Ortho News

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Exercise triggers stem cells in muscle

University of Illinois researchers determined that an adult stem cell present in muscle is responsive to exercise, a discovery that may provide a link between exercise and muscle health. The findings could lead to new therapeutic techniques using these cells to rehabilitate injured muscle and prevent or restore muscle loss with age. U of I

Smallest tools could give biggest results in bone repair

When William Murphy works with some of the most powerful tools in biology, he thinks about making tools that can fit together. These constructions sound a bit like socket wrenches, which can be assembled to turn a half-inch nut in tight quarters, or to loosen a rusted-tight one-inch bolt using a very persuasive lever.

The tools used by Murphy, an associate professor of biomedical engineering and orthopedics and rehabilitation at University of Wisconsin-Madison, however, are proteins, which are vastly more flexible than socket wrenches -- and roughly 100 million times smaller. One end of his modular tool may connect to bone, while the other end may stimulate the growth of bone, blood vessels or cartilage. Eurekalert!

New DVT Guidelines

New guidelines suggest DVT prophylaxis not appropriate for all patients Eurekalert!

New DVT guidelines: No evidence to support 'economy class syndrome' Eurekalert!

Rothman Institute at Jefferson research suggests use of LE strips to diagnose PJI

Rothman Institute at Jefferson joint researchers continue to seek better ways to diagnose and subsequently treat periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in patients following total joint arthroplasty. Their latest research shows leukocyte esterase reagent (LE) strips, common in diagnosing urinary tract infections, can also have a role in rapid diagnosis of PJI. Eurekalert!

Study identifies steep learning curve for surgeons who perform ACL reconstructions

Patients who have their anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed by surgeons who have performed less than 60 surgeries are roughly four to five times more likely to undergo a subsequent ACL reconstruction, according to a study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery. The study also showed that participating in a subspecialty orthopedic fellowship-training program did not improve the learning curve of young surgeons performing ACL reconstructions. The research was presented at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, held Feb 7-11. Eurekalert!

New from iMedicalApps

Which iPhone version works best for medical professionals?

Government personnel to receive secured Android phones may impact medical app development

National Quality Forum endorses 2 American College of Surgeons NSQIP measures

Two outcomes-based measures from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) were recently endorsed by the National Quality Forum (NQF). The two measures, surgical site infection (SSI) and urinary tract infection (UTI), were developed by ACS in partnership with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), as possible national outcomes measures that could be adopted by the governmental body as early as 2015. Eurekalert!

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Trying to keep current with clinical guidelines, Review of Journal Watch Hospital Medicine Blackberry app

The use of the SkyScape platform has been previously reviewed by iMedicalApps for the bolt-on app of Outlines in Clinical Medicine: SkyScape review – Outlines in Clinical Medicine.

The breathtaking speed of modern day research results in physicians being besieged with hundreds of new clinical pearls in their own field alone. iMedicalApps

An en bloc approach to CT perfusion for the evaluation of limb ischemia

We examine volumetric CT perfusion in soft tissues of the entire foot with an en bloc technique to provide a meaningful measure of differentiation between mild and major vascular impairment. With Institutional Review Board approval, 22 healthy male subjects between the ages of 21 and 50 (mean 37) were enrolled. Volumetric computed tomography using an en bloc technique was conducted on 14 subjects for validation while unilateral vascular obstruction was simulated in the calves of the remaining 8 subjects. Perfusion estimates were made using in-house software and differences in perfusion estimates between feet were evaluated with Student's t-test at 95% confidence. Subjects with simulated major vascular obstruction (calf blood pressure cuff inflated to 200 mmHg) showed significantly higher ratios of perfusion estimates between the unobstructed and obstructed foot compared to subjects with simulated mild vascular obstruction (cuff inflated to 120 mmHg), mean 4.6, SD 2.6 vs. mean 1.3, SD 0.2; P = 0.05. CT perfusion using an en bloc technique shows promise for the future evaluation of patients with critical limb ischemia and particularly for re-characterization post medical, surgical or endovascular intervention. Barfett J, Velauthapillai N, Kloeters C, Mikulis DJ, Jaskolka JD. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2012 Jan 28. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22286394

New methods enable the early detection of Achilles tendon damage

Two biochemical methods, developed at the Centre of Excellence for High Field Magnetic Resonance at the MedUni Vienna by Vladimir Juras from the University Department of Radiodiagnostics, are enabling Achilles tendon damage to be visualised at an early stage. The processes used are sodium imaging and T2 mapping. MedicalXpress

Emerging MRI Technologies for Imaging Musculoskeletal Disorders Under Loading Stress [Free].

