Abdicherry4614

The spherical/beam joints models predicted much greater muscle forces and segmental loads under larger flexion angles. Unlike the spherical joints model with fixed CoRs, the beam joints model predicted CoRs closer (RMSE = 2.3 mm in flexion tasks) to those of the coupled model. The coupled model offers a great potential for future studies towards improvement of surgical techniques, management of musculoskeletal injuries and subject-specific simulations.Achondroplasia is an autosomal dominant disorder that has been reported to be the most common condition associated with severe disproportionate short stature. A limited number of studies exist in the literature reporting kinematic abnormalities in children with Achondroplasia. Reported deviations include increased pelvic tilt, flexed knees during stance and excessive hip abduction. However, studies lack full 3-dimensional data and results are variable. The aim of this study was to examine differences in 3-dimensional kinematics during gait between children with Achondroplasia and age-matched controls A retrospective analysis was conducted of our gait laboratory database over a 20-year period. Eight children with Achondroplasia and 32 children with typical development were included. A full 3-dimensional kinematic analysis was performed using a CODA mpx30/cx1 active marker system. Increased flexion at all joints in the sagittal plane, increased hip abduction and foot supination in the coronal plane and increased external hip rotation were present for children with Achondroplasia. XMU-MP-1 MST inhibitor In contrast to other studies, increased knee varus was not an issue for the children in this study. This study provides a full description of the kinematic patterns associated with children with Achondroplasia and, as such, a comprehensive baseline for planning rehabilitation strategies in these children.Understanding gait differences in context of group differences is dependent on statistical testing methods and time normalization techniques (TN). The method induces a relationship of both with one another. As to our knowledge, there has been no investigation into their relation so far. To show empirically what effects may be of importance, we use SPM with linear time interpolation (LI) and Dynamic Time Warping (DTW) separately for data of a study on stair ascent kinematics between two groups. There is a slight difference in statistical significance for the comparison of LI and DTW. LI-uniquely significant time highlight differences due to in-group time-variations, whereas DTW-uniqueness is tied to qualitative differences of homogeneous events. The comparison of stair ascent kinematics with DTW shows more pronounced evidence for backlift-like strategies for the older group, although trunk angles are kept more extended as to ensure stabilty. Thus, the difference in SPM from TN is slight but important, if there is need to mirror said effects methodically.Advances in microphysiological systems have prompted the need for long-term cell culture under physiological flow conditions. Conventional laboratory pumps typically lack the ability to deliver cell culture media at the low flow rates required to meet the physiological ranges of fluid flow, and are often pulsatile or require flow reversal. Here, a microfluidic-based pump is presented, which allows for the controlled delivery of media for vascular microphysiological applications. The performance of the pump was characterized in a range of microfluidic systems, including straight channels of varying dimensions and self-assembled microvascular networks. A theoretical framework was developed based on lumped element analysis to predict the performance of the pump for different fluidic configurations and a finite element model of the included check-valves. The use of the pump for microvascular physiological studies demonstrated the utility of this system to recapitulate vascular fluid transport phenomena in microphysiological systems, which may find applications in disease models and drug screening.Drug carriers for targeting cardiovascular diseases have been gaining a respectable attention, however, designing such carriers is challenging due to the biophysical complexity of the vascular system. Wall shear stress (WSS), exerted by blood flow on the endothelium surface, is a crucial factor in the circulatory system. WSS affects the adhesion and preferential accumulation of drug carriers. Here, we propose, an innovative approach to investigate particle adhesion in a converging artery-sized model, lined with human endothelial cells. Unlike widely used microfluidic and in vivo setups, our model enables to investigate particle accumulation in a continuous WSS range, performed in a single experiment, and at the right scale relevant for human arteries. First, we characterized the flow and the WSS map along the designed model, which can span along the entire arterial WSS range. We then used the model to examine the effect of particle size and the suspension buffer on particle adhesion distribution. The results demonstrated the role of particle size, where the same particles with a diameter of 2 µm exhibit shear-decreased adhesion while 500 nm particles exhibit shear-enhanced adhesion. Furthermore, under the same WSS, particles show a similar behavior when suspended in a Dextran buffer, having a viscosity analogous to blood, compared to a phosphate buffer solution without Dextran. Moreover, experiments with RBCs in the phosphate buffer, at a 40% physiological hematocrit, decreased particle adhesion and affected their deposition pattern. Altogether, our study suggests an original platform for investigating and optimizing intravascular drug carriers and their targeting properties.The distal ischemic steal syndrome (ISS) is a complication following the construction of an arteriovenous (A-V) access for hemodialysis. The ability to non-invasively monitor changes in skin microcirculation improves both the diagnosis and treatment of vascular diseases. In this study, we propose a novel technique for evaluating the palms' blood distribution following arteriovenous access, based on thermal imaging. Furthermore, we utilize the thermal images to identify typical recovery patterns of patients that underwent this surgery and show that thermal images taken post-surgery reflect the patient's follow-up status. Thermal photographs were taken by a portable thermal camera from both hands before and after the A-V access surgery, and one month following the surgery, from ten dialysis patients. A novel term "Thermo-Anatomical Segmentation", which enables a functional assessment of palm blood distribution was defined. Based on this segmentation it was shown that the greatest change after surgery was in the most distal region, the fingertips (p less then 0.05). In addition, the changes in palm blood distribution in both hands were synchronized, which indicates a bilateral effect. An unsupervised machine learning model revealed two variables that determine the recovery pattern following the surgery the palms' temperature difference pre- and post-surgery and the post-surgery difference between the treated and untreated hand. Our proposed framework provides a new technique for quantitative assessment of the palm's blood distribution. This technique may improve the clinical treatment of patients with vascular disease, particularly the patient-specific follow-up, in clinics as well as in homecare.

