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Background: The study aimed to assess the reliability, validity, and responsiveness of the Polish version of Knee Outcome Survey Activities of the Daily Living Scale (KOS-ADLS) in a group of patients after arthroscopic reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). Methods: The study was a longitudinal study with repeated measures. One hundred and twelve subjects who qualified for arthroscopic ACL reconstruction (mean age = 31.8 years) were initially enrolled in this study. The Polish version of KOS-ADLS and Short Form-36 v. 2.0 (SF-36) were used. Results: The Polish version of KOS-ADLS in subjects after ACL rupture demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha for KOS-ADLS- total = 0.91), and test–retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC-total = 0.98). The standard error of measurement (SEM) value was 0.81 and the minimal detectable change (MDC) was 2.23 for KOS-ADLS-total. The validity analysis showed a moderate and low correlation between KOS-ADLS and different domains of SF-36 from r = 0.354 between KOS-ADLS activity and the physical component scale (PCS) of SF-36: to r = 0.206 between KOS-ADLS activity and the mental component scale (MCS) of SF-36. Conclusions: The Polish version of KOS-ADLS turned out to be a reliable, valid and responsive self-reported outcome measure, allowing for the self-assessment of symptoms and function related to the knee joint impairment after ACL reconstruction. Therefore, the scale can be applied in clinical practice and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) performed on working-age patients significantly affects the participation of such patients in social life. A retrospective study was conducted to determine the return to work (RTW) rate after TKA. The goal of this study was to provide reference data for the Polish population and identify the factors impacting patients' decisions to return to or resign from work, relative to their functional performance. (2) Methods: This retrospective study involved 48 patients. An interview related to RTW was carried out to identify the factors impacting a patient's decision to return to or resign from work. Functional performance was assessed using the Knee Outcome Survey–Activities of Daily Living (KOS-ADL) scale. (3) Results: Before TKA, 15 individuals (31.25%) qualified for the study did not work and were receiving welfare benefits. After the surgery, 23 individuals (47.9% of those working prior to TKA) did not return to work. The number of those who did not work after TKA increased to 38 (79.17%), which was a significant change. The mean level of functional performance after TKA assessed using KOS-ADL was 75.89. (4) Conclusions: The findings show that the rate of RTW after TKA in Poland is significantly lower than that in other countries. The reasons for this situation, as shown in the study, may be related to the lack of an occupational rehabilitation system, resulting in a paucity of information about the possibility to return to work and about opportunities for retraining. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common cause of joint pain in older people. Many factors contribute to osteoarthritis' development and progression, including secondary osteoarthritis' underlying causes. It is important to note that osteoarthritis affects all four tissues: cartilage, bone, joint capsule, and articular apparatus. An increasingly prominent area of research in osteoarthritis regulation is microRNAs (miRNAs), a small, single-stranded RNA molecule that controls gene expression in eukaryotes. We aimed to assess and summarize current knowledge about the mechanisms of the action of miRNAs and their clinical significance. Osteoarthritis (OA) is affected by the interaction between miRNAs and inflammatory processes, as well as cartilage metabolism. MiRNAs also influence cartilage cell apoptosis, contributing to the degradation of the cartilage in OA. Studies have shown that miRNAs may have both an inhibitory and promoting effect on osteoporosis progression through their influence on molecular mechanisms. By identifying these regulators, targeted treatments for osteoarthritis may be developed. In addition, microRNA may also serve as a biomarker for osteoarthritis. By using these biomarkers, the disease could be detected faster, and early intervention can be instituted to prevent mobility loss and slow deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Float zone silicon (FZ-Si) is typically assumed to be an extremely high quality material, with high minority carrier lifetimes and low concentrations of recombination active defects. However, minority carrier lifetime in FZ-Si has previously been shown to be unstable following thermal treatments between 450 and 700 °C, with a range of unidentified deep level states being linked to reduced carrier lifetime. There are suspicions that nitrogen doping, which occurs from the growth atmosphere, and intrinsic point defects play a role in the degradation. This study aims to address this by using deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS), minority carrier transient spectroscopy, Laplace DLTS, and photoluminescence lifetime measurements to study recombination active defects in nitrogen-doped and nitrogen-lean n-type FZ-Si samples. We find that nitrogen-doped samples experience increased degradation due to higher concentrations of deep level defects during thermal treatments compared to nitrogen-lean samples. In an attempt to explain this difference, in-diffusion of nickel has been used as a marker to demonstrate the existence of higher vacancy concentrations in the nitrogen-doped samples. The origin of the recombination active defects responsible for the thermally induced lifetime degradation in FZ-Si crystals is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, medicine uses typical industrial structure techniques, including reverse engineering, data processing, 3D-CAD modeling, 3D printing, and coordinate measurement techniques. Taking this into account, one can notice the applications of procedures used in the aviation or automotive industries based on the structure of Industry 4.0 in the planning of operations and the production of medical models with high geometric accuracy. The procedure presented in the publication shortens the processing time of tomographic data and increases the reconstruction accuracy within the hip and knee joints. The procedure allows for the partial removal of metallic artifacts from the diagnostic image. Additionally, numerical models of anatomical structures, implants, and bone cement were developed in more detail by averaging the values of local segmentation thresholds. Before the model manufacturing process, additional tests of the PLA material were conducted in terms of its strength and thermal properties. Their goal was to select the appropriate type of PLA material for manufacturing models of anatomical structures. The numerical models were divided into parts before being manufactured using the Fused Filament Fabrication technique. The use of the modifier made it possible to change the density, type of filling, number of counters, and the type of supporting structure. These treatments allowed us to reduce costs and production time and increase the accuracy of the printout. The accuracy of the manufactured model geometry was verified using the MCA-II measuring arm with the MMDx100 laser head and surface roughness using a 3D Talyscan 150 profilometer. Using the procedure, a decrease in geometric deviations and amplitude parameters of the surface roughness were noticed. The models based on the presented approach allowed for detailed and meticulous treatment planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]