SPECT/CT Assessment of In-Vivo Loading of the Knee Correlates with Polyethylene Deformation in Retrieved Total Knee Arthroplasty

Background: SPECT/CT distribution patterns in patients with total knee replacements have previously been correlated with factors such as time of implantation, implant type and alignment. It is unknown, however, if an increased and more extended bone tracer uptake (BTU) in SPECT/CT, representing loading of the joint, correlates with findings from retrieval studies. The aim of this study was to further understand this subject. Materials and Methods: 62 retrieved TKA were included. SPECT/CT was performed prior to revision. Quantitative and qualitative medio-lateral comparisons of BTU intensity and distribution in the tibia were performed. Retrieval analysis was performed with a micro-CT method to assess the thickness differences between medial and lateral sides of polyethylene inserts with symmetrical designs. Results: In the subgroup of TKA with asymmetrical SPECT/CT distribution, there was a significant correlation between retrieval and medical imaging data (p = 0.0355): patients showing a more extended BTU in the medial compartment also had a significantly thinner insert in the medial compartment, and vice versa in the lateral side. Conclusion: This is the first study comparing BTU distribution patterns and retrieval findings. Our results support the hypothesis that SPECT/CT is able to identify bone activity due to implant position and loading.

Monitoring compliance with Senegal’s tobacco products packaging and labelling requirements 6 months after implementation of the law

IntroductionAs of December 2021, 22 countries and one jurisdiction in WHO African Region (AFRO) have adopted pictorial health warning labels on tobacco packaging, but only 13 have implemented them. In 2014, Senegal enacted a comprehensive tobacco control law, which requires strong provisions on tobacco packaging and labelling. The objective of this study was to assess the level of compliance with these provisions in Senegal 6 months after implementation.MethodsData collection took place in Senegal’s capital city of Dakar across 12 districts in February 2018, following the Tobacco Pack Surveillance System Field Protocol developed by the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Unique tobacco packs were purchased from a total of 48 tobacco vendors, and compliance with new packaging and labelling provisions was assessed.ResultsIn total, seven unique cigarette packs were confirmed to be legally available for sale in Dakar, Senegal. All packs complied with all health warning provisions (type, size, location, language and quitline information) as well as bans on quantitative emissions yields. However, no pack complied with the descriptive constituents and emissions statement required on the lateral side, and four of the seven packs violated the ban on misleading brand descriptors.ConclusionsAFRO countries have made substantial progress in adopting comprehensive tobacco control laws that bring them closer into alignment with the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. This study found areas of effective implementation of FCTC recommended packaging and labelling requirements, as well as areas in need of stronger enforcement.

Abdominal skin subcutaneous fat thickness over the gestational period in Korean pregnant women: a descriptive observational study

Purpose: Although insulin is usually injected into the abdominal subcutaneous fat, in pregnancy women tend to avoid abdominal injections due to concern about fetal damage. Prior studies have been limited to only measuring skin-subcutaneous fat thickness (S-ScFT) at one site at specific pregnancy points. This study aimed to measure S-ScFT across several abdominal sites and over the gestational period in Korean pregnant women. This can identify which site would be relatively safe for subcutaneous injection during pregnancy. Methods: Healthy women over 24 weeks of pregnancy in Korea were invited to voluntarily participate in this descriptive study. For the 142 women, S-ScFT of 12 sites in the abdomen were measured by ultrasound, several times over the pregnancy. Each incidence was treated as a case and a total of 262 cases were analyzed.Results: The mean S-ScFT during pregnancy was 1.14±0.47 cm (1.25±0.54 cm at 24+0–27+6 weeks; 1.17±0.48 cm at 28+0–31+6 weeks; 1.09+0.40 cm at 32+0–35+6 weeks; and 1.06±0.47 cm at 36+0–40 weeks of pregnancy). Most S-ScFT were thicker than 10 mm. But S-ScFTs in the lateral abdomen and some sites were suboptimal (<6 mm), especially in the pre-pregnancy underweight body mass index group, who had a high rate of suboptimal thickness (27.1% overall and 33.9% in the lateral side). Conclusion: The whole abdomen seems to be appropriate for subcutaneous injection in most pregnant Korean women, with a 4 to 5-mm short needle. However, for the lateral abdomen, making the skin fold might be needed for fetal safety.

