1,585 research outputs found
Outcomes Following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction with Patellar Tendon vs Hamstring Autografts: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials with a Mean Follow-up of 15 Years
BACKGROUND: The two most common surgical treatment modalities for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL), patellar tendon (PT) and hamstring tendon (HS) autografts, have been shown to have outcomes that are both similar and favorable; however, many of these are short or intermediate-term. The objective of this systematic review is to evaluate randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a minimum 10-year follow-up data to compare the long-term outcomes of ACL reconstructions performed using PT and HS autografts.
METHODS: This systematic review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. A search of three databases (PubMed, Cochrane and EMBASE) was performed to identify RCTs with a minimum of 10-year follow-up that compared clinical and/or functional outcomes between PT and HS autografts.
RESULTS: Four RCTs with a total of 299 patients were included in the study. The mean follow-up ranged from 10.2 to 17 years (mean, 14.79 years). No significant differences in knee laxity or clinical outcome scores were demonstrated in any of the studies. One study found that PT autografts were significantly more likely to have osteoarthritis identified by radiographic findings. Two studies found that patients with PT autografts reported increase kneeling pain, while none of the four studies reported a difference in anterior knee pain. There were no significant differences in graft failure rates.
CONCLUSION: This review demonstrates no long-term difference in clinical or functional outcomes between PT and HS autografts. However, radiographic and subjective outcomes indicate that patients with PT autografts may experience greater kneeling pain and osteoarthritis. Therefore, orthopedic surgeons should consider patient-centric factors when discussing graft options with patients
Comparison of human uterine cervical electrical impedance measurements derived using two tetrapolar probes of different sizes
BACKGROUND
We sought to compare uterine cervical electrical impedance spectroscopy measurements employing two probes of different sizes, and to employ a finite element model to predict and compare the fraction of electrical current derived from subepithelial stromal tissue.
METHODS
Cervical impedance was measured in 12 subjects during early pregnancy using 2 different sizes of the probes on each subject.
RESULTS
Mean cervical resistivity was significantly higher (5.4 vs. 2.8 Ωm; p < 0.001) with the smaller probe in the frequency rage of 4–819 kHz. There was no difference in the short-term intra-observer variability between the two probes. The cervical impedance measurements derived in vivo followed the pattern predicted by the finite element model.
CONCLUSION
Inter-electrode distance on the probes for measuring cervical impedance influences the tissue resistivity values obtained. Determining the appropriate probe size is necessary when conducting clinical studies of resistivity of the cervix and other human tissues
The DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey: Spectral classification of galaxies at z~1
We present a Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-based spectral
classification, eta, for the first 5600 galaxies observed in the DEEP2 Redshift
Survey. This parameter provides a very pronounced separation between absorption
and emission dominated galaxy spectra - corresponding to passively evolving and
actively star-forming galaxies in the survey respectively. In addition it is
shown that despite the high resolution of the observed spectra, this parameter
alone can be used to quite accurately reconstruct any given galaxy spectrum,
suggesting there are not many `degrees of freedom' in the observed spectra of
this galaxy population. It is argued that this form of classification, eta,
will be particularly valuable in making future comparisons between high and
low-redshift galaxy surveys for which very large spectroscopic samples are now
readily available, particularly when used in conjunction with high-resolution
spectral synthesis models which will be made public in the near future. We also
discuss the relative advantages of this approach to distant galaxy
classification compared to other methods such as colors and morphologies.