Musculoskeletal conditions are the most common cause of disability in the United States. The differential diagnosis of nonspecific musculoskeletal complaints is challenging and the use of imaging modalities, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is often required to establish a diagnosis, determine treatment, or monitor disease progression. Although MRI is widely used in medicine today, there remains considerable uncertainty as to the optimal imaging approach for most musculoskeletal conditions. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); November 2011.

Updates to Surgical Intern Survival Guide improve its utility and functionality

In the initial review of Surgical Intern Survival Guide , we concluded that the app was a simple starting point that could help the fresh surgical interns get their bearings.

In the few months since our review, the authors have given the app a facelift, in both appearance and content. iMedicalApps

Making the most of your CT scan

X-ray photography has been used for decades for medical purposes. Now, scientists have found new ways of obtaining precise and comprehensive data from x-ray computer tomography. In the project BIO-CT-EXPLOIT, an international team of mathematicians, physicists, and engineers figured out new ways to extract valuable information from the data obtained in CT scans. The research project has led to new computer codes for medical applications. In future, they will be used for bone implants, surgery, and tissue engineering. MedicalXpress

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Off Topic but very interesting in the order of "On the Nature of Things (De rerum natura)" by Lucretius

Radical theory explains the origin, evolution, and nature of life.

The earth is alive, asserts a revolutionary scientific theory of life emerging from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. The trans-disciplinary theory demonstrates that purportedly inanimate, non-living objects—for example, planets, water, proteins, and DNA—are animate, that is, alive. With its broad explanatory power, applicable to all areas of science and medicine, this novel paradigm aims to catalyze a veritable renaissance.

Erik Andrulis, PhD, assistant professor of molecular biology and microbiology, advanced his controversial framework in his manuscript "Theory of the Origin, Evolution, and Nature of Life," published in the peer-reviewed journal, Life (free PDF). His theory explains not only the evolutionary emergence of life on earth and in the universe but also the structure and function of existing cells and biospheres.

Journal of Surgical Education - Articles in Press

Service versus Education, What Are We Talking About? PDF

Nomogram to Predict Successful Placement in Surgical Subspecialty Fellowships Using Applicant Characteristics PDF

Attitudes and Practices of Surgery Residency Program Directors Toward the Use of Social Networking Profiles to Select Residency Candidates: A Nationwide Survey Analysis PDF

Computer-Aided Feedback of Surgical Knot Tying Using Optical Tracking PDF

Educational Value of Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conferences: Are Minor Complications Important? PDF

A Crisis of Faith? A Review of Simulation in Teaching Team-Based, Crisis Management Skills to Surgical Trainees PDF

Union of an intra-articular distal radius fracture after successive failures of three locking plates: a case report

We report a case of a 30-year old male, who presented with a right distal radius intra-articular fracture complicated by compartment syndrome. He was treated with fasciotomies and fracture fixation with a 3.5 mm LCP (Synthes^™), followed 7 days later by skin graft. Repeat radiographs 8 weeks later showed a break across the plate at the level of an unfilled screw hole over the fracture. He underwent exchange plating with a 2.4 mm LCP Distal Radius Plate (Synthes^™). This revision was complicated by an infected wound dehiscence 2 weeks later requiring multiple procedures. Radiographs at 20 weeks showed broken distal screws. A second revision was performed. At 12 months, the fracture had healed clinically and radiologically, but the three distal screws had broken. We discuss the multifactorial failures of the these three attempts at osteosynthesis, and which factors helped achieve osseous union. We also discuss the literature on volar locking plate breakage and conclude with the recommendations to avoid this rare complication.

S. K. Khan and C. Gozzard. Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction; Jan 2012. PDF

Battlefield applications for handheld ultrasound.

