Foot

INTRODUCTION: Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly prescribed for people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) to improve gait efficiency and reduce the occurrence of tripping and falls. The aim of this study was to systematically review evidence on the effects of AFOs on gait kinematics and kinetics and postural stability/balance in people with CMT. METHODS: Studies were identified from electronic databases and screened for inclusion online using Rayyan. Data from all eligible studies were extracted into a standardised Excel spreadsheet...

INTRODUCTION: Evaluations of clinical outcomes in service members with mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained in combat have largely focused on neurobehavioral and somatic symptoms, neurocognitive functioning, and psychological/psychiatric health. Questions remain regarding other domains, such as gross or fine motor abilities, that could be impacted and are mission-critical to functional warfighters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The objective of the current study was to evaluate longitudinal motor function in U...

n/a.

Split-hand/foot malformation is a serious congenital limb malformation characterized by syndactyly and underdevelopment of the phalanges and metatarsals. In this study, we reported a case of a fetus with hand-foot cleft deformity. Whole exome and Sanger sequencing were used to filter out candidate gene mutation sites and provide pre-implantation genetic testing(PGT) for family members. Genetic testing results showed that there was a homozygous mutation c.786G>A (p.Trp262*) in the fetal WNT10B , and both parents were carriers of heterozygous mutations...

This study presents an IoT-based gait analysis system employing insole pressure sensors to assess gait kinetics. The system integrates piezoresistive sensors within a left foot insole, with data acquisition managed using an ESP32 board that communicates via Wi-Fi through an MQTT IoT framework. In this initial protocol study, we conducted a comparative analysis using the Zeno system, supported by PKMAS as the gold standard, to explore the correlation and agreement of data obtained from the insole system. Four volunteers (two males and two females, aged 24-28, without gait disorders) participated by walking along a 10 m Zeno system path, equipped with pressure sensors, while wearing the insole system...

There is limited validation for portable methods in evaluating high-speed running biomechanics, with inertial measurement unit (IMU) systems commonly used as wearables for this purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of an IMU system in high-speed running compared to a 3D motion analysis system (MAS). One runner performed incremental treadmill running, from 12 to 18 km/h, on two separate days. Sagittal angles for the shank, knee, hip and pelvis were measured simultaneously with three IMUs and the MAS at the point of contact (POC), the timing when the foot initially hits the ground, as identified by IMU system acceleration, and compared to the POC identified via force plate...

An increase in plantar pressure and skin temperature is commonly associated with an increased risk of diabetic foot ulcers. However, the effect of insoles in reducing plantar temperature has not been commonly studied. The aim was to assess the effect of walking in insoles with different features on plantar temperature. Twenty-six (F/M:18/8) participants-13 with diabetes and 13 healthy, aged 55.67 ± 9.58 years-participated in this study. Skin temperature at seven plantar regions was measured using a thermal camera and reported as the difference between the temperature after walking with an insole for 20 m versus the baseline temperature...

Pressure-relieving footwear helps prevent foot ulcers in people with diabetes. The footwear design contributes to this effect and includes the insole top cover. We aimed to assess the offloading effect of materials commonly used as insole top cover. We measured 20 participants with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy for in-shoe peak pressures while walking in their prescribed footwear with the insole covered with eight different materials, tested in randomized order. Top covers were a 3 mm or 6 mm thick open or closed-cell foam or a 6 mm thick combination of open- and closed-cell foams...

Conductive multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as well as piezoelectric zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles are frequently used as a single additive and dispersed in polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) solutions for the fabrication of piezoelectric composite films. In this study, MWCNT/ZnO binary dispersions are used as spinning liquids to fabricate composite nanofibrous films by electrospinning. Binary additives are conducive to increasing the crystallinity, piezoelectric voltage coefficient, and consequent piezoelectricity of as-spun films owing to the stretch-enhanced polarization of the electrospinning process under an applied electric field...

Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers, and venous ulcers, pose significant clinical challenges and burden healthcare systems worldwide. The advent of 3D bioprinting technologies offers innovative solutions for enhancing chronic wound care. This scoping review evaluates the applications, methodologies, and effectiveness of 3D-printed bioinks in chronic wound healing, focusing on bioinks incorporating living cells to facilitate wound closure and tissue regeneration. Relevant studies were identified through comprehensive searches in databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, following strict inclusion criteria...

