Knee stability assessment on anterior cruciate ligament injury: Clinical and biomechanical approaches

Background

This investigation characterized the time-history pattern of the free moment (FM) during walking and, additionally, assessed whether walking with either an internally or externally rotated foot position altered the FM's time-history.

Methods

Force plate and foot kinematic data were acquired simultaneously for 11 healthy subjects (6 males, 5 females) while walking at their self-selected comfortable speed in 3 foot rotation conditions (normal, internal and external). The FM was calculated and normalized by the product of each participant's body weight and height prior to extraction of peak FM, occurrence of peak FM in stance and net relative impulse. Differences in these values across foot rotation conditions were assessed using separate one-way, repeated measures analysis of variance and subsequent pair-wise comparisons.

Results

The average FM pattern during normal walking exhibits a biphasic shape: resisting inward rotation during approximately the first half of stance and outward rotation during the latter part of stance. While no differences in peak FM or net relative impulse were observed between the internal foot rotation condition and normal walking, the external foot rotation condition resulted in significantly greater peak FM and relative net impulse in comparison to normal walking.

Conclusion

The differences in selected FM variables between normal walking and the external foot rotation condition are attributable to individual subject response to walking with an externally rotated foot. In this condition, some subjects displayed a FM pattern that was similar to that recorded during normal walking, while others displayed markedly larger FM patterns that are comparable in magnitude to those reported for running. The larger FM values in these latter subjects are speculated to be a result of excessive transverse plane body movements. Whilst further investigation is warranted regarding the FM time-history characteristics during walking, our results indicate that the FM may provide useful information in assessment of gait.     

Anatomic bases for the compression and neurolysis of the deep branch of the radial nerve in the radial tunnel

The anatomy of the radial tunnel was studied on twenty-five elbow preparations. We noted five different elements that could affect the deep branch of the radial nerve in the radial tunnel and cause an entrapment syndrome: a capsule-tendon-aponeurotic complex on the anterior aspect of both the humeroradial joint and the radial head, the vascular arcade formed by the radial recurrent a. and its branches, the arcade formed by the medial edge of extensor carpi radialis brevis muscle, and the superior and inferior arcades of the superficial layer of the supinator muscle. These results are compared with recent anatomical and clinical data, and the relevance of a surgical approach between the extensor carpi radialis brevis and longus muscles is discussed.     

The ESTHYME study. Women's satisfaction after hysteroscopic sterilization (Essure micro-insert). A retrospective multicenter survey

OBJECTIVE: To assess the satisfaction and recovery of women undergoing sterilization with a permanent birth control device (Essure micro-insert). PATIENTS AND METHODS: French multicenter survey carried out in 12 public and private hospitals. One thousand and thirty-two patients undergoing permanent hysteroscopic sterilization (Essure micro-insert) between 2002 and 2006 were enrolled. An anonymous satisfaction questionnaire was sent to all patients. Demographic data as well as the level of tolerance and acceptability of the procedure were analyzed. Seven hundred and two (68%) patients responded to the questionnaire. RESULTS: Forty-five percent of all procedures were done without anaesthesia, and 55% under local or general anaesthesia or neuroleptanalgesia. Mean age was 42 years. Sterilization was a personal decision in 62% of cases. Only one out of three women (33%) was informed of the law of sterilization's legalization. Patients came to know about this procedure by their gynecologist (74%), or by media (14%). Eighty-four percent of patients considered the level of tolerance during the procedure from no pain to moderate pain. The method without anesthaesia is described painless in 24% of cases when the surgeon has done more than 50 procedures versus 11% when he has done less than 50 (P = 0.012). Seventy-seven percent of patients were appreciative of following the procedure on the monitor screen. Patients returned to everyday life within 24 h in 90% of cases, whereas 24 h return to work was attained in 75%. The procedure without general anesthesia offered a quicker return to work (80% within 24 h) than the procedure carried out with general anesthesia (59%, P < 0.05). The memory of the procedure was described as "very good" to "acceptable" in 96% of cases. Most of the patients (98%) would recommend this procedure to their friends. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The results of this national survey confirm that hysteroscopic sterilization is associated with good overall satisfaction, because it is a fast, easy and safe method of permanent sterilization with good levels of tolerance and immediate recovery. The technique without anaesthesia is now recommended. Its tolerance is improved with surgeon's experience.     

Sunlight Exposure and Breast Density: A Population-Based Study

Purpose

This study aims to assess the association of sunlight exposure with breast cancer risk, measured by the breast density assessed from Tabár''s mammographic pattern in Chinese women.

Methods

A total of 676 premenopausal women were recruited to participate in this study, in which 650 completed a validated sunlight exposure questionnaire via telephone. The mammograms were classified according to Tabár''s classification for parenchyma, and patterns IV & V and I, II & III indicated respectively high and low risk mammographic patterns for breast cancer. The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for sun exposure-related variables were estimated using unconditional logistic regression with adjustment for potential confounders.

Results

Among 646 participants, women with high breast cancer risk (Tabár''s patterns IV &V) had less hours spent in the sun than those with low risk (I, II & III) at any age stage. A higher level of sunlight exposure was associated with a significantly lower risk having high risk Tabár''s pattern. Women aged 40 to 44 years who were in the highest tertile of lifetime total hours spent in the sun had a multi-adjusted OR of 0.41 (95% CI, 0.18-0.92; p for trend=0.03) compared with those in the lowest tertile (>2.19 hr/day vs. <1.32 hr/day). For hours spent in the sun across the ages of 6 to 12 years, the comparable OR was 0.37 (95% CI, 0.15-0.91; p for trend=0.03).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that higher sunlight exposure is related to a lower risk of having high risk breast density pattern in premenopausal women. Our results also suggest the most relevant period of exposure is during earlier life.     

Research of outgrowth of polypyrrole and its biocompatibility with nervous tissue

Research of outgrowth of polypyrrole and its biocompatibility with nervous tissue@Yuan CW @Wang XD @Zhang PY @Gu XS