Special Device for Diamond Grinding of the Backup Surfaces and Perimeter of Articles from Nonmetallic Ceramic Materials

In developed countries, material scientists are working intensively to create high-strength (metallic) technical ceramics. If such a material is created, it will be possible to manufacture such parts of power units (transmissions) of cars as shafts, turbines, etc. In the future, the latest composite ceramic materials with unique properties will gradually replace metals in the production of machine parts. Special device for diamond grinding of articles from composite, non-metallic, brittle materials (technical ceramics on the base of SiC, Al2O3; polycrystalline diamond, composite – Si + SiC + diamond etc.) is a universal flat grinding machine that enables to grind with high productivity both supporting main surfaces and lateral side surfaces – perimeter of an article of prismatic shape. It is also possible to grind substrates of other configurations – round, oval, etc. Grinding depending on sizes of articles can be done of both single and group of articles. The grinding takes place by the means of spring feeding of the article by pneumatic system that enables to prevent breakage of articles from brittle non-metallic materials in process of machining and obtain maximum high quality of the machined surface.

Motion Analysis Focusing on Rotational Movements of Professional Female Baseball Pitchers: Comparison with Male University Baseball Pitchers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare pitching motion of the professional female baseball pitchers with the male university baseball pitchers focused on the pelvic and thoracic movements. Subjects and methods: The participants were 15 healthy professional female baseball pitchers (11 right-handers and 4 left-handers; age, 21.7 ± 3.2 years; height, 162.5 ± 5.1 cm; weight, 59.0 ± 6.6 kg) and 14 healthy male university baseball pitchers (12 right-handers and 2 left-handers; age, 19.9 ± 0.8 years; height, 176.4 ± 3.0 cm; body mass, 73.1 ± 3.0 kg). Throwing motion was captured by three-dimensional motion analysis system. Kinematic data of the lead hip, pelvis, thorax, and dominant shoulder were collected and the joint angle at maximum external rotation phase and ball release phase were compared. Results: The female baseball pitchers rotated pelvis and thorax more than the male at the maximum external rotation phase and ball release phase (p < 0.05). At the same, the pelvis and thorax of the female baseball pitchers were tilted significantly closer to horizontal plane than the male (p < 0.05). The pelvis and thorax of the male baseball pitchers was tilted to non-dominant lateral side. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that the pelvic and thoracic movements of the professional female baseball pitchers was different from male university pitchers.

Persistent Headache Caused by Post-Traumatic External Nasal Neuralgia: A Case Report

A 50-year-old female patient presented with a severe headache characterized by sharp pain localized in the right frontal area above the right eye. The patient’s right nostril was cauterized to stop a nosebleed one year prior to the start of the pain. Physical examinations revealed that the pain was aggravated by touch of the right lateral side of the nose and in severe attacks radiated to the maxillary frontal teeth. Blood tests, magnetic resonance image (MRI) and computer scanning (CT) scan images were all normal. The patient was diagnosed with post-traumatic external nasal neuralgia and symptoms were relieved and nearly resolved completely using a nasal cleanse and lubrication of the nose.

Assessment of temporal and spatial distribution patterns of aerosol produced by air-puff non-contact tonometer

Purpose To assess the distribution pattern of aerosol in the aspect of time and direction during the intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement by air-puff non-contact tonometer (NCT) and further offer references for protection from coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) in the routine ophthalmic examination. Method A single-center observational study was conducted in the ophthalmology clinics of Peking University Third Hospital. Two air quality detectors were equipped to assess the generated particulate matter (PM) concentration simultaneously within 30 s after IOP measurement in the outpatient hall. Detector A was fixed next to the NCT as a reference, while Detector B was fixed 1 meter away. The participants were divided into two groups depending on the position of Detector B. The generation of aerosol was compared within different groups and time intervals. Results 144 participants were enrolled in the final analysis. At a 1 m distance from the NCT, the PM2.5 concentration significantly increased at the 30 s ( Z = 2.898, Bonferroni-corrected P = 0.038) while the PM10 concentration increased immediately after the IOP measurement ( Z = 2.967, Bonferroni-corrected P = 0.030). The PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations at 1 m were significantly higher immediately ( Z = −2.183, P = 0.029; Z = −2.502, P = 0.012) and 30 s ( Z = −2.021, P = 0.043; Z = −2.071, P = 0.038) after the IOP measurements when the Detector B was vertical to the air jet on the lateral side. Conclusions NCT may produce aerosol after the IOP measurement by air-puff. The generated PM2.5 had a prolonged existence compared with PM10 at a 1 m distance. The lateral side of the air-puff direction may be of higher exposure risk to aerosol.

