell RNA sequencing and proteomics was performed on both human and mouse tendon adhesion tissue at different stages after tendon injury.The transcriptomes of over 74000 human single cells were profiled.As results,we found that SPP1^(+)macrophages,RGCC^(+)endothelial cells,ACKR1^(+)endothelial cells and ADAM12^(+)fibroblasts participated in tendon adhesion formation.Interestingly,despite specific fibrotic clusters in tendon adhesion,FOLR2^(+)macrophages were identified as an antifibrotic cluster by in vitro experiments using human cells.Furthermore,ACKR1 was verified to regulate FOLR2^(+)macrophages migration at the injured peritendinous site by transplantation of bone marrow from Lysm-Cre;R26R^(tdTomato) mice to lethally irradiated Ackr1^(-/-)mice(Ackr1^(-/-)chimeras;deficient in ACKR1)and control mice(WT chimeras).Compared with WT chimeras,the decline of FOLR2^(+)macrophages was also observed,indicating that ACKR1 was specifically involved in FOLR2^(+)macrophages migration.Taken together,our study not only characterized the fibrosis microenvironment landscape of tendon adhesion by multi-omics analysis,but also uncovered a novel antifibrotic cluster of macrophages and their origin.These results provide potential therapeutic targets against human tendon adhesion.

Animal models of tendon calcification:Past,present,and future

Tendon calcification is a common clinical condition that frequently occurs as a complication after tendon injury and surgery,or as an expression of fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.This condition can be referred to by various names in clinical practice and literature,including tendon ossification,tendon mineralization,heterotopic ossification,and calcific tendonitis.The exact pathogenesis of tendon calcification remains uncertain,but current mainstream research suggests that calcification is mostly cell mediated.To further elucidate the pathogenesis of tendon calcification and to better simulate the overall process,selecting appropriate experimental animal models is important.Numerous animal models have been utilized in various clinical studies,each with its own set of advantages and limitations.In this review,we have discussed the advancements made in research on animal models of tendon calcification,with a focus on the selection of experimental animals,the sites of injury in these models,and the methods employed for modeling.

A tendon system to re-center steel moment frames with weak stories

A wide open bottom story of a frame building is often expected by owners for use as a garage or shops.However,this leads to weak stories due to abrupt changes in lateral stiffness and often results in unexpected story collapse as observed in many previous earthquakes.To retrofit frame buildings that have experienced weak story damage,a tendon system is proposed in this study,which consists of a set of swaying columns and tendons.The swaying columns are used to uniformly redistribute the lateral deformation along the height,while the tendons provide extra lateral stiffness and renders the entire structural system a re-centering capability.To avoid unnecessary forces to swaying columns,pin-connections are used at the bottom.Tendons are placed over the entire story to gain large elastic displacements.Parametric analysis reveals that the swaying column,with a stiffness of about 0.9 times that of the weak story,and the tendons attached at the roof,with a stiffness of 0.04 times that of the weak story,can provide the optimal performance with a maximum residual story drift angle of less than 0.5%.Online hybrid tests were carried out,which demonstrated that uniformly distributed story drifts and acceptable residual deformation could be achieved by the proposed tendon system.

Brachioradialis tendon transfer and palmaris longus tendon graft for thumb avulsion:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Thumb replantation following complete traumatic avulsion requires complex techniques to restore function,especially in cases of avulsion at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint(MCP I)and avulsion of the flexor pollicis longus(FPL)at the musculotendinous junction.Possible treatments include direct tendon suture or tendon transfer,most commonly from the ring finger.To optimize function and avoid donor finger complications,we performed thumb replantation with flexion restoration using brachioradialis(BR)tendon transfer with palmaris longus(PL)tendon graft.CASE SUMMARY A 20-year-old left-handed male was admitted for a complete traumatic left thumb amputation following an accident while sliding from the top of a handrail.The patient presented with skin and bone avulsion at the MCP I,avulsion of the FPL tendon at the musculotendinous junction(zone 5),avulsion of the extensor pollicis longus tendon(zone T3),and avulsion of the thumb’s collateral arteries and nerves.The patient was treated with two stage thumb repair.The first intervention consisted of thumb replantation with MCP I arthrodesis,resection of avulsed FPL tendon and implantation of a silicone tendon prosthesis.The second intervention consisted of PL tendon graft and BR tendon transfer.Follow-up at 10 months showed good outcomes with active interphalangeal flexion of 70°,grip strength of 45 kg,key pinch strength of 15 kg and two-point discrimination threshold of 4 mm.CONCLUSION Flexion restoration after complete thumb amputation with FPL avulsion at the musculotendinous junction can be achieved using BR tendon transfer with PL tendon graft.

