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At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Dynamics of water spreading on a glass surface.

The impact of a water droplet on a glass surface is studied experimentally using a high-speed video camera which can catch up to 60,000 images per second with an exposure time of 10 micros. A wide range of impact velocities are studied by varying the fall height, showing different spreading regimes. Particular attention is given to the dynamics of the contact angle and its relation to the maximum expanding radius and capillary number. A linear relation between the contact line velocity and the impact velocity is found experimentally. Using acoustic analysis, an evaluation of the pressure at the contact line is given. We also confront predicted and experimental jetting times. This work shows that descriptions of drop impact based purely on conservation of energy are inadequate to describe the dynamics of the event. The different shapes taken by the drops between the initial impact and the maximum radius determine the final outcome.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed2005

Orthotic effect of a stabilising mechanism in the surface of gymnastic mats on foot motion during landings.

The purpose of this study was to examine two hypotheses: (a) mat hardness affects foot motion during landing; (b) the influence of a surface stabilising interface integrated in a mat on foot motion is detectable. Two studies were carried out: In the first one, six female gymnasts performed barefoot landings from different falling heights onto three mats having different hardness. In the second study, a stabilising mechanism was integrated in the surface of three new mats with different hardness. Three high speed video cameras (250Hz) captured the motion of the left leg and foot. These were modelled by means of a four rigid body system. The maximal eversion at the ankle joint was not influenced by the different mats (hard: 4.6 degrees +/-1.9 to 9.3 degrees +/-3.4, medium: 3.1 degrees +/-2.7 to 7.4 degrees +/-3.5, soft: 4.8 degrees +/-2.1 to 8.4 degrees +/-3.5). The soft mat without the stabilised surface showed higher eversion values (p<0.05) between forefoot and rearfoot (medial joint: hard: 5.1 degrees +/-3.2 to 7.3 degrees +/-3.3, medium: 6.9 degrees +/-3.1 to 7.5 degrees +/-2.9, soft: 12.7 degrees +/-4.1 to 13.4 degrees +/-3.3; lateral joint: hard: 8.5 degrees +/-3.1 to 9.7 degrees +/-1.1, medium: 9.5 degrees +/-2.6 to 11.2 degrees +/-3.3, soft: 12.1 degrees +/-2.3 to 15.7 degrees +/-3.3). For the mats with the surface stabilising interface, the different hardness did not cause any significant differences in maximal eversion values at the medial (hard: 1.5 degrees +/-3.3 to 5.5 degrees +/-4.5, medium: 1.3 degrees +/-3.5 to 5.1 degrees +/-3.6, soft: 0.7 degrees +/-4.9 to 5.4 degrees +/-4.2) nor at the lateral (hard: 11.3 degrees +/-4.2 to 17.3 degrees +/-4.2, medium: 12.3 degrees +/-4.8 to 17.1 degrees +/-3.7, soft: 11.5 degrees +/-4.6 to 17.1 degrees +/-4.3) forefoot joints. The structure of the mat and the consequent deformation hollow did not influence the kinematics of the ankle joint during landings, but it influenced the motion at the medial and the lateral forefoot joints. By means of a stabilised surface, it is possible to reduce the influence of mat deformation on the maximal eversion between forefoot and rearfoot.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Surgery for pseudarthrosis of humeral shaft fractures: a retrospective series of 21 cases].

INTRODUCTION: The morbidity of surgery for non-union of the humerus is not insignificant: the aims of this retrospective study were to study the results of these rather difficult procedures and to make some logical suggestions regarding surgical technique. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2000, 21 patients had a surgical procedure for non-union of the humeral shaft. At follow-up, the mean age was 40 years. The causes of the initial trauma were: 12 road accidents, seven standing height falls, one fall from a window, one farm machine accident. The commonest fracture site was the middle third. In 17 procedures, we performed plate osteosyntesis. Three patients were treated by external fixator because of infection. In one patient we used a nail. For the follow-up evaluation, we used the score of the Western Orthopaedic Society. RESULTS: According to the "WOS" score evaluation, we noted: ten very good results, five good results, three poor results and one bad result. The bad result corresponded to the patient in whom consolidation was not obtained. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Management of non-union of the humerus should be by immediate surgery. The best treatment of non-union of the humerus is its prevention by correct management of the initial fracture.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

A demographic profile of traumatic and non-traumatic spinal injury cases: a hospital-based study from India.

