Injury Patterns Research Articles

Detection of Dominant Rainfall Patterns in Indonesian Regions Using Empirical Orthogonal Function (EOF) and Its Relation with ENSO and IOD Events

Several studies indicate that Indonesia’s position on the equator, where winds from the northern and southern hemispheres converge, leads to year-round rainfall in Indonesia. Previous studies have also shown the presence of monsoon winds over Indonesia, which causes rain in Indonesia to follow the Asian and Australian monsoon wind patterns. Recently, variations in rainfall patterns and intensity in Indonesia have been highly volatile and difficult to predict. This study uses gridded data analysis of ocean-atmospheric rainfall for 69 years (1948–2016) to detect monsoonal, equatorial, and local signals and relate them to ENSO and IOD events. Rainfall analysis reveals that the first mode accounts for 38.57%, the second 13.92%, and the third 8.93% of the total variance. These results show that these variants are very variable, both in space and time. Monsoonal patterns were detected in the southern region of Indonesia, equatorial patterns in northern Sumatra and western Kalimantan, while local patterns were detected in Maluku and the Maluku Islands. Furthermore, the monsoonal and local rainfall patterns are strongly correlated (> 0.85) with local SST, but the equatorial rainfall pattern is weakly correlated (< 0.5) with local SST. Note that the equatorial pattern is associated with the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) phase. The varied vector correlation map illustrates the asymmetric fluctuations in sea surface temperature and the simultaneous existence of winds coming from the west from the Indian Ocean and winds coming from the east from the Pacific Ocean during the period of heavy precipitation.

Effects of Storm‐Time Winds on Ionospheric Pre‐Midnight Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Over South America as Observed by ICON and GOLD

AbstractThis study uses satellite measurements of plasma densities and thermospheric winds to analyze the effects of the November 2021 geomagnetic storm on ionospheric pre‐midnight topside plasma bubbles over South America. Using observations from the Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) and the Global‐scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) satellites, we find that pre‐midnight topside plasma bubbles were inhibited over eastern South America during the recovery phase of the storm. This is particularly notable because of the otherwise high occurrence rate of plasma bubbles at these longitudes during this season. This inhibition coincided with the recovery phase of the geomagnetic storm, marked by a northward turning of the z‐component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMFBz) and quiet‐time values of the SuperMAG Auroral Electrojet Index (SME). We observed a westward turning of the zonal wind before the bubble inhibition, so we conclude the inhibition of topside plasma bubbles is likely related to a westward disturbance dynamo electric field (DDEF) causing a downward drift and suppress the growth of the instability responsible for bubble development. Contrary to theoretical predictions, we do not observe notable changes to the meridional wind during the event. These results provide new insights into the ionosphere‐thermosphere system's response to geomagnetic storms and highlight the role of wind patterns in inhibiting ionospheric irregularities, contributing to better predictive models for these phenomena.

Controlled airflow fluctuations for improved performance of mist cooling systems: Enhanced evaporation and thermal comfort

Rising global temperatures and resulting heat stress on people necessitate sustainable outdoor cooling solutions. Mist cooling offers promise, and this work proposes a novel approach: incorporating fluctuating airflows into misting systems. We hypothesize that mist-cooled fluctuating airflows could provide more efficient outdoor cooling for people, for two reasons: 1) Increased turbulence and mixing promoting higher water evaporation rates; 2) dynamic airflow leveraging transient thermal perception for improved comfort.Wind tunnel experiments and numerical simulations support this hypothesis, revealing that fluctuating flow, compared to constant flow with the same average velocity, enhances evaporation. Lower frequencies, higher amplitudes, and profiles with steeper gradients led to higher evaporation rates. These findings assume an idealized domain, excluding natural wind patterns. Furthermore, predictions confirmed that fluctuating flows consistently provide superior thermal comfort compared to constant flows. Fluctuating airflow with misting achieved equivalent comfort at 38% lower energy consumption compared to fluctuating flow without misting and 81% lower compared to constant flow with misting. The proposed technology has the potential to improve outdoor comfort and decrease resource consumption. It is scalable, not complex, and can be implemented into existing systems, though it may face challenges such as increased wear on fan components.

