Measuring hip muscle strength in patients with femoroacetabular impingement and other hip pathologies

$\textbf{Objectives}$ The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature on measurement of muscle strength in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and other pathologies and to suggest guidelines to standardise protocols for future research in the field. $\textbf{Methods}$ The Cochrane and PubMed libraries were searched for any publications using the terms ‘hip’, ‘muscle’, ‘strength’, and ‘measurement’ in the ‘Title, Abstract, Keywords’ field. A further search was performed using the terms ‘femoroacetabular’ or ‘impingement’. The search was limited to recent literature only. $\textbf{Results}$ A total of 29 articles were reviewed to obtain information on a number of variables. These comprised the type of device used for measurement, rater standardisation, the type of movements tested, body positioning and comparative studies of muscle strength in FAI $\textit{versus}$ normal controls. The studies found that hip muscle strength is lower in patients with FAI; this is also true for the asymptomatic hip in patients with FAI. $\textbf{Conclusions}$ Current literature on this subject is limited and examines multiple variables. Our recommendations for achieving reproducible results include stabilising the patient, measuring isometric movements and maximising standardisation by using a single tester and familiarising the participants with the protocol. Further work must be done to demonstrate the reliability of any new testing method

A 60-day probiotic protocol with Dietzia subsp. C79793-74 prevents development of Johne's disease parameters after in utero and/or neonatal MAP infection

The research reported herein was designed to assess whether the bacterium, Dietzia subspecies C79793-74, used as a probiotic, could prevent development of parameters indicative of bovine paratuberculosis after potential in utero, birthing and neonatal (colostrum) exposure to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP). Such exposure avenues are especially relevant for dairy farms practicing good management procedures since calves on these farms could be infected via dams that have yet to be identified as MAP-positive. Indeed, of 18 calves in the present study that became paratuberculosis parameter-positive, five had dams that were negative for all parameters pre-calving. Parameters used herein to define paratuberculosis status were serum ELISA, serum agar gel immunodiffusion, cultureable fecal MAP, histopathology at necropsy and clinical disease. Thirty-four newborn calves whose dams were paratuberculosis-positive were assigned to four different treatment groups. Ten were treated daily for 60 days with viable Dietzia added to their antibiotic-free milk feedings; none became positive for any parameter with age. In contrast, seven of eight calves that were not treated became positive for one or more paratuberculosis-associated parameter. Sixteen calves were treated with viable Dietzia for the first two days of life; eight were then not treated further, whereas the other eight were treated an additional 58 days with Dietzia added to tetracycline-fortified milk (Dietzia is sensitive to tetracycline). In these two groups, positivity developed in five of eight and six of eight, respectively. These results indicated that (a) a daily, 60-day treatment with viable Dietzia effectively prevented development of parameters indicative of paratuberculosis and (b) this treatment, in combination with good management practices, has the potential to eradicate MAP from animals/herds, which should curtail the spread of MAP. Such results should significantly reduce human exposure to MAP, which in turn, could have relevance for the controversial role of MAP in Crohn's disease, type-1 diabetes mellitus, sarcoidosis, Blau syndrome, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome and multiple sclerosis

Test-retest reliability of hand-held dynamometry and functional tests in systemic lupus erythematosus

The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability and determine the degree of measurement error of tests of isometric muscle strength and upper and lower limb function in women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Twelve women with SLE (age 39.8?῱0?years) were assessed on two occasions separated by a 7-10-day interval. Strength of six muscle groups was measured using a hand-held dynamometer; function was measured by the 30-s sit to stand test and the 30-s 1?kg arm lift. Relative reliability was estimated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), model 2,1 (ICC2,1). Absolute reliability was estimated using standard error measurement and the minimal detectable difference was calculated. All ICCs were greater than 0.87. Muscle strength would need to increase by between 18% and 39% in women with SLE to be 95% confident of detecting real changes. The functional tests demonstrated a systematic bias between trials. This study demonstrates that hand-held dynamometry in SLE can be performed with excellent reliability. Further work needs to be completed to determine the number of trials necessary for both the 30-s sit to stand and 30-s 1?kg arm lift to decrease the systematic bias.No Full Tex

The left anterior descending artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva: A case report

Coronary artery anomalies occur in less than 1% of patients who undergo coronary angiography and they account for 1% to 2% of all cases of congenita heart disease. The most commonly encountered anomaly, the circumflex artery originating from the right coronary artery or the right sinus of Valsalva, is usually well tolerated. The patient in the case presented here was found to have a left anterior descending artery arising from the right sinus of Valsalva - a situation that is very rarely encountered

Purchasing power parity and cultural convergence: evidence from the global video games market

Purchasing power parity, Video games, Cultural convergence, Z10, F31,