Biomechanical differences related to leg dominance were not found during a cutting task.

Previous studies have shown conflicting information regarding leg dominance as an etiological factor for the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. It remains unclear if lower extremity neuromechanical limb asymmetries exist in experienced athletes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate lower extremity neuromechanical effects of leg dominance in female collegiate soccer athletes during an unanticipated side-step cutting task. Twenty female collegiate soccer players completed an unanticipated side-step cutting task, using their dominant and non-dominant legs. Kinematic and kinetic data were collected to quantify joint angles and forces, with wireless electromyography (EMG) quantifying muscle activity. MANOVA's were conducted to determine the effect of leg dominance on hip and knee mechanics at and between pre-contact, initial contact, peak knee adduction moment, and peak stance periods. Dependent variables consisted of peak time occurrences, hip and knee rotations and moments, ground reaction force, EMG amplitudes, stance time, and approach velocity. No significant differences were found for any variables at or between the periods of interest. Collegiate female soccer athletes exhibit similar movement patterns between dominant and non-dominant legs while performing a side-step cutting task, suggesting that leg dominance does not adversely influence known biomechanical non-contact ACL risk factors.

Safety of dry needling to the upper lumbar spine: a pilot cadaver study.

Objective: When inserting a dry needle laterally into the upper lumbar spine (L1-L3) there is an increased risk of piercing the kidney; therefore, the objective of this study was to determine a zone of safety for practitioners to needle in the upper lumbar spine.Methods: Ten cadavers were screened for inclusion. L1 spinous process was identified and confirmed with ultrasound imaging. A digital caliper was used to measure laterally at 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm, and 2.5 cm. Dry needles were inserted maximally at each point and a binary decision, yes or no, was made to determine if bony contact was made. Needle depth and abdominal width measurements were also recorded. Safety of the dry needling procedure was interpreted as such if bony contact was made by the needle. If bony contact was made, then it was assumed that the needle cannot advance further into pleura or kidney.Results: Forty-four percent of needles did not make bony contact at 2.5 cm lateral of the L1 spinous process, whereas 22% did not make bony contact at 1.5 cm and 2.0 cm. There was a weak to moderate negative correlation between abdominal width measurements and needle depth at 1.5 cm (-0.48) and 2.0 cm (-0.45), and at 2.5 cm (-0.39).Conclusion: A safety zone of needling less than 2.5 cm is likely safe, but needs to be confirmed with future study. Dry needling 2.5 cm lateral appears more risky due to the higher frequency of not contacting a bony backdrop.

[Ophthalmic presentation of two cases of esthesioneuroblastoma]. / Debut oftalmológico de dos casos de estesioneuroblastoma.

PURPOSE/METHOD: To report the ophthalmologic presentation of two cases of esthesioneuroblastoma (ENB). A comprehensive ophthalmic assessment was made, including magnetic resonance imaging. A paranasal sinus mass was biopsied in one case and a nasal mass biopsied in the other. CASES REPORT/DISCUSSION: Two women, aged 85 and 32 years respectively, presented to the emergency room with ophthalmic symptoms and signs. The first reported orbital pain and eyelid edema and the second, who was 22 weeks pregnant, reported a spontaneous lower eyelid haematoma, orbital pain and rhinorrhoea. ENB is a rare malignant tumour and its presentation with ophthalmologic symptoms and signs is very infrequent.

[Painful ophthalmoplegia (pseudotumor of the orbit and Tolosa-Hunt syndrome)]. / Oftalmoplejía dolorosa (pseudotumor y síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt).

INTRODUCTION: The Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome (THS) and the Pseudotumor of the Orbit (PTO) each have three common clinical hallmarks: unilateral periorbital pain, cranial nerve palsies and a fast response to corticosteroid therapy. CASE REPORT: 48-year-old female with a right VI nerve paralysis, later develops a right III nerve paralysis. It is important to be able to differentiate between THS and PTO, and this is done on the basis of the complementary tests. DISCUSSION: Apart from neuroradiologic findings, the clinical presentation and histopathology of these two conditions are very similar, making it difficult to distinguish between them. Aspects common to both pathological processes are discussed.

Giant lymph node hyperplasia in an angiolipomatous mediastinal mass.

A case of an unusual association of giant lymph node hyperplasia (Castleman's disease)--the hyaline vascular variant--originating within a mediastinal angiolipomatous mass is studied and its clinical and pathologic characteristics compared with those of two previously reported cases. Histogenetic implications of this finding are briefly considered.