Combat medical care provides unique challenges and opportunities for military medical teams. The austerity of the environment severely limits access to many diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Because of their compact size, handheld ultrasound (US) machines are increasingly being used in these constrained environments. A growing body of literature documents the diagnostic utility of handheld US for trauma encountered in the battlefield. Furthermore, US guidance may assist in the performance of some procedures performed in battlefield medical care. This review will provide an overview of the history, current status, limitations and potential future of US utility for the battlefield. Nations JA, Browning RF. Ultrasound Q. 2011 Sep;27(3):171-6. Review. PMID: 21873854

Medtronic’s Aquamantys SBS 5.0 Sheathed Bipolar Sealer Cleared in U.S. for Spinal Surgeries

The SBS 5.0 Sheathed Bipolar Sealer gives spine surgeons the ability to optimize speed and continuity in surgical cases by providing hemostatic sealing capabilities for both incised soft tissue (e.g., cut muscle) and epidural veins with a single device. Like other devices in the Aquamantys line, the SBS 5.0 uses Transcollation® technology, a combination of radiofrequency energy and saline that has been shown to reduce blood loss and improve visualization when used during spine procedures. Reductions in blood loss during surgery have been linked to reduced blood transfusion rates and decreased surgical time. MedGadget

UT Arlington engineer developing 'Biomask' to aid soldiers recovering from facial burns

UT Arlington engineers working with Army surgeons are developing a pliable, polymer mask embedded with electrical, mechanical and biological components that can speed healing from disfiguring facial burns and help rebuild the faces of injured soldiers. MedicalXpress

Resveratrol engages AMPK to attenuate ERK and mTOR signaling in sensory neurons and inhibits incision-induced acute and chronic pain.

These results highlight the importance of signaling to translation control in peripheral sensitization of nociceptors and provide further evidence for activation of AMPK as a novel treatment avenue for acute and chronic pain states. Tillu DV, Melemedjian OK, Asiedu MN, Qu N, De Felice M, Dussor G, Price TJ. Mol Pain. 2012 Jan 23;8(1):5. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22269797 Free Article

TED: Brian Goldman: Doctors make mistakes. Can we talk about that? - Brian Goldman (2011)

Every doctor makes mistakes. But, says physician Brian Goldman, medicine's culture of denial (and shame) keeps doctors from ever talking about those mistakes, or using them to learn and improve. Telling stories from his own long practice, he calls on doctors to start talking about being wrong. TED Talks

American Journal of Sports Medicine [Epub ahead of print]

The In Vitro Chondrotoxicity of Single-Dose Local Anesthetics PDF

Treatment of Traumatic Anterior Shoulder Dislocation in Patients Older Than 60 Years PDF

Is Early Passive Motion Exercise Necessary After Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair? PDF

Sports Activity After Osteochondral Transplantation of the Talus PDF

The Incidence of Heterotopic Ossification After Hip Arthroscopy PDF

Platelet-Rich Plasma or Hyaluronate in the Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus PDF

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Research project for peripheral nerve injuries? Imaging live mouse spinal cord will aid trauma therapy

The new spinal cord procedure, described in the Jan. 22 online issue of the journal Nature Methods, involves surgically implanting a window, or chamber with a transparent panel over a live mouse's exposed cord. Fluorescently labeled objects, such as neural cells or blood vessels, are then visualized in 3-D using multiphoton microscopy (invented by Cornell biophysicist Watt W. Webb). MedicalXpress

Comparison of Three-dimensional Isotropic T1-weighted Fast Spin-Echo MR Arthrography with Two-dimensional MR Arthrography of the Shoulder

The accuracy of 3D isotropic FSE MR arthrography may be comparable with that of conventional 2D MR arthrography in the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears and labral lesions with a shorter imaging time. Choo HJ, Lee SJ, Kim OH, Seo SS, Kim JH. Radiology. 2012 Jan 20. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22267587

Foot and ankle structure differs between sprinters and non-sprinters

The skeletal structure of the foot and ankle differs significantly between human sprinters and non-sprinters, according to Penn State researchers. Their findings not only help explain why some people are faster runners than others, but also may be useful in helping people who have difficulty walking, such as older adults and children with cerebral palsy.

According to Stephen Piazza, associate professor of kinesiology, the research is the first to use magnetic resonance imaging to demonstrate that sprinters have significantly longer bones in their forefeet than non-sprinters and reduced leverage in their Achilles tendons than non-sprinters.

