Therapeutic blockade of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-like protein attenuates cartilage degeneration and modulates cytokines in a spontaneous osteoarthritis mouse model.

Objective: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent degenerative joint disorder characterized by the progressive breakdown of articular cartilage, affecting 10-15 % of older adults worldwide. There remains an urgent need for effective therapies to prevent chondrocyte loss, extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, and OA progression.

Methods: Through LC-MS/MS-based secretome analysis, we identified platelet-derived growth factor receptor-like protein (PDGFRL) as a novel factor significantly upregulated in osteoarthritic cartilage.

Impacts of mandatory clinical ethics consultation on resource utilization and ethical conflicts in critically ill patients: a comparison between medical and surgical intensive care units.

Background: Mandatory clinical ethics consultation (CEC) is initiated under specific circumstances when required by institutional policies. Medical and surgical intensive care units (ICUs) have various characteristics. Studies on whether mandatory CEC have different impacts on medical and surgical ICUs are limited.

Transmucosal Delivery of miR-30c-5p by Chitosan Nanoparticles for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains difficult to treat with current modalities. miR-30c-5p, a tumor-suppressive microRNA frequently downregulated in OSCC, inhibits cancer cell proliferation and migration. However, its clinical application is limited by poor stability and inefficient uptake.

Investigations on the Effects of a Passive Standing-from-Squatting and Gait Assistive Exoskeleton on Human Motion.

The aim of this study is to examine the biomechanical interaction between an assistive wearable exoskeleton and the human body. For this purpose, a passive exoskeleton is designed to provide support during the transition from a squatting position to standing, while also enabling the resilient components to become active during the initial and mid-swing phases of level walking. The active period can be adjusted by a slot, which triggers the activation of the resilient components when the exoskeleton's flexion angle exceeds a critical value.

Enhancing responses from large language models with role-playing prompts: a comparative study on answering frequently asked questions about total knee arthroplasty.

Background: The application of artificial intelligence (AI) in medical education and patient interaction is rapidly growing. Large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-3.5, GPT-4, Google Gemini, and Claude 3 Opus have shown potential in providing relevant medical information.

The Association Between the Neutrophil-To-lymphocyte Ratio and Health-related Behaviors and Factors in Rural Adults With and Without Cardiometabolic Disease.

BackgroundComplete blood count (CBC) is a commonly used and cost-effective blood test in health screenings; however, its potential as a biomarker for early detection of chronic diseases remains underutilized. Previous studies have shown that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with systemic inflammation and is correlated with cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). Unhealthy lifestyles can trigger inflammatory responses and contribute to the progression of CMDs.

Identification of menstrual blood and vaginal fluid using a 4-plex MSRE-PCR system applicable to alleged sexual assault cases.

Menstrual blood and vaginal fluid are frequently encountered in conjunction with semen in alleged sexual assault cases. There are few tests with high specificity for these two body fluids and here we report on a 4-plex MSRE-PCR system for the detection of menstrual blood and vaginal fluid. The assay uses four markers in a multiplex PCR: a positive control (PC), digestive control (DC), menstrual blood-specific (MB) marker and vaginal fluid-specific (VF) marker.

Inosine from purine metabolism enhances fracture healing by coupling fibrinolysis and angiogenesis of type H vessels.

Fibrinolysis-angiogenesis coupling is crucial for successful fracture healing, in which type H vessels play an indispensable role. However, the metabolic control of fibrinolysis-type H angiogenesis coupling in fracture healing remains unclear. We used a metabolomics approach to gain metabolic insights from mouse fracture models (0.

Observational study of effect of ESFT approach on cross culture competency teaching for young PGY physicians.

Background: Globalization and the increasing influx of new immigrants have created multicultural demands in healthcare, emphasizing the need for enhanced cross-cultural competency among medical professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a cross-cultural competency course (4 C), designed using the ESFT model, on young physicians' cultural sensitivity and related competencies in the setting of Taiwan's healthcare system.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to assess the course's outcome.

The construction of a psychometric instrument for the educational role enactment of attending physicians in teaching hospitals.

Background: Attending physicians exhibit varied patterns in enacting educational roles, but no standardized framework or measurement tools currently exist to evaluate these roles and associated behaviors. This study aimed to create an analytical framework and develop an instrument to measure the educational role enactment of attending physicians through a questionnaire survey and detailed descriptions of educational behaviors.

Methods: A 15-item questionnaire was designed based on a literature review to examine the enactment of three educational roles within the role set of attending physicians.

Safety of vancomycin-loaded cement spacers for treating gram-positive periprosthetic joint infections in two-stage resection arthroplasty among patients with renal insufficiency.

Background: The standard treatment for periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) typically involves a two-stage resection arthroplasty using antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) spacers. This study hypothesizes that there is no significant correlation between antibiotic levels in blood and synovial fluid and the patient's kidney function, and that the success rates of staged resection arthroplasty are comparable between groups, specifically targeting gram-positive bacterial infections.