Labial-Nasal Evaluation for Nasal Floor Reconstruction With the New Triangular Flap in Unilateral Cleft Lip Repair

In this study, we present a modified technique for primary cleft lip repair with a rotation triangular flap from the cleft lateral side to reconstruct the nasal floor; and evaluate the outcome compared with traditional Millard repair. 40 patients with unilateral cleft lip were included in this research. The patients were divided into 2 groups; 17 patients treated with the Millard technique, and 23 patients treated with the newly modified technique. 14 measurement indexes were employed to evaluate the nose-lip morphology of postoperative patients with UCCL in standardized photographs preoperatively, postoperatively and 1-year follow-up. For lip symmetry, statistical significance was detected in the measurements of the vertical philtral height ratio indicating that the newly modified technique resolve the shortage of lip height on the cleft side 1-year follow-up. ( P < .05). In addition, statistical significance was detected in the 1-year postoperative columellar angle, alar width ratio, nostril width ratio, nostril height ratio, and nostril shape (cleft) ( P < .05), showing more successful repair of the nose compared with the traditional repair. The modified unilateral cleft lip repair with rotation triangle flap from the cleft lateral side was beneficial in the correction of lip and nasal deformity in and had positive effects on labial symmetry.

452 Saline-induced coronary hyperaemia is mediated by intravascular haemolysis

Aims Absolute coronary blood flow can be measured by intracoronary continuous thermodilution of saline through the lateral side holes of a dedicated infusion catheter placed in the proximal segment of the coronary artery. A room-temperature saline infusion rate at 15–20 ml/min induces an immediate, steady-state, maximal microvascular vasodilation. The mechanism of this hyperemic response remains unclear. The aim of the present study is to test whether local haemolysis is a potential mechanism of coronary hyperaemia. Methods and results Twelve patients undergoing left and right catheterization were included. The left coronary artery and the coronary sinus were selectively cannulated. Absolute resting and hyperemic coronary flow were measured using the continuous intracoronary thermodilution of saline through a dedicated infusion catheter (RayFlow®). Arterial and venous samples were collected from the coronary artery and the coronary sinus in five phases: baseline (BL); resting flow measurement (Rest, saline infusion at 10 ml/min); hyperaemia (Hyperaemia, saline infusion at 20 ml/min); post-hyperaemia [Post-Hyperaemia, 2 min after the cessation of saline infusion; and control phase (Control, during infusion of saline through the guide catheter at 30 mL/min). Haemolysis was visually detected only in the centrifugated venous blood samples collected during the Hyperaemia phase. As compared to Rest, during Hyperaemia both LDH [131.50 ± 21.89 U/dL (Rest) and 258.33 ± 57.40 U/dl (Hyperaemia), P &lt; 0.001] and plasma-free haemoglobin [PFHb, 4.92 ± 3.82 mg/dl (Rest) and 108.42 ± 46.58 mg/dl (Hyperaemia), P &lt; 0.001] significantly increased in the coronary sinus. The percentage of haemolysis was significantly higher during the hyperaemia phase [0.04 ± 0.02% (Rest) vs. 0.89 ± 0.34% (Hyperaemia), P &lt; 0.001]. Conclusions Saline-induced hyperaemia through a dedicated intracoronary infusion catheter is associated with haemolysis. Vasodilatory compounds released locally, like ATP, are likely ultimately responsible for localized microvascular vasodilation. The role of other substances released by erythrocytes in inducing hyperaemia cannot be excluded and requires further investigations.