Case Report: Resolution of a periodontoid rheumatoid pannus mass in an elderly patient treated with a rigid cervical collar: A case report and literature review

In patients with C2 rheumatoid pannus with spinal cord compression the treatment of choice is extensive surgery either through a transoral resection of the dens axis or a dorsal stabilisation, or both. We present a case of an 11-mm rheumatoid pannus with significant compression of the spinal cord, which failed surgical treatment with respect to dorsal stabilisation. Therefore, rigid cervical collar for 8 weeks followed by soft collar for another 4 weeks was chosen as a treatment option. During the follow-up period of 1 year, the pannus reduced significantly and the spinal cord decompressed. In cases where surgery is not an option or is technically very demanding, the alternative of cervical collar immobilisation is a satisfying option

Ball heading and subclinical concussion in soccer as a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Soccer players have a high risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, a potentially career-ending event. ACL rupture has been linked with abnormal neuromuscular control in the lower limb. Additionally, heading the ball with the unprotected head during game play is increasingly recognized as a major source of exposure to concussive and sub-concussive repetitive head impacts. This article provides a hypothesis of potential connection of ACL injury with ball heading in soccer players. The study reviews literature sources regarding the impact of neurocognitive alterations after ball headings in ACL injuries. Poor baseline neurocognitive performance or impairments in neurocognitive performance via sleep deprivation, psychological stress, or concussion can increase the risk for subsequent musculoskeletal injury

Case Report Myasthenia Gravis and Stroke in the Setting of Giant Cell Arteritis

This case report concerns the diagnosis of two independent chronic diseases in a patient hospitalized for stroke, myasthenia gravis (MG) and giant cell arteritis (GCA). MG has been found to be associated with several diseases, but there are very few cases documenting its coexistence with GCA. We report the case of a 79-year-old woman initially hospitalized for stroke. Patient's concurrent symptoms of blepharoptosis, dysphagia, and proximal muscle weakness were strongly suggestive of myasthenia gravis. The persistent low-grade fever and elevated inflammatory markers in combination with the visual deterioration that developed also raised the suspicion of GCA. Histological examination confirmed GCA, while muscle acetylcholine receptor antibodies were also present. Even though in medicine one strives to interpret a patient's symptoms with one diagnosis, when one entity cannot fully interpret the clinical and laboratory findings, clinicians must consider the possibility of a second coexisting illness

Digital Elevation Models of Rockfalls and Landslides: A Review and Meta-Analysis

The scope of this paper is to summarize previous research pertaining to the use of digital elevation models (DEMs) and digital terrain models (DTMs) in the study of rockfalls and landslides. Research from 1983 to 2020 was surveyed in order to understand how the spatial resolution of DEMs and DTMs affects landslide detection, validation, and mapping. Another major question examined was the relationship between the DEM resolution and the extent of the rockfall or landslide event. It emerged from the study that, for landslides, the majority of researchers used DEMs with a spatial resolution of between 10 m and 30 m, while for rockfalls, they used DEMs with a spatial resolution of between 5 m and 20 m. We concluded that DEMs with a very high resolution (less than 5 m) are suitable for local-scale occurrences, while medium-resolution (from 20 m to 30 m) DEMs are suitable for regional-scale events. High resolution is associated with high accuracy and detailed structural characteristics, while medium accuracy better illustrates the topographic features. A low pixel size (more than 90 m) is not recommended for this type of research. Susceptibility maps, inventory maps, hazard risk zones, and vulnerability assessments are some of the main tools used in landslide/rockfall investigations, and topographic indexes, methods, models, and software optimize the reliability of the results. All of these parameters are closely related to DEMs and DTMs as the cell size affects the credibility of the final outcome

Artificial intelligence. A tool for sports trauma prediction

Injuries exert an enormous impact on athletes and teams. This is seen especially in professional soccer, with a marked negative impact on team performance and considerable costs of rehabilitation for players. Existing studies provide some preliminary understanding of which factors are mostly associated with injury risk, but scientific systematic evaluation of the potential of statistical models in forecasting injuries is still missing. Some factors raise the risk of a sport injury, but there are also elements that predispose athletes to sports injuries. The biological mechanisms involved in non-contact musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries are poorly understood. Genetic risk factors may be associated with susceptibility to injuries, and may exert marked influence on recovery times. Athletes are complex systems, and depend on internal and external factors to attain and maintain stability of their health and their performance. Organisms, participants or traits within a dynamic system adapt and change when factors within that system change. Scientists routinely predict risk in a variety of dynamic systems, including weather, political forecasting and projecting traffic fatalities and the last years have started the use of predictive models in the human health industry. We propose that the use of artificial intelligence may well help in assessing risk and help to predict the occurrence of sport injuries

The Influence of the DSM Spatial Resolution in Rockfall Simulation and Validation with In Situ Data

Remote sensing constitutes an advantageous tool towards the landslide/rockfall susceptibility mapping by incorporating optical satellite or radar data and photogrammetric data in Geographical Information System environment. A plethora of rockfall data can be derived by gigital surface models (DSMs). This article focuses on the effect of the spatial resolution of DSMs in rockfall investigations solely. DSMs with pixel size ranging from 5 cm to 90 m were taken into account for the study of three different rockfall events occurring in Western Greece, namely, at Moira, Myloi and Platiana settlements. Elevation profiles along the rockfall bodies were created from the diverse DSMs in GIS environment. Then, these profiles were implemented into the RocFall software for 2D rockfall simulations. The produced simulations were evaluated against their spatial resolution of DSMs and were confirmed with field observations and measurements. The ultimate scope of this paper is to conclude to the most appropriate DSM for rockfall simulations via RocFall software. It is observed that DSMs with high spatial resolution depicted a detailed and realistic topography, while DSMs with coarse/low resolution flattened the surface roughness. As rockfall simulations are linked to slope profile, this observation has an impact on RocFall outcomes. According to this study the most appropriate DSM, pertaining to this type of research, is the UAV, which produces the more accurate and realistic results. These results were assessed through the use of in situ measurements taken by the real rockfall events

Estimating the dynamic ratio of the lateral/medial hamstrings. A case control study

Purpose. Hamstring injuries are among the most common injuries in sports. The current study estimates the hamstrings dynamic ratio (HDR) between the mean muscle activation of lateral (biceps femoris longus) and medial part (semitendinosus) of the hamstring muscles during a maximal voluntary isometric contraction in elite uninjured track and field athletes. Methods. Following isokinetic assessment to estimate the hamstrings to quadriceps dynamic ratio (H:Q), the participants were divided in two groups (Group 1 (N = 10): Athletes with a H:Q ratio range 55-70% and no side to side difference of the ratios more than 6 units; and Group 2 (N = 8) athletes with a H:Q ratio outside of the 55-70% range and/or a side to side difference of the ratios greater than 6 units). All athletes were assessed by electromyography during a maximum voluntary isometric contraction of their hamstrings. Results. There was difference on the range and means between the two groups regarding hamstrings dynamic ratio (78% and 69% respectively), although this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions. A proposed HDR of 78% between lateral to medial hamstrings could be used as a risk factor for hamstring injuries in athletes with hamstring muscle imbalances. Better characterisation of the normal patterns of hamstring muscle activation will allow targeted rehabilitation to address specific neuromuscular coordination patterns. © 2021, CIC Edizioni Internazionali s.r.l.. All rights reserved