Objective: To compare efficacy of four techniques used for medial meniscal release by medial caudal meniscotibial ligament transection and evaluate associated iatrogenic damage to the medial meniscus, caudal cruciate ligament (CdCL), and articular cartilage of the canine stifle joint.
Study Design: Twenty-four pairs of canine cadaveric pelvic limbs were randomly assigned to groups by methods of approach, cranial tibial translation, and meniscal release. I: arthrotomy, Hohmann, #11 scalpel blade; II: arthrotomy, Hohmann, #64 Beaver blade; III: arthroscopy, Hohmann, meniscal hook knife; IV: arthroscopy, no joint translation, meniscal hook knife.
Objective: The authors utilized patient-reported outcomes from a large U.S. behavioral health care system to evaluate the strength of improvements in patients' self-perceived recovery during mental health treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Clients with relational trauma often face challenges in forming a therapeutic alliance, a primary predictor of psychotherapy outcomes. Unresolved traumatic stress can lead to a passive stance in therapy, manifested as a tendency to seek advice and approval from therapists in order to establish more predictable relational dynamics. This comes at the cost of adequately addressing their own therapeutic needs, which often leads to stagnation, treatment dropout, and frustration with the therapist.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMeasurement of blood flow during exercise is crucial for understanding physiological responses and performance outcomes. However, traditional methods are often invasive, costly, or require substantial training, limiting widespread research in this area. This study introduces the innovative use of limb-affixed ultrasound probe holders for vascular imaging during exercise to overcome these challenges.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) is the preferred prophylactic agent for pneumonia (PJP) and toxoplasmosis after solid organ transplant (SOT). Compared with other agents, it has additional activity against species.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of infection in SOT patients receiving TMP-SMX or an alternative agent for opportunistic infection (OI) prophylaxis.
Brillouin Light Scattering (BLS) spectroscopy is a non-invasive, non-contact, label-free optical technique that can provide information on the mechanical properties of a material on the sub-micron scale. Over the last decade it has seen increased applications in the life sciences, driven by the observed significance of mechanical properties in biological processes, the realization of more sensitive BLS spectrometers and its extension to an imaging modality. As with other spectroscopic techniques, BLS measurements not only detect signals characteristic of the investigated sample, but also of the experimental apparatus, and can be significantly affected by measurement conditions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol
December 2024
The accuracy of femoral artery blood flow measurements via Doppler ultrasound hinges on assumptions of laminar flow upstream of the femoral bifurcation. Existing scanning guidelines recommend a minimum proximity to the flow divider of 2-3 cm for avoiding multidirectional blood flow yet lack experimental evidence to support this recommendation. This study aimed to determine the minimum distance required to avoid multidirectional flow contamination near the femoral bifurcation and to assess the reliability of vector flow imaging (VFI) in these measurements.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The arterial wall not only moves in the radial direction to expand circumferentially but also moves in the axial (longitudinal) direction in a predictable bidirectional pattern during a normal cardiac cycle. While common carotid artery (CCA) longitudinal wall motion (CALM) has been described previously, there is a lack of evidence-based method standardization to align practices for human measurement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether different scanning planes impact CALM outcomes in healthy males and females to provide clarity on data collection strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground & Aims: Noninvasive variceal risk stratification systems have not been validated in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which presents logistical barriers for patients in the setting of systemic HCC therapy. We aimed to develop and validate a noninvasive algorithm for the prediction of varices in patients with unresectable HCC.
Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study in 21 centers in the United States including adult patients with unresectable HCC and Child-Pugh A5-B7 cirrhosis diagnosed between 2007 and 2019.
Background: Traditional electrocardiography (ECG)-derived heart rate variability (HRV) and photoplethysmography (PPG)-derived "HRV" (termed PRV) have been reported interchangeably. Any potential dissociation between HRV and PRV could be due to the variability in pulse arrival time (PAT; time between heartbeat and peripheral pulse).
Objective: This study examined if PRV is equivalent to ECG-derived HRV and if PRV's innate error makes it a high-quality measurement separate from HRV.
J Biomed Mater Res B Appl Biomater
July 2024
Volumetric muscle loss (VML) injury causes irreversible deficits in muscle mass and function, often resulting in permanent disability. The current standard of care is physical therapy, but it is limited in mitigating functional deficits. We have previously optimized a rehabilitation technique using electrically stimulated eccentric contraction training (EST) that improved muscle mass, strength, and size in VML-injured rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer screenings aid in the early detection of cancer and can help reduce cancer-related mortality. The current model of care for cancer screening is often siloed, based on the targeted cancer site. We tested the acceptability of a new model of care, called the One-Stop-Shop Cancer Screening Clinic, that centralizes cancer screenings and offers patients the option to complete all their recommended cancer screenings within one to two visits.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAppl Physiol Nutr Metab
October 2024
We recently explored the cardiopulmonary interactions during partial unloading of the respiratory muscles during exercise. Expanding upon this work, we present a noteworthy case study whereby we eliminated the influence of respiration on cardiac function in a conscious but mechanically ventilated human during exercise. This human was a young healthy endurance-trained male who was mechanically ventilated during semi-recumbent cycle exercise at 75 Watts (W) (∼30% W).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBlood volume shifts during postural adjustment lead to irregular distension of the internal jugular vein (IJV). In microgravity, distension may contribute to flow stasis and thromboembolism, though the regional implications and associated risk remain unexplored. We characterized regional differences in IJV volume distension and flow complexity during progressive head-down tilt (HDT) (0°, -6°, -15°, -30°) using conventional ultrasound and vector flow imaging.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Exposure to excessive noise volumes is an occupational health and safety risk. Australian guidelines recommend a time weighted exposure maximum of 85 dB (dB) or a maximum peak noise level of up to 140 dB, as chronic and repeated high dB exposure can result in significant hearing impairment. The aim of this study was to assess the volume of noise generated by common surgical instruments while utilizing the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) app.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: Long-term outcome and 'health-related quality of life' (HRQoL) following hospitalisation for COVID-19-related severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) is limited.
Objective: To assess the impact of HRQoL in patients hospitalised with COVID-19-related SARI at 1 year post discharge, focusing on the potential impact of age, frailty, and disease severity.
Method: Routinely collected outcome data on 1207 patients admitted with confirmed COVID-19 related SARI across all three secondary care sites in our NHS trust over 3 months were assessed in this retrospective cohort study.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol
May 2024
Daylight saving time (DST) is a Western biannual time transition, setting the clock back 1 h in the fall and forward 1 h in the spring. There is an epidemiological link between DST and acute myocardial infarction risk in the first week following the spring shift; however, the mechanisms underlying the effect of DST on cardiovascular function remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to explore the short-term cardiovascular changes induced by fall and spring shifts in DST in a convenience sample of healthy adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOpioid use disorder (OUD) is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and is linked to a complex interplay of biopsychosocial factors as well as the increasing overprescription and availability of opioid medications. Current OUD management relies on the controlled provision of opioid medications, such as methadone or buprenorphine, known as opioid replacement therapy. There is variable evidence regarding the long-term efficacy of these medications in improving the management of OUD, thereby necessitating an exploration into innovative approaches to complement, or even take the place of, existing treatment paradigms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Insufficient cardiac output in individuals with heart failure (HF) limits daily functioning and reduces quality of life. Although lower cerebral perfusion, secondary to limitations in cardiac output, has been observed during moderate-intensity efforts, individuals with HF also may be at risk for lower perfusion during even low-intensity ambulatory activities.
Methods: We determined whether HF is associated with an altered cerebrovascular response to low-intensity activities representative of typical challenges of daily living.
Purpose: Sedentary behavior may contribute to increased central wave reflection due to associated peripheral vasoconstriction, yet its impact on central hemodynamics and the mitigating effects of interventional strategies have not been thoroughly investigated. We tested whether standing or seated elliptical breaks alleviate the deleterious effects of prolonged sitting on central wave reflections.
Methods: Eighteen healthy adults (9 9 females, 25 ± 3 yr) completed three 3-h protocols on separate days: uninterrupted sitting, sitting with periodic standing, and sitting with periodic seated elliptical activity.
A recent development in cancer chemotherapy is to use cytotoxics to induce tumor-specific immune response through immunogenic cell death (ICD). In ICD, calreticulin is translocated from endoplasmic reticulum to cell membrane (ecto-CRT) which serves as the 'eat-me-signal' to antigen-presenting cells. Ecto-CRT measurements, e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCarotid artery longitudinal wall motion (CALM) is a novel preclinical marker for atherosclerosis that describes the axial anterograde and retrograde motion of the intima-media complex. While regular physical activity and sex are known to independently influence arterial stiffness, their roles on axial arterial wall behaviour are unknown. The purpose of this study is to examine whether physical activity and sex impact CALM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: We sought to determine if supramaximal exercise testing confirms the achievement of V̇O 2max in acute hypoxia. We hypothesized that the incremental and supramaximal V̇O 2 will be sufficiently similar in acute hypoxia.
Methods: Twenty-one healthy adults (males n = 13, females n = 8) completed incremental and supramaximal exercise tests in normoxia and acute hypoxia (fraction inspired oxygen = 0.