Do individuals with knee osteoarthritis walk with distinct knee biomechanics and muscle activation characteristics? An investigation of knee osteoarthritis, hip osteoarthritis, and asymptomatic groups.

Background: Biomechanical markers including reductions in sagittal plane kinematics and moments, increases in knee adduction moments (KAM), and altered muscle activations have been identified as hallmark indicators of knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, it remains unknown whether these features of knee OA gait are exclusive to the diseased joint.

Research Question: To determine whether specific gait outcomes previously linked to symptomatic medial compartment knee OA are unique to knee OA by concurrently investigating a group of asymptomatic individuals and those with hip OA.

An empirical evaluation of a novel domain-specific language - modelling vehicle routing problems with Athos.

Unlabelled: Domain-specific languages (DSLs) are a popular approach among software engineers who demand for a tailored development interface. A DSL-based approach allows to encapsulate the intricacies of the target platform in transformations that turn DSL models into executable software code. Often, DSLs are even claimed to reduce development complexity to a level that allows them to be successfully applied by domain-experts with limited programming knowledge.

The effect of a frontal plane gait perturbation bout on knee biomechanics and muscle activation in older adults and individuals with knee osteoarthritis.

Background: Walking can be a challenging task for individuals with knee osteoarthritis and many older adults. The purpose was to determine the immediate effect of a frontal plane perturbation bout during walking on knee biomechanics and muscle activation patterns in these groups.

Methods: 44 asymptomatic older adults and 32 individuals with knee osteoarthritis were recruited.

Development of an intervention to manage knee osteoarthritis risk and symptoms following anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Introduction: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is a risk factor for developing knee osteoarthritis (OA). We developed an intervention to support people manage risk factors for OA.

Methods: We conducted one-on-one interviews with 20 individuals with OA symptoms 6-15 years post ACL injury and used a nominal group process during a workshop with 40 patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to elicit information on the intervention content and delivery characteristics (timing, HCPs, and methods).

Arthroscopy Association of Canada Position Statement on Exercise for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review of Guidelines.

Background: Exercise is widely regarded to improve pain and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) through building supportive muscle mass, facilitating weight loss, and through the other beneficial effects associated with it.

Purpose: To explore literature that presents clinical guidelines for the use of exercise in the treatment of knee OA to inform an evidence-based position statement for the Arthroscopy Association of Canada.

Study Design: Position statement.

Limiting the Risk of Osteoarthritis After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: Are Health Care Providers Missing the Opportunity to Intervene?

Objective: To understand what sports orthopedic surgeons (OS), primary care physicians (PCPs) with sports medicine training, and physical therapists (PTs) managing nonelite athletes with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury tell their patients about their osteoarthritis (OA) risk.

Methods: An electronic survey was distributed by the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (PCPs, OS), the Sports and Orthopedic Divisions of the Canadian Physiotherapy Association (PTs), and to OS identified through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons and the Canadian Orthopaedic Association. The survey included 4 sections: demographics, factors discussed, timing of discussions, and discussion of risk factors and their management.

Paternal diet impairs F1 and F2 offspring vascular function through sperm and seminal plasma specific mechanisms in mice.

Key Points: A low protein diet had minimal effects on paternal cardiovascular function or renin-angiotensin system activity. Paternal low protein diet modified F1 neonatal and adult offspring renin-angiotensin system activity and cardiovascular function in a sperm and/or seminal plasma specific manner. Paternal low protein diet modified F1 male offspring testicular expression of central epigenetic regulators.

Arthroscopic Anatomic Glenoid Reconstruction Without Subscapularis Split.

The role of bone loss from the anterior glenoid in recurrent shoulder instability has been well established. We present a completely arthroscopic technique for reconstructing the anterior glenoid with distal tibial allograft and without a subscapularis split. We perform the arthroscopy in the lateral position.

Lateral Decubitus All-Arthroscopic Latarjet Procedure for Treatment of Shoulder Instability.

Shoulder instability can be a challenging condition to treat when it becomes refractory to soft-tissue procedures or when bone loss exceeds 25% to 27% of the glenoid. The Bristow-Latarjet procedure has been developed and popularized to deal with these concerns. Traditionally, the procedure has been performed as an open approach; however, this has been recently supplanted by novel arthroscopic techniques.

Safety, efficacy, and pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of daclizumab (anti-CD25) in patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

Interleukin-2 receptor α chain (CD25) is overexpressed in human T-cell leukemia virus 1 associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL). Daclizumab a humanized monoclonal antibody blocks IL-2 binding by recognizing the interleukin-2 receptor α chain (CD25). We conducted a phase I/II trial of daclizumab in 34 patients with ATL.

