High tibial osteotomy is becoming increasingly popular but can be associated with unintentional posterior tibial slope (PTS) increase and subsequent anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) degeneration. ...This study quantified the effect of increasing PTS on knee kinematics and in situ forces in the native ACL. A robotic testing system was used to apply external loads from full extension to 90° flexion to seven human cadaveric knees: (1) 200 N axial compressive load, (2) 5 Nm internal tibial + 10 Nm valgus torque, and (3) 5 Nm external tibial + 10 Nm varus torque. Kinematics and in situ forces in the ACL were acquired for the native and increased PTS state. Increasing PTS resulted in increased anterior tibial translation at 30° (1.8 mm), 60° (1.7 mm), and 90° (0.9 mm) flexion and reduced in situ force in the ACL at 30° (57.6%), 60° (69.8%), and 90° (75.0%) flexion in response to 200 N axial compressive load. In response to 5 Nm internal tibial + 10 Nm valgus torque, there was significantly less (39.0%) in situ force in the ACL at 90° flexion in the increased compared with the native PTS state. Significantly less in situ force in the ACL at 60° (62.8%) and 90° (67.0%) flexion was observed in the increased compared with the native PTS state in response to 5 Nm external tibial + 10 Nm varus torque. Increasing PTS affects knee kinematics and results in a reduction of in situ forces in the native ACL during compressive and rotatory loads at flexion angles exceeding 30°. In a controlled laboratory setting PTS increase unloads the ACL, affecting its natural function.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The R package EasyStrata facilitates the evaluation and visualization of stratified genome-wide association meta-analyses (GWAMAs) results. It provides (i) statistical methods to test and account for ...between-strata difference as a means to tackle gene-strata interaction effects and (ii) extended graphical features tailored for stratified GWAMA results. The software provides further features also suitable for general GWAMAs including functions to annotate, exclude or highlight specific loci in plots or to extract independent subsets of loci from genome-wide datasets. It is freely available and includes a user-friendly scripting interface that simplifies data handling and allows for combining statistical and graphical functions in a flexible fashion.
EasyStrata is available for free (under the GNU General Public License v3) from our Web site www.genepi-regensburg.de/easystrata and from the CRAN R package repository cran.r-project.org/web/packages/EasyStrata/.
Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Annual routines of migratory birds inferred from archival solar geolocation devices have never before been confirmed using GPS technologies. A female black-tailed godwit Limosa limosa limosa captured ...on the breeding grounds in the Netherlands in 2013 and recaptured in 2014 was outfitted with both an Intigeo geolocator and an UvA-BiTS GPS-tracker. The GPS positions show that, after its breeding season in 2013, the godwit flew 2035 km nonstop from the Netherlands to southern Spain. It then spent the entire nonbreeding season in the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula before returning to the Netherlands the following spring, stopping for 7 days in the delta of the Ebro River in Spain, and again for a day in central Belgium. To compare the geolocation and GPS data, we analysed the geolocation data with two open-source software packages: one using a threshold method (GeoLight) and the other a template-fit approach (FLightR). Estimates using GeoLight, on average, deviated from the individual’s true position by 495.5 ± 1031.2 km (great circle distance with equinoxes excluded), while FLightR estimates deviated by 43.3 ± 51.5 km (great circle distance with equinoxes included). Arrival and departure schedules estimated by FLightR were within 12 h of those determined by the GPS tracker, whereas GeoLight’s estimates were less precise. For the analysed track, FLightR represents an improvement over GeoLight; if true for other species and conditions, FLightR will hopefully help establish more precise and accurate uses of geolocation data in tracking studies. To aid future improvements in the analysis of solar geolocation data, we also provide the GPS and geolocation data files together with our R scripts as Supplementary material Appendix 1–6.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Isolated and combined posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries are associated with severe limitations in daily, professional, and sports activities as well as with devastating long-term effects for ...the knee joint. As the number of primary and recurrent PCL injuries increases, so does the body of literature, with high-quality evidence evolving in recent years. However, the debate about the ideal treatment approach such as; operative vs. non-operative; single-bundle vs. double-bundle reconstruction; transtibial vs. tibial inlay technique, continues. Ultimately, the goal in the treatment of PCL injuries is restoring native knee kinematics and preventing residual posterior and combined rotatory knee laxity through an individualized approach. Certain demographic, anatomical, and surgical risk factors for failures in operative treatment have been identified. Failures after PCL reconstruction are increasing, confronting the treating surgeon with challenges including the need for revision PCL reconstruction. Part 2 of the evidence-based update on the management of primary and recurrent PCL injuries will summarize the outcomes of operative and non-operative treatment including indications, surgical techniques, complications, and risk factors for recurrent PCL deficiency. This paper aims to support surgeons in decision-making for the treatment of PCL injuries by systematically evaluating underlying risk factors, thus preventing postoperative complications and recurrent knee laxity.