STUDY DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: Retrospective descriptive analysis of data of patients with spinal injuries admitted to a tertiary referral medical center from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004. OBJECTIVES: To identify the demographic profile of patients with spinal injuries admitted in this hospital. SETTING: Medical records department, Kasturba Hospital, Manipal, Karnataka, India. METHODS: A total of 207 patients with traumatic and non-traumatic spinal injuries were included in the study. The patient characteristics that were included were age groups, neurologic status, mode and neurological level of injury, management and recovery pattern. RESULTS: Ratio of men to women who sustained spinal injuries was 3.6:1. The maximum number of patients was in the age range of 20-39 years. The different levels of spine that sustained injuries were cervical spine (36.2%), thoracic spine (34.3%) and lumbar spine (29.5%). There were 118 patients with neurological deficit. Mechanisms of injury recorded were fall from height (58.9%), fall of weight (7.2%), motor vehicle accidents (21.3%) and non-traumatic causes (12.6%). Of these 207 spinal injury patients, 74.4% were managed conservatively, whereas 25.6% patients were managed surgically. OBSERVATION: This study gives a preliminary overview of the characteristics of patients with spinal injuries in this hospital.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[Pressure distribution pattern in relation to foot structure during muscular active and passive load impacts].

A piezoelectric pressure distribution platform (1000 elements) was employed, to investigate the mechanical behavior of three different foot structures. Ten male subjects in each of the foot groups Cavus, Rectus, and Planus performed voluntarily controlled jumps with one leg onto the pressure distribution platform. Using a trap door arrangement, the subjects fell in a second set of experiments unexpectedly onto the sensor matrix. In order to exclude a voluntary foot muscle response, the time duration of falling was restricted by choosing a falling height of only 20 cm. Comparing the data from both impact conditions the influence of active foot muscle involvement could be investigated. The analysis of the temporal pressure pattern, the local peak pressures and the regional impulses permitted an insight into the mechanical characteristics of the different foot structures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Council playgrounds in New South Wales: compliance with safety guidelines.

Despite initiatives to improve the safety of play environments, playground-related injuries continue to be a major public health problem. Efforts to address playground safety in New South Wales were consolidated during 1994 through the Kidsafe Playground Safety Project. In stage 1 of the project (described here), 240 council playgrounds were assessed to determine the extent to which playground equipment complied with safety guidelines. On-site inspection of the selected playgrounds provided data on 862 separate pieces of playground equipment. Of the 723 pieces requiring undersurfacing, less than half (45.4 per cent) had the recommended type of undersurfacing while only 42 of those pieces had undersurfacing to the recommended depth. However, when the fall height of equipment was considered in addition to the undersurfacing guidelines, only 13 (1.8 per cent) of the 723 pieces of equipment simultaneously satisfied all of the safety guidelines. Regrettably, none of the 240 council playgrounds assessed complied fully with the key safety guidelines. The results underscore the need for a collaborative effort on the part of local government, Kidsafe and health promotion and regional public health units to ensure that council playgrounds in New South Wales comply with recommended safety guidelines.

Child↗
PubMed2004

Loss of heterozygosity analysis of benign, atypical, and anaplastic meningiomas.

