The level of agreement between the numerical rating scale and visual analogue scale for assessing pain intensity in adults with chronic pain.

The numerical rating scale and visual analogue scale are used to quantify pain intensity. However, it has not yet been explored whether these scores are interchangeable in adults with chronic pain. Data from the prospective multicentre cross-sectional INTERVAL study were used to evaluate the one-dimensionality and agreement between numerical rating scale scores and visual analogue scale scores in adults with chronic pain. Pain intensity scores using the numerical rating scale and visual analogue scale were provided by 366 patients with chronic pain for current, average, minimal and maximal pain. To evaluate whether pain intensity scales are completed in accordance with each other, the proportion of patients who satisfied the following condition was calculated: minimal pain intensity ≤ maximal pain intensity. A factor analysis confirmed the one-dimensionality of the pain measures. A significant difference was found between numerical rating scale and visual analogue scale scores for average, current, minimum and maximum pain. Intra-class correlation coefficient estimates ranged from 0.739 to 0.858 and all measures failed to show sufficient and acceptable agreement at the 95% level. The strength of agreement between pain severity categories was classified as 'moderate' for average and minimal pain and 'substantial' for current and maximal pain. The proportion of patients who scored minimal pain ≤ maximal pain was 97.5% for the numerical rating scale and 89.5% for the visual analogue scale. This study failed to show an acceptable agreement between the numerical rating scale and visual analogue scale when pain intensity was rated by adults with chronic pain, despite showing both scales measure the same information.

The JUMPFOOD study: additional effect of hydrolyzed collagen and vitamin C to exercise treatment for patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee) in athletes-study protocol for a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Patellar tendinopathy (PT) is a common problem in jumping athletes. Management can be challenging and treatment outcome is not always successful. In combination with tendon loading exercises, hydrolyzed collagen/vitamin C supplementation appears to have a promising effect on the recovery of tendinopathy. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether the use of oral supplementation of hydrolyzed collagen and vitamin C in combination with progressive tendon loading exercises (PTLE) is superior to PTLE and placebo on VISA-P score (which rates pain, function, sports participation) after 24 weeks for athletes with PT. METHODS: The JUMPFOOD study is a double-blinded, two-armed randomized controlled trial, in which the effectiveness of oral supplementation of hydrolyzed collagen/vitamin C combined with PTLE compared to PTLE with placebo on pain and recovery of function in athletes with PT will be investigated. Seventy-six athletes aged 16-40 years, with symptoms of PT for at least 12 weeks, who play sports at least once a week will be included. All participants will receive education, advice with regard to load management and a PTLE program according to the Dutch guidelines for anterior knee pain. In addition, the intervention group will receive daily 10 g hydrolyzed collagen and 40 mg vitamin C supplementation for 24 weeks whereas the control group receives 10 g maltodextrin placebo supplementation. Measurements will take place at baseline and at 12 and 24 weeks' follow-up. Primary outcome is the VISA-P score, which evaluates pain, function, and sports participation. For secondary outcome measures, data with regard to pain during functional tests, flexibility measurements, blood withdrawals, imaging characteristics of the tendon, and health questionnaires will be collected. During the follow-up period, participants will register sports participation, amount of training and tendon load, pain during sports, co-medication, and side-effects in a digital weekly diary. DISCUSSION: The JUMPFOOD study is the first large RCT to study the effectiveness of hydrolyzed collagen/vitamin C supplementation in combination with the PTLE program in athletes with patellar tendinopathy. If supplementation of collagen/vitamin C appears to be effective, this treatment can be implemented in daily sports medicine practice to improve the treatment outcome of patients with PT. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05407194. Registered on 7 June 2022.

