Osteoarthritis and joint replacements of the lower limb and spine in ex-professional soccer players: A systematic review.

After a professional career as a soccer player, the risk of developing osteoarthritis (OA) in different joints of the spine and lower limb might be increased. The extent of this problem to date is not clear. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to summarize the prevalence of OA and joint replacement of the lower limb and spine in former professional soccer players. Relevant databases were searched with different combinations of key words: for example, OA, hip, knee, ankle, foot, joint replacement, soccer. Studies were included if they were original research, included a sample of former professional male soccer players, and had OA in the lower limb and/or spine; OA was diagnosed either through questionnaires or X-rays; and the article is in English, Dutch, or German. Sixteen studies with 1576 former players and 2153 control subjects were included in the review. Studies agreed that the prevalence of hip OA and hip replacements is significantly higher in former players compared to the control group. For the ankle and spine, there is only limited information, and for the prevalence of knee OA and knee replacement, the results are contradictory. The quality of the included studies was moderate. Future studies should have a prospective design to control for confounding factors, to identify possible risk factors and consequences for the individuals, and to be able to develop a prevention program.

From dusk till dawn: nocturnal and diurnal pollination in the epiphyte Tillandsia heterophylla (Bromeliaceae).

In order to compare the effectiveness of diurnal and nocturnal pollinators, we studied the reproductive biology and pollinators of Tillandsia heterophylla E. Morren, an epiphytic tank bromeliad endemic to southeastern Mexico. Since anthesis in T. heterophylla is predominantly nocturnal but lasts until the following day, we hypothesised that this bromeliad would receive visits from both diurnal and nocturnal visitors, but that nocturnal visitors would be the most effective pollinators, since they arrive first to the receptive flower, and that bats would be the most frequent nocturnal visitors, given the characteristics of the nectar. Flowering of T. heterophylla began in May and lasted until July. The species is fully self-compatible, with an anthesis that lasts for ca. 15-16 h. Mean volume of nectar produced per flower was 82.21 µl, with a mean sugar concentration of 6.33%. The highest volume and concentration of nectar were found at 20:00 h, with a subsequent decline in both to almost zero over the following 12-h period. T. heterophylla has a generalist pollination system, since at least four different morphospecies of visitors pollinate its flowers: bats, moths, hummingbirds and bees. Most of the pollinating visits corresponded to bats and took place in the early evening, when stigma receptivity had already begun; making bats the probable pollinator on most occasions. However, diurnal pollinators may be important as a 'fail-safe' system by which to guarantee the pollination of T. heterophylla.

Nectar sugar composition and concentration in relation to pollination syndromes in Bromeliaceae.

A first comprehensive dataset of nectar sugar composition and concentration in Bromeliaceae is presented, covering 111 species belonging to all three subfamilies. Based on this dataset, we examined the relationship between nectar traits and pollination syndromes in the family. Sugars in samples were assayed by high pressure liquid chromatography. All sampled species were grouped into three broad categories (trochilophilous, chiropterophilous, or lepidopterophilous) according to their main pollination mode. Significant differences between the different pollination syndromes were found in nectar sugar composition as well as concentration. For a total of four genera (Guzmania, Pitcairnia, Tillandsia and Vriesea), a comparison of nectar composition showed significant differences between trochilophilous and chiropterophilous species. Data presented here indicate that the characteristics of nectar in Bromeliaceae are predominantly determined by putative adaptations of nectar sugars to preferences of the pollinators rather than by phylogenetic relations.

Chemotherapy for onchocerciasis: results of in vitro experiments with promising new compounds.

An improved short-term in vitro culture system was used for the routine screening of hundreds of promising new compounds with the target organism, the filarial nematode Onchocerca volvulus. The most active leads were identified among the pyrimidinylguanidines, amidine derivatives, the imidazolinylhydrazones, thiosemicarbazone derivatives and thiadiazole derivatives. Single compounds of these leads demonstrated strong macrofilaricidal efficacy in minimum effective dose trials down to 0.1 microM and in experiments evaluating the minimum time of exposure after less than 6 h exposure. In the group of the pyrimidinylguanidines we found a significant correlation of structure and activity: change of a single side-group in the molecules had dramatic influence on compound activity. Most of the new compounds that were active on the macrofilariae did not show significant activity on microfilariae (mf) in in vitro trials. Only one compound with significant activity against female O. volvulus worms killed mf at very low concentrations. Some of the promising leads will be processed in further trials on a preclinical level with predictive cattle models.

Interferometry: a new method for no-touch measurement of the surface and volume of ulcerous skin lesions.

A new interferometry procedure (Holon View measuring system) permits non-invasive and objective measurement of the surface, height/depth and volume of ulcerous lesions. The method, which uses a combination of the so-called phase-shift and gray-code technique, is new in dermatology. The measuring system consists of a diffraction grating projection system, a video camera and a computer-aided, digital image processing and analysis system. A diffraction grating consisting of 320 lines is projected onto the skin surface or a silicone impression of the ulcerous lesion. The course of the light-intersection lines is recorded by a video camera and read into an image computer. The special feature of the method is the combination of grey-code projection and a phase-shift procedure. For evaluation of the method in dermatology, 2,000 interferometric measurements of volume were carried out on objects of known volume, on silicone impressions and on leg ulcers. The accuracy of the method has been proven by means of the evaluation of objects of known volume. The results of interferometric measurements were compared with the values of the volume determined by water capacity and those of the surface determined by image analysis. The healing of a leg ulcer was followed over an 8-week period. The Holon View measuring system permits no-touch measurement of the volume and surface of ulcerous skin lesions with a high degree of accuracy and precision, in a short time.