OBJECTIVE: Up to 70% of typical meningiomas demonstrate allelic loss at chromosome 22q. Allelic loss at additional chromosomal loci is associated with atypia and anaplasia in meningiomas. The pattern of allelic loss or loss of heterozygosity (LOH) follows a nonrandom, multistep pattern. METHODS: All surgical meningioma samples obtained from 1991 to 1992 at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center were analyzed according to current World Health Organization criteria. Samples without constitutional deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) were excluded from this analysis. Individual hematoxylin and eosin slides from 43 patients were microdissected, and the DNA was harvested and amplified in the presence of 24 pairs of polymerase chain reaction primers, representing 24 microsatellite loci. The polymerase chain reaction products were subjected to capillary gel electrophoresis and a fluorescence-based DNA analysis system. LOH was defined as ratios of allelic peak heights falling within a conservative threshold of less than 0.5 or more than 2.0. Fisher's exact test and receiver operator characteristic curves were used to test the relationship between benign versus atypical and malignant pathological features and LOH at specific loci or combinations of loci. RESULTS: On review by two independent pathologists, 34 benign meningiomas, 6 atypical meningiomas, and 3 anaplastic meningiomas were identified. The mean number of alleles with LOH was 1.5 +/- 1.2 for benign meningiomas, 6.7 +/- 2.7 for atypical meningiomas, and 8.3 +/- 2.3 for anaplastic meningiomas (P < 0.001). The most important individual loci to predict malignancy were D1S407 (P = 0.006), L-myc (P < 0.001), D10S520 (P = 0.003), D10S1173 (P = 0.042), D11S1920 (P < 0.001), D14S555 (P = 0.041), D17S1289 (P < 0.001), D22S417 (P = 0.001), D22S431 (P = 0.019), and D22S532 (P = 0.028). Combining the LOH data across loci, the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.993, corresponding to virtually perfect prediction of pathological characteristics. CONCLUSION: Microsatellite marker analysis of allelic loss is a useful method of predicting atypia and anaplasia in meningiomas. More regions of allelic loss are seen in anaplastic and atypical meningiomas as compared with benign meningiomas. This study confirms previously reported chromosomal regions of allelic loss in atypical and anaplastic meningiomas and suggests additional chromosomal regions that may represent heretofore uncharacterized deletions within meningiomas. This type of genetic fingerprint ultimately may serve both a diagnostic and therapeutic role.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Farm accidents: their causes and the development of a nurse led accident prevention strategy.

The following key facts emerge which are relevant to an accident prevention strategy. HIGH RISK TIMES: Just before lunch and late afternoon. HIGH RISK PLACES: Those places which are most familiar to the farmer, his/her own farm, especially the yard and farm buildings. HIGH RISK ACTIVITY: Working at heights (falls) or with moving objects, tractors and cattle. HIGH RISK PEOPLE: Younger men, especially when not working on their own farm or older farmers working with livestock. The majority of these accidents could have been prevented with the correct use of protective clothing or taking more care. Once an accident has happened, the first aid response is likely to be inadequate. The project team are now working on a strategy to persuade farmers that accidents could happen to them personally and of the seriousness of the consequences if they do. This will be coupled with producing accident prevention materials outlining simple precautions that can be taken to prevent accidents. The final stage is to disseminate these materials through a range of channels involving both NHS, farming and school networks. That is the next stage of the project.

Accidents, Occupational↗
PubMed2003

A review of 2,517 childhood injuries seen in a Singapore emergency department in 1999--mechanisms and injury prevention suggestions.

BACKGROUND: Childhood injuries cause significant mortality and morbidity in Singapore. With injury surveillance, patterns of repeated injury can be identified and injury prevention strategies devised. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of all children aged 12 and below seen for trauma in an Emergency Department over one year. Data captured in the real-time computer system was studied with regards to patient profile, mechanism of injury and patient disposition. Clinical summaries were extracted with follow-up telephone interviews done. RESULTS: Two thousand five hundred and seventeen children aged 12 and below were seen for accidental trauma in 1999, accounting for 37.1% of the total attendance for that age. Mean age was 7.7 years with males making up 62.7%. Home injuries (56.4%) were the most common, followed by road-related (14.4%), sports (8.2%) and playground injuries (7.4%). 48.5% sustained head and face injuries. Pre-school children (age <5) were more likely to sustain home injuries (p<0.0001), a higher proportion of head injuries (p<0.0001), foreign bodies, burns and poisoning compared to school-going children (age 6-12), who were more likely to sustain injuries in road accidents, sports, at playgrounds or schools, with more limb, trunk and multi-trauma. We highlight drownings, falls from height, rollover falls from beds, slamming door injuries, the low use of child car restraints, bicycle injuries and playground falls as areas of concern. CONCLUSION: Several injury prevention strategies have been suggested and it is hoped these may contribute to addressing preventable childhood injuries in Singapore. We also advocate the establishment of a national childhood injury surveillance database.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed2003

