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Nanobiotechnology is a specific field of biotechnology that utilizes nanoscale methods and materials to investigate biological systems and create innovative medical technologies. This review discusses the diverse use of nanobiotechnology in health, focusing on both its superior properties and challenges. The main aims of this report are to present and elaborate on the global market share of this growing field as well as the scientific output, regarding publications and patents in the last decade. Quantitative data is derived from the Statnano database, which includes information related to the articles from the Web of Science (WoS) and approved patents from the European Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The final aim of this review is to provide some suggestions based on these data. Government support is the most important driving force in building up research and publications. Support for advancement in nanotechnology to fabricate products for commercial and public benefit is the top priority of developed nations. Thus, entrepreneurial training of young researchers, and collaborations between scientists, policymakers, investors, and citizens, should be encouraged. To work together globally and set international standards for the creation of consistent methods in characterizing nanoscale products with biological systems is imperative.

Background: Various virtual goniometers have been used for photographic measurements. However, there is no single method that is both reliable and valid for measuring the forearm, wrist, and finger joints., Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the criterion validity and intra- and inter-rater reliability of a virtual goniometer for assessing forearm, wrist, and finger joints using screenshots from video recordings and to calculate the standard error of measurement (SEM) and minimum detectable change (MDC)., Study Design: This is a clinical measurement study., Methods: Goniometric measurements were performed independently by two observers in 26 healthy participants (49 hands) using a virtual goniometer. Criterion validity was assessed by examining the agreement between virtual and manual goniometer measurements. Reliability was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) to assess agreement between virtual and manual goniometers and interobserver agreement for virtual measurements. The difference between measurements was analyzed using the Student test and Bland-Altman plots. SEM and MDC were both used to determine the error associated with the measurements., Results: Strong agreement between measurements (ICC = 0.69-0.98) and positive moderate to high correlation (r = 0.52-0.96; p < 0.001) were observed. Bland-Altman plots showed the agreement between the two measurement methods. Intra-rater (ICC = 0.80-0.99) and inter-rater reliability (ICC = 0.76-0.99) were high. SEM was low (2°-4°) and MDC ranged from 4°-12°., Conclusions: The virtual goniometer proved to be a valid and reliable method for measuring joint angles from screenshots. The inter-rater and intra-rater reliability of the virtual goniometer was high. The average bias between the virtual and manual goniometer was small. Measurement errors were low for forearm, wrist, and hand movements, with the largest measurement errors observed for the second and third fingers., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: The metacarpophalangeal joint blocking orthosis (MCPJ-BO) is one of the first-line orthotic treatment for patients with trigger finger (TF). Relative motion extension orthosis (RME-O) has recently emerged as a treatment option for various hand disorders involving TF., Purpose: The primary objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of 6 weeks of orthotic treatment with the MCPJ-BO and the RME-O for pain relief. Function and satisfaction with the orthosis were assessed as secondary objectives., Study Design: Randomized clinical study., Methods: Thirty patients with an average age of 50 years with Froimson stage 1-3 A1 pulley triggering participated in the study. They were randomly assigned to either the MCPJ-BO (n = 15; 10 females, five males) or the RME-O group (n = 15; 12 females, three males). The orthoses were worn full time for 6 weeks. All patients received patient education, activity modification, and flexor tendon gliding exercises as part of the rehabilitation program. Pre- and post-assessments included Numeric Pain Rating Scale, Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire, and Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology questionnaire. The Mann-Whitney U test was conducted to analyze the difference between the two groups., Results: There were no significant differences between the two groups in pain and function before treatment (p < 0.05). Within-group comparisons indicated that both orthoses relieved pain, but the MCPJ-BO group achieved greater pain relief (p = 0.001). There was a significant improvement in function in the MCPJ-BO group, with a mean change of 12.7 (p = 0.0001). The overall success rates for the MCPJ-BO group and RME-O group were 60% and 27%, respectively. Patients in both groups had high satisfaction with the orthosis., Conclusions: MCPJ-BO and RME-O could be used for pain relief in the treatment of TF. The MCPJ-BO appears to be more effective than the RME-O in improving function., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors report no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We reported a 24-year-old woman who sustained multiple upper limb injuries after a traffic accident in March 2017. She sustained a C7-T1 brachial plexus injury and radial nerve injury on the left side diagnosed in November 2017. The patient underwent radial nerve reconstruction. The patient began her comprehensive therapy program in January 2018., Purpose: To describe the use of graded motor imagery (GMI) and outcomes after traumatic brachial plexus palsy. We presented changes in electromyographic (EMG) activity of target muscles during task execution and functional status following 10-session GMI therapy., Study Design: Case report., Methods: The program included 4 sessions of motor imagery and 6 sessions of a combination of motor imagery and mirror therapy., Results: The patient successfully participated in the program with reported improvements in EMG activity, functional status, emotional well-being, and body awareness., Conclusions: GMI therapy appears to have peripheral motor effects, including altered surface EMG activity and contributes to a favorable outcome in the functional level of the affected arm. An improved emotional state and awareness of the affected hand could have a positive effect on function. Future long-term randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the cumulative peripheral effects of treatment of graded motor imagery and the effects of variables mediating its effects on functional performance in patients with nerve injury., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to declare., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Rationale and Objectives: There is no universally accepted standard technique for measuring the scapholunate interval and no specific sources of measurement error have been identified. We aimed to establish a set of normal radiological criteria for the scapholunate interval that could be used in comparative studies of wrist pathology to determine interobserver reliability and to identify potential errors that might influence measurements., Materials and Methods: A total of 60 healthy volunteers participated in the study. Scapholunate interval was measured by three independent observers using X-ray, CT, and US in four positions, including neutral, fist, radial and ulnar deviation. Inter-observer reliability was tested using intraclass correlation coefficient. Generalizability theory was applied to evaluate specific sources of measurement error related to participant, observer, imaging modality and measurement position., Results: In neutral position, the scapholunate interval measured by X-ray, CT, and US was 3.1 mm, 3.5 mm and 3.5 mm respectively. The interval remained constant during fist and radial deviation but decreased during ulnar deviation. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.874 to 0.907 for X-ray, 0.773-0.881 for CT and 0.964-0.979 for US. In the generalizability study, the participant x modality x position interaction accounted for the largest proportion of total variance (29%)., Conclusion: X-ray, CT, and US are reliable modalities for measuring the scapholunate interval, with US having the highest reliability. Participant and position factors may independently contribute to measurement error. Therefore, standardized measurement positions are recommended to obtain reliable measurement results., (Copyright © 2022 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this prospective study of 55 patients was to analyse the cross-sectional and longitudinal relationship between disability and physical and psychological variables after conservative treatment of trigger finger and to determine the predictive factors for the post-treatment disability score and change in disability score. The primary outcome measure was the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire. Potential predictive factors included pain, number of triggering events, depression, anxiety and kinesiophobia. Disability correlated strongly with anxiety, moderately with pain and depression and weakly with triggering and kinesiophobia. The change in depression score correlated significantly with the change in disability score. Post-treatment pain and anxiety scores accounted for 47% of the explained variance in disability score. Improvement in depression after treatment accounted for 18% of the explained variance in disability change score. Psychological variables appear to be potential predictors of disability. Level of evidence: IV.

