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The properties of the Hoyle state in 12C (7.654 MeV, 0+) affect the rate at which carbon, one of the most abundant elements in the Universe, is forged in stars. Recent experiments reported values of its radiative decay branching ratio that are in tension, posing major implications especially in the astrophysical domain. This work reports on an almost background-free measurement of the radiative decay branching ratio of the Hoyle state that exploits charged particle coincidence techniques. The experiment adopts several methodologies to minimize the background and identify the rare signal associated with the radiative decay. Large care is devoted to having under full control two of the major sources of systematic errors in particle-coincidence experiments: the coincidence efficiency and the spurious coincidence rate. We find a radiative decay branching ratio of Γrad/Γtot = 4.2(6) · 10−4. The new finding helps to resolve the tension between recent data published in the literature.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Superior Capsule Reconstruction (SCR) of the shoulder joint has recently been included in the portfolio of interventions as a solution to irreparable rotator cuff tears. One of the options is to use a long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT) autograft. This paper presents the fi rst clinical outcomes of the SCR of the shoulder joint using the LHBT autograft. MATERIAL AND METHODS It is a prospective non-randomised study in which 14 patients were included, namely 7 men and 7 women. The patients were evaluated using the pain VAS, UCLA (The University of California at Los Angeles) Shoulder Rating Scale and ASES (The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons) Shoulder Score. The minimum follow-up was 12 months after surgery. The measured values were analysed using the standard statistical methods. RESULTS From August 2020 to January 2022, a total of 14 SCR with biceps tendon autograph were performed at our department. The mean age of the patients was 62 years (40–72). The mean value of the UCLA Shoulder Score was 12.36 ± 2.92 points preoperatively, while after surgery the obtained values increased to the mean value of 28.86 ± 3.08 points. The ASES score was 25.48 ± 3.89 points preoperatively and 82.41 ± 7.95 points at one year after surgery. The preoperative mean VAS score was 6.14 ± 1.10 points and 1.36 ± 0.93 points at one year after surgery. The mean active shoulder fl exion measured preoperatively was 140 degrees, whereas at one year after surgery it was 171 degrees. The mean active abduction reached 123 degrees before surgery and 169 degrees after surgery. The mean active external rotation of the shoulder joint was 59 degrees preoperatively and 52 degrees postoperatively. The mean active external rotation at 90 degrees of abduction was 52 degrees preoperatively and 60 degrees postoperatively. Whereas the improvement as against the preoperative status measured by the UCLA, ASES and pain VAS was signifi cant, the differences in the range of motion were signifi cant in the case of active fl exion and abduction only. DISCUSSION Painful irreparable rotator cuff tear constitutes an indication for SCR. The reconstruction is performed using autografts, allografts and xenografts. In literature, several SCR surgical techniques using a long head of the biceps tendon have been presented. In most of these techniques the supraglenoid insertion of the LHBT was left intact. Our study showed a signifi - cant relief from problems and good functional outcomes at 1 year after surgery when the biceps tendon had been used. Similar results are reported also by other studies using the biceps tendon for SCR. When comparing this study and the other study we published earlier on SCR with xenografts, there is no signifi cant difference in the clinical outcomes between these two techniques. On the very contrary, they are slightly better in some parameters. CONCLUSIONS Arthroscopic SCR of the shoulder joint with the biceps tendon reports good clinical outcomes at one year after surgery both with regard to the relief from problems and range of motion. Due to low morbidity of graft harvesting, low cost, and easy surgical technique, it appears to be the fi rst-choice method for superior capsule reconstruction of an irreparable tear of supraspinatus or infraspinatus if the long head of the biceps tendon is preserved. A longer follow-up period and evaluation of a larger study population would be necessary to defi nitely confi rm the success rate of the described procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Increased tibial slope facilitates anterior translation of tibia relative to the femur, thereby increasing the load on both the native and replaced anterior cruciate ligament. This study aims to retrospectively review the posterior tibial slope in a cohort of our patients after the ACL reconstruction and revision ACL reconstruction. Based on the results obtained by measurements, we aimed to confirm or disprove the claim that the increased posterior tibial slope is one of the risk factors of the ACL reconstruction failure. Another aim of the study was to assess whether there are any correlations between the posterior tibial slope and basic somatic parameters (height, weight, BMI) or the patient s age. MATERIAL AND METHODS The posterior tibial slope was measured retrospectively on lateral X-rays of 375 patients. There were 83 revision reconstructions and 292 primary reconstructions performed. The patient s age at the time of injury, height and weight were recorded and the BMI was calculated. The findings were then statistically analysed. RESULTS The mean posterior tibial slope in 292 primary reconstructions was 8.6 degrees, whereas the mean posterior tibial slope in 83 revision reconstructions was 12.3 degrees. The difference between the studied groups was statistically (p<0.0001) and substantively significant (d=1.35). In the breakdown into men and women, the mean tibial slope was 8.6 degrees in the group of men with primary reconstruction and 12.4 degrees in the group of men with revision reconstruction (p < 0.0001, d = 1.38). A similar result was achieved in women where in the group with primary reconstruction the mean tibial slope was 8.4 degrees, while in the group with revision reconstruction