The surgical treatment of the diastasis recti abdominis: an original technique of prosthesis repair of the abdominal wall

The Authors talk about on the surgical correction of the diastasis recti abdominis and underline its indications and aims. Firstly, they specify the possibilities and define the limits of the traditional surgical method. Secondly, they illustrate the rational of an innovating and original technique of prosthesis repair of the abdominal anterior wall setted up to treat the important diastasis recti abdominis. Particularly, this technique is the result of a kind of eclecticism and integration of some phases of the Quénu's self-plastic surgery and of the Welti-Eudel and Chevrel's technique. Thirdly, the authors describe the sequence of the times of the new technique and present the preliminary clinical experience carried out with it. Therefore, they determine gratifying and encouraging the findings of this method as regards the immediate and enduring curative efficacy (cosmetic and functional), the security and the compliance of the patient. Finally, in accordance with the outcomes, the authors decide to defend the undoubted reliability of the prosthesis repair of the abdominal wall to treat the big diastasis recti abdominis. Moreover, they intend to pass definitive judgement on the method after further clinical experiences on larger series of cases.     

Improving strength and postural control in young skiers: whole-body vibration versus equivalent resistance training

Context: Several groups have undertaken studies to evaluate the physiologic effects of whole-body vibration (WBV). However, the value of WBV in a training program remains unknown. Objective: To investigate whether a WBV program results in a better strength and postural control performance than an equivalent exercise program performed without vibration. Design: Randomized, controlled trial. Setting: Laboratory. Patients or Other Participants: Thirty-three Belgian competitive skiers (ages = 9-15 years). Intervention(s): Subjects were assigned to either the WBV group or the equivalent resistance (ER) group for 6 weeks of training at 3 times per week. Main Outcome Measure(s): Isokinetic plantar and dorsiflexion peak torque, isokinetic knee flexion and extension peak torque, explosive strength (high box test), and postural control were assessed before and after the training period. Results: Both training programs significantly improved isokinetic ankle and knee muscle strength and explosive strength. Moreover, the increases in explosive strength and in plantar-flexor strength at low speed were significantly higher in the WBV group than in the ER group after 6 weeks. However, neither WBV training nor ER training seemed to have an effect on postural control. Conclusions: A strength training program that includes WBV appears to have additive effects in young skiers compared with an equivalent program that does not include WBV. Therefore, our findings support the hypothesis that WBV training may be a beneficial supplementary training technique in strength programs for young athletes.     

Cyclosporine A stimulated hair growth from mouse vibrissae follicles in an organ culture model

Hypertrichosis is one of the most common side effects of systemic cyclosporine A therapy.It has been previously shown that cyclosporine A induces anagen and inhibits catagen development in mice.In the present study,to explore the mechanisms of cyclosporine A,we investigated the effects of cyclosporine A on hair shaft elongation,hair follicle cell proliferation,apoptosis,and mRNA expression of selected growth factors using an organ culture model of mouse vibrissae.In this model,cyclosporine A stimulated hair growth of normal mouse vibrissae follicles by inhibiting catagen-like development and promoting matrix cell proliferation.In addition,cyclosporine A caused an increase in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF),hepatocyte growth factor(HGF),and nerve growth factor(NGF),and inhibited follistatin expression.Our findings provide an explanation for the clinically observed effects of cyclosporine A on hair growth.The mouse vibrissae organ culture offers an attractive model for identifying factors involved in the modulation of hair growth.     

Shortened Length of Stay Improves Financial Outcomes in Living Donor Kidney Transplantation

Kidney transplantation is the preferred clinical and most cost-effective option for end-stage renal disease. Significant advances have taken place in the care of the transplant patients with improvements in clinical outcomes. The optimization of the costs of transplantation has been a constant goal as well. We present herein the impact in financial outcomes of a shortened length of stay after kidney transplant.     

