PLACING A THREADED PLUG IN THE HOLE OF A LOCKING PLATE AT THE FRACTURE LEVEL CAN INCREASE THE RESISTANCE OF THE PLATE:A BIOMECHANICAL STUDY

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate whether placing a threaded plug in the hole of a locking plate at the fracture level is beneficial for increasing the resistance of the plate. Methods: This experimental study analyzed load and compression forces in sheep tibia bone models. The following groups were assessed: Group 1 (n = 4), control bone samples; Group 2 (n = 4), samples of screw plate fixation without threaded plug in the hole at the fracture level; and Group 3 (n = 4), samples of screw plate fixation with a threaded plug in the hole at the fracture level. Elastic force, bending moment, elastic compression, and rigidity were evaluated using a three-point bending test. Results: Group 1 showed the greatest elastic force and the least amount of compression. The rigidity and elastic force were better in Group 3 than in Group 2. The mean elastic force in Group 3 was 22.4% of that in Group 1, whereas the mean elastic force in Group 2 was 19% of that in Group 1. Rigidity in Group 3 was 24.7% of that in Group 1, whereas rigidity in Group 2 was 18.3% of that in Group 1. Improved results were obtained in Group 3 when compared with Group 2. Conclusions: Our results suggest that placing a threaded plug in the hole of the plate at the fracture level provides additional rigidity and stability by improving resistance to loading forces, but the differences were not statistically significant

Document generator software design that supports Turkish alphabet

The objective of tliis study is to design and implement software for an automatic document generator supporting the Turkish alphabet. The implementation in this study is mainly based on IBM personal computers and dot matrix printers.http://archive.org/details/documentgenerato00akinLieutenant J.G. Turkish NavyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Analysis of 275 patients with sarcoidosis over a 38 year period; a single-institution experience

Background: Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease with unknown etiology

The relationship between systemic osteoporosis and dentinal tubule diamater: A QUS and SEM study

Aims: This study was designed to examine the relationship between systemic osteoporosis and dentinal tubule diameter and to determine the morphometric changes in dentinal tubules associated with osteoporosis. Material and Methods: Osteoporosis was evaluated and diagnosed by quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and osteoporosis T-scores. The T-score threshold established by World Health Organization Study Group (-2.5) was adopted for this study to diagnose osteoporosis. Healthy, un-restored premolar teeth extracted from adult patients for various medical indications were studied. The total number of participants was 45 (23 female, 22 male). The mean age was 58.25 yr. Group 1 consisted of 23 non-osteoporotic patients (11 female, 12 male) with a T-score greater than - 2.5 (mean age, 58.27 yr). The average T-score for this group was -0.9609±1.1630. Group 2 consisted of 22 patients (12 female, 10 male) with a T-score equal to or lower than -2.5 (mean age, 58.26 yr). The average T-score for Group 2 was -3.0591±0.4113. Results: SEM examinations were performed in coronary dentin near cervical region (lower third) and in sections adjacent to pulp. The average diameters for dentin tubules were 2.3813±0.3809 μm and 3.0695±0.3260 μm for Group 1 (non-osteoporotic patients) and Group 2 (osteoporotic patients), respectively. The difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). Conclusions: Our results suggest that the diameter of dentin tubule is higher in osteoporotic patients. As a consequence of this observation, the rate of progression of dental decays and losses are expected to increase in osteoporotic patients

Neuroprotective effects of sildenafil in experimental spinal cord injury in rabbits

Neuroprotective agents such as methylprednisolone and sildenafil may limit damage after spinal cord injury. We evaluated the effects of methylprednisolone and sildenafil on biochemical and histologic changes after spinal cord injury in a rabbit model. Female New Zealand rabbits (32 rabbits) were allocated to 4 equal groups: laminectomy only (sham control) or laminectomy and spinal trauma with no other treatment (trauma control) or treatment with either methylprednisolone or sildenafil. Gelsolin and caspase-3 levels in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma were determined, and spinal cord histology was evaluated at 24 hours after trauma. There were no differences in mean cerebrospinal fluid or plasma levels of caspase-3 between the groups or within the groups from 0 to 24 hours after injury. From 0 to 24 hours after trauma, mean cerebrospinal fluid gelsolin levels significantly increased in the sildenafil group and decreased in the sham control and the trauma control groups. Mean plasma gelsolin level was significantly higher at 8 and 24 hours after trauma in the sildenafil than other groups. Histologic examination indicated that general structural integrity was better in the methylprednisolone in comparison with the trauma control group. General structural integrity, leptomeninges, white and grey matter hematomas, and necrosis were significantly improved in the sildenafil compared with the trauma control group. Caspase-3 levels in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood were not increased but gelsolin levels were decreased after spinal cord injury in trauma control rabbits. Sildenafil caused an increase in gelsolin levels and may be more effective than methylprednisolone at decreasing secondary damage to the spinal cord.

The Prognostic Value Of Uhrf-1 And P53 In Gastric Cancer

Background/Aims: This study aimed to examine whether UHRF-1 and p53 overexpression is a prognostic marker for gastric cancer. Patients and Methods: Sixty-four patients with gastric cancer (study group) and 23 patients with gastritis (control group) were evaluated. Immunohistochemistry was used to examine expression of UHRF-1 and p53 in gastric cancers and a control group diagnosed with gastritis. Results: The median age was 63 years (18-83 years) in the study group. UHRF-1 was positive in 15 (23%) patients with gastric cancer and five (21.7%) patients with gastritis (P = 0.559). UHRF1 expression level in gastric cancer is more powerful than in gastritis (P = 0.046). Thirty-seven (61%) patients with gastric cancer and only one patient with gastritis were p53 positive (P < 0.001). After a median follow-up of 12 months (1–110), the 2-year overall survival rates were 55% and 30% in negative and positive p53, respectively (P = 0.084). Also, the 2-year overall survival rates were 45% and 53% in negative and positive UHRF-1, respectively (P = 0.132). Conclusion: According to this study, UHRF-1and p53 were not prognostic factors for gastric cancer, whereas they may have a diagnostic value for differantiating between gastric cancer and gastritis.PubMedWoSScopu

Utility of the serum galactomannan assay for the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Objectives: Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children with hematological malignancies. The monitoring of serum galactomannan (GM) antigen is considered useful in the diagnosis of IA . The aim of this study was to determine the utility of serum GM monitoring in the early diagnosis of IA and the role of positive antigenemia in the management of children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Methods: The cases of 141 children who were being treated for ALL in the Division of Pediatric Hematology of the Medical School of Ege University between January 2006 and February 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Cases of proven and probable IA were defined according to the European Organization for the Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycoses Study Group (EORTC/MSG) criteria. Results: The incidence of proven and probable IA was 3.5% (5/141). The incidence of positive GM antigenemia among 3264 serum samples was 5.5% (n = 179). Of the cases detected, 21.7% were true-positive, 52.1% were false-positive, and the remaining 26.1% were classified as ‘undetermined.’ An increase in the incidence of true-positive tests and induction of antifungal therapy was determined through multiple consecutive positive tests. Conclusions: GM may be detected in the serum before the clinical signs of IA appear, but its sensitivity and specificity are variable. False-positivity is a significant disadvantage, and consecutive positive GM must be taken into account in the case of clinical and imaging findings that are relevant to IA