Augmented feedback reduces jump landing forces.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized, experimental design using a 1-way ANCOVA to determine the influence of various forms of feedback on jump landing forces. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of augmented feedback versus sensory feedback on the reduction of jump landing forces. BACKGROUND: Several investigators have reported an increased risk of lower extremity injury associated with landing from a jump. METHODS AND MEASURES: Nonimpaired college students (N=63) were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 feedback groups. Subjects were instructed to perform maximal vertical jumps onto a force plate for 3 testing sessions (baseline, 2-minute post-test, and 1-week post-test). Three feedback groups (augmented, sensory, and control I) were tested during all 3 testing sessions, while a fourth feedback group (control II) was evaluated at only 2 sessions (baseline and 1-week post-test). Subjects in the augmented feedback condition were provided information via video and verbal analysis of how to land softer. Subjects in the sensory feedback condition were asked to use the experience of their baseline jumps to document how they could land softer. Subjects in each of the control groups were not provided any extraneous feedback. Peak vertical ground reaction force data were collected for analysis. RESULTS: The subjects in the augmented feedback group significantly reduced their peak vertical ground reaction force in both post-test conditions (2-minute post-test reduction, 0.85+/-0.62; 1-week post-test reduction, 0.74+/-0.58) as compared to the sensory, control I, and control II feedback groups. CONCLUSIONS: High impact landing forces may be reduced by the implementation of augmented feedback information instructing individuals about how to land properly. The reduction of jump landing forces with the use of augmented feedback may prove beneficial in the creation of instructional landing programs.

Comparison of 3 methods of external support for management of acute lateral ankle sprains.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of 3 different types of injury support systems (standard elastic wrap with horseshoe, Aircast Sport Stirrup, and Omni Multiphase orthosis) used in treating acute inversion ankle sprains. SUBJECTS: We recruited 30 physically active college-aged subjects who had sustained a grade 1 + or 2 lateral ankle sprain within the previous 24 hours for the study. DESIGN AND SETTING: Subjects were randomly placed into one of 3 groups, the first treated with standard elastic wrap with horseshoe, the second with an Aircast Sport Stirrup, and the third with an Omni Multiphase orthosis. Subjects reported to the athletic training room on days 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 postinjury. MEASUREMENTS: We assessed subjects for ankle volume, functional performance, and self-perception of symptoms during the 5 postinjury assessments. RESULTS: We found no significant differences among the 3 groups on measures of volume, level of function, and self-perception of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that none of these methods is superior to the others for reducing swelling, restoring function, or relieving symptoms during the acute management of lateral ankle sprains.

[Epidemic rhabdomyolysis due to the eating of quail. A clinical, epidemiological and experimental study]. / Rabdomiólisis epidémica por ingestión de codornices. Estudio clínico, epidemiológico y experimental.

BACKGROUND: Few toxic outbreaks by quails ingestion have been described, none in Spain, and the toxic hasn't been identified. A toxic outbreak, by quails ingestion that ate Galeopsis ladanum seeds, is described and an animal model is developed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A rhabdomyolysis outbreak by quails ingestion is studied clinical and epidemiologically. Quails crops were analyzed and 20 patients were studied. A murine model was developed. Alcaloid content in Galeopsis ladanum seeds and quail meat was measured. RESULTS: Twenty patients suffered from rhabdomyolysis (myalgia, increase of muscular enzymes and myoglobinuria) by ingestion of quails that ate Galeopsis ladanum seeds as it could be seen at their crops. Six patients needed hospital care but evolution was benign. Rats fed with quails that ate Galeopsis ladanum seeds had higher creatinkinase (CK) levels than controls rats (near significance, p = 0.0588). Several alcaloids, stachydrine included, was detected in seeds. Another alcaloid no identified was detected in quails meat. CONCLUSIONS: Quails that eat Galeopsis ladanum seeds are toxic for human beings, causing rhabdomyolysis. A plant alcaloid could be the toxic involved in the outbreak.

[Addisonian crisis as first manifestation of adrenal gland insufficiency in patient diagnosed with lung cancer]. / Crisis addisoniana como primera manifestación de insuficiencia suprarrenal en paciente diagnosticado de cáncer de pulmón.

Adrenal insufficiency or Addison's disease is actually a rare illness associated with numerous pathologies. We describe the case of a fifty years old male with lung adenocarcinoma and metastasis in both adrenal glands, who was receiving chemotherapy with mytomicin, ifosfamide and cisplatin (MIC), and was diagnosed of adrenal insufficiency as a result of acute episode addisonian crisis. Many times, the clinic symptoms of adrenal insufficiency can go unnoticed due to its low specifity and to mixing up with other syndromes. Hypoadrenalism has been described in association with many tumours, specially with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It seems that there is a discordance between the number of patients with bilateral metastatic adrenal destruction and the documented cases of clinic insufficiency. Once the adrenal failure is suspected, the diagnosis and hormone replacement treatment are really easy. Addison's disease ethiologies are revised putting special emphasis on those related with cancer patients.

