Age-related trends of lesser pelvic architecture in females and males : A computed tomography pelvimetry study

Publisher Copyright: © 2017. Anatomy & Cell Biology. Copyright: Copyright 2018 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.The pelvis and the spine form a system balancing human skeleton. Within this system, the pelvis adapts to age-related changes in the spine. Previous studies were predominantly focused on changes of pelvic parameters in the sagittal plane. The aim of this study was to reveal age-related changes of lesser pelvic dimensions at different levels of the pelvic cavity in the sagittal and coronal planes and to explore sexual dimorphism in age-related tendencies. The computed tomography pelvimetry was performed on the three-dimensional workstation. The research sample included 211 females aged 18 to 84 years and 181 males aged 18 to 82 years, who underwent an examination at the Riga East University Hospital, Clinical Center "Gailezers," Latvia. Three pelvic angles and transverse and sagittal diameters of the lesser pelvis were measured at four levels: the inlet, two axial planes in the mid-cavity, and the outlet. The results demonstrated that more pronounced age-related changes occurred in the inlet and the outlet of the lesser pelvis. The mid-cavity was less changing. The transverse diameter between acetabular centers and the sagittal diameter at the level of ischial spines were independent of age. In general, the common age-related trends were observed for pelvic parameters in females and males. A single exception was the proportion of diameters at the level of ischial spines, which decreased in males only. For parameters associated with pelvic floor diseases, age-related changes occurred in the direction of pathology.Peer reviewe

The role of the Occupational Court of Latvian Medical Association in the system of legal liability of medical practitioners

The article The Role of the Occupational Court of Latvian Medical Association in the System of Legal Liability of Medical Practitioners describes the system of professional liability of medical practitioners, analyzing in details one of the institutions, which ensures professional liability of doctors and dentists – the Occupational Court of Latvian Medical Association. The article characterizes the position and role of the Occupational Court in the system of legal liability of medical practitioners, researches legal regulation for operations of the Occupational Court, the essence of the Occupational Court proceedings and the legal nature of decisions made in the Occupational Court. The article identifies potential problems in operations of the Occupational Court, making proposals how to eliminate the problems found out. The authors offer to expand the competence of the Occupational Court in the future. The article also touches upon such problematic issues relating to legal liability of medical practitioners as doctor’s errors and medical errors, causality, etc.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Changes in muscular strength based on full cervical flexion

We present our study of influence full cervical flexion position on the changes in muscle strength of the upper extremities. This position is typical for a person working on mobile phone or iPad. The purpose of the study was determination of the connection between change of the head flexed position and changes in upper extremity muscles strength. The present study involved 80 healthy volunteers and was performed at the Department of Morphology in Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia. For measurements we have used the MicroFET2 Hand Held Digital Muscle Tester to determine the strength of the muscles of the hand and arm (M. abductor pollicis longus, M. biceps brachii, M. triceps brachii, M. deltoideus). The results of measurements were then used to analyze the difference in the strength of the muscles innervated by the spinal cord cervical region (C5–C8 nerves) for the same person sitting in the vertical position and sitting with the head flexed maximally. The results of our study support the hypothesis that the changes in the strength of measured muscles are related to the mechanical distension of the spinal cord, which leads to changes in spinal cord’s blood supply. The kyphotic position of the cervical spine during head flexion shows that in the spinal cord segments C5 and C7 are formed mechanical distension. Using our statistical study, we can conclude that there is strong relationship in the strength change in some of the observed muscles between vertical position and full flexion of headpublishersversionPeer reviewe

Well-being and functional abilities in nursing home and home living seniors in Latvia

The society in developed countries is aging. 1.5% of seniors live in nursing homes in Latvia. Aim: to compare functional abilities and wellbeing between nursing home and home living Latvian seniors. Methods: 280 home living seniors and 285 from nursing homes, age ≥ 65 years able to respond to questions and stand up were included in the study based on availability. They were asked to describe their well-being from very bad to very good. The functional abilities were assessed by hand grip strength, the ability to stand up without assistance, the dependence on caregivers (1 – independent, 2 – partly dependent, 3 – fully dependent), the use of walking device assistance devices. Results: The home living seniors could stand up without assistance of hands more often than nursing home residents (60.4% vs. 38.2%, p < 0.001). The handgrip strength was higher in the elderly community-dwelling women (0.3 (0.2–0.3) vs. 0.2 (0.15–0.2) Ba), p < 0.001. The nursing home residents were less often independent (62.8% vs. 83.9%, p < 0.001), more often partly dependent (30.2% vs. 14.6%, p < 0.001) and independent (7.0% vs. 1.4%, p = 0, 001) while performing activities of daily living. The nursing home residents had higher walking device assistance needs (mean rank 345.7 vs. 219.2, p < 0.001) and described their well-being as “good” more often (28.4% vs. 16.8%, p = 0.001) and less often as “bad” or “very bad” (18.9% vs. 26.8%, p = 0.048). Conclusion. The subjective well-being of elderly nurse home residents is better than of home living seniors despite having less functional abilities.publishersversionPeer reviewe

