Reliability of three radiographic classification systems for knee osteoarthritis among observers of different experience levels.

Objective: To assess the intra- and inter-observer reliability of three commonly referenced radiographic classification systems for knee osteoarthritis in a cohort of arthroplasty candidates.

Materials And Methods: Pre-operative radiographs of 112 patients who subsequently underwent primary total knee arthroplasty were evaluated by four independent observers of varying experience. Each x-ray was de-identified, randomised, and classified according to the International Knee Documentation Committee, Kellgren-Lawrence, and Ahlbäck classifications.

Voltage during atrial fibrillation is superior to voltage during sinus rhythm in localizing areas of delayed enhancement on magnetic resonance imaging: An assessment of the posterior left atrium in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation.

Background: Bipolar electrogram voltage during sinus rhythm (V) has been used as a surrogate for atrial fibrosis in guiding catheter ablation of persistent atrial fibrillation (AF), but the fixed rate and wavefront characteristics present during sinus rhythm may not accurately reflect underlying functional vulnerabilities responsible for AF maintenance.

Objective: The purpose of this study was determine whether, given adequate temporal sampling, the spatial distribution of mean AF voltage (V) better correlates with delayed-enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-DE)-detected atrial fibrosis than V.

Methods: AF was mapped (8 seconds) during index ablation for persistent AF (20 patients) using a 20-pole catheter (660 ± 28 points/map).

A GIS-based decision support system for determining the shortest and safest route to forest fires: a case study in Mediterranean Region of Turkey.

The ability of firefighting vehicles and staff to reach a fire area as quickly as possible is critical in fighting against forest fires. In this study, a Geographical Information System-based decision support system was developed to assist fire managers in determining the fastest and the safest or more reliable access routes from firefighting headquarters to fire areas. The decision support system was tested in the Kahramanmaras Forestry Regional Directoratein the Mediterranean region of Turkey.

Genetic dissection of hyperthermia-induced neural tube defects in mice.

Background: Maternal hyperthermia has been shown to induce neural tube defects (NTD) in humans and in experimental animal systems. We report the first genetic dissection of maternal hyperthermia-induced NTD in mice.

Methods: After maternal exposure on E8.