Differential effects of fatigue on movement variability.

When individuals perform purposeful actions to fatigue, there is typically a general decline in their movement performance. This study was designed to investigate the effects exercise-induced fatigue has on lower limb kinetics and kinematics during a side-step cutting task. In particular, it was of interest to determine what changes could be seen in mean amplitude and all metrics of signal variability with fatigue. The results of the study revealed that post-fatigue there was an overall decrease in absolute force production as reflected by a decline in mean amplitude and variability (SD) of the ground reaction forces (GRFV and GRFML). A decrease in mean and SD of the knee moments were also observed post-exercise. Interestingly, this trend was not mirrored by similar changes in time-dependent properties of these signals. Instead, there was an increase in the SampEn values (reflecting a more variable, irregular signal) for GRF force profiles, knee kinematics and moments following the exercise-induced fatigue. These results illustrate that fatigue can have differential effects on movement variability, resulting in a both an increase and decrease in movement variability, depending on the variable selected. Thus, the impact of fatigue is not simply restricted to a decline in force producing capacity of the system but more importantly it demonstrates that the ability of the person to perform a smooth and controlled action is limited due to fatigue.

Arterias comunicantes del círculo arterial del cerebro: características biométricas y relación con el índice cefálico / Communicating arteries of the cerebral arterial circle: biometric features and their relation with the cephalic index

La clínica neuroquirúrgica tiene la necesidad de un acabado conocimiento anatómico de las arterias comunicantes como integrantes del círculo arterial del cerebro, por su variabilidad morfológica, su relación compleja con las estructuras adyacentes y por la alta frecuencia observada en la conformación de aneurismas. Debido a la importancia de estos vasos, efectuamos un estudio biométrico de los mismas, relacionando datos de calibre y longitud con índice cefálico. En el sexo masculino, el calibre promedio de la ACoP fue de 1,07 mm en el lado derecho y de 1,06 mm en el izquierdo; en el sexo femenino fue de 1,12 mm en el lado derecho y de 1,14 mm en el izquierdo. En el grupo de individuos con índice braquicéfalo, el calibre de la ACoP fue de 1,15 mm y en el grupo dolicomesocéfalo fue de 1,05 mm. Su longitud fue de 18,65 mm en los braquicéfalos y de 16,44 mm en los dolicomesocéfalos.El calibre de la ACoA fue de 1,53 mm en el sexo masculino y de 1,05 mm en el femenino, mientras que su longitud fue de 2,81 mm en el sexo masculino y de 2,33 mm en el femenino. La descripción biométrica y bioantropológica muestra parámetros importantes a considerar en la clínica quirúrgica.

The neurosurgical clinic needs extensive and thorough anatomical knowledge of the communicating arteries as part of the cerebral arterial circle for their morphological variability, their complex relation as adjacent structures, and for the frequency observed in the formation of aneurisms. Considering the importance of these vessels, we conducted a biometric study of these, relating caliber and longitude information to the cephalic index. In the male, the mean caliber of the PCoA < p was of 1.07 mm on the right side and 1.06 mm on the left; in the female it was of 1.12 mm on the right side and of 1.14 mm on the left. In the group of individuals with brachiocephalic index, the caliber of the ACoP was of 1.15 mm and in the dolichomesocephalic groups was 1.05 mm. Its longitude was 18.65 mm in the brachiocephalous and of 16.44 mm in the dolichomesochephalic. The caliber of the ACoA was of 1.53 mm in the male and 1.05 mm in the female, while its longitude was of 2.81 mm in the male and 2.33 mm in the female. The biometric and bioanthropologic description shows important parameters to be considered in clinical surgery.

An unusual form of Mycobacterium chelonei infection. The problem of differential diagnosis of cutaneous infections with granules.

We report a patient with a cutaneous infection produced by Mycobacterium chelonei and histologically manifested as granules like those usually seen in a heterogeneous group of infections. We review the differential diagnosis of this morphological form of micro-organisms in tissues.

[Anisakiasis in Spain. Report of 3 cases]. / Anisakiasis en España. Descripción de 3 casos.

We reported here three cases of non-imported anisakiasis in Spanish patients. Eating raw sardines was the only common epidemiological feature. Two of the cases presented clinically as a bowel obstruction, and underwent an emergency surgical procedure. In the intestinal biopsy a larva of Anisakiasis simplex was found in the abdominal wall, surrounded by a eosinophilic granuloma and large edema. The third case presented as a peptic ulcer disease with longer evolution time, and a larva of Pseudoterranova decipiens (Phocanema) was found during an upper gastrointestinal endoscopic procedure.