Platelet-Rich plasma Injection Management for Ankle osteoarthritis study (PRIMA): protocol of a Dutch multicentre, stratified, block-randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a potentially efficacious treatment for ankle osteoarthritis (OA), but its use has not been examined in high-quality studies. Systematic reviews show that PRP injections significantly decrease pain and improve function in patients with knee OA. Ankle OA is more common than hip or knee OA in the young active population; with a prevalence of 3.4%.PRP injections in ankle OA are shown to be safe and improve quality of life over time, but no randomised controlled trial has been conducted. Our randomised controlled trial will evaluate the efficacy of PRP injections for symptom reduction and functional improvement, compared with placebo, in the treatment of ankle (talocrural) OA. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will conduct the Platelet-Rich plasma Injection Management for Ankle OA study: a multicentre, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. One hundred patients suffering from ankle OA will be randomised into two treatment groups: PRP injection or placebo (saline) injection. Both groups will receive two injections of PRP or placebo at an interval of 6 weeks. Primary outcome is the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society score at 26 weeks. Secondary outcomes determined at several follow-up moments up to 5 years, include Ankle Osteoarthritis Score, Foot and Ankle Outcome Score, pain subscale of (0-40), Visual Analogue Scale score (0-100), Ankle Activity Score (0-10), subjective patient satisfaction Short Form Health Survey-36, Global Attainment Scaling and the EuroQol-5 dimensions-3 levels utility score. A cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed at 1 year. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The study is approved by the Medical Ethics Review Committee Amsterdam Medical Center, the Netherlands (ABR 2018-042, approved 23 July 2018) and registered in the Netherlands trial register (NTR7261). Results and new knowledge will be disseminated through the Dutch Arthritis Association (ReumaNederland), Dutch patient federation, conferences and published in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR7261.

Human echolocators adjust loudness and number of clicks for detection of reflectors at various azimuth angles.

In bats it has been shown that they adjust their emissions to situational demands. Here we report similar findings for human echolocation. We asked eight blind expert echolocators to detect reflectors positioned at various azimuth angles. The same 17.5 cm diameter circular reflector placed at 100 cm distance at 0°, 45° or 90° with respect to straight ahead was detected with 100% accuracy, but performance dropped to approximately 80% when it was placed at 135° (i.e. somewhat behind) and to chance levels (50%) when placed at 180° (i.e. right behind). This can be explained based on poorer target ensonification owing to the beam pattern of human mouth clicks. Importantly, analyses of sound recordings show that echolocators increased loudness and numbers of clicks for reflectors at farther angles. Echolocators were able to reliably detect reflectors when level differences between echo and emission were as low as -27 dB, which is much lower than expected based on previous work. Increasing intensity and numbers of clicks improves signal-to-noise ratio and in this way compensates for weaker target reflections. Our results are, to our knowledge, the first to show that human echolocation experts adjust their emissions to improve sensory sampling. An implication from our findings is that human echolocators accumulate information from multiple samples.

Value of quantitative MRI parameters in predicting and evaluating clinical outcome in conservatively treated patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy: A prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether baseline MRI parameters provide prognostic value for clinical outcome, and to study correlation between MRI parameters and clinical outcome. DESIGN: Observational prospective cohort study. METHODS: Patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy were included and performed a 16-week eccentric calf-muscle exercise program. Outcome measurements were the validated Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire and MRI parameters at baseline and after 24 weeks. The following MRI parameters were assessed: tendon volume (Volume), tendon maximum cross-sectional area (CSA), tendon maximum anterior-posterior diameter (AP), and signal intensity (SI). Intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and minimum detectable changes (MDCs) for each parameter were established in a reliability analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients were included and complete follow-up was achieved in 20 patients. The average VISA-A scores increased significantly with 12.3 points (27.6%). The reliability was fair-good for all MRI-parameters with ICCs>0.50. Average tendon volume and CSA decreased significantly with 0.28cm3 (5.2%) and 4.52mm2 (4.6%) respectively. Other MRI parameters did not change significantly. None of the baseline MRI parameters were univariately associated with VISA-A change after 24 weeks. MRI SI increase over 24 weeks was positively correlated with the VISA-A score improvement (B=0.7, R2=0.490, p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Tendon volume and CSA decreased significantly after 24 weeks of conservative treatment. As these differences were within the MDC limits, they could be a result of a measurement error. Furthermore, MRI parameters at baseline did not predict the change in symptoms, and therefore have no added value in providing a prognosis in daily clinical practice.

