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Background: Acupuncture is a potentially effective non-pharmacological treatment for insomnia. Objective: We observed the responses of patients with insomnia to acupuncture in routine clinical practice. In addition, we explored patient characteristics that might affect the treatment response to acupuncture for insomnia. Methods: Medical records of patients with insomnia in a Korean medicine clinic with baseline Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores ⩾8 and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores ⩾5 were reviewed. Acupuncture was applied at ST43, GB41, ST41, SI5, HT3, KI10, HT7 and ST3, for 1–2 months. The ISI and PSQI were measured monthly to assess insomnia severity. The effect of acupuncture over time was analyzed using a multilevel linear model for repeated measures. In addition, logistic regression was used to explore predictors of treatment response. Results: A total of 91 patients with insomnia aged 59.2 ± 12.5 years (mean ± standard deviation (SD)) (90.1% female) were included in the analysis. After the acupuncture treatment, ISI scores were significantly reduced by −3.75 (95% confidence interval (CI) = −4.99, −2.50) and −4.69 (95% CI = −6.22, −3.16) after the first and second month, respectively. The PSQI global scores also improved, and sleep duration showed a tendency to increase by 0.35 h (95% CI = −0.17, 0.86) after acupuncture treatment. Three cases of mild fatigue were reported. In addition, higher baseline pain/discomfort predicted a greater likelihood of response after acupuncture treatment (odds ratio (OR) = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.10, 2.60). Conclusion: In a real-world setting, the insomnia of outpatients in a clinic was slightly alleviated after acupuncture treatment. These findings require validation by randomized controlled trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Few studies have reported the healing process of anterolateral ligament (ALL) injuries. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study investigated the healing status of ALL injuries after primary anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). Additionally, we investigated the association between the healing status of ALL injuries and associated lesions such as osseous lesions and meniscal tears occurring at the time of an ACL rupture. We hypothesized that acute ALL injuries show a high rate (more than two-thirds) of healing at the 1-year follow-up after ACLR and that concomitant lesions observed at the time of an ACL rupture affect the healing status of the ALL. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We retrospectively investigated patients with ALL injuries who underwent primary ACLR between March 2015 and February 2017. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we evaluated the features of ALL injuries and concomitant lesions, and MRI was performed at the 1-year follow-up to assess the healing status of the ALL. We investigated the association between the healing status of the ALL and concomitant lesions observed at the time of an ACL rupture. A subjective assessment was performed using the Lysholm score, International Knee Documentation Committee subjective score, and Tegner activity scale. Objective tests included an isokinetic strength assessment and functional performance testing. Results: With respect to the severity of ALL injuries, of 54 patients, a complete rupture occurred in 16 (29.6%) of the 54 patients and a partial rupture in 38 (70%). A significant association was observed between the severity of ALL injuries and bone contusions (lateral tibial plateau and medial tibial plateau [MTP]) and meniscus ramp lesions (Fisher exact test: P =.023,.012, and.023, respectively). Good and partial healing of the ALL occurred in 16 (29.6%) and 23 (42.6%) of 54 patients, respectively. Scar formation occurred in 12 (22.2%), and nonvisualization of the ALL was observed in 3 (5.6%) of 54 patients. Poor healing of the ALL was associated with preoperative MTP bone contusions and a high-grade pivot shift. Multivariate analysis showed that an MTP bone contusion was an independent risk factor associated with poor healing of the ALL. Among the functional tests performed, significant differences were observed between the good and poor healing groups with respect to the carioca test (P =.039). The good healing group (n = 16) showed a negative pivot shift at the last follow-up, whereas 5 (13.2%) of the patients from the poor healing group (n = 38) showed a positive pivot shift, including 2 (5.3%) with a high-grade pivot shift. Conclusion: Approximately 70% of acute ALL injuries showed poor healing at the 1-year follow-up. Poor healing of ALL injuries was significantly associated with preoperative MTP bone contusions and a high-grade pivot shift. Therefore, a careful assessment of posteromedial bone contusions at the time of an ACL rupture is warranted, particularly in patients with a high-grade pivot shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Transtibial (TT) or tibial inlay (TI) techniques are commonly used for posterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (PCLR). However, the optimum method for PCLR after PCL injury remains debatable. Hypothesis/Purpose: The hypothesis was that TT and TI techniques would not show significant differences for all outcome measures. The purpose was to determine the biomechanical and clinical outcomes of TT and TI surgical techniques for PCLR. Study Design: Meta-analysis; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Web of Science, and SCOPUS electronic databases for articles published up until August 2016 were searched to find relevant articles comparing outcomes of TT versus TI techniques for PCLR. Data searching, extraction, analysis, and quality assessment were performed according to Cochrane Collaboration guidelines. Biomechanical outcomes and clinical outcomes of both techniques were compared. Results are presented as risk ratio (RR) for binary outcomes and weighted mean difference (WMD) for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Five biomechanical and 5 clinical studies were included. No significant biomechanical differences were found regarding posterior tibial translation (PTT) at a knee flexion angle of 90° or PTT after cyclic loading between the 2 groups. However, a stronger in situ force in the graft was detected in the TT group (WMD = 15.58; 95% CI, 0.22-30.95; I2 = 10%). Although no significant differences were found in clinical outcomes such as Lysholm knee function score, Tegner activity score, side-to-side difference, or posterior drawer test at final follow-up between the 2 groups, the TT technique tended to entail fewer perioperative complications than the TI technique (RR = 0.60; 95% CI, 0.35-1.00; I2 = 0%). Conclusion: TT and TI techniques for PCLR can both restore normal knee kinematics and improve knee function. However, the issue of which yields better improvement in stability and functional recovery of the knee remains unclear. More high-quality trials and randomized controlled trials are needed. Although PCLR via the TT technique resulted in higher graft forces, determining whether this is clinically significant will require further studies. When performing the TI technique, surgeons should inform patients of the risk of complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although cartilage regeneration after medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) has been described, there is a paucity of reports regarding which factors influence cartilage regeneration. Purpose: To document whether cartilage regeneration occurs in the previously degenerated medial compartment of arthritic knees after medial open-wedge HTO without concomitant cartilage procedures and to assess which predictive factors influence regeneration after HTO. Study Design: Case series; Level of evidence, 4 Methods: From February 2008 to January 2014, 104 consecutive knees were enrolled retrospectively that received medial open-wedge HTO with a medial locked plate system without any additional cartilage regeneration procedures and were followed by second-look arthroscopy for plate removal 2 years after surgery. The mean ± SD age at the time of index HTO was 56.3 ± 5.4 years. Cartilage status was graded at the time of initial HTO and second-look arthroscopy according to the International Cartilage Repair Society grading system, and regenerated articular cartilage was classified by the macroscopic staging system of Koshino et al at the time of second-look arthroscopy. Variables evaluated for possible association with regeneration of articular cartilage included age, sex, body mass index (BMI), American Knee Society score, mechanical tibiofemoral angle, medial proximal tibial angle, amount of correction angle, and degree of arthritis. Results: Per the International Cartilage Repair Society grading system, the lesions in the medial femoral condyle and the medial tibial plateau were improved in 54 knees (51.9%) and 36 knees (34.6%), respectively, at the time of second-look arthroscopy. According to the macroscopic grading system, partial and total regeneration of articular cartilage in the medial femoral condyle and the medial tibial plateau was observed in 75 knees (72%) and 57 knees (55%), respectively. Based on univariable logistic regression tests, regeneration of articular cartilage was associated with a smaller mean preoperative varus mechanical tibiofemoral angle (odds ratio [OR], 0.7; P = .023) and lower BMI (OR, 0.8; P = .026) for the medial femoral condyle and younger age (OR, 0.9; P = .048) and a larger mean correction angle (OR, 1.1; P = .023) for the medial tibial plateau. The mean preoperative knee and function scores were significantly improved at the last follow-up, but no correlation was found between the clinical outcomes and cartilage regeneration. Multiple logistic regression analysis for regeneration of articular cartilage showed lower BMI (OR, 0.7; P = .015) to be a significant predictor for the medial femoral condyle. Conclusion: Regeneration of degenerated articular cartilage in the medial compartment can be expected while correcting a varus deformity in arthritic knees after medial open-wedge HTO with a locked plate system without any additional cartilage regeneration procedures. Moreover, we suggest that medial open-wedge HTO in the medial arthritic knee with varus malalignment should be highly successful in terms of cartilage regeneration, especially for lower BMI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Numerous studies have shown preoperative fatty infiltration of rotator cuff muscles to be strongly negatively correlated with the successful repair of massive rotator cuff tears (RCTs). Purpose: To assess the association between factors identified on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), especially infraspinatus fatty infiltration, and the reparability of massive RCTs. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: We analyzed a total of 105 patients with massive RCTs for whom MRI was performed ≤6 months before arthroscopic procedures. The mean age of the patients was 62.7 years (range, 46-83 years), and 46 were men. Among them, complete repair was possible in 50 patients (48%) and not possible in 55 patients (52%). The tangent sign, fatty infiltration of the rotator cuff, and Patte classification were evaluated as predictors of reparability. Using the receiver operating characteristic curve and the area under the curve (AUC), the prediction accuracy of each variable and combinations of variables were measured. Results: Reparability was associated with fatty infiltration of the supraspinatus (P = .0045) and infraspinatus (P < .001) muscles, the tangent sign (P = .0033), and the Patte classification (P < .001) but not with fatty infiltration of the subscapularis and teres minor (P = .425 and .132, respectively). The cut-off values for supraspinatus and infraspinatus fatty infiltration were grade >3 and grade >2, respectively. The examination of single variables revealed that infraspinatus fatty infiltration showed the highest AUC value (0.812; sensitivity: 0.86; specificity: 0.76), while the tangent sign showed the lowest AUC value (0.626; sensitivity: 0.38; specificity: 0.87). Among 2-variable combinations, the combination of infraspinatus fatty infiltration and the Patte classification showed the highest AUC value (0.874; sensitivity: 0.54; specificity: 0.96). The combination of 4 variables, that is, infraspinatus and supraspinatus fatty infiltration, the tangent sign, and the Patte classification, had an AUC of 0.866 (sensitivity: 0.28; specificity: 0.98), which was lower than the highest AUC value (0.874; sensitivity: 0.54; specificity: 0.96) among the 2-variable combinations. Conclusion: The tangent sign or Patte classification alone was not a predictive indicator of the reparability of massive RCTs. Among single variables, infraspinatus fatty infiltration was the most effective in predicting reparability, while the combination of Goutallier classification <3 of the infraspinatus and Patte classification ≤2 of the rotator cuff muscles was the most predictive among the combinations of variables. This information may help predict the reparability of massive RCTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to investigate the combined effects of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) on 10-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk calculated using the Framingham risk score. The heavy metal data set of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey IV and V (2008-2010) was analyzed. The 10-year CHD risk was significantly associated with the log-transformed blood Cd and Pb levels in Korean men. For the highest quartile of Cd and Pb, the odds ratio (OR) of the intermediate risk and beyond for CHD (10-year risk ≥10%) compared to the lowest quartile was 6.870 (Cd, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.58-10.30) and 3.127 (Pb, 95% CI: 2.09-4.69) after adjusting for confounders, respectively. The adjusted OR of the intermediate risk and beyond for CHD (10-year risk ≥10%) in the fourth quartile of both Cd and Pb was 12.2 (95% CI: 8.0-18.5) compared to the reference group (first and second quartiles of Cd and Pb). However, the association between log-transformed blood Cd and Pb and the 10-year CHD risk was not significant in Korean women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and carotid artery inflammation measured by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography/computed tomography. Participants were 755 consecutive otherwise healthy adult males who underwent a general health screening program. Carotid FDG uptake, represented as maximum target-to-background ratio, was increased with mild (n = 237; 1.61 ± 0.14; P = .033) and moderate NAFLD (n = 145; 1.63 ± 0.16; P = .005) compared with controls (n = 373; 1.58 ± 0.15). In patients aged >50 years, moderate NAFLD was the only independent risk factor for high carotid FDG uptake (odds ratio, 2.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-4.07; P = .001). Apparently healthy adult males with NAFLD have elevated carotid FDG uptake as well as increased carotid intima–media thickness, suggesting that they may be at an increased risk of having inflammatory atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]