On the use of kolmogorov–arnold networks for adapting wind numerical weather forecasts with explainability and interpretability: application to madeira international airport

Abstract This study examines the application of machine learning to enhance wind nowcasting by using a Kolmogorov-Arnold Network model to improve predictions from the Global Forecast System at Madeira International Airport, a site affected by complex terrain. The research addresses the limitations of traditional numerical weather prediction models, which often fail to accurately forecast localized wind patterns. Using the Kolmogorov-Arnold Network model led to a substantial reduction in wind speed and direction forecast errors, with a performance that reached a 48.5% improvement to the Global Forecast System 3 h nowcast, considering the mean squared error. A key outcome of this study comes from the model’s ability to generate mathematical formulas that provide insights into the physical and mathematical dynamics influencing local wind patterns and improve the transparency, explainability, and interpretability of the employed machine learning models for atmosphere modeling.

Size distribution, sources and chemistry of ultrafine particles at Barcelona-El Prat Airport, Spain

The rapid expansion of the aviation sector raises concerns about air quality impacts within and around airports. Ultrafine particles (UFP, diameter < 100 nm) are of particular concern due to their potential adverse health effects. In this study, particle number concentrations (PNC), particle number size distribution (PNSD), and other ancillary pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOX), black carbon (BC), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO) and benzene, as well as organic markers and trace elements (in quasi-UFP) were measured at Barcelona-El Prat Airport (80 m and 250 m from the main taxiway and runway). Comparisons were made with an urban background (UB) location, and source apportionment of PNSD was performed using Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF). PNC inside the airport was nine-fold higher than the UB, and fifteen-fold higher when considering only nucleation mode particles (< 25 nm). Six sources contributing to PNC were identified inside the airport: Taxiing (48.7 %; mode diameter = 17 nm), Industrial/Shipping (7.4 %; mode diameter = 35 nm), Diesel (3.9 %; mode diameter = 64 nm), Regional recirculation (1.1 %; mode diameter = 100 nm), Photonucleation (16.6 %; mode diameter = 13 nm) and Takeoff (18.5 %; mode diameter = 23 nm). Due to the measurement location and prevailing wind patterns, no significant contributions from landings were detected. Chemical analysis of quasi-UFP collected on Electrical Low-Pressure Impactor (ELPI + ) filters (stages 2 to 6: 17–165 nm) revealed higher concentrations (> 2-fold) of Fe, Al, Cr, Cu, Mo, Mn, Pb, Ti, and Sb at the airport compared to the UB, with Al exhibiting the most pronounced disparity. Generally, PAH levels were low at both sites, although concentrations were higher at the airport relative to the UB. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of UFP within a major European airport, identifying the different sources contributing to PNC and PNSD.

Differences in the impact of intense ENSO+ in Bahia Magdalena (SW of Baja California, Mexico) in the context of climate change

The Bahia Magdalena-Bahia Almejas (BM-BA) complex is the largest coastal lagoon system in the Mexican Pacific; it is in a transitional zone between temperate and tropical regions. BM-BA has a high biodiversity and is an important source of fishing resources; however, its productivity diminishes during ENSO+ events. This work aimed to compare the impact of the three most intense ENSOs (1982-1983, 1997-1998, and 2015-2016) on their environmental and biological characteristics in the context of global warming. Since 1970, this region has been warming, and the chlorophyll-a is diminishing; however, short-term environmental variations associated with basin-scale processes have modified these trends. The comparison showed that the equatorial influence on the 1997-1998 ENSO was more evident, while the North Pacific conditions and other large-scale environmental processes influenced the other ENSOs: in 1982-1983, the warm signal continued after the ENSO+ ended, and in 2015-2016, it was present before the ENSO+ onset due to the MWH The Blob and probably global warming. High temperatures at the basin scale altered large-scale wind patterns, weakening local upwelling and diminishing the nutrient input. The Equatorial and North Pacific influence on BM varies over time (as expected in a transition zone like BM); however, in recent years, North Pacific warming associated with climate change has probably gained relevance and modulated the effect of ENSO+.

Atlanto-occipital Dissociation: A Review on Epidemiology, Recognition and Diagnosis, Management Options, Outcomes, and Future Directions.

Atlanto-occipital dissociation (AOD) is an extremely common injury but often fatal. In a systematic review from 2010, AODs were present in almost 20% of blunt trauma fatalities. It is an injury many patients do not survive; therefore, few are treated, even at high volume trauma centers. In survivors, his injury is often missed or the diagnosis is often delayed. Mortality rates commonly reach beyond 60% when injury patterns go unrecognized. Approximately 50% of patients with AOD sustain blunt cerebrovascular injury and nearly 20% of patients present with traumatic brain injury (TBI) or stroke. This pathology was once considered uniformly fatal. However, over the last 20 years, significant advancements have been made both clinically and radiographically, to better identify and manage this injury pattern. Despite improvements in clinical comprehension and improved time to diagnosis, less than 75% of cases are currently recognized within 24 hours. Less than 40% of patients who suffer AOD are independent with functionality, without neurological impairment. This article reviews current literature regarding AOD in hopes to improve timing to diagnosis, subsequent prognosis, timing to fixation or stabilization, and postoperative recovery.

Clinical characteristics and visual outcomes of animal-induced ocular injuries: a prospective multicenter study in Iran.

Animal-induced ocular injuries represent an under-documented health problem that may pose significant visual complications. This study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of ocular injuries caused by animals. This multicenter prospective study enrolled patients with a history of animal-induced ocular injuries presenting to the ophthalmology departments of two tertiary hospitals over a one-year period. All participants underwent comprehensive assessments by ophthalmologists, and the following data were collected: demographic information, animal species involved, injury details, pre- and post-treatment visual data, management strategies, and follow-up outcomes. Seventy-two patients (62.5% male) were included in the study. Insects were the most common species, causing 37.5% of ocular injuries. The type of animal involved was significantly associated with injury patterns (p < 0.0001), visual impairments at presentation (p < 0.05), and need for surgery (p < 0.001). Insects predominantly caused periorbital soft tissue injuries; birds primarily affected the anterior segment; dogs and cats mainly led to adnexal injuries; and equines often involved both anterior and posterior segments. Equine-related injuries resulted in the most severe visual impairments, requiring surgical interventions in all cases. At the same time, the majority of cases involved with other animal species experienced no visual impairment. The number of patients without visual impairment increased from 46 cases (63.9%) at the time of presentation to 58 (80.6%) at discharge after treatment. At follow-up, eight patients (11.1%) experienced complications, including traumatic cataract (n = 6, 8.3%), endophthalmitis (n = 3, 4.2%), corneal scarring (n = 1, 1.4%), and retinal detachment (n = 1, 1.4%). Rooster pecking was the leading cause of complications, including endophthalmitis and traumatic cataract. This study revealed that depending on the type of animal causing the injury, animal-induced ocular injuries present with diverse characteristics, requiring appropriate treatment approaches and potentially resulting in different outcomes. These findings may promote public awareness and improve preventive strategies and clinical guidelines development.

Enhancing Performance of the National Field Triage Guidelines Using Machine Learning: Development of a Prehospital Triage Model to Predict Severe Trauma.

Prehospital trauma triage is essential to get the right patient to the right hospital. However, the national field triage guidelines proposed by the American College of Surgeons have proven to be relatively insensitive when identifying severe traumas. This study aimed to build a prehospital triage model to predict severe trauma and enhance the performance of the national field triage guidelines. This was a multisite prediction study, and the data were extracted from the National Trauma Data Bank between 2017 and 2019. All patients with injury, aged 16 years of age or older, and transported by ambulance from the injury scene to any trauma center were potentially eligible. The data were divided into training, internal, and external validation sets of 672,309; 288,134; and 508,703 patients, respectively. As the national field triage guidelines recommended, age, 7 vital signs, and 8 injury patterns at the prehospital stage were included as candidate variables for model development. Outcomes were severe trauma with an Injured Severity Score ≥16 (primary) and critical resource use within 24 hours of emergency department arrival (secondary). The triage model was developed using an extreme gradient boosting model and Shapley additive explanation analysis. The model's accuracy regarding discrimination, calibration, and clinical benefit was assessed. At a fixed specificity of 0.5, the model showed a sensitivity of 0.799 (95% CI 0.797-0.801), an undertriage rate of 0.080 (95% CI 0.079-0.081), and an overtriage rate of 0.743 (95% CI 0.742-0.743) for predicting severe trauma. The model showed a sensitivity of 0.774 (95% CI 0.772-0.776), an undertriage rate of 0.158 (95% CI 0.157-0.159), and an overtriage rate of 0.609 (95% CI 0.608-0.609) when predicting critical resource use, fixed at 0.5 specificity. The triage model's areas under the curve were 0.755 (95% CI 0.753-0.757) for severe trauma prediction and 0.736 (95% CI 0.734-0.737) for critical resource use prediction. The triage model's performance was better than those of the Glasgow Coma Score, Prehospital Index, revised trauma score, and the 2011 national field triage guidelines RED criteria. The model's performance was consistent in the 2 validation sets. The prehospital triage model is promising for predicting severe trauma and achieving an undertriage rate of <10%. Moreover, machine learning enhances the performance of field triage guidelines.

Injury Patterns and Contributing Factors in Two-Wheeler Road Traffic Accidents: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu

Injury Patterns and Contributing Factors in Two-Wheeler Road Traffic Accidents: A Cross-Sectional Analysis from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Chengalpattu District, Tamil Nadu

Injury surveillance in Spanish professional female soccer players: A three-season retrospective study

IntroductionDespite the popularity of soccer at the male elite level, data on the incidence of injuries in female players are limited. The study aimed to evaluate the injury incidence and rates in female soccer players in a professional setting over 3 consecutive seasons. MethodsData compiled from 71 elite female players with different playing positions and belonging to the same team were analyzed. The location and severity of injuries were reported according to international consensus statements on the process of conducting epidemiological studies in professional soccer. The injury incidence rate (IIR) for matches and practices and the rate ratio (RR) were calculated, and time-loss injuries during the season were also recorded. ResultsA total of 53 injuries were documented, with an overall IIR of 1.08 injuries per 1000 h and an overall rate ratio of 0.61. The lower limbs were the most affected region (86,8 %). The majority of these injuries occurred around the thigh and knee and were predominantly traumatic, with markedly higher rates of injury during match play (2.78 injuries per 1000 h) when compared to injury incidence during training (0.79 injuries per 1000 h). Traumatic injuries accounted for 48 (91 %) and 24 (45,3 %) were indirect contact injuries. Reinjuries amounted to 15 % of total injuries and August was the predominant month for injury, being goalkeepers the least injured players (13.2 %). ConclusionsFemale professional soccer players displayed injury incidence rates and patterns comparable to those of male players. This study provides epidemiological information that will help to inform future injury surveillance studies and the development of prevention strategies to reduce the number of injuries in elite female soccer players, focusing specifically on thigh and knee regions. All match involvements should be considered when exploring associations between the type of exposure and injury risk.

High-dimensional proteomic analysis for pathophysiological classification of traumatic brain injury.

Pathophysiology and outcomes after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) are complex and heterogenous. Current classifications are uninformative about pathophysiology. Proteomic approaches with fluid-based biomarkers are ideal for exploring complex disease mechanisms, as they enable sensitive assessment of an expansive range of processes potentially relevant to TBI pathophysiology. We used novel high-dimensional, multiplex proteomic assays to assess altered plasma protein expression in acute TBI. We analysed samples from 88 participants from the BIO-AX-TBI cohort (n=38 moderate-severe TBI [Mayo Criteria], n=22 non-TBI trauma, n=28 non-injured controls) on two platforms: Alamar NULISA™ CNS Diseases and OLINK® Target 96 Inflammation. Patient participants were enrolled after hospital admission, and samples taken at a single timepoint up to 10 days post-injury. Participants also had neurofilament light, GFAP, total tau, UCH-L1 (all Simoa®) and S100B (Millipore) data. The Alamar panel assesses 120 proteins, most of which were previously unexplored in TBI, plus proteins with known TBI-specificity, such as GFAP. A subset (n=29 TBI, n=24 non-injured controls) also had subacute (10 days to 6 weeks post-injury) 3T MRI measures of lesion volume and white matter injury (fractional anisotropy). Differential Expression analysis identified 16 proteins with TBI-specific significantly different plasma expression. These were neuronal markers (calbindin2, UCH-L1, visinin-like protein1), astroglial markers (S100B, GFAP), neurodegenerative disease proteins (total tau, pTau231, PSEN1, amyloid-beta-42, 14-3-3γ), inflammatory cytokines (IL16, CCL2, ficolin2), cell signalling (SFRP1), cell metabolism (MDH1) and autophagy related (sequestome1) proteins. Acute plasma levels of UCH-L1, PSEN1, total tau and pTau231 correlated with subacute lesion volume. Sequestome1 was positively correlated, whilst CLL2 was inversely correlated, with white matter fractional anisotropy. Neuronal, astroglial, tau and neurodegenerative proteins correlated with each other, IL16, MDH1 and sequestome1. Exploratory clustering (k means) by acute protein expression identified 3 TBI subgroups that differed in injury patterns, but not age or outcome. One TBI cluster had significantly lower white matter fractional anisotropy than control-predominant clusters, but had significantly lower lesion subacute lesions volumes than another TBI cluster. Proteins that overlapped on two platforms had excellent (r>0.8) correlations between values. We identified TBI-specific changes in acute plasma levels of proteins involved in neurodegenerative disease, inflammatory and cellular processes. These changes were related to patterns of injury, thus demonstrating that processes previously only studied in animal models are also relevant in human TBI pathophysiology. Our study highlights how proteomic approaches might improve classification and understanding of TBI pathophysiology, with implications for prognostication and treatment development.

Sagittal Fragment Rotation and Ogden Type-I Classification Are Hallmarks of Combined Tibial Tubercle Fracture and Patellar Tendon Injury.

Tibial tubercle fractures (TTFs) are uncommon injuries, comprising <3% of all proximal tibial fractures. These fractures occasionally occur in conjunction with a patellar tendon injury (PTI). We aimed to identify risk factors associated with combined TTF and PTI. A retrospective review was performed of patients presenting to a single, tertiary children's hospital with TTF between 2012 and 2023. Demographic data, operative details, radiographs, and injury patterns were analyzed. Radiographs were assessed for the epiphyseal union stage (EUS), Ogden classification, and fracture patterns. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of body mass index, comminution, fracture fragment rotation, EUS, bilateral injury, and Ogden classification on injury type. We identified 262 fractures in 252 patients (mean age, 13.9 ± 1.31 years). Of the patients, 6% were female and 48% were Black. Of the 262 fractures, 228 (87%) were isolated TTFs and 34 (13%) were TTFs with PTI. Multivariable analysis demonstrated fragment rotation on lateral radiographs (p < 0.0001) and Ogden Type-I classification (p < 0.0001) to be the most predictive risk factors for a combined injury. Rotation was associated with a substantial increase in the odds of a combined injury, with an odds ratio of 22.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.1 to 80.1). Ogden Type-I fracture was another significant risk factor, with an odds ratio of 10.2 (95% CI, 3.4 to 30.4). The Ogden classification and fragment rotation are the most useful features for distinguishing between isolated TTF and combined TTF with PTI. This is the first study to identify risk factors for TTF combined with PTI. Surgeons may use this information to aid in preoperative planning. Diagnostic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Evaluating Digital Imaging Technologies for Anogenital Injury Documentation in Sexual Assault Cases

Purpose: Photo-documentation is a critical component of care and an indispensable skill for forensic clinicians treating patients who have experienced violence and trauma. This retrospective study examines the frequency and nature of anogenital injuries identified through colposcope digital imaging in comparison to those detected using a high-resolution camera system. Methods: This retrospective, before-and-after study evaluated genital injuries in all adult women (over 16 years old) who presented to a freestanding Nurse Examiner Clinic (NEC) following sexual assault during a 3-year period. The clinic is supervised by forensic clinicians trained in conducting medical-forensic examinations. In 2016-2017, all injuries were documented using the Cooper Surgical Leisegang© colposcope system, while in 2018, injuries were recorded exclusively with a high-resolution camera system. The primary outcome was the frequency of genital findings documented in sexual assault victims from each group. Results: A total of 367 women were evaluated in the "before" period and 180 in the "after" period. Both groups were similar in terms of demographics, assault history, time to examination, alcohol use, and the occurrence of genital injuries (76.1% vs. 74.9%, p = 0.76). However, patients examined with the high-resolution camera system had a significantly higher number of documented anogenital injuries (2.4 vs. 1.8, p &lt; 0.001). This group also had more anogenital abrasions identified (51.1% vs. 27.0%, p &lt; 0.001). The injury patterns between the two groups were not statistically different. Conclusion: Accurate and reliable photo documentation are the key components of forensic medical documentation. Our findings indicate that the detection of anogenital injuries may differ based on the imaging system used.

