| 1. |
- Gomez-Piqueras, Pedro, et al.
(author)
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Are we making SMART decisions regarding return to training of injured football players? Preliminary results from a pilot study
- 2018
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In: Isokinetics and exercise science. - : IOS PRESS. - 0959-3020 .- 1878-5913. ; 26:2, s. 115-123
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: "When will I be able to play again?" is the most frequent question asked by injured athletes. Due to the complex nature of sports injury, deciding when an injured athlete may safely return to training is a critical and difficult decision. OBJECTIVE: To study if the Safe Multidimensional Algorithm for Return to Training (SMART) scores, applied before the release to full return to training after injury differs between football players who suffer a subsequent re-injury and football players who do not. METHOD: Seventy one male professional football players were prospectively monitored for injuries during two seasons. The SMART tool was applied in injured players with an absence amp;gt; 10 days. The injured player had to carry out 17 multidimensional tests included in the algorithm in his final days of the planned rehabilitation. The results of the SMART were compared between players who sustained re-injuries and those who did not. RESULTS: Fifty-five injuries with absence amp;gt; 10 days were recorded and re-injuries occurred in 12 of these cases (22%). There was a lower re-injury rate in players who presented a better recovery in pain (p amp;lt; 0.001), agility (RR 21.0, 95% CI: 2.0 to 213.2), advanced agility (RR 26.7, 95% CI: 4.9 to 142.8), anxiety (RR 8.6, 95% CI: 2.0 to 36.2), depression (RR 10.3, 95% CI: 1.5 to 65.7), self-perception (p amp;lt; 0.001), advanced skills mode (RR 20.5, 95% CI: 3.3 to 125.9) and group skills mode (p amp;lt; 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A multidimensional approach of Return to Training that includes objective measures may indicate potential deficiencies in the recovery of injured players.
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| 2. |
- Grassi, Alberto, et al.
(author)
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Does revision ACL reconstruction measure up to primary surgery? A meta-analysis comparing patient-reported and clinician-reported outcomes, and radiographic results
- 2016
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In: British Journal of Sports Medicine. - : BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP. - 0306-3674 .- 1473-0480. ; 50:12, s. 716-724
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose To compare patient-reported and clinician-reported outcomes, and radiographic results between patients who had had revision ACL reconstruction and those who had had primary ACL reconstruction. Design Systematic review and meta-analysis Data sources The MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE and SPORTDiscus electronic databases were searched on 6 August 2015, using 3 main concepts: (1) revision ACL reconstruction, (2) primary ACL reconstruction and (3) treatment outcomes. Eligibility criteria for selecting studies Articles that compared patient-reported or clinician-reported outcomes or radiographic results between patients who had had revision ACL reconstruction and those who had had primary surgery with a minimum of 2 years follow-up were included. The outcomes evaluated were the Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale, objective International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) classification, Tegner Activity Scale, side-to-side difference in anterior tibial translation measured with KT-1000/2000 arthrometer, pivot shift test, tibiofemoral osteoarthritis grading on plain radiographs and subsequent knee surgeries. Results 8 studies (300 revision ACL reconstructions and 413 primary ACL reconstructions) were included in the meta-analysis. Patients who had had revision surgery reported inferior Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale scores (mean difference: 7.8 points), had inferior clinician-reported knee function as assessed with the objective IKDC classification (IKDC category A: 27% vs 57%; IKDC category C or D: 22% vs 8%) and pivot shift test (grade II or III: 7% vs 2%), and more radiographic evidence of tibiofemoral osteoarthritis (50% vs 25%) compared with patients who had had primary surgery. Conclusions Revision ACL reconstruction restored similar anterior-posterior knee laxity compared with primary ACL reconstruction. Patients who had had revision surgery reported inferior Lysholm Knee Scoring Scale scores, had inferior clinician-reported knee function and more radiographic signs of tibiofemoral osteoarthritis compared with patients with primary ACL reconstruction.
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| 3. |
- Grassi, Alberto, et al.
(author)
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Eighty-two per cent of male professional football (soccer) players return to play at the previous level two seasons after Achilles tendon rupture treated with surgical repair.
