Publications by authors named "W Ertel"

Objective: A health action process approach (HAPA)-based intervention was designed to support moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in individuals with osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK). In secondary analyses of the randomized controlled trial "preventing the impairment of primary osteoarthritis by high-impact long-term physical exercise regimen-psychological adherence program," we examined long-term effects of the intervention on HAPA determinants and MVPA, and explored the former as mediators of change.

Method: = 241 individuals with OAK (63% women, aged 44-80 years) were randomly assigned to the 12-month intervention condition (IC) or active control condition (CC).

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Article Synopsis
  • Hybrid scaffolds combining different biomaterials show promise for musculoskeletal tissue engineering, but there is a need for better in vitro systems to study their biological interactions.
  • The researchers developed a novel, scalable clamp culture system using 3D-printed polymer and hydrogel, providing mechanical stability while allowing for analysis of cell and material interactions.
  • This system demonstrated favorable results in cell viability and osteogenic differentiation after 14 days of culture, indicating its potential for advancing tissue engineering research and biomaterial development.
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Background/objectives: The aim was to compare ophthalmic diagnoses made by veterinarians to a deep learning (artificial intelligence) software tool which was developed to aid in the diagnosis of equine ophthalmic diseases. As equine ophthalmology is a very specialised field in equine medicine, the tool may be able to help in diagnosing equine ophthalmic emergencies such as uveitis.

Study Design: In silico tool development and assessment of diagnostic performance.

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Osteoarthritis (OA) most frequently affects the knee joint and is associated with an elevated expression of cytokines and extracellular cartilage matrix (ECM), degrading enzymes such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Differences in gene expression of the intra-articularly located infrapatellar fat pad (IPFP) and other fatty tissue suggest its autonomous function, yet its role in OA pathogenesis remains unknown. Human IPFPs and articular cartilage were collected from OA patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty, and biopsies from the IPFP of healthy patients harvested during knee arthroscopy served as controls (CO).

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Background: This primary analysis evaluated the "PREVenting the impairment of primary Osteoarthritis by high-impact long-term Physical exercise regimen-Psychological Adherence Program" (PrevOP-PAP), designed to support patients with osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) to engage in regular moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) to reduce OAK symptoms (WOMAC scores). Theory-based on the health action process approach (HAPA), the intervention targeted volitional precursors of MVPA change: action and coping planning, maintenance and recovery self-efficacy, action control, and social network formation. We hypothesized that compared to an active control condition, increases in MVPA at the end of the 12-month intervention would translate into lower WOMAC scores at 24 months in the intervention condition.

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