Retrospective Analysis of Etiology, Pattern, and Determinants of Pediatric Maxillofacial Injuries

Abstract Context: Children sustain facial skeletal and soft-tissue injuries, which are often seen in the preschool age; however, severe facial injuries involving facial bones occur in ages above 11 years. There have been several postulated reasons for the reduction in the incidence of skeletal fractures in children. These include sutural pliability of pediatric facial bones, increased subcutaneous fat, and a greater ratio of cranial to facial bones. Aims: The study aimed to report our institutional experience of the pattern of presentation in pediatric maxillofacial trauma and report its main etiologies. Methods and Materials: Clinical and demographic information was retrieved from the maxillofacial registers, day clinics, and pathology registers. The etiology of the trauma and associated injuries were also noted. Statistical Analysis: Descriptive statistics were performed on demographic variables such as age, gender, and location of trauma. Categorical variables were analyzed in frequencies and proportions. Association analyses across variables were done using student t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson’s Chi-square after normality test had been conducted. Dunn’s test and Tukey’s post-hoc analysis were conducted after significant observations. Results: The mean age observed in the study was 7.3 years ± 5.3 SD (range: 2.6 months–16 years). There was a slight male predilection with 58.6%. Falls were the most common etiology in the ≤5-years group. RTC accounted for most injuries in children above 11 years. Soft-tissue-only injuries were observed in 51.4% of all cases. In facial bone fractures, mandibular fractures accounted for 40% of all cases. Conclusion: Male children experienced the greatest impact from maxillofacial trauma. The primary factor contributing to this was falls among preschool children. Soft-tissue injuries were found to be more prevalent among preschool children, whereas the incidence of facial fractures increased as age advanced.

Motorcycle riders and pillion passengers injury patterns and in-hospital outcomes based on the National Trauma Registry of Iran

Objective Road traffic injury (RTI) is the second leading cause of death and disability, and motorcycle crashes rank as the first cause of traffic fatality in Iran. We aimed to compare various characteristics between traumatized motorcycle riders and pillion passengers registered with the National Trauma Registry of Iran (NTRI). Methods This is a retrospective study of the NTRI, an ongoing multicenter trauma database built on a registry. This study included injured motorcyclists from six major trauma centers nationwide admitted between February 2017 and November 2023. Motorcyclists should have been hospitalized for RTIs and met the NTRI’s inclusion criteria. We assessed patients regarding their demographics, clinical features, the pattern of injuries, and diverse in-hospital outcomes. Results Of 54,342 registered patients in the NTRI, 7,594 motorcyclists were included. Of them, 6,636 (87.4%) were riders, and 958 (12.6%) were pillion passengers. Among all, 7165 (94.5%) were male, and 420 (5.5%) female (p < 0.001). Only 656 (9.9%) of riders and 24 (2.5%) of pillion passengers were wearing helmets (p < 0.001). Lone motorcyclist crashes led to injuries in 1,394 (21.2%) riders and 332 (35.5%) pillion passengers (p < 0.001). Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) was 3 to 8 in 204 (3.1%) riders and 16 (1.7%) pillion passengers (p = 0.016). The most frequent pattern of poly-trauma was “head and thorax,” with 43 (32.3%) riders and 5 (25.0%) pillion passengers (p = 0.362). Univariable logistic regression analysis showed that Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission (OR = 0.78, CI 95% = 0.62 to 0.97, p = 0.028) and mechanical ventilation (OR = 0.58, CI 95% = 0.39 to 0.84, p = 0.004) were significantly lower in pillion passengers compared to motorcycle riders. After adjustment for age, gender, occupational status, and helmet use, being a rider or a pillion passenger didn’t have a significant association with any of the in-hospital outcomes. Conclusions Motorcycle riders and pillion passengers sustain the same injuries in terms of pattern, severity, and in-hospital outcomes. Therefore, healthcare providers can approach them similarly. Since there is a high number of underage riders and helmets are not used commonly, there should be more police enforcement in this case.

Cannabis pollen sources and dispersal in the Iberian Pyrenees during the last century: Preliminary results and proposals for future studies

Meta-analyses of past pollen records have provided insights into the historical biogeography of Cannabis across the Iberian Peninsula (IP), with the southern Pyrenean flank being key to understanding cannabis cultivation and use during the Middle and Modern ages. However, studies on more recent times are rare. This paper offers a high-resolution comparison of the last century, particularly the significant Cannabis pollen peak observed in the mid-elevation Lake Montcortès between 1980 and 2000 CE, which was absent in the nearby highland Lake Sant Maurici. The Montcortès peak is linked to a phase of extensive hemp cultivation (1972–2006 CE) in the southeastern lowlands. The absence of a similar peak in Sant Maurici, despite the presence of other lowland pollen taxa, notably Olea and Quercus, suggests regional differences in pollen origin and dispersal likely influenced by wind patterns and rainfall. Studies on Cannabis pollen sources and dispersal are comparatively scarce and insufficient to provide a regional picture across the IP, similar to Olea or Quercus. However, the available data suggest that cannabis pollen is abundant mostly locally, in the vicinity of cannabis crops. The persistent presence of Cannabis pollen in Montcortès after 2000 CE likely reflects ongoing illegal cultivation. The study recommends combining paleoecological and aerobiological surveys to better understand pollen dynamics in the Iberian Pyrenees, with suggestions for future research based on these findings.

The patterns and prevention of injuries in college table tennis training

This paper conducts a detailed investigation and analysis of injuries among table tennis athletes from college sports academies, and preliminarily explores some general patterns of sports-related injuries that have occurred, summarizing some preventive measures and solutions.

Comparison of Traumatic Brain Injury in Adult Patients with and without Facial Fractures.

Facial fractures and associated traumatic brain injuries represent a worldwide public health concern. Therefore, we aimed to determine the pattern of brain injury accompanying facial fractures by comparing adult patients with and without facial fractures in terms of demographic, clinical, and imaging features. This single-center, retrospective study included 492 polytrauma patients presenting at our emergency department from January 2019 to July 2023, which were divided in two groups: with facial fractures (FF) and without facial fractures (non-FF). The following data were collected: age, sex, mechanism of trauma (road traffic accident, fall, and other causes), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), the evolution of the patient (admitted to a medical ward or intensive care unit, neurosurgery performed, death), and imaging features of the injury. Data were analyzed using descriptive tests, Chi-square tests, and regression analyses. A p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In the FF group, there were 79% (n = 102) men and 21% (n = 27) women, with a mean age of 45 ± 17 years, while in the non-FF group, there were 70% (n = 253) men and 30% (n = 110) women, with a mean age 46 ± 17 years. There was a significant association between brain injuries and facial fractures (p < 0.001, AOR 1.7). The most frequent facial fracture affected the zygoma bone in 28.1% (n = 67) cases. The most frequent brain injury associated with FF was subdural hematoma 23.4% (n = 44), and in the non-FF group, the most common head injury was intraparenchymal hematoma 29% (n = 73); Conclusions: Both groups shared similarities regarding gender, age, cause of traumatic event, and outcome but had significant differences in association with brain injuries, ICU admission, and clinical status.

L5-S1 facet joint pathology in pelvic ring injuries.

The authors believe that the L5-S1 facet joint injury in the setting of pelvic fractures is underappreciated by orthopedic traumatologists. The purpose of this study was to draw attention to the L5/S1 facet joint in the setting of pelvic ring injuries. This was a retrospective comparative study of all patients greater than or equal to 18years of age with an acute pelvic ring injury (AO/OTA 62 B to C) presenting to a single level I trauma center. The primary objective was to determine demographic and injury characteristics associated with L5-S1 facet joint injuries in patients with pelvic ring injuries. The secondary objective was to determine the proportion of L5-S1 facet joint injuries that were missed on initial radiographic workup. There were 476 patients included in the analysis, 53 (11.1%) of whom had an L5-S1 facet joint injury. Patients with an L5-S1 injury were more likely to be younger (44.1 vs. 53.2years, p = 0.001) and experience a high energy mechanism of injury (95.0% vs. 78.0%, p = 0.002). Certain injury patterns were associated with L5-S1 facet joint injuries: any sacral fracture (96.2% vs. 73.8%, p < 0.001), Denis zone 2 fractures (43.4% vs. 20.1%, p < 0.001), Denis zone 3 fractures (34.0% vs. 4.7%, p < 0.001), bilateral displaced sacral fractures (18.9% vs. 3.5%, p < 0.001), and L5 transverse process fractures (64.2% vs. 18.0%, p < 0.001). Only 16.0% of radiology reports identified an L5-S1 injury. Orthopedic traumatologists should scrutinize imaging for L5-S1 facet joint injuries in the presence of pelvic ring injuries, especially in patients with certain sacral fracture patterns.