- 2020
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In: British journal of sports medicine. - : BMJ. - 1473-0480 .- 0306-3674. ; 54:8, s. 480-486
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To evaluate the time to return to playing following acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) and surgical repair in professional male football (soccer) players.Professional male football (soccer) players who sustained an ATR and underwent surgical repair were identified through internet-based injury reports from January 2008 to August 2018. Only League 1 and 2 players with injuries who had at least 1 year of follow-up from the search date were included. Injury history and time to return to play were retrieved from the public platform transfermarkt.com. For athletes who competed for at least two seasons after returning to play, re-ruptures and number of matches played were reported.118 athletes (mean age 27.2±7.2 years) were included. 113 (96%) returned to unrestricted practice after a mean of 199±53 days, with faster recovery in players involved in national teams. Return to competition was after a mean of 274±114 days. In the 76 athletes with at least two seasons of follow-up, 14 (18%) did not compete at the pre-injury level during the two seasons following the index injury. Six players (8%) sustained a re-rupture within the first two seasons after return to play; four re-ruptures were in footballers who returned to play <180 days after injury. Age >30 years and re-ruptures had higher odds ratios of not returning to the same level of play.96% of professional male football players who underwent surgery to repair an ATR returned to unrestricted practice and then competition after an average time of 7 and 9 months, respectively. However, 18% did not return to the same level of play within the two seasons following their return, with a higher risk in those experiencing a re-rupture.
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| 4. |
- Hamrin Senorski, Eric, 1989, et al.
(author)
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Concomitant injuries may not reduce the likelihood of achieving symmetrical muscle function oneyear after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective observational study based on 263 patients.
- 2018
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In: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1433-7347. ; 26:10, s. 2966-2977
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- A better understanding of patient characteristics and the way common concomitant injuries affect the recovery of muscle function after surgery should help providers to treat patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. The aim of this study was to determine whether patient characteristics, concomitant injuries and graft choice at ACL reconstruction were associated with symmetrical knee muscle function at one year. The hypothesis was that the presence of concomitant injuries would negatively influence the opportunity to achieve symmetrical knee function at the one-year follow-up.Data was extracted from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Register and a rehabilitation outcome register between August 2012 and December 2016. The patients had been evaluated with a battery of tests comprising knee extension and flexion strength, vertical jump, hop for distance and the side-hop test one year after ACL reconstruction. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed with achieving a limb symmetry index (LSI) of ≥90% in all tests of muscle function as primary outcome.A total of 263 patients with a mean age of 26.7±10.3years were included in the study (47% females). No patient demographic or intra-operative predictors were found to be significant when attempting to predict the achievement of a symmetrical muscle function. Lateral meniscus injury and a patellar tendon autograft reduced the odds of achieving an LSI of ≥90% in knee extension strength, OR=0.49 [(95% CI 0.25-0.97), p=0.039] and OR=0.30 [(95% CI 0.14-0.67), p=0.0033] respectively. In addition, reduced odds of recovering knee extension strength were found in older patients, OR=0.76 [(95% CI 0.60-0.98), p=0.034]. A higher pre-injury level of physical activity increased the odds of recovering knee flexion strength, OR=1.14 [(95% CI 1.01-1.29), p=0.037].Intra-operatively identified concomitant injuries or graft choice did not affect the likelihood of recovering symmetrical performance in five different tests of muscle function one year after ACL reconstruction. However, fewer than one in four patients achieved an LSI of ≥90% in all tests.Prospective observational study: Level 2.
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| 5. |
- Hamrin Senorski, Eric, 1989, et al.
(author)
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Factors Affecting the Achievement of a Patient-Acceptable Symptom State 1 Year After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Cohort Study of 343 Patients From 2 Registries.