Metabolomics meets functional assays: coupling LC-MS and microfluidic cell-based receptor-ligand analyses.

INTRODUCTION: Metabolomics has become a valuable tool in many research areas. However, generating metabolomics-based biochemical profiles without any related bioactivity is only of indirect value in understanding a biological process. Therefore, metabolomics research could greatly benefit from tools that directly determine the bioactivity of the detected compounds. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to combine LC-MS metabolomics with a cell based receptor assay. This combination could increase the understanding of biological processes and may provide novel opportunities for functional metabolomics. METHODS: We developed a flow through biosensor with human cells expressing both the TRPV1, a calcium ion channel which responds to capsaicin, and the fluorescent intracellular calcium ion reporter, YC3.6. We have analysed three contrasting Capsicum varieties. Two were selected with contrasting degrees of spiciness for characterization by HPLC coupled to high mass resolution MS. Subsequently, the biosensor was then used to link individual pepper compounds with TRPV1 activity. RESULTS: Among the compounds in the crude pepper fruit extracts, we confirmed capsaicin and also identified both nordihydrocapsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin as true agonists of the TRPV1 receptor. Furthermore, the biosensor was able to detect receptor activity in extracts of both Capsicum fruits as well as a commercial product. Sensitivity of the biosensor to this commercial product was similar to the sensory threshold of a human sensory panel. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that the TRPV1 biosensor is suitable for detecting bioactive metabolites. Novel opportunities may lie in the development of a continuous functional assay, where the biosensor is directly coupled to the LC-MS.

Multi-platform metabolomics analyses of a broad collection of fragrant and non-fragrant rice varieties reveals the high complexity of grain quality characteristics.

The quality of rice in terms not only of its nutritional value but also in terms of its aroma and flavour is becoming increasingly important in modern rice breeding where global targets are focused on both yield stability and grain quality. In the present paper we have exploited advanced, multi-platform metabolomics approaches to determine the biochemical differences in 31 rice varieties from a diverse range of genetic backgrounds and origin. All were grown under the specific local conditions for which they have been bred and all aspects of varietal identification and sample purity have been guaranteed by local experts from each country. Metabolomics analyses using 6 platforms have revealed the extent of biochemical differences (and similarities) between the chosen rice genotypes. Comparison of fragrant rice varieties showed a difference in the metabolic profiles of jasmine and basmati varieties. However with no consistent separation of the germplasm class. Storage of grains had a significant effect on the metabolome of both basmati and jasmine rice varieties but changes were different for the two rice types. This shows how metabolic changes may help prove a causal relationship with developing good quality in basmati rice or incurring quality loss in jasmine rice in aged grains. Such metabolomics approaches are leading to hypotheses on the potential links between grain quality attributes, biochemical composition and genotype in the context of breeding for improvement. With this knowledge we shall establish a stronger, evidence-based foundation upon which to build targeted strategies to support breeders in their quest for improved rice varieties.

Comprehensive metabolomics to evaluate the impact of industrial processing on the phytochemical composition of vegetable purees.

The effects of conventional industrial processing steps on global phytochemical composition of broccoli, tomato and carrot purees were investigated by using a range of complementary targeted and untargeted metabolomics approaches including LC-PDA for vitamins, (1)H NMR for polar metabolites, accurate mass LC-QTOF MS for semi-polar metabolites, LC-MRM for oxylipins, and headspace GC-MS for volatile compounds. An initial exploratory experiment indicated that the order of blending and thermal treatments had the highest impact on the phytochemicals in the purees. This blending-heating order effect was investigated in more depth by performing alternate blending-heating sequences in triplicate on the same batches of broccoli, tomato and carrot. For each vegetable and particularly in broccoli, a large proportion of the metabolites detected in the purees was significantly influenced by the blending-heating order, amongst which were potential health-related phytochemicals and flavour compounds like vitamins C and E, carotenoids, flavonoids, glucosinolates and oxylipins. Our metabolomics data indicates that during processing the activity of a series of endogenous plant enzymes, such as lipoxygenases, peroxidases and glycosidases, including myrosinase in broccoli, is key to the final metabolite composition and related quality of the purees.