Falls from trucks: a descriptive study based on a workers compensation database.

BACKGROUND: Falls from heights, including falls from nonmoving trucks, are a known cause of serious workplace injuries [1,2,4,6,7,14,15]. Subsequent to the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) of Ontario implementing an industry sector management approach for service delivery the principle author noted a number of serious injuries as a consequence of falls from trucks or truck trailers. A literature search revealed limited articles, specifically relating to injuries sustained in falls from trucks or truck trailers. It was therefore decided to further investigate the scope of the problem. METHODS: A search of the Province of Ontario, Workplace Safety & Insurance Board (WSIB) database for the year 1997 was conducted to identify all claims, within the Transportation Sector, where a reported accident had been classified as a fall from a non-moving vehicle. The data extracted from identified claims constitutes the basis of this study. There were 1026 claims initially identified. Each identified claim was reviewed to determine if the study entry criteria; (1) a fall occurred and (2) the fall originated from a truck, its trailer or the cargo, were met. Of the identified claims 352 met the study inclusion criteria. A retrospective file review was conducted on each claim entered into the study and the study variables recorded on a predefined data sheet. RESULTS: The most frequent sites of falls were the back of the truck or trailer, the truck step and the cargo being transported. More than one injury was sustained by 23.6% of the study population. The major injuries identified included; 214 strains/sprains, 117 contusions and 101 fractures. One year post accident 89.4% of the study population had returned to work, of these 84.9% were on full duties and the remaining 4.5% were on modified duties. The total costs associated with the 352 injured workers included in this study amounted to $5,313,901.27. INTERPRETATION: Falls from trucks often result in significant injuries with considerable periods of disability and related costs. As falls from three specific locations i.e. the back of trucks/trailer, the cargo and the truck step made up 83% of the total falls efforts at prevention might best be directed to further investigate causal factors involved in the falls from these high frequency areas. A prospective study, including a detailed interview, with workers suffering a fall from a truck would assist in understanding factors that contribute to falls from trucks or truck trailers.

Accidental Falls↗
PubMed1991

[The postnatal development of EMG reactions of limb muscles to free fall stimulation. II. Studies of early postnatal hypoxic-burdoned rabbits].

12 rabbits ("Deutscher Riese") were exposed to a hypoxic atmosphere (FiO2 = 0.05) for 3 h at their 1st day of life. At the 7th or 13th day of life, steel wire electrodes were chronically implanted into 3 leg muscles in order to record the electromyograms (EMG). The myographic activity was derived during free fall (height of drop = 0.5 m) until the age of 20 days. The quantitatively analysed EMG data were compared with corresponding data of undisturbed growing control animals. Using various EMG parameters, a quantitative separation of hypoxic animals from the controls was successfully done by a discriminant analysis, the animals being 8 and 20 days of age, respectively. It can be concluded that 1. already a single perinatal hypoxic load influences the supraspinal motor system permanently at least up to the age of 20 days, and that 2. this supraspinal influence on the investigated vestibulospinal reaction changes with increasing age of the rabbits.

Aging↗
PubMed1991

The health, growth and educational performance of sickle cell disease children.