- 2018
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In: Orthopaedic journal of sports medicine. - : SAGE Publications. - 2325-9671. ; 6:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is insufficient knowledge regarding the influence of concomitant injuries on the recovery of short-term subjective knee function after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.To determine whether patient characteristics, concomitant injuries, and graft choice during ACL reconstruction can predict which patients achieve acceptable knee function 1 year after reconstruction.Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3.Data from 1 physical therapist-specific and 1 surgeon-specific register were used. Patients who had completed the Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) at 1-year follow-up were included. Additional intraoperative information was extracted from a database. The primary outcome was achieving a patient-acceptable symptom state (PASS) for each subscale of the KOOS. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models were used, with patient sex, age, and preinjury level of physical activity as covariates.A total of 343 patients (51% females) were included. The proportion of patients achieving PASS 1 year after ACL reconstruction varied between 40% and 85% among the KOOS subscales. Younger age at reconstruction and male sex provided favorable odds of achieving acceptable knee function across the KOOS subscales. Patients without cartilage injury had increased odds of achieving PASS in the KOOS sport and recreation subscale; the increase was 1.63-fold (95% CI, 1.01-2.64; P = .045). Patients receiving patellar tendon autograft had a 0.41-fold (95% CI, 0.19-0.85; P = .017) decrease in odds of achieving PASS on the KOOS quality of life (QoL) subscale. In the multivariable analysis, increased odds of achieving PASS on the KOOS QoL subscale were associated with the absence of meniscal injury (odds ratio, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.04-2.54; P = .035), and increased odds were found for hamstring tendon autograft (OR, 2.63; 95% CI, 1.25-5.56; P = .011).More than half of the patients reported an acceptable symptom state on 4 of the 5 KOOS subscales 1 year after ACL reconstruction. A lack of consistency was noted related to the effect of concomitant knee injuries and graft choice on acceptable knee function. However, younger age and male sex were favorable, nonmodifiable characteristics that increased the odds of early acceptable function.
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| 6. |
- Hua, Ay-Yen, et al.
(author)
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Mapping functions in health-related quality of life: mapping from the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score to the EQ-5D.
- 2018
-
In: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1433-7347. ; 26:10, s. 3083-3088
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Health state utility values are derived from preference-based measurements and are useful in calculating quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), which is a metric commonly used in cost-effectiveness studies. The purpose of this study was to convert the Achilles Tendon Rupture Score (ATRS) to the preference-based European Quality of Life-5 Dimension Questionnaire (EQ-5D) by estimating the relationship between the two scores using mapping.Data were collected from a randomised controlled trial, where 100 patients were treated either surgically or non-surgically for Achilles tendon rupture. Forty-three and forty-four patients in surgical group and non-surgical group completed the ATRS and the EQ-5D alongside each other during follow-up at three time points. Different models of the relationship between the ATRS and the EQ-5D were developed and analysed based on direct mapping and cross-validation. The model with the lowest mean absolute error was observed as the one with the best fit.Among the competing models, mapping based on using a combination of the ATRS items four, five, and six associated with limitation due to pain, during activities of daily living and when walking on uneven ground, produced the best predictor of the EQ-5D score.The present study provides a mapping algorithm to enable the derivation of utility values directly from the ATRS. This approach makes it feasible for researchers, as well as medical practitioners, to obtain preference-based values in clinical studies or settings where only the ATRS is being administered. The algorithm allows for the calculation of QALYs for use in cost-effectiveness analyses, making it valuable in the study of acute Achilles tendon ruptures.II.
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| 7. |
- Kaarre, Janina, 1996, et al.
(author)
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Comparison of Improvement in Patient-Reported Knee Function After Revision and Multiple-Revision ACL Reconstruction Compared With Primary ACL Reconstruction
- 2023
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In: ORTHOPAEDIC JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE. - 2325-9671. ; 11:12
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Graft failure after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is a debilitating complication often requiring revision surgery. It is widely agreed upon that functional knee outcomes after revision ACLR (r-ACLR) are inferior compared with those after primary reconstruction. However, data are scarce on outcomes after multiple-revision ACLR (mr-ACLR).Purpose: To compare patient-reported knee function in terms of Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) preoperatively and 1-year postoperatively after primary ACLR, r-ACLR, and mr-ACLR and evaluate the pre- to postoperative improvement in KOOS scores for each procedure.Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods: Patients from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Registry who underwent their index ACLR between 2005 and 2020 with a minimum age of 15 years at the time of surgery were included in this study. All patients had pre- and postoperative KOOS data. The 1-year postoperative KOOS and the pre- to postoperative changes in KOOS were assessed between patients who underwent primary ACLR and those who underwent subsequent r-ACLR and mr-ACLR.Results: Of 20,542 included patients, 19,769 (96.2%) underwent primary ACLR, 760 (3.7%) underwent r-ACLR, and 13 (0.06%) underwent mr-ACLR. Patients who underwent r-ACLR had significantly smaller pre- to postoperative changes on all KOOS subscales compared with patients undergoing primary ACLR (P < .0001 for all). Furthermore, patients in the mr-ACLR group had significantly smaller changes in the KOOS-Pain subscale compared with patients in the r-ACLR group (-9 +/- 23.3 vs 2.5 +/- 18; P = .024).Conclusion: The study results indicated that while improvement is seen after primary ACLR, r-ACLR, and mr-ACLR, the greatest improvement in functional outcomes is observed after primary ACLR. Patients who underwent at least 1 r-ACLR, specifically mr-ACLR, had lower postoperative outcome scores, indicating that primary ACLR may provide the best chance for recovery after ACL injury.
