The effect of tuberositas tibia osteotomy on patellofemoral joint pressure: An experimental animal study

Aim: To demonstrate the decrease in patellofemoral pressure with an anterior elevation of tuberositas tibia. Therefore, we have performed Maquet’s Technique to evaluate the patella pressure on femoral trochlea by biomechanically in an animal experiment model. Methods: This study includes total of 42 knees of 21 New Zealand rabbits. Animals were divided into two groups. The first group including 21 right knees was designated as the control group. In the second group including 21 left knees, anterior elevation of tuberositas tibia (Maquet’s technique) was performed. Pressure measuring film layer “prescala” (Fujifilm, Japan) was placed on the patellofemoral joint under anesthesia in both groups. Mean values of both average and maximal pressure measurements in two groups were compared. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in between average pressure and maximum pressure in the right and left legs of the rabbits. Average pressure and maximal pressure at rabbit knees performed Maquet’s procedure were significantly lower than knees without Maquet’s procedure. Conclusion: Anterior elevation of tuberositas tibia is successful in reducing patellofemoral joint pressure which can be used in cases with patellofemoral pain syndrome non-responding to conservative treatment

RACK1 is an interaction partner of ATG5 and a novel regulator of autophagy

Autophagy is biological mechanism allowing recycling of long-lived proteins, abnormal protein aggregates, and damaged organelles under cellular stress conditions. Following sequestration in double- or multimembrane autophagic vesicles, the cargo is delivered to lysosomes for degradation. ATG5 is a key component of an E3-like ATG12-ATG5-ATG16 protein complex that catalyzes conjugation of the MAP1LC3 protein to lipids, thus controlling autophagic vesicle formation and expansion. Accumulating data indicate that ATG5 is a convergence point for autophagy regulation. Here, we describe the scaffold protein RACK1 (receptor activated C-kinase 1, GNB2L1) as a novel ATG5 interactor and an autophagy protein. Using several independent techniques, we showed that RACK1 interacted with ATG5. Importantly, classical autophagy inducers (starvation or mammalian target of rapamycin blockage) stimulated RACK1-ATG5 interaction. Knockdown of RACK1 or prevention of its binding to ATG5 using mutagenesis blocked autophagy activation. Therefore, the scaffold protein RACK1 is a new ATG5-interacting protein and an important and novel component of the autophagy pathways

Can routine peripheral blood counts like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio be beneficial in prediagnosis of testicular cancer and its stages?

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the diagnostic role of preoperative hematological parameters, especially neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and mean platelet volume (MPV) in germ cell testicular malignancies and their prediagnostic role in staging of testicular cancer. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional retrospective study, we analyzed 39 patients who underwent radical orchiectomy due to a testicular cancer (Group 1) and 82 patients on whom varicocelectomy procedure was performed as control group (Group 2) between January 2006 and January 2016 in our clinic. Evaluation of the preoperative hematological parameters in both groups and also the subgroups in malignancy group according to histopathological stages was conducted in this study. Results: When the hematological parameters were compared, a statistically significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of neutrophil counts, NLR, PLR, and MPV. NLR and PLR were significantly higher and MPV was significantly lower in testicular cancer group compared to the control group. NLR was 3.1 ± 1.4 and 2.0 ± 1.5, PLR was 141.3 ± 53.2 and 115.7 ± 44.8, and MPV was 8.9 ± 1.0 and 9.3 ± 1.1 for testicular cancer and control groups, respectively (P < 0.05). Furthermore, differences were observed between only mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and MPV (P < 0.05) in different stages of malignancy. Conclusion: In accordance with these findings, NLR, PLR, and MPV may be helpful for prediagnosis of testicular malignancies. Hematological parameters will become important in the preoperative assessment for those patients

Laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty combined with port entrance flexible renoscopic lithotripsy

ABSTRACT Introduction: Ureteropelvic junction obstruction and concomitant calculus disease may coexist. We demonstrate our use of flexible renoscopy during laparoscopic pyeloplasty for caliceal stone removal. Patient and methods: A 28-year-old female patient presented with recurrent attacks of flank pain of two years duration. When noncontrast-CT and DTPA were performed, the patient was diagnosed with ureteropelvic junction stenosis and 3 stones with a total burden of 14mm in the lower pole of right kidney. After pneumoperitoneum was established in right flank position, three 10mm trocars were placed including one camera port. 5mm trocar was placed for convenience to retraction and dissection. The surgery was uneventful, with no operative complications or evidence of intra-abdominal bleeding. Results: The duration of the surgery was 110 minutes. The amount of bleeding was 30ml. On the postoperative 2nd day, the urethral catheter was removed and the patient was discharged on the fourth day postoperatively. Stent removal was done on the 3rd postoperative week and retrograde pyelogram showed normal ureter. Post-operative follow-up with ultrasound showed that hydronephrosis had regressed. Conclusions: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty and concomitant flexible renoscopy through lowermost trocar with basket extraction is a simple, attractive alternative for the simultaneous treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction presenting with coexisting nephrolithiasis. This method is useful and feasible, with minimal invasiveness and an early post-operative recovery

Comprasion of ICare Rebound Tonometer and Goldmann Applanation Tonometer in High Myopia

Purpose. To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements with the Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and the ICare rebound tonometer (RBT) in high myopic eyes. Patients and Methods. This randomized prospective study included 40 eyes of 40 patients with high myopia. All patients’ central corneal thickness (CCT), anterior chamber depth (ACD), axial length (AXL), keratometry, and refractive measurements were recorded and followed by IOP measurement with RBT and GAT. Results. The average CCT, AXL, and ACD were determined to be 514.65±32 μm, 27.65±2.22 mm, and 3.25±0.51 mm, respectively. Mean K was 43.27±1.4 D and mean spherical equivalent was -11.31±4.30 D. The mean IOP values obtained by RBT and GAT were 17.18±3.72 mmHg and 16.48±3.19 mmHg, respectively. The deviations of RBT readings from corrected GAT values were highly correlated with CCT values (r=0.588, P=0.0001). The mean corrected GAT reading was 17.49±3.01 mmHg. Linear regression analysis showed that a CCT change of 10 μm resulted in an RBT reading deviation of 0.57 mmHg. The Bland-Altman scatter-plot and McNemar test showed a clinically good level of agreement between the two tonometers. Conclusion. This study found a good agreement level between the two tonometers in high myopic patients and that RBT measurements are influenced by CCT variations