RELIABILITY OF THE DAID SMART SHIRT FOR SHOULDER GIRDLE MOTION ASSESSMENT IN HIGH STRING PLAYERS

Smart garment system is efficient for upper body movement monitoring during simple tasks. There is a lack of literature on smart textile garments being reliable for shoulder girdle motion assessment in advanced motor tasks such as high string performance. The aim of the article was to examine the reliability of the DAid Smart Shirt for Shoulder Girdle Motion Assessment during advanced motor tasks such as high string performance. Methods: 14 volunteer violinists aged 18.6 (SD 2.1) with a body mass index 20.05 (SD 2.3) were recruited. The violinists performed a legato bowing task. The DAid smart shirt worked as the assessment tool: a compression garment with textile strain sensors sewn onto it. Cronbach alpha coefficient, Interclass Correlation Coefficient were calculated to assess the within-session test-retest reliability. Results: An excellent and good result test-retest reliability was assessed in 57% of the violinists, for other 43%, the ICC and Cronbach alpha coefficient was less than 0.59. Conclusion: the DAid Smart shirt is reliable for shoulder girdle motion assessment during high string performance. The smart textile garment should be customized and suitable for the body in order to assess shoulder girdle motion during high level or advanced activities such as high string performance.

Assessment of shoulder girdle elevation motion using daid smart shirt : A reliability and validity study

Funding Information: This research is co-financed by the ESF within the project ?Synthesis of textile surface coating modified in nano-level and energetically independent measurement system integration in smart clothing with functions of medical monitoring?, Project implementation agreement No. 1.1.1.1./16/A/020." Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2019 by SCITEPRESS - Science and Technology Publications, Lda. All rights reserved.Muscle function around the shoulder girdle can be impaired by pain, which leads to abnormal movement e.g. elevation. Movement faults should be assessed specifically, therefore individual sport rehabilitation strategies can be implemented. Smart garments are efficient for upper body movement assessment. There is a lack of literature stating that smart textile garments are reliable and valid for shoulder gridle elevation. The purpose of the study was to examine reliability and validity of the DAid smart shirt during shoulder girdle elevation. Twenty-one female volunteers aged 24.3. (SD3.3), body mass index 19.3 (SD 0.5) were recruited. The DAid smart shirt and 2D movement video analysis software Quintic Biomechanics v26, UK were the assessment tools utilized. Cronbach alpha coefficient and Interclass Correlation Coefficient were calculated to assess the within-session test-retest reliability. Bland - Altman analysis was applied to determine validity. Results: reliability for the right side measures: Cronbach alpha coefficient α ≥ 0.9, ICC ≥ 0.9. Reliability for the left side measures: Cronbach alpha coefficient α ≥ 0.9, ICC ≥ 0.91. Bland-Altman analysis presents that DAid smart shirt measures are valid during shoulder girdle elevation. Conclusion: smart shirt measures are reliable and valid during shoulder girdle elevation movements.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Improving the recovery of patients with subacromial pain syndrome with the daid smart textile shirt

Funding Information: Funding: This work has been supported by the European Regional Development Fund within the Activity 1.1.1.2 “Post‐doctoral Research Aid” of the Specific Aid Objective 1.1.1 “To increase the research and innovative capacity of scientific institutions of Latvia and the ability to attract external financing, investing in human resources and infrastructure” of the Operational Program “Growth and Employment” (No. 1.1.1.2/VIAA/1/16/153). Publisher Copyright: © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Wearable technologies provide many possibilities for applications in medicine, and especially in physiotherapy, where tracking and evaluation of body motion are of utmost importance. Despite the existence of multiple smart garments produced for applications in physiotherapy, there is limited information available on the actual impact of these technologies on the clinical outcomes. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the impact of the Double Aid (DAid) smart shirt, a purely textile‐based system, on the training process of patients with subacromial pain syndrome. A randomized controlled trial was performed where patients with subacromial pain syndrome had to perform the assigned training exercises while employing the DAid smart shirt system. The core point of each exercise was to perform a movement while holding the shoulders stationary. The smart shirt was designed to sense even slight shoulder motion thus providing the patient with feedback on the accuracy of the motion, and allowing the patient to adjust the movement. The appropriate muscles should be strengthened through an increased effort to control the shoulder motion. The recovery of patients using the feedback system at the end of the treatment was compared to that of a reference group through standardized tests—the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score (DASH score), Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability test (CKCUES test), and internal/external rotation ratio. The test group that used the DAid system demonstrated significantly better results of the performed tests for all applied outcome measures compared to the reference group (p <0.001). An overall positive impact on the patient recovery was observed from the DAid smart shirt system when applied for rehabilitation training of patients with subacromial pain syndrome.Peer reviewe

