Computational simulation of medial versus anteromedial tibial tuberosity transfer for patellar instability.

The study utilizes dynamic simulation of knee function to determine how tibial tuberosity medialization and anteromedialization influence patellar tracking and contact pressures for knees with patellar instability. Dual limb squatting was simulated with six multibody dynamic simulation models representing knees being treated for patellar instability. Each knee exhibited lateral patellar maltracking in the pre-operative condition based on the bisect offset index.

Seroprevalence of Triatoma virus (Dicistroviridae: Cripaviridae) antibodies in Chagas disease patients.

Background: Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, and humans acquire the parasite by exposure to contaminated feces from hematophagous insect vectors known as triatomines. Triatoma virus (TrV) is the sole viral pathogen of triatomines, and is transmitted among insects through the fecal-oral route and, as it happens with T. cruzi, the infected insects release the virus when defecating during or after blood uptake.

Impact of vancomycin therapeutic drug monitoring on patient care.

Objective: To document differences in the outcome of vancomycin therapy in patients managed through a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) service and patients managed empirically, without the participation of a TDM service.

Design: Prospective, cohort study.

Setting: An 1100-bed, tertiary-care, teaching hospital.