Thickness of the Plantar Fascia in Asymptomatic Subjects.

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study are to determine the average and extreme values of the thickness of plantar fascia (PF) and to evaluate its correlations with anthropometric parameters and walking activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Analytic study of 226 feet. On these feet, the thickness of the PF was measured on ultrasound; and its correlation with the age, height, weight, body mass index (BMI), gender, and daily walking of the participants were studied. RESULTS: Thickness of the PF was symmetrical; the extreme values were 1.8 mm and 4.3 mm with an average of 3 mm ± 0.5. There was positive correlation of PF thickness with age, height, weight, BMI, and daily walking (P < 0.05). The variation of the PF thickness with gender was not significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Thickness of PF has a close correlates with age, height, weight, BMI, and walking activity.

[Transcranial doppler in sickle cell disease (SCD) in Malagasy children]. / Doppler transcranien au cours de la drépanocytose chez l'enfant Malagasy.

INTRODUCTION: Transcranial Doppler is an effective diagnostic tool to detect sickle cell children at risk for stroke. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study of Malagasy children aged between 24 months and 15 years (group 1: 57 sickle cell diseases, group 2: 43 controls) to assess the cerebral artery velocimetry in the patient population. Transcranial doppler ultrasound with analysis of cerebral blood flow was performed in children of both groups. RESULTS: In subjects with sickle cell disease, the mean velocity (MV) in the middle cerebral artery was 100.9 ± 26.8 cm/s, pulsatility index (PI) was 0.73 ± 0.20, the difference between the right and left middle cerebral artery (MCA) was 19.8 ± 21.5 cm/s, anterior cerebral artery/middle cerebral artery flow velocity ratio (ACA / MCA) was 0.7 ± 0.2. In children without sickle cell disease, MV: 80.6 ± 19.3 cm/s, IP: 0.79 ± 0.14, ACMr: 17 ± 20.1 cm/s, ACA/ACM: 0,8 ± 0,2. The velocity in children with sickle cell disease was higher than in the control group. Velocities were correlated with hemoglobin and age but not with sex and mean corpuscular volume. CONCLUSION: Cerebral Circulation Speeds are higher in children with sickle cell disease and are influenced by hemoglobin levels and age.