Symptoms from treatment with sunitinib or sorafenib: a multicenter explorative cohort study to explore the influence of patient-reported outcomes on therapy decisions.

PURPOSE: Optimal long-lasting treatment with sunitinib and sorafenib is limited by dose modifications (DMs) due to adverse events (AEs). These AEs may be underrecognized and their influence on health-related quality of life (HRQL) underestimated. Improved insight into the relationship between AEs and therapy decisions is needed. To improve decision making around managing symptoms and reduce DMs, this study was set up to explore the influence of patient-reported symptoms on therapy decisions. METHODS: In this multicenter cohort study, patient characteristics, reasons for and different forms of used dose modifications, and AEs were prospectively obtained from cancer patients on sunitinib/sorafenib treatment. Used instruments to get insight into AEs were the patient-scored Utrecht Symptom Diary (USD) and the professional-scored Common Terminology Criteria for AEs version 3.0. RESULTS: Median total treatment duration in 42 patients was 16 weeks. Median time till dose modification was 10 weeks. DMs occurred mostly due to multiple mild AEs. By using the USD, a higher prevalence of most AEs was found compared to the literature. Sixty percent of the patients experienced a decreased HRQL due to multiple AEs. CONCLUSIONS: Because severe AEs due to sunitinib/sorafenib treatment seldom occur, it is more important to focus on treating and preventing multiple mild AEs with higher impact on HRQL, when trying to avoid dose modifications. Using patient self-reported measurement methods helps to early recognize symptoms and to differentiate among symptom intensities. This systematic approach might help to achieve the optimal dosing, which might improve PFS and OS.

A metabolomics approach to identify factors influencing glucosinolate thermal degradation rates in Brassica vegetables.

Thermal processing of Brassica vegetables can lead to substantial loss of potential health-promoting glucosinolates (GLs). The extent of thermal degradation of a specific GL varies in different vegetables, possibly due to differences in the composition of other metabolites within the plant matrices. An untargeted metabolomics approach followed by random forest regression was applied to identify metabolites associated to thermal GL degradation in a segregating Brassica oleracea population. Out of 413 metabolites, 15 were associated with the degradation of glucobrassicin, six with that of glucoraphanin and two with both GLs. Among these 23 metabolites three were identified as flavonols (one kaempferol- and two quercetin-derivatives) and two as other GLs (4-methoxyglucobrassicin, gluconasturtiin). Twenty quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for these metabolites, which were associated with glucoraphanin and glucobrassicin degradation, were identified on linkage groups C01, C07 and C09. Two flavonols mapped on linkage groups C07 and C09 and co-localise with the QTL for GL degradation determined previously.

Relationship between neovascularization and clinical severity in Achilles tendinopathy in 556 paired measurements.

Neovascularization is frequently observed in tendinopathy. Previous studies have focused on the role of neovascularization in Achilles tendinopathy, but have been conducted in small series. It is still unclear whether the degree of neovascularization is related to severity of symptoms. The purpose was to study the relationship between ultrasonographic neovascularization and clinical severity in patients with Achilles tendinopathy. In this prospective cohort study, data on 127 patients (141 tendons) were assembled from databases of three clinical trials. All patients followed an eccentric exercise program. The Öhberg neovascularization score (0-4+) and Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) score (split into domains: pain, function and activity) were collected during baseline and follow-up. The relationship between neovascularization and VISA-A score was calculated. At baseline, 107 tendons (76%) showed some degree of neovascularization. In 556 coupled measurements, neovascularization was weakly related to the VISA-A score [Exp (B) 1.017, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.007-1.026]. No significant relationship was found between neovascularization and the pain domain (P = 0.277) and the activity domain (P = 0.283), but there was between neovascularization and the function domain of the VISA-A score [Exp (B) = 1.067, 95% CI 1.018-1.119]. In conclusion, neovascularization in Achilles tendinopathy is weakly related to clinical severity, mainly based on the function domain of the VISA-A score.

