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To assess the efficacy and safety of burosumab in children and adults with X-linked hypophosphatemia based on real-world evidence. MEDLINE (via PubMed) and Cochrane Library were searched until 18 October 2023 for single-arm (before-after) studies. Registries including Clinicaltrials.gov, EU Clinical Trials, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, and conference abstracts. The outcomes were a change in serum phosphorus concentrations and change in RSS, a change in serum ALP, bone-specific ALP, a change in the ratio of Tubular maximum reabsorption of Phosphate to Glomerular Filtrate rate, a change in serum 1,25(OH) 2 D and 25(OH) 2 D concentrations, change in height Z-score, McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and safety outcomes. An inverse variance random-effects meta-analysis was applied for data synthesis. Fifteen studies (289 participants) were included. Burosumab treatment improved serum phosphate concentrations [mean difference 0.88 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval 0.70 to 1.07, I 2  = 92%), Rickets Severity score (mean difference - 1.86, 95% confidence interval - 2.5 to - 1.21, I 2  = 71%), serum alkaline phosphate concentrations (mean difference - 1.86, 95% confidence interval - 2.5 to - 1.21, I 2  = 71%), serum 1,25(OH) 2 D concentrations (mean difference 18.91 pg/ml, 95% confidence interval 6.39 to 31.43, I 2  = 96%) and renal phosphate reabsorption (mean difference 1.22 mg/dl, 95% confidence interval 0.70 to 1.74, I 2 93%). Burosumab treatment improved overall clinical and laboratory findings in patients with X-linked hypophosphatemia., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common neuropathy with various underlying causes, posing diagnostic and management challenges for healthcare providers. The condition is typically associated with repetitive strain, idiopathic factors, or anatomical variations, leading to the compression of the median nerve within the carpal tunnel. We describe a case of a 46-year-old male who presented with recurrent CTS symptoms one year after a successful carpal tunnel release surgery. The symptoms resurfaced following a minor wrist trauma, leading to pain, numbness, and hand weakness. Despite initial conservative management, including immobilization and NSAIDs, the symptoms persisted. Further investigation and exploratory surgery revealed a rare subepineural hematoma of the median nerve, which was subsequently drained, resulting in immediate and lasting symptom relief. This case demonstrates the importance of considering uncommon etiologies such as subepineural hematomas in patients with recurrent CTS and underscores the need for a thorough diagnostic approach to ensure effective treatment., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Lyrtzis et al.)

Background: Non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) rank among the frequently prescribed medications for addressing pain and inflammation. Although they are powerful pain relievers, their side effects are indisputable. Serrapeptase, a serine protease, exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-oedemic activity without the side effects of NSAIDs. We aim to assess the efficacy and safety of serrapeptase in the treatment of pain and edema in ankle sprains., Methods: In a single-centre prospective comparative study, 76 patients aged 18-53 with Grade II ankle sprains were assigned to either a serrapeptase intervention group (n = 38) receiving 5 mg serrapeptase (two tablets, three times per day) for ten days, or a control group (n = 38) receiving 500 mg paracetamol (three times per day) for the same duration. Ankle joint edema was assessed using both Figure-of-Eight and water-displacement methods. Pain was assessed with Visual Analogue Scale (V.A.S.). Within-groups and between-groups analyses were performed in the 3rd and 10th day., Results: Both groups exhibited reduced edema and pain over time. Serrapeptase demonstrated a superior reduction in ankle joint edema on the third and tenth day compared to paracetamol, while pain management did not differ significantly., Conclusion: Serrapeptase exhibited better efficacy than paracetamol in reducing ankle joint edema, highlighting its potential as an alternative treatment., Level of Evidence: Level II, prospective comparative trial without randomization., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 Delhi Orthopedic Association. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.)

