Intact PCL is a potential predictor of ACL graft size in the skeletally immature knee and other anatomic considerations for ACL reconstruction

Purpose To develop a method for using an intact posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) as a predictor of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) graft size and examine possible differences in tunnel length based on all-epiphyseal drilling method. Methods One hundred one patients 5–18 years of age with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the knee at an outpatient pediatric orthopaedic clinic from 2008 to 2020 were included. ACL and PCL coronal, sagittal, and length measurements were made in all patients. Tunnel length measurements were made in patients with open physes. Statistical analyses were performed to evaluate potential associations in patient bony or ligamentous measurements. Results PCL sagittal width and PCL coronal width were statistically significant predictors of ACL sagittal width and ACL coronal width, respectively (p = 0.002, R = 0.304; p = 0.008, R = 0.264). The following equations were developed to calculate ACL coronal and sagittal width measurements from the corresponding measurement on an intact PCL; ACL Coronal Width (mm) = 6.23 + (0.16 x PCL Coronal Width); ACL Sagittal Width (mm) = 5.85 + (0.53 x PCL Sagittal Width). Mean tibial maximum oblique length (27.8 mm) was longer than mean tibial physeal sparing length (24.9 mm). Mean femoral maximum oblique length (36.9 mm) was comparable to mean femoral physeal sparing length (36.1 mm). Both were longer than mean femoral straight lateral length (32.7 mm). Conclusion An intact PCL is a predictor of native ACL size. Tunnel length differs based on chosen drilling method in all-epiphyseal technique. Level of evidence Diagnostic Level III.

Analysis of the temperature component of the combined standard uncertainty of the refractive index according to the test data of the control system for meteorological parameters developed for the Lyptsi geodetic polygon

The National Scientific Centre “Institute of Metrology” is actively involved in the implementation of a number of international projects under the EMPIR programme. One of such joint projects is the EMPIR 18SIB01 GeoMetre research project “Large-scale dimensional measurements for geodesy”. The overall goal of the project is to ensure traceability of length measurements – from the measurement standard of the unit of length to long distances typical for geodetic measurements. As a result of the project, it is necessary to provide length measurements of at least 5 km with an expanded uncertainty of no more than 1 mm. The main task of the NSC “Institute of Metrology” within this project is the development, research and practical implementation of methods and means of accounting for the influence of the earth’s atmosphere on the results of measurements of long distances in geodesy, carried out using electromagnetic waves in the optical range. When performing the section Task 1.4 of the project, new methods of highly accurate determination of the mean integral refractive index of air, used as a correction taking into account the influence of the atmosphere on the measurement results, are justified. Requirements for the accuracy of measurements of meteorological parameters at discrete points of the baseline are formulated, which are necessary to determine the mean integral refractive index. That is, the requirements for the metrological characteristics of temperature, pressure and humidity sensors are determined. The article discusses the results of the development, manufacture and testing of the sensors for temperature measurement. It is shown that the created sensors meet the requirements of the GeoMetre project.

Infrared Thermography Evaluation of Feet Temperature and Its Association with Claw Lengths and Anisodactylia in Purebred Sows of Three Greek Herds

The aim of the study was to investigate the associations of lower feet temperature with claw lengths measurements in purebred sows. In total 22, 19 and 45 multiparous sows in three herds A, B and C of PIC, DANBRED and TOPIGS genetic lines respectively participated in the study. Mean parity was 2.5, 2.3 and 3.0 for sows from herds A, B and C respectively. Measurements were made during the periparturient period. Infrared temperature distribution was measured in carpus/tarsus, upper-lower metacarpi/metatarsi and phalanges (IRT1, IRT2, IRT3 and IRT4 respectively). In addition, dorsal, diagonal, heel–sole and dew claw lengths of medial and lateral claw were measured and the difference in dorsal claw length between medial and lateral claw (anisodactylia) was calculated in all four feet. Differences between herds regarding IRT and claw length measurements were analyzed with one-way ANOVA with herds as a fixed factor. Correlations between IRT and claw length measurements in each foot including data from all herds were evaluated using the Pearson’s correlation test. Maximum IRT1 to 4 in almost all rear feet, differed significantly between herds, being lower in sows of herd C than A and B (p < 0.05). Claw lengths of all feet were lower in herd C than those of A and B (p < 0.05). Anisodactylia, differed significantly only in rear feet between herds been higher in herd A than C and B (p < 0.05). In all sows, claw lengths and rear feet anisodactylia were positively correlated with maximum IRT1 to IRT4 (p < 0.05). According to the results, IRT temperature distribution of lower feet of purebred sows of different genetic lines were positive correlated with claw lengths measurements and anisodactylia. Collectively, measuring IRT temperature of lower feet of sows with mobile IRT device could be used as an additional tool towards monitoring feet and claw health.