Purpose: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the results of central slip reconstruction with a modified Snow's technique under wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet., Methods: Between 2016 and 2019, 13 patients with boutonniere deformity were operated. All of the patients had boutonniere deformity with a passively correctable proximal interphalangeal joint. In 7 patients, temporary proximal interphalangeal joint transfixation with a K-wire to secure the repair was preferred. For the rest of the patients, postoperative follow-up was done with an orthosis. All patients were referred to a hand therapist for postoperative rehabilitation., Results: The mean interval between the injury time and the surgery was 55.7 days. After the surgery, the average proximal interphalangeal joint flexion was 104.8° and the loss of proximal interphalangeal joint extension was 6.15°. The average distal interphalangeal flexion was 65.3°. Seven cases had excellent results, 4 patients had good results, and 2 patients had fair results., Conclusions: Our study demonstrated that with a modified Snow technique, encouraging results can be achieved for neglected central slip injuries in which primary repair is impossible. Surgery under wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet enables the surgeon to check the stability of the repair, and early active motion with relative motion flexion orthoses can be started with confidence., Type of Study/level of Evidence: Therapeutic IV., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Context: Weight-bearing test (WBT) is a noninvasive quantitative test which has been used recently to determine loading capability of the individuals. The aim of this study was to strengthen the evidence for using the WBT test for measuring weight-bearing capacity of the upper-extremity with the specific objective of examining the internal and external responsiveness and concurrent validity of the test in patients with triangular fibrocartilage complex injury., Design: Single-group repeated measures., Methods: Internal responsiveness was assessed using effect size statistics. The correlation coefficient was used to examine external responsiveness by testing 5 hypotheses regarding predefined correlations between the changes in the measurements. Concurrent validity was evaluated by analyzing correlations between the WBT and other measurements. Thirty-one patients with triangular fibrocartilage complex injury were included for the analysis of the concurrent validity. Eighteen patients who completed all measurements at baseline and at 3-month follow-up enrolled for the responsiveness analysis. Measurements included the WBT, pain intensity, grip strength, and upper extremity functional level., Results: The WBT test was able to detect statistically significant changes in weight-bearing capacity between baseline and follow-up (P = .0001). The effect size of the WBT was large. Three out of 5 hypotheses (60%) were confirmed, a good correlation was found between changes scores of the WBT and grip strength (r = .478; P < .05). There were significant correlations between the WBT and other measurements (r value range from -.401 to .742; P < .05). A higher correlation was found between the WBT and grip strength (r = .742; P = .0001)., Conclusions: The responsiveness and concurrent validity of the WBT test confirmed that it is able to measure change in weight-bearing capacity in patients with triangular fibrocartilage complex injury.

Background: Previous studies have reported increased kinesiophobia in adults with degenerative scoliosis or adolescents who have undergone spinal surgery. However, little is known about the phenomenon of kinesiophobia among adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (IS)., Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate levels of kinesiophobia and its association with treatment choice in IS., Methods: The study included 98 IS patients with a mean age of 14 years and 20 healthy controls. Participants with IS were divided into groups based on treatment conditions, as follows: (1) untreated (n= 33); (2) treated with exercise (n= 32); and (3) treated with a brace (n= 33). Kinesiophobia was measured using the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK). Comparisons were made between four groups., Results: Untreated participants with IS were found to have greater kinesiophobia than healthy controls (p< 0.001). Participants treated with a brace (p= 0.046) and exercise (p= 0.064) had similar kinesiophobia levels as the healthy control group., Conclusions: Kinesiophobia was found to be higher in adolescents with IS compared to healthy peers. Brace or exercise treatment both had a positive impact on kinesiophobia. These findings should be considered when organizing rehabilitation programs to achieve the best results for adolescents with IS.