Aims: To investigate early indicators of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), focusing on pulse wave velocity (PWV) and its associations with various anthropometric and glycemic parameters., Patients and Methods: A total of 124 children and adolescents with T1D (mean age 10.75 ± 3.57 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric data, including height, weight, body mass index (BMI), glycemic parameters, such as HbA1c and time in range (TIR) were assessed. PWV was assessed by oscillometric method using the Mobil-O-Graph PWA device. Univariate and multivariate linear regression were used to explore the association of PWV z-score with anthropometric, demographic, and glycaemic variables., Results: Significant negative association between PWV and age and height (β = -0.336, 95 % CI -0.44 to -0.25, p < 0.001 and β = -0.491, 95 % CI -0.62 to -0.36, p < 0.001, respectively), while gender showed a significant positive association with PWV, with females displaying higher PWV values compared to males (β = 0.366, 95 % CI 0.17 to 0.56, p < 0.001). TIR was positively associated with PWV (β = 0.092, 95 % CI 0.01 to 0.16, p = 0.017 only for patients having TIR ≤ 50 %. Finally, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were positively associated with PWV (β = 0.086, 95 % CI 0.02 to 0.14, p = 0.007 and β = 0.152, 95 % CI 0.07 to 0.23, p < 0.001, respectively)., Conclusion: Youth with T1DM who spend <50 % of time in range exhibit uniquely increased signs of arterial stiffness, indicating that poor glycemic control may contribute to early vascular damage. Differences related to age, gender and height should be considered., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims/hypothesis: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy and safety of s.c. administered tirzepatide vs s.c. administered semaglutide for adults of both sexes with type 2 diabetes mellitus., Methods: We searched PubMed and Cochrane up to 11 November 2023 for RCTs with an intervention duration of at least 12 weeks assessing s.c. tirzepatide at maintenance doses of 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg once weekly, or s.c. semaglutide at maintenance doses of 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg or 2.0 mg once weekly, in adults with type 2 diabetes, regardless of background glucose-lowering treatment. Eligible trials compared any of the specified doses of tirzepatide and semaglutide against each other, placebo or other glucose-lowering drugs. Primary outcomes were changes in HbA 1c and body weight from baseline. Secondary outcomes were achievement of HbA 1c target of ≤48 mmol/mol (≤6.5%) or <53 mmol/mol (<7.0%), body weight loss of at least 10%, and safety outcomes including gastrointestinal adverse events and severe hypoglycaemia. We used version 2 of the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (ROB 2) to assess the risk of bias, conducted frequentist random-effects network meta-analyses and evaluated confidence in effect estimates utilising the Confidence In Network Meta-Analysis (CINeMA) framework., Results: A total of 28 trials with 23,622 participants (44.2% female) were included. Compared with placebo, tirzepatide 15 mg was the most efficacious treatment in reducing HbA 1c (mean difference -21.61 mmol/mol [-1.96%]) followed by tirzepatide 10 mg (-20.19 mmol/mol [-1.84%]), semaglutide 2.0 mg (-17.74 mmol/mol [-1.59%]), tirzepatide 5 mg (-17.60 mmol/mol [-1.60%]), semaglutide 1.0 mg (-15.25 mmol/mol [-1.39%]) and semaglutide 0.5 mg (-12.00 mmol/mol [-1.09%]). In between-drug comparisons, all tirzepatide doses were comparable with semaglutide 2.0 mg and superior to semaglutide 1.0 mg and 0.5 mg. Compared with placebo, tirzepatide was more efficacious than semaglutide for reducing body weight, with reductions ranging from 9.57 kg (tirzepatide 15 mg) to 5.27 kg (tirzepatide 5 mg). Semaglutide had a less pronounced effect, with reductions ranging from 4.97 kg (semaglutide 2.0 mg) to 2.52 kg (semaglutide 0.5 mg). In between-drug comparisons, tirzepatide 15 mg, 10 mg and 5 mg demonstrated greater efficacy than semaglutide 2.0 mg, 1.0 mg and 0.5 mg, respectively. Both drugs increased incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events compared with placebo, while neither tirzepatide nor semaglutide increased the risk of serious adverse events or severe hypoglycaemia., Conclusions/interpretation: Our data show that s.c. tirzepatide had a more pronounced effect on HbA 1c and weight reduction compared with s.c. semaglutide in people with type 2 diabetes. Both drugs, particularly higher doses of tirzepatide, increased gastrointestinal adverse events., Registration: PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022382594., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Duplication of the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP) tendon is an extremely uncommon anatomical anomaly found within the flexor digitorum superficialis (FDS) muscle, with minimal documentation in the current literature. We present the case of a 45-year-old female manual laborer who exhibited symptoms suggestive of trigger finger in her right middle finger. Surgical exploration uncovered a duplicated FDP tendon, a previously unreported anatomical anomaly in this context. Despite attempting conservative treatment initially, surgical intervention involving release of the A1 pulley, excision of the A1 pulley, and identification of the duplicated tendon was performed. The unusual nature of this anatomical variation highlights the need for additional research into its clinical significance and treatment options. This case highlights the significance of conducting comprehensive anatomical assessments to diagnose and treat uncommon variations within the FDS muscle. It underscores the continued need for collaborative research to enhance treatment approaches, especially in instances where trigger finger symptoms are present., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Lyrtzis et al.)

