Assessment of mechanical strain in the intact plantar fascia.

Background: A method of measuring tri-axial plantar fascia strain that is minimally affected by external compressive force has not previously been reported.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the use of micro-strain gauges to examine strain in the different axes of the plantar fascia.

Method: Two intact limbs from a thawed, fresh-frozen cadaver were dissected, and a combination of five linear and one three-way rosette gauges were attached to the fascia of the foot and ankle.

Examining different aspects of functional performance using a variety of bench throw techniques.

The purpose of this experiment was to examine upper-body bench throw performance during tests that specifically target different aspects of functional performance. A pool of 26 male, semi-professional rugby league players (age: 23 ± 3 years, height: 180.8 ± 5.

Validity and reliability of the Nintendo Wii Balance Board for assessment of standing balance.

Impaired standing balance has a detrimental effect on a person's functional ability and increases their risk of falling. There is currently no validated system which can precisely quantify center of pressure (COP), an important component of standing balance, while being inexpensive, portable and widely available. The Wii Balance Board (WBB) fits these criteria, and we examined its validity in comparison with the 'gold standard'-a laboratory-grade force platform (FP).

Adult intimate partner violence perpetrators are significantly more likely to have witnessed intimate partner violence as a child than nonperpetrators.

Background: In a previous study, no association was found between intimate partner violence (IPV) victims and being an adult who witnessed IPV as a child (ACW).

Objective: The objective of the present study was to determine whether perpetrators of IPV (Perps) could be identified in a busy emergency department (ED) and whether Perps were more likely than non-Perps to be ACWs. The hypothesis was that Perps differed significantly from non-Perps in being ACWs, in being victims of IPV, and in demographics.

Morphology of knee extension torque-time curves following anterior cruciate ligament injury and reconstruction.

Background: Mechanical instability, neurosensory deficits, and/or modified coactivation strategies following anterior cruciate ligament injury and surgery might compromise the ability of the knee extensors to exert a precise force during isokinetic knee extension with maximal effort. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of an anterior cruciate ligament deficiency and reconstruction on knee extensor torque-time curve smoothness and to elucidate its association with hamstring (antagonist) activation and physical performance.

Methods: Thirteen subjects who had a unilateral deficiency of the anterior cruciate ligament, twenty-five matched subjects with a unilateral reconstructed anterior cruciate ligament, and thirty-three control subjects performed knee extension and flexion repetitions bilaterally with maximal effort at 180 degrees/sec on a Cybex dynamometer.

A comparison of force curve profiles between the bench press and ballistic bench throws.

The purpose of this study was to compare the peak force and force curve characteristics during a traditional bench press (BP) and a ballistic bench throw (BT). Eight (age = 21.0 +/- 2.

An examination of strength and concentric work ratios during variable range of motion training.

Variable range of motion (ROM) training consists of partial ROM resistance training with the countermovement being performed at a different phase of the movement for each set. In this study, we assessed the effect of this method of training on peak force, load lifted, and concentric work performed. Six male subjects with resistance training backgrounds (age 20.

Effects of estrogen on the mechanical behavior of the human Achilles tendon in vivo.

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effect of normal fluctuating [non-monophasic oral contraceptive pill (MOCP) users] and low, consistent (MOCP users) endogenous plasma estrogen levels on the strain behavior of the Achilles tendon in vivo. Twenty women (age 28.0 +/- 4.

Hamstring injuries: risk assessment and injury prevention.

Introduction: Hamstring injuries are one of the most common injuries associated with sports participation. The aim of this review is to outline identified risk factors and examine preventative strategies for reducing the occurrence of this form of injury.

Methods: An electronic search of Medline and SCOPUS was carried out for key words related to the area.

The effect of training status on inter-limb joint stiffness regulation during repeated maximal sprints.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of anaerobic fatigue and training status on the joint stiffness (JS) regulation of the lower limbs. Twenty-two subjects participated in this study, with a group of athletes (ATH: n=11, age: 22.1+/-9.

Testicular microlithiasis: prevalence and risk of concurrent and interval development of testicular tumor in a referred population.

Aims: To identify prevalence of testicular microlithiasis on ultrasound in a referred population and risk of concurrent and interval testicular tumor development.

Methods: Retrospective review of our radiology database revealed 4363 scrotal ultrasounds were performed over a six-year period. Ultrasound findings were correlated with our hospital pathological database.

Witnessing intimate partner violence as a child does not increase the likelihood of becoming an adult intimate partner violence victim.

Objectives: To determine whether adults who witnessed intimate partner violence (IPV) as children would have an increased rate of being victims of ongoing IPV, as measured by the Ongoing Violence Assessment Tool (OVAT), compared with adult controls who did not witness IPV as children. The authors also sought to determine whether there were differences in demographics in these two groups.

Methods: This was a cross sectional cohort study of patients presenting to a high-volume academic emergency department.

The acute effects of a single set of contrast preloading on a loaded countermovement jump training session.

The aim of this research was to assess the effect of a single set of contrast preloading on peak vertical displacement (PD) during a loaded countermovement jump (LCMJ) training session. Nine strength-trained males participated in 2 randomly assigned, crossover design testing sessions consisting of 5 sets of 6 repetitions of 20-kg LCMJs with 3-minute rest intervals between sets. The preloading intervention was performed 3 minutes after the first set and 4 minutes before the second set of 20-kg LCMJs.

Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I): risks and benefits of normalizing blood IGF-I concentrations.

Recombinant human (rh) insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is being developed as a therapy for short stature caused by IGF deficiency (IGFD) and also for diabetes mellitus. To complement the human efficacy and safety data, a large amount of information is available regarding the pharmacology and toxicology of rhIGF-I in animals. This review summarizes the risks and benefits of normalizing blood IGF-I concentrations in IGFD, especially with regard to carcinogenicity, and compares and contrasts safety data for rhIGF-I, recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), and insulin.

Recombinant insulin-like growth factor-1 as a therapy for IGF-1 deficiency in renal failure.

Renal disease in children disrupts the growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis and causes growth failure. Although GH therapy stimulates growth in these children, their short stature is likely due to a form of IGF-1 deficiency (IGFD) rather than GH deficiency. Recent experimental data have caused us to reconsider the importance of IGF-1 and IGFD to human growth.

Effects of rGH and G118RrGH on the induction of CYP2C12 and IGF-I in primary rat hepatocytes.

We have investigated the induction of the CYP2C12 and IGF-I genes by rGH and a "binding site 2 mutant", G118RrGH, in primary hepatocytes derived from male and female rats. Both the basal and the induced levels of CYP2C12, but not of IGF-I, were markedly lower in male derived than in female derived hepatocytes. A lower degree of receptor occupancy appears needed to elicit the CYP2C12 than the IGF-I response in cells obtained from both gender.

The growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor axis: its manipulation for the benefit of growth disorders in renal failure.

Renal failure is associated with dramatic changes in the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis. In children, this results in growth retardation, which is treated with injections of recombinant human GH (rhGH). Given the many recent advances in the knowledge of the components of the GH/IGF axis, it is timely to review the role of GH in renal failure and to discuss likely new treatments for growth failure.

Effect of intravenous infusion of growth hormone-releasing hormone on the morphology of rat pituitary somatotrophs.

The effect of GRH infusion on rat adenohypophysial morphology was studied by light microscopy, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, and electron microscopy. Synthetic rat GRH was intravenously administered by osmotic minipumps at 14.4, 72, 360 and 720 μg/ day/rat for 1 week.