The researchers took MRI images of the right foot and ankle of each of the subjects. They then used specialized software to analyze the images. The scientists found that the Achilles tendon lever arms of sprinters were 12 percent shorter than those of non-sprinters. They also found that the combined length of the bones in the big toes of sprinters was on average 6.2 percent longer than that of non-sprinters, while the length of another foot bone, the first metatarsal, was 4.3 percent longer for sprinters than for non-sprinters. Their results are reported in the current issue of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Eurekalert!

Scientific plagiarism: A growing problem in an era of shrinking research funding

As scientific researchers become evermore competitive for scarce funding, scientific journals are increasing efforts to identify submissions that plagiarize the work of others. Still, it may take years to identify and retract the plagiarized papers and give credit to the actual researchers.

"We need a better system," said Harold Garner, executive director of the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute at Virginia Tech. Garner discussed the problem and solution in a Comment in the January 4, 2012 issue of Nature and in a January 19, 2012 radio interview with NPR's Leonard Lopate. Eurekalert!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Textbook Out Soon: Evidence-based Orthopedics: Mohit Bhandari (Editor)

Surgical orthopedic procedures such as hip replacements, arthroscopy or knee replacements are surrounded by pre- and post-operative complications, and there are varying different methods for the procedures themselves. This book, for the first time, brings together the best evidence for treatments as well as any complications. Not only does it cover the evidence base for orthopedic surgery, but also orthopedic conditions requiring medical treatment, and pediatric orthopedics. Using the approved EBM methodology, and edited by teachers of evidence-based medicine, this is a genuine EBM textbook for all orthopedic specialists and trainees.

Mohit Bhandari MD, MSc (McMaster), FRCSC is Associate Professor of Surgery and Associate Member of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario. He also holds a Canada Research Chair. He is Section Editor of Evidence-Based Orthopaedic Surgery, Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma and a co-chair of the McMaster University Evidence-based Medicine course.

Surgeons Having More Success Reattaching Fingers and Thumbs

On average, Bindra (Loyola University Medical Center hand surgeon Dr. Randy Bindra) sees three or four cases per month in which one or more digits have been completely cut off or almost completely severed. The typical patient is a do-it-yourselfer, rather than a professional carpenter who has undergone safety training, Bindra said.

Bindra reattaches bones with tiny plates, screws and pins. He sews nerves and blood vessels together with sutures that are finer than a human hair. In Thompson's case, Bindra also took a vein from a forearm to reconnect blood supply to the thumb. Newswise

“Would you like some Indian food with that operation”? Curcumin Protects Against Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rat Skeletal Muscle.

Administration of curcumin significantly decreased tissue protein carbonyl levels as a marker of protein oxidation activities (PO) in skeletal muscle compared with the injured-untreated group. Curcumin reversed the increase of MDA levels to a considerable extent, thereby confirming its antioxidant role in IRI. Decreased SOD, CAT, and GSH activities by IRI are reversed by the administration of curcumin. Levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines TNF-a and IL-1b were reduced in curcumin-treated group in comparison to the IRI non-treated group. Bank J, Song DH. J Surg Res. 2011 Nov 19. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available. PMID: 22261585 PDF

Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Foot and Ankle Clinics: Online First

Varus Hindfoot Deformity After Talar Fracture

James A. Sproule, Mark A. Glazebrook, Alastair S. Younger. 26 December 2011 PDF (1057 KB)

Total Ankle Replacement in Ankle Arthritis with Varus Talar Deformity: Pathophysiology, Evaluation, and Management Principles

D. Josh Mayich, Timothy R. Daniels. 14 December 2011 PDF (2076 KB)

Distal Tibial Varus

Douglas Beaman, Richard Gellman. 14 December 2011 PDF (241 KB)

The Varus Ankle and Instability

Georg Klammer, Emanuel Benninger, Norman Espinosa. 14 December 2011 PDF (2967 KB)

Cavus Foot

Alastair S. Younger. 12 December 2011 PDF (92 KB)

Smartphone aided measurement of spinal deformity proves superior to manual methods

Certain smartphone applications can provide quick assistance in the diagnosis of disease. One such example is Cobbmeter, a smartphone application designed for the measurement of Cobb angle on Apple’s iPhone. The Cobb angle measures the degree of spinal deformity which exists in a person with scoliosis. iMedicalApps

