Association of circulating hsa-miRNAs with sarcopenia: the SarcoPhAge study.

peer reviewed[en] OBJECTIVE: To identify a microRNA signature associated to sarcopenia in community-dwelling older adults form the SarcoPhAge cohort. METHODS: In a screening phase by next generation sequencing (NGS), we compared the hsa-miRome expression of 18 subjects with sarcopenia (79.6 ± 6.8 years, 9 men) and 19 healthy subjects without sarcopenia (77.1 ± 6 years, 9 men) at baseline. Thereafter, we have selected eight candidate hsa-miRNAs according to the NGS results and after a critical assessment of previous literature. In a validation phase and by real-time qPCR, we then analyzed the expression levels of these 8 hsa-miRNAs at baseline selecting 92 healthy subjects (74.2 ± 10 years) and 92 subjects with sarcopenia (75.3 ± 6.8 years). For both steps, the groups were matched for age and sex. RESULTS: In the validation phase, serum has-miRNA-133a-3p and has-miRNA-200a-3p were significantly decreased in the group with sarcopenia vs controls [RQ: relative quantification; median (interquartile range)]: -0.16 (-1.26/+0.90) vs +0.34 (-0.73/+1.33) (p < 0.01) and -0.26 (-1.07/+0.68) vs +0.27 (-0.55/+1.10) (p < 0.01) respectively. Has-miRNA-744-5p was decreased and has-miRNA-151a-3p was increased in the group with sarcopenia vs controls, but this barely reached significance: +0.16 (-1.34/+0.79) vs +0.44 (-0.31/+1.00) (p = 0.050) and  +0.35 (-0.22/+0.90) vs  +0.03 (-0.68/+0.75) (p = 0.054). CONCLUSION: In subjects with sarcopenia, serum hsa-miRNA-133a-3p and hsa-miRNA-200a-3p expression were downregulated, consistent with their potential targets inhibiting muscle cells proliferation and differentiation

Management of massive rotator cuff tears: prospective study in 218 patients

BACKGROUND: No consensus exists about the management of massive and symptomatic rotator cuff tears (RCTs). The objective of this study was to compare the 12-month clinical outcomes of various treatment options for massive RCTs. HYPOTHESIS: Arthroscopic surgery has a role to play in the treatment of massive and apparently irreparable RCTs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective multicentre non-randomised study was performed in patients with massive RCTs managed non-operatively (NONOP) or by arthroscopic tenotomy/tenodesis of the long head of biceps (aTLB), arthroscopic partial tendon repair (aPTR), arthroscopic latissimus dorsi transfer (aLDT), or reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). Clinical outcomes were evaluated based on the Constant score, Subjective Shoulder Value (SSV), and American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score after 3, 6, and 12 months. RESULTS: The 218 included patients (mean age, 69 years) were distributed as follows: NONOP, n=71; aTLB, n=26; aPTR, n=61; aLDT, n=25; and RSA, n=35. After 12 months, the mean Constant score, SSV, and ASES score values were 70, 68%, and 73, respectively, and had improved significantly versus the preoperative values in all treatment groups. RSA was the only treatment followed by improvements in all Constant score items. Active forwards elevation improved significantly in the NONOP (+25°), aPTR (+26°), and RSA (+66°) groups. An improvement in active external rotation was seen only in the RSA group, where it was small (+10°, p=0.046). Significant increases in internal rotation were seen in the NONOP (+1.6 points) and aPTR (+1.7 points) groups. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic techniques (aTLB, aPTR, and aLDT) for managing massive irreparable RCTs produce significant functional gains. Partial tendon repair (aPTR) and RSA may provide better outcomes than isolated aTLB or aLDT

Constraints on cosmic strings using data from the first Advanced LIGO observing run

Cosmic strings are topological defects which can be formed in grand unified theory scale phase transitions in the early universe. They are also predicted to form in the context of string theory. The main mechanism for a network of Nambu-Goto cosmic strings to lose energy is through the production of loops and the subsequent emission of gravitational waves, thus offering an experimental signature for the existence of cosmic strings. Here we report on the analysis conducted to specifically search for gravitational-wave bursts from cosmic string loops in the data of Advanced LIGO 2015-2016 observing run (O1). No evidence of such signals was found in the data, and as a result we set upper limits on the cosmic string parameters for three recent loop distribution models. In this paper, we initially derive constraints on the string tension Gμ and the intercommutation probability, using not only the burst analysis performed on the O1 data set but also results from the previously published LIGO stochastic O1 analysis, pulsar timing arrays, cosmic microwave background and big-bang nucleosynthesis experiments. We show that these data sets are complementary in that they probe gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loops during very different epochs. Finally, we show that the data sets exclude large parts of the parameter space of the three loop distribution models we consider