In a study by questionnaire and anthropometric measurements of the effect of sickle cell disease on the health growth and education of 102 Nigerian children aged between 9 months and 17 years, the first symptoms of the disease had occurred by the age 1 1/2 years in 58.8% of them. Strenuous exercise and exposure to cold water and weather commonly precipitated illness episodes which occurred in 81.4% of the children at least bi-annually. 94.1% of the children have been hospitalised and 76.5% transfused with blood at least once each before. Of the 67 children in school only 32.8% were in their correct classes and 53.7% have lost years. The mean class examination performance score computed for 55 of those in school was 67.8% +/- 21.5. The heights fall around and the weights below the third percentile of standard growth curves for Nigerian elite children. The disease affects the parameters examined adversely and should be controlled more effectively.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1993

[Lumbar and cervical "traumatic intervertebral disk displacement"].

25 cases with traumatic lumbar and cervical disc herniation are described and criteria for a causal connection between trauma and prolapse are discussed: 1. The accident must be adequate, e.g. jumps from considerable height, falls, car collisions and lifting heavy weights (only in private insurance companies). 2. Typical discopathic complaints must occur soon after the accident. 3. Major degenerative disease before trauma of the vertebral column must be excluded. The medical expert has to assess in each case of possible traumatic disc herniation the cause of trauma and the resulting reduction of earning capacity.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Impalement injuries. A clinical case].

The authors present a case of penetrating injury of the extraperitoneal rectum, in a worker of 41. The treatment required a simple suture, because the conditions were favourable, such as simple lesions, without peritoneum contamination. Moreover, the authors propose a review of the literature, to single out the factors which influence mortality and mobility, as well as the most recent pathogenetic and therapeutic findings. Lesions caused by impalement are usually a difficult surgical problem. The mechanism of the injury, is usually a direct one, commonly diffused among workers. The entity of these lesions depends on the fall height, the penetrating object dimensions and the patient's weight. The diagnosis is based on anamnestic, clinical, radiological and endoscopic observations. The prognosis depends on several factors, such as: 1) the trauma extension and the presence of associated lesions; 2) the time elapsed between the trauma and the treatment influences the degree of bacterial contamination; 3) the patient's age and his physical conditions; 4) the assistance quality at the moment of the occurrence. The mortality, as far as complex lesions are concerned, is nowadays very high (50-75%).

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The development of a fluid percussion device for brain injury of animals].

This paper discusses a fluid percussion device for brain injury. The injury is produced by striking the cork with a pendulum dropped from a known fall height to produce transient high pressure through a fluid transfer system. Experimental results show the device has the advantages of making a controllable, repeatable, and precise injury, and it can produce different levels of injury on different animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

An analysis of 161 falls from a height: the 'jumper syndrome'.

Vertical deceleration injuries represent a distinct form of urban blunt trauma. We reviewed 161 adult patients, admitted over 36 months, who jumped or fell from a height of one to seven stories and survived emergency department resuscitation. Charts and radiographs were analyzed to identify common injuries, complications, and causes of death. Those who fell five or more stories had a mean ISS of 41, for a predicted survival of 50% but actual survival of 83%. Virtually all these patients had multiple fractures. Sixty per cent of them presented in shock, yet more than two thirds had angiographically demonstrated retroperitoneal hemorrhage as their major source of bleeding. Thirteen patients had significant intra-abdominal injuries, with only one associated with major hemorrhage. Utilizing early diagnostic peritoneal lavage, ten of 13 patients explored had a therapeutic laparotomy. Hollow viscus perforations accounted for about one half of the abdominal injuries, including three duodenal injuries. Conclusions. 1) Patients who present in shock after falls from height are much more likely to be bleeding from retroperitoneal than intraperitoneal sources. 2) Early tap and lavage followed by emergency angiography and transcatheter embolization is the treatment of choice in this group of patients. 3) Although these patients often have multiple complex injuries, the prognosis for long-term survival is good. Therefore, we advocate early aggressive operation stabilization of fractures to permit patient mobilization, facilitate pulmonary toilet and nursing care, and to decrease long-term disability.

Abdominal Injuries↗