Improving alignment in total knee arthroplasty: a cadaveric assessment of a surgical navigation tool with computed tomography imaging.

Purpose: To investigate the accuracy of an imageless, optical surgical navigation tool to assist with femoral and tibial bone cuts performed during TKA.

Patients And Methods: Six board-certified orthopedic surgeons participated in a laboratory cadaver investigation, performing femoral and tibial bone cuts with the assistance of a computer navigation tool. Femoral and tibial varus/valgus, tibial slope, femoral flexion, and both femoral and tibial rotation measurements from the device were compared with angular measurements calculated from computed tomography (CT) images of the knees.

Radiographic measurement of leg-length change in the nonoperative leg during total hip arthroplasty: a potential indicator of imaging error?

Background: Anteroposterior (AP) pelvic radiographs are subject to errors that may cause measurement inaccuracy in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Such errors may be detected by measuring pre- to postoperative leg-length changes in the nonoperative leg, which experiences no physical changes during THA.

Methods: From AP pelvic radiographs, we measured pre- to postoperative leg-length changes (LLC) in the nonoperative legs of 67 patients who underwent primary THA using the trans-ischial line method.

Validation of a Novel Software Measurement Tool for Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background Preoperative planning and postoperative evaluation of component position in total hip arthroplasty (THA) utilize specialized software that must be able to provide measurements that are both accurate and precise. A new software program for use in THA has recently been developed. We sought to evaluate the accuracy of this new software in comparison with two current, widely used software programs.

Examining the non-spatial pretraining effect on a water maze spatial learning task in rats treated with multiple intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of propionic acid: Contributions to a rodent model of ASD.

Propionic acid (PPA) is produced by enteric gut bacteria and is a dietary short chain fatty acid. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of PPA in rodents have been shown to produce behavioural changes, including adverse effects on cognition, similar to those seen in autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Previous research has shown that repeated ICV infusions of PPA result in impaired spatial learning in a Morris water maze (MWM) as evidenced by increased search latencies, fewer direct and circle swims, and more time spent in the periphery of the maze than control rats.

Efficacy of non-surgical treatments for androgenetic alopecia in men and women: a systematic review with network meta-analyses, and an assessment of evidence quality.

Background And Objective: Various treatments exist for androgenetic alopecia (AGA); we determined the relative efficacies of non-surgical AGA monotherapies separately for men and women.

Methods: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically searched in PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus and clinicaltrials.gov.

Monotherapy for Alopecia Areata: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: There are many treatments available for alopecia areata; however, none are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Thus, there is clinician benefit in efficacy comparison.

Methods: A network meta-analysis was used to create direct and indirect comparisons of alopecia areata studies in addition to an inconsistency analysis, risk of bias, and quality of evidence assessment.

Propionic acid induced behavioural effects of relevance to autism spectrum disorder evaluated in the hole board test with rats.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a set of neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by abnormal social interactions, impaired language, and stereotypic and repetitive behaviours. Among genetically susceptible subpopulations, gut and dietary influences may play a role in etiology. Propionic acid (PPA), produced by enteric gut bacteria, crosses both the gut-blood and the blood-brain barrier.

Continuous terbinafine and pulse itraconazole for the treatment of non-dermatophyte mold toenail onychomycosis.

Introduction: Although dermatophytes are considered the predominant causative organisms in onychomycosis, non-dermatophyte mold (NDM) infections may be more prevalent than originally thought and may be more difficult to treat. There are limited data of oral antifungal efficacy in treating NDM onychomycosis.

Method: A retrospective chart review (2009-2016) was conducted in patients receiving continuous oral terbinafine or pulse itraconazole for toenail onychomycosis due to NDMs.

Impaired Spatial Cognition in Adult Rats Treated with Multiple Intracerebroventricular (ICV) Infusions of the Enteric Bacterial Metabolite, Propionic Acid, and Return to Baseline After 1 Week of No Treatment: Contribution to a Rodent Model of ASD.

Propionic acid (PPA) is a dietary short chain fatty acid and an enteric bacterial metabolite. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusions of PPA in rodents have been shown to produce behavioral changes similar to those seen in autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including perseveration. The effects of ICV infusions of PPA on spatial cognition were examined by giving rats infusions of either PPA (0.

Systemic treatment with the enteric bacterial metabolic product propionic acid results in reduction of social behavior in juvenile rats: Contribution to a rodent model of autism spectrum disorder.

