Rapid and Robust Identification of Sepsis Using SeptiCyte RAPID in a Heterogeneous Patient Population.

SeptiCyte RAPID is a transcriptional host response assay that discriminates between sepsis and non-infectious systemic inflammation (SIRS) with a one-hour turnaround time. The overall performance of this test in a cohort of 419 patients has recently been described [Balk et al., J Clin Med 2024, 13, 1194].

Pathogenic and Saprophytic Growth Rates of f. sp. Interact to Affect Variation in Inoculum Density and Interannual Infection Risk.

Fusarium wilt of cotton caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen f. sp. race 4 (FOV4) is a contemporary epidemic affecting cotton production in Far West Texas.

DNA-Based Quantification of f. sp. in Environmental Soils to Describe Spatial Variation in Inoculum Density.

Fusarium wilt of cotton, caused by the soilborne fungal pathogen f. sp. (FOV), occurs in regions of the United States where cotton ( spp.

In-toeing gait in children with clubfoot and the effect of tibial rotation osteotomy.

In-toeing gait is common after treatment for clubfoot deformity and is often secondary to residual internal tibial torsion. The purpose of the current study was to characterize the gait pattern in children with an intoeing gait pattern associated with talipes equinovarus (TEV) deformity, identify secondary changes at the hip that occur with intoeing, and determine if these secondary effects resolve after correction of tibial torsion. Patients with a diagnosis of TEV deformity, in-toeing gait secondary to residual internal tibial torsion corrected with tibial rotation osteotomy (TRO) and complete preoperative and postoperative motion analysis studies obtained approximately 1 year apart, were included in the study.

Validation of a Host Response Assay, SeptiCyte LAB, for Discriminating Sepsis from Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in the ICU.

Rationale: A molecular test to distinguish between sepsis and systemic inflammation of noninfectious etiology could potentially have clinical utility.

Objectives: This study evaluated the diagnostic performance of a molecular host response assay (SeptiCyte LAB) designed to distinguish between sepsis and noninfectious systemic inflammation in critically ill adults.

Methods: The study employed a prospective, observational, noninterventional design and recruited a heterogeneous cohort of adult critical care patients from seven sites in the United States (n = 249).

Femoral anteversion assessment: Comparison of physical examination, gait analysis, and EOS biplanar radiography.

Background: Multiple measurement methods are available to assess transverse plane alignment of the lower extremity.

Research Question: This study was performed to determine the extent of correlation between femoral anteversion assessment using simultaneous biplanar radiographs and three-dimensional modeling (EOS imaging), clinical hip rotation by physical examination, and dynamic hip rotation assessed by gait analysis.

Methods: Seventy-seven patients with cerebral palsy (GMFCS Level I and II) and 33 neurologically typical children with torsional abnormalities completed a comprehensive gait analysis with same day biplanar anterior-posterior and lateral radiographs and three-dimensional transverse plane assessment of femoral anteversion.

Biomechanical changes associated with femoral derotational osteotomy.

Torsional deformities of the femur in children may occur as a result of either idiopathic or neuromuscular disorders and may be corrected with derotational osteotomies. Regardless of the underlying etiology, neither the effects of the torsional pathologies nor the alterations resulting from corrective osteotomies are well understood. A study of children with isolated femoral anteversion undergoing a single corrective procedure may assist in understanding the biomechanics of the pathology and the efficacy of surgical correction.

Surgical management of persistent intoeing gait due to increased internal tibial torsion in children.

Background: Intoeing gait is frequently seen in developing children, and in most cases it resolves with growth. However, persistent, extreme intoeing gait, due to increased internal tibial torsion, may disrupt gait function. At our institution, children with symptomatic intoeing gait are evaluated per a standardized protocol, which includes quantitative gait analysis.

Addressing some misperceptions of the joint coordinate system.