it was 12.3 degrees (p < 0.0001, d = 1.41). Furthermore, a higher age in men at the time of revision surgery (p = 0.009; d = 0.46) and a lower BMI in women at the time of revision surgery (p = 0.0342; d = 0.12) were observed. Conversely, neither height nor weight were different, both when comparing the whole groups and the groups in a breakdown by sex. DISCUSSION As regards the main aim, our results are in line with the results reported by majority of other authors, and they are substantively significant. The posterior tibial slope is a significant risk factor in anterior cruciate ligament replacements, with tibial slope above 12 degrees increasing the risk of ligament failure, namely both in men and women. On the other hand, this is obviously not the sole cause of the ACL reconstruction failure since there are also other risk parameters. It is not yet clear whether it makes sense to indicate correction osteotomy before the ACL replacement in all patients with an increased posterior tibial slope. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirmed a greater posterior tibial slope in the revision reconstruction group compared to the primary reconstruction group. Thus, we confirmed that greater posterior tibial slope may be a factor leading to the ACL reconstruction failure. Since the posterior tibial slope is easily measured on the baseline X-rays, we recommend to perform this measurement routinely before each ACL reconstruction. In the case of a high posterior tibial slope, slope correction should be considered to prevent potential ACL reconstruction failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Shoulder instability is often times accompanied by associated injuries caused by the humeral head displacement. These are primarily bone lesions on the head and socket of the glenohumeral joint. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the frequency, morphology and clinical significance of bone lesions in shoulder instabilities in a group of patients operated in our department for glenohumeral instability between 2012 and 2019. MATERIAL AND METHODS The ongoing evaluation included 373 patients with trauma and habitual instability who had undergone surgery in our department in the period from 2012 to 2019. All patients underwent a preoperative 3D CT scan of the shoulder joint. Subsequently, the morphology and clinical significance of individual bone lesions were evaluated based on the older Burkhart s concept of engaging/nonengaging lesions and the newer concept of glenoid track by Yamamoto and Di Giacomo of 2007, 2014 or 2020. RESULTS The frequency of Hill-Sachs lesion was 83.4% (311) in our group of patients. In nearly two thirds (211 cases) also a bone defect on glenoid was detected (59.3%). When comparing the basic types of instabilities, in the TUBS group the Hill-Sachs lesions were present up to twice as often as in the group with AMBRI instability. Clinically significant Hill-Sachs lesions according to the older concept of engaging/ nonengaging lesions of Burkhart were reported in 104 cases (34%). Clinically significant lesions according to the newer concept of Yamamoto and DiGiacomo (the so-called off-track lesions) were observed in 173 cases (55.6%). Classified as critical were the clinically insignificant lesions (the so-called on-track lesions), which by their location were near the glenoid track. These lesions were found in 80 patients. After adding up the significant (off-track) and critical on-track lesions, we arrived at 253 (81.4%) clinically significant lesions based on the updated Yamamoto concept. DISCUSSION The frequency of Hill-Sachs lesions and glenoid defects identified by us is close to the upper limit of the range described in literature (8 to 100%). Based on the recent study by Yamamoto, added to these defects were the so-called peripheral ontrack defects, the clinical significance of which is currently indisputable. The oldest classification into engaging/nonengaging lesions revealed only 34% of the significant lesions, but this concept does not evaluate the glenoid defect. The newer concept by Yamamoto/DiGiacomo resulted in detecting 55.6% of significant Hill-Sachs lesions. The latest modification of the glenoid track of 2020, which includes also the on-track lesions in the critical zone among the significant lesions, in our group of patients classified 81% of lesions as clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirmed the very frequent occurrence of clinically significant Hill-Sachs lesions in shoulder instabilities. Therefore, for the sake of successful shoulder stabilisation surgery detailed preoperative planning with 3D CT of the shoulder joint and evaluation of the associated bone lesions are necessary. The highest detection of clinically significant lesions was achieved by the latest modification of the glenoid track concept. Future studies will have to prove the effect of this classification on the result of surgical treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is one of the most common reconstruction surgeries. The unintended consequences of the surgery are hemarthrosis, blood loss, knee swelling and postoperative pain. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of a single dose of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) on the postoperative parameters and functional status of the knee joint 3 months after surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS It is a prospective randomised clinical study. An intravenous injection of TXA equivalent to 15 mg/kg in 100 ml of saline solution was administered to the test group during the surgery (20 minutes before the end of the surgery). The control group was administered 100 ml of saline solution without TXA. In both groups, the following parameters were evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively (on Day 1 and Day 10 and at 1 month and 3 months): thigh circumference at 1 cm above the patella, Coupens and Yates (CY) score for swelling, and pain score (VAS). At 24 hours after the surgery, the blood loss (secretion into the drain) and decrease in hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (HCT) levels compared to the preoperative levels were assessed. The functional status of the knee joint was assessed based on the Lysholm knee scoring scale and the IKDC subjective knee evaluation form preoperatively, or