Background: The vertebral artery groove (VAG), located on the posterior arch of the first cervical (atlas) vertebra plays a pivotal role in guiding the vertebral artery's (VA) third part (V3). Deviations in VAG morphology and morphometry (dimensions) can influence vascular dynamics and pose clinical implications., Aim: The current study delves into the morphometric variants and explores the less-explored morphometric variable of the VAG thickness, highlighting possible laterality (asymmetry)., Methods: A morphometric investigation was conducted on 141 dried atlas (73 male and 68 female) vertebrae from a Greek adult population. The VAG's minimum thickness was investigated by considering the laterality (sides' differences), gender, and age impact on it. Measurements were performed by two independent researchers, ensuring the data reliability., Results: A significant asymmetry was identified in the VAG thickness between the left (3.9 ± 0.9 mm) and right (4.1 ± 1.1 mm) (p=0.005) sides, with the left side having the mean minimum thickness. Gender had a significant impact on VAG thickness only on the left side, with females presenting a significantly thinner left-sided VAG (3.6 ± 0.9 mm) than males (4.10 ± 0.7 mm) (p=0.001). Age had no significant impact on the VAG thickness.  Conclusion: The present study underscores the significance of asymmetry in the VAG thickness in craniocervical interventions. This less-explored morphometric variable warrants careful consideration by surgeons during preoperative planning to minimize potential complications. The current findings highlight the importance of understanding the VAG thickness asymmetry and its clinical implications, as this osseous variable may be an index of a different diameter of the VA by side. It is recommended that surgeons incorporate this variable into their preoperative assessments to improve the safety and efficacy of craniocervical interventions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright © 2024, Lyrtzis et al.)

Aims: To study the age of pubertal onset and secular trend in boys with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) followed in two centers in North Greece., Methods: Boys with T1DM visited the Outpatient Clinics of the 1st and 2nd Department of Paediatrics of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki from March until June 2022 were enrolled. Recent anthropometric data were recorded during the follow-up visit whereas previous anthropometric data and demographic data were collected from medical files. A volume of testis > 3 ml was indicative for the onset of puberty., Results: A total of 46 boys with T1DM with documented pubertal onset after the diagnosis of T1DM were included in the study. Precocious puberty (<9 years old) was recorded in 5 boys (10.2 %), early puberty (<10 years but >9 years) in 10 (20.4 %) and 34 (69.4 %) entered puberty normally. The duration of T1DM was inversely correlated to the likelihood of earlier puberty (P < 0.001). However, no notable year predominance was observed suggesting no COVID-19 effect., Conclusion: A considerable number of Greek boys with T1DM appear to develop precocious and early puberty, raising thoughts regarding diabetes management and other possible cofactors., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of faster aspart (FIAsp) in paediatric population with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and insulin pumps in real-world settings., Methods: Of 44 patients, 20 used FIAsp, 16 of which switched from aspart to FIAsp and 24 used aspart/lispro. We performed within-groups and between-groups analyses in three time points for anthropometric data, % of 24-h time in range of 70-180 mg/dl (TIR), time < 70 mg/dl and <54 mg/dl and time > 180 mg/dl and >250 mg/dl, bolus and basal insulins doses (units/kg/day and %), total daily dose (TDD, units/kg/day), glycaemic variability, frequency of set changes, sensor wear per week and meals per day., Results: Use of FIAsp over time increased TIR (P = 0.002) and TDD (P = 0.008 and P = 0.004, respectively for three months after the switch and recent use) and decreased time in hyperglycaemia (>180 P = 0.003 and > 250 mg/dl, P = 0.004). Frequency of set changes differ in the first 3 months (P = 0.042). Patients with FIAsp consumed more meals per day compared to those with aspart/lispro (P = 0.032)., Conclusion: Real-world data confirm that use of FIAsp in insulin pumps in paediatric populations improves glycaemic control long-term., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest A.S., G.S., M.D. and A.C. declare that they have no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Aims: To assess the efficacy and safety of ultra-rapid insulin analogues used with continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion systems (CSII) in adults with type 1 diabetes (T1DM)., Methods: We searched MEDLINE and Cochrane Library up to May 2022 for randomized controlled trials comparing ultra-rapid with rapid-acting insulin analogues (RAIAs) used with CSII. We performed random effects meta-analyses for % of 24-h time in range of 70-180 mg/dl (TIR), time in hypoglycaemia (<70 mg/dl) and hyperglycaemia (>180 mg/dl), 1- and 2-hour post-prandial glucose [PPG] increment after a meal test, HbA1c and average insulin dose at endpoint, unplanned infusion set changes and severe hypoglycaemia., Results: Nine studies (1,156 participants) were included. Ultra-rapid insulins were superior to RAIAs on TIR (mean difference [MD] 1.1 %, 95 % CI 0.11-2.11), time spent in hypoglycaemia (MD -0.47 %, 95 % CI -0.63 to -30), and 1- and 2-hour PPG (MD -12.20 mg/dl, 95 % CI -19.85 to -4.54 and MD -17.61 mg/dl, 95 % CI -28.55 to -6.66, respectively). Ultra-rapid insulins increased odds of unplanned infusion set changes (odds ratio 1.60, 95 % CI 1.26-2.03)., Conclusion: Ultra-rapid acting insulins provided better PPG control compared to RAIAs but their use might result in more infusion set changes., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: A.T. has served on an advisory board for Novo Nordisk and Boehringer Ingelheim, and his university has received funding for educational and research support from Boehringer Ingelheim, Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, all outside this work. A.S., T.K. and A.C. declare that they have no relevant or material financial interests that relate to the research described in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)