Many if not most of us watched in utter disbelief and horror last September 11th as Aaron Rogers, the newly acquired $75 million dollar quarterback with the New York Jets just 4 snaps into the new ...season, suffered an Achilles Tendon ruptures (ATR) in his inaugural game on nationally televised Monday Night Football with his new and excited team and demanding fanbase. With cell phones in hand, we watched as our X apps lit up with claims of an excess of ATRs in the NFL in recent years and much of the blame placed on the new rubberized turf surfaces in place in most of the NFL stadiums. That first week of the NFL season the NFL Players Association, the NFLPA, put out a statement to this effect that demanded removal of rubberized turf surfaces throughout the NFL! With Kirk Cousins devastating ATR a few weeks later, amongst 21 others this season, and Aaron Rogers return to practice after a mere seven to eight weeks post-injury, this conundrum remains foremost in our hyper-questioning minds!
XY positioning is an important task in industrial applications. This paper addresses the dynamic modeling of a belt-driven, parallel-type XY positioning system constructed in the form of a ...capitalized H. The system uses one long timing belt to transmit the rotation of two stationary motors to end-effector motion. Due to less moved masses, the studied H-frame system is potentially capable of fast acceleration, and therefore, faster positioning than traditional stacked systems. The use of an elastic transmission element also causes the biggest disadvantage of the system, which is an uncertainty of end-effector position due to stretching in the belt. Thus, the objective of this paper is to develop a dynamic model that can capture the response of this system. Using Lagrange's method, an eighth-order lumped parameter dynamic model of the stage motion is derived. The effect of nonlinear friction in the pulleys and cart motion is added to the model. The response of the model was simulated in MATLAB Simulink, and the model prediction is compared with real data obtained from the developed system. The results show that the model can accurately predict the dynamics of the developed H-frame positioning system.
Abstract Study Objective In this pilot study we ascertained baseline knowledge of pelvic anatomy and function among female adolescents and tested the educational effectiveness of a pelvic health ...curriculum among female adolescent students with the hypothesis that teaching pelvic anatomy, muscle, and organ function, and pelvic hygiene increases pelvic health knowledge. Design Intervention-control group, community-based effectiveness study. Setting Three Chicago area schools with racial minority and low-income student populations were selected as study sites. Participants One hundred sixty-eight students with a mean age of 14.1 (±0.1) years. Most (69%) self-reported race as black or African American; 23.8% reported Hispanic ethnicity. Interventions Pelvic health teachers delivered 6 weekly, 1-hour classes (intervention group, n = 103; control group, n = 65). A comparison control group received standard curricula (physical education or science). Main Outcome Measures Knowledge change was measured using the Adolescent Bladder and Pelvic Health Questionnaire. We used χ2 tests to compared bivariate differences between study arms and generalized equation estimate to test for before and after change across groups. Results Baseline pelvic anatomy and function knowledge was minimal. The level of anatomical knowledge was very low with few in either group correctly able to identify where urine exits the body or the number of openings in the vulva. After intervention, significant increases in knowledge included pelvic floor muscle awareness in the control and intervention group (20% vs 89%; P < .001), pelvic floor muscle exercise benefit (31% vs 78%; P < .001), and knowledge that urine loss was abnormal (25.4% vs 60%; P < .001). More participants correctly identified organs within the pelvic structure, the vagina (21.5% vs 51.5%; P < .001), pelvic floor (16.9% vs 57.3%; P < .001), and the bladder (12.3% vs 42.7%; P < .001). Conclusion In this study we identified pelvic-related knowledge deficits among female adolescents and suggest that short-term pelvic health educational intervention results in significant knowledge acquisition.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Abstract Posterior shoulder dislocation is an unusual injury often associated with electrical shock or seizure. As with anterior instability, patients frequently present with an impaction injury to ...the anterior aspect of the humeral head known as a “reverse Hill-Sachs lesion.” The treatment of this bony defect is controversial, and multiple surgical procedures to fill the defect in an effort to decrease recurrence have been described. Most of the reports have focused on an open approach using variations of lesser tuberosity and subscapularis transfers, bone allograft, and even arthroplasty to assist with persistent instability. We advocate an arthroscopic technique that involves a suture anchor–based distal tenodesis of the subscapularis tendon or a reverse remplissage procedure.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