Finally, we compare the classification derived here with that adopted for the
2dF Galaxy Redshift Survey and in so doing show that the two systems are very
similar. This will be particularly useful in subsequent analyses when making
comparisons between results from each of these surveys to study evolution in
the galaxy populations and large-scale structure.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, Accepted for publication in Ap
The DEEP2 Galaxy Redshift Survey: The Evolution of Void Statistics from z~1 to z~0
We present measurements of the void probability function (VPF) at z~1 using
data from the DEEP2 Redshift Survey and its evolution to z~0 using data from
the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We measure the VPF as a function of galaxy
color and luminosity in both surveys and find that it mimics trends displayed
in the two-point correlation function, ; namely that samples of brighter,
red galaxies have larger voids (i.e. are more strongly clustered) than fainter,
blue galaxies. We also clearly detect evolution in the VPF with cosmic time,
with voids being larger in comoving units at z~0. We find that the reduced VPF
matches the predictions of a `negative binomial' model for galaxies of all
colors, luminosities, and redshifts studied. This model lacks a physical
motivation, but produces a simple analytic prediction for sources of any number
density and integrated two-point correlation function, \bar{\xi}. This implies
that differences in the VPF across different galaxy populations are consistent
with being due entirely to differences in the population number density and
\bar{\xi}. The robust result that all galaxy populations follow the negative
binomial model appears to be due to primarily to the clustering of dark matter
halos. The reduced VPF is insensitive to changes in the parameters of the halo
occupation distribution, in the sense that halo models with the same \bar{\xi}
will produce the same VPF. For the wide range of galaxies studied, the VPF
therefore does not appear to provide useful constraints on galaxy evolution
models that cannot be gleaned from studies of \bar{\xi} alone. (abridged)Comment: 17 pages, 15 figures, ApJ accepte
Accuracy of Alcon WaveLight EX500 optical pachymetry during LASIK
To study the accuracy and reliability of optical pachymetry using the Alcon WaveLight FX500 during laser-assisted in situ her atomileusis (LASIK) I K). Materials and methods: This was a retrospective chart review of 90 eyes from 45 patients who had undergone LASIK (mean age 35.2 8.2 years||19 males, 26 females). The WaveLight ES200 lemtosecond laser was programmed to cut LASIK flaps at a desired depth of 120 pm. Optical low-coherence reflectometry (Wave Light KX500) was used to measure central corneal thickness prior to lifting the flap, and the residual stromal bed immediately after excimer ablation. Flap thickness (FT) was calculated using simple subtraction. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure central corneal thickness, flap thickness, and residual stromal bed M the postoperative period and the results compared to intraoperative measurements. Results: Mean programmed FS200 FT Was 119 pm. Mean FT using EX500 optical pachymetry was 109 pm. The difference between FS200-programmed and EX500-measured FT was 9 pm (P<0.001). There was also a significant difference between the EX500 and OCT FT (109 p.m vs 119 pm, respectively||P<(1.001). Conclusion: FT values calculated tsing intraoperative FX500 optical pachymetry were significantly lower than programmed FS200 values or OCT measurements
Stem-Loop Recognition by DDX17 Facilitates miRNA Processing and Antiviral Defense
SummaryDEAD-box helicases play essential roles in RNA metabolism across species, but emerging data suggest that they have additional functions in immunity. Through RNAi screening, we identify an evolutionarily conserved and interferon-independent role for the DEAD-box helicase DDX17 in restricting Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), a mosquito-transmitted virus in the bunyavirus family that causes severe morbidity and mortality in humans and livestock. Loss of Drosophila DDX17 (Rm62) in cells and flies enhanced RVFV infection. Similarly, depletion of DDX17 but not the related helicase DDX5 increased RVFV replication in human cells. Using crosslinking immunoprecipitation high-throughput sequencing (CLIP-seq), we show that DDX17 binds the stem loops of host pri-miRNA to facilitate their processing and also an essential stem loop in bunyaviral RNA to restrict infection. Thus, DDX17 has dual roles in the recognition of stem loops: in the nucleus for endogenous microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis and in the cytoplasm for surveillance against structured non-self-elements
Fishing for ecosystem services
Ecosystems are commonly exploited and manipulated to maximize certain human benefits. Such changes can degrade systems, leading to cascading negative effects that may be initially undetected, yet ultimately result in a reduction, or complete loss, of certain valuable ecosystem services. Ecosystembased management is intended to maintain ecosystem quality and minimize the risk of irreversible change to natural assemblages of species and to ecosystem processes while obtaining and maintaining long-term socioeconomic benefits. We discuss policy decisions in fishery management related to commonly manipulated environments with a focus on influences to ecosystem services. By focusing on broader scales, managing for ecosystem services, and taking a more proactive approach, we expect sustainable, quality fisheries that are resilient to future disturbances. To that end, we contend that: (1) management always involves tradeoffs; (2) explicit management of fisheries for ecosystem services could facilitate a transition from reactive to proactive management; and (3) adaptive co-management is a process that could enhance management for ecosystem services. We propose adaptive co-management with an ecosystem service framework where actions are implemented within ecosystem boundaries, rather than political boundaries, through strong interjurisdictional relationships
Fishing for ecosystem services
Ecosystems are commonly exploited and manipulated to maximize certain human benefits. Such changes can degrade systems, leading to cascading negative effects that may be initially undetected, yet ultimately result in a reduction, or complete loss, of certain valuable ecosystem services. Ecosystembased management is intended to maintain ecosystem quality and minimize the risk of irreversible change to natural assemblages of species and to ecosystem processes while obtaining and maintaining long-term socioeconomic benefits. We discuss policy decisions in fishery management related to commonly manipulated environments with a focus on influences to ecosystem services. By focusing on broader scales, managing for ecosystem services, and taking a more proactive approach, we expect sustainable, quality fisheries that are resilient to future disturbances. To that end, we contend that: (1) management always involves tradeoffs; (2) explicit management of fisheries for ecosystem services could facilitate a transition from reactive to proactive management; and (3) adaptive co-management is a process that could enhance management for ecosystem services. We propose adaptive co-management with an ecosystem service framework where actions are implemented within ecosystem boundaries, rather than political boundaries, through strong interjurisdictional relationships
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