Our objective was to explore variations of pressure data from insole pressure sensors after a walking session and to produce an algorithm which extracts spatiotemporal gait parameters in close real ...time. In this study we performed a 10-meter stand up and walking test on 25 normal individuals. All subjects were walking at their comfortable speed during the test. The subjects were wearing in-soles equipped with 9 pressure sensors on each foot (the W-inshoe system by Medicapteurs). The W-inshoe system is simple, relatively cheap and reliable. System's software is quite outdated, has multiple bugs and does not produce the appropriate numerical gait parameters, so we developed an algorithm to process the raw data from the insoles using MATLAB. The developed algorithm can successfully process the pressure data, remove noise, and produce the appropriate gait parameters accurately. Using the algorithm on our sampling pool, we procured the following results: Average peak pressure range was 644 to 1555 gram force (average: 1000gf, average stance period range was 0.64 to 0.85 seconds (average: 0. 76s) and double support period range was 0.17 to 22s (average: 0. 18s). Even though there were only 9 sensors in every insole, the data were sufficient to develop the algorithm. In the future, the algorithm could be used on a cloud-based application to extract pressure and spatiotemporal gait parameters from a simple and reliable insole system.
Introduction: One of the most common orthopedic injuries seen in patients at the emergency department is that of the ankle. There are some efficient protocols for their treatment, but more often the ...clinician is focused in finding and treating possible fractures and disregards ligamentous lesions that lead to instability if they become chronic. Case Report: A patient that suffered an ankle sprain was improperly handled, developed lateral instability of the ankle, and was treated surgically using an autologous semitendinosus graft. A 42-year-old Caucasian male that after an ankle sprain was examined in various primary health-care centers, four times within 6 months, with persistent symptoms of his left ankle. After all these months, he was eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic lateral instability of the ankle that was resistant to conservative treatment. In stress view X-rays, the talar tilt angle was 21° and the anterior drawer was measured at 13 mm. The patient was treated surgically with reconstruction of the anterior talofibular and the calcaneofibular ligament using an autologous semitendinosus graft from the left knee. The graft was pinned in the anatomical insertion sites of the ligaments with absorbable screws. A post-surgical physiotherapy regimen was ap-plied for 2 months. In the post-surgical dynamic stress view X-rays, the talar tilt angle and the anterior drawer were markedly improved, measured at 3° and 4 mm, respectively. In 11 months post-surgical follow-up, the patient’s American Foot and Ankle Score was 85, from the 60 evaluated before treatment. Conclusion: The use of guidelines, regular follow-ups, and functional rehabilitation are key factors to treating ankle injuries. The reconstruction of lateral collateral ligament complex with a semitendinosus graft is one of the surgical options for restoring lateral ankle instability. Keywords: Ankle sprain, autologous semitendinosus graft, lateral instability of the ankle.
IntroductionOne of the most common orthopedic injury injuries seen in patients at the emergency department is that of the ankle. There are some efficient protocols for their treatment, but more often ...the clinician is fo-cused in finding and treating possible fractures and disregards ligamentous lesions that lead to instabil-ity, if they become chronic. Case ReportA patient that suffered an ankle sprain was improperly handled, developed lateral instability of the ankle, and was treated surgically using an autologous semitendinosus graft. A 42-year year-old Caucasian male that after an ankle sprain was examined in various primary health -care centers, four times within six 6 months, with persistent symptoms of his left ankle. After all these months, he was eventually diagnosed with post-traumatic lateral instability of the ankle that was resistant to con-servative treatment. In stress view X-rays, the talar tilt angle was 21°ο and the anterior drawer was measured at 13 mm. The patient was treated surgically with reconstruction of the anterior talofibular and the calcaneofibular ligament using an autologous semitendinosus graft from the left knee. The graft was pinned in the anatomical insertion sites of the ligaments with absorbable screws. A post-surgical physiotherapy regimen was applied for two 2 months. In the post-surgical dynamic stress view X-rays, the talar tilt angle and the anterior drawer were markedly improved, measured at 3°ο and 4 mm, respec-tively. In 11 months post-surgical follow-up, the patient's American Foot and Ankle Score was 85, from the 60 evaluated before treatment. ConclusionThe use of guidelines, regular follow-ups, and functional rehabilitation are key factors to treating ankle injuries. The reconstruction of lateral collateral ligament complex with a semitendinosus graft is one of the surgical options for restoring lateral ankle instability.
Objectives:
Atrial fibrillation has been associated with obesity in epidemiological studies. Epicardial adipose tissue is an ectopic fat depot in the proximity of atria, with endocrine and ...inflammatory properties that is implicated in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation. Inflammation also has a role in atrial arrhythmogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential relations of epicardial adipose tissue to left atrial size and to adiponectin and the pro-inflammatory mediators, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and interleukin-6 in paroxysmal and permanent atrial fibrillation.
Methods:
This was a cross-sectional study of 103 atrial fibrillation patients, divided into two subgroups of paroxysmal and permanent atrial fibrillation, and 81 controls, in sinus rhythm. Echocardiography was used for estimation of epicardial adipose tissue and left atrial size and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and adiponectin were measured in all subjects.
Results:
Atrial fibrillation patients had significantly larger epicardial adipose tissue compared with controls (0.43 ± 0.17 vs 0.34 ± 0.17 cm, p = 0.002). Atrial fibrillation presence was independently related to epicardial adipose tissue thickness (b = 0.09, p = 0.002). Opposite associations of epicardial adipose tissue with left atrial volume existed in atrial fibrillation subgroups; in the paroxysmal subgroup, epicardial adipose tissue was directly related to left atrial volume (R = 0.3, p = 0.03), but in the permanent one the relation was inverse (R = −0.7, p < 0.0001). Adiponectin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were elevated in both atrial fibrillation groups. Only interleukin-6 was related to epicardial adipose tissue size.
Conclusion:
Opposite associations of epicardial adipose tissue with left atrial size in paroxysmal and permanent Atrial fibrillation and elevated inflammatory markers, suggest a role of epicardial adipose tissue and inflammation in the fibrotic and remodeling process.
Permanent pacemaker implantation is accompanied by minor myocardial damage, indicated by elevated serum levels of cardiac biomarkers. Aim of this prospective study was to comparably investigate the ...lead fixation type effect on the extent of myocardial injury and inflammation following pacemaker implantation, and to assess the possible clinical implications.
Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured at baseline, 6 and 24h after implantation in 101 patients, categorized into the active and passive lead fixation group. Patients were followed up for clinical adverse events or abnormal pacing parameters at 24h, 7 and 30 days post-procedure.
cTnI increased at 6h post-procedure (p<0.05) in 23.8% of patients, and returned to baseline after 24h. The passive group demonstrated significantly higher cTnI at 6h compared to the active group (p=0.006). CRP increased significantly at 6h, and maintained an upward trend after 24h (p<0.01) in both groups. The active group demonstrated significantly higher CRP at 6h compared to the passive group. We did not identify an association of positive biomarkers with adverse events.
cTnI and CRP can increase early after permanent pacemaker implantation, indicating mechanical myocardial injury and inflammation. The extent of these biomarkers elevation depends on the lead fixation type, and is not related to worse short-term prognosis.
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