Foot Blog News this Week- Issue 4
Simple Classification Can Help Define And Predict Limb-Threatening Diabetic Infections
Medical News Today: Article Date: 02 Feb 2007 – 9:00 PST-Research groups from Texas, Chicago, Washington State and the Netherlands partnered to publish a landmark study validating the Infectious Disease Society of America’s guidelines for the clinical classification of diabetic foot infections. “We’re all very pleased to see this study in print,” noted co-author David G. Armstrong, DPM, PhD, Professor of Surgery at Scholl’s Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research (CLEAR) at Rosalind Franklin University.
Effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment: Can it improve tendon-bone integration?
Wiley Interscience- February 3, 2007- The Journal of Orthopaedic Research reported HBO may improve pull-out strength in tendon-bone grafting. The research used forty rabbits divided into two groups. The study investigated the effects of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) on neovascularization at the tendon-bone junction, collagen fibers of the tendon graft, and the tendon graft-bony interface incorporated into the osseous tunnel in rabbits. The HBO group was exposed to 100% oxygen at 2.5 atmospheres pressure for 2 h daily, 5 consecutive days in a week. The control group was maintained in cages exposed to normal air. Histological studies of 12 rabbits were performed postoperatively at 6, 12, and 18 weeks. Biomechanical studies of 24 rabbits were conducted postoperatively at 12 and 18 weeks. Electron microscopy (EM) analyses of four rabbits were performed postoperatively at 18 weeks. Experimental results demonstrated that a higher number of Sharpey’s fibers bridged the newly formed fibrocartilage and graft in the HBO group than in the control group. This could also have implications in bone-tendon interface procedures of the foot and further study is recommended.
Acute ankle sprains: Comparative conservative treatment of isolated ATFL injuries and combined ATFL/CF ligament injuries
SpringerLink: February 3, 2007 -The Journal of Orthopaedic Science reports the results of non-operative treatment of acute ankle sprains due to severity. Fifty-five consecutive acute lateral ankle ligament injuries in 54 patients who were treated nonoperatively were followed up as a prospective study. They found that nonoperative treatment with 1 week immobilization followed by a functional brace were excellent in patients with an isolated injury of the anterior talofibular ligament, but were unsatisfactory in those with combined injuries of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligaments.
Forensic Sex Determination from Hand and Foot Bone Lengths
Blackwell Synergy: February 3, 2007- The Journal of Forensic Science reports that the phalanges were better sex discriminators than either the metacarpals or metatarsals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of length measurements of the hands and feet to estimate sex. Discriminant function analysis was used to classify individuals by sex. The left hand outperformed both the right hand and foot producing correct classification rates exceeding 80%.
How is collagen affected by Insulin? Quantitative comparisons in response of non-diabetic and diabetic rat tissue
Acta Biomaterialia: A recent study at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA reported that diabetic tissue behaves in a more brittle manner, consistent with more highly crosslinked fibrils. Chemical crosslinks in collagens resulting from binding of advanced glycation end-products, have long been presumed to alter the stiffness and permeability of glycated tissues. The study concluded that biochemical crosslinking directly affects measured mechanical properties.
First National Review Of Youth Soccer Injuries Finds 1.6 Million Emergency Rm Visits Over 14 Years, USA
Medical News Today: Article Date: 01 Feb 2007 – 14:00 PST-Girl soccer players may be sustaining more injuries than boys, but boys are twice as likely to be hospitalized for their injuries, according to the first comprehensive look at U.S. emergency room data on youth soccer injuries. The review appears in the February issue of The American Journal of Sports Medicine.
Re-wiring brings back touch for amputated limb
News@nature.com —February 2, 2007- Surgeons have managed to give an amputee not only a prosthetic arm that moves as directed by her thoughts, but also the feeling of touch — albeit in the wrong part of her body. This could have future applications to lower extremity prosthetics.
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Ivrea Pharmaceuticals Announces Successful In Vitro Nail Penetration Results With IVR 101 And IVR 102 for use in future Fungicidal Gels
Ivrea Pharmaceuticals: February 2, 2007 - Ivrea Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held specialty pharmaceutical company focused on developing and commercializing novel treatments for dermatologic conditions, announced today that its proprietary gels, IVR 101 and IVR 102, were successful in delivering fungicidal active ingredients efficiently through the human nail in a standard model. “The Ivrea team is very encouraged that IVR 101 and IVR 102 have been shown, in this study, to deliver such high concentrations of known fungicidals through the nail,” said Dan Lynch, Ivrea’s CEO.
