Throwing induces substantial torsional adaptation within the midshaft humerus of male baseball players

Athletes participating in unilateral dominant sports are useful models for investigating skeletal responses to mechanical loading as they provide controlled evidence in the absence of completing a randomized controlled trial. Throwing athletes may be an additional model for this purpose as they overload their dominant upper extremity enabling the contralateral side to act as an internal control and load the bones of the upper extremity purely via the generation of internal (i.e. muscular) forces without superposition of externally applied loads (i.e. impact with an external object). The aim of this study was to investigate upper extremity bone adaptation in throwing athletes and explore factors that predict this adaptation. Two cohorts were recruited—male baseball players (throwers; n = 15) and matched controls (controls; n = 15). Each subject was assessed for shoulder range and strength, and upper extremity bone mass, structure and estimated strength. Throwers had substantially greater skeletal differences between their dominant and nondominant upper extremities than controls, indicating that throwing induces greater adaptation than induced by habitual loading of the dominant upper extremity. Bone adaptation in throwers was localized to the humerus, with the midshaft humerus in the dominant upper extremity of throwers having enhanced bone mass, structure and estimated strength. The largest effect was for estimated strength of the midshaft humerus which had 30% greater polar moment of inertia (I_P) in throwers and suggests adaptation to resist torsional loads. The skeletal effect of throwing at the midshaft humerus was influenced by playing position with pitchers and catchers displaying greater dominant-to-nondominant differences than fielders, and was predicted by years throwing and dominant-to-nondominant difference in upper arm lean cross-sectional area. The latter two variables explained 67% of the variance in dominant-to-nondominant differences in I_P. Collectively, these data indicate that throwing induces substantial adaptation within the midshaft humerus. Adaptation was primarily in the direction of torsion which is consistent with biomechanical and injury data suggesting throwing introduces high magnitude torsional forces. As the magnitude of adaptation in throwers was equivalent to that observed in athletes participating in other unilateral dominant sports, throwers represent an alternative model for investigating the skeletal effects of mechanical loading.     

Tolerance of ocular iontophoresis in healthy volunteers.

To evaluate ocular tolerance, healthy volunteers were iontophoresed transclerally using novel OcuPhor trade mark hydrogel drug delivery applicators filled with balanced salt solution. In this three-period crossover study in 24 male and female subjects, 16 subjects received 0 mA and two of the following DC currents: 0.1, 0.5., 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0 mA for 20 min; 6 subjects received 3 mA for 20 min and 1.5 mA for 40 min (both equivalent to 60 mAmin total charge). Safety and tolerance were determined by subjective VAS and objective ophthalmic assessments. Subjects were evaluated before and up to 22 hr after dosing. The applicators were well-tolerated and no clinically significant changes in symptomology or in ophthalmic assessments were seen following exposure to 0-3.0 mA for 20 min or 1.5 mA for 40 min. At 4.0 mA 2 of 4 subjects reported a burning sensation under the applicator during dosing which resolved by 22 hr post-dose; superficial changes in fluorescein staining were observed at 1 hr, but not at 22 hr. The OcuPhor trade mark system has promise for noninvasive drug delivery to the eye.     

Goldenhar and cri-du-chat syndromes: a contiguous gene deletion syndrome?

We report a full-term male infant born to nonconsanguinous parents who had clinical features of Goldenhar syndrome and cri du chat syndrome. At birth, the infant was noted to have dysmorphic features with bilateral preauricular tags, rotated ears, bilateral epicanthic folds, a left epibulbar lipodermoid, and an accessory left nipple. After he was assessed for feeding difficulty and tachypnea, he was found to have esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula. In addition, he had a high-pitched, cat-like cry, characteristic of cri-du-chat syndrome. He also failed a hearing test. Chromosomal analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridisation studies showed an unbalanced karyotype with a terminal deletion of the segment p14 on the short arm of chromosome 5, which is consistent with the cri-du-chat locus. The association of Goldenhar syndrome and cri-du-chat syndrome in this patient suggests that the chromosome 5p14 locus may harbor a gene implicated with Goldenhar syndrome.     

Parental Communication Not to Smoke and Adolescent Cigarette Smokers' Readiness to Quit: Differences by Age

There is limited information on the relationship between parental practices that specifically discourage current cigarette smoking and adolescent cessation, and how this relationship varies by age. Among 1629 adolescent smokers, self-reported receipt of parental communication not to smoke was significantly and positively associated with readiness to quit. The strength and significance of this association decreased from early to middle adolescence and was not significant in late adolescence.     

Biochemical analysis of human milk treated with sodium dodecyl sulfate, an alkyl sulfate microbicide that inactivates human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

Reduction of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) through human milk is needed. Alkyl sulfates such as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) are microbicidal against HIV-1 at low concentrations, have little to no toxicity, and are inexpensive. The authors have reported that treatment of HIV-1-infected human milk with < or = 1% (10 mg/mL) SDS for 10 minutes inactivates cell-free and cell-associated virus. The SDS can be removed with a commercially available resin after treatment without recovery of viral infectivity. In this article, the authors report results of selective biochemical analyses (ie, protein, immunoglobulins, lipids, cells, and electrolytes) of human milk subjected to SDS treatment and removal. The SDS treatment or removal had no significant effects on the milk components studied. Therefore, the use of alkyl sulfate microbicides to treat milk from HIV-1-positive women may be a simple, practical, and nutritionally sound way to prevent or reduce transmission of HIV-1 while still feeding with mother's own milk.     

Inpatient mortality of hip fracture patients in the Veterans Health Administration.

Hip fractures among elderly people frequently result in permanent disabilities, nursing home placement, and death. The bulk of hip fracture research focuses on elderly women. Within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), the majority of patients are men. There are no published national reports on hip fractures with large male samples, or on related inpatient mortality among veterans. This retrospective study of 13,546 veterans with hip fracture discharges from 1998-2002 found unadjusted mortality rates are higher in the VHA, compared with the general population. VHA patients tend to be older men in poor health who stay in the hospital longer Increased knowledge about the risks and outcomes associated with hip fractures in men could lead to improved primary and secondary injury-prevention programs. Rehabilitation nurses in acute care can be catalysts in proactively incorporating protective devices, screening for osteoporosis, and initiating lifestyle changes in their plans of care to optimize outcomes for hip fracture patients.     

Intrapersonal, Interpersonal, and Contextual Factors in Engaging in and Responding to Extramarital Involvement

Extramarital involvement (EMI) occurs with high prevalence among couples in clinical and community settings, frequently resulting in considerable distress both to participants and their spouses. The field lacks a synthesized review of this literature. Without such a synthesis, it has been difficult for researchers and clinicians to have an understanding of what is and is not known about EMI. This article reviews the large and scattered EMI literature using a framework that encompasses multiple source domains across the temporal process of engaging in and responding to EMI. In addition, this review delineates conceptual and methodological limitations to previous work in this area and articulates directions for further research.