Sarcopenic obesity is associated with adverse clinical outcome after cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Both undernutrition - low fat free mass (FFM) - and obesity - high fat mass (FM) - have been associated with adverse outcome in cardiac surgical patients. However, whether there is an additional effect on outcome of these risk factors present at the same time, that is sarcopenic obesity (SO), is unknown. Furthermore, the association between SO and muscle function is unidentified. METHODS AND RESULTS: In 325 cardiac surgical patients, we prospectively analysed the association between preoperative FFM and FM, measured by bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy, and postoperative adverse outcomes, and their correlation with muscle function - handgrip strength (HGS). SO was associated with postoperative infections (28.2% vs. 5.3%, adj. odds ratio (OR): 7.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-54.1; p=0.04). Further, a low FFM index (FFMI; kgm(-2)) was associated with postoperative infections (18.5% vs. 4.7%, adj. OR: 6.6; 95% CI: 1.7-25.2; p=0.01) while a high FM index (FMI; kgm(-2)) was not. Both components of SO, FFMI and FMI, correlated with HGS (FFMI: r=0.570; p<0.001, FMI: r=-0.263; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: SO is associated with an increased occurrence of adverse outcome after cardiac surgery. Our results suggest an additional risk of a low FFMI and high FMI present at the same time. Furthermore, SO is characterised by less muscle function. We advocate determining body composition in cardiac surgical patients to classify and treat undernourished patients, in particular those who are also obese.

Gut microbial metabolism of polyphenols from black tea and red wine/grape juice is source-specific and colon-region dependent.

The colonic microbial degradation of a polyphenol-rich black tea extract (BTE) and red wine/grape juice extract (RWGE) was compared in a five-stage in vitro gastrointestinal model (TWINSHIME). Microbial metabolism of BTE and RWGE polyphenols in the TWINSHIME was studied subsequently in single- and continuous-dose experiments. A combination of liquid or gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS or GC-MS) and NMR-based metabolic profiling was used to measure selected parent polyphenols, their microbial degradation into phenolic acids, and the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in different colon compartments. Acetate production was increased by continuous feeding of BTE but not RWGE. During RWGE feeding, gallic acid and 4-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid remained elevated throughout the colon, while during BTE feeding, they were consumed in the distal colon, while 3-phenylpropionic acid was strongly produced. Gut microbial production of phenolics and SCFAs is dependent on colon location and polyphenol source, which may influence potential health benefits.

Seed storage at elevated partial pressure of oxygen, a fast method for analysing seed ageing under dry conditions.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Despite differences in physiology between dry and relative moist seeds, seed ageing tests most often use a temperature and seed moisture level that are higher than during dry storage used in commercial practice and gene banks. This study aimed to test whether seed ageing under dry conditions can be accelerated by storing under high-pressure oxygen. methods: Dry barley (Hordeum vulgare), cabbage (Brassica oleracea), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and soybean (Glycine max) seeds were stored between 2 and 7 weeks in steel tanks under 18 MPa partial pressure of oxygen. Storage under high-pressure nitrogen gas or under ambient air pressure served as controls. The method was compared with storage at 45 °C after equilibration at 85 % relative humidity and long-term storage at the laboratory bench. Germination behaviour, seedling morphology and tocopherol levels were assessed. KEY RESULTS: The ageing of the dry seeds was indeed accelerated by storing under high-pressure oxygen. The morphological ageing symptoms of the stored seeds resembled those observed after ageing under long-term dry storage conditions. Barley appeared more tolerant of this storage treatment compared with lettuce and soybean. Less-mature harvested cabbage seeds were more sensitive, as was the case for primed compared with non-primed lettuce seeds. Under high-pressure oxygen storage the tocopherol levels of dry seeds decreased, in a linear way with the decline in seed germination, but remained unchanged in seeds deteriorated during storage at 45 °C after equilibration at 85 % RH. CONCLUSIONS: Seed storage under high-pressure oxygen offers a novel and relatively fast method to study the physiology and biochemistry of seed ageing at different seed moisture levels and temperatures, including those that are representative of the dry storage conditions as used in gene banks and commercial practice.