New Ortho Issues from Audio-Digest

PEDIATRICS FOR THE ORTHOPAEDIST
Orthopaedics
Volume 35, Issue 03
February 7, 2012
Sports injuries in children and adolescents – William M. Hohl, MD
Musculoskeletal infections in children – Deborah Lehman, MD
________________________________________
THE LAW AND THE ORTHOPAEDIST
Orthopaedics
Volume 35, Issue 02
January 21, 2012
The defense attorney's perspective – Timothy A. Weaver, Esq
Liability risks of electronic health records – Michael S. Victoroff, MD
________________________________________
ASPECTS OF SPINAL CARE
Orthopaedics
Volume 35, Issue 01
January 7, 2012
Screening patients with spinal pain – Timothy C. Shen, MD
Psychologic assessment of patients with low back pain – Robert Hines, MD
Spinal care and evidence–based medicine: a reappraisal – Paul C. McCormick, MD

Orthopedics (Online First): we do not have a subscription

Dermatan sulphate in methoxy polyethylene glycol-polylactide-co-glycolic acid scaffolds upregulates fibronectin gene expression but has no effect on in vivo osteochondral repair

Biomechanical reconstruction of the hip: comparison between modular short-stem hip arthroplasty and conventional total hip arthroplasty

Change in limb length after high tibial osteotomy using computer-assisted surgery: a comparative study of closed- and open-wedge osteotomies

Conventional or navigated total knee arthroplasty affects sagittal component alignment

The relationship of anterior and rotatory laxity between surgical navigation and clinical outcome after ACL reconstruction

Clamp fixation to prevent unfolding of a suture knot decreases tensile strength of polypropylene sutures

Radiographic and clinical results of posterior dynamic stabilization for the treatment of multisegment degenerative disc disease with a minimum follow-up of 3 years

Chondroprotection Following Acute Joint Injury: Prevention of Osteoarthritis

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Use of iPhone can improve acetabular cup orientation in total hip replacement

In a recent study, a novel system is described that uses both the camera and the accelerometer functions of the iPhone to improve the process of acetabular cup placement in total hip arthroplasty. The accelerometer function senses changes in movement has used in a number of other iPhone apps.). To further assist in achieving proper acetabular cup placement, a level indicator app and protractor app were downloaded to the iPhone and also effectively used. iMedicalApps

Savile Row Unicondylar Knee Implant for a Personalized Fit

While joint arthroplasty has become impressively advanced over the past few decades, the essence of the procedure still ultimately boils down to trial and error. Using pre-operative X-rays and intra-operative sizing guides, joint surgeons pick from a pre-set list of joint replacement “sizes.” Then, once the bone cuts have been made, temporary implants called “trials” are used to see how the fit is, and the best fit is selected. Rarely are these pre-determined sizes a perfect fit, but they are usually more than sufficient and function quite well. MedGadget

Apple Announces iBooks 2 – Huge Potential for Medical Educators and Med Students

Apple have announced an update to iBooks entitled ‘iBooks 2′ for the iPad. As we originally suspected in our first and second articles, Apple, working in partnership with Pearson, McGraw Hill, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, has decided to enter the interactive textbook market creating titles which will take advantage of the following features: iMedicalApps

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Inkling Webinar offers insights into the future of medical education and training

The webinar by Matt Macinnis, CEO and Founder of Inkling, shows his vision for the future of medical education through medical textbooks.

The webinar is a really informative, inspiring vision for the future of medical education through mobile technology. I would advise all those involved in medical education to take some time out of their day to watch this. Please note it is 38 minutes long but well worth the time for the in-depth discussion of Inkling as a medical education resource. iMedicalApps

New Ortho Research Tool: Markerless Motion Capture Offers A New Angle on Tennis Injuries

A new approach to motion capture technology is offering fresh insights into tennis injuries – and orthopedic injuries in general. NewsWise

Ortho Related?? Bad to the bone: facial structure predicts unethical behaviour.

Our results demonstrate that static physical attributes can indeed serve as reliable cues of immoral action, and provide additional support for the view that evolutionary forces shape ethical judgement and behaviour. Haselhuhn MP, Wong EM. Proc Biol Sci. 2012 Feb 7;279(1728):571-6. Epub 2011 Jul 6. PMID: 21733897 PDF

Twenty-One-Year Follow-Up of Supination-External Rotation Type II-IV (Orthopaedic Trauma Association Type B) Ankle Fractures: A Retrospective Cohort study.