Functional Ankle Instability (FAI) is the subject of extensive research in sports and other environments. Given the importance of accurately measuring this latent construct, it is imperative to carry out a careful assessment of the available tools. In this context, the aim of this review was to take an in-depth look at the six most cited measurement tools to assess FAI, with a specific focus on patient-reported outcome measures related to ankle and foot. Four electronic databases (Web of Science, Scopus, Pubmed, and SportDiscus) were searched (up to November 2022) to identify the six most cited questionnaires for assessing FAI...

INTRODUCTION: Combinations of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are the standard of care (SOC) for treatment-naive metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) patients. In this multicenter study, we evaluated the RW safety and efficacy of cabozantinib plus nivolumab in mRCC patients. METHODS: Data were retrospectively collected from twelve cancer centers in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Patients with advanced or mRCC were eligible. The investigator-based objective response rate (ORR) and progression free survival (PFS) were calculated from the start of the treatment to progression or death...

Backyard chickens often suffer from foot pad dermatitis (FPD), a condition exacerbated by poor husbandry, nutritional deficiencies, and obesity. Pressure-relieving bandages, commonly used in the treatment of FPD, are impractical for outdoor chickens as they quickly become wet and dirty, necessitating daily changes that are often unfeasible. This retrospective study explores the use of custom-fit silicone shoes created via 3D-printed molds as an alternative to traditional bandages. CT scans were used to design shoes adapted from a design used for birds of prey...

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the differences in hallux valgus angle (HVA), intermetatarsal angle (IMA), American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scores, and complication rates between chevron osteotomy and scarf osteotomy for correcting hallux valgus. METHODS: Two investigators independently searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published from 2007 to 2018 on PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases...

BACKGROUND: Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71), as a neurotropic virus, mainly affects infants and young children under the age of 5. EV-A71 infection causes hand-foot-mouth disease and herpetic angina, and even life-threatening neurological complications. However, the molecular mechanism by which EV-A71 induces nervous system damage remains elusive. The viral protease 3C plays an important role during EV-A71 infection and is also a key intersection of virus-host interactions. Previously, we used yeast two-hybrid to screen out the host protein Double-stranded RNA-binding protein Staufen homolog 2 (Stau2), an important member involved in neuronal mRNA transport, potentially interacts with 3C...

The bearing capacity and settlements of surface foundations located on a soil slope are the important issues that have to be considered by geotechnical engineers for the design. The presence of an underground void beneath the footing can affect the foundation stability and can lead to serious structure damages. In this study, the results of two-dimensional (2D) discrete element (DE) and finite element (FE) analyses of a surface footing on a soil slope above a void are presented. To validate the numerical model results, the DE results obtained have been compared with experimental test presented in the previous study...

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Charcot foot is a complication of diabetes mellitus that has potentially disastrous consequences. Although it was first described in 1868 and found to be associated with diabetes in 1936, there is still uncertainty about the risk factors affecting the development of the condition. Here, we aim to identify risk factors for Charcot foot in a nationwide cohort study. METHODS: A retrospective register-based cohort study was performed for the period 2001-2016, using nationwide registries...

BACKGROUND: Fluoroquinolone antibiotics can increase the risk of tendon rupture. Treatment of these Achilles ruptures can be difficult due to comorbidities. METHODS: A case series of 13 consecutive patients with Achilles ruptures following fluoroquinolone use were identified over a 2 year period through the Achilles Tendon rupture clinic and managed conservatively using functional rehabilitation. Follow-up with the Achilles tendon rupture score (ATRS) was completed at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months...

AIMS: Patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) have become the de facto measure of success in orthopaedic publications. It has been established that preoperatively collected patient reported outcomes correlate with post-operative outcome. The aim of our research is to identify which factors predict poor pre-operative scores using the most commonly used PROMs. METHODS: MOXFQ and EQ-5D scores were collected for all patients presenting for elective foot and ankle surgery over a four-year period from June 2018 to February 2022...

Our recent findings in athletes with chronic ankle instability (CAI) revealed increased tone and stiffness alongside reduced elasticity in the peroneus longus (PL) during myotonometric (MYO) measurements at rest, suggesting diagnostic relevance. MYO recordings during muscle contraction in healthy subjects showed an active muscle stiffness influence on MYO parameters, suggesting its potential impact on CAI-related MYO findings. However, it remains unknown whether PL stiffening observed recently in CAI athletes at rest can also be detected while PL muscle contraction...