The joint coordinate system convention proposed by Grood and Suntay has been widely adopted, but often misrepresented. Previous work has argued by logical explanation of the approach that the joint coordinate system is a set of Euler or Cardan angles. The current work offers both an explanation and mathematical proof that the joint coordinate system convention is equivalent to a Cardan angle sequence, thereby demonstrating the joint coordinate system angles are both sequence dependent and orthogonal.

Kinematics and kinetics of normal and planovalgus feet during walking.

Planovalgus deformity is prevalent in cerebral palsy patients, but very few studies have quantitatively reported differences between planovalgus and normal foot function. Intersegmental foot kinetics have not been reported in this population. In this study, a three segment (hindfoot, forefoot, hallux) kinematic and kinetic model was applied to typically developing (n=10 subjects, 20 feet) and planovalgus (n=10 subjects, 18 feet) pediatric subjects by two clinicians for each subject.

A multi-segment foot model based on anatomically registered technical coordinate systems: method repeatability and sensitivity in pediatric planovalgus feet.

Several multisegment foot models have been proposed and some have been used to study foot pathologies. These models have been tested and validated on typically developed populations; however application of such models to feet with significant deformities presents an additional set of challenges. For the first time, in this study, a multisegment foot model is tested for repeatability in a population of children with symptomatic abnormal feet.

A multi-segment foot model based on anatomically registered technical coordinate systems: method repeatability in pediatric feet.

Several multi-segment foot models to measure the motion of intrinsic joints of the foot have been reported. Use of these models in clinical decision making is limited due to lack of rigorous validation including inter-clinician, and inter-lab variability measures. A model with thoroughly quantified variability may significantly improve the confidence in the results of such foot models.

Ankle dorsiflexor function after plantar flexor surgery in children with cerebral palsy.

Background: Surgical lengthening is used to address both overactivity and shortening of the spastic agonist muscle in children with cerebral palsy. It has been presumed that the function of the antagonist muscle will improve when the spastic agonist muscle has been surgically lengthened. The purposes of the current study were to use quantitative gait analysis to determine the prevalence of the ankle dorsiflexor muscles (antagonist) dysfunction during the swing phase of the gait cycle and to analyze how this function is affected following surgical lengthening of the ankle plantar flexor muscles (agonist).

The efficacy of the floor-reaction ankle-foot orthosis in children with cerebral palsy.

Background: The floor-reaction ankle-foot orthosis is commonly prescribed for children with cerebral palsy who walk with excessive ankle dorsiflexion and excessive knee flexion during the stance phase of gait. The purposes of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of this orthosis objectively and to identify clinical parameters that may compromise its function.

Methods: All children with cerebral palsy who had comprehensive gait analyses in both barefoot and braced walking conditions during a single visit to our Motion Analysis Laboratory between January 2001 and August 2007 were identified.

Dynamic pedobarography for children: use of the center of pressure progression.

Background: Although pedobarography has been widely used in quantitative clinical gait analysis for children, the collection, processing, analysis, and interpretation of the data vary widely. In most cases in children, foot dysfunction during gait is primarily a consequence of skeletal segmental malalignment, which can be characterized by the location and duration of the center of pressure progression (COPP) relative to the foot. This study determines the validity and reliability of a technique using the COPP and establishes a normative database for the COPP in children.

Idiopathic toe walking: a kinematic and kinetic profile.

Purpose: The differential diagnosis in children who walk on their toes includes mild spastic diplegia and idiopathic toe walking (ITW). A diagnosis of ITW is often one of exclusion. To better characterize the diagnosis of ITW, quantitative gait analysis was utilized in a series of patients with an established diagnosis of ITW.

Impact of ankle-foot orthoses on static foot alignment in children with cerebral palsy.

Background: Children with cerebral palsy who are able to walk are often managed with an ankle-foot orthosis to assist with walking. Previous studies have shown kinematic, kinetic, and energetic benefits during gait with the addition of an ankle-foot orthosis, although the mechanism of this gait improvement is unknown. The ability of orthoses to correct foot malalignment in children with cerebral palsy is not known.