Small Head Diameter Research Articles

Assessing the potential use of drainage from open soilless production systems: A case study from an agronomic and ecotoxicological perspective

Cascade cropping systems in soilless horticulture (where drainage collected from the main crop is used in fertigation of secondary crops) are potentially interesting for Mediterranean countries as they enhance water and nutrient use efficiency. However, their agronomic and long-term environmental impact has been poorly addressed. In this case study, lettuce grown hydroponically or in soil (previously exposed to drainage for five years) was fertigated, throughout the cultivation period, with a nutrient solution composed of 0, 25, 50 or 100 % of drainage (0D, 25D, 50D and 100D) mixed with a fresh nutrient solution. Plant performance analysis included growth parameters and leaf mineral composition. Drainage was analyzed for nutrients and Plant Protection Products (PPP) residues, and bioassays were performed exposing aquatic organisms (Raphidocelis subcapitata, Aliivibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna) to drainage and soil elutriate. When analyzing plant performance in both cultivation systems, a significant effect was only found at 100D in hydroponics, resulting in 41 % less leaf area, 20 % smaller head diameter and 43 % lower yield. Drainage analysis showed high nutrient content, presence of PPP residues (up to 6 substances, reaching 3.29 µg·L−1 in total) and revealed toxicity to D. magna (EC50 = 66.6 %). Moreover, soil elutriate presented toxicity to R. subcapitata (EC50 = 20.6 %) and to A. fischeri (EC50 = 14.9 %). This study demonstrates the potential of using relatively high drainage percentages (up to 50 %) from soilless cultivation systems if applied to hydroponically-grown secondary crops. However, attention should be paid to the use of cascade cropping systems when drainages are applied to fertigate soil-grown crops, as it may contribute to soil degradation and environmental pollution on a long run.

What’s New in Hip Replacement

What’s New in Hip Replacement

Patient-reported outcome of 95% of young patients improves after primary total hip arthroplasty: identification of 3 recovery trajectories in 3,207 patients younger than 55 years from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register.

Background and purposeLittle is known about the outcome after receiving total hip arthroplasty (THA), specifically in young patients. We identified different recovery trajectories in young patients using data from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register (LROI). We also explored whether risk factors commonly associated with functional outcome were associated with recovery trajectory.Patients and methodsWe used HOOS-PS score data up to 1 year postoperatively from the LROI from all patients younger than 55 years who received a primary THA between 2014 and 2019. To investigate whether different recovery trajectories could be distinguished, we performed latent class growth analysis (LCGA). Subsequently, we used multinomial logistic regression analyses to explore factors associated with class membership.Results3,207 patients were included. LCGA identified 3 groups of patients: optimal responders (75%), good responders (21%), and poor responders (4.7%). Female sex (RR 1.1; 95% CI 1.1–1.1), ASA II (RR 1.1; CI 1.0–1.1), ASA III–IV (RR 1.1; CI 1.0–1.2), smoking (RR 1.1; CI 1.0–1.1), cemented fixation (RR 1.2; CI 1.1–1.2), and a 22–28 mm head diameter (RR 1.1; CI 1.0–1.2) were associated with “good responder” class membership. ASA II (RR 1.1; 1.0–1.2), ASA III–IV (RR 1.2; 1.1–1.3), smoking (RR 1.2; CI 1.1–1.2), and hybrid fixation (RR 1.2; CI 1.0–1.2) were associated with “poor responder” class membership.Interpretation3 recovery trajectories could be identified. Female sex, higher ASA classifications, smoking, cemented or hybrid fixation, and small head diameter were associated with a suboptimal result after primary THA in young patients. These findings can aid in the process to determine which patients are at risk of a suboptimal outcome.

A Comparative Study on the Interaction Effect of Date of Planting, Variety and Head Diameter on the Post Harvest Quality of Broccoli Stored in Refrigerated Condition

Background: Broccoli [Brassica oleracea (L.) var.italica plecnk.] is a cole crop with highly perishability. It is rich in vitamin, antioxidants, anticancerous compounds and health promoting chemicals. It is harvested at tender and tight bud stage due to which the deterioration rate is high because of the high respiration rate of the broccoli head. This exotic crop is becoming popular since consumers are continuously health conscious. It has a shelf life only two days in room condition. There arise a need to retain postharvest quality of broccoli to meet the consumer demand. Methods: Three different date of planting i.e 15th Sept, 30th Sept and 15th Oct, 2014 were done in two broccoli cultivar Aishwarya and Sadhana while harvestings were done in 2015 at three different stages of head diameter i.e. 12-14 cm, 14-16 cm and above 16 cm. Storage studies for biochemical changes for ascorbic acid, chlorophyll content, total soluble solids and sensory analysis were carried out in refrigerated condition. Result: On studying the interaction effects of date of planting, variety and head diameter, it was concluded that early sown broccoli i.e 15th September showed better quality with smaller head diameter in variety Aishwarya.

Revision Risk in a Cohort of US Patients Younger Than 55 Undergoing Primary Elective Total Hip Arthroplasty.

As indications for elective total hip arthroplasty (THA) expand to younger patients, we sought to (1) compare revision risk following primary elective THA in patients <55 years at the time of their THA to patients aged ≥65 years and (2) identify specific risk factors for revision in patients <55 years. A Kaiser Permanente's total joint replacement registry was used to conduct a cohort study including primary elective THA patients aged ≥18 (2001-2018). In total, 11,671 patients <55 years and 53,106 patients ≥65 years were included. Multiple Cox regression was used to evaluate cause-specific revision risk, including septic revision, aseptic loosening, instability, and periprosthetic fracture. Stepwise Cox regression was used to identify patient and surgical factors associated with cause-specific revision in patients <55 years. Patients <55 years had a higher risk of septic revision (hazard ratio [HR]= 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.02-1.66), aseptic loosening (HR= 2.60, 95% CI= 1.99-3.40), and instability (HR= 1.35, 95% CI= 1.09-1.68), but a lower risk of revision for periprosthetic fracture (HR= 0.36, 95% CI= 0.22-0.59) compared to patients aged ≥65 years. In the <55 age group, risk factors for septic revision included higher body mass index, drug abuse, and liver disease. Hypertension, anterior approach, and ceramic-on-ceramic were associated with aseptic loosening. White race, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification ≥3, smoker, paralysis, posterior approach, ceramic-on-ceramic, and smaller head diameter were associated with instability. Identified risk factors varied depending on the cause for revision. Although septic revisions were related to patient characteristics, more modifiable factors, such as implant or surgical approach, were associated with revision due to aseptic loosening and instability. III.

Radiographic parameter(s) influencing functional outcomes following angular stable plate fixation of proximal humeral fractures

PurposeRadiographic parameters which correlate with poor clinical outcome after proximal humeral fractures could be helpful indicators to answer the question which patients should be followed up closer. Moreover, during surgery, radiographic parameters correlating with unfavourable outcome should be avoided. The primary aim of the study was to compare radiographic measurements between the injured and the contralateral, uninjured shoulder. The secondary aim was to correlate these radiographic parameters with post-operative shoulder function.MethodsFifty-eight patients (age: 55.6 ± 14.4 years, age at surgery) following angular stable plate fixation of a proximal humeral fracture (2-part fractures according to Neer: 24, 3-part: 25, 4-part: 9) were included in this retrospective cohort study. All patients were followed up at least six years (7.9 ± 1.4 after surgical intervention). During follow-up examination, the Constant score (CS) was assessed, and radiographs of both shoulders were taken. Radiographs were analyzed regarding lateral humeral offset, distance between tuberculum and head apex, head diameter, head height, perpendicular height, perpendicular center, vertical height, and angles between head and humeral shaft (CCD and HSA). These parameters were compared between the injured and uninjured shoulder. The cohort was divided in two groups: patients with a CS category of excellent/good and satisfying/worse. Both groups were tested regarding differences of demographic and radiographic parameters.ResultsThe distance between tuberculum and head apex (2.6 ± 3.4 mm vs. 4.3 ± 2.1 mm; p = 0.0017), the CCD (123.1 ± 12.9° vs. 130.1 ± 7.3°; p = 0.0005), and the HSA (33.1 ± 12.8° vs. 40.1 ± 7.3°; p = 0.0066) were significantly smaller on the treated shoulder compared to the uninjured side. Patients reached a Constant score of 80.2 ± 17.4 (95% CI 75.6–84.8) points. Regarding outcome categories of the Constant score, 46 patients had a good to excellent outcome, and 12 patients had a satisfying or bad outcome. The comparison of these groups revealed that patients with inferior outcome in the long-term follow-up were older, female, had a more complex fracture type (AO classification), smaller lateral humeral offset, smaller head diameter and height, lower perpendicular height, and lower CCD and HSA angles.ConclusionIf the abovementioned parameters cannot be restored sufficiently during surgery, (reversed) shoulder arthroplasty might be a better solution to reach good post-operative outcome. Moreover, patients presenting these radiographic characteristics in the follow-up, older patients, and patients with a more complex fracture type should be followed up closer to possibly prevent poor shoulder function.Trial registration: 83 250/2011BO2

Adverse reaction to metal debris after small-head diameter metal-on-metal total hip arthroplasty: an increasing concern.

Failures due to adverse reaction to metal debris (ARMD) have become an area of common focus among surgeons performing hip replacements. Several authors have reported data on the prevalence of these masses, in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients after either large-diameter head metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) or hip resurfacing arthroplasty, with a large variability of rate. To our knowledge, few data are reported on the association of this lesion with the use of small-head diameter MoM. 15 hips that were revised for ARMD in small-head MoM THA were included in this study. We focused our attention on the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment and also on the histologic aspects of the harvested pathologic tissue. The histological examination of our cases showed a presence of lymphocytic infiltrate suggesting a delayed hypersensitivity reaction to the metal of type IV (ALVAL), but different from each other in term of the prevalence of the cellular component. Osteolysis and severe soft tissue damage were also observed. Revision resulted in remission of the lesion and successful implant. Our observation suggests that the evidence of ARMD should be considered even in case of small-head MoM arthroplasty and therefore these patients should be followed scrupulously with 2nd level diagnostic tools such as magnetic resonance imaging with metal artifact reduction sequence (MARS-MRI) and metal ion levels at least once. Further investigations are necessary to establish the real prevalence of this phenomenon in the whole population of small-head MoM THAs.

At the Sharp End of Spines

Once considered unthinkable, the alarming possibility that general anesthetics might have lasting effects on the developing brain has gained traction with anesthesiologists, the Food and Drug Administration, the popular media, and parents. The basis for concern comes mainly from animal studies showing that exposure to a variety of commonly used intravenous and volatile anesthetics produces cognitive and social behavioral deficits that last into adulthood.1,2 Although cause:effect relationships have not been established, these cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions have been attributed to the transient suppression of neurogenesis or widespread neuroapoptosis that are well documented in animals following anesthetic exposure in the early postnatal period.1,3 At least in the case of neuroapoptosis, the developing brain is most vulnerable during the period of rapid synaptogenesis (i.e., the brain growth spurt)1,4 putting synapse development at center stage in the story of anesthetic neurotoxicity. In this issue of the Journal, Briner and colleagues5 take research in this area a step further. In a series of elegant in vitro and in vivo experiments, they demonstrate in rodents that synapse development itself is altered by exposure to volatile anesthetics during the early stage of postnatal brain development. As such, this work adds synaptic remodeling to the list of potential mechanisms by which anesthetics might produce long-lasting changes in the developing rodent brain.