A comparison of sideline versus clinical cognitive test performance in collegiate athletes.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether performance on 5 cognitive tests administered in a controlled clinical environment differed compared with administration in an uncontrolled sideline environment. Additionally, we investigated the effect of testing environment order on the learning effect for each cognitive test. DESIGN AND SETTING: Athletes were assessed on 2 test occasions (8 +/- 2 days apart), once in a sports medicine research laboratory and once on a lacrosse practice field site. SUBJECTS: A total of 59 Division I collegiate student-athletes participated in this study. MEASUREMENTS: Normative data were collected on 5 cognitive tests (Stroop Test, Trail-Making Test part A, Trail-Making Test part B, Wechsler Digit-Span Forward Test, and Digit-Span Backward Test). RESULTS: An independent-samples t test for environment difference on test day 1 revealed no significant differences between tests performed in the controlled environment and those performed in the uncontrolled environment. A repeated- measures analysis of variance test revealed a significant learning effect for all 5 tests, as subjects tended to improve approximately 11 points on the Stroop Test, 3 seconds on the Trail-Making A Test, 7 seconds on the Trail-Making B Test, and 1 point each on the Wechsler Digit Span Forward and Backward Tests. A paired-samples t test using delta scores (first test minus second test), sorted by order of testing environment, revealed a significant difference for the Stroop Test, but not for the remaining cognitive tests. CONCLUSIONS: There appears to be no difference in cognitive testing performance completed in a controlled clinical environment versus that performed in an uncontrolled sideline environment. This finding suggests that clinicians can administer cognitive tests to athletes with mild head injuries in uncontrolled sideline environments and expect valid results. Thus, clinicians can more thoroughly evaluate mildly head-injured athletes during the most crucial period after injury so that a safe return-to-play decision can be based on quantifiable, objective data.

Tribological study of lubricious DLC biocompatible coatings.

DLC (diamond-like carbon) coatings have remarkable tribological properties due mainly to their good frictional behavior. These coatings can be applied in many industrial and biomedical applications, where sliding can generate wear and frictional forces on the components, such as orthopaedic metal implants. This work reports on the development and tribological characterization of functionally gradient titanium alloyed DLC coatings. A PVD-magnetron sputtering technique has been used as the deposition method. The aim of this work was to study the tribological performance of the DLC coating when metal to metal contact (cobalt chromium or titanium alloys) takes place under dry and lubricated test conditions. Prior work by the authors demonstrates that the DLC coating reduced considerably the wear of the ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The DLC coating during mechanical testing exhibited a high elastic recovery (65%) compared to the values obtained from Co-Cr-Mo (15%) and Ti-6Al-4V (23%). The coating exhibited an excellent tribo-performance against the Ti-6Al-4V and Co-Cr-Mo alloys, especially under dry conditions presenting a friction value of 0.12 and almost negligible wear. This coating has passed biocompatibility tests for implant devices on tissue/bone contact according to international standards (ISO 10993).

Environmental effects of agri-environmental schemes in Western Europe.

Agri-environmental schemes (AES) have been introduced as part of European Union's (EU) Common Agricultural Policy and are now an important part of this. A methodological approach to analyse the policy effects of AES is outlined, in which we distinguish between performance effects (on agricultural practices) and outcome effects (environmental impact). The performance effects are further approached including measurement of improvement and protection effects based on 12 indicators on changes/maintenance of land use and agricultural management. Data from personal interviews of participating and non-participating farmers in AES measures in nine EU Member States and Switzerland were used to analyse policy effects, including single indicator effects on agricultural practices as well as combined effects at the agreement level. Significant effects were found for mineral N-fertiliser use, stocking density reduction, maintenance of a minimum livestock density and pesticides. For AES agreements regulating grassland management, fertiliser use and pesticides, clear indications of combined improvement and protection effects were found. In addition clear improvement effects of agreements regulating fertiliser and pesticides use on mainly arable lands were revealed. It is concluded that the approach presented including the 12 selected indicators has proven to be operational.