Correlation of Hamstring Tendon Size in Pre-Operative MRI Measurement with Intra-Operative Graft Size in Primary Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Reconstruction

Background: The size of Hamstring autograft of less than 8.0 mm in ACL re-construction is one of the key factors that may contribute to the failure of the graft. In this study, we are going to assess the correlation of pre-operative MRI measurement of Hamstring tendons with the intra-operative ACL graft. Thus, it may help surgeons to anticipate the needs for graft augmentation should the final graft size be smaller than expected. Methods: We retrospectively re-viewed 41 cases of ACL reconstructions in which MRI were done pre-operatively, in Hospital Pakar Sultanah Fatimah (HPSF), Muar between January 2019 until December 2022. MRI measurements of Hamstring tendon (semitendinosus: ST, and gracilis) were done by a radiologist, and the in-tra-operative notes were reviewed for the final graft size. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were calculated to determine the relationship between graft size and tendon cross-sectional area. The intraclass correlation (ICC) by using two-way mixed model with type consistency, the reliability based on average measure was 0.41 (95% CI: ?0.10, 0.69). A p-value < 0.05 was considered sig-nificant. Results: Of 105 patients with primary ACL reconstruction done be-tween January 2019 to December 2022, only 41 patients were included in this study. There was fair correlation (p = 0.048) between pre-operative MRI measurement and the graft diameter intra-operatively. The mean of 17.0 mm of combined diameter of ST and gracilis tendon in MRI may results in graft diameter of 8.3 mm. There was also positive correlation between patients’ height and the intra-operative graft size. Conclusion: These results showed good correlation between pre-operative MRI measurement of Hamstring ten-don size with the intra-operative graft size, hence it is a reliable tool to predict the Hamstring autograft size in ACL reconstruction.

Adenylate cyclase activates the cAMP signalling pathway to enhance platelet-rich plasma-treated Achilles tendon disease,a theoretical bioinformatics-based study

The effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma(PRP)for the treatment of Achilles tendon disorders still needs to be evaluated through a series of prospective studies,but genomic analysis can reveal the existence of complementary PRP treatment options.Based on the 96 platelet activation-related genes in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)database,we performed Gene Ontology functional enrichment analysis and KEGG enrichment analysis,pathway correlation analysis,and enrichment mapping to determine the enrichment results of the gene set enrichment analysis and found that the cAMP signalling pathway may be the key to enhancing the effectiveness of PRP treatment.The cAMP signalling pathway interacts with the Rap1 signalling pathway and cGMPPKG signalling pathway to mediate the entire pathophy-siological process of Achilles tendon disease.Moreover,ADCY1-9 may be the key to the activation of the cAMP signalling network.Further based on the data in the Gene Expression Omnibus database,it was found that ADCY4 and ADCY7 may be the players that play a major role,associated with the STAT4-ADCY4-LAMA5 axis and the GRbeta-ADCY7-SEMA3C axis,which is expected to be a complementary target for enhancing the efficacy of PRP in the treatment of Achilles tendon disease.

Bipolar hip arthroplasty using conjoined tendon preserving posterior lateral approach in treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures

BACKGROUND Hip fractures account for 23.8%of all fractures in patients over the age of 75 years.More than half of these patients are older than 80 years.Bipolar hemiarthroplasty(BHA)was established as an effective management option for these patients.Various approaches can be used for the BHA procedure.However,there is a high risk of postoperative dislocation.The conjoined tendon-preserving posterior(CPP)lateral approach was introduced to reduce postoperative dislocation rates.AIM To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the CPP lateral approach for BHA in elderly patients.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed medical data from 80 patients with displaced femoral neck fractures who underwent BHA.The patients were followed up for at least 1 year.Among the 80 patients,57(71.3%)were female.The time to operation averaged 2.3 d(range:1-5 d).The mean age was 80.5 years(range:67-90 years),and the mean body mass index was 24.9 kg/m^(2)(range:17-36 kg/m^(2)).According to the Garden classification,42.5%of patients were typeⅢand 57.5%of patients were typeⅣ.Uncemented bipolar hip prostheses were used for all patients.Torn conjoined tendons,dislocations,and adverse complications during and after surgery were recorded.RESULTS The mean postoperative follow-up time was 15.3 months(range:12-18 months).The average surgery time was 52 min(range:40-70 min)with an average blood loss of 120 mL(range:80-320 mL).The transfusion rate was 10%(8 of 80 patients).The gemellus inferior was torn in 4 patients(5%),while it was difficult to identify in 2 patients(2.5%)during surgery.The posterior capsule was punctured by the fractured femoral neck in 3 patients,but the conjoined tendon and the piriformis tendon remained intact.No patients had stem varus greater than 3 degrees or femoral fracture.There were no patients with stem subsidence more than 5 mm at the last follow-up.No postoperative dislocations were observed throughout the follow-up period.No significance was found between preoperative and postoperative mean Health Service System scores(87.30±2.98 vs 86.10±6.10,t=1.89,P=0.063).CONCLUSION The CPP lateral approach can effectively reduce the incidence of postoperative dislocation without increasing perioperative complications.For surgeons familiar with the posterior lateral approach,there is no need for additional surgical instruments,and it does not increase surgical difficulty.