The very long-term overall results of the stratified surgical treatment of SER Type II-IV ankle fractures is "excellent" or "good" in the majority of patients and therefore seems justified. Although additional soft tissue damage is unavoidable in case of operative treatment, it does not negatively affect outcome in the long term.

Donken CC, Verhofstad MH, Edwards MJ, van Laarhoven CJ. J Orthop Trauma. 2012 Dec 21. [Epub ahead of print] PMID: 22198654

Reconstruction of Nonunion Tibial Fractures in War-Wounded Iraqi Civilians, 2006-2008: Better Late Than Never

Our study shows that patients with infected and uninfected injuries surgically treated in Amman achieved similar outcomes. Despite late presentation, our patients had a comparable outcome to other studies dealing with early reconstruction. Reconstruction for the infected group required longer treatment time. Fakri, Rasheed M; Al Ani, Ali M K; Rose, Angela M C; Alras, Majd S; Daumas, Laurent; Baron, Emmanuel MD; Khaddaj, Sinan; Hérard, Patrick. Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma: POST AUTHOR CORRECTIONS, 10 January 2012.

Platelet-Rich Plasma or Hyaluronate in the Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus

Osteochondral lesions of the ankle treated with intra-articular injections of PRP and HA resulted in a decrease in pain scores and an increase in function for at least 6 months, with minimal adverse events. Platelet-rich plasma treatment led to a significantly better outcome than HA. Omer Mei-Dan, Michael R. Carmont, Lior Laver, Gideon Mann, Nicola Maffulli, Meir Nyska. AJSM: Published online before print January 17, 2012. PDF

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

First step toward treatment for painful flat feet

Published today in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the findings could eventually lead to new drug therapy for this and other common conditions affecting the tendons, such as Achilles tendonitis. MedicalXpress

Opioids erase memory traces of pain

A team of researchers at the MedUni Vienna's Department of Neurophysiology (Centre for Brain Research) has discovered a previously unknown effect of opioids: the study, which has now been published in Science and was led by Ruth Drdla-Schutting and Jürgen Sandkühler, shows that opioids not only temporarily relieve pain, but at the right dose can also erase memory traces of pain in the spinal cord and therefore eliminate a key cause of chronic pain. MedicalXpress

Broken arm? Brain shifts quickly when using a sling or cast

Using a sling or cast after injuring an arm may cause your brain to shift quickly to adjust, according to a study published in the January 17, 2012, print issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. The study found increases in the size of brain areas that were compensating for the injured side, and decreases in areas that were not being used due to the cast or sling. MedicalXpress

Effects of limb immobilization on brain plasticity. PDF

Explore JoVE: New method of infant pain assessment from Oxford published in JoVE

Recently, the accuracy of current methods of pain assessment in babies have been called into question. New research from London-area hospitals and the University of Oxford measures brain activity in infants to better understand their pain response.

Because a poor understanding of pain in infants can lead to severe health consequences, Slater and her colleagues decided to publish in JoVE, the first and only peer-reviewed video journal indexed in PubMed and MEDLINE. The video-article makes it easier for other researchers and clinicians to learn this method.

Journal of Visualized Experiments

Monday, January 16, 2012

Ultra short telomeres linked to osteoarthritis

Telomeres, the very ends of chromosomes, become shorter as we age. When a cell divides it first duplicates its DNA and, because the DNA replication machinery fails to get all the way to the end, with each successive cell division a little bit more is missed. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal Arthritis Research & Therapy shows that cells from osteoarthritic knees have abnormally shortened telomeres and that the percentage of cells with ultra short telomeres increases the closer to the damaged region within the joint. Eurekalert!