MSClust: a tool for unsupervised mass spectra extraction of chromatography-mass spectrometry ion-wise aligned data.

Mass peak alignment (ion-wise alignment) has recently become a popular method for unsupervised data analysis in untargeted metabolic profiling. Here we present MSClust-a software tool for analysis GC-MS and LC-MS datasets derived from untargeted profiling. MSClust performs data reduction using unsupervised clustering and extraction of putative metabolite mass spectra from ion-wise chromatographic alignment data. The algorithm is based on the subtractive fuzzy clustering method that allows unsupervised determination of a number of metabolites in a data set and can deal with uncertain memberships of mass peaks in overlapping mass spectra. This approach is based purely on the actual information present in the data and does not require any prior metabolite knowledge. MSClust can be applied for both GC-MS and LC-MS alignment data sets. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s11306-011-0368-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Pathoanatomy of cerebellar degeneration in spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) and type 3 (SCA3).

The cerebellum is one of the well-known targets of the pathological processes underlying spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) and type 3 (SCA3). Despite its pivotal role for the clinical pictures of these polyglutamine ataxias, no pathoanatomical studies of serial tissue sections through the cerebellum have been performed in SCA2 and SCA3 so far. Detailed pathoanatomical data are an important prerequisite for the identification of the initial events of the underlying disease processes of SCA2 and SCA3 and the reconstruction of its spread through the brain. In the present study, we performed a pathoanatomical investigation of serial thick tissue sections through the cerebellum of clinically diagnosed and genetically confirmed SCA2 and SCA3 patients. This study demonstrates that the cerebellar Purkinje cell layer and all four deep cerebellar nuclei consistently undergo considerable neuronal loss in SCA2 and SCA3. These cerebellar findings contribute substantially to the pathogenesis of clinical symptoms (i.e., dysarthria, intention tremor, oculomotor dysfunctions) of SCA2 and SCA3 patients and may facilitate the identification of the initial pathological alterations of the pathological processes of SCA2 and SCA3 and reconstruction of its spread through the brain.

A 5-year follow-up study of Alfredson's heel-drop exercise programme in chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy.

BACKGROUND: Eccentric exercises have the most evidence in conservative treatment of midportion Achilles tendinopathy. Although short-term studies show significant improvement, little is known of the long-term (>3 years) results. AIM: To evaluate the 5-year outcome of patients with chronic midportion Achilles tendinopathy treated with the classical Alfredson's heel-drop exercise programme. STUDY DESIGN: Part of a 5-year follow-up of a previously conducted randomised controlled trial. Methods 58 patients (70 tendons) were approached 5 years after the start of the heel-drop exercise programme according to Alfredson. At baseline and at 5-year follow-up, the validated Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment-Achilles (VISA-A) questionnaire score, pain status, alternative treatments received and ultrasonographic neovascularisation score were recorded. RESULTS: In 46 patients (58 tendons), the VISA-A score significantly increased from 49.2 at baseline to 83.6 after 5 years (p<0.001) and from the 1-year to 5-year follow-up from 75.0 to 83.4 (p<0.01). 39.7% of the patients were completely pain-free at follow-up and 48.3% had received one or more alternative treatments. The sagittal tendon thickness decreased from 8.05 mm (SD 2.1) at baseline to 7.50 mm (SD 1.6) at the 5-year follow-up (p=0.051). CONCLUSION: At 5-year follow-up, a significant increase of VISA-A score can be expected. After the 3-month Alfredson's heel-drop exercise programme, almost half of the patients had received other therapies. Although improvement of symptoms can be expected at long term, mild pain may remain.