at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. RESULTS In the test group, a significantly lower blood loss was detected 24 hours after the surgery. The mean difference of 128 ml compared to the control group was both statistically and practically significant (p < 0.001, d =1.42). The test group showed a lower decrease in Hb and HCT levels postoperatively compared to the control group, although with no statistical significance. On the first postoperative day, slightly better results of the thigh circumference at 1 cm above the patella and of the CY score were observed in the test group. However, during the follow-up check performed postoperatively on Day 10, the differences in the thigh circumference at 1 cm above the patella, CY score and pain VAS score were negligible. The differences in the functional status of the knee joint between the two groups ascertained during the check performed 1 month and 3 months after the surgery were insignificant. DISCUSSION Our study, just like other studies, confirms a significant effect of a single dose of intravenous TXA on the volume of blood loss and early postoperative swelling, which are the parameters affecting the early postoperative course. Even though the intervention does not affect the subsequent result of surgery, it can undoubtedly be of benefit perioperatively. There is a fairly limited number of randomised clinical studies on this topic in literature, with most of them published in the last 7 years. Further research should, among other things, optimise the protocol and identify a suitable candidate for TXA administration in patients undergoing an ACL reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirmed the positive effect of a single dose of intravenous TXA during the reconstruction of anterior cruciate ligament using hamstrings on early postoperative blood loss and early postoperative swelling, which can have a positive effect on wound healing and prevent postoperative complications. Therefore, in agreement with available literature, we recom mend administering a single dose of intravenous TXA in ACL reconstruction, unless there is a contraindication to this therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY In recent years attempts have been made again to repair anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in order to maintain native kinematics and knee joint proprioception. The method of choice is the arthroscopic suture of the ligament using the InternalBrace ligament augmentation. This study presents the first experience gained with this surgical technique and the clinical outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS In the period from November 2016 to December 2018, a total of 46 patients with acute ACL rupture underwent the ACL repair using the InternalBrace ligament augmentation. This study includes only the patients followed up for a minimum period of 12 months postoperatively. For the evaluation of patients, the well-established clinical scores were used - the Tegner Activity Level Scale, the IKDC (International Knee Documentation Committee) subjective scale and the Tegner Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale. The measurements were taken preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. RESULTS The evaluations concerned 20 patients who had undergone surgery in the period from February 2017 to February 2018. In the aforementioned group of patients, there were 3 cases of reconstruction failure (15%), subsequently requiring the ACL reconstruction. The average preoperative Tegner Activity score was 8.2 (6-10; median 8.0). At six months postoperatively, the average value of this score was 7.35 (5-10; median 7), and at 12 months postoperatively it was 7.35 (4-10; median 7). The average preoperative Lysholm score was 66.4 (16-100; median 69). At six months postoperatively, the average value of this score improved to 90.70 (71-100; median 92) and at 12 months postoperatively to 91 (75-100; median 90). The average IKDC subjective score before the surgery was 49.8 (36-74; median 49). At six months postoperatively the average achieved score was 87.70 (71-99; median 90) and at 12 months postoperatively it was 88.9 (63-99; median 93). The differences between the preoperative values and the values at 6 months after the surgery were significant in all the followedup parameters. Conversely, the differences between the values at 6 and at 12 months were not significant. DISCUSSION The clinical outcomes of the patients after the ACL repair are valuable and comparable to the data published in literature. They were largely achieved within 6 months after the surgery. A fairly high percentage of failure of this method compared to literature (Jonkergouw 7.5%, McKay 1.5%) can partly be ascribed to the learning curve even though the surgeries were performed exclusively by experienced surgeons. A certain role could also be played by more challenging indication for this procedure or a faster return to postoperative load. CONCLUSIONS Anterior cruciate ligament suture with the InternalBrace ligament augmentation judging from the results achieved by our group of patients brings very good clinical outcomes already at 6 months postoperatively. This method allows the athletes to return to full load soon. It maintains the kinematics and knee joint proprioception, and thus can potentially contribute to the prevention of post-traumatic arthritis. Strict application of indication criteria is a precondition to success. A longer follow up and evaluation of a larger number of patients will, however, be necessary to definitely confirm the success of this surgical technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this contribution, a preliminary analysis of the first part of the experiment S2012 conducted at the ISAC-II facility of Canada’s particle accelerator center TRIUMF in Vancouver will be presented. The experiment aims to study highly clustered structures of nuclei created in multi-nucleon transfer reactions of 9Li radioactive beam on natural boron target (11B and 10B). The main objective of the experiment is to study exotic structures created in neutron-rich 16C nucleus in the range of higher excitation energies. The analysis presented here probes the existence of exotic cluster configurations and the quality of detected results using the invariant mass techniques.