On 15th April 2019, the fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, resulted in the melting of 410 tons of lead. Four hundred fourteen Paris firefighters were involved. For the purpose of preventive medicine, the level of lead contamination among the firefighters was assessed. This study objectives' were to describe the blood lead levels (BLLs) in the firefighters, to study the influence of some parameters such as the function of firefighters and the decrease in BLLs during the follow-up investigations.

The emission of 138kg of melted lead from the roof and spire of the Notre Dame Cathedral during the fire was estimated by the National Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks. Three categories were defined according to the estimated levels of external lead exposure and fire proximity high (category 1, n=170), medium (category 2, n=151), and low (category 3, n=93). Two to three weeks after the fire, blood samples to assess the BLLs were taken from firefighters in category 1 (N=164) and from every female firhelped to limit the contamination. Nevertheless, an effort could be made to improve the working conditions by rethinking the respiratory protection.

The fire at Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, resulted in moderate lead contamination among firefighters. Individual and collective protection measures probably helped to limit the contamination. Nevertheless, an effort could be made to improve the working conditions by rethinking the respiratory protection.Conventional metaphor, irony, and literal language processing were compared. Thirty right-handed participants (21-34 years) performed a sequential-statement ERP-paradigm. A left-frontal Late Anterior Negative Slow Wave (LANSW, 450-1000 ms) was significantly greater for metaphors and by visual tendency greater for irony, compared to literal statements. A centroparietal N400 (300-450 ms) and a centroparietal right-dominant "Late N400" (450-600 ms) were by statistical and visual tendency greater for metaphors. Left PCC and left lingual gyrus activity was significantly higher in metaphors compared to literal statements (eLORETA; 450-1000 ms). A statistical trend indicated higher parahippocampal gyrus activity in metaphors and ironies. N400 results are discussed considering changing processing techniques and a renewed semantic conflict. The Late N400 was associated with the construct of "associativeness". The LANSW was related to metaphorical mapping, frame-shifting processes, integration of meanings, and memory processes. eLORETA results were discussed considering metaphorical mapping, creation of mental images, conventionality, valence, memory processes, and divergent thinking.

Parvoviral enteritis (PVE) can cause either primary or secondary myocardial injury; the latter is associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis. Strain (St) and strain rate (SR) are relatively new speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) variables used to assess myocardial function and are less influenced by preload and volume status than are conventional variables. The aim of this study was to evaluate systolic function in dogs with PVE using two-dimensional STE.

Forty-five client-owned dogs were included.

Dogs were classified into four groups healthy (n=9), PVE-mild (n=15), PVE-severe (n=13) and PVE-died (n=8). Left ventricular global and segmental myocardial St and SR were assessed in radial, circumferential and longitudinal axes in the right parasternal transverse and apical 4-chamber views. In the circumferential and longitudinal axes, the value of each segment was determined separately at the endocardial and epicardial levels.

Compared to healthy animals, all dogs with PVE showed significantly impaired St and SR values, mainly for PVE-severe and PVE-died groups. Moreover, the lowest SR value was observed in the circumferential axis at the mid-septal epicardial segment in the PVE-died group. For this variable, a cut-off value of 0.95 s

demonstrated 100% sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing between PVE-severe and PVE-died groups.

In the present study, all dogs with PVE developed systolic dysfunction, which was more severe in non-survivors. Assessment of St and SR in dogs with PVE might be clinically useful for evaluating haemodynamic status and developing suitable therapeutic strategies to improve prognosis.

In the present study, all dogs with PVE developed systolic dysfunction, which was more severe in non-survivors. Assessment of St and SR in dogs with PVE might be clinically useful for evaluating haemodynamic status and developing suitable therapeutic strategies to improve prognosis.