A randomised controlled trial of laser scanning and casting for the construction of ankle foot orthoses

Study Design: Randomised controlled trial with blinding of orthotists and patients to the construction technique used. Background: Three-dimensional laser scanning has been used for patient measurement for cranial helmets and spinal braces. Ankle foot orthoses are commonly prescribed for children with orthopaedic conditions. This trial sought to compare ankle foot orthoses produced by laser scanning or traditional plaster casting. Objectives: Assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of using laser scanning to produce AFOs. Methods: A randomised double blind trial comparing fabrication of AFOs from casts or laser scans. Results: The time spent in the rectification and moulding of scanned AFOs was around 50% less than for cast AFOs. A non-significant increase of 9 days was seen in the time to delivery to the patient for LSCAD/CAM. There was a higher incidence of problems with the scan-based AFOs at delivery of the device, but no difference in how long the AFOs lasted. Costs associated with laser scanning were not significantly different from traditional methods of AFO manufacture. Conclusions: Compared with conventional casting techniques laser scan based AFO manufacture neither significantly improved the quality of the final product nor delivered a useful saving in time

Selective inhibition of the human tie-1 promoter with triplex-forming oligonucleotides targeted to ets binding sites

The Tie receptors (Tie-1 and Tie-2/Tek) are essential for angiogenesis and vascular remodeling/integrity. Tie receptors are up-regulated in tumor-associated endothelium, and their inhibition disrupts angiogenesis and can prevent tumor growth as a consequence. To investigate the potential of anti-gene approaches to inhibit tie gene expression for anti-angiogenic therapy, we have examined triple-helical (triplex) DNA formation at 2 tandem Ets transcription factor binding motifs (designated E-1 and E-2) in the human tie-1 promoter. Various tie-1 promoter deletion/mutation luciferase reporter constructs were generated and transfected into endothelial cells to examine the relative activities of E-1 and E-2. The binding of antiparallel and parallel (control) purine motif oligonucleotides (21-22 bp) targeted to E-1 and E-2 was assessed by plasmid DNA fragment binding and electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Triplex-forming oligonucleotides were incubated with tie-1 reporter constructs and transfected into endothelial cells to determine their activity. The Ets binding motifs in the E-1 sequence were essential for human tie-1 promoter activity in endothelial cells, whereas the deletion of E-2 had no effect. Antiparallel purine motif oligonucleotides targeted at E-1 or E-2 selectively formed strong triplex DNA (K(d) approximately 10(-7) M) at 37 degrees C. Transfection of tie-1 reporter constructs with triplex DNA at E-1, but not E-2, specifically inhibited tie-1 promoter activity by up to 75% compared with control oligonucleotides in endothelial cells. As similar multiple Ets binding sites are important for the regulation of several endothelial-restricted genes, this approach may have broad therapeutic potential for cancer and other pathologies involving endothelial proliferation/dysfunction

Influence of footwear choice, velocity and surfaces on tibial accelerations experienced by field hockey participants during running

Field hockey is a physically demanding sport, exposing participants to potential overuse injuries linked to high levels of impact shock. This study evaluated the influence of footwear, surface and running velocity on impact shock in field hockey participants. Nine elite university male field hockey participants (age 21 ± 1.69 years, height 175.75 ± 6.56 cm and mass 78.13 ± 12.11 kg) volunteered for this study. A skin-mounted accelerometer was used to measure tibial impact shock during forward running at 3.3 and 5.0 m s -1 on concrete and a field hockey-specific synthetic sports surface (SSS), in a range of shoes (n = 5) typically worn by field hockey participants. A significant effect was found for surface and velocity. No significant differences were found between footwear conditions. The study concluded that reducing running velocity and participating in all field hockey activities on a suitable SSS may reduce the occurrence of injuries linked to impact shock in a field hockey population. © 2012 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC