Medicina
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Background and Objectives: Acute diverticulitis (AD) is the leading and most burdensome complication of colonic diverticulosis. However, risk factors for its development and predictors of its course are still poorly defined. In this regard, the association of a young age with a complicated course and worse outcome are still controversial. ⋯ However, factors such as a complicated course (16% vs. 15%; p = 0.08) and relapsing episode rates (33% vs. 38%; p = 0.36) did not differ significantly between groups. None of the variables, including young age and ethnic group, were predictors of complicated AD course in the multivariate analysis. Conclusion: AD is increasingly encountered in young patients, especially in ethnic minority groups, but neither ethnicity nor young age was associated with worse outcomes.
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Background and Objectives: Due to the unexpected spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there was a serious crisis of emergency medical system collapse. Healthcare workers working in the emergency department were faced with psychosocial stress and workload changes. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of healthcare workers in the emergency department in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, Korea, from November 16 to 25, 2020. ⋯ Treatment and transfer delay were higher in the fever and respiratory disease groups (M = 3.58, SD = 1.18; M = 4.08, SD = 0.95), respectively. In all the disease groups, both treatment and transfer were delayed more in Gyeongbuk than in Daegu. Conclusions: Different goals should be pursued by the levels and region of the emergency department to overcome the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and promote optimal care.
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Background and Objectives: In recent literature, the routine addition of arthrodesis to decompression for lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) with concomitant stable low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to compare the clinical outcome, complication and re-operation rates following minimally invasive (MIS) tubular decompression without arthrodesis in patients suffering from LSS with or without concomitant stable low-grade degenerative spondylolisthesis. Materials and Methods: This study is a retrospective review of prospectively collected data. ⋯ The average length of hospital stay was significantly higher in patients with spondylolisthesis (p-value< 0.01). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of post-operative complications rates or re-operation rates. Conclusions: Our results indicate that MIS tubular decompression may be an effective and safe procedure for patients suffering from LSS, with or without degenerative stable spondylolisthesis.
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Background and Objectives: Vitamin D is a bone modulator widely used in regenerative medicine. This study aimed to analyze the effects of vitamin D on the osteogenic differentiation and mineralization of human mesenchymal stem cells. Materials and Methods: Spheroids were fabricated using human bone marrow-derived stem cells, and were cultured in the presence of vitamin D at concentrations of 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 nM. ⋯ There was significantly higher alkaline phosphatase activity in the 0.1 nM group when compared with the control group on day 14 (p < 0.05). Real-time polymerase chain reaction results demonstrated that the mRNA expression levels of RUNX2, OCN, and COL1A1 were significantly increased when vitamin D was added to the culture. Conclusions: Based on these findings, we concluded that vitamin D could be applied to the increased osteogenicity of stem cell spheroids.
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Review Case Reports
Absence of Wharton's Jelly at the Abdominal Site of the Umbilical Cord Insertion. Rare Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Wharton's jelly is a specialized connective tissue surrounding and protecting umbilical cord vessels. In its absence, the vessels are exposed to the risk of compression or rupture. ⋯ After delivery, a Wharton's jelly anomaly was identified at the abdominal umbilical insertion (umbilical cord vessels, approximately 1 cm in length, were completely uncovered by Wharton's jelly), which required surgical thread elective ligation. In the presence of a persistently abnormal CTG trace, in a pregnancy with no clinical settings suggestive of either chronic or acute fetal hypoxemia, the absence of Wharton's jelly should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis.