Tibiofemoral contact pressures in degenerative joint disease

Using tibiofemoral joints from older (age, 53-80 years) human cadavers with articular cartilage degeneration, contact pressures and contact areas were measured in the extended knee in four conditions: (1) neutral alignment; (2) 5 degrees varus (simulating single limb stance of gait); (3) 5 degrees valgus; and (4) after a 5 degrees proximal tibial closing wedge valgus osteotomy. In degenerated cartilage, contact pressures were reduced at the lesion sites and were high on the borders of the lesions. No statistically significant changes occurred in contact pressures and areas when values from neutral loading were compared with values during loading in each of the other three conditions. Lateral average and maximum contact pressures were less in varus loading than in valgus loading. Equal medial and lateral contact pressures during varus loading, in contrast to lower medial than lateral contact pressures in the other three loading, supports the theory that the varus moment imposed on the knee in single limb stance could be a mechanism causing medial tibiofemoral osteoarthritis. The 5 degrees valgus osteotomy resulted in contact pressures similar to those in neutral loading. These experiments do not support the value of the 5 degrees valgus osteotomy in reducing contact pressures on the medial tibial plateau.     

Exploratory factor analysis of MRI brain structure measures in schizophrenia

Much of the literature shows various regional structural brain abnormalities in schizophrenia, but the complexity and variability of brain makes it difficult to determine how these regions are related. Statistical methods which estimate factors underlying patterns of covariance have not been widely used, but could be useful for analyzing such complex data. We applied exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis procedures to specific cortical and subcortical regional brain volume measures from MRI data in 60 normal and 44 schizophrenic subjects. Basal ganglia, heteromodal cortical gray, and medial temporal lobe factors were present in both the normal and the schizophrenia groups. The factor structure observed in the normal group showed a high degree of bilateral symmetry which is present but disrupted in the schizophrenia group. In the bilateral data, the disruption is most pronounced with medial and lateral temporal lobe structures including entorhinal cortex and anterior and posterior superior temporal gyri. There was a significant correlation between the basal ganglia factor and the heteromodal cortical gray factor in the normal group that was not present in the schizophrenia group. In the unilateral data, left posterior superior temporal gyrus did not load onto any factor in the schizophrenia group. Confirmatory factor analyses showed significant differences between the two groups in factor structure. A number of specific brain regions are affected in schizophrenia, and structural relationships between groups of regions also are abnormal. The results suggest that heteromodal dorsolateral prefrontal and superior temporal cortical gray regions are structurally related, whereas inferior parietal cortical gray is less so. These results should be viewed as preliminary as the ratio of parameters to subjects was relatively low, and replication is needed. However, the results demonstrate the potential utility of latent structure methods such as factor analysis in study of complex relationships in neuropsychiatric data.     

A digital technique to estimate second-order distortion usinghigher order coherence spectra

A digital spectral method for evaluating second-order distortion of a nonlinear system, which can be represented by Volterra kernels up to second order and which is subjected to a random noise input, is discussed. The importance of departures from the commonly assumed Gaussian excitation is investigated. The Hinich test is shown to be an appropriate test for orthogonality in the system identification. Tests for Gaussianity of two important sources, which are commonly used for Gaussian inputs in nonlinear system identification, are presented: (1) commercial software routines for simulation experiments, and (2) noise generators for practical experiments. The deleterious effects of assuming a Gaussian input when it is not are demonstrated. The random input method for evaluating the second-order distortion of a nonlinear system is compared with the sine-wave input method using both simulation and experimental data. The approach is applied to a loudspeaker in the low-frequency band     

Wear of aged dental composites

Surface morphology and wear characteristics of five dental composites subjected to accelerated aging were investigated. Aging conditions caused degradation of the surface as evidenced by the formation of microcracks and the exposure and loss of filler particles. Wear parameters such as track width, transition load and mode of surface failure caused by single-pass sliding were influenced by aging and by the composition of the composite.     

An alternative to DSM-III.

Comments on the article by Schacht and Nathan (see record 1978-29497-001), which presented a critical analysis of the 3rd edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III). Schacht and Nathan note the inappropriateness of categorizing all mental disorders as a subset of medical disorders. The current author suggests that this may result in insurers and legislators increasingly relying on psychiatrists for both diagnosis and treatment of mental problems. He suggests that the American Psychological Association should develop its on diagnostic manual to be free of the biases and limitations of the DSM-III. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modeling of atmospheric effects on the angular distribution of abackscattering peak

Atmospheric radiative transfer calculations with extremely high angular resolution of the radiance distribution are used to analyze the effects of atmospheric multiple scattering and absorption on the angular distribution of a narrow retroreflection peak such as the canopy hot spot, or Heiligenschein. Using a realistic aerosol-loaded atmospheric model, the results demonstrate that the angular width of the model hot spot (for half widths between 1° and 4° and various types of vegetative canopies) is, to within about 10%, invariant to atmospheric perturbations for total optical depths of the atmosphere up to 1.0 at 0.55 μm and up to 0.9 at 0.86 μm. This result is a consequence of the angular filter effect of the surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function and the comparatively broad angular signature of atmospheric backscattering. However, the contrast ratio of the backscattering peak is strongly influenced by atmospheric extinction. As a consequence for satellite remote sensing, the results indicate that the canopy hot spot can be classified as an angular reflectance signature with an angular width that remains invariant to atmospheric scattering and absorption     

Antioxidant activity, packed cell transfusions, and outcome in premature infants

AIM: To evaluate the relative importance of biochemical markers of antioxidant status, gestational age, and parameters of neonatal care in the clinical outcome of premature infants. METHOD: A prospective, observational, longitudinal study of the association between these factors was conducted. Blood was collected from an in situ arterial line within two hours of birth and at intervals thereafter, when blood was drawn for routine clinical purposes. Outcome was assessed as death, or survival with or without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). One hundred and forty four babies of 22 to 39 weeks of gestation, who required intensive care at the Jessop Hospital for Women, between January 1993 and April 1994, were recruited. RESULTS: Low gestational age at birth was the most important predictor of mortality and the development of BPD. Having corrected for gestational age, low plasma antioxidant activity at birth was an independent risk factor for mortality. Plasma vitamin C at birth was significantly higher in the babies who died compared with those with a good outcome, but this effect was not sustained after correcting for gestational age. Repeated measures of Analysis of Variance revealed a postnatal increase in antioxidant activity, caeruloplasmin, retinol, cholesterol corrected alpha tocopherol, and red blood cell superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. Vitamin C, on the other hand, declined in all groups after birth. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the greater the number of packed cell transfusions received during intensive care, and the higher the concentration of vitamin C on the second day of life, the greater the risk of developing BPD. CONCLUSIONS: After correcting for the effect of gestational age, low plasma antioxidant activity at birth was an independent risk factor for mortality. Frequent blood cell transfusions over the first week of life are associated with an increased risk of developing BPD. This association may be causal.     

Filaroides hirthi in a dog: fatal hyperinfection suggestive of autoinfection

Progressive dyspnea in a dog began 1 month after it had been hit by a car. Radiographs revealed diffuse interstitial and alveolar pneumonia. Large numbers of embryonated eggs were observed in bronchial washings; and many small nematodes, later identified as Filaroides hirthi, were found in the fine needle aspirates of pulmonary tissue. Numerous nematode larvae were demonstrated on fecal flotation. The severe hyperinfection strongly suggested autoinfection, probably associated with depressed immunologic competence due to chronic stress.     

Fixation of osteotomies using bioabsorbable screws in the canine femur

The purpose of this study was to compare the healing properties of femoral osteotomies fixed by bioabsorbable screws (20:80 polyglycolic copolylactic acid copolymer) to standard stainless steel screws of a similar design in a dog femoral model. Two osteotomies were used, the trephine osteotomy (10 mm diameter) in the metaphyseal lateral femoral condyle and in the femoral diaphysis, and a unilateral osteotomy in the lateral femoral condyle. Two months after the trephine osteotomies, the femurs that contained the polymer screws were not significantly different in mechanical strength from the femurs treated with the stainless steel screws, either in the diaphyseal or metaphyseal model. There was no histological difference in bone healing between the metallic and polymer screws for all periods (2, 9, and 17 months). There was no adverse inflammatory response to the polymeric or metallic screws. By month 17, the polymer screws were resorbed completely. All the diaphyseal screw tracks had healed with bone and areas of remodeling were evident in two specimens. For the femoral condyle osteotomy model at 2 months, the polymer screws were present and intact, and all osteotomies healed with no evidence of inflammation. By 9 months, only one specimen had polymeric material left in the screw track. At 15 months, the screw tracks still were present but no evidence of any polymer remained. The tracks were filled with fibrous and adipose connective tissue. All osteotomies stabilized with either bioabsorbable polymer screws or stainless steel screws did heal satisfactorily without any complications, inflammation, or osteolysis. The polyglycolic polylactic acid copolymer may have a clinical role as a bioabsorbable material without the concerns for the osteolysis, foreign body reaction, and sterile abscess formation that have occurred with bioabsorbable fixation methods in the past.