This study examined opportunities and challenges faced by individuals working to advance mental health policy and programming for first responders. We utilized qualitative content analysis and ...interviews with 16 firefighters, emergency medical services professionals, law enforcement officers, and others involved in programming or policy in the U.S. state of Ohio. Six themes characterized opportunities and challenges encountered: (1) variations in programming and policy exist across jurisdictions; (2) opportunities exist to enhance mental health awareness and self-care training for first responders; (3) need exists for specialized mental health clinicians accustomed to and capable of effectively working with first responders; (4) confidentiality protections are lacking for peer supporters not trained in critical incident stress management; (5) having an internal champion and broader support is key to program and policy advancement; and (6) interdepartmental collaboration provides opportunities for sharing resources and best practices. Results illustrate continued need for strategic policymaking, program development, and coordination.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The development of a functional, adherent endothelium is one of the major factors limiting the successful development of tissue engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs). The adhesion and function of ...endothelial cells (ECs) on smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are poorly understood. The goal of this research was to optimize conditions for the direct culture of endothelium on SMCs, and to develop an initial assessment of co-culture on EC function. The co-culture consisted of a culture substrate, a basal adhesion protein, a layer of porcine SMCs, a medial adhesion protein, and a layer of porcine ECs. Conditions that led to successful co-culture were: a polystyrene culture substrate, a quiescent state for SMCs, subconfluent density for SMC seeding and confluent density for EC seeding, and fibronectin (FN) for the basal adhesion protein. EC adhesion was not enhanced by addition of FN, collagen I, collagen IV or laminin (LN) to the medial layer. 3-D image reconstruction by confocal microscopy indicated that SMCs did not migrate over ECs and the cells were present in two distinct layers. Co-cultures could be consistently maintained for as long as 10 days. After exposure to 5
dyne/cm
2 for 7.5
h, ECs remained adherent to SMCs. PECAM staining indicated junction formation between ECs, but at a lower level than that observed with EC monocultures. Co-culturing ECs with SMCs did not change the growth rate of ECs, but EC DiI-Ac-LDL uptake was increased. Thus, a confluent and adherent layer of endothelium can be directly cultured on quiescent SMCs.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
To compare outcomes after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC), demineralized bone matrix (DBM), and suture tape augmentation (STA) vs. ACLR ...without biologic augmentation or STA.
A prospective randomized controlled trial at a single institution was performed to compare ACLR with BMAC, DBM, and STA (Group A) vs. ACLR without biologic or STA (Group NA). One hundred patients were required. Skeletally mature patients <25 years old received quadriceps tendon autografts, while patients ≥25 years old received allograft ACLR with an all-inside technique. Concomitant meniscal pathologies were included. Primary outcomes compared were range-of-motion (ROM), limb symmetry, and patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Secondary outcomes included radiographic outcomes and surgical complications. Univariate and mixed-model regression analysis were used to compare outcomes.
Fifty-nine patients were included (Group A: 29 patients, 11 females, 38%; Group NA: 30 patients, 15 females, 50%). Early range-of-motion at 6 weeks (125° vs 109° flexion, p<0.0001) and limb symmetry testing at 12 weeks (80.6 % vs. 36.7% Delta 43.9%, p<0.001) were significantly improved in Group A. At two years, International Knee Documentation (IKDC) scores were similar (91.1 ± 12.7 vs. 85.3 ± 10.8, p=0.109). Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis and Outcome Score (KOOS) Quality of Life (QOL) scores were significantly enhanced in Group A (85.2 ± 20.9 vs. 72.1 ± 20.4, p=0.042). Twenty-two patients (12 Group A, 10 Group NA) underwent CT scans at 6-months to compare bone tunnel healing. Overall, the mean increase in bone tunnel diameter was significantly smaller in Group A vs. NA. No difference in graft re-ruptures or re-operations was observed. Seven of 59 patients (11.9%) underwent re-operation for stiffness (A: 3 (10%) vs. NA: 4 (13%), p=1.0).
There were no differences in IKDC scores between groups at 2-year follow-up. Functional outcomes including early range-of-motion and limb symmetry were significantly improved in patients who received ACLR with BMAC, DBM, and STA. ACLRACLR.ACLR
Abstract Medial meniscal tears are among the most common injuries to the knee joint. Loss of the meniscus has been linked to increased contact pressures on the adjacent articular cartilage and ...progression of degenerative changes in the knee. A subset of tears known as “root tears” involves the insertion of the posterior horn of the meniscus to the bone. Arthroscopic partial meniscectomy for root tears led to undesirable outcomes, which prompted surgeons to explore restorative procedures. Multiple repair techniques have been presented with an emphasis placed on initial secure fixation and stimulation of potential healing. We present an arthroscopic-assisted technique for medial meniscal root repair with these goals in mind.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP