Rupture of the ilio-psoas tendon after a total hip arthroplasty: an unusual cause of radio-lucency of the lesser trochanter simulating a malignancy

Avulsion fracture or progressive radiolucency of lesser trochanter is considered a pathognomic finding in patients with malignancies. Although surgical release of the iliopsoas tendon may be required during a total hip arthroplasty (THA), there is no literature on spontaneous rupture of the ilio-psoas tendon after a THA causing significant functional impairment. We report here such a case, which developed progressive radiolucency of the lesser trochanter over six years after a THA, simulating a malignancy. The diagnosis was confirmed by MRI. Because of the chronic nature of the lesion, gross retraction of the tendon into the pelvis, and low demand of our patient, he was treated by physiotherapy and gait training. Injury to the ilio-psoas tendon can occur in various steps of the THA and extreme care should be taken to avoid this injury. Prevention during surgery is better, although there are no reports of repair in the THA setting. This condition should be considered in patients who present with progressive radioluceny of the lesser trochanter, especially in the setting of a hip/pelvic surgery. Awareness and earlier recognition of the signs and symptoms of this condition will aid in diagnosis and will direct appropriate management

Latitude gradient influences the age of onset of rheumatoid arthritis : a worldwide survey

The age of onset of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an important outcome predictor. Northern countries report an age of RA onset of around 50 years, but apparently, variability exists across different geographical regions. The objective of the present study is to assess whether the age of onset of RA varies across latitudes worldwide. In a proof-of-concept cross-sectional worldwide survey, rheumatologists from preselected cities interviewed 20 consecutive RA patients regarding the date of RA onset (RAO, when the patient first noted a swollen joint). Other studied variables included location of each city, rheumatologist settings, latitudes (10A degrees increments, south to north), longitudes (three regions), intracountry consistency, and countries' Inequality-adjusted Human Development Index (IHDI). Data from 2481 patients (82% females) were obtained from 126 rheumatologists in 77 cities of 41 countries. Worldwide mean age of RAO was 44 +/- 14 years (95% CI 44-45). In 28% of patients, RA began before age 36 years and before age 46 years in 50% of patients. RAO was 8 years earlier around the Tropic of Cancer when compared with northern latitudes (p <0.001, 95% CI 3.5-13). Multivariate analysis showed that females, western cities, and latitudes around the Tropic of Cancer are associated with younger age of RAO (R (2) 0.045, p <0.001). A positive correlation was found between the age of RAO and IHDI (r = 0.7, p <0.01, R (2) 0.5). RA often begins at an early age and onset varies across latitudes worldwide. We postulate that countries' developmental status and their geographical and geomagnetic location influence the age of RAO.Peer reviewe

Thermally induced changes in optical and electrical properties of SnSb

Sulfosalt SnSb2S4 films for optical and electrical applications have been prepared on glass substrates by thermal evaporation and subsequently thermally annealed in vacuum at temperatures from 100 to 200 °C. The optical and structural properties of the films were studied as a function of the annealing temperature. The SnSb2S4 films exhibit a polycrystalline structure and undergo abrupt changes in electrical and optical properties at a transition temperature of 140 °C. After annealing below the transition temperature, the films are highly resistive with a dominant amorphous component, but when annealed above this temperature, the samples exhibit p+-type semiconductor behaviour with a dominant crystalline componen

Interferential polychromatic filters

The reflection properties of one-dimensional generalized Cantor-like multilayer (GCLM) are investigated numerically in the visible range. Strong correlation between the stack geometry and the properties of the optical reflection spectra is found, namely spectral scalability and sequential splitting. The construction of multilayer systems according to the definite Cantor distribution brings improvements to the reflection properties. In particular, the widening of the band gap and the thin peak appearance in the reflection spectra whose number increases with the division number in the (GCLM). Optical properties of (GCLM) inserted between two periodic stacks are numerically investigated. We chose SiO2(L) and TiO2 (H) as two elementary layers. The study configuration is H(LH)5[GCLM]PH(LH)5 which forms an effective interferential filter in the visible spectral range. We show that the number of resonator peaks is dependent on the repetition of the number P of the (GCLM). The best performances are obtained in particular for the symmetrical configurations of the (GCLM) and especially for P an odd number