Orthodontic treatment need and demand in Senegalese school children aged 12-13 years. An appraisal using IOTN and ICON

OBJECTIVE: To assess the normative need, knowledge of, and demand for orthodontic treatment in Senegalese schoolchildren aged 12-13 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample consisted of 665 Senegalese schoolchildren randomly selected from different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. The normative orthodontic treatment need was assessed using the Dental Health Component (DHC) and the Aesthetic Component (AC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN) and the Index of Complexity, Outcome, and Need (ICON). Knowledge of and demand for orthodontic treatment were assessed with a questionnaire. RESULTS: The DHC and the AC of the IOTN and the ICON classified respectively 42.6%, 8.7%, and 44.1% of the children as having a definite need for orthodontic treatment. There were no ethnic or gender differences with respect to normative orthodontic treatment need. The mean ICON score ranged from 42.31 to 44.46 according to the ethnic group. Only 10% of the children had some knowledge of orthodontics. However, between 17% and 30% of the children clearly expressed a need for orthodontic treatment, and the distribution between ethnic groups was significant. In contrast, there were no significant gender differences concerning this demand for treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the need for orthodontic treatment far exceeds the actual available supply.     

Functional anatomy of the gibbon forelimb: adaptations to a brachiating lifestyle

It has been shown that gibbons are able to brachiate with very low mechanical costs. The conversion of muscle activity into smooth, purposeful movement of the limb depends on the morphometry of muscles and their mechanical action on the skeleton. Despite the gibbon's reputation for excellence in brachiation, little information is available regarding either its gross musculoskeletal anatomy or its more detailed muscle–tendon architecture. We provide quantitative anatomical data on the muscle–tendon architecture (muscle mass, physiological cross-sectional area, fascicle length and tendon length) of the forelimb of four gibbon species, collected by detailed dissections of unfixed cadavers. Data are compared between different gibbon species and with similar published data of non-brachiating primates such as macaques, chimpanzees and humans. No quantitative differences are found between the studied gibbon species. Both their forelimb anatomy and muscle dimensions are comparable when normalized to the same body mass. Gibbons have shoulder flexors, extensors, rotator muscles and elbow flexors with a high power or work-generating capacity and their wrist flexors have a high force-generating capacity. Compared with other primates, the elbow flexors of gibbons are particularly powerful, suggesting that these muscles are particularly important for a brachiating lifestyle. Based on this anatomical study, the shoulder flexors, extensors, rotator muscles, elbow flexors and wrist flexors are expected to contribute the most to brachiation.     

Factors Associated with Completion of Pre–Kidney Transplant Evaluations

This study sought to examine various factors that may prevent transplant candidates from completing their transplant workup prior to listing. We reviewed the records of 170 subjects (cases = 100, controls 70) who were either on dialysis or had less than 20 mL/min creatinine clearance and were therefore candidates for preemptive transplantation. Approximately, 56% of preemptive patients completed their workup, while only 36% of patients on dialysis completed their workup. Our data revealed that factors contributing toward completion of workup included intrinsic motivation (four times more likely), lack of specific medical comorbidities (three times more likely), and preemptive status (two times more likely). Among patients on dialysis, intrinsic motivation (five times more likely) and absence of cardiovascular complications (four times more likely) were associated with completion. When comparing patients on dialysis to patients not on dialysis, there were significant differences between the two groups in distance from home to the transplant center, level of education, and presence of medical comorbidities. We believe that targeted interventions such as timely referral, providing appropriate educational resources, and development of adequate support systems, have the potential to improve workup compliance of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, including those on dialysis.     

Intraarch and interarch relationships of the anterior teeth and periodontal conditions

This study was undertaken to investigate the association between orthodontic anomalies and periodontal conditions. Three parameters of the intraarch relationship on both dental arches (displacement of contact point, crowding, and spacing) and four parameters of interarch relationship (overjet, open bite, crossbite, and overbite) assessed with either Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need or Index of Complexity, Outcome and Need were correlated with parameters of periodontal condition, ie, hygiene (Plaque Index and Retention Index), inflammation (gingival inflammation and Gingival Bleeding Index), and periodontal disease severity (pocket depth, clinical attachment loss, and gingival recession). In the main, weak but significant correlations were found between certain parameters of intraarch and interarch relationship and some indices of periodontal conditions. Within the limitations of this study, it was concluded that providing orthodontic treatment on the ground of deleterious effect of malocclusion and malpositioned teeth on periodontal condition is justified.