EFFECTS OF PLANTAR ORTHOSIS ON DYNAMIC PLANTAR PRESSURE MEASUREMENTS IN RUNNERS

During the past years, the use of custom-made plantar orthoses (POs) has been sharply increased among athletes. Concurrently, a great effort has been dedicated by orthotic designers and manufacturers to improve the quality of their products. Only recently, however, systems that allow dynamic plantar pressure measurements within shoes have become available. Data and information provided by these devices can potentially reveal information about both the structure and the function of the foot and may also be used to evaluate the effectiveness of specifically designed POs on plantar foot pressure. By analyzing the pressure distribution in different plantar areas and the centre of force path as well, the aim of this work was to examine the efficacy of specific custom-made POs in athletes wearing their own running shoes. For this purpose, eleven runners were randomly selected among a population of competitive athletes wearing POs. The orthosis had been made by different laboratories using different casting methods. Each subject performed two separate running trials at 12 km/h on a motorized treadmill: one trial wearing his own custom-orthotics in the shoes, and one trial without. In the two experimental conditions, data for at least six strides for each foot was collected. The Fscan inshoe pressure measurement system was used to measure piantar pressure during all trials. The system used an ultra-thin flexible and trimmable sensor with 960sensing locations distributed evenly across the entire plantar surface. These food sensors can be customized to the individual needs and sizing of each subject. According to previous studies, the results of trials with and without orthosis appeared to show a sensitivity to this change in condition. In many ofthe examined parameters, significant changes have been found between the two experimental conditions. However, in three cases, although inserts are thoughtto redistribute and decrease local plantar pressure beneath the foot, Pos significantly increased pressure in particular areas of the metatarsal region. Furthermore, in two subjects, a dramatic pressure increase had been found in the lateral portion of the midfoot suggesting an overcorrection of the medial arch support. In four subjects the effect of POs was not significant in each of the examined parameters. In only three subjects, the centre of force path was found to deviate significantly with POs

IN-SHOE PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION DURING FENCING LUNGE

Fencing is a sport involving sharp backward and forward movements interspersed with several slower gliding steps in which lower limb agility is crucial to good movements and correct body positioning. Thus, while the upper extremity uses the weapon, the legs and feet work to get the fencer in position to it. From a biomechanical point of view, particularly stressed are the feet. Incidence of foot injury in fencing is high, and there have been many cases reported of metatarsal stress fractures, capsulitis, plantar fasciitis, and interdigital neuromas. Although it would be useful to accurately evaluate the high pressure points so that overall lower limb salvage may be improved, to our knowledge, no information about the force and pressure distribution beneath the foot of fencers performing technical actions is available. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to evaluate dynamic in-shoe plantar pressure during fencing lunge. Six right-handed foilists of national level (age: 24k5.5) were the subjects of this study. Each athlete was asked to perform the following technical actions: simple lunge; step forward-lunge; step backward-lunge; jump forward-lunge. Data for at least six trials per condition was collected. The Fscan in-shoe pressure measurement system was used to measure plantar pressure during all trials. The system uses an ultra-thin flexible and trimmable sensor with 960sensing locations distributed evenly across the entire plantar surface. These footsensors can be customized to the individual needs and sizing of each subject. The parameters examined included the centre of pressure path, time-pressure relationships, and the force and pressure in three regions of the foot (rear, mid, and forepart).Despite the apparent intersubject similarities in performing the actions, clear differences were observed in most of the examined parameters. In contrast to the above finding, the variability within-subject was low indicating a high consistency in movement execution, As expected, in all the technical actions, an asymmetrical load was placed on the lower extremities, with the right foot of the athletes particularly subjected to stress in the forward actions. The results showed that the majority of the right foot pressure was localized in the forefoot and especially over the head of the first and second metatarsal and hallux. High pressure levels, as those found here, applied too often and over a long periods of time can cause structural damage to the foot. Shoe and plantar orthosis designers should attempt to reduce such risks designing sager footwear and proper shoe inserts

Liposome-Mediated Delivery Improves the Efficacy of Lisosan G against Retinopathy in Diabetic Mice

Nutraceuticals are natural substances whose anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may be used to treat retinal pathologies. Their efficacy is limited by poor bioavailability, which could be improved using nanocarriers. Lisosan G (LG), a fermented powder from whole grains, protects the retina from diabetic retinopathy (DR)-induced damage. For this study, we tested whether the encapsulation of LG in liposomes (LipoLG) may increase its protective effects. Diabetes was induced in mice via streptozotocin administration, and the mice were allowed to freely drink water or a water dispersion of two different doses of LG or of LipoLG. Electroretinographic recordings after 6 weeks showed that only the highest dose of LG could partially protect the retina from diabetes-induced functional deficits, while both doses of LipoLG were effective. An evaluation of molecular markers of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, vascular endothelial growth factor, and the blood–retinal barrier confirmed that the highest dose of LG only partially protected the retina from DR-induced changes, while virtually complete prevention was obtained with either dose of LipoLG. These data indicate that the efficacy of LG in contrasting DR is greatly enhanced by its encapsulation in liposomes and may lay the ground for new dietary supplements with improved therapeutic effects against DR

IGRA test for TB in COVID-19: role of corticosteroids

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Efficacy of fatty acids dietary supplement in polyethylene glycol-induced mouse model of retinal degeneration

Current knowledge of the benefits of nutrition supplements for eye pathologies is based largely on the use of appropriate animal models, together with defined dietary supplementation. Here, C57BL6 mice were subretinally injected with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-400, an established model of retinal degeneration with a dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-like phenotype, an eye pathology that lacks treatment. In response to PEG-400, markers of the complement system, angiogenesis,inflammation,gliosis,andmacrophageinfiltrationwereupregulatedinbothretinasand retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroids, whereas dietary supplementation with a mixture based on fatty acids counteracted their upregulation. Major effects include a reduction of inflammation, in both retinas and RPE/choroids, and an inhibition of macrophage infiltration in the choroid, yet not in the retina, suggesting a targeted action through the choroidal vasculature. Histological analysis revealed a thinning of the outer nuclear layer (ONL), together with dysregulation of the epithelium layer in response to PEG-400. In addition, immunohistofluorescence demonstrated Müller cell gliosis and macrophage infiltration into subretinal tissues supporting the molecular findings. Reduced ONL thickness,gliosis,andmacrophageinfiltrationwerecounteractedbythedietsupplement. The present data suggest that fatty acids may represent a useful form of diet supplementation to prevent or limit the progression of dry AMD