Video-Based Deep Learning Approach for 3D Human Movement Analysis in Institutional Hallways: A Smart Hallway

New artificial intelligence- (AI) based marker-less motion capture models provide a basis for quantitative movement analysis within healthcare and eldercare institutions, increasing clinician access to quantitative movement data and improving decision making. This research modelled, simulated, designed, and implemented a novel marker-less AI motion-analysis approach for institutional hallways, a Smart Hallway. Computer simulations were used to develop a system configuration with four ceiling-mounted cameras. After implementing camera synchronization and calibration methods, OpenPose was used to generate body keypoints for each frame. OpenPose BODY25 generated 2D keypoints, and 3D keypoints were calculated and postprocessed to extract outcome measures. The system was validated by comparing ground-truth body-segment length measurements to calculated body-segment lengths and ground-truth foot events to foot events detected using the system. Body-segment length measurements were within 1.56 (SD = 2.77) cm and foot-event detection was within four frames (67 ms), with an absolute error of three frames (50 ms) from ground-truth foot event labels. This Smart Hallway delivers stride parameters, limb angles, and limb measurements to aid in clinical decision making, providing relevant information without user intervention for data extraction, thereby increasing access to high-quality gait analysis for healthcare and eldercare institutions.

Influence of the Use of Milk Replacers on Carcass Characteristics of Suckling Kids from Eight Spanish Goat Breeds

Since goat milk has a higher value than kid meat in Europe, some farmers rear kids with milk replacers, although some studies have stated that kids raised on natural milk yield higher-quality carcasses. Our previous studies showed some interactions between breed and rearing system on carcass and meat quality. This study evaluated the influence of the use of milk replacers on several carcass characteristics of suckling kids from eight Spanish goat breeds (Florida, Cabra del Guadarrama, Majorera, Palmera, Payoya, Retinta, Tinerfeña, and Verata). A total of 246 kids fed milk replacer (MR) or natural milk (NM) were evaluated. Carcass, head, viscera, and kidney fat weights, as well as several carcass measurements (round perimeter, forelimb width, carcass length, forelimb length, and carcass compactness index), were registered. Forelimbs were dissected to study tissue composition. For all studied variables, interactions were found between rearing system and breed. In general, the MR rearing system increased the head and visceral weights, as well as the length measurements and muscle percentages. Conversely, the NM rearing system increased carcass compactness and resulted in higher fat contents, independent of the deposit. The choice of one or another rearing system should be made according to the needs of the target market.

Using Telomeric Length Measurements and Methylation to Understand The Karyotype Diversification of Ctenomys Minutus (A Small Fossorial Mammals)

The genus Ctenomys has been widely used in karyotype evolution studies due to the variation in their diploid numbers (2n), which range from 2n = 10 to 2n = 70. Ctenomys minutus is characterized by intraspecific variation in diploid number (2n = 42, 46, 48, and 50), which makes it an interesting model to investigate the genomic instability mechanisms that have led to different cytotypes in this species. We aimed to contribute to the knowledge about telomeres’ role in chromosomal instability and global DNA methylation in the genome evolution of C. minutus. This study found that telomere length differs between cytotypes, but only for females (50a<46a,48a,42), although methylation was also higher, no significant difference was shown. It was also shown that young individuals, regardless of cytotype, had the longest telomere and the most methylated DNA, although only the last was statistically significant. Despite this, there is still much to be answered, although new cytotypes seem to have emerged within the distribution of parental cytotypes by the accumulation of different chromosomal rearrangements.

Human Impact on Antler Conformation in Western Red Deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758)

A stray find of red deer antler from Sweden with the braincase was collected due to an apparently pathological deformation, the strongly retarded right antler. Measurements of the complete left antler inspired the analysis of general antler conformation in order to place this archaeological specimen in a zoological context. This stray find and another prehistoric antler from Sweden as well as three complete prehistoric antlers from Hungary were metrically compared using measurements of over 17,000 trophies of extant red deer from Hungary. The results confirmed that the stray specimen from Sweden and prehistoric antlers from Hungary were similar in that they were stouter (smaller length measurements but greater circumferences) than their 20th century counterparts. Most of their measurements fell within the ±1 standard deviation interval of the means of extant trophies. The pathological lesion on the studied stray specimen directed attention to the role of human selection. Twentieth century record trophies show a significant increase in antler weight and “quality” as defined in the international trophy grading system. While these morphometric observations cannot be taken as a proxy for absolute dating or precise contextual identification for the stray find central to this study, its size and apparent lack of consistent human selection (pathological deformation, “archaic” antler proportions) point to possibly early origins, prior to major human influence.