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| 8. |
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
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| 11. |
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| 12. |
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
- Oettl, Felix C., et al.
(author)
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A practical guide to the implementation of AI in orthopaedic research, Part 6: How to evaluate the performance of AI research?
- 2024
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In: Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics. - 2197-1153. ; 11:3
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Artificial intelligence's (AI) accelerating progress demands rigorous evaluation standards to ensure safe, effective integration into healthcare's high-stakes decisions. As AI increasingly enables prediction, analysis and judgement capabilities relevant to medicine, proper evaluation and interpretation are indispensable. Erroneous AI could endanger patients; thus, developing, validating and deploying medical AI demands adhering to strict, transparent standards centred on safety, ethics and responsible oversight. Core considerations include assessing performance on diverse real-world data, collaborating with domain experts, confirming model reliability and limitations, and advancing interpretability. Thoughtful selection of evaluation metrics suited to the clinical context along with testing on diverse data sets representing different populations improves generalisability. Partnering software engineers, data scientists and medical practitioners ground assessment in real needs. Journals must uphold reporting standards matching AI's societal impacts. With rigorous, holistic evaluation frameworks, AI can progress towards expanding healthcare access and quality. Level of Evidence: Level V.
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| 15. |
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| 16. |
- Padmanabhan, Sandosh, et al.
(author)
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Genome-Wide Association Study of Blood Pressure Extremes Identifies Variant near UMOD Associated with Hypertension
- 2010
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In: PLoS Genetics. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1553-7404. ; 6:10
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hypertension is a heritable and major contributor to the global burden of disease. The sum of rare and common genetic variants robustly identified so far explain only 1%-2% of the population variation in BP and hypertension. This suggests the existence of more undiscovered common variants. We conducted a genome-wide association study in 1,621 hypertensive cases and 1,699 controls and follow-up validation analyses in 19,845 cases and 16,541 controls using an extreme case-control design. We identified a locus on chromosome 16 in the 59 region of Uromodulin (UMOD; rs13333226, combined P value of 3.6x10(-11)). The minor G allele is associated with a lower risk of hypertension (OR [95% CI]: 0.87 [0.84-0.91]), reduced urinary uromodulin excretion, better renal function; and each copy of the G allele is associated with a 7.7% reduction in risk of CVD events after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and smoking status (H.R. = 0.923, 95% CI 0.860-0.991; p = 0.027). In a subset of 13,446 individuals with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) measurements, we show that rs13333226 is independently associated with hypertension (unadjusted for eGFR: 0.89 [0.83-0.96], p = 0.004; after eGFR adjustment: 0.89 [0.83-0.96], p = 0.003). In clinical functional studies, we also consistently show the minor G allele is associated with lower urinary uromodulin excretion. The exclusive expression of uromodulin in the thick portion of the ascending limb of Henle suggests a putative role of this variant in hypertension through an effect on sodium homeostasis. The newly discovered UMOD locus for hypertension has the potential to give new insights into the role of uromodulin in BP regulation and to identify novel drugable targets for reducing cardiovascular risk.
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| 17. |
- Piussi, Ramana, 1988, et al.
(author)
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Better safe than sorry? A systematic review and meta-analysis on time to return to sport after ACL reconstruction as a risk factor for second ACL injury.
