Specific Body Regions Research Articles

Tracking of the inferior alveolar nerve: its implication in surgical planning.

The objective of the study is to assess the correlation between the mandibular canal tracing done on cone beam CT (CBCT) data, with the size, shape, and position of the neurovascular bundle (NB) obtained by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Six human cadaver mandibles were scanned with a CBCT Promax® scanner (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) and with an Ingenia® 3.0T MR system (Philips, Amsterdam, The Netherlands). The NB was segmented from the MRI dataset, while the mandibular canal (MC) tracing was done on the CBCT images. Quantitative 3D analysis was made for the full-segmented nerves and for three defined regions of specific clinical interest, namely angle, body, and mental region. From the 3D MRI analysis, the nerve thickness (for the angle, body, and mental region) ranges from 0.8 to 5.2mm, while the thickness of the mandibular canal tracing is approximately 2.00mm on both sides as chosen in the tracing software. The mean volume of the NB on the left is 828.49±215.54mm3 and on the right 792.98±264.57mm3. For the nerve tracing, the mean value is 351.92±16.42 and 339.69±16.12mm3 on the left and right sides, respectively. Wilcoxon signed-rank test showed significant differences between NB and MC volume measurements (p=0.0005). The Bland-Altman plots show an increasing slope for thickness and volume, indicating that the absolute differences between neurovascular bundle, estimated by MRI, and the mandibular canal, drawn on the CBCT images, increase with larger mean values. Surgeons should be aware of the shortcomings of nerve tracing in the different regions of the mandible. Tracing of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) underestimates shape and volume. Whenever nerve tracing instead of well-recognizable anatomical bony landmarks is used for surgical planning that need precision, a wider safe margin is recommended.

Impact of touring, performance schedule, and definitions on 1-year injury rates in a modern dance company

ABSTRACTThere is ongoing debate about how to define injury in dance: the most encompassing one or a time-loss definition. We examined the relationship between touring, performance schedule and injury definition on injury rates in a professional modern dance company over one-year. In-house healthcare management tracked 35 dancers for work-related musculoskeletal injuries (WMSI), time-loss injuries (TLinj), complaints, and exposure. The year was divided into 6 segments to allow comparison of effects of performance, rehearsal, and touring. Injuries/segment were converted into injuries/1000-h dance exposure. We conducted negative binomial regression analysis to determine differences between segments, P ≤ 0.05. Twenty WMSI, 0.44 injuries/1000-h, were sustained over one-year. WMSI were 6 times more likely to occur in Segment-6, compared with other segments (incident rate ratio = 6.055, P = 0.031). The highest rate of TLinj and traumatic injuries also occurred in Segment-6, reflecting concentrated rehearsal, New York season and performances abroad. More overuse injuries occurred in Segment-2, an international tour, attributed to raked stages. Lack of methods to quantify performance other than injury may mask effects of touring on dancer’s well-being. Tracking complaints permits understanding of stressors to specific body regions and healthcare utilisation; however, TLinj remain the most important injuries to track because they impact other dancers and organisational costs.

Radiological findings and radiation exposure during trauma workup in a cohort of 1124 level 1 trauma patients.

During the initial assessment of patients with potential severe injuries, radiological examinations are performed in order to rapidly diagnose clinically relevant injuries. Previous studies have shown that performing these examinations routinely is not always necessary and that trauma patients are exposed to substantial radiation doses. The aim of this study was to assess the amount and findings of radiological examinations during the initial assessment of trauma patients and to determine the radiation doses to which these patients are exposed to. We analyzed the 1124 patients included in a randomized trial. All radiological examinations during the initial assessment (i.e., primary and secondary survey) were assessed. The examination results were categorized as positive findings (i.e., (suspicion for) traumatic injury) and normal findings. The effective radiation doses for the examinations were calculated separately for each patient. Eight hundred and three patients were male (71%), median age was 38years, and 1079 patients sustained blunt trauma (96%). During initial assessment, almost 3900 X-rays were performed, of which 25.4% showed positive findings. FAST of the abdomen was performed in 989 patients (88%), with positive findings in 10.6%. Additional CT scanning of specific body regions was performed 1890 times in 813 patients (72.1%), of which approximately 43.4% revealed positive findings. Hemodynamically stable patients showed more normal findings on the radiographic studies than unstable patients. The mean radiation doses for the total population was 8.46mSv (±7.7) and for polytraumatized patients (ISS ≥ 16) 14.3mSv (±9.5). Radiological diagnostics during initial assessment of trauma patients show a high rate of normal findings in our trauma system. The radiation doses to which trauma patients are exposed are considerable. Considering that the majority of the injured patients are hemodynamically stable, we suggest more selective use of X-ray and CT scanning.