[Balloon valvoplasty for critical aortic valve stenosis in neonates]. / La valvuloplastia en la estenosis valvular aórtica crítica del neonato.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the immediate results obtained with balloon aortic valvuloplasty in neonates and long-term echocardiographic outcome as well as to identify variables predictive for outcome. To identify the degree of agreement between hemodynamic and echocardiographic study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed the results obtained in 26 procedures performed in 18 boys and 8 girls (2.25:1), aged 2 to 49 days (16.1 12.9 days). All procedures were performed in the Pediatric Cardiology Unit of Ramón y Cajal Hospital in Madrid between June 1989 and June 2001. Follow-up was from 0 to 144 months (39.5 39.7 months). RESULTS: The immediate effects observed through echocardiographic study were a significant decrease in the maximum Doppler gradient (from 77.8 to 32.4 mm Hg; p < 0.0001) and in the medium Doppler gradient (from 41.7 to 18.5 mm Hg; p < 0.05). Hemodynamic studies showed a significant decrease in left ventricular systolic pressure (from 119.8 to 82.8 mm Hg; p < 0.0001) and an increase in aortic systolic pressure (from 56.8 to 66.6 mm Hg; p < 0.007). The hemodynamic peak gradient decreased from 63.1 to 17.7 mm Hg; p < 0.0001. In 23 % of the patients, aortic insufficiency significantly increased. Echocardiographic follow-up showed a significant increase in the telediastolic size of the left ventricle and a decrease in the maximum and medium Doppler gradient. The procedure showed initial success in 68.7 % and analysis of survival free of valvular surgery was 65.8 % at 45 months. Proportional risk analysis revealed that the post-valvuloplasty gradient was a predictive factor for future valvular surgery.

Aspectos Biométricos de las Arterias Cerebral Anterior en el Segmento Proximal (Al) y Carótida Interna / Biometrical Aspects of the Anterior Cerebral Artery in its Proximal Segment (Al) and Internal Carotid Artery

La conformación del círculo arterial cerebral tiene relevancia en la clínica neuroquirúrgica por la relación compleja que presentan las arterias que lo originan y su gran variabilidad Debido a a esto, hemos decidido efectuar un análisis biométrico de las arterias cerebral anterior (Al) y de la arteria carótida interna (ACI) por posible asociación o correlación en estas estructuras. El trabajo se realizó en 36 cerebros disponibles en los laboratorios y cuyos datos bioantropológicos estaban registrados. El segmento Al de la arteria cerebral anterior derecha tuvo una longitud y calibre promedio de 12,86+1.58mm y 2,37±0,68mm, respectivamente. En el lado izquierdo la longitud y el calibre promedio de esta arteria fue 12,62+1.96mm y de 2,42±0,75mm, respectivamente. El calibre del lado derecho de la ACI fue 3,84±0,68mm y del lado izquierdo fue 3,96±0,87mm. Se observó variabilidad anatómica de los componentes que constituyen el círculo arterial cerebral cuando se considera lado, sexo e índice cefálico.

The conformation of the arterial circle of the base of the brain has relevancy in the neurochirurgical clinic as the complex relation that there present the arteries that originate it and its great variability. Due to the high frequency the aneurysms observed in the anterior communicating arteries, besides too, in the precommunicating segment (Al) of the anterior cerebral artery, we have decided to carry out a biometrical analysis of these arteries and the ICA for research possible association or correlation in these arteries.The work was realized in 36 available brains in the anatomical laboratories. These specimens had bioanthropological data. The segment Al of the anterior cerebral artery observed a length of 12,86 ± 1.58 mm and presents a diameter of 2.37 ± 0.68 mm in the right side. In the left side the length of this one segment is 12. 62 ± 1.96 mm and presents a diameter of 2.42 ± 0.75 mm. The external diameter of the ACI in the right side was 3.84±0.68 mm and in left side was 3.96 ± 0.87 mm. It is observed variability of the components that constitute the arterial cerebral circle when it is considered to be the side, the sex and cephalic index.

Presencia del Apéndice Fibroso Hepático: Estudio de Correlaciones Bioantropológicas y su Estructura / Presence of Appendix Fibrosa Hepatitis: Study of Bioanthropological and Structure Correlation

El apéndice fibroso hepático es una estructura anatómica del espacio subfrénico, poco descrita en la literatura universal y de importancia clínica. Se diseñó un protocolo para ser realizado en cadáveres donde se determina su presencia, características y correlación estadística con factores antropométricos. En 24 cadáveres se determina que el apéndice fibroso hepático siempre está presente, y que no existe correlación estadísticamente significativa, pero sí se observa variabilidad entre las dimensiones biométricas analizadas.

The hepatic fibrous appendix is an anatomical structure of the subfrenic space scarcely described in the universal literature and of vital clinical importance. For their study a protocol was designed to be carried out in cadavers where its presence is determined, characteristic and statistical correlation with anthropometric factors. In 24 cadavers it is determined that the hepatic fibrous appendix is always present, and that correlation doesn't exist statistically significant among the analyzed anthropological factors, but it's possible to observe variability in it's dimensions.