Activiteit

To investigate the reliability of durometry in systemic sclerosis (SSc), by means of a systematic review and additional pilot study.

Literature was systematically reviewed according to the PRISMA guidelines to identify all original studies assessing the reliability of durometry in SSc. Additionally, in the pilot study, intra-rater reliability was evaluated in a first cohort of 74 SSc patients (61 female, 13 LSSc/53 LcSSc/8 DcSSc). In a second separate set of 30 SSc patients (21 female, 4 LSSc/20 LcSSc/6 DcSSc), intra- and inter-rater reliability were evaluated.

Only two unique records identified through the systematic review were qualified to generate conclusions. Regarding intra-rater reliability, Kissin reported excellent intra-class correlation coefficient values (ICC, 0.86-0.94) for measurements at nine skin sites in two DcSSc patients. Merkel and Kissin described, both in five DcSSc patients, good to excellent inter-rater reliability (ICC, 0.82-0.96 and 0.61-0.85) for measurements at respectively, six and nine skin sites. In our pilot study, ICC for intra-rater reliability at 17 standardized skin sites were excellent in both cohorts, ranging 0.93-0.99 and 0.78-0.98, respectively. ICC for inter-rater reliability at 17 standardized skin sites were good to excellent 0.63-0.93, except for the feet (0.48 and 0.52).

The preliminary findings in the literature are supported by our pilot study in which we have attested the reliability of durometry in SSc patients. However, prior to including durometry as an (additional) outcome measure in SSc clinical trials, its validation status in the assessment of skin fibrosis needs to be completely attested.

The preliminary findings in the literature are supported by our pilot study in which we have attested the reliability of durometry in SSc patients. However, prior to including durometry as an (additional) outcome measure in SSc clinical trials, its validation status in the assessment of skin fibrosis needs to be completely attested.

To describe the proportion of national health surveys that contained questions on the prevalence and consequences of musculoskeletal conditions.

We used a comprehensive search strategy to obtain national health surveys from the 218 countries listed by the World Bank. Two authors independently extracted information from each national health survey. Outcomes were the proportion of surveys that (i) contained questions on the prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions using the Global Burden of Disease categorisation of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, low back pain, neck pain, gout and other; (ii) contained condition-specific questions about activity limitation, severity of pain, and work absence. We also measured how frequently prevalence of low back pain was measured using a consensus-based standard definition for low back pain prevalence studies.

We identified national health surveys from 170 countries. Sixty-two (36.4%), the majority from high-income countries (N = 43), measured prevalence of at least one musculoskeletal condition. Osteoarthritis (53, 85.4%), low back pain (39, 62.9%) and neck pain (37, 59.7%) were the most commonly measured, while rheumatoid arthritis and gout prevalence were only measured in 10 (5.9%) and 3 (1.8%) surveys, respectively. A minority of surveys assessed condition-specific activity limitation (6, 3.6%), pain severity (5, 2.9%) and work absence (1, 0.6%). Only one survey used the consensus-based standard definition for low back pain.

Musculoskeletal conditions are being neglected in the majority of national health surveys. Monitoring musculoskeletal conditions through ongoing surveys is crucial for the development and evaluation of health policies to reduce their burden.

Musculoskeletal conditions are being neglected in the majority of national health surveys. Monitoring musculoskeletal conditions through ongoing surveys is crucial for the development and evaluation of health policies to reduce their burden.Pedigree information is often missing for some animals in a breeding program. Unknown-parent groups (UPGs) are assigned to the missing parents to avoid biased genetic evaluations. Although the use of UPGs is well established for the pedigree model, it is unclear how UPGs are integrated into the inverse of the unified relationship matrix (H-inverse) required for single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction. A generalization of the UPG model is the metafounder (MF) model. The objectives of this study were to derive 3 H-inverses and to compare genetic trends among models with UPG and MF H-inverses using a simulated purebred population. All inverses were derived using the joint density function of the random breeding values and genetic groups. The breeding values of genotyped animals (u2) were assumed to be adjusted for UPG effects (g) using matrix Q2 as u2∗=u2+Q2g before incorporating genomic information. The Quaas-Pollak-transformed (QP) H-inverse was derived using a joint density function of u2∗ and g uic trends, the EUPG and MF H-inverses are to be preferred because of theoretical justification and possibility to reduce biases.While using a prosthesis, transtibial amputees can experience pain and discomfort brought on by large pressure gradients at the interface between the residual limb and the prosthetic socket. Current prosthetic interface solutions attempt to alleviate these pressure gradients using soft homogenous liners to reduce and distribute pressures. This research investigates an additively manufactured metamaterial inlay with a tailored mechanical response to reduce peak pressure gradients around the limb. CC90001 The inlay uses a hyperelastic behaving metamaterial (US10244818) comprised of triangular pattern unit cells, 3D printed with walls of various thicknesses controlled by draft angles. The hyperelastic material properties are modeled using a Yeoh third-order model. The third-order coefficients can be adjusted and optimized, which corresponds to a change in the unit cell wall thickness to create an inlay that can meet the unique offloading needs of an amputee. Finite element analysis simulations evaluated the pressure gradient reduction from (1) a standard homogenous silicone liner, (2) a prosthetist’s inlay prescription that utilizes three variations of the metamaterial, and (3) a metamaterial solution with optimized Yeoh third-order coefficients.