Methods: This retrospective review included patients treated from 2017 to 2022 with two-stage arthroplasty using vancomycin-loaded ALBC spacers, selectively targeting gram-positive infections.

Rethinking Repeat Two-Stage Knee Exchange Arthroplasty: Outcomes, Risks, and Decision-Making.

Background: Chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) presents a major challenge in knee arthroplasty, with varying success rates reported for two-stage exchange arthroplasty (EA) and a lack of consensus on managing failures from such procedures. This study evaluated repeat two-stage EA outcomes for knee PJI after initial treatment failure to identify the risk factors for reimplantation unsuitability and reinfection.

Methods: We analyzed 114 patients who underwent repeat EA for chronic knee PJI between 2010 and 2018.

Effects of COVID-19 on short-term outcomes of hip arthroplasty: a multicenter, retrospective, propensity score matched study.

Purpose: The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic delayed elective procedures such as total joint arthroplasty. As surgical volumes return to prepandemic levels, understanding the implications of COVID-19 becomes imperative. This study explored the effects of COVID-19 on the short-term outcomes of hip arthroplasty.

Effects of Intra-Articular Stromal Vascular Fraction Injection on Clinical Symptoms and Cartilage Health in Osteoarthritic Knees: A Single-Center Pilot Study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent form of arthritis worldwide. Intra-articular stromal vascular fraction (SVF) injections are a potential therapeutic option for patients with OA. This study aims to assess the effects of intra-articular SVF injections on knee OA.

Lifestyle and risk factors associated with elevated prostate-specific antigen levels in rural men: implications for health counseling.

Background: The use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for early detection of prostate cancer (PCa) is common but controversial. In rural areas, PSA is widely used for screening because it is convenient and early-stage PCa often shows no symptoms. Studies suggest that PSA levels are linked to factors like unhealthy lifestyles, obesity, lack of exercise, inflammation, and aging.

Constructing psychometric measurement of a past supervised experience scale with educational roles to investigate the relationship between being instructed, being supported, and being supervised for attending physicians in teaching hospitals - a questionnaire survey.

Purpose: Although school-based planned education has steadily been introduced, master-apprentice learning is still an indispensable part of medical education. All medical clinical teachers begin their careers as medical students, often without knowing exactly how they will learn to teach. Kilminster and Jolly identified three primary functions of clinical supervisors including clinical teaching, support and guidance, and work supervision.

Prognostic Implications of Unexpected Positive Intraoperative Cultures in Two-Stage Knee Arthroplasty Reimplantations: A Minimum Five-Year Retrospective Analysis.

Background: The clinical challenge of unexpected positive intraoperative cultures (UPICs) persists in 2-stage resection arthroplasty for managing periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) following total knee arthroplasty.(TKA). This study aimed to investigate the incidence of UPICs during the definitive reimplantation phase of 2-stage resection arthroplasty of the knee and to assess both the infection-free and revision-free survivorship of the implanted prosthesis.

Key risk factors and adverse outcomes in metachronous vertebral osteomyelitis following periprosthetic joint infection: A 5-year retrospective study.

Purpose: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a leading cause of joint arthroplasty failure, potentially leading to critical complications like vertebral osteomyelitis (VO). The factors contributing to VO after PJI and the outcomes for these patients are not well understood. Our study aims to (1) identify risk factors for VO following PJI and (2) assess the clinical outcomes in these cases.

Use of corticosteroids in non-infectious uveitis - expert consensus in Taiwan.

Purpose: To offer consensus on the utilization of corticosteroids (CS) for treating non-infectious uveitis in the context of clinical practice in Taiwan. This entails examining the different administration methods, their advantages and disadvantages, and considering alternative treatments according to the prevailing evidence and health policies.

Methods: Ten ophthalmologists and one rheumatologist convened on December 11, 2022, to review and discuss literature on the topic.

Impact of unplanned second debridement, antibiotics and implant retention on long-term outcomes in knee exchange arthroplasty: Elevated risk of failure and reinfection.

Purpose: This study investigates the outcomes of two-stage exchange arthroplasty (EA) for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following initial or unplanned repeat debridement antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed cases of knee arthroplasty infection treated with two-stage EA after DAIR, spanning from January 1994 to December 2010. A total of 138 patients were included, comprising 112 with initial DAIR and 26 with an unplanned second DAIR.

Survivorship of the fixed-bearing medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: mean 14-year follow-up in a single medical center.

Background: This study aimed to report the long-term survival of fixed-bearing medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) with a mean of 14-year follow-up, and to determine possible risk factors of failure.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 337 fixed-bearing medial UKAs implanted between 2003 and 2014. Demographic and radiographic parameters were measured, including pre-operative and post-operative anatomical femorotibial angle (aFTA), posterior tibial slope (PTS), and anatomical medial proximal tibial angle (aMPTA).