New Analyses Reinforce Efficacy Of REMICADE(R) In Treatment Of Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Nail Disease
Medical News Today: Article Date: 03 Feb 2007 – 0:00 PST-Findings from an integrated analysis of data from three pivotal, randomized, placebo-controlled trials showed that at week 10 more than three-quarters of patients with severe psoriasis receiving REMICADE(R) (infliximab) 3 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg achieved a 75 percent improvement in the chronic, inflammatory skin disease as measured by the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI 75). In addition, in a separate analysis, investigators presented findings from a Phase 3 study, which showed that patients treated with REMICADE experienced significant and progressive improvements in psoriasis affecting the nails. Nail disease occurs in up to 50 percent of people with psoriasis.(1) These findings were presented today at the 65th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Raptiva Helps in Psoriasis of Hands and Feet
Medpage Today: – February 3, 2007- WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 — A 12-week course of Raptiva (efalizumab) significantly improved chronic severe plaque psoriasis of the hands and feet, researchers here reported today. Almost half of the 52 patients who received weekly Raptiva injections had little to no evidence of psoriasis at the end of treatment, said lead investigator Craig Leonardi, M.D., associate professor of dermatology at St. Louis University. This compared with a response rate of 17.9% in a placebo arm (P=0.015).
Staying active keeps seniors steady on their feet
Reuters Health: NEW YORK – Older people who have long been physically active, and remain so, have better balance than less vigorous seniors, while those who pick up the exercise after retirement fare almost as well, French researchers report.However, individuals who exercised in the past, but stopped after retirement, had balance control nearly as bad as those who had never been active, Dr. Philippe Perrin of the Universite Henri Poincare-Nancy, Villers-les-Nancy, and colleagues report.
Reliability of ‘Probe to Bone Test’ is questioned
UPI: CHIACGO, Ill., Feb. 6 (UPI) – Dutch and U.S. researchers say an often-used tool to diagnose common and sometimes limb-threatening bone infections may not be as reliable as believed.A two-year longitudinal study by Texas A&M University, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in Chicago, the Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands and the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle evaluated a large sample of diabetic people with wounds and tested the commonly performed “probe to bone” test.
Merck arthritis drug Arcoxia (Etoricoxib) has few side-effects
LONDON (Reuters) - A new arthritis drug made by Merck & Co. causes fewer stomach disorders and complications than an older painkiller, researchers said on Friday.
They analyzed the results of three clinical trials to assess the safety of Merck’s drug etoricoxib — sold under the name Arcoxia — as compared with diclofenac.
Diabetic ugly toenail linked to amputation
CHICAGO, Feb. 8 (UPI) – Nearly three in four people with diabetes at high risk for amputation have diseased toenails, according to a U.S. study.
The study, co-authored by Drs. Stephanie Wu and David G. Armstrong of Scholl’s Center for Lower Extremity Ambulatory Research at Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago, hope the findings will assist in making more rapid assessments and embark on much-needed therapy for high-risk patients.
Specialized ER nurses treating ankle and foot injuries?
PUBMED – A recent report from the Department of Surgery/Traumatology, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam reveals that Specialized emergency nurses are capable of assessing and treating ankle/foot injuries accurately with excellent patient satisfaction and with a reduction of waiting times. Other injury-specific courses are now developed for this approach.
Medical Therapy For Restless Legs Syndrome May Trigger Compulsive Gambling?
Medical News Today-Article Date: 09 Feb 2007 – 0:00 Compulsive gambling with extreme losses — in two cases, greater than $100,000 — by people without a prior history of gambling problems has been linked to a class of drugs commonly used to treat the neurological disorder restless legs syndrome (RLS). A new Mayo Clinic study is the first to describe this compulsive gambling in RLS patients who are being treated with medications that stimulate dopamine receptors in the brain. The Mayo Clinic report appeared in the Jan. 23 issue of “Neurology” (http://www.neurology.org).
FDA clears device that may save soldiers’ limbs
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. health officials said on Friday they approved a new device that could help save the arms and legs of injured soldiers and trauma victims.
The Temporary Limb Salvage Shunt, made by Terumo Corp. of Japan’s unit Vascutek Ltd., connects the ends of a severed blood vessel, providing a bridge around the damaged area and restoring blood flow to the injured limb.
Exposure to antibiotics linked to resistance
London (Reuters) - Exposure to common antibiotics used to treat respiratory infections can increase resistance to the drugs, Belgian scientists said on Friday.
The emergence of bacteria that do not respond to antibiotics is a major health problem. Overuse of the drugs has been blamed for the development of so-called superbugs which are resistant to the most powerful antibiotics.
But trying to prove it has been difficult.
May 26, 2007 at 5:27 am
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