8,394 research outputs found
Finite-element modelling of mechanobiological factors influencing sesamoid tissue morphology in the patellar tendon of an ostrich
The appearance and shape of sesamoid bones within a tendon or ligament wrapping around a joint are understood to be influenced by both genetic and epigenetic factors. Ostriches (Struthio camelus) possess two sesamoid patellae (kneecaps), one of which (the distal patella) is unique to their lineage, making them a good model for investigating sesamoid tissue development and evolution. Here we used finite-element modelling to test the hypothesis that specific mechanical cues in the ostrich patellar tendon favour the formation of multiple patellae. Using three-dimensional models that allow application of loading conditions in which all muscles, or only distal or only proximal muscles to be activated, we found that there were multiple regions within the tendon where transformation from soft tissue to fibrocartilage was favourable and therefore a potential for multiple patellae based solely upon mechanical stimuli. While more studies are needed to better understand universal mechanobiological principles as well as full developmental processes, our findings suggest that a tissue differentiation algorithm using shear strain and compressive strain as inputs may be a roughly effective predictor of the tissue differentiation required for sesamoid development
Gravitational Collapse of Self-Similar and Shear-free Fluid with Heat Flow
A class of solutions to Einstein field equations is studied, which represents
gravitational collapse of thick spherical shells made of self-similar and
shear-free fluid with heat flow. It is shown that such shells satisfy all the
energy conditions, and the corresponding collapse always forms naked
singularities.Comment: 34 pages, 9 figures, late
Perturbed Self-Similar Massless Scalar Field in the Spacetimes with Circular Symmetry in 2+1 Gravity
We present in this work the study of the linear perturbations of the
2+1-dimensional circularly symmetric solution, obtained in a previous work,
with kinematic self-similarity of the second kind. We have obtained an exact
solution for the perturbation equations and the possible perturbation modes. We
have shown that the background solution is a stable solution.Comment: no figure
Knowledge and information needs of informal caregivers in palliative care : a qualitative systematic review
Objectives: To review current understanding of the knowledge and information needs
of informal caregivers in palliative settings. Data sources: Seven electronic databases
were searched for the period January 1994–November 2006: Medline, CINAHL, PsychINFO,
Embase, Ovid, Zetoc and Pubmed using a meta-search engine (Metalib®).
Key journals and reference lists of selected papers were hand searched. Review methods:
Included studies were peer-reviewed journal articles presenting original research.
Given a variety of approaches to palliative care research, a validated systematic review
methodology for assessing disparate evidence was used in order to assign scores to
different aspects of each study (introduction and aims, method and data, sampling,
data analysis, ethics and bias, findings/results, transferability/generalizability, implications
and usefulness). Analysis was assisted by abstraction of key details of study into
a table. Results: Thirty-four studies were included from eight different countries. The
evidence was strongest in relation to pain management, where inadequacies in caregiver
knowledge and the importance of education were emphasized. The significance
of effective communication and information sharing between patient, caregiver and
service provider was also emphasized. The evidence for other caregiver knowledge
and information needs, for example in relation to welfare and social support was
weaker. There was limited literature on non-cancer conditions and the care-giving
information needs of black and minority ethnic populations. Overall, the evidence
base was predominantly descriptive and dominated by small-scale studies, limiting
generalizability. Conclusions: As palliative care shifts into patients’ homes, a more rigorously
researched evidence base devoted to understanding caregivers knowledge
and information needs is required. Research design needs to move beyond the current
focus on dyads to incorporate the complex, three-way interactions between patients,
service providers and caregivers in end-of-life care setting
Public experiences of mass casualty decontamination
In this article, we analyze feedback from simulated casualties who took part in field exercises involving mass decontamination, to gain an understanding of how responder communication can affect people’s experiences of and compliance with decontamination. We analyzed questionnaire data gathered from 402 volunteers using the framework approach, to provide an insight into the public’s experiences of decontamination and how these experiences are shaped by the actions of emergency responders. Factors that affected casualties’ experiences of the econtamination process included the need for greater practical information and better communication from responders, and the need for privacy. Results support previous findings from small-scale incidents that involved decontamination in showing that participants wanted better communication from responders during the process of decontamination, including more practical information, and that the failure of responders to communicate effectively with members of the public led to anxiety about the decontamination process. The similarity between the findings from the exercises described in this article and previous research into real
incidents involving decontamination suggests that field exercises provide a useful way to examine the effect of responder communication strategies on the public’s experiences of decontamination. Future exercises should examine in more detail the effect of various communication strategies on the public’s experiences of decontamination. This will facilitate the development of evidence-based communication strategies intended to reduce anxiety about decontamination and increase compliance among members of the public during real-life incidents that involve mass decontamination
PMH15 BURDEN OF ILLNESS AMONG PATIENTS WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN A COMMERCIALLY-INSURED POPULATION
Associations between types and sources of dietary carbohydrates and liver fat: a UK Biobank study
Background and aims: Excess energy intake can lead to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), but the relationship between dietary carbohydrate intake and liver fat content remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the associations between types and sources of dietary carbohydrates and liver fat content.
Methods: UK Biobank participants with no pre-existing diabetes, liver disease or cardiovascular disease reported dietary intake of types and sources of carbohydrates (total carbohydrates, free sugars, non-free sugars, starch from whole grains, starch from refined grains, and fibre) on at least two 24-h dietary assessments. In cross-sectional analyses, (n = 22,973), odds ratios (OR) of high liver fat content (defined as a score of ≥ 36 in the hepatic steatosis index) by quintiles of carbohydrate intakes were estimated using multivariable logistic regression models. In prospective analyses, a second sample (n = 9268) had liver proton density fat fraction (PDFF) measured by magnetic resonance imaging (2014–2020). Multivariable linear regression models estimated geometric means of PDFF (%) by quintiles of carbohydrate intakes. Models were adjusted for demographic and lifestyle confounders, including total energy intake.
Results: In the cross-sectional analyses, 6894 cases of high liver fat content were identified. Inverse associations between intakes of fibre (OR of highest vs. lowest quintile 0.46 [95% CI: 0.41–0.52]), non-free sugars (0.63 [0.57–0.70]) and starch from whole grains (0.52 [0.47–0.57]) with liver fat were observed. There were positive associations between starch from refined grains and liver fat (1.33 [1.21–1.46]), but no association with free sugars (p=0.61). In prospective analyses, inverse associations with PDFF (%) were observed for intakes of fibre (− 0.48 geometric mean difference between highest and lowest quintile of intake [− 0.60 to − 0.35]), non-free sugars (− 0.37 [− 0.49 to − 0.25]) and starch from whole grains (− 0.31 [− 0.42 to − 0.19]). Free sugars, but not starch from refined grains, were positively associated with PDFF (0.17 [0.05 to 0.28]).
Conclusion: This study suggests that different carbohydrate types and sources have varying associations with liver fat, which may be important for MASLD prevention. Non-free sugars, fibre, and starch from whole grains could be protective, while associations with free sugars and starch from refined grains are less clear
Synergism between Medihoney and Rifampicin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Skin and chronic wound infections caused by highly antibiotic resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are an increasing and urgent health problem worldwide, particularly with sharp increases in obesity and diabetes. New Zealand manuka honey has potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, has been shown to inhibit the growth of MRSA strains, and bacteria resistant to this honey have not been obtainable in the laboratory. Combinational treatment of chronic wounds with manuka honey and common antibiotics may offer a wide range of advantages including synergistic enhancement of the antibacterial activity, reduction of the effective dose of the antibiotic, and reduction of the risk of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Medihoney in combination with the widely used antibiotic rifampicin on S. aureus. Using checkerboard microdilution assays, time-kill curve experiments and agar diffusion assays, we show a synergism between Medihoney and rifampicin against MRSA and clinical isolates of S. aureus. Furthermore, the Medihoney/rifampicin combination stopped the appearance of rifampicin-resistant S. aureus in vitro. Methylglyoxal (MGO), believed to be the major antibacterial compound in manuka honey, did not act synergistically with rifampicin and is therefore not the sole factor responsible for the synergistic effect of manuka honey with rifampicin. Our findings support the idea that a combination of honey and antibiotics may be an effective new antimicrobial therapy for chronic wound infections. © 2013 Müller et al
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