Three new cases of palmar fasciitis with polyarthritis including a patient with atypical mutilating osteolysis

We managed three patients who had both palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis coexisting with gynecological malignancies. The first patient was followed up for 3 years, during which she experienced mutilating osteolysis of the fingers and very severe inflammation as assessed by osteoarticular ultrasonography. The second patient had active synovitis by ultrasonography without structural joint damage. Finally, in the last patient, magnetic resonance imaging showed synovitis and extensor tenosynovitis of the fingers. The many differential diagnoses of this paraneoplastic syndrome are discussed.     

Ground Reaction Forces and Loading Rates Associated with Parkour and Traditional Drop Landing Techniques

Due to the relative infancy of Parkour there is currently a lack of empirical evidence on which to base specific technique instruction upon. The purpose of this study was to compare the ground reaction forces and loading rates involved in two Parkour landing techniques encouraged by local Parkour instructors and a traditional landing technique recommended in the literature. Ten male participants performed three different drop landing techniques (Parkour precision, Parkour roll, and traditional) onto a force plate. Compared to the traditional technique the Parkour precision technique demonstrated significantly less maximal vertical landing force (38%, p < 0.01, ES = 1.76) and landing loading rate (54%, p < 0.01, ES = 1.22). Similarly, less maximal vertical landing force (43%, p < 0.01, ES = 2.04) and landing loading rate (63%, p < 0.01, ES = 1.54) were observed in the Parkour roll technique compared to the traditional technique. It is unclear whether or not the Parkour precision technique produced lower landing forces and loading rates than the Parkour roll technique as no significant differences were found. The landing techniques encouraged by local Parkour instructors such as the precision and roll appear to be more appropriate for Parkour practitioners to perform than a traditional landing technique due to the lower landing forces and loading rates experienced.

Key points

• Parkour precision and Parkour roll landings were found to be safer than a traditional landing technique, resulting in lower maximal vertical forces, slower times to maximal vertical force and ultimately lesser loading rates.
• Parkour roll may be more appropriate (safer) to utilize than the Parkour precision during Parkour landing scenarios.
• The Parkour landing techniques investigated n this study may be beneficial for landing by non-Parkour practitioners in everyday life.

Key words: Kinetics, absorption, forefoot, roll.     

Molecular data place the hyphomycetous lichenicolous genus Sclerococcum close to Dactylospora (Eurotiomycetes) and S. parmeliae in Cladophialophora (Chaetothyriales)

The lichenicolous anamorphic fungus Sclerococcum parmeliae was isolated in pure culture, and ITS, nuLSU and mtSSU sequences were obtained from these isolates. For comparison, sequences from S. sphaerale, the generic type, were obtained directly from freshly collected specimens. Phylogenetic analyses place S. sphaerale with species of Dactylospora and an unidentified lichen-inhabiting isolate in a strongly supported clade that is sister to a lineage comprising members of the Chaetothyriales and Pyrenulales. In contrast, S. parmeliae is inferred as a member of the Herpotrichiellaceae (Chaetothyriales) and belongs to a robustly supported clade that also includes species of Cladophialophora, Capronia semiimmersa, and Phialophora verrucosa. Within the Herpotrichiellaceae, S. parmeliae most closely resembles members of the anamorph genus Cladophialophora. Accordingly, we propose the transfer of S. parmeliae and the morphologically similar species S. cladoniae, S. hawksworthii and S. normandinae to Cladophialophora. A new lichenicolous species, Clad. megalosporae, collected twice on Megalospora in Florida and Papua New Guinea, is also described.     

Temperature: the weak point of forensic entomology

International Journal of Legal Medicine - Measuring temperature is a key factor in forensic entomology. While noting factors to consider for a posteriori temperature estimation, many studies lack...     

Early B cells repopulation in multiple sclerosis patients treated with rituximab is not predictive of a risk of relapse or clinical progression

Journal of Neurology - It is currently unknown whether early B cell reconstitution (EBR) in MS patients under rituximab is associated with a risk of relapse or progression. Analyzing EBR in...