Genetic markers that might contribute to the making of an elite athlete have not been identified. Potential candidate genes might be found in the renin-angiotensin pathway, which plays a key role in the regulation of both cardiac and vascular physiology. In this study, DNA polymorphisms derived from the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), the angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1) and the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2) were studied in 64 Australian national rowers. Compared with a normal population, the rowers had an excess of the ACE I allele (P<0.02) and the ACE II genotype (P=0.03). The ACE I allele is a genetic marker that might be associated with athletic excellence. It is proposed that the underlying mechanism relates to a healthier cardiovascular system.

No abstract

No abstract

Improper acetabular cup positioning is associated with high risk of complications after total hip arthroplasty. The aim of our study is to objectively compare 3 methods, namely (1) free hand, (2) alignment jig (Sputnik), and (3) iPhone application to identify an easy, reproducible, and accurate method in improving acetabular cup placement. We designed a simple setup and carried out a simple experiment (see Method section). Using statistical analysis, the difference in inclination angles using iPhone application compared with the freehand method was found to be statistically significant (F[2,51] = 4.17, P = .02) in the “untrained group”. There is no statistical significance detected for the other groups. This suggests a potential role for iPhone applications in junior surgeons in overcoming the steep learning curve.

The purpose of this retrospective study of 116 dementia patients with and without accusatory behavior was to determine its frequency and evaluate its relationship to individual characteristics, behavioral and psychological symptoms, and certain dementia-related domains, namely, cognitive impairment, stage of disease, language difficulties, and functional disability. Little more than one third (38%) of the patients studied had accusatory behavior. The average age of the patients with accusatory behavior was 74 years, and the male to female ratio was 2.6:1. Accusatory behavior was more prevalent in the higher stages of dementia by 2- to 3-fold and was positively associated with hallucinations. Three patients with accusatory behavior had delusions of infidelity. There were no significant associations between accusatory behavior and other categories studied. This study raises a caveat of issues and, more important, whether the different themes relating to accusatory behaviors are true delusions, persecutory ideation, misidentification, nondelusional suspiciousness, or other. It is suggested that it would be more useful to relate them as symptoms.