Search for gravitational-lensing signatures in the full third observing run of the LIGO-Virgo network

Gravitational lensing by massive objects along the line of sight to the source causes distortions of gravitational wave-signals; such distortions may reveal information about fundamental physics, cosmology and astrophysics. In this work, we have extended the search for lensing signatures to all binary black hole events from the third observing run of the LIGO--Virgo network. We search for repeated signals from strong lensing by 1) performing targeted searches for subthreshold signals, 2) calculating the degree of overlap amongst the intrinsic parameters and sky location of pairs of signals, 3) comparing the similarities of the spectrograms amongst pairs of signals, and 4) performing dual-signal Bayesian analysis that takes into account selection effects and astrophysical knowledge. We also search for distortions to the gravitational waveform caused by 1) frequency-independent phase shifts in strongly lensed images, and 2) frequency-dependent modulation of the amplitude and phase due to point masses. None of these searches yields significant evidence for lensing. Finally, we use the non-detection of gravitational-wave lensing to constrain the lensing rate based on the latest merger-rate estimates and the fraction of dark matter composed of compact objects

Urine sediment analysis: comparison of three automated analyzers to manual microscopy

Urine microscopic analysis is an old method that reveals information about kidney health. Several automated analyzers, that are less time-consuming, are currently available, but manual microscopy is still the gold-standard method. The goal of this study was to validate and compare three automated analyzers to manual microscopy: the Atellica UAS800 (Siemens, Munich, Germany), the UF-4000 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) and the SediMax (Menarini, Florence, Italy). We first validated each analyzer. A total of 359 samples were analyzed with the three analyzers and with a manual microscope within 2 hours. Two trained reviewers used a microscope with bright field, contrast phase and polarized light to identify urine elements. The diagnostic accuracy was determined thanks to microscopy results

Diagnostic accuracy of three automated urine analyzers compared to urine culture

Urine culture is an important diagnosis method of urinary tract infection. However, it is time-consuming and results aren’t available quickly. Automated urine analyzers have been developed to screen urine samples more rapidly. The goal of this study was to compare three automated analyzers to urine culture: the Atellica UAS 800 (Siemens, Munich, Germany), the UF-4000 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) and the SediMAX (Menarini, Florence, Italy). We first validated each analyzer. We analyzed then 318 samples with the three analyzers within 2 hours after sample reception. An urine aliquot was collected before sediment analysis for bacteria culture. Ten microliters of un-centrifuged urine was inoculated on blood agar and CLED agar plates, then they were incubated aerobically at 36°C for 24 h. Bacteria count of each analyzer was compared to urine culture to determine diagnostic accuracy. The result was considered positive when the bacteria growth reached 104 CFU/ml. We also used the results of leukocytes and nitrites results from the strip measurement to improve the accuracy. The abilities of the UF-4000 to distinguish Gram positive (GP) from Gram negative (GN) bacteria, and of the UAS 800 to identify rod and cocci, were determined

Comparison of three automated strip analyzers to Cobas 800 for the analysis of glucose, proteins, albumin and creatinine

Urine glucose, proteins, albumin and creatinine are measured for the screening of diabetes and renal diseases. The automated strip analyzers are used for quick screening of large populations. The goal of this study was to compare a more accurate method, the Cobas 8000 (Roche, Bale, Switzerland) to three automated analyzers: the Clinitek Novus (Siemens, Munich, Germany), the UC-3500 (Sysmex, Kobe, Japan) and the AutionMax (Menarini, Florence, Italy). A total of 284 urine samples were prospectively collected for the comparison. The samples were analyzed on the three analyzers within 2 hours. Before the analysis of samples by each method, an aliquot was frozen at -80°C. All samples were then defrost and analyzed in one batch with the Cobas 8000 (Roche, Bale, Switzerland) within the month. The diagnostic accuracy was determined thanks to the results of the Cobas 8000. However, the creatinine and albumin cannot be assessed with the AutionMax

Occurrence of bone fracture in the 2 years following a prolonged ICU stay: a retrospective study including a control group.

peer reviewe

Percutaneous Medial Ligament Reconstruction for Valgus and Rotational Knee Instability

The following surgical technique is intended for patients with chronic valgus laxity and rotational knee instability. It is a percutaneous 2-bundle ligament reconstruction method that uses the semitendinosus tendon, allowing it to remain pedicled to its distal tibial insertion. The aim is to correct the laxity without otherwise limiting the motion of the knee