The role of the gut microbiome and its enteric metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), in the etiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has recently received increased attention. Of particular interest has been the SCFA, propionic acid (PPA). Several different rodent models have been developed using PPA treatment to examine behaviors of relevance to ASD.

Evidence for biofilms in onychomycosis.

Onychomycosis is a difficult to treat fungal infection of the nails. The chronic nature of onychomycosis contributes to high recurrence rates and the difficulty in treating both dermatophyte and non-dermatophyte infections. It has been hypothesized that the formation of biofilms, sessile, multicellular communities of fungi surrounded by a protective extracellular matrix, allow for fungi to evade current antifungal therapies and contribute to observed antifungal resistance.

In vitro efficacy of tavaborole topical solution, 5% after penetration through nail polish on ex vivo human fingernails.

Background: Topical antifungal treatments for onychomycosis are applied to clean, unpolished nails for 48 weeks or longer. Patients often wish to mask their infection with nail polish yet there is no evidence to suggest antifungal efficacy in the presence of nail polish.

Objective: To determine if tavaborole retains the ability to penetrate the nail plate and inhibit fungal growth in the presence of nail polish.

Topical antifungal treatment prevents recurrence of toenail onychomycosis following cure.

Recurrence rates are high for onychomycosis, with prophylactic topical antifungal use proposed to counter recurrence. Although this is a reasonable action for many clinicians, few studies have been conducted on the efficacy of topical prophylaxis. A retrospective chart review (2010-2015) was conducted in patients receiving oral terbinafine or itraconazole for toenail onychomycosis.

Lasers for Onychomycosis.

Many studies that have been recently published investigate the efficacy of laser treatment for onychomycosis. These studies support the current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of lasers for the 'temporary increase in clear nail'. Clear nail growth is an important treatment goal for patients; however, many do not realise that laser treatment is not a cure for onychomycosis.

Clinical trials of lasers for toenail onychomycosis: The implications of new regulatory guidance.

Background: Despite the fact that lasers are presently indicated for the cosmetic outcome "temporary increase in clear nail", these devices are increasingly used to treat onychomycosis and particularly in patients who are unwilling or unable to take oral antifungal medication. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued draft guidance for medical device trials for onychomycosis.

Objective: This review evaluates the quality of laser trials for onychomycosis and compares the design guidelines for medical devices and antifungal drugs.

A Critical Assessment of the Evidence for Low-Level Laser Therapy in the Treatment of Hair Loss.

Background: Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is currently in use to stimulate hair growth and is quickly gaining in popularity due to the ease of use and absence of side effects. In 2015 alone, the number of LLLT devices with the Food and Drug Administration clearance has doubled.

Objective: To consolidate evidence and establish which data are still required for the widespread acceptance of LLLT for hair loss therapy.

New Antifungal Agents and New Formulations Against Dermatophytes.

A variety of oral and topical antifungal agents are available for the treatment of superficial fungal infections caused by dermatophytes. This review builds on the antifungal therapy update published in this journal for the first special issue on Dermatophytosis (Gupta and Cooper 2008;166:353-67). Since 2008, there have not been additions to the oral antifungal armamentarium, with terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole still in widespread use, albeit for generally more severe or recalcitrant infections.

Improving Cure Rates in Onychomycosis.

Background: Onychomycosis is a persistent fungal nail infection that is notoriously hard to treat. Approximately 20% to 25% of patients with onychomycosis do not respond to treatment, and 10% to 53% of patients relapse. As such, successful treatment is imperative for long-term disease management.

Network Meta-Analysis of Onychomycosis Treatments.

Background: Many onychomycosis treatments have not been directly compared in head-to-head clinical trials.

Objective: To determine the relative efficacy of onychomycosis treatments using network meta-analysis (NMA).

Methods: We conducted a systematic review and NMA of mycological cure rates.

5% Minoxidil: treatment for female pattern hair loss.

Minoxidil is a Health Canada and US FDA-approved medication for hair loss in men and women. While 5% minoxidil foam has been approved for men since 2006, Health Canada and the FDA only approved 5% minoxidil foam for female pattern hair loss (FPHL) in 2014. Recent Phase III clinical trials demonstrated the efficacy of once daily 5% minoxidil foam for treatment of FPHL, where a significant change from baseline in the target area hair count was observed compared to placebo.

Antifungal Treatment for Pityriasis Versicolor.

Background: Pityriasis versicolor (PV), also known as tinea versicolor, is caused by species. This condition is one of the most common superficial fungal infections worldwide, particularly in tropical climates. PV is difficult to cure and the chances for relapse or recurrent infections are high due to the presence of in the normal skin flora.