Application of real-time shear wave elastography to Achilles tendon hardness evaluation in older adults

BACKGROUND Real-time shear wave elastography(SWE)is a non-invasive imaging technique used to measure tissue stiffness by generating and tracking shear waves in real time.This advanced ultrasound-based method provides quantitative information regarding tissue elasticity,offering valuable insights into the mechanical properties of biological tissues.However,the application of real-time SWE in the musculoskeletal system and sports medicine has not been extensively studied.AIM To explore the practical value of real-time SWE for assessing Achilles tendon hardness in older adults.METHODS A total of 60 participants were enrolled in the present study,and differences in the elastic moduli of the bilateral Achilles tendons were compared among the following categories:(1)Age:55-60,60-65,and 65-70-years-old;(2)Sex:Male and female;(3)Laterality:Left and right sides;(4)Tendon state:Relaxed and tense state;and(5)Tendon segment:Proximal,middle,and distal.RESULTS There were no significant differences in the elastic moduli of the bilateral Achilles tendons when comparing by age or sex(P>0.05).There were,however,significant differences when comparing by tendon side,state,or segment(P<0.05).CONCLUSION Real-time SWE plays a significant role compared to other examination methods in the evaluation of Achilles tendon hardness in older adults.

Insights and implications from the study on meniscus reconstruction using tendon autograft

This letter addresses the recent study by Zhu et al on the predictive factors for coronal and sagittal graft extrusion length following medial meniscus reconstruction using tendon autografts.The study provides valuable insights into the importance of preoperative joint space width and tunnel positioning as predictors of graft extrusion.Specifically,it found strong correlations between preoperative joint space width and medial,posterior,and mean graft extrusion at both 1 week and 8 months post-operation.Additionally,tunnel edge distance at 1 week postoperation correlated with anterior and posterior graft extrusion.These findings offer critical guidance for improving surgical outcomes.However,the letter highlights the need for further research with larger sample sizes and comparative studies involving different graft types to strengthen these findings and broaden their applicability in clinical settings.The study's contributions to understanding meniscus reconstruction using tendon autografts are acknowledged,along with suggestions for future research directions.

Presentation and management outcome of foot drop with tibialis posterior tendon transfer

BACKGROUND Foot drop causes considerable disability.The ankle-dorsiflexion is either weak or lost completely.Additionally,the ankle eversion and toe extensions are also impaired.This results in a high steppage gait while walking.Overall,the gait is awkward;there is greater energy consumption;increased proneness to sustain injury of the forefoot;and more frequent falling during walking.AIM To document the clinical and epidemiological profile of foot drop patients in our population and evaluate the outcome of tibialis posterior(TP)tendon transfer for restoring the lost dorsiflexion in foot drop.METHODS The study was carried out at the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine in Islamabad over a period of 7 years.It included patients of all sexes and ages who presented with foot drop and had no contraindications for the procedure of TP tendon transfer.Exclusion criteria were patients who had contraindications for the operation.For instance,paralyzed posterior leg compartment muscles,Achilles tendon contracture,stiff ankle or toes,unstable ankle joint,weak gastrocnemius and scarred skin spanning over the route of planned tendon transfer.Also,patients who had the foot drop as a result of disc prolapses or brain diseases were excluded.Convenience sampling technique was used.The circum-tibial route of TP tendon transfer was employed.RESULTS Out of 37 patients,26(70.27%)were males whereas 11(29.72%)were females.The mean age was 22.59±8.19 years.Among the underlying causes of foot drop,road traffic accidents constituted the most common cause,found among 20(54.05%)patients.The share of complications included wound infections in 3(8.10%)patients and hypertrophic scars in 2(5.40%)patients.At 1-year postoperative follow-up visits,the outcome was excellent in 8(21.62%),good in 20(54.05%)and moderate in 9(24.31%).CONCLUSION The majority of cases of foot drop resulted from road traffic accidents that directly involved the common peroneal nerve.TP tendon transfer through the circumtibial route was found to be an easily executed effective operation which restored good dorsiflexion of the ankle among the majority of patients.

