Current Issue : October - December Volume : 2012 Issue Number : 4 Articles : 5 Articles
Background: Semi-custom foot orthoses (SCO) are thought to be a cost-effective alternative to custom-made\r\ndevices. However, previous biomechanical research involving either custom or SCO has only focused on rearfoot\r\nbiomechanics. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine changes in multi-segment foot biomechanics\r\nduring shod walking with and without an SCO. We chose to investigate an SCO device that incorporates a heatmoulding\r\nprocess, to further understand if the moulding process would significantly alter rearfoot, midfoot, or\r\nshank kinematics as compared to a no-orthotic condition. We hypothesized the SCO, whether moulded or nonmoulded,\r\nwould reduce peak rearfoot eversion, tibial internal rotation, arch deformation, and plantar fascia strain as\r\ncompared to the no-orthoses condition.\r\nMethods: Twenty participants had retroreflective markers placed on the right limb to represent forefoot, midfoot,\r\nrearfoot and shank segments. 3D kinematics were recorded using an 8-camera motion capture system while\r\nparticipants walked on a treadmill.\r\nResults: Plantar fascia strain was reduced by 34% when participants walked in either the moulded or nonmoulded\r\nSCO condition compared to no-orthoses. However, there were no significant differences in peak rearfoot\r\neversion, tibial internal rotation, or medial longitudinal arch angles between any conditions.\r\nConclusions: A semi-custom moulded orthotic does not control rearfoot, shank, or arch deformation but does,\r\nhowever, reduce plantar fascia strain compared to walking without an orthoses. Heat-moulding the orthotic device\r\ndoes not have a measurable effect on any biomechanical variables compared to the non-moulded condition.\r\nThese data may, in part, help explain the clinical efficacy of orthotic devices...
Background: Energy-based surgical scalpels are designed to efficiently transect and seal blood vessels using thermal\r\nenergy to promote protein denaturation and coagulation. Assessment and design improvement of ultrasonic scalpel\r\nperformance relies on both in vivo and ex vivo testing. The objective of this work was to design and implement a\r\nrobust, experimental test matrix with randomization restrictions and predictive statistical power, which allowed for\r\nidentification of those experimental variables that may affect the quality of the seal obtained ex vivo.\r\nMethods: The design of the experiment included three factors: temperature (two levels); the type of solution used\r\nto perfuse the artery during transection (three types); and artery type (two types) resulting in a total of twelve\r\npossible treatment combinations. Burst pressures of porcine carotid and renal arteries sealed ex vivo were assigned\r\nas the response variable.\r\nResults: The experimental test matrix was designed and carried out as a split-plot experiment in order to assess\r\nthe contributions of several variables and their interactions while accounting for randomization restrictions present\r\nin the experimental setup. The statistical software package SAS was utilized and PROC MIXED was used to account\r\nfor the randomization restrictions in the split-plot design. The combination of temperature, solution, and vessel\r\ntype had a statistically significant impact on seal quality.\r\nConclusions: The design and implementation of a split-plot experimental test-matrix provided a mechanism for\r\naddressing the existing technical randomization restrictions of ex vivo ultrasonic scalpel performance testing, while\r\npreserving the ability to examine the potential effects of independent factors or variables. This method for\r\ngenerating the experimental design and the statistical analyses of the resulting data are adaptable to a wide\r\nvariety of experimental problems involving large-scale tissue-based studies of medical or experimental device\r\nefficacy and performance....
Background: Hearing impairment negatively impacts students� development of academic, language and social\r\nskills. Even minimal unilateral hearing loss can hinder educational performance. We investigated the prevalence of\r\near diseases among secondary school students in the city of Xi�an, China in order to provide a foundation for\r\nevidence-based hearing healthcare.\r\nMethods: A stratified random sampling survey was conducted in 29 secondary schools. Demographics and\r\nmedical histories were collected, and otologic examinations were performed. Questionnaires were administered to\r\nassess insomnia, academic stress and use of portable audio devices. Logistic regression analysis was used to\r\nidentify factors associated with hearing impairment, and the association of sensorineural hearing loss with\r\ninsomnia, academic stress and the use of portable audio devices was analyzed with the chi-square test.\r\nResults: The percentage of students with some form of ear disease was 3.32%. External ear disease, middle ear\r\ndisease and sensorineural hearing loss occurred in 1.21%, 0.64% and 1.47% of the students, respectively. Boys had a\r\nrelatively higher prevalence of ear disease than girls. According to our survey, the prevalence of sensorineural\r\nhearing loss increased significantly among the students with insomnia and extended use of portable audio devices,\r\nbut not among those with elevated levels of academic stress. Hearing aids and surgical treatment were needed in\r\n1.47% and 0.89% of the students, respectively.\r\nConclusions: There is a high prevalence of ear disease among secondary school students, and this should be\r\ngiven more attention. Insomnia and the excessive use of portable audio devices may be related to adolescent\r\nsensorineural hearing loss. It is important to establish and comply with an evidence-based preventive strategy...
not available...
Background: Neurologically, it is proven that stimulation of larger diameter fibers - e.g. using appropriate coldness,\r\nwarmth, rubbing, pressure or vibration- can close the neural ââ?¬Å?gateââ?¬Â so that the central perception of itch and pain\r\nis reduced. This fact is based upon ââ?¬Å?Gate-controlââ?¬Â theory of Melzack and Wall.\r\nPresentation of the hypothesis: Syringe Micro Vibrator is a new design being introduced for the first time in the\r\nfield of Dentistry. This device is a promising breakthrough in pain and anxiety management and may deliver\r\nsolution for clinicians plagued with patient pain phobia. It has an off-set rotating micro vibration creator with ultra\r\nhigh frequency and ultra low altitude that can be easily placed on any standard dental syringe and some\r\ndisposable syringes. This device was registered as an invention in dentistry and received Iran National Patent\r\nnumber of 63765.\r\nTesting the hypothesis: By creating micro vibration, this device would be effective in reducing the pain and\r\nanxiety confronted with most types of intraoral injections as palatal, mandibular block, intraligamental and local\r\ninfiltration. From the aspect of the patient pain management, this device contributes both physiologically (based\r\non Gate Control Theory of pain) and psychologically (based on the device function as will be explained by dentist\r\nto the patient as a modern pain reducing technology). From the aspect of clinician, SMV motor provides vibrations\r\nwith ultra high frequency to alleviate pain, but since it has ultra low vibration altitude, it has no adverse effect on\r\nthe clinician dexterity and accuracy during injection and it does not interfere with pin point localization of\r\ninjection site.\r\nImplications of the hypothesis: Upon mounting on a conventional dental anesthesia injection syringe, SMV is\r\nswitched on and the clinician then uses normal injection technique to administer the anesthetic. This device is not\r\nonly a useful accessory device for ordinary patients, but also more useful for pediatric patients and those who have\r\na phobia of intraoral injection or pain...
Loading....