Realistic three-dimensional imaging of injuries in forensic medicine - Survey-based method comparison of CRT and VRT

OBJECTIVE

A comparison between Cinematic Rendering Technique (CRT) and Volume Rendering Technique (VRT) in cases with postmortem CT-angiography (PMCTA) was carried out.

METHODS

For different injuries seen in PMCTA, a VRT and a CRT image of exactly the same pathological section was generated. Two questionnaires were created, one with CRT and one with VRT reconstructions, with the same questions per 3D-image. The questionnaires were sent to forensic pathologists, lawyers and police officers. In total eleven different injuries had to be analyzed.

RESULTS

In total 109 questionnaires were answered fully. Of these returnees, 36 stated that they were forensic pathologists. Seventy-three people were assigned to the group of medical laypersons, in the study this group consists mainly of police officers, judges and lawyers. Between the two software programs CRT and VRT that were compared, no significant difference could be identified in any of the participating groups with regard to the assessment of the life-threatening nature of the injury images shown. When asked about the comprehensibility of pathology, there was a significant difference in favour of CRT. This advantage was apparent to named medical laypersons and to forensic pathologists.

CONCLUSIONS

The study showed a positive trend that CRT may be more understandable than VRT. Not only the medical laypersons, but also the forensic physicians found CRT to be beneficial.

Efficacy of Voice Therapy in Rehabilitation of Muscle Tension Dysphonia in Patients of Nonlaryngeal Head and Neck Cancer: A Sequelae of Chemoradiotherapy

The association of voice disorders in laryngeal cancers has been studied extensively; however Dysphonia associated with chemo-radiation in non laryngeal Head and Neck cancer (HNC) is a new area of practice in voice clinics. This study thus aimed to evaluate the efficacy of voice rehabilitation among non-laryngeal HNC survivors who were treated with curative RadioTherapy (RT)/Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in adjunct with or without surgery. This tertiary institutional assessor blinded quasi experimental study after inclusion and exclusion criteria consisted of a study cohort of 128 patients who within 1-3 months of completion of treatment for HNC reported to the laryngology clinic for voice complaints and throat discomfort. All patients underwent documentation of laryngeal endoscopic imaging, acoustics assessment, Aronson's Laryngeal Palpatory Method (LPM) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Thereafter they were subjected to Vocal Rehabilitation Therapy (VRT) which constituted of Manual circumlaryngeal therapy, SOVTE, and vocal hygiene program. Re-evaluation of the vocal parameters was done at 6 weeks and 3 months from the start of the VRT. All parameters were significantly altered at 6 weeks and 3 months follow-up. Post VRT the videolaryngoscopic findings showed reduction in abnormal supraglottic MTPs with subsequent good approximation of true cords and reduction of involvement of supralaryngeal activities. The Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI) impairment levels and VHI scores showed significant improvement from the baseline to both at 6 weeks and 3 months of VRT (p < 0.001). DSI and VHI scores even showed significant improvement between 6 weeks to 3 months of therapy. There was highly significant correlation of VRT with/without surgery, with CRT and in non-smokers at 6 weeks and 3 months of VRT. In non-laryngeal head and neck malignancies, VRT offered as early as within 1-3 months of completion of treatment of HNC ameliorates surgical and chemo-radiation induced Muscle Tension Dysphonia.

Effects of 4-weeks of elastic variable resistance training on the electrochemical and mechanical components of voluntary electromechanical delay durations

PURPOSE

Literature is conflicted on whether electromechanical delay durations decrease following resistance training programs. Therefore, the aim of this study is to examine the contributions and durations of the electrochemical (EMD_E-M) and mechanical (EMD_M-F) components to the overall electromechanical delay (EMD_E-F) during step isometric muscle actions following 4-weeks of structured, multi-joint, lower-body variable resistance training (VRT) program.

METHODS

Twelve men performed 4-weeks of VRT leg press training utilizing combination of steel plates (80% total load) and elastic bands (20% total load). Training consisted of 3 sets of 10 repetitions at a 10 repetition maximum load, 3 day week^-1 for 4-weeks. EMD_E-M, EMD_M-F, and EMD_E-F was measured at Baseline, Week-2, and Week-4 during voluntary step isometric muscle actions (20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% of maximal voluntary isometric contraction) from the vastus lateralis using electromyographic, mechanomyographic, and force signals.

RESULTS

The EMD_E-M, EMD_M-F, and EMD_E-F exhibited decreases in duration following 4-weeks of VRT. In addition, EMD_E-M contributed significantly less (42-47%) than EMD_M-F (53-58%) to the total duration of EMD_E-F across the 4-weeks of VRT.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicated that a structured, VRT program utilizing multi-joint exercise was sufficient to induce decreases in the electrochemical and mechanical processes associated with step isometric muscle contractions. In addition, the utilization of the electromyographic, mechanomyographic, and force signals were capable of quantifying electrochemical and mechanical component changes associated with voluntary muscle contraction. Thus, EMD_E-M, EMD_M-F, and EMD_E-F can be useful in quantifying physiological changes in athletic, clinical, and applied research interventions.

Advances in the Assessment of Sexual Deviance

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This paper reviews recent research into four different approaches to the assessment of offense-related sexual deviance.

RECENT FINDINGS

Two of these approaches, structured rating scales and phallometry, have a sufficient basis in research for clinical use but have undergone significant refinements in recent years. One approach, the use of cognitive tasks to indirectly assess sexual deviance, is approaching the point where it has a sound research basis for clinical use though too many promising tasks have yet to make the transition from laboratory to clinical practice. This approach has however begun to map the earlier stages of sexual response including preconscious processes. The final approach, assessment through neuroimaging, is at the earliest stage of development with research findings having yet to reach sufficient stability for clinical application. Existing assessment technologies, despite their limitations, allow professionals to assess offense-related sexual deviance. New approaches, currently being developed, potentially allow a better understanding of underlying processes and, when sufficiently mature, will be more therapeutically useful.

Precision farming and precision pest management: the power of new crop production technologies

The use of new technologies including Geographic Information Systems (GIS), the Global Positioning System (GPS), Variable Rate Technology (VRT), and Remote Sensing (RS) is gaining acceptance in the present high-technology, precision agricultural industry. GIS provides the ability to link multiple data values for the same geo-referenced location, and provides the user with a graphical visualization of such data. When GIS is coupled with GPS and RS, management decisions can be applied in a more precise "micro-managed" manner by using VRT techniques. Such technology holds the potential to reduce agricultural crop production costs as well as crop and environmental damage.