[Does a Temporary Leg Length Discrepancy have an Influence on Upper Body Posture and Lower Jaw Position in Competitive Athletes?]. / Zeigt eine temporäre Beinlängendifferenz Auswirkungen auf die Oberkörperstatik und die Lage des Unterkiefers bei Leistungssportlern?

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to examine the linkage between the musculoskeletal and the craniomandibular system in competitive athletes. Therefore the upper body posture and lower jaw position were investigated while a temporarily induced leg length discrepancy (LLD) during standing was induced. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study 34 competitive athletes (2 women/32 men) who had no signs of temporomandibular dysfunction according to their own statements were investigated. The measurement of the upper part of the body posture was performed with a three-dimensional back scanner. Afterwards the condylar position was registered by using a homologated and approved electronic registration device. In order to induce the leg length discrepancy, wooden panels measuring 1 and 3 cm thickness were placed unilaterally under one foot. RESULTS: The statistical analysis of the three-dimensional back measurement was carried out using the Friedman and Wilcoxon matched pairs tests with Bonferroni-Holm correction. The results showed in comparisons of the lateral trunk a decline (p ≤ 0.05), of the height of the shoulder girdle (p ≤ 0.05) and, in every pair comparison, of the height of the pelvis area significant correlations between the body posture and the experimentally induced leg length discrepancy. The biggest changes can be observed in the area of the height of the pelvis in the transverse plane. The alterations in statics can be found at the ipsilateral as well as the contralateral side of the body, whereby changes are dependent of the parameter. Moreover, the position of the left condyle in space changes significantly (p ≤ 0.05). DISCUSSION: The results illustrate functional correlations of the musculoskeletal system through muscular, neurological and fascia based processes. Furthermore, they show that athletes who have a distinctive supporting and postural musculature possess a good body demeanor as well as a fast musculoskeletal compensation by way of the sensorimotor system correspondent to the heightened side of the body. The theory of the ascendant chain spanning from limb to shoulder girdle and further to mandibular condyles can be demonstrated. Athletes with strong postural muscles can quickly compensate through the use of the somatic nervous system.

Monolithic growth of ultrathin Ge nanowires on Si(001).

Self-assembled Ge wires with a height of only 3 unit cells and a length of up to 2 micrometers were grown on Si(001) by means of a catalyst-free method based on molecular beam epitaxy. The wires grow horizontally along either the [100] or the [010] direction. On atomically flat surfaces, they exhibit a highly uniform, triangular cross section. A simple thermodynamic model accounts for the existence of a preferential base width for longitudinal expansion, in quantitative agreement with the experimental findings. Despite the absence of intentional doping, the first transistor-type devices made from single wires show low-resistive electrical contacts and single-hole transport at sub-Kelvin temperatures. In view of their exceptionally small and self-defined cross section, these Ge wires hold promise for the realization of hole systems with exotic properties and provide a new development route for silicon-based nanoelectronics.

Aliskiren-based stepped-care treatment algorithm provides effective blood pressure control.

AIMS: Recent guidelines for the management of hypertension recommend an individualised stepped-care treatment approach in mild-to-moderate hypertensive patients, to achieve blood pressure (BP) goals. This study evaluated the probability of patients achieving BP targets with an aliskiren-based stepped-care treatment regimen. METHODS: This was a 24-week, open-label, non-comparator study design that included six sequential 4-week treatment periods in patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension. Over the potential 24 weeks of active treatment, incremental therapy included the following add-on therapies at 4-week intervals: aliskiren 150-300 mg once daily, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) 12.5-25 mg once daily, and finally amlodipine 5-10 mg once daily, as needed to achieve target BP. Subjects achieving BP targets following any given 4 weeks of therapy were considered study completers, while subjects not achieving their clinical BP target entered into the next step of incremental therapy. The primary efficacy end-point was the estimated cumulative probability of patients achieving BP target. RESULTS: Of 256 patients treated, 232 (90.6%) completed the study. Baseline mean sitting BP was 155.7/91.7 mmHg. At study end-point, the estimated cumulative probability of reaching BP target was 86.12%. The stepped-care treatment regimen was well tolerated at the maximal recommended doses of all the individual complimentary therapies. CONCLUSION: An aliskiren-based stepped-care treatment regimen that subsequently included both HCTZ and amlodipine is effective in achieving BP goals in approximately 90% of patients with mild-to-moderate hypertension.