Diagnosis and management of skeletal fluorosis in current scenario: a case report

Skeletal fluorosis is a rare form of toxic metabolic disease of bone characterised by increased incorporation of fluoride in bone. Skeletal fluorosis generally occurs in endemic regions where there is increased ingestion of fluorine in water and or food over a long period of time. Fluorosis is a spectrum of disease ranging from dental, non-skeletal fluorosis to skeletal fluorosis. The disease is characterised by typical clinical and radiological features that raise the suspicion towards diagnosis of the disease. Radiographic features are characterized by generalised osteosclerosis and later ossification of ligaments, tendons and interosseous membranes. Skeletal fluorosis can be easily confused with other rheumatologic disorders. People exposed to large amounts of fluoride show dental changes much earlier than the skeletal effects. Management of fluorosis generally focuses on symptomatic treatment

Poland syndrome, a rare congenital disorder with no functional deficit: a case report

Poland syndrome is a rare congenital syndrome. Most of the reported cases are sporadic, pattern of genetic inheritance is not known. It is an anomaly in which there is underdeveloped or absent pectoralis major and minor muscles leading to abnormal appearance of chest on the involved side. Most cases are unilateral with minimal functional abnormality in majority of the cases but with major cosmetic concerns for the patient. Surgery is rarely indicated but if required is done mainly for cosmetic purposes. We report a case of Poland syndrome in a young healthy individual as it started becoming evident

Experimental Study on the Optimum Installation Depth and Dimensions of Roughening Elements on Abutment as Scour Countermeasures

The causes of many bridge failures have been reported to be local scour around abutments. This study examines roughening elements as devices with which to intercept the downflow responsible for the formation of the principal vortex, which is what triggers local scour around abutments. Two vertical wall abutments with different widths were examined under four different hydraulic conditions in a clear-water regime. Elements with different thicknesses (t) and protrusions (P) with the same dimensions, (P = t = 0.05 L, 0.1 L, 0.2 L, and 0.3 L, where L is the length of the abutment) and with varying depths of installation (Z) were considered. Elements were installed in two positions: between the sediment surface and water elevation and buried within the sediment. To determine the optimum depth of installation, one element was first installed on the sediment surface, and the number of elements was increased in each subsequent test. The results show that installing elements between water surface elevation and the sediment’s initial level did not show any defined trend on scour depth reduction. However, the optimum installation depth of the elements is 0.6–0.8 L below the initial bed level. Moreover, the roughening elements with thickness and protrusion of P = t = 0.2 L resulted in the most effective protection of the foundation. The best arrangement, (P = t = 0.2 L and Z = >0.6–0.8 L) reduced the maximum scour depth by up to 30.4% and 32.8% for the abutment with smaller and larger widths, respectively