Massive limphedema as elephantiasis in the background of an alcoholic chronic liver disease

The cluster of lymph fluid subcutaneously in a specific body region or limb is called lymphedema. Two types of lymphedema exist: primary or hereditary, and secondary or acquired lymphedema. Herein we describe the singular case of a massive lymphedema of lower extremities called elephantiasis. After a complete anamnesis and differential diagnosis, an alcoholic and chronic liver disease as cirrhosis was considered the main etiology of this extreme case of lymphedema. Although lymphedema is one of the symptoms of chronic liver disease, the association between cirrhosis and elephantiasis has not been previously described as described in this clinical case. Through this case report, we discuss and develop all those etiologies of lymphedema, as well as diagnosis and treatment management.

Hair removal-related injuries in the United States, 1991-2014.

Hair removal practices have changed in frequency and location on the body. Previous research on hair removal injuries has focused on a specific body region, age, or gender. This study sought to take a broader perspective of hair removal-associated injuries in the United States which sought treatment at emergency departments. Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) from 1991 to 2014 were used to identify hair removal-related injuries. Incidence rates were determined for the overall population and stratified by gender and age category using US Census Bureau population estimates. From 1991 to 2014, there were an estimated 292 053 hair removal-associated injuries in the United States. The overall incidence rate was highest in 2013 (9/100 000). Those aged 65+ had the highest incidence from 1991 to 2010 with those aged 19-34 having the highest rate starting in 2011. When stratified by body region injured, males had highest injury rates to the face and females had highest rates to the lower limbs. Starting in 2010, those aged 19-34 had higher incidence particularly for pubic and trunk regions. The incidence of hair removal-associated injuries seen by emergency departments increased nearly ninefold between 1991 and 2013. Due to the increased incidence among 19- to 34-year-olds, caution should be taken particularly for this age group when undergoing depilatory practices. Overall, individuals should practice safe and acceptable usage of hair removal products to reduce the risk of injury.

Optimization of paediatric CT

Children have a special place in the hearts of their parents and the same should be true for CT practices too! They have longer life expectancy, more dividing cells which have greater risk potential from radiation exposure. Plus, they can range from less than a kilogram to more than 100 kg with childhood obesity. Younger children also provide additional challenges when they cannot or do not cooperate during CT scanning, which can result in motion artifacts and suboptimal interpretations. These issues demand special attention to details during paediatric CT. The best way to optimize dose for children is to rationalize clinical indications for CT in children. Whenever possible and appropriate, non-ionizing radiation based imaging techniques should be used in children. When CT is appropriately indicated, careful attention must be given to patient positioning and counselling. Several scan techniques can help optimize radiation doses, and these must be liberally employed. Each paediatric CT should be tailored to personalize scan technique, image reconstruction and radiation doses to specific clinical indication, body region, and patient size. In this presentation, we will review strategies to optimize paediatric CT.

Measured body composition and geometrical data of four "virtual family" members for thermoregulatory modeling.

The purpose of this paper is to develop a database of tissue composition, distribution, volume, surface area, and skin thickness from anatomically correct human models, the virtual family. These models were based on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of human volunteers, including two adults (male and female) and two children (boy and girl). In the segmented image dataset, each voxel is associated with a label which refers to a tissue type that occupies up that specific cubic millimeter of the body. The tissue volume was calculated from the number of the voxels with the same label. Volumes of 24 organs in body and volumes of 7 tissues in 10 specific body regions were calculated. Surface area was calculated from the collection of voxels that are touching the exterior air. Skin thicknesses were estimated from its volume and surface area. The differences between the calculated and original masses were about 3% or less for tissues or organs that are important to thermoregulatory modeling, e.g., muscle, skin, and fat. This accurate database of body tissue distributions and geometry is essential for the development of human thermoregulatory models. Data derived from medical imaging provide new effective tools to enhance thermal physiology research and gain deeper insight into the mechanisms of how the human body maintains heat balance.

Role of different Culicoides vectors (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) in bluetongue virus transmission and overwintering in Sardinia (Italy).

BackgroundBluetongue (BT) epidemics have affected the Mediterranean island of Sardinia since 2000. While Culicoides imicola represents the main bluetongue virus (BTV) vector, other European Culicoides biting midges, possibly implicated in virus transmission, have been detected here. Understanding their distribution, seasonal abundance, and infection rates is necessary to predict disease incidence and spread across coastal and inland areas, and to define their role in virus overwintering.MethodsBiting midge abundance was determined by light traps on selected farms representing diverse climatic conditions of Sardinia. Livestock-associated Culicoides species were morphologically and molecularly identified. Infection rates in prevailing midge species captured in 2013 during a BTV-1 outbreak were determined using RT-qPCR based virus detection in insect body pools, supplemented by specific body region analyses. The seasonal infection prevalence in Culicoides samples collected in 2001 in a BTV-2 affected farm was also determined.ResultsThe Newsteadi complex (C. newsteadi species A and species B) prevailed among all biting midge species (47.7 %), followed by C. imicola (27.8 %) and the Obsoletus complex (C. obsoletus and C. scoticus) (17.6 %). Whilst Culicoides imicola was more abundant along the coast, the Newsteadi complex was frequently collected at higher altitude and the Obsoletus complex was notably associated to cattle farms. Culicoides pulicaris and C. punctatus abundance was found to be marginal in all farms. BTV was detected in parous female samples of all these species, and the full dissemination of the virus within the body of C. imicola, C. obsoletus, C. scoticus, and Newsteadi complex species was confirmed by analyses of thorax and head, containing salivary glands. Higher infection rates were associated with C. scoticus, C. newsteadi species A and species B, compared to C. imicola. The virus was detected in C. newsteadi species A and C. obsoletus in winter and spring, whereas it was mainly found in summer and autumn in C. imicola.ConclusionsIn Sardinia, bluetongue virus is transmitted by multiple Culicoides vectors, including C. imicola and the Newsteadi complex being the most important. The Newsteadi complex and other midge species can play an important role in internal areas and are likely to be directly involved in virus overwintering.

Prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms among grocery workers

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) affect all sectors of the working population, and grocery workers have especially high rates. Although the incidence of WMSDs among any worker population can be estimated from workers' compensation claims, musculoskeletal symptom surveys can be used as a proxy estimate of WMSDs. The purposes of this cross-sectional study were to describe the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in grocery store employees from many different departments, and to determine the association between exposure to physical risk factors and presence of symptoms. Study participants (N = 254) were grocery store workers from five different stores in a medium sized grocery chain. Participants completed a self-administered survey consisting of demographic information and job history; the modified Nordic Questionnaire (MNQ); and physical component (PCS) and mental component (MCS) summary measures of the SF-36v2®. Rodgers Muscle Fatigue Analysis (Rodgers) was used to assess exposure to physical risk factors in the most difficult tasks in certain store departments. Prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was estimated for each body region and for various subgroups, and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of presence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Approximately 78% of grocery store workers reported work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in at least one body region, with most workers complaining of low back and feet symptoms. The high prevalence of foot symptoms has not been previously reported for this population. Approximately 11% of employees missed work because of symptoms and 25% sought medical care for symptoms. There were no differences among Rodgers rating groups for proportions reporting symptoms. SF-36v2® scores were inconsequential predictors for musculoskeletal symptoms. Gender and age were both significant predictors of symptoms, and age predicted healthcare utilization. These findings are relevant to the grocery industry in order to target WMSD preventive interventions to specific body regions for high-risk activities within a grocery store position.

Patient-reported outcome measures in arthroplasty registries

The International Society of Arthroplasty Registries (ISAR) Steering Committee established the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) Working Group to convene, evaluate, and advise on best practices in the selection, administration, and interpretation of PROMs and to support the adoption and use of PROMs for hip and knee arthroplasty in registries worldwide. The 2 main types of PROMs include generic (general health) PROMs, which provide a measure of general health for any health state, and specific PROMs, which focus on specific symptoms, diseases, organs, body regions, or body functions. The establishment of a PROM instrument requires the fulfillment of methodological standards and rigorous testing to ensure that it is valid, reliable, responsive, and acceptable to the intended population.A survey of the 41 ISAR member registries showed that 8 registries administered a PROMs program that covered all elective hip or knee arthroplasty patients and 6 registries collected PROMs for sample populations; 1 other registry had planned but had not started collection of PROMs. The most common generic instruments used were the EuroQol 5 dimension health outcome survey (EQ-5D) and the Short Form 12 health survey (SF-12) or the similar Veterans RAND 12-item health survey (VR-12). The most common specific PROMs were the Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (HOOS), the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), the Oxford Hip Score (OHS), the Oxford Knee Score (OKS), the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC), and the University of California at Los Angeles Activity Score (UCLA).

Regional Deprivation and Non-Cancer Related Computed Tomography Use in Pediatric Patients in Germany: Cross-Sectional Analysis of Cohort Data.

BackgroundConflicting findings were observed in recent studies assessing the association between patients’ area-level socio-economic status and the received number of computed tomography (CT) examinations in children. The aim was to investigate the association between area-level socio-economic status and variation in CT examination practice for pediatric patients in Germany.MethodsData from Radiology Information Systems for children aged 0 to < 15 years without cancer who had at least one CT examination between 2001 and 2010 were extracted in 20 hospitals across Germany. The small-area German Index of Multiple Deprivation (GIMD) was used to assess regional deprivation. The GIMD scores were classified into least, medium and most deprived areas and linked with the patient’s last known postal code. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to assess the association between patients’ CT numbers and regional deprivation adjusting for age, sex, and location of residence (urban/rural).ResultsA total of 37,810 pediatric patients received 59,571 CT scans during the study period. 27,287 (72%) children received only one CT, while n = 885 (2.3%) received six or more. Increasing numbers of CT examinations in non-cancer patients were significantly associated with higher regional deprivation, which increased, although CI overlap, for higher CT categories: ‘2–3 CT’ odds ratio (OR) = 1.45, 95%CI: 1.40–1.50; ‘4–5 CT’ OR = 1.48, 95%CI: 1.38–1.59; ‘6+CT’ OR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.41–1.69. In addition, male sex, higher age categories, and specific body regions were positively associated with increased numbers of CT examinations.ConclusionWe observed a positive association between regional deprivation and CT numbers in non-cancer pediatric patients. Limitations of the ecological approach and the lack of differentiation of CT details have to be acknowledged. More information on CT indications is necessary for a full assessment of this finding. In addition, further work on ways to assess socio-economic status more accurately may be required.

Book Review of Comprehensive Body Contouring: Theory and Practice

Dennis Hurwitz. Comprehensive Body Contouring: Theory and Practice . New York, NY: Springer, 2015. ISBN-13: 978-3662469750, ISBN-10: 3662469758. $109.00. ![Graphic][1] Dr Dennis Hurwitz has written a surgical text entitled Comprehensive Body Contouring: Theory and Practice . This is a small, condensed hardback. It is divided into sections encompassing aesthetics, conceptual and surgical principles, surgery for women, surgery for men, and facelifting in the body contouring patient. Unlike many texts on body contouring that are divided into treatment of specific body regions, the author structured his text to be more gender-focused, including comprehensive management of body contouring for men and women from head to toe. Notably, there is a whole section of the book devoted to facelift principles this author endorses for individuals who sustained significant weight loss. Included in this text are mommy makeovers, post-bariatric body contouring procedures, and facelift for post-bariatric patients; essentially, the book is a presentation of current surgical techniques Dr Hurwitz endorses, not just a body contouring text as the title leads the reader to anticipate. On first thumb-through, this book, packed with photos, figures, and text between the covers, communicates the energy and enthusiasm the author feels about this subject. Anyone who is familiar with Dr Hurwitz and his presentations will not be confused by this publication as the book personifies … Corresponding Author: Dr Michele A. Shermak, 1304 Bellona Avenue, Lutherville, MD 21093, USA. E-mail: shermakmd{at}gmail.com [1]: /embed/inline-graphic-1.gif

Multimodal Assessment of Body Pain in Orofacial Pain Patients.

. Patients with complaints of orofacial pain (OFP) often have other body pain, yet many do not report these to their providers. Uncontrolled pain at any location may impact the successful management of an OFP complaint. The objective of this study was to determine the number of pain regions throughout the body, and the underreporting of pain, in patients who presented to a tertiary military OFP clinic. A retrospective chart review was conducted on 423 consecutive new patients. Patients were given three assessment opportunities to report their pain on a whole-body pain map: 1) prior to evaluation (Pt1), 2) following an explanatory statement by their provider on the relationship between pain and prognosis (Pt2), and 3) during directed pain inquiry of specific body regions (Pro). The pain map was divided into nine anatomical regions that were assessed for the presence of pain after Pt1, Pt2, and Pro. Initially, 60.5% of patients did not report all pain locations (Pt1). Following the explanatory statement (Pt2), 30.5% still did not report all pain. Following the completion of all assessment methods, the most commonly reported number of pain regions was five (17.0%), and 91.5% of patients reported multiple pain regions. Most patients had multiple pain complaints outside the chief complaint, yet the majority did not report these until multiple forms of assessment were utilized. These data encourage the use of a pain map, a verbal pain explanation, and directed pain questioning to more accurately capture pain location and facilitate multidisciplinary care.

Virtual Patients And Serious Games In Medicine

Introduction/ Background Serious games (SGs) are immersive learning and training tools. They have gained a widespread interest worldwide and are gaining ground with respect to formal education. Most serious games follow a learn-by-doing pedagogic principle. One of the main advantages of this approach resides in the fact that people retain 90% of what they do as opposed to 10% of what they read [1]. It is also a very efficient means to transform theory into best practices and promote problem-solving competencies. SGs can be developed to diagnose virtual patients that incorporate real data. The educational goals should include: (i) how to make the most out of the patient history and the physical examination by notably acquiring a good knowledge of pathophysiology, (ii) request tests/ exams that are the most appropriate with the current differential diagnosis (iii) interpret the tests/exams results within a global patient view. Aims We describe diagnostic concepts that can be incorporated in serious games dedicated to medicine. Diagnosis can be modeled as an iterated hypothetico-deductive loop (HDL): collect/elicit patient data, evaluate them, establish a differential diagnosis, repeat the HDL if needed. The initial steps of diagnosis consist of assessing the chief complaints and proceeding to a thorough history [2]. The differential diagnosis allows the physician to focalize his/her attention on specific body regions and anatomical systems during the physical examination leading to (perhaps) more specific hypotheses. When more than one hypothesis remains, diagnosis can be refined by requesting complementary exams leading to a new HDL. An IT approach to diagnosis can be built around the combination of expert heuristics[2], pathophysiology[3] and concepts burrowed from evidence-based medicine (EBM) [4][5], where decisions are based on weighted evidence. The generation of hypotheses during the initial steps is based on the prevalence of diseases that allow estimating prior probabilities. Post-test probabilities can then be established at the end of each HDL. Where appropriate, the choice of complementary exams will depend on two strategies: attempt to confirm the most probable hypotheses (given the current evidence) and attempt to refute potentially high-risk hypotheses. In short, this means selecting of exams that are specific (for confirmatory purpose) and/or sensitive (for refutation purpose). In Digital Pathology (DP), these considerations can help learners evaluate the cost of making false-positive and false-negative errors. For instance, a false-negative error in the context of a high-risk disease can be costly to the patient. Hence a global understanding of the patient case and a risk assessment of the competing hypotheses can help students in DP stratify the search of regions of interests (ROI) because they would know what image features they should attempt to confirm or refute first. Results We are currently developing a technology platform dedicated to the realization of serious games in medicine. It incorporates generic reasoning modules that can combine expert heuristics, pathophysiology with concepts of EBM. Since annotated DP WSI can be integrated within the patient cases, such tools will contribute to illustrate (i) how applied sciences, medical devices and information technologies have become an integral part of modern medicine, and (ii) how each piece of information can contribute to an integrated approach to patient diagnosis and treatment.

Heat dissipation during hovering and forward flight in hummingbirds.

Flying animals generate large amounts of heat, which must be dissipated to avoid overheating. In birds, heat dissipation is complicated by feathers, which cover most body surfaces and retard heat loss. To understand how birds manage heat budgets during flight, it is critical to know how heat moves from the skin to the external environment. Hummingbirds are instructive because they fly at speeds from 0 to more than 12 m s−1, during which they transit from radiative to convective heat loss. We used infrared thermography and particle image velocimetry to test the effects of flight speed on heat loss from specific body regions in flying calliope hummingbirds (Selasphorus calliope). We measured heat flux in a carcass with and without plumage to test the effectiveness of the insulation layer. In flying hummingbirds, the highest thermal gradients occurred in key heat dissipation areas (HDAs) around the eyes, axial region and feet. Eye and axial surface temperatures were 8°C or more above air temperature, and remained relatively constant across speeds suggesting physiological regulation of skin surface temperature. During hovering, birds dangled their feet, which enhanced radiative heat loss. In addition, during hovering, near-body induced airflows from the wings were low except around the feet (approx. 2.5 m s−1), which probably enhanced convective heat loss. Axial HDA and maximum surface temperature exhibited a shallow U-shaped pattern across speeds, revealing a localized relationship with power production in flight in the HDA closest to the primary flight muscles. We conclude that hummingbirds actively alter routes of heat dissipation as a function of flight speed.

Physical therapy and exercise in osteoarthritis prevention

Exercise encompasses physical activity (habitual, sporting), and exercise programmes to improve and maintain joint heath. Clinical guidelines recommend exercise for osteoarthritis (OA) e.g. NICE, EULAR, OARSI. Benefits of moderate exercise include weight control (obesity is a known risk factor for OA) and joint health (beneficial for cartilage). Specific exercises aim to achieve optimal biomechanics to protect joints (joint alignment, load reducing strategies) and improve muscle strength, endurance, power, flexibility and co-ordination. Other physiotherapy principles include sport/task specific exercises, personalised medicine (exercises tailored for the individual) and neuromuscular control of movement (screening and retraining using specific exercises). Manual therapy techniques (pain management, mobilisations, muscle stretching) can improve exercise outcomes. Effects of exercise on pain and function are comparable with those for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Exercise forms part of biopsychosocial management, using tailored, patient centred interventions based on assessment, with shared decision making. Three levels of prevention include: primary (preventing injury and onset of OA), secondary (preventing progression of OA) and tertiary (managing complicated, long-term health problems). The Arthritis Research UK Centre for Sport, Exercise and Osteoarthritis is focussing on secondary prevention of progression of injury and/or overuse to OA. Biomechanical and neurophysiological mechanisms of abnormal movement and joint loading are investigated using 3D motion analysis and electromyographic techniques, and evidence is emerging that mechanistic-based exercises can correct abnormal movement. Movement screening tools in clinical/field environments are used increasingly to assess movement control and functional performance, primarily in sport, to predict injury and/or inform intervention. Robustness of screening tools is variable, in terms of reliability, validity and prediction of injury risk. Consensus is needed for terminology and establishing which screening tests are appropriate for specific cohorts and movement problems. High quality longitudinal trails are needed to ensure effective use of exercise for OA prevention. Activity needs to be maintained for long-lasting effects but adherence to changing lifestyle remains a major challenge. For exercises targeting movement problems, studies need to elucidate which elements, modes, doses, and frequency and duration of exercise are optimal for specific joints and body regions. It remains unknown whether exercise can influence disease parthenogenesis and progression. Evidence of cost-effectiveness of exercise as a clinical intervention for OA is also needed. Understanding and overcoming barriers to exercise and enabling access will be crucial for widespread uptake of exercise. Translation research is needed to determine how to change practice and influence GP referral to exercise programmes.

Women gaze behaviour in assessing female bodies: the effects of clothing, body size, own body composition and body satisfaction.

Often with minimally clothed figures depicting extreme body sizes, previous studies have shown women tend to gaze at evolutionary determinants of attractiveness when viewing female bodies, possibly for self-evaluation purposes, and their gaze distribution is modulated by own body dissatisfaction level. To explore to what extent women's body-viewing gaze behaviour is affected by clothing type, dress size, subjective measurements of regional body satisfaction and objective measurements of own body composition (e.g., chest size, body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio), in this self-paced body attractiveness and body size judgement experiment, we compared healthy, young women's gaze distributions when viewing female bodies in tight and loose clothing of different dress sizes. In contrast to tight clothing, loose clothing biased gaze away from the waist-hip to the leg region, and subsequently led to enhanced body attractiveness ratings and body size underestimation for larger female bodies, indicating the important role of clothing in mediating women's body perception. When viewing preferred female bodies, women's higher satisfaction of a specific body region was associated with an increased gaze towards neighbouring body areas, implying satisfaction might reduce the need for comparison of confident body parts; furthermore undesirable body composition measurements were correlated with a gaze avoidance process if the construct was less changeable (i.e. chest size) but a gaze comparison process if the region was more changeable (i.e. body mass index, dress size). Clearly, own body satisfaction and body composition measurements had an evident impact on women's body-viewing gaze allocation, possibly through different cognitive processes.

Compilation of basal metabolic and blood perfusion rates in various multi-compartment, whole-body thermoregulation models.

The assignments of basal metabolic rates (BMR), basal cardiac output (BCO), and basal blood perfusion rates (BBPR) were compared in nine multi-compartment, whole-body thermoregulation models. The data are presented at three levels of detail: total body, specific body regions, and regional body tissue layers. Differences in the assignment of these quantities among the compared models increased with the level of detail, in the above order. The ranges of variability in the total body BMR was 6.5% relative to the lowest value, with a mean of 84.3 ± 2W, and in the BCO, it was 8% with a mean of 4.70 ± 0.13l/min. The least variability among the body regions is seen in the combined torso (shoulders, thorax, and abdomen: ±7.8% BMR and ±5.9% BBPR) and in the combined head (head, face, and neck ±9.9% BMR and ±10.9% BBPR), determined by the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean. Much more variability is apparent in the extremities with the most showing in the BMR of the feet (±117%), followed by the BBPR in the arms (±61.3%). In the tissue layers, most of the bone layers were assigned zero BMR and BBPR, except in the shoulders and in the extremities that were assigned non-zero values in a number of models. The next lowest values were assigned to the fat layers, with occasional zero values. Skin basal values were invariably non-zero but involved very low values in certain models, e.g., BBPR in the feet and the hands. Muscle layers were invariably assigned high values with the highest found in the thorax, abdomen, and legs. The brain, lung, and viscera layers were assigned the highest of all values of both basal quantities with those of the brain layers showing rather tight ranges of variability in both basal quantities. Average basal values of the "time-seasoned" models presented in this study could be useful as a first step in future modeling efforts subject to appropriate adjustment of values to conform to most recently available and reliable data.

