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Valgus bending and shearing of the knee have been identified as primary mechanisms of injuries in a lateral loading environment applicable to pedestrian-car collisions. Previous studies have reported on the structural response of the knee joint to pure valgus bending and lateral shearing, as well as the estimated injury thresholds for the knee bending angle and shear displacement based on experimental tests. However, epidemiological studies indicate that most knee injuries are due to the combined effects of bending and shear loading. Therefore, characterization of knee stiffness for combined loading and the associated injury tolerances is necessary for developing vehicle countermeasures to mitigate pedestrian injuries. Isolated knee joint specimens (n =40) from postmortem human subjects were tested in valgus bending at a loading rate representative of a pedestrian-car impact. The effect of lateral shear force combined with the bending moment on the stiffness response and the injury tolerances of the knee was concurrently evaluated. In addition to the knee moment-angle response, the bending angle and shear displacement corresponding to the first instance of primary ligament failure were determined in each test. The failure displacements were subsequently used to estimate an injury threshold function based on a simplified analytical model of the knee. The validity of the determined injury threshold function was subsequently verified using a finite element model. Post-test necropsy of the knees indicated medial collateral ligament injury consistent with the clinical injuries observed in pedestrian victims. The moment-angle response in valgus bending was determined at quasistatic and dynamic loading rates and compared to previously published test data. The peak bending moment values scaled to an average adult male showed no significant change with variation in the superimposed shear load. An injury threshold function for the knee in terms of bending angle and shear displacement was determined by performing regression analysis on the experimental data. The threshold values of the bending angle (16.2 deg) and shear displacement (25.2 mm) estimated from the injury threshold function were in agreement with previously published knee injury threshold data. The continuous knee injury function expressed in terms of bending angle and shear displacement enabled injury prediction for combined loading conditions such as those observed in pedestrian-car collisions. Keywords: pedestrian, knee joint, valgus bending, shear displacement, injury threshold, numerical model

Methods for evaluating the crash safety of travel crates for transportation of dogs in the vehicle cargo space have previously been proposed. This study aims to (1) explore how two crate designs, a plastic crate and a metal crate, previously evaluated according to the Center for Pet Safety (CPS) method that only accounts for frontal impact, perform when evaluated according to the Safe Pet Crate Test (SPCT) that accounts for multiple crash modes, and (2) evaluate if the use of standard vehicle cargo hooks for securing the crate and a standard vehicle seatback, as opposed to the ‘strength-rated’ anchor points and rigid seatback structure specified for the CPS method, yields results consistent with published CPS method test results. Frontal and rear-end impact sled tests and drop tests were conducted. The results indicate that the metal crate, which did not comply with the CPS method, offers safety benefits over the plastic crate which complied with the CPS method. The results further indicate that the limited strength of standard vehicle cargo hooks and limited strength and stiffness of vehicle seatbacks may both affect the frontal crash response of crates initially positioned away from the seatback and therefore must be accounted for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study nurses' compliance to national guidelines (Sweden) for peripheral venous catheters and to establish the complication frequency connected to time in situ and bore size. Worldwide, there are no standard peripheral venous catheters guidelines, and the need for elective replacement has been challenged. Furthermore, the time interval and need for elective change of peripheral venous catheters has cost implications for hospitals. Prospective register study. The health care professionals in one surgical ward in a university hospital in the south of Sweden prospectively registered peripheral venous catheters parameters. Four hundred and thirteen peripheral venous catheters were registered for time in situ, size and complications. A cost analysis was performed. Non-parametric statistics were used, and p < 0·05 was regarded as significant. Compliance to the guideline of time in situ was 30·2%, and the frequency of thrombophlebitis was 6·5%. Peripheral venous catheters left in situ for more than 72 hours caused more thrombophlebitis ( p = 0·03). There was no difference in thrombophlebitis rate when peripheral venous catheters were changed within 24 hours compared with peripheral venous catheters that were changed within 72 hours. No difference was seen regarding complications between peripheral venous catheters sized 0·9 mm/22 gauge or 1·1 mm/20 gauge. The present Swedish national guidelines, advocating peripheral venous catheter change every 24 hours, should be altered since peripheral venous catheters left in situ for up to 72 hours were not found to be related to a greater risk of developing thrombophlebitis. Nor is it compatible with a greater risk to use a peripheral venous catheter of 1·1 mm/20 gauge instead of 0·9 mm/22 gauge. The change in guidelines would decrease money spent, 250 100 Euro in Sweden, thus allowing time for the nurses to do other tasks and save discomfort for the patients. National guidelines should be based on evidence and current facts, and evaluation of guidelines should be given priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: As part of preparation for a Swedish multicentre study, exploring sexual and married life in patients with myocardial infarction and their partners, a Swedish validated instrument was required. Aims: The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of a Swedish version of the Watts Sexual Function Questionnaire (WSFQ) among persons with a heart disease. Methods: A convenience sample of 79 persons (47 men and 32 women) living with a heart disease was recruited from the members of the National Association of Heart and Lung Patients. They completed a Swedish version of the WSFQ on two occasions. Results: Two separate factor analyses each revealed a two-factor structure on both occasions: “Sexual appetite” and “Sexual expectations” with gender-neutral questions and “Sexual sensitiveness” and “Sexual ability” with gender-specific questions. Cronbach''s alpha coefficients ranged from 0.48 to 0.86 and test–retest values for all but one question exceeded 0.70. Conclusions: The Swedish version of the WSFQ showed good validity and stability and acceptable internal homogeneity. Extended evaluations of the questionnaire are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is a need for a short and easily administered scale, in the Swedish language, for assessing partner relationships in the health care of persons with cardiac disease. Purpose: To establish the reliability and validity of the Swedish version of the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). Design: The present pilot study has a methodological design. Findings: Content validity has been tested for relevance, clarity and readability. The scale was tested for construct validity with explorative factor analysis. The reliability was tested by internal consistency and test-retest analysis. The result showed a two-factor solution, which does not correspond to the original proposed one-factor solution. The factor analyses revealed two quite distinct factors of RAS, labelled 'Relationship built on expectations and satisfaction of needs' and 'Relationship built on love and devotion'. Conclusions: The scale has satisfactory psychometric properties in terms of content validity, construct validity, homogeneity and stability in a population of persons with cardiac disease. Wider evaluations of the RAS for other populations and settings are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]