METHODS FOR KINEMATIC ANALYSIS OF HUMAN MOVEMENT IN MILITARY APPLICATIONS: A REVIEW OF CURRENT AND PROSPECTIVE METHODS

Expansion of methods employed in the kinematic analysis of human movement for diagnosing of the physical and mental health of subjects can be traced back to the 1990`s when new information technologies and electronic recording systems started their development boom. Evaluation methods of body movement for the diagnostics of physical and mental health expanded significantly in clinical practice. This study presents an overview of these methods with the focus on how applicable the analysis of human movement can be in military practice, where they are currently marginally used. The aim of this study is to offer some recommendations on how particular methods could be utilized in an army context. This article also suggests the most appropriate methods of quantitative evaluation for posture and motion control in the course of standing, gait and other activities carried out in military training and active duty

Biomimetic hierarchical nanofibrous surfaces inspired by superhydrophobic lotus leaf structure for preventing tissue adhesions

Undesirable tissue adhesions remain one of the most common and dreaded postoperative complications. Biocompatible nanofibrous mats with antiadhesive surfaces represent a promising barrier method for preventing the formation of adhesions. The material developed in this work was inspired by the natural superhydrophobic lotus leaf nanostructure, which was mimicked by a unique combination of needleless electrospraying and electrospinning technology of poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL). The surface hydrophobicity of electrosprayed nanodroplets was further enhanced by cold plasma modification using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method with hexamethyldisiloxane (HMDSO). The treatment led to a successful decrease in surface wettability of our samples. Morphology (scanning electron microscopy), wettability (contact angle) and chemical composition (FTIR analysis) were observed for a period of six months to track possible changes; the obtained results verified the presence of HMDSO during the whole time period. Cytocompatibility was confirmed in vitro with 3T3 mouse fibroblasts according to the norm ISO 10993-5. Cell adhesion and proliferation were assessed in vitro by metabolic MTT assay and fluorescence microscopy after 4, 7, and 14 days. Antiadhesive behaviour was confirmed by atomic force microscopy and ex vivo by peel test 90° with intestinal tissue, the final structure has a great potential to reduce postoperative tissue adhesions

Clinical and Ultrasound Characteristics of the Microcystic Elongated and Fragmented (MELF) Pattern in Endometrial Cancer According to the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) criteria

OBJECTIVES: To describe sonographic features of the microcystic elongated and fragmented (MELF) pattern of myometrial invasion (MI) using the International Endometrial Tumor Analysis (IETA) criteria; to assess the effect of the MELF pattern on preoperative ultrasound evaluation of MI; and to determine the relationship of the MELF pattern to more advanced stage ( 65 IB) and lymph node metastases (LNM) in women with endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC). METHODS/MATERIALS: We included 850 women with EEC from the prospective IETA 4 study. Ultrasound experts performed all ultrasound examinations, accordingto the IETA protocol. Reference pathologists assessed the presence orabsence of the MELF pattern. Sonographic features and accuracy of ultrasound assessment of MI were compared in cases with the presence and the absence of the MELF pattern. The MELF pattern was correlated to more advanced stage ( 65IB) and LNM. RESULTS: The MELF pattern was present in 197 (23.2%) women. On preoperative ultrasound imaging the endometrium was thicker (p = 0.031), more richly vascularized (p = 0.003) with the multiple multifocal vessel pattern (p < 0.001) and the assessment of adenomyosis was more often uncertain (p < 0.001). The presence or the absence of the MELF pattern did not affect the accuracy of the assessment of MI. The MELF pattern was associated with MI 65 50% (p < 0.001), cervical stromal invasion (CSI) (p = 0.037), more advanced stage ( 65 IB) (p < 0.001) and LNM (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: Tumors with the MELF pattern were slightly larger, more richly vascularized with multiple multifocal vessels and assessment of adenomyosis was more uncertain on ultrasound imaging. The MELF pattern did not increase the risk of underestimating MI in preoperative ultrasound staging. Tumors with the MELF pattern were more than twice as likely to have more advanced stage ( 65 IB) and LNM