Total IgG method insensitivity to the presence of IgG4 immunoglobulins.

Objective: IgG4 related disease (IgG4RD) is detected in part by measurement of serum IgG4 levels in patients suspected to have the condition. The immunonephelometric methods that are used to measure serum IgG4 are susceptible to hook effect errors. The quality control parameter IgGRDiff=100∗[Sum (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4)-Total IgG]/Average [Sum (IgG1, IgG2, IgG3, IgG4), Total IgG] is theoretically of use in detecting large IgG4 hook effect.

Alpha angle correction in femoroacetabular impingement.

Purpose: The predictive value of the alpha angle, currently the most validated magnetic resonance imaging parameter for CAM-impingement FAI, remains to be systematically evaluated in the orthopaedic literature. A systematic review was conducted to determine whether alpha angle correction influences clinical outcomes in patients with FAI.

Methods: We searched three databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE and PubMed) for English clinical studies published up to August 2012, reporting surgical correction of the alpha angle in patients with a primary diagnosis of FAI.

Systematic instruction of arthroscopic knot tying with the ArK Trainer: an objective evaluation tool.

Purpose: A Proficiency Formula was introduced as an objective self-evaluation method for evaluating basic arthroscopic knot tying in a laboratory setting. The correlation between the Proficiency Formula and gold standard pass/fail dichotomy was demonstrated, as well as with other popular evaluation tools--task-specific checklist (TSC) and global rating scale (GRS).

Method: A step-by-step video tutorial was used to instruct 35 medical students on how to tie an arthroscopic Samsung Medical Center (SMC) knot secured by three half hitches.

Construct validity testing of the Arthroscopic Knot Trainer (ArK).

Purpose: This study introduced a novel simulator called the Arthroscopic Knot Trainer (ArK) and reports preliminary evidence to support its construct validity. To our knowledge, the ArK is the first non-anatomical tissue reduction simulator designed to meet learning objectives specific for developing knot-tying skills.

Materials And Methods: A step-by-step instructional video was used to teach orthopaedic residents how to tie an arthroscopic SMC knot.

Radiation therapy for the management of patients with HTLV-1-associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1-associated adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) typically has survivals measured in months with chemotherapy. One prior published series (1983-1991) assessed local radiotherapy for ATL. Ten consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed ATL treated with radiotherapy were reviewed.

White blood cell counts in healthy Jamaican adults.

The investigation of presumed neutropenia places a burden on the health services, especially those of developing countries, including Jamaica. This may be because the normal ranges used in the laboratory are based on the values generated from the Caucasian population. Previous studies looking at African and Afro-Caribbean groups have found lower counts for these populations compared with Caucasians.

Hematologic and biochemical changes associated with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 infection in Jamaica: a report from the population-based blood donors study.

Objective: We investigated changes in hematologic and biochemical parameters associated with human T lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection, antibody titer, and provirus load. Additionally, on a subset of participants, we assessed the epidemiologic relationship of HTLV-1 with Strongyloides stercoralis.

Methods: Among volunteer blood donors in Jamaica, HTLV-1 carriers (n=482) were frequency matched with HTLV-1 negative subjects (n=355) by age (+/-5 years), sex, and date of blood donation (+/-3 months).

Using GIS to generate spatially balanced random survey designs for natural resource applications.

Sampling of a population is frequently required to understand trends and patterns in natural resource management because financial and time constraints preclude a complete census. A rigorous probability-based survey design specifies where to sample so that inferences from the sample apply to the entire population. Probability survey designs should be used in natural resource and environmental management situations because they provide the mathematical foundation for statistical inference.

Predicting water quality impaired stream segments using landscape-scale data and a regional geostatistical model: a case study in Maryland.

In the United States, probability-based water quality surveys are typically used to meet the requirements of Section 305(b) of the Clean Water Act. The survey design allows an inference to be generated concerning regional stream condition, but it cannot be used to identify water quality impaired stream segments. Therefore, a rapid and cost-efficient method is needed to locate potentially impaired stream segments throughout large areas.

Patterns of spatial autocorrelation in stream water chemistry.

Geostatistical models are typically based on symmetric straight-line distance, which fails to represent the spatial configuration, connectivity, directionality, and relative position of sites in a stream network. Freshwater ecologists have explored spatial patterns in stream networks using hydrologic distance measures and new geostatistical methodologies have recently been developed that enable directional hydrologic distance measures to be considered. The purpose of this study was to quantify patterns of spatial correlation in stream water chemistry using three distance measures: straight-line distance, symmetric hydrologic distance, and weighted asymmetric hydrologic distance.