Investigating the Role of Helmet Layers in Reducing the Stress Applied During Head Injury Using FEM

Background: Motorcycle accidents and sport accidents lead yearly to many head injuries like head fractures and concussion. So finding the most proper helmet for reducing the injuries to head can be very helpful for head protection in such cases.Methods: After 3D modeling of the helmet and head and meshing the model, a compressive impacting load of 1.31MPa was exerted on head and the model was analyzed using FEM. The helmet was considered as a two-layered helmet composing of an inner and an outer layer. Skull and CSF were considered as external layers of head. The analysis was repeated for a helmet with an inner layer made of extruded polystyrene (XPS), a helmet with an inner layer of expanded polystyrene (EPS) and finally a helmet with two internal layers of XPS and EPS.Results: The amounts of maximum displacement of the outer layer in the helmet with a XPS inner layer, the helmet with an EPS inner layer and the helmet with two internal layers were 2.82, 3.15 and 2.98mm, respectively and the respective amounts of stress were 32.05, 43.38 and 34.3MPa. The amounts of maximum stress in the inner and outer layer of the helmet with a XPS inner layer were respectively 16.4% and 6.6% less than those in the helmet with two internal layers.Discussion: Since the helmet with a XPS inner layer reduces the stress more than the helmet with two internal layers, it is the most optimal model for mitigating the head injury due to an impacting load. It should be noted that for simplifying the models, the dura was modeled together with the skull and the thicknesses of the XPS and EPS foam layers were considered to be equal

Correction to “In Vitro Assessment of Synthetic Nano Engineered Graft Designed for Further Clinical Study in Nerve Regeneration”

In the article entitled “In vitro assessment of synthetic nano engineered graft designed for further clinical study in nerve regeneration” which published in International Clinical Neuroscience Journal 2018;5(3)86-91, Figure 6 contained some errors, in which panels A, C, and D have been reported mistakenly. This mistake happened inadvertently during the data processing and data collection. The corrected Figure 6 and corresponding caption is presented in the present correction, in which the correct SEM images replaces in panels A, C, and D. The reader should note that this error does not affect the scientific quality of the work and no other section of the manuscript is affected by this error. In addition, the correction does not affect the conclusions of that paper. We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused

Presentation of a minimally symptomatic large extradural hematoma in a patient with an arachnoid cyst: a case report and review of the literature

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Hemorrhagic complications of arachnoid cysts have been reported, extensively presenting with subdural or intracystic hematoma after trauma, but presentation with extradural hemorrhage is very rare. In this paper, we report the case of a patient with an arachnoid cyst who developed an extradural hematoma after a subtle head injury. Our patient presented with very mild symptoms in spite of the very large size of the hematoma.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>Our patient was a 23-year-old Iranian man who complained of diffuse progressive headache and vomiting after mild head trauma. A brain computerized scan showed a very large extradural hematoma in the left frontotemporoparietal convexity over a large arachnoid cyst.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Brain parenchyma containing an arachnoid cyst is vulnerable to trauma and increases the risk of serious hemorrhagic complications. We also suggest that the abnormal shape of the head should be considered as an indication for a computerized tomography scan in cases of mild head injury.</p

COVID-19 in pregnancy: A cross-sectional study on clinical features, disease severity, and health outcome

Assessing the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) reveals unique challenges for pregnant women, who experience distinct clinical manifestations and health outcomes compared to their non-pregnant counterparts. We aimed to evaluate the clinical features, disease severity, and health outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnant women and compare them to those of non pregnant women. In this population-based study, we included all women diagnosed with COVID-19 across the province of Tehran during the first two years of the epidemic. Descriptive statistics, the chi-squared test, and the logistic regression model were applied. Overall, 79,338 non-pregnant women and 3249 pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 were included. Pregnant women were most commonly in the age group of 25 – 34 years (54%, n = 1758), while the age group of 34–44 had the highest representation among non-pregnant women (56%, n = 44,492). After accounting for age and comorbidities, pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of requiring intensive care (odds ratio [OR] 1.38, confidence interval [CI] 1.223 – 1.564). However, the probability of dying due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection was lower in pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (OR 0.55, CI 0.394–0.793). Cough (41%) and fever (30%) were the most frequent clinical presentations in pregnant women, whereas cough (57%) and muscle ache (38%) were the most common symptoms in non-pregnant women. Furthermore, diarrhea (P < 0.001) and skin lesions (P < 0.001) were reported more frequently by pregnant patients than non-pregnant patients. A significant prevalence of diabetes (P < 0.001), hypertension (P < 0.001), cancers (P < 0.001), and chronic hematological diseases (P < 0.001) was observed in pregnant patients. In conclusion, COVID-19-infected pregnant women exhibit different clinical manifestations and a more severe clinical course but have better health outcomes compared to their non-pregnant counterparts

A Survey on Cortical Bone Trajectory for Spinal Fusions

There have been a number of developments in screw design and implantation techniques over recent years, including proposal of an alternative trajectory entitled as cortical bone trajectory (CBT). Cortical bone trajectory has been investigated in recent medical treatments as an alternative for screw fixation aimed at increasing purchase of pedicle screws in higher density bone. CBT screw insertion follows a lateral path in the transverse plane and caudocephalad path in the sagittal plane. This technique has been advocated because it is reportedly less invasive, improves screw−bone purchase and reduces neurovascular injury. Furthermore CBT pedicle screw fixation provides stabilization to multilevel lumbar segment with low-grade spondylolisthesis comparable to the standard trajectory pedicle screw construct. However, these claims have not been supported by robust clinical evidence. Recent investigations focus on evaluations of CBT as a pioneer method.