Level of evidence
V.
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EMUNI, FSPLJ, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness. While around half of the genetic contribution to advanced AMD has been uncovered, little is known about the genetic ...architecture of early AMD.
To identify genetic factors for early AMD, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analysis (14,034 cases, 91,214 controls, 11 sources of data including the International AMD Genomics Consortium, IAMDGC, and UK Biobank, UKBB). We ascertained early AMD via color fundus photographs by manual grading for 10 sources and via an automated machine learning approach for > 170,000 photographs from UKBB. We searched for early AMD loci via GWAS and via a candidate approach based on 14 previously suggested early AMD variants.
Altogether, we identified 10 independent loci with statistical significance for early AMD: (i) 8 from our GWAS with genome-wide significance (P < 5 × 10
), (ii) one previously suggested locus with experiment-wise significance (P < 0.05/14) in our non-overlapping data and with genome-wide significance when combining the reported and our non-overlapping data (together 17,539 cases, 105,395 controls), and (iii) one further previously suggested locus with experiment-wise significance in our non-overlapping data. Of these 10 identified loci, 8 were novel and 2 known for early AMD. Most of the 10 loci overlapped with known advanced AMD loci (near ARMS2/HTRA1, CFH, C2, C3, CETP, TNFRSF10A, VEGFA, APOE), except two that have not yet been identified with statistical significance for any AMD. Among the 17 genes within these two loci, in-silico functional annotation suggested CD46 and TYR as the most likely responsible genes. Presence or absence of an early AMD effect distinguished the known pathways of advanced AMD genetics (complement/lipid pathways versus extracellular matrix metabolism).
Our GWAS on early AMD identified novel loci, highlighted shared and distinct genetics between early and advanced AMD and provides insights into AMD etiology. Our data provide a resource comparable in size to the existing IAMDGC data on advanced AMD genetics enabling a joint view. The biological relevance of this joint view is underscored by the ability of early AMD effects to differentiate the major pathways for advanced AMD.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of this study was to investigate differences in concomitant injury patterns and their treatment in patients undergoing early (≤ 12 weeks) and delayed (> 12 weeks) primary multiligament ...posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction (PCL-R).
This study was a retrospective chart review of patients undergoing primary multiligament PCL-R at a single institution between 2008 and 2020. Multiligament PCL-R was defined as PCL-R and concurrent surgical treatment of one or more additional knee ligament(s). Exclusion criteria included isolated PCL-R, PCL repair, and missing data for any variable. Patients were dichotomized into early (≤ 12 weeks) and delayed (> 12 weeks) PCL-R groups based on the time elapsed between injury and surgery. Between-group comparison of variables were conducted with the Chi-square, Fisher's exact, and independent samples t-tests.
A total of 148 patients were eligible for analysis, with 57 (38.5%) patients in the early and 91 (61.1%) patients in the delayed multiligament PCL-R groups. Concomitant LCL/PLC reconstruction (LCL-R/PLC-R) was performed in 55 (60%) of delayed multiligament PCL-Rs and 23 (40%) of early PCL-Rs (p = 0.02). Despite similar rates of meniscus injury, concomitant meniscus surgery was significantly more prevalent in the early (n = 25, 44%) versus delayed (n = 19, 21%) multiligament PCL-R group (p = 0.003), with a significantly greater proportion of medial meniscus surgeries performed in the early (n = 16, 28%) compared to delayed (n = 13, 14%) PCL-R group (p = 0.04). The prevalence of knee cartilage injury was significantly different between the early (n = 12, 24%) and delayed (n = 41, 46%) multiligament PCL-R groups (p = 0.01), with more frequent involvement of the lateral (n = 17, 19% vs. n = 3, 5%, respectively; p = 0.04) and medial (n = 31, 34% vs. n = 6, 11%, respectively; p = 0.005) femoral condyles in the delayed compared to the early PCL-R group.
Given higher rates of chondral pathology and medial meniscus surgery seen in delayed multiligament PCL-R, early management of PCL-based multiligament knee injury is recommended to restore knee stability and potentially prevent the development of further intraarticular injury.
Level III.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The distributions of animal populations change and evolve through time. Migratory species exploit different habitats at different times of the year. Biotic and abiotic features that determine where a ...species lives vary due to natural and anthropogenic factors. This spatiotemporal variation needs to be accounted for in any modeling of species' distributions. In this paper we introduce a semiparametric model that provides a flexible framework for analyzing dynamic patterns of species occurrence and abundance from broad-scale survey data. The spatiotemporal exploratory model (STEM) adds essential spatiotemporal structure to existing techniques for developing species distribution models through a simple parametric structure without requiring a detailed understanding of the underlying dynamic processes. STEMs use a multi-scale strategy to differentiate between local and global-scale spatiotemporal structure. A user-specified species distribution model accounts for spatial and temporal patterning at the local level. These local patterns are then allowed to "scale up" via ensemble averaging to larger scales. This makes STEMs especially well suited for exploring distributional dynamics arising from a variety of processes. Using data from eBird, an online citizen science bird-monitoring project, we demonstrate that monthly changes in distribution of a migratory species, the Tree Swallow (
Tachycineta bicolor
), can be more accurately described with a STEM than a conventional bagged decision tree model in which spatiotemporal structure has not been imposed. We also demonstrate that there is no loss of model predictive power when a STEM is used to describe a spatiotemporal distribution with very little spatiotemporal variation; the distribution of a nonmigratory species, the Northern Cardinal (
Cardinalis cardinalis
).
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, INZLJ, KILJ, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK, ZRSKP
Purpose
Tibial plateau fractures (TPFs) may lead to posttraumatic osteoarthritis and increase the risk for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The aim of this systematic review was to analyse the ...conversion rate to TKA after TPF treatment.
Methods
A systematic search for studies reviewing the conversion rate to TKA after TPF treatment was conducted. The studies were screened and assessed by two independent observers. The conversion rate was analysed overall and for selected subgroups, including different follow-up times, treatment methods, and study sizes.
Results
A total of forty-two eligible studies including 52,577 patients were included in this systematic review. The overall conversion rate of treated TPF to TKA in all studies was 5.1%. Thirty-eight of the forty-two included studies indicated a conversion rate under 10%. Four studies reported a higher percentage, namely, 10.8%, 10.9%, 15.5%, and 21.9%. Risk factors for TKA following TPF treatment were female sex, age, and low surgeon and hospital volume. The conversion rate to TKA is particularly high in the first 5 years after fracture.
Conclusion
Based on the studies, it can be assumed that the conversion rate to TKA is approximately 5%. The risk for TKA is manageable in clinical practice.
Prospero registration number
CRD42023385311.
Level of evidence
IV.
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EMUNI, FIS, FSPLJ, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of genetic loci associated with kidney function. By combining these findings with post-GWAS information (e.g., statistical fine-mapping ...to identify independent association signals and to narrow down signals to causal variants; or different sources of annotation data), new hypotheses regarding physiology and disease aetiology can be obtained. These hypotheses need to be tested in laboratory experiments, for example, to identify new therapeutic targets. For this purpose, the evidence obtained from GWAS and post-GWAS analyses must be processed and presented in a way that they are easily accessible to kidney researchers without specific GWAS expertise. With the focus on kidney function related evidence, KidneyGPS fills a gap between large general platforms for accessing GWAS and post-GWAS results and the specific needs of the kidney research community. This makes KidneyGPS an important platform for kidney researchers to help translate in silico research results into in vitro or in vivo research.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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