Leg length discrepancy in patients with Perthes’ disease

Aims Perthes’ disease (PD) often results in femoral head deformity and leg length discrepancy (LLD). Our objective was to analyze femoral morphology in PD patients at skeletal maturity to assess where the LLD originates, and evaluate the effect of contralateral epiphysiodesis for length equalization on proximal and subtrochanteric femoral lengths. Methods All patients treated for PD in our institution between January 2013 and June 2020 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with unilateral PD, LLD of ≥ 5 mm, and long-leg standing radiographs at skeletal maturity were included. Total leg length, femoral and tibial length, articulotrochanteric distance (ATD), and subtrochanteric femoral length were compared between PD side and the unaffected side. Furthermore, we compared leg length measurements between patients who did and who did not have a contralateral epiphysiodesis. Results Overall, 79 patients were included, of whom 21 underwent contralateral epiphysiodesis for leg length correction. In the complete cohort, the mean LLD was 1.8 cm (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.5 to 2.0), mean ATD difference was 1.8 cm (95% CI -2.1 to -1.9), and mean subtrochanteric difference was -0.2 cm (95% CI -0.4 to 0.1). In the epiphysiodesis group, the mean LLD before epiphysiodesis was 2.7 cm (95% CI 1.3 to 3.4) and 1.3 cm (95% CI -0.5 to 3.8) at skeletal maturity. In the nonepiphysiodesis group the mean LLD was 2.0 cm (95% CI 0.5 to 5.1; p = 0.016). The subtrochanteric region on the PD side was significantly longer at skeletal maturity in the epiphysiodesis group compared to the nonepiphysiodesis group (-1.0 cm (95% CI -2.4 to 0.6) vs 0.1 cm (95% CI -1.0 to 2.1); p < 0.001). Conclusion This study demonstrates that LLD after PD originates from the proximal segment only. In patients who had contralateral epiphysiodesis to balance leg length, this is achieved by creating a difference in subtrochanteric length. Arthroplasty surgeons need to be aware that shortening of the proximal femur segment in PD patients may be misleading, as the ipsilateral subtrochanteric length in these patients can be longer. Therefore, we strongly advise long-leg standing films for THA planning in PD patients in order to avoid inadvertently lengthening the limb. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(11):1736–1741.

Reliability of cone beam CT for morphometry of nasolabial soft tissue in patients with skeletal class III malocclusion: A qualitative and quantitative analysis

OBJECTIVE: To assess reliability of cone-beam CT (CBCT) for nasolabial soft tissue measurements in patients with skeletal class III malocclusion based on 3-dimensional (3D) facial scanner results. METHODS: CBCT and 3D facial scan images of 20 orthognathic patients are used in this study. Eleven soft tissue landmarks and 15 linear and angular measurements are identified and performed. For qualitative evaluation, Shapiro-Wilk test and Bland-Altman plots are applied to analyze the equivalence of the measurements derived from these two kinds of images. To quantify specific deviation of CBCT measurements from facial scanner, the latter is set as a benchmark, and mean absolute difference (MAD) and relative error magnitude (REM) for each variable are also calculated. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences are observed in regions of nasal base and lower lip vermilion between two methods. MAD value for all length measurements are less than 2 mm and for angular variables < 8°. The average MAD and REM for length measurements are 0.94 mm and 5.64%, and for angular measurements are 2.27° and 3.78%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The soft tissue results measured by CBCT show relatively good reliability and can be used for 3D measurement of soft tissue in the nasolabial region clinically.

Correlations between body measures with live weight in young male goats

Data analysis in goat production, such as those related to body and scrotal measurements, indicate the productive and reproductive animal development. The current study aimed to evaluate the correlations between thoracic perimeter (TP), body length (BL), body compacity (BC), body volume (BV), and scrotal circumference (SC) with body weight (BW) in young male goats of Saanen and Boer breeds. It was used 38 Saanen and 24 Boer male goats, with age average of 7.2 ± 2.0 months. Thoracic perimeter and body length measurements were obtained using a tape measure (cm) and the live weight (kg) a mechanic scale. The variables body compacity (BC) and body volume (BV) were calculated using the equations: and . Boer breed showed live weight and body compacity higher than Saanen breed (p < 0.05). Regarding correlations between biometric measurements and body weight, we did not find any statistical differences between the breeds (p > 0.05). The scrotal circumference presented the lowest association with body weight (p < 0.05). However, all biometric measurements showed highly significant correlations with live body (p < 0.01). In conclusion, thoracic perimeter was the main measure of body weight predictor, considering efficiency and practical aspects.