CN2F: A Cloud-Native Cellular Network Framework

Upcoming 5G and Beyond 5G (B5G) cellular networks aim to improve the efficiency and flexibility of mobile networks by incorporating various technologies, such as Software Defined Networking (SDN), Network Function Virtualization (NFV), and Network Slicing (NS). In this paper, we share our findings, accompanied by a comprehensive online codebase, about the best practice of using different open-source projects in order to realize a flexible testbed for academia and industrial Research and Development (R&D) activities on the future generation of cellular networks. In particular, a Cloud-Native Cellular Network Framework (CN2F) is presented which uses OpenAirInterface's codebase to generate cellular Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) and deploys Kubernetes to disperse and manage them among some worker nodes. Moreover, CN2F leverages ONOS and Mininet to emulate the effect of the IP transport networks in the fronthaul and backhaul of real cellular networks. In this paper, we also showcase two use cases of CN2F to demonstrate the importance of Edge Computing (EC) and the capability of Radio Access Network (RAN) slicing

The CT-Based Patient Specific Hip Joint 3D-Modeling; Potential to Correct the Alignment

Background: The salvage proximal femoral osteotomy is performed in mild or moderate osteoarthritis when the articulating surfaces are normal and relieves the subject’s pain. Because the importance of angular mal-alignment of the femur bone at the hip junction accurate pre-op planning based on patient specific anatomy is required to prevent any lower limb misalignment and joint problem pre-operative.Methods: In this study a CT-Based modeling technique was used to generate a 3D model of the patient’s hip and proximal femur. The registration stage using angio-fluoroscopy was performed to calculate the proximal femur kinematic and input it into a finite element model to achieve the stress distribution pattern of femuroacetabular joint.Results:From finite element model the stress distribution on the articulating surface at the contact zone was analyzed. The result was showing the maximum stress of 1.1 MPa at the contact surface where femur contact the acetabulum. The maximum stress is found in line with mechanical loading of the lower limb.Conclusion: Use of a non-invasive 3D modeling method will remediate the surgical approach in pre-op stage. The in-vivo modeling and assessment of the patient femoroacetabular contact has performed. It has been shown that the accuracy of the proposed model is comparable with the existing surgical pre-op planning

Can Giardia Infection Impair the Diagnostic Level of Fecal Calprotectin in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease? A Case Report

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is attributed to complex conditions of gastrointestinal tract that is frequently reported all over the world. Fecal calprotectin evaluation is described as a primary tool to screen IBD patients. There are reports showing the confounding role of some microbial agents in diagnostic levels of calprotectin. A 32-yr-old woman with symptoms like IBD/IBS (irritable bowel syndrome); admitted to IBD Clinic of Behbood Research Center for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, Jan 2017 for evaluation of the level of fecal calprotectin. In spite of high level of calprotectin, trophozoite of Giardia intestinalis was observed in direct examination of stool sample. Microbial pathogens can lead to false elevation of fecal calprotectin and misdiagnosis of gastrointestinal patients suspected to IBD

Effets du rapport des granulés de grains de blé et d'orge aux grains de maïs moulus dans l'alimentation sur les activités de tri et de mastication des vaches laitières soumises à un stress thermique

peer reviewedBackground Normal feeding behaviours is one of the criteria of the health condition of dairy cows particularly in the condition of heat stress. Objective The study evaluated the effects of the ratio of pellets of wheat and barley grains to ground corn grain on sorting activity and chewing behaviour of lactating dairy cows managed under ambient conditions including natural heat stress events. Materials and Methods Nine multiparous cows (650 ± 56 kg Body Weight; mean ± SD) averaging 102 ± 13 days in milk and producing 54 ± 6 kg/d were randomly assigned to a triplicate 3 × 3 Latin square. During each 21‐d period, cows received one of three total mixed rations as dietary treatments. The dietary treatments were three ratio of pellets (containing 50% ground wheat and 50% ground barley): ground corn on a dry matter (DM) basis: 1) 33.3:66.6 (low); 2) 66.6:33.3 (medium); and 3) 100:0 (high). During the experiment, the ambient temperature‐humidity index was equal or more than 72, indicating that the cows were predisposed to heat stress condition. Results Increasing the proportion of wheat‐barley pellets in the diet had a minimal effect on sorting index of different particles during the first 6 h of the day. However, later in the day (6‐18h), sorting against long particles (particles >19 mm) and in favour of fine particles (particles <1.18 mm) linearly increased with increasing the proportion of pellet; as a result overall daily sorting against long particles was increased with increasing the proportion of pellets. Although the average of daily eating and rumination was not affected by the treatments in the day times with high ambient THI, time spent for eating and rumination was low and eating time had more fluctuation for diet contained a high level of pellets. Conclusion Increasing the proportion of pellets of barley and wheat grains in the diet under conditions of heat stress caused more fluctuation in daily eating behaviour and cows were predisposed to sort against long particles