Lower functioning patients demonstrate atypical hip joint loading before and following total hip arthroplasty for osteoarthritis

Previous studies have established that up to 1 year post total hip arthroplasty (THA), patients do not recover normal function and the magnitude of hip joint loading remains reduced compared to healthy individuals. However, the temporal nature of the loading profile has not been considered to identify individuals who are at a greater risk of poor functional outcomes following THA. This study aimed to determine changes to the profile and magnitude of the resultant hip joint reaction force before and up to 6 months post-primary THA, and factors associated with atypical loading profiles. Hip joint loading was computed using a personalized lower-limb musculoskeletal model in 43 participants awaiting primary THA for osteoarthritis (mean age: SD = 65, 14 years; body mass index: SD = 30, 5 kg/m²) before and up to 6 months after THA. Atypical, single-peak loading profiles were observed for 11 patients before surgery, where four showed a single peak at 6 months. Patients displaying a single-peak profile walked slower (mean difference: −0.4 m/s) compared to individuals displaying double-peak profile (P = <.001) and had significantly reduced sagittal plane hip range of motion during gait (mean difference −9.6°, P = <.001). Self-reported pain, function, and stiffness did not differentiate between patients with a single or double-peak loading profile. Individuals with a single-peak force profile did not meet the minimal clinically important hip range of motion during gait and would be classified as low-functioning THA patients. Clinical Relevance: The temporal nature of the force profile may help to identify individuals who are at the greatest risk of poor functional outcomes after THA.     

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder among Homeless People

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common among homeless people and is associated with an increased risk of mortality from suicide, medical causes, and drug-related problems. However, there are no previous systematic review and meta-analysis studies that reported the consolidated magnitude of PTSD among homeless people. A literature search was conducted on PubMed, Embase, and Scopus to discover pertinent studies that determined the prevalence of PTSD among the homeless. Articles were evaluated by titles, abstracts, and full-text. Comprehensive meta-analysis software was used to conduct the meta-analysis. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis were performed and Cochran’s Q- and the I² test were used to assess heterogeneity. The evidence of publication bias was evaluated by using Egger’s test and visual inspection of the symmetry in funnel plots. From the total, 19 studies with 20,364 participants across seven countries were included in the final analysis. Our meta-analysis revealed that the pooled prevalence of PTSD among homeless people was 27.38% (95% CI; 21.95–33.57). In our subgroup analysis, we found that the prevalence of PTSD was considerably high as measured by the screening instrument (35.93%) than the diagnostic instrument (23.57% %). The prevalence of PTSD among homeless showed a significant variation by the location of the studies, the instruments used to measure PTSD as well as the quality of the included studies. This review showed that the pooled prevalence estimate of PTSD among homeless peoples was remarkably high (27.38%). Early screening and treatment of PTSD among homeless peoples are warranted to alleviate suffering.

     

Dedicated teaching block for undergraduate geriatric medicine improves knowledge

Aim: This paper describes the performance of 5th year medical students in multiple choice question (MCQ) examinations before and after a geriatric medicine teaching block. Methods: A 30‐question MCQ test was administered at the start and a 45‐question one at the end of the course. Results: There was a statistically significant improvement in the MCQ scores from a mean of 62% (SD 10.4) to 75.2% (SD 7.9) (P < 0.001). Total mean scores for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Geriatrics Knowledge test improved from 65% (SD 10.4) to 73%(SD 11.7) (P < 0.001). Total mean scores for the American Geriatric Society (AGS) Geriatrics Review Syllabus MCQs improved from 59.3% (SD 17.0) to 78.1% (SD 12.1) (P < 0.001). Post‐course, students scored equally well in the new questions, the validated UCLA test and the AGS questions. Conclusion: An undergraduate geriatric medicine clinical teaching block in senior clinical years can increase students' knowledge in geriatric medicine.     

International Neuropathy Workshop of 2009: Introduction to the final reports

Neuropathies are amongst the most common of the long‐term complications of diabetes, affecting up to 50% of patients. Their clinical features vary immensely and patients may present with a wide spectrum of specialties, from neurology to urology, for example, or from cardiology to podiatry. Neuropathies are typically characterized by a progressive loss of nerve fibres which may affect both of the principal divisions of the peripheral nervous system. The epidemiology and natural history of the diabetic neuropathies remain poorly defined. The International Consensus Workshop in Toronto in 2009 arose from the fact that at the moment there are no clear, universally accepted guidelines regarding the definition of diabetic neuropathies. This has resulted in a massive variation in how neuropathy is diagnosed in different centres and countries. A preliminary summary report of the Toronto meeting was published in 2010. The series of papers published in this issue of Diabetes/Metabolism Research and Reviews are the detailed reports that came from each sub‐group of this Consensus panel. These reviews cover the problems with definitions and classification of neuropathy, the management of painful neuropathy and then the sub‐group of small fibre neuropathies. There are also 3 papers on the autonomic neuropathies, covering cardiovascular autonomic neuropathies, as well as other areas of the autonomic neuropathies including gastrointestinal, urogenital and pseudomotor neuropathies. This series of papers will give the reader detailed information on the diverse aspects of diabetic neuropathies, their measurement and management, and will also assist in the selection of appropriate measures of both autonomic and somatic nerve function in clinical trials. This is clearly work in progress as diagnostic criteria for diabetic neuropathies are likely to evolve with developments in the field. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Anger and Its Control in Graeco-Roman and Modern Psychology

Abstract

Drawing upon literatures in several disciplines, Norris and colleagues (in press) concluded that the resilience of communities, and consequently the wellness of communities, rests upon a network of adaptive capacities, particularly Economic Development, Social Capital, Information and Communication, and Community Competence. There are numerous ways in which efforts to build community resilience might also achieve the five essential elements of mass trauma intervention explicated by Hobfoll and colleagues. Thus, it is argued here that efforts to reduce risk and resource inequities, engage local people in mitigation, create organizational linkages, boost and protect social supports, cultivate trusted and responsible information resources, and enhance decision–making skills will augment more specific intervention efforts to promote safety, calming, efficacy, hope, and connectedness in the aftermath of mass trauma. Many of these outcomes require systems and social changes that can be the target of intervention efforts before as well as after disasters.