Stress injury of the distal radial growth plate

We report 21 cases of stress injury of the distal radial growth plate-occurring in gymnasts before skeletal maturity. The injury appears to be caused by inability of the growth plate to withstand rotational and compressive forces. Our observations have confirmed that the skeletal age of gymnasts is retarded, which increases the length of time during which the epiphysis is at risk of damage.     

Are current processes for nuclear emergency management in Europe adequate?

We describe the results of process mapping of nuclear emergency management procedures in four European countries. We find clear differences and explore these in relation to their suitability for building a shared understanding across the emergency management team of the evolving situation and a balanced appreciation of the uncertainties. Our findings indicate that there are some issues that cause concern in that the procedures may run smoothly and efficiently but they may also risk underestimating uncertainty or ignore key issues that have only been identified by a minority of experts or models. We are concerned that they do not facilitate the building of shared mental models that the literature such as that on highly reliable organisations has shown is important.     

Contact finite element stress analysis of porous ingrowth acetabular cup implantation, ingrowth, and loosening

Two-dimensional linear and contact finite element analyses were conducted of total hip arthroplasty using metal-backed, porous ingrowth acetabular components. The stress transmission characteristics from the component to the surrounding bone were given special attention. Resultant loads of 20 and 40 degrees medial of vertical were studied, and the influence of adding a metal flange to the rim of the cup was evaluated. The results indicated that when a conventional metal-backed component (without a flange) is initially implanted and subjected to normal loading, these components may experience distraction between the component and the surrounding bone at inferior sites. Compressive stresses in the superior dome cancellous bone, however, will be substantial. If complete porous ingrowth is achieved, the superior dome compressive stresses will be reduced and substantial shear stresses created. In addition, high local bone stresses were found at the component rim. If bone ingrowth is achieved only in specific locations, stress transmission will be dictated by those locations and may differ markedly from the case of complete bone ingrowth. In the event that no porous ingrowth is achieved and a fibrous layer forms around the component, the interface stresses will be similar to those calculated for the natural hip. The addition of a flange to the rim of the cup will reduce the magnitude of the radial stresses transmitted to the cancellous bone superiorly and medially by directly transferring some of the load to the lateral wall of the pelvis. The flange will also help to relieve the high local stresses that are found at the component rim.     

Molecular Pharmacology of Topiramate: Managing Seizures and Preventing Migraine

Topiramate is a neuromodulatory compound with stabilizing properties that was initially introduced for the management of partial seizures. Topiramate has been demonstrated to modify several receptor-gated and voltage-sensitive ion channels, including voltage-activated Na⁺ and Ca²⁺ channels and non-NMDA receptors. These receptors have been implicated in the pathophysiology of both epilepsy and migraine. The pharmacological mechanisms of action for topiramate that may explain its antiepileptic and migraine preventive activities will be discussed in this review. In addition, the potential relationship between the molecular activities of topiramate and its efficacy in epilepsy and migraine prevention will be emphasized.     

Strengthening the public health workforce: three CDC programs that prepare managers and leaders for the challenges of the 21st century.

To address the need for management development in public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) established three independent workforce development initiatives aimed primarily at strengthening management and leadership capacity: the Sustainable Management Development Program, the Management Academy for Public Health, and the CDC Leadership and Management Institute. Though independently designed and implemented, the programs share similar guiding principles in their approach to management development: interactive (adult) learning, management tools that reinforce evidence-based decision making, individual feedback, continuous improvement of the learning process, posttraining support for networking and life-long learning, and teamwork. This article will discuss important lessons learned regarding best practices in management and leadership development.     

Prognostic factors in clinical trials

Summary Prognostic factors define the study population, help formulate the study objectives, and influence the treatment strategies. They must be accounted for in the study analysis to obtain valid estimates of the treatment differences and to evaluate results across studies. The causal relationship between a prognostic factor and the study endpoint can only be established through prospective randomized study designs. Potential factors discovered through retrospective analysis must be verified to establish their validity. Using such factors prematurely to select patient population and treatment strategy for a new study will not establish the validity of the potentially important factor.Supported by NCI 5 PO1 CA53996-15 and NCI 5 U10 CA38926-08.     

Preliminary assessment of the Dex Frame for assisting children with specific learning difficulties

A device called the Dex Frame has recently been marketed as an aid for children with specific learning difficulties. Using a test of reading speed and a test of reading accuracy we have attempted to evaluate the device. Two groups of children with learning difficulties were used, one having sole use of the device and being allowed to carry it with them and a second group who only used the device when attending for remedial tuition and assessment. The results show that no significant improvement occurred in reading performance of the groups with learning difficulties using the Dex Frame as compared with a control group. The teachers of the groups did, however, feel that on an individual basis some children (< 10%) expressed that they felt more comfortable using the device.     

Prospective assessment of biofeedback for the treatment of paradoxical puborectalis contraction

Eighteen patients with chronic constipation were diagnosed as having paradoxical puborectalis contraction (PPC) as the cause for their constipation. The diagnosis of PPC was made after office evaluation, colonic transit study, manometry, cinedefecography, and electromyography (EMG). These 18 patients had a mean duration of symptoms of 26.9 years; none of these patients had unassisted bowel movements. Fourteen patients had a mean of 4.6 laxative-induced bowel evacuations per week, and 11 patients had a mean of 4.4 enema-induced bowel evacuations per week. Patients underwent a mean of 8.9 one-hour EMG-based biofeedback sessions. At a mean follow-up of 9.1 (range, 0.5–12) months, these 18 patients had a mean of 7.3 unassisted bowel actions per week ( P <0.0001). In addition, persistent laxative use was reported by only two patients, and, in both cases, this was once a week or less ( P <0.001). Similarly, enema use was reported by only three patients, one once weekly and the other two thrice weekly ( P <0.002). No biofeedback-related complications were identified. EMG-based biofeedback is a valuable technique associated with an 89 percent success rate in the treatment of PPC.Read at the meeting of The American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, Boston, Massachusetts, May 12 to 17, 1991.