Effective Doses from Scan Projection Radiographs of the Head: Impact of Different Scanning Practices and Comparison with Conventional Radiography

For CT scan planning, scan projection radiographs (SPR) are used. Tube tension and current for head SPR can be reduced to a minimum because of the small head diameter and because only high-contrast structures need to be visualized for planning. The goal of this study was to investigate SPR of the head in respect to effective doses, the influence of dose-reduction measures, and comparison with conventional x-ray. Entrance doses for default and minimal settings were measured on a LightSpeed Ultra CT scanner and on conventional x-ray equipment. Effective doses for different scanning fields of the head were calculated for an adult, a 10-year-old child, and a neonate by using the commercially available software PCXMC. Depending on projection and technique, SPR effective doses for adults were 1.9-27.7 muSv; for the 10-year-old child, 2.1-31.1 muSv; and for the neonate, 5.2-97.2 muSv. Doses with the tube under the table were 1.3-3.4 times lower. Doses for conventional radiography were higher than SPR doses for adults and partially lower for children. Depending on the scanning technique, effective doses for head SPR can differ up to 17-fold. The dose is significantly reduced by lowering tube voltage and current, by positioning the tube under the table, and by keeping the thyroid out of the scan or by protecting it with a lead collar. Compared with the conventional x-ray technique, SPR doses tend to be lower due to x-ray beam characteristics.

Self‐incompatibility and floral parameters inHypochaerissect.Hypochaeris(Asteraceae)

We studied the relationships between self-incompatibility mechanisms and floral parameters in the genus Hypochaeris L. sect. Hypochaeris (consisting of H. glabra, H. radicata, H. arachnoidea, and H. salzmanniana). We assessed at intra- and interspecific levels (1) the self-incompatibility (SI) mechanism and its distribution among populations, (2) the relationship between SI and floral parameters, and (3) the relationship of SI to reproductive success. Hypochaeris salzmanniana is semi-incompatible, H. glabra is self-compatible, and H. arachnoidea and H. radicata are self-incompatible. Floral parameters differed among populations of H. salzmanniana: plants in self-compatible populations had fewer flowers per head, a smaller head diameter on the flower, and a shorter period of anthesis than self-incompatible populations. We also detected this pattern within a semi-compatible population of H. salzmanniana, and these differences were also found between species with different breeding mechanisms. Fruit to flower ratio in natural populations was generally high (>60%) in all species, regardless of breeding system. It is hypothesized that self-compatibility may have arisen through loss of allelic diversity at the S locus due to bottleneck events and genetic drift.

Backcrosses in interspecific hybridization in sunflower

When incorporating desirable traits (resistance to causal agents of various diseases) from the wild relatives into the cultivated sunflower, some undesirable ones are introduced too (branching, small head diameter, low oil content, etc). To overcome this problem, backcrosses (F1 interspecific hybrids x cultivated sunflower) are used, although very often desirable traits are lost in the process. Cytological analysis (meiosis and pollen viability) and molecular markers (RAPD) were used to estimate what portion of the parental species genome was present in (be interspecific hybrids of the F1 and BC1F1 generations. The results showed that the percentage of irregularities at meiosis increased from F1 to BC1F1 gen. They also indicated the presence of aneuploids and sterility in the cross between the hexaploid species H.rigidus and cultivated sunflower. The genetic distance between the parents was 83%, that between H.rigidus and the F1 hybrid 54 61%, and that between H.annuus and F1 hybrid 70-76%. In the BC1F1 generation, the genetic distance from Hannuus decreased to 58-66% and that from H.rigidus increased to 69-76%.

Prenatal diagnosis of Meckel syndrome: case reports and literature review.

We report on 2 couples at risk to have Meckel syndrome (MS) offspring. Three pregnancies were monitored by ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) assay in midtrimester. Of the 2 involving an affected fetus, one was thought to be unaffected. A literature survey was undertaken. Sources of error seem to lie in the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations and the variable onset and rate of progression of clinical components of MS and limitations in ultrasonographic resolution inherent in the scanner or due to the associated oligohydramnios. The following observations/suggestions are made concerning the prenatal diagnosis of MS: 1) Utilize as many tests as are available. 2) Amniotic fluid AFP is more likely to show significant elevation than serum AFP. 3) Ultrasonography should concentrate on presence of oligohydramnios, small head diameter, cystic mass at the occiput, large kidneys, and absent bladder. 4) Use serial AFP and sonographic examination if findings are initially normal or equivocal.