- 2024
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In: The Journal of orthopaedic and sports physical therapy. - 1938-1344. ; 54:3, s. 161-175
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To analyse the timing of Return to Sports (RTS) as a potential risk factor for a second anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury after ACL reconstruction. DESIGN: Systematic review with meta-analysis. LITERATURE SEARCH: The Cochrane Library, EMbase, MEDLINE, AMED and PEDro databases were searched in August 2021 and November 2022. STUDY SELECTION CRITERIA: Clinical studies published in English in peer-reviewed journals, that reported time to RTS after ACL reconstruction and occurrence of second ACL injury were eligible. DATA SYNTHESIS: We pooled continuous data with random-effects meta-analyses, and pooled estimates were summarised in forest plots. A qualitative data synthesis was performed for data not included in meta-analysis. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies were included in the meta-analysis and 33 were included in the qualitative synthesis. Pooled incidence of a second ACL injury was 16.9% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 12.8-21.6). Patients who suffered a second ACL injury returned to sport significantly earlier (0.77 months [95% CI 0.26-1.28]). CONCLUSION: Time to RTS was a risk factor for a second ACL injury, where patients who suffered a second ACL injury returned to sport almost one month earlier compared with patients who did not suffer a second ACL injury: 9.1 compared with 8.7 months. There was no difference in time to RTS between professional athletes who suffered a second ACL injury and athletes who did not. The certainty of evidence in the results was graded as "very low".
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| 18. |
- Svantesson, Eleonor, et al.
(author)
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Graft Choice for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction With a Concomitant Non-surgically Treated Medial Collateral Ligament Injury Does Not Influence the Risk of Revision.
- 2020
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In: Arthroscopy : the journal of arthroscopic & related surgery : official publication of the Arthroscopy Association of North America and the International Arthroscopy Association. - : Elsevier BV. - 1526-3231. ; 31:1, s. 199-211
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To compare the risk of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) revision and the patient-reported outcome after ACL reconstruction with a concomitant non-surgically treated medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury with regard to 3 ACL graft choices; the use of semitendinosus (ST), the use of semitendinosus-gracilis (ST-G), and the use of patellar tendon (PT) autograft. It was hypothesized that the use of ST-G would be associated with a greater risk of ACL revision and poorer patient-reported knee function.Patients older than 15years of age registered for a primary ACL reconstruction with a concomitant non-surgically treated MCL injury in the Swedish National Knee Ligament Registry were assessed for eligibility. Three groups were created according to ACL autograft choice; the ST, the ST-G, and the PT group. The primary outcomes were ACL revision and the 1- and 2-year Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), including the KOOS patient acceptable symptom state (PASS). Cox regression analysis was applied to determine the proportional hazard ratio (HR) of primary ACL reconstruction survival. The KOOS was compared using the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact test.A total of 622 patients (mean age 29.7years, 42.4% women) were included. There was no difference in the risk of ACL revision for either the ST group (HR 1.354; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.678-2.702 or the PT group (HR0.837; 95% CI 0.334-2.100), compared with the ST-G group. The ST group reported a greater mean 2-year KOOS sports and recreation (68.5, standard deviation [SD] 28.5) than the ST-G group (57.4 [SD 27.6], P= .010) and the PT group (54.1 [SD30.3], P= .006). The ST group was superior in terms of achieving PASS in sports and recreation (55.3%; 95% CI 44.1-66.1%) compared with both the ST-G (37.4%; 95% CI 29.8-45.5%; P= .014) and the PT group (33.9%; 95% CI 22.1-47.4%; P= .009).The risk of ACL revision did not differ between HT and PTautografts in patients undergoing ACL reconstruction with a non-surgically treated MCL injury. However, the use of ST-Gwas associated with poorer 2-year patient-reported knee function compared with the ST.Retrospective comparative trial, Level III.
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| 19. |
- Svantesson, Eleonor, et al.
(author)
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Increased risk of ACL revision with non-surgical treatment of a concomitant medial collateral ligament injury: a study on 19,457 patients from the Swedish National Knee Ligament Registry.
- 2019
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In: Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1433-7347. ; 27:8, s. 2450-2459
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To determine how concomitant medial collateral ligament (MCL) and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) injuries affect outcome after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.Patients aged>15years who were registered in the Swedish National Knee Ligament Registry for primary ACL reconstruction between 2005 and 2016 were eligible for inclusion. Patients with a concomitant MCL or LCL injury were stratified according to collateral ligament treatment (non-surgical, repair or reconstruction), and one isolated ACL reconstruction group was created. The outcomes were ACL revision and the 2-year Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), which were analyzed using univariable and multivariable Cox regression and an analysis of covariance, respectively.A total of 19,457 patients (mean age 27.9 years, 59.4% males) met the inclusion criteria. An isolated ACL reconstruction implied a lower risk of ACL revision compared with presence of a non-surgically treated MCL injury (HR=0.61 [95% CI 0.41-0.89], p=0.0097) but not compared with MCL repair or reconstruction. A concomitant LCL injury did not impact the risk of ACL revision. Patients with a concomitant MCL or LCL injury reported inferior 2-year KOOS compared with isolated ACL reconstruction. The largest difference was found in the sports and recreation subscale across all groups, with MCL reconstruction resulting in the maximum difference (14.1 points [95% CI 4.3-23.9], p=0.005).Non-surgical treatment of a concomitant MCL injury in the setting of an ACL reconstruction may increase the risk of ACL revision. However, surgical treatment of the MCL injury was associated with a worse two-year patient-reported knee function. A concomitant LCL injury does not impact the risk of ACL revision compared with an isolated ACL reconstruction.Cohort study, Level III.
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| 20. |
- Tinetti, Giovanna, et al.
(author)
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The EChO science case
- 2015
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In: Experimental astronomy. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0922-6435 .- 1572-9508. ; 40:2-3, s. 329-391
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The discovery of almost two thousand exoplanets has revealed an unexpectedly diverse planet population. We see gas giants in few-day orbits, whole multi-planet systems within the orbit of Mercury, and new populations of planets with masses between that of the Earth and Neptune-all unknown in the Solar System. Observations to date have shown that our Solar System is certainly not representative of the general population of planets in our Milky Way. The key science questions that urgently need addressing are therefore: What are exoplanets made of? Why are planets as they are? How do planetary systems work and what causes the exceptional diversity observed as compared to the Solar System? The EChO (Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory) space mission was conceived to take up the challenge to explain this diversity in terms of formation, evolution, internal structure and planet and atmospheric composition. This requires in-depth spectroscopic knowledge of the atmospheres of a large and well-defined planet sample for which precise physical, chemical and dynamical information can be obtained. In order to fulfil this ambitious scientific program, EChO was designed as a dedicated survey mission for transit and eclipse spectroscopy capable of observing a large, diverse and well-defined planet sample within its 4-year mission lifetime. The transit and eclipse spectroscopy method, whereby the signal from the star and planet are differentiated using knowledge of the planetary ephemerides, allows us to measure atmospheric signals from the planet at levels of at least 10(-4) relative to the star. This can only be achieved in conjunction with a carefully designed stable payload and satellite platform. It is also necessary to provide broad instantaneous wavelength coverage to detect as many molecular species as possible, to probe the thermal structure of the planetary atmospheres and to correct for the contaminating effects of the stellar photosphere. This requires wavelength coverage of at least 0.55 to 11 mu m with a goal of covering from 0.4 to 16 mu m. Only modest spectral resolving power is needed, with R similar to 300 for wavelengths less than 5 mu m and R similar to 30 for wavelengths greater than this. The transit spectroscopy technique means that no spatial resolution is required. A telescope collecting area of about 1 m(2) is sufficiently large to achieve the necessary spectro-photometric precision: for the Phase A study a 1.13 m(2) telescope, diffraction limited at 3 mu m has been adopted. Placing the satellite at L2 provides a cold and stable thermal environment as well as a large field of regard to allow efficient time-critical observation of targets randomly distributed over the sky. EChO has been conceived to achieve a single goal: exoplanet spectroscopy. The spectral coverage and signal-to-noise to be achieved by EChO, thanks to its high stability and dedicated design, would be a game changer by allowing atmospheric composition to be measured with unparalleled exactness: at least a factor 10 more precise and a factor 10 to 1000 more accurate than current observations. This would enable the detection of molecular abundances three orders of magnitude lower than currently possible and a fourfold increase from the handful of molecules detected to date. Combining these data with estimates of planetary bulk compositions from accurate measurements of their radii and masses would allow degeneracies associated with planetary interior modelling to be broken, giving unique insight into the interior structure and elemental abundances of these alien worlds. EChO would allow scientists to study exoplanets both as a population and as individuals. The mission can target super-Earths, Neptune-like, and Jupiter-like planets, in the very hot to temperate zones (planet temperatures of 300-3000 K) of F to M-type host stars. The EChO core science would be delivered by a three-tier survey. The EChO Chemical Census: This is a broad survey of a few-hundred exoplanets, which allows us to explore the spectroscopic and chemical diversity of the exoplanet population as a whole. The EChO Origin: This is a deep survey of a subsample of tens of exoplanets for which significantly higher signal to noise and spectral resolution spectra can be obtained to explain the origin of the exoplanet diversity (such as formation mechanisms, chemical processes, atmospheric escape). The EChO Rosetta Stones: This is an ultra-high accuracy survey targeting a subsample of select exoplanets. These will be the bright "benchmark" cases for which a large number of measurements would be taken to explore temporal variations, and to obtain two and three dimensional spatial information on the atmospheric conditions through eclipse-mapping techniques. If EChO were launched today, the exoplanets currently observed are sufficient to provide a large and diverse sample. The Chemical Census survey would consist of > 160 exoplanets with a range of planetary sizes, temperatures, orbital parameters and stellar host properties. Additionally, over the next 10 years, several new ground- and space-based transit photometric surveys and missions will come on-line (e.g. NGTS, CHEOPS, TESS, PLATO), which will specifically focus on finding bright, nearby systems. The current rapid rate of discovery would allow the target list to be further optimised in the years prior to EChO's launch and enable the atmospheric characterisation of hundreds of planets.