Approaches to and Treatment Strategies for Playing-Related Pain Problems Among Czech Instrumental Music Students: An Epidemiological Study.

The current study examined the severity of playing-related pain (PRP) problems among music students at the Prague State Conservatoire, as well as the various treatment methods used by these students and how they approach and deal with these phenomena while studying. In total, 180 instrumental students participated and completed a paper questionnaire. Of these, 88.9% reported that they had experienced PRP at least once in their lives, with 12.6% experiencing pain every time they play. The onset of PRP seemed to coincide with the transition period on entry to the conservatoire and was associated with the increase in hours of practice. Specific body regions associated with playing each particular instrument were most frequently affected, with females being more susceptible than males to the development of PRP. An alarming 35% of the affected students tended not to seek help at all, whereas those who did tended to seek advice first from their instrument tutor and second from medical doctors. Most students who visited doctors reported that medical treatments only partially helped them to overcome PRP problems. The most frequent treatment methods used were resting, gel or creams, and physical exercises. Students believed that inappropriate posture played a key role in the development of their PRP problems. Finally, students indicated a willingness to be aware of and educated about PRP issues during their studies. Further exploration of PRP problems among student musicians is warranted. Better understanding of differing attitudes toward, use of, and efficiency of various treatment methods after the occurrence of PRPs will provide additional insight for prevention and treatment.

Estimated Injury Risk for Specific Injuries and Body Regions in Frontal Motor Vehicle Crashes

Objective: Injury risk curves estimate motor vehicle crash (MVC) occupant injury risk from vehicle, crash, and/or occupant factors. Many vehicles are equipped with event data recorders (EDRs) that collect data including the crash speed and restraint status during a MVC. This study's goal was to use regulation-required data elements for EDRs to compute occupant injury risk for (1) specific injuries and (2) specific body regions in frontal MVCs from weighted NASS-CDS data.Methods: Logistic regression analysis of NASS-CDS single-impact frontal MVCs involving front seat occupants with frontal airbag deployment was used to produce 23 risk curves for specific injuries and 17 risk curves for Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) 2+ to 5+ body region injuries. Risk curves were produced for the following body regions: head and thorax (AIS 2+, 3+, 4+, 5+), face (AIS 2+), abdomen, spine, upper extremity, and lower extremity (AIS 2+, 3+). Injury risk with 95% confidence intervals was estimated for 15–105 km/h longitudinal delta-Vs and belt status was adjusted for as a covariate.Results: Overall, belted occupants had lower estimated risks compared to unbelted occupants and the risk of injury increased as longitudinal delta-V increased. Belt status was a significant predictor for 13 specific injuries and all body region injuries with the exception of AIS 2+ and 3+ spine injuries. Specific injuries and body region injuries that occurred more frequently in NASS-CDS also tended to carry higher risks when evaluated at a 56 km/h longitudinal delta-V. In the belted population, injury risks that ranked in the top 33% included 4 upper extremity fractures (ulna, radius, clavicle, carpus/metacarpus), 2 lower extremity fractures (fibula, metatarsal/tarsal), and a knee sprain (2.4–4.6% risk). Unbelted injury risks ranked in the top 33% included 4 lower extremity fractures (femur, fibula, metatarsal/tarsal, patella), 2 head injuries with less than one hour or unspecified prior unconsciousness, and a lung contusion (4.6–9.9% risk). The 6 body region curves with the highest risks were for AIS 2+ lower extremity, upper extremity, thorax, and head injury and AIS 3+ lower extremity and thorax injury (15.9–43.8% risk).Conclusions: These injury risk curves can be implemented into advanced automatic crash notification (AACN) algorithms that utilize vehicle EDR measurements to predict occupant injury immediately following a MVC. Through integration with AACN, these injury risk curves can provide emergency medical services (EMS) and other patient care providers with information on suspected occupant injuries to improve injury detection and patient triage.