489 research outputs found
A Review of the Aquatic Environmental Fate of Triclopyr and its Major Metabolites
The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the
aquatic environmental fate of triclopyr and its major metabolites,
TCP and TMP. This review is primarily based on results
of laboratory and field studies conducted by various Federal
Agencies and the registrant to support the US aquatic registration
for triclopyr TEA
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Mass Customization of Foot Orthosis for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory disease, which can cause pain, stiffness, and
swelling in the joints of hands and feet. The foot is a major site for RA involvement and a
major source of disability resulting from this disease. This paper introduces research which
aims to create a mass customisation process for customised orthoses for patients with RA.
3D laser scanning, and gait analysis will be used to generate the orthosis geometry and
rapid manufacturing, namely the selective laser sintering (SLS) process, will be used to
produce the orthoses. The SLS process enables the incorporation of compositional
functional elements, such as locally adjusted stiffness or flexibility, into the orthosis
design.
The process involved two central elements. The first was a literature survey to identify
orthotic design rules for foot impairments in RA. This survey will form a platform for the
design rule development and will be complemented by data obtained from two patient
trials. The second is a virtual three-segment foot model, created in Anybody dynamics
modelling software which can be motivated by data measured from patients using 3D
motion capture and force plate systems. Once the measured data has been applied to the
model, a virtual insole can be used to simulate the effects of various features in the
orthosis.
Considerable variation was noted in the literature for types of material, design and
methods of orthotic construction. Pressure redistribution using cushioning materials was
consistently mapped to painful deformed joints. Orthoses with contoured surfaces, either
custom- or mass produced in thermoplastic materials of varying stiffness and density were
mapped to joint motion control and deformity prevention. The paper will also describe
applying patient gait data to the Anybody model, and then altering the gait pattern by
applying the insole model. Future work will also be discussed.Mechanical Engineerin
The effectiveness of a multidisciplinary foot care program for children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis: an exploratory trial
Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of multidisciplinary foot-care, and to evaluate the methodological considerations of a trial of multidisciplinary care in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Design: Exploratory randomised controlled trial. Subjects/Patients: Children/adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and inflammatory joint disease affecting the foot/ankle. Methods: Standard medical care was compared with a 12 month program of multidisciplinary foot-care informed by musculoskeletal ultrasound. This program was centred on strict disease control through rigorous examination and interventions delivered by a team comprised of a paediatric rheumatologist, podiatrist, physiotherapist and musculoskeletal ultrasonographer. Patients were assessed on foot impairment and disability scores using the Juvenile Arthritis Foot Disability Index. Results: Forty-four participants, aged 3-17 years were randomly assigned to receive the experimental (n = 21) or usual care (n = 23) interventions. There was an overall improvement in levels of foot related impairments in both groups over 12 months. Between-group differences in change scores for the Juvenile Arthritis Foot Disability Index were not statistically significant at 6 or 12 month follow-ups. Conclusion: The integrated multidisciplinary foot care interventions described in this trial were safe, but did not improve foot impairment levels relative to usual care. This trial identified several methodological challenges including recruitment/retention, difficulties with outcome tools and potential confounders.</p
'Choosing shoes': a preliminary study into the challenges facing clinicians in assessing footwear for rheumatoid patients
Background: Footwear has been accepted as a therapeutic intervention for the foot affected
by rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Evidence relating to the objective assessment of footwear in
patients with RA is limited. The aims of this study were to identify current footwear styles,
footwear characteristics, and factors that influence footwear choice experienced by patients
with RA.
Methods: Eighty patients with RA were recruited from rheumatology clinics during the
summer months. Clinical characteristics, global function, and foot impairment and disability
measures were recorded. Current footwear, footwear characteristics and the factors
associated with choice of footwear were identified. Suitability of footwear was recorded using
pre-determined criteria for assessing footwear type, based on a previous study of foot pain.
Results: The patients had longstanding RA with moderate-to severe disability and
impairment. The foot and ankle assessment demonstrated a low-arch profile with both
forefoot and rearfoot structural deformities. Over 50% of shoes worn by patients were opentype
footwear. More than 70% of patients’ footwear was defined as being poor. Poor
footwear characteristics such as heel rigidity and sole hardness were observed. Patients
reported comfort (17%) and fit (14%) as important factors in choosing their own footwear.
Only five percent (5%) of patients wore therapeutic footwear.
Conclusions: The majority of patients with RA wear footwear that has been previously
described as poor. Future work needs to aim to define and justify the specific features of
footwear that may be of benefit to foot health for people with RA
Evaluation of a morpholinothiolporphyrin for use in photodynamic therapy.
The photonecrotic effectiveness of a morpholinothiolporphyrin derived from haematoporphyrin was measured in an animal model of cerebral glioma. The dose administered was 20 mg kg-1 and the laser dose varied from 0 to 200 J cm-2. The tumour necrosis was at least as good as that of HpD, and this therapeutic response may be attributed to the targeting of specific 'photopotent' subcellular sites
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