AAOS News

AAOS Releases TO on MoM Hip Implants

Leukocyte Esterase Reagent Strips Help Diagnose PJI

Keeping Up with Orthopaedic Apps

Thursday, January 12, 2012

The Journal of Hand Surgery: articles in press

Cellular Apoptosis and Proliferation in the Middle and Late Intrasynovial Tendon Healing Periods. Original Research Article. In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 29 December 201; Ya Fang Wu, You Lang Zhou, Wei Feng Mao, Bella Avanessian, Paul Y. Liu, Jin Bo Tang PDF

Surgical Repair of Multiple Pulley Injuries—Evaluation of a New Combined Pulley Repair. Original Research Article. In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 29 December 2011; V. Schöffl, T. Küpper, J. Hartmann, I. Schöffl PDF

The Use of Integra in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. Original Research Article. In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 29 December 2011; Marco Rizzo PDF

Intraosseous Pseudotumor of the Distal Radius in a Patient With Hemophilia: Case Report. In Press, Corrected Proof, Available online 29 December 2011 Jason S. Pruzansky, Marvin S. Gilbert, Roberto A. Garcia, Richard S. Gilbert PDF

JRRD Releases Volume 48, Issue 10 (open access)

This multi-topic issue contains 11 articles describing research in the areas of prosthetics, postdeployment reintegration, activity-promoting gaming systems, step activity monitoring, and repeated concussions in veterans. JJRD

'Open-source' robotic surgery platform going to top medical research labs

Robotics experts at the University of California, Santa Cruz and the University of Washington (UW) have completed a set of seven advanced robotic surgery systems for use by major medical research laboratories throughout the United States. After a round of final tests, five of the systems will be shipped to medical robotics researchers at Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Nebraska, UC Berkeley, and UCLA, while the other two systems will remain at UC Santa Cruz and UW. Eurekalert!

Working In Word, Excel, PowerPoint on an iPad

This week, Onlive Inc., in Palo Alto, Calif., is releasing an app that brings the full, genuine Windows versions of the key Office productivity apps—Word, Excel and PowerPoint—to the iPad. And it's free. These are the real programs. They look and work just like they do on a real Windows PC. They let you create or edit genuine Word documents, Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations. Wall Street Journal

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

War bound to bowl bound

As LSU and Alabama square off for the national college football championship, even the most rabid Tiger or Tide fan might not realize the influence that the US military had in the widespread appeal of football. According to a new study in the journal Armed Forces & Society (AFS), published by SAGE, college football can credit the military for bringing the sport to the masses. Additionally, the study explores how the impact of World Wars helped bring about issues such as payment of college athletes, which are still being debated. Eurekalert!

Factoid: first Army-Navy game in 1890 at on "The Plain" at USMA was won by Navy 24–0.

Omega-3 fatty acids could prevent and treat nerve damage, research suggests

Research from Queen Mary, University of London suggests that omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil, have the potential to protect nerves from injury and help them to regenerate. When nerves are damaged because of an accident or injury, patients experience pain, weakness and muscle paralysis which can leave them disabled, and recovery rates are poor.

The new study, published this week in the Journal of Neuroscience, suggests that omega-3 fatty acids could play a significant role in speeding recovery from nerve injury. Eurekalert!

Emergency medicine physicians develop device to stop lethal bleeding in soldiers

It's called an abdominal aortic tourniquet and it's placed around the body at the navel level, tightened then, much like a blood pressure cuff, inflated into the abdomen until it occludes the aorta and stops the bleeding. The goal is to restore the golden hour so soldiers survive long enough to get definitive care for their injury. MedicalXpress

Top 4 iPad anatomy medical apps

Anatomy is central in medicine. It is one of the key knowledge areas that separate doctors from the general population. All doctors, regardless of specialty are required to have a decent knowledge of human anatomy in order to practice effectively.

The introduction of the iPad ushered in a new era of anatomy learning with the introduction of detailed 3D models and vast amounts of information contained on a device no bigger than a paper notebook. Over the past few months, iMedicalApps has evaluated countless major anatomy apps currently available in the App Store to determine which ones are the best. iMedicalApps

Surgeons aged between 35 and 50 provide the safest care

Surgeons aged between 35 and 50 years provide the safest care compared with their younger or older colleagues, finds a study published in the British Medical Journal today. MedicalXpress

Height loss increases risk for fractures and death in older women

Older women who have lost more than two inches in height face an increased risk of breaking bones and dying, according to a new study published in the January issue of the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research and funded by the National Institutes of Health.

The study found that women 65 and older who lost more than two inches over 15 years were 50 percent more likely to both fracture a bone and to die in the subsequent five years, compared to women who lost less than two inches in height. Eurekalert!

Open PubMed with NMCP LinkOut Before Accessing Articles