Objectives: To determine sweat rate (SwR) and fluid requirements for American footballers practicing in a hot, humid environment compared with cross country runners in the same conditions. Methods: ...Fifteen subjects, 10 footballers and five runners, participated. On the 4th and 8th day of preseason two a day practices, SwR during exercise was determined in both morning and afternoon practices/runs from the change in body mass adjusted for fluids consumed and urine produced. Unpaired t tests were used to determine differences between groups. Results: Overall SwR measured in litres/h was higher in the footballers than the cross country runners (2.14 (0.53) v 1.77 (0.4); p<0.01). Total sweat loss in both morning (4.83 (1.2) v 1.56 (0.39) litres) and afternoon (4.8 (1.2) v 1.97 (0.28) litres) practices/runs, and daily sweat losses (9.4 (2.2) v 3.53 (0.54) litres) were higher in the footballers (p<0.0001). The footballers consumed larger volumes of fluid during both morning and afternoon practices/runs (23.9 (8.9) v 5.5 (3.1) ml/min and 23.5 (7.3) v 13.6 (5.6) ml/min; p<0.01). For complete hydration, the necessary daily fluid consumption calculated as 130% of daily sweat loss in the footballers was 12.2 (2.9) litres compared with 4.6 (0.7) litres in the runners (p<0.0001). Calculated 24 hour fluid requirements in the footballers ranged from 8.8 to 19 litres. Conclusions: The American footballers had a high SwR with large total daily sweat losses. Consuming large volumes of hypotonic fluid may promote sodium dilution. Recommendations for fluid and electrolyte replacement must be carefully considered and monitored in footballers to promote safe hydration and avoid hyponatraemia.
The paper reports the results of a project aiming to obtain multifunctional binary and ternary polymer nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and anti-microbial properties. To this end a DGEBA-based ...epoxy resin is loaded using montmorillonite clays and later used as matrix for glass fibre reinforced laminates. Both binary and ternary nanomodified specimens are manufactured and subjected to mechanical testing. An accurate analysis of the effect of nanomodification on the biological activity is carried out as well.
•Results from nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and anti-microbial properties are presented.•Epoxy is loaded with nanoclays and used as matrix for glass fibre reinforced laminates.•Binary and ternary nanomodified specimens are manufactured and tested.•The effect of nanomodification on the biological activity is studied.
In this study, a series of new epoxy/clay nanocomposites (ECN) has been prepared and characterized in order to investigate the properties and compare the effect of the unmodified Moroccan clay on the ...structure and properties of the composite materials. Five natural clays have been used to reinforce the neat epoxy resin with 1% wt and 5% wt achieving the clay dispersion only through strong milling and mechanical stirring without previous organic modifications of the clays. The quality of clay dispersion in the epoxy matrix and the morphology of nanocomposites have been studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The mechanical and thermal properties have also been investigated. The antimicrobial activity of the nanocomposites has been tested against E. coli and S. aureus in order to evaluate their applicability as advanced antimicrobial materials. The results showed that the epoxy/crude clay nanocomposites exhibited a high inhibition action attending 99% against both bacteria in the case of the clay labeled A5.
Twenty patients with anterior cruciate ligament-deficient knees were studied. Ten patients returned to all sports activities (compensators) and 10 patients were not improved with nonoperative ...management and required surgical stabilization (noncompensators). Joint laxity was measured using a KT-2000 arthrometer (manual maximum Lachman). Subjects completed a Lysholm questionnaire and Knee Outcome Score. The International Knee Documentation Committee form was also completed. Patients also rated their knee function on a scale of 1 to 100. There was no difference in level and frequency of athletic activity between the two groups before their anterior cruciate ligament injuries as determined by the knee outcome score. The compensator group had a mean side-to-side difference of 3.25 mm at 89 N and the noncompensators had a mean difference of 3 mm preoperatively. Manual maximum tests gave side-to-side differences of 6.7 mm for the compensators and 6 mm for the noncompensators. There were no differences in laxity measures between groups. The correlation between knee outcome scores and side-to-side laxity measurements were not significant. Measurements of anterior laxity in anterior cruciate ligament-deficient patients were not correlated with measures of functional outcome used in this study. Functional outcome measurements that are partially based on joint laxity measures, such as the International Knee Documentation Committee form, may artificially overestimate the disability after anterior cruciate ligament rupture.
A burst-superimposition technique was used to assess the strength of the quadriceps femoris muscle in three groups of patients. Group 1 comprised twenty patients who had had a torn anterior cruciate ...ligament of the knee and had a reconstruction of the ligament one to six months after the injury. Group 2 comprised twelve patients who had had a torn anterior cruciate ligament for an average of three months (a subacute tear). Group 3 comprised eight patients who had had a torn anterior cruciate ligament for an average of two years (a chronic tear). The patients in Groups 2 and 3 had not had an operation for the torn ligament. The patients in Groups 1 and 3 had no evidence of failure of activation of the involved quadriceps, but nine of the twelve patients in Group 2 had reflex inhibition of contraction of the muscle.
Ankle sprains are among the most common injuries sustained by athletes and seen by sports medicine physicians. Despite their prevalence in society, ankle sprains still remain a difficult diagnostic ...and therapeutic challenge in the athlete, as well as in society in general. The purpose of this section of our two-part study is to review scope of the problem, the anatomy and biomechanics of the lateral ankle ligaments, review the pathoanatomical correlates of lateral ankle sprains, the histopathogenesis of ligament healing, and define the mechanisms of injury to understand the basis of our diagnostic approach to the patient with this common acute and chronic injury. We extensively review the diagnostic evaluation including historical information and physical examination, as well as options for supplementary radiographic examination. We further discuss the differential diagnosis of the patient with recurrent instability symptoms. This will also serve as the foundation for part two of our study, which is to understand the rationale for our treatment approach for this common problem.
The purpose of our study was to describe the MR appearance and coexistence of anterior cruciate ligament ganglia with mucoid degeneration and to address the clinical significance of these entities.
A ...database search of 4221 knee MRI examinations over 2 years revealed 90 examinations with reported anterior cruciate ligament ganglion or mucoid degeneration. Imaging criteria for ligament ganglion included fluid signal in the ligament disproportionate to joint fluid showing mass effect on intact ligament bundles. The size, location, complexity, and degree of lobulation of ganglia were recorded. Criteria for mucoid degeneration included ligament bundles poorly seen on T1-weighted and proton density-weighted images but with both bundles seen as intact on T2-weighted images. Intraosseous cysts at the ligament attachments and presence of joint effusion were noted. Clinical assessment of ligament instability was recorded when available.
Of 74 examinations that met imaging criteria, 56 (76%) had discrete intraligamentous ganglia, 18 (24%) had mucoid degeneration, and 26 (35%) had features of both. Ganglia were located in the proximal ligament in 16 examinations (22%) and the distal ligament in 10 (14%) and involved the entire ligament in 30 (40%). Ganglia ranged in maximum diameter from 20 to 73 mm (mean, 31 mm). Complexity of ganglia was mild (41%), moderate (39.2%), or marked (19.8%). Intraosseous cysts were noted proximally in 48 examinations (65%) and distally in 20 (27%). Of 52 patients with accessible records, 48 had no clinical evidence of instability. Twelve patients who underwent arthroscopy had an intact anterior cruciate ligament at that time.
Anterior cruciate ligament ganglia and mucoid degeneration commonly coexist on MRI and are typically not associated with ligament instability.
One hundred thirty-six patients with impingement syndrome and rotator cuff disease who were treated nonoperatively from 1987 to 1991 were reviewed to identify findings at initial presentation that ...correlated with final outcome. Mean followup was 20 months (range, 6-41 months). All patients received initial conservative treatment. The results were analyzed in 2 groups. Group I consisted of the entire 136 patients with a minimum 6-month followup. Group II consisted of a subgroup of 68 patients with at least an 18-month followup. The overall results in Group I were 66% excellent and good and 34% fair and poor. For Group II, the overall results were 76% excellent and good and 24% fair and poor. For the Group II patients, a distribution of clinical findings at the 6-month followup demonstrated only 46% excellent and good results, indicating that the clinical result improves significantly as followup duration increased. Patient characteristics and prognostic factors that were associated with an unfavorable clinical outcome included a rotator cuff tear > 1 cm2, a history of pretreatment clinical symptoms for > 1-year duration, and significant functional impairment at initial presentation. Factors not associated with clinical outcome included patient age, occupation, gender, associated instability, dominance, chronicity of onset, active range of motion, or specific treatment modalities. Early operative intervention is recommended for patients with poor prognostic factors to avoid a protracted clinical course.
In this work, plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) coatings were produced on AA7075 using alkaline solution containing silicates compounds and silver micrometric particles in order to give to the ...coating an antimicrobial effect. In the optic of circular economy, silver chloride derived from the acid pre-treatment of electronic scraps was used as raw material and successively silver powders were synthesized from silver chloride solution using glucose syrup as reducing agent.
The coatings were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), potentiodynamic polarization test and antimicrobial tests. The results evidenced that the obtained coatings were homogenous and give to the samples higher corrosion resistance than untreated alloy. The silver particles, found both inside and outside of the pores that characterize the PEO layer, produced an efficacious antimicrobial effect both against E. coli and S. aureus.
•Silver particles were incorporated into PEO coatings produced on aluminum alloys.•The incorporation was performed with direct addition of the particles in the electrolyte.•The particles resulted equally distributed on the samples surfaces.•The obtained coatings show antimicrobial activity with both E. coli and S. aureus.•The obtained coatings were characterized by acceptable corrosion resistance.
This is the second part of a two-part comprehensive review of lateral ankle sprains. In the first part of our review, we discussed the etiology, natural history, pathoanatomy, mechanism of injury, ...histopathogenesis of healing, and diagnostic approach to acute and chronic lateral ligamentous ankle injuries. Conservative intervention and treatment of grade I-III and chronic, recurrent sprains of the lateral ankle ligaments and appropriate rehabilitation guidelines are the topics of this article. We review the use and benefit of different modalities and external supports and outline our five-phase intervention program of rehabilitation based on the histopathogenesis of ligament healing. We discuss the expected timing of recovery of the acute injury as well as the management of chronic, recurrent ankle sprains. Treatment of acute ankle sprains depends on the severity of the injury. Conservative therapy has been found to be uniformly effective in treating grade I and II ankle sprains. Some controversy exists regarding the appropriate treatment of grade III injuries, particularly in high-level athletes. Our belief is that the majority of these patients may also be treated well with conservative management. Other options for the management of grade III sprains will be briefly discussed at the end of this article.
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