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| 21. |
- Tinetti, Giovanna, et al.
(author)
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The science of EChO
- 2010
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In: Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union. - 1743-9213 .- 1743-9221. ; 6:S276, s. 359-370
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The science of extra-solar planets is one of the most rapidly changing areas of astrophysics and since 1995 the number of planets known has increased by almost two orders of magnitude. A combination of ground-based surveys and dedicated space missions has resulted in 560-plus planets being detected, and over 1200 that await confirmation. NASA's Kepler mission has opened up the possibility of discovering Earth-like planets in the habitable zone around some of the 100,000 stars it is surveying during its 3 to 4-year lifetime. The new ESA's Gaia mission is expected to discover thousands of new planets around stars within 200 parsecs of the Sun. The key challenge now is moving on from discovery, important though that remains, to characterisation: what are these planets actually like, and why are they as they are In the past ten years, we have learned how to obtain the first spectra of exoplanets using transit transmission and emission spectroscopy. With the high stability of Spitzer, Hubble, and large ground-based telescopes the spectra of bright close-in massive planets can be obtained and species like water vapour, methane, carbon monoxide and dioxide have been detected. With transit science came the first tangible remote sensing of these planetary bodies and so one can start to extrapolate from what has been learnt from Solar System probes to what one might plan to learn about their faraway siblings. As we learn more about the atmospheres, surfaces and near-surfaces of these remote bodies, we will begin to build up a clearer picture of their construction, history and suitability for life. The Exoplanet Characterisation Observatory, EChO, will be the first dedicated mission to investigate the physics and chemistry of Exoplanetary Atmospheres. By characterising spectroscopically more bodies in different environments we will take detailed planetology out of the Solar System and into the Galaxy as a whole. EChO has now been selected by the European Space Agency to be assessed as one of four M3 mission candidates. © International Astronomical Union 2011.
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| 22. |
- Tischer, Thomas, et al.
(author)
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Management of anterior cruciate ligament revision in adults: the 2022 ESSKA consensus part III-indications for different clinical scenarios using the RAND/UCLA appropriateness method
- 2023
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In: KNEE SURGERY SPORTS TRAUMATOLOGY ARTHROSCOPY. - 0942-2056 .- 1433-7347. ; 31:11, s. 4662-4672
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PurposeThe aim of the ESSKA 2022 consensus Part III was to develop patient-focused, contemporary, evidence-based, guidelines on the indications for revision anterior cruciate ligament surgery (ACLRev).MethodsThe RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RAM) was used to provide recommendations on the appropriateness of surgical treatment versus conservative treatment in different clinical scenarios based on current scientific evidence in conjunction with expert opinion. A core panel defined the clinical scenarios with a moderator and then guided a panel of 17 voting experts through the RAM tasks. Through a two-step voting process, the panel established a consensus as to the appropriateness of ACLRev for each scenario based on a nine-point Likert scale (in which a score in the range 1-3 was considered 'inappropriate', 4-6 'uncertain', and 7-9 'appropriate').ResultsThe criteria used to define the scenarios were: age (18-35 years vs 36-50 years vs 51-60 years), sports activity and expectation (Tegner 0-3 vs 4-6 vs 7-10), instability symptoms (yes vs no), meniscus status (functional vs repairable vs non-functional meniscus), and osteoarthritis (OA) (Kellgren-Lawrence [KL] grade 0-I-II vs grade III). Based on these variables, a set of 108 clinical scenarios was developed. ACLRev was considered appropriate in 58%, inappropriate in 12% (meaning conservative treatment is indicated), and uncertain in 30%. Experts considered ACLRev appropriate for patients with instability symptoms, aged <= 50 years, regardless of sports activity level, meniscus status, and OA grade. Results were much more controversial in patients without instability symptoms, while higher inappropriateness was related to scenarios with older age (51-60 years), low sporting expectation, non-functional meniscus, and knee OA (KL III).ConclusionThis expert consensus establishes guidelines as to the appropriateness of ACLRev based on defined criteria and provides a useful reference for clinical practice in determining treatment indications.
