Study Design.: Experimental animal study investigating the efficacy of C-terminal domain of tetanus toxin application as neuroprotective effects on rat brain in a model of spinal cord injury (SCI). Objective.: The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible role of C-terminal domain of tetanus toxin (Hc-TeTx) on cell death mechanisms including apoptosis and autophagy following SCI. Summary of Background Data.: Traumatic SCI can lead to posttraumatic inflammation, oxidative stress, motor neuron apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy of tissue. To promote and enhance recovery after SCI, recent development of devices and therapeutic interventions are needed. Methods.: Twenty-eight adult rats were divided into four groups (n = 7 each) as follows: sham, trauma (SCI), SCI + Hc-TeTx, and SCI + methylprednisolone groups. The functional neurological deficits due to the SCI were assessed by behavioral analysis using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) open-field locomotor test. The alterations in pro-/anti-apoptotic and autophagy related-protein levels were measured by Western blotting technique. Results.: In this study, Hc-TeTx promotes locomotor recovery and motor neuron survival of SCI rats. Hc-TeTx also decreased expression of bax, bad, bak, cleaved caspase-3, Ask1, and autophagy-related proteins including Atg5 and LC3II in brain. Our study provides an evidence that cell death mechanisms play critical roles in SCI and that the nontoxic peptides including Hc-TeTx may exert protective effect and decrease cell death following SCI. Conclusion.: Our preliminary findings suggest a possible therapeutic agent to improve survival after spinal cord trauma, but further analysis are still needed to evaluate the difference between acute and chronic injuries. Level of Evidence: N/A

The primary aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological evaluation of acute pediatric hand injuries frequently encountered in emergency department units. Its secondary aim was to identify the risk factors associated with such injuries. Out of the 1547 acute hand and forearm injury cases admitted to emergency trauma department between March 2017 and March 2018, the 129 injuries pertaining to children were included in the study. Mechanism, time, etiology, injured structures, anatomical regions, cut structures, and occupational accident status were determined in addition to demographic information. The injuries were evaluated according to circadian rhythm in order to ascertain the hours of intensification. The Modified Hand Injury Severity Score (MHISS) was used to assess injury severity. The mean age of 129 patients was 10.1 years. The most injuries were observed in the groups of patients over 12 years of age (57, 44%), and 0–6 years of age (42, 32%), respectively. Nineteen students participating in vocational internships were injured (14%). Twenty-six cases (20%) in the 12-year-old group involved punching glass, and 34 (26%) cases in the 0–6 age groups involved fingertip crush injuries. Temporal injury intensity was seen to have increased between 12.00 and 19.00 hours. The mean MHISS was 41 (8–120). Injury prevention measures need to be increased, particularly for fingertip injuries. A specific injury severity assessment system is also required for pediatric hand injuries, which are often simpler and easier to treat than adult hand injuries. Additionally, training and increasing awareness are believed to be important steps in preventing pediatric hand injuries.

Aims: An increase in temperature in an area suspected of septic arthritis is a clinically important finding. The aim of this study is to evaluate temperature changes in septic arthritis with a high-resolution thermal camera. Methods: A total of 49 patients, who were evaluated with a prediagnosis of arthritis (septic or non-septic), were included in this study. A temperature increase in the knee with suspected septic arthritis was evaluated by using thermal imaging and compared with the opposite-side joint. Then, in order to confirm the diagnosis, a culture was taken using routine intra-articular aspiration. Results: The thermal measurements were compared in 15 patients with septic arthritis and 34 patients with non-septic arthritis. The mean temperature was 37.93 °C in the septic group, while it was 36.79 °C in the non-septic group (p < 0.000 *). The mean temperature difference in both joints was 3.40 °C in the septic group, while it was 0.94 °C in the non-septic group (p < 0.000 *). While the mean temperature was 37.10 °C in the group with septic arthritis, it was measured to be 35.89 °C in the group non-septic arthritis (p < 0.020). A very strong positive correlation was found between the difference in the mean temperatures of both groups and the values of the hottest and coldest points (r = 0.960, r = 0.902). Conclusions: In the diagnosis of septic arthritis, thermal imagers can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic tool. A quantitative value can be obtained to indicate to a local temperature increase. In future studies, specially designed thermal devices can be developed for septic arthritis.