Comparison of brush and basket cytology in differential diagnosis of bile duct stricture at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

BACKGROUND： A previous report has identified a significantly higher sensitivity of cancer detection for dedicated grasping basket than brushing at endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreato- graphy （ERCP）. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of Geenen brush and Dormia basket cytology in the differential diagnosis of bile duct stricture. METHOD： The current study enrolled one hundred and fourteen patients who underwent ERCP with both Geenen brush and Dormia basket cytology for the differential diagnosis of bile duct stricture at our institution between January 2008 and December 2012. RESULTS： We adopted sequential performances of cytologic samplings by using initial Geenen brush and subsequent Dormia basket cytology in 59 patients and initial Dormia basket and subsequent Geenen brush cytology in 55 patients. Presampling balloon dilatations and biliary stentings for the stricture were performed in 17 （14.9%） and 107 patients （93.9%）, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of Geenen brush cytology for the diagnosis of malignant bile duct stricture were 75.0%, 100.0%, 100.0%, 66.7% and 83.3%, respectively, and those of Dormia basket cytology were 64.5%, 100.0%, 100.0%, 58.5% and 76.3%, respectively （P=0.347 and 0.827 for sensitivity and accuracy, respectively）. The good and excellent cellular yields （≥grade 2） were obtained by Geenen brush and Dormia basket cytology in 88 （77.2%） and 79 （69.3%） patients, respectively.CONCLUSION： The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of biliary sampling with a Dormia basket are comparable to those with conventional Geenen brush cytology in the detection of malignant bile duct stricture.

Comparisons of voided urine cytology, nuclear matrix protein-22 and bladder tumor associated antigen tests for bladder cancer of geriatric male patients in Taiwan, China

Aim： To compare the results of bladder tumor associated antigen （BTA TRAK）, nuclear matrix protein 22 （NMP 22） and voided urine cytology （VUC） in detecting bladder cancer. Methods： A total of 135 elderly male and 50 healthy volunteers enrolled in this study were classified into three groups： （i） 93 patients with bladder cancer; （ii） 42 patients with urinary benign conditions; and （iii） 50 healthy volunteers. BTA TRAK and NMP 22 kits were used to detect bladder cancer. Voided urine cytology was used to compare the sensitivity and specificity of the screening tests. Results： The sensitivity and specificity of cytology, BTA TRAK and NMP 22 were 24% and 97%, 51% and 73%, 78% and 73%, respectively. The level of NMP 22 increased with tumor grading. The BTA TRAK kit has the lowest sensitivity among the screening tests. The NMP 22 with the best sensitivity can be an adjunct to cytology for evaluating bladder cancer. Conclusion： The NMP 22 test has a better correlation with the grading of the bladder cancer than BTA TRAK. As cytology units are typically not available in hospitals or in outpatient clinics, NMP 22 might be a promising tool for screening bladder cancer.

Dynamic Observation on the Effects of Different Suture Techniques on the Biomechanical Properties in the Healing of Tendons

Summary： To identify the best suture techniques for the tendon repair, the biomechanical properties of tendons sutured by different methods were dynamically examined. 140 chickens were divided into 2 groups equally： group A and group B. The tendon of the right side was subjected to injury-repair process, and the tendons of the left sides served as controls in both groups. In group A, ＂figure-of- 8＂ suture, modified Kessler suture and Bunnell suture were used for the 2nd to 4th paws respectively, while in group B, Kleinert suture, Tsuge suture and Ikuta suture were used. On the day 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42 after operation, 10 animals were sacrificed and the flexor tendons of both sides were harvested for strength test. The results showed that the initial strength of the repaired tendons and the strength after 6 weeks following tendon cut were far below those of intact tendons, irrespective of suture techniques used. With the 6 techniques, the P of tendons repaired by Tsuge suture was increased continually, reaching the highest value on the 42nd day. The P of tendons sutured by the modified Kessler suture was slightly lower than that by Tsuge suture, but it was increased steadily in healing. The tendons repaired by figure-of-8 suture yielded the lowest P It was concluded that Tsuge suture and modified Kessler suture were the best techniques for tendon repair.

Diagnosis of pancreatic cancer by cytology and telomerase activity in exfoliated cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing during endoscopy

BACKGROUND: Telomerase activity is reported to be specific and frequent in human pancreatic cancer. We conducted this study to assess the usefulness of monitoring telomerase activity in exfoliated cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: Exfoliated cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing during ERCP from 21 patients (18 with pancreatic cancer, 3 with chronic pancreatitis) were examined. Telomerase activity was detected by polymerase chain reaction and telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay (PCR-TRAP-ELISA). RESULTS: D450 values of telomerase activity were 0.446 +/- 0.2700 in pancreatic cancer and 0.041 +/- 0.0111 in chronic pancreatitis. 77.8% (14/18) of patients with pancreatic cancer had cells with telomerase activity. None of the samples from patients with chronic pancreatitis showed telomerase activity, when the cutoff value of telomerase activity was set at 2.0. Cytological examination showed cancer cells in 66.7% (12/18) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Telomerase activity may be an early malignant event in pancreatic cancer development. Cytology and telomerase activity in cells obtained by pancreatic duct brushing may complement each other for the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.