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| 24. |
- Zanchetti, Alberto, et al.
(author)
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Blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol lowering for prevention of strokes and cognitive decline: a review of available trial evidence.
- 2014
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In: Journal of Hypertension. - 1473-5598. ; 32:9, s. 1741-1750
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- It is well established by a large number of randomized controlled trials that lowering blood pressure (BP) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) by drugs are powerful means to reduce stroke incidence, but the optimal BP and LDL-C levels to be achieved are largely uncertain. Concerning BP targets, two hypotheses are being confronted: first, the lower the BP, the better the treatment outcome, and second, the hypothesis that too low BP values are accompanied by a lower benefit and even higher risk. It is also unknown whether BP lowering and LDL-C lowering have additive beneficial effects for the primary and secondary prevention of stroke, and whether these treatments can prevent cognitive decline after stroke.
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| 25. |
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| 26. |
- Zsidai, Balint, 1993, et al.
(author)
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A practical guide to the implementation of AI in orthopaedic research – part 1: opportunities in clinical application and overcoming existing challenges
- 2023
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In: Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics. - 2197-1153. ; 10:1
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to transform medical research by improving disease diagnosis, clinical decision-making, and outcome prediction. Despite the rapid adoption of AI and machine learning (ML) in other domains and industry, deployment in medical research and clinical practice poses several challenges due to the inherent characteristics and barriers of the healthcare sector. Therefore, researchers aiming to perform AI-intensive studies require a fundamental understanding of the key concepts, biases, and clinical safety concerns associated with the use of AI. Through the analysis of large, multimodal datasets, AI has the potential to revolutionize orthopaedic research, with new insights regarding the optimal diagnosis and management of patients affected musculoskeletal injury and disease. The article is the first in a series introducing fundamental concepts and best practices to guide healthcare professionals and researcher interested in performing AI-intensive orthopaedic research studies. The vast potential of AI in orthopaedics is illustrated through examples involving disease- or injury-specific outcome prediction, medical image analysis, clinical decision support systems and digital twin technology. Furthermore, it is essential to address the role of human involvement in training unbiased, generalizable AI models, their explainability in high-risk clinical settings and the implementation of expert oversight and clinical safety measures for failure. In conclusion, the opportunities and challenges of AI in medicine are presented to ensure the safe and ethical deployment of AI models for orthopaedic research and clinical application. Level of evidence IV
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| 27. |
- Zsidai, Bálint, et al.
(author)
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A practical guide to the implementation of artificial intelligence in orthopaedic research—Part 2: A technical introduction
- 2024
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In: Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics. - 2197-1153. ; 11:3
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) present a broad range of possibilities in medical research. However, orthopaedic researchers aiming to participate in research projects implementing AI-based techniques require a sound understanding of the technical fundamentals of this rapidly developing field. Initial sections of this technical primer provide an overview of the general and the more detailed taxonomy of AI methods. Researchers are presented with the technical basics of the most frequently performed machine learning (ML) tasks, such as classification, regression, clustering and dimensionality reduction. Additionally, the spectrum of supervision in ML including the domains of supervised, unsupervised, semisupervised and self-supervised learning will be explored. Recent advances in neural networks (NNs) and deep learning (DL) architectures have rendered them essential tools for the analysis of complex medical data, which warrants a rudimentary technical introduction to orthopaedic researchers. Furthermore, the capability of natural language processing (NLP) to interpret patterns in human language is discussed and may offer several potential applications in medical text classification, patient sentiment analysis and clinical decision support. The technical discussion concludes with the transformative potential of generative AI and large language models (LLMs) on AI research. Consequently, this second article of the series aims to equip orthopaedic researchers with the fundamental technical knowledge required to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration in AI-driven orthopaedic research. Level of Evidence: Level IV.
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