Biochemical and pathological study of hydroalcoholic extract of Achillea millefolium L. On ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis in laboratory rats

Background: Nephrolithiasis is of the most prevalent urinary tract disease. It seems worthwhile to replace the conventional treatments with more benefi cial and safer agents, particularly herbal medicines which are receiving an increasing interest nowadays. Aims: In this study, we investigated the protective and curative effects of Achillea millefolium L. on ethylene glycol (EG)-induced nephrolithiasis in rats. Materials and Methods: The extract of A. millefolium was prepared by soxhlet method. Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into fi ve groups (N = 8) as follows. The negative control (group A) received tap drinking water. Rats in sham (positive control group B), curative (group C and D), and preventive (group E) groups all received 1 EG in drinking water according to the experimental protocol for 30 days. In the curative groups, dosages of 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight (BW) of A. millefolium extract were administered orally from day 15 to the end of the experiment, group C and D, respectively. Group E received 200 mg/kg A. millefolium extract from the 1st day throughout the experiment. Urinary oxalate and citrate concentrations were measured by spectrophotometer on the fi rst and 30thdays. On day 31, the kidneys were removed and examined histopathologically for counting the calcium oxalate (CaOx) deposits in 50 microscopic fi elds. Results: In the curative and preventive groups, administration of A. millefolium extract showed signifi cant reduction in urinary oxalate concentration (P < 0.05). Also, urinary citrate concentration was signifi cantly increased in group C, D, and E. The CaOx deposits signifi cantly decreased in group C to E compared with the group B. Conclusions: According to our results, A. millefolium extract had preventive and curative effects on EG-induced renal calculi. © 2014, North American Journal of Medical Sciences. All right reserved

Do Arch Supports Alter Foot Alignment in Patients with Metatarsalgia? A Weightbearing CT and x-ray Study

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot; Lesser Toes Introduction/Purpose: Arch-support insoles are frequently included in the treatment plans for common foot ailments including metatarsalgia. Literature has demonstrated that insoles with metatarsal and arch support could relieve walking pain and improve patient-reported measures of function in metatarsalgia. The purpose of this study was to examine alterations in foot alignment among metatarsalgia patients who used arch support insoles. Methods: A clinical trial was initiated after the approval by the institutional review board. Patients with metatarsalgia (age: 18-65 y/o) were included after they consented to participate. Individuals with open wounds, feet asymmetry, using assistive device or brace, and those with BMI more than 35 were excluded. Participants underwent weightbearing computed tomography (WBCT), and weight-bearing x-ray of their feet while standing barefoot or on the insoles (Good Feet™, Dr.’s Own, LLC). The radiological measurements on WBCT and X-rays conducted in these patients are shown in Table 1. The Wilcoxon-Signed Rank test was used for comparison of the continuous measurements, and the interobserver reliability was analyzed with Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC). Results: Ten patients with a mean age of 46.9±13.06 years were included in the study. Observed changes on X-rays include decreased 4th-5th intermetatarsal angle (p=0.04), 2nd-4th/2nd-5th metatarsal tangent angles (p=0.003, p=0.001), and 1st metatarsal length on antroposterior (AP) view (p=0.02). Also, 1st metatarsal declination angle (p=0.002), and talo-first metatarsal angle on AP view (p=0.05) were increased. No significant changes on the WBCT were found, except for a decrease in the first metatarsal pronation angle (p=0.02). Conclusion: Arch support insoles can bring about anatomical changes especially in the forefoot area of patients with metatarsalgia. While the causal correlation between these changes and alleviation of the symptoms cannot be proven based on our data, these outcomes can guide future clinical trials comparing different treatment for metatarsalgia to determine contributing factors to the healing process of this condition

Should all Small Shell Posterior Malleolar Fractures be Considered for Fixation? Results from a 3D Fracture Mapping Study

Category: Ankle; Trauma Introduction/Purpose: Approximately 10-15% of posterior malleolar fractures (PMFs) are "small shell," extra-articular fragments. Current classification systems present difficulties to perform a uniform typification of PMFs and contain no consensus on whether they should be fixed. Anatomical studies have identified two distinct components of the posterior inferior tibiofibular ligament (PITFL); the superficial band is thought to be more important than its deep counterpart in imparting syndesmotic stability. However, the involvement of one or both bands of the PITFL by small shell PMFs has not been evaluated so far. Hence, we conducted this study to perform 3D mapping of small shell PMFs and to determine whether surgeons should fix these routinely. Methods: Ankle fracture patients with a ‘small shell’ PMF (Haraguchi 3/Mason 1/Bartoníček 1 or 2) were included. Demographics, radiological features, treatment, and outcomes were recorded. 3D models of the fractured tibiae were generated from CT scans and superimposed on a statistical shape model of the right tibia, which served as a template. Fracture lines along with footprints of superficial and deep PITFL were marked on the template. 3D fracture heat maps were generated. Size of the fracture fragments and involvement of the superficial and deep PITFL footprints were quantified using a custom MATLAB script (Figure 1). Sparing of the footprint was defined as an overlap of < 1% between the fracture line and the footprint areas. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were determined to determine which variables correlated with sparing of the PITFL footprint; P-values of < 0.05 were considered significant. Results: Thirty-nine patients were included. The superficial PITFL footprint was spared in 15 (38%), deep PITFL in 10 (26%), and both in 4 cases (10%). Males and Weber C fractures had a higher likelihood of sparing the superficial and deep PITFL footprints, respectively (P = 0.04). Supination external rotation (SER) patterns were less likely to demonstrate syndesmotic widening if either PITFL footprint was spared. Direct fixation of the PMF was done in 1 case; syndesmotic fixation in 25 cases and in 14 cases, no syndesmotic fixation was done. Of these, 11 were SER injuries where stability was achieved after fixation of medial and lateral malleoli. In 1 SER and pronation external rotation (PER) injury case, the syndesmosis was stable after fixation of a large Chaput fragment. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that 48% of small shell PMFs spare either the superficial or deep footprint of the PITFL; in 10% both PITFL footprints were spared. Hence, 58 % of small-shell PMFs may not benefit from direct fixation. Additionally, SER injuries with small shell PMFs that spare either PITFL footprint may not demonstrate radiographic instability and may not need direct or indirect fixation after addressing other components of the ankle fracture. However, given the fact that syndesmotic stability is not dictated by the PITFL alone, it remains prudent to stress the syndesmosis per-operatively to determine if syndesmotic fixation is needed