Development of a method to assess alignment of the foot and lower leg

ABSTRACT Ito S, Tomita Y, Tanabe S. Development of a method to assess alignment of the foot and lower leg. Jpn J Compr Rehabil Sci 2013; 4: 80-83. Purpose: Three-dimensional analyses of the foot and lower leg have been restricted to large-scale research facilities, since such analyses require a large experimental area and expensive measurement systems. Therefore, we developed a new threedimensional method of analyzing still pictures using commercially available digital cameras, and applied it to clinical use. Methods: We used three digital cameras. One was set 6 m behind the subject, while the other two were placed at 45 degrees to the right and left sides of the first camera, each the same distance from the subject. We used a plaster model of a lower leg and foot, on which several markers were mounted. The positions of the three-dimensional coordinates of the markers were computed by triangulation from the pictures taken with the three cameras, and the accuracy was verified. Results: The average reading error was 0.6 mm, and the average and maximum repetition errors were 1.3 mm and 1.6 mm, respectively. Comparison with direct evaluation was found to be 2.3% at maximum. These results showed that the method is highly reliable. Conclusion: Although a three-dimensional analysis using this method has the limitation of still picture analysis, it may be useful in many clinical applications because it requires only inexpensive apparatus and a small experimental area

Peri-interventional triple therapy with dabigatran improves vasomotion and promotes endothelialization in porcine coronary stenting model

$\textbf {Objective:}$ We evaluated the short and long-term effect of peri-interventional dabigatran therapy on vasomotion, endothelialization, and neointimal formation in a porcine coronary artery stenting model. $\textbf {Background:}$ Stenting of coronary arteries induces local inflammation, impairs vasomotion and delays endothelialization. $\textbf {Methods:}$ Twenty-eight animals underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with drug eluting stents. Sixteen pigs started dabigatran therapy 4 days prior to PCI and continued for 4 days post-stenting, while 12 animals served as controls. Post-stenting dual antiplatelet therapy (75 mg clopidogrel and 100 mg aspirin) was continued in both groups until termination. Immediately post-stenting and at day 3 optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in all animals, followed by euthanasia of 8 dabigatran and 4 control animals. The remaining pigs (8 of each group) were followed up for 1 month, with control angiography and OCT. Tissue burden (degree of peri-strut structure—thrombus and/or fibrin) was evaluated. After euthanasia coronary arteries were harvested for $\textit {in-vitro}$ myometry and histology. $\textbf {Results:}$ Thrombin generation was lower ($\it p$ < 0.001) and tissue burden (0.83 $\pm$ 0.98 vs. 3.0 $\pm$ 2.45; $\it p$ = 0.031) was significantly decreased in dabigatran treated animals. After 3 days post-PCI endothelium-dependent vasodilation was significantly improved (77 $\pm$ 40% vs. 41 $\pm$ 31%, $\it p$ = 0.02) in dabigatran animals. Neither quantitative angiography nor histomorphometry showed differences between the groups. Endothelialization was faster in the dabigatran group as compared with controls ($\it p$ = 0.045). Conclusion: Short-term peri-interventional triple therapy with dabigatran, aspirin, and clopidogrel led to an enhanced endothelium dependent vasodilation and faster endothelialization. However, neointimal formation 1-month after stent implantation was comparable between groups