Physiotherapy in hip and knee osteoarthritis: development of a practice guideline concerning initial assessment, treatment and evaluation.

BACKGROUND: An update of a Dutch physiotherapy practice guideline in Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis (HKOA) was made, based on current evidence and best practice. METHODS: A guideline steering committee, comprising 10 expert physiotherapists, selected topics concerning the guideline chapters: initial assessment, treatment and evaluation. With respect to treatment a systematic literature search was performed using various databases, and the evidence was graded (1-4). For the initial assessment and evaluation mainly review papers and textbooks were used. Based on evidence and expert opinion, recommendations were formulated. A first draft of the guideline was reviewed by 17 experts from different professional backgrounds. A second draft was field-tested by 45 physiotherapists. RESULTS: In total 11 topics were selected. For the initial assessment, three recommendations were formulated, pertaining to history taking, red flags, and formulating treatment goals. Concerning treatment, 7 recommendations were formulated; (supervised) exercise therapy, education and self management interventions, a combination of exercise and manual therapy, postoperative exercise therapy and taping of the patella were recommended. Balneotherapy and hydrotherapy in HKOA, and thermotherapy, TENS, and Continuous Passive Motion in knee OA were neither recommended nor discouraged. Massage therapy, ultrasound, electrotherapy, electromagnetic field, Low Level Laser Therapy, preoperative physiotherapy and education could not be recommended. For the evaluation of treatment goals the following measurement instruments were recommended: Lequesne index, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index, Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score, 6-minute walktest, Timed Up and Go test, Patient Specific Complaint list, Visual Analoge Scale for pain, Intermittent and Constant OsteoArthritis Pain Questionnaire, goniometry, Medical Research Council for strength, handheld dynamometer. CONCLUSIONS: This update of a Dutch physiotherapy practice guideline on HKOA included 11 recommendations on the initial assessment, treatment and evaluation. The implementation of the guideline in clinical practice needs further evaluation.

Incidence of midportion Achilles tendinopathy in the general population.

BACKGROUND: Achilles tendon disorders, like Achilles tendinopathy, are very common among athletes. In the general population, however, knowledge about the incidence of Achilles tendinopathy is lacking. Design Cross-sectional study. METHODS: In a cohort of 57.725 persons registered in primary care, the number of patients visiting the general practitioner (GP) with diagnosis of mid-portion Achilles tendon problems was counted using computerised registration networks of GPs in 2009. Subsequently, the authors assessed associations of these rates with demographic characteristics. RESULTS: The incidence rate of Achilles tendinopathy is 1.85 per 1,000 Dutch GP registered patients. In the adult population (21-60 years), the incidence rate is 2.35 per 1,000. In 35% of the cases, a relationship with sports activity was recorded. CONCLUSION: This is the first report on incidence rates of mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy in general practice. With an incidence of 1.85 per 1,000 registered persons, Achilles tendinopathy is frequently seen by GPs. The actual incidence might even be higher due to study limitations. More research on the frequency of this injury is required.

Potential contribution of the wastewater sector to energy supply.

The biological treatment of wastewater could yield high energy fuels such as methane and alcohols, however most conventional treatment systems do not recover this energy potential. with a simple model of the energy yields of various wastewater treatment technologies it is possible to demonstrate how minor shifts in technology selection can lead the industry from being identified as predominantly energy intensive, to being recognised as a source of energy resources. The future potential energy yield is estimated by applying energy yield factors to alternative use scenarios of the same wastewater loads. The method for identifying the energy potential of wastewater was demonstrated for the New Zealand wastewater sector, but can equally be applied to other countries or regions. The model suggests that by using technologies that maximise the recovery of energy from wastewater, the potential energy yield from this sector would be substantially increased (six fold for New Zealand).