Significant change in muscular strength based on the head and neck position

We present our study of the influence of the head 30 degrees flexion position on the changes in the muscle strength of the upper extremities. This position is typical for a person working in front of a computer.The study involved 100 healthy volunteers and was performed at the Department of Morphology in Riga Stradiņš University, Riga, Latvia. For measurements we have used the MicroFET2 Hand Held Digital Muscle Tester to determine the strength of the muscles of the hand and the arm (M. del-toideus, M. biceps brachii, M. triceps brachii, M. abductor pollicis longus). The results of measurements were then used to analyze the difference in the strength of the muscles innervated by the spinal cord cervical region (C5–C8 nerves)for the same person sitting in the vertical position and sitting with the head flexed at 30°. The results of our study support the hypothesis that the changes in the strength of the measured muscles are related to the mechanical distension of the spinal cord, which leads to changes in spinal cord’s blood supply. The kyphosis position of the cervical spine during head flexion at 30°extent shows that in the spinal cord segments C5, C6 and C7 are form mechanical distension, but the changes in segment C8 were not detectable. Using our statistical study, we can conclude that there is strong relation-ship in the strength change in most of the observed muscles between the vertical position and the flexion of head at 30 degrees.publishersversionPeer reviewe

Growth factors, their receptors, neuropeptide-containing innervation, and matrix metalloproteinases in the proximal and distal ends of the esophagus in children with esophageal atresia

Objective: The pathogenesis of esophageal atresia (EA) remains unknown despite a relatively high incidence of this anomaly in population affecting 1 newborn per 3000 live births. The aim of this study was to examine the relative occurrence of growth factors, their receptors, neuropeptide-containing innervation, and tissue-degradating enzymes - matrix metalloproteinases - in the proximal and distal parts of the esophagus with EA. Materials and Methods: A histopathological study was conducted on 15 patients with EA. Tissues were processed for NGFRp75, PGP 9.5, TGF-β, FGFR, VEGF, EGFR and MMP-2 by means of biotin-streptavidin immunohistochemistry. Results: In the control and EA-affected distal esophageal specimens, numerous and abundant NGFR-containing structures were detected, while in the proximal part of the esophagus, a decrease in their number was observed in patients. PGP 9.5 also marked neuronal structures similarly. TGF-β was found only in occasional cells in the EA-affected esophageal specimens, while control material demonstrated moderate to numerous TGF-β-containing structures. Abundance of FGFR and only occasional appearance of VEGF-positive cells were found in both the control and EA-affected material. A moderate number of connective tissue cells in controls contained EGFR. Compared with controls, the number of MMP-2 expressing cells in the EA-affected tissues was decreased in the proximal esophagus. Conclusions: A decrease in PGP 9.5-containing neuronal structures in the proximal esophagus supports insufficient innervation of this part of the organ in EA. A decrease in MMP-2 positive cells in the esophageal atresia-affected proximal esophagus indicates also a possible decrease of tissue adaptive and regenerative reactions. Low expression of TGF-β and almost the absence of EGFR in the EA-affected specimens may result in disturbances of cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation, indicating a significant role of these substances in morphopathogenesis of EA. FGFR and VEGF seem not to characterize EA pathogenesis.publishersversionPeer reviewe

General influence of biphasic calcium phosphate on osteoporotic bone density

Funding Information: The study was supported by the National Research Programme No. 2014.10-4/VPP-3/21 “Multifunctional Components and composites, photonics and nanotechnology”. Project No. 4 “Nanocomponents and nanotechnologies for medical applications”. Publisher Copyright: © 2019 Vladislavs Ananjevs et al., published by Sciendo 2019. Copyright: Copyright 2019 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Bone density of the femur body of rabbit was determined in vivo. Experimental osteoporosis was induced by ovariectomy and subsequent injections of methylprednisolone. In the greater trochanter region of right femur, defects were created and filled with granules of hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate (HAP/TCP 70/30) or HAP/TCP 70/30 together with 5% strontium. After three months, the animals were euthanized. The bone mass density of the right and left body of femur was measured by cone beam computed tomography (CT) scan. The results of the study showed that the right femur of the rabbit, where biomaterials had been implanted, and the left femur, where no biomaterial implantation occurred, became denser after filling the defect with HAP/TCP 70/30 ceramic granules or 5% Sr modified HAP/TCP ceramic granules. There was no difference between operated and non-operated legs and HAP/TCP and HAP/TCP with 5% strontium groups.publishersversionPeer reviewe