Purpose The height of navicular bone from the floor is in proportion with the height of longitudinal arch of the foot. The study was conducted to evaluate correlation of navicular bone height with most often used angles, heel valgus and a foot print in order to simplify the procedure for the diagnosis of flatfoot. Methods A total of 218 operated children (436 feet) because of flexible flatfoot were evaluated clinically and radiologically. Meary angle, lateral talonavicular angle, talocalcaneal angle, calcaneal pitch, heel valgus and arch index (Staheli) were evaluated pre-operatively and postoperatively. In 121 (242 feet) chosen children (age eight to 15) with all clinical values and pre-operative angles corresponding flatfoot, all postoperatively measured values were within the normal range. We got the navicular index by dividing length of longitudinal arch with navicular height. Values of navicular index were then compared with pre-operatively and postoperatively measured values. Pearson correlation and ROC test were used for statistical analysis. Results Values of the navicular index for flatfeet were in the interval from 4.75 to 31.2 (median 8.98), and for normalarched feet 3.58-22.6 (median 5.48). Pearson correlation of arch index and measured parameters were significant in majority, and degree according to Colton was good. Area under the ROC curve was 0.861 (p=0.0001). The cut-off value with 86 % sensitivity and 75 % specificity was 6.7407. Conclusion Navicular index can be used reliably, without measures of the other parameters, to differentiate flatfoot from normal-arched foot. Therefore, the navicular index has an ability to distinguish between the flatfoot and normalarched foot.

No significant differences among the four proposed blood saving methods were determined.

Case series with no comparison group, Level IV.

Arthroscopic lateral release successfully treats recurrent patellar dislocations in adolescents, influences functional recovery and improves knee function.

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) have their biological half-lives controlled by dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP IV/CD26). Several lines of evidence suggest the involvement of NPY in the regulation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and VIP has already been identified as a potent anti-inflammatory factor that reduces joint inflammation. The role of DPP IV/CD26 in the pathogenesis of RA has been indicated, but its mediator actions involving NPY and VIP have not been well investigated, so the aim of this study was to find an association between NPY, VIP, and DPP IV/CD26 in RA patients. Assessment of NPY, VIP, DPP IV/CD26 as well as some other inflammatory markers was carried out in 20 RA patients being treated with different types of drugs. Control group consisted of 18 osteoarthritis patients. Synovial fluid and serum content of investigated molecules was determined by ELISA and DPP IV/CD26 activity was measured spectrophotometrically. Immunodetection showed elevated levels of NPY and VIP in RA patients, with a significant increase in synovial fluid, while concentration and activity of DPP IV/CD26 were significantly decreased in both synovial fluid and serum. Positive correlations between serum DPP IV/CD26 concentration and activity (R = 0.6961), as well as between serum and synovial fluid concentration of VIP (R = 0.7029) were found. In RA group, NPY, VIP, and DPP IV/CD26 concentrations were not affected by the administration of drugs. The results of this study indicate a connection between elevated concentration of NPY and VIP and decreased DPP IV/CD26 activity and concentration, suggesting a potential role of these molecules in the immunomodulation of RA.