Objective: To conduct a detailed analysis of hamstring injuries sustained in English professional football over two competitive seasons. Methods: Club medical staff at 91 professional football clubs annotated player injuries over two seasons. A specific injury audit questionnaire was used together with a weekly form that documented each clubs' current injury status. Results: Completed injury records for the two competitive seasons were obtained from 87% and 76% of the participating clubs respectively. Hamstring strains accounted for 12% of the total injuries over the two seasons with nearly half (53%) involving the biceps femoris. An average of five hamstring strains per club per season was observed. A total of 13 116 days and 2029 matches were missed because of hamstring strains, giving an average of 90 days and 15 matches missed per club per season. In 57% of cases, the injury occurred during running. Hamstring strains were most often observed during matches (62%) with an increase at the end of each half (p,0.01). Groups of players sustaining higher than expected rates of hamstring injury were Premiership (p,0.01) and outfield players (p,0.01), players of black ethnic origin (p,0.05), and players in the older age groups (p,0.01). Only 5% of hamstring strains underwent some form of diagnostic investigation. The reinjury rate for hamstring injury was 12%. Conclusion: Hamstring strains are common in football. In trying to reduce the number of initial and recurrent hamstring strains in football, prevention of initial injury is paramount. If injury does occur, the importance of differential diagnosis followed by the management of all causes of posterior thigh pain is emphasised. Clinical reasoning with treatment based on best available evidence is recommended.

Functional polynorbornenes (PNBEs) containing pyrrolidine moiety and bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl side group were synthesized via ring‐opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), and the microstructure of polymer chain was characterized by NMR spectroscopy. Poly(N‐3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl‐norbornene‐pyrrolidine) (PTNP) and poly(N‐phenyl‐norbornene‐pyrrolidine) (PPNP) are supposed to have practically trans double bonds and adopt isotactic syn conformation, whereas poly(N‐3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl‐norbornene‐dicarboximide) (PTNDI) has both trans and cis double bonds and atactic microstructure. PTNP, PTNDI, and PPNP have much different dielectric constants of 20, 7, and 3, respectively, which is attributed to both the polar 3,5‐bis(trifluoromethyl)biphenyl group and the stereoregular chain structure. The existence of rigid pyrrolidine moiety has a positive contribution to form the tactic polymer chain during ROMP. Polymers are highly thermal stable up to ∼300 °C. Having good dielectric properties and thermal stability, these functional PNBEs are expected as the potential dielectric material in thin film capacitors. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013

We previously demonstrated prolonged, profound CD4 +

Through an examination of military media management strategies, this article argues that the military are increasingly ‘mediatized’ where the media act as both a rationale and interface for communication within the military, and between the military and their audiences. Informed by ethnographic work with the British military, it is argued that military media management strategies are increasingly organised to appeal to, reassure and elicit support from multiple audiences – particularly the state and the military’s own internal personnel. In an attempt to move beyond conceptualisation of military media management as merely state propaganda, the author explores the degree to which the military, as a relatively autonomous institution, attempts to harness the power of media influence – whilst also protecting against it – in a manner that may be transforming the media–polity–military relationship and is reflective of the processes of mediatization.

Background3D cell cultures are emerging as more physiologically meaningful alternatives to monolayer cultures for many biological applications. They are attractive because they more closely mimic in vivo morphology, especially when co-cultured with stromal fibroblasts.Methodology/Principal FindingsWe compared the efficacy of 3 different 3D cell culture systems; collagen I, low attachment culture vessels and a modification of Fibrolife®, a specialised humanised cell culture medium devoid of animal-derived components, using breast cancer cell lines representative of the different molecular subtypes of breast cancer, cultured alone or with human mammary fibroblasts with a view to developing matrix-free humanised systems. 3D collagen I culture supported the growth of a range of breast cancer cell lines. By modifying the composition of Fibrolife® to epiFL, matrix-free cell culture was possible. During sequential transfer to epiFL breast cancer cells gradually detached from the flask, growing progressively as spheroids. Phenotype was stable and reversible with cells remaining actively proliferating and easily accessible throughout culture. They could also be revived from frozen stocks. To achieve co-culture with fibroblasts in epiFL required use of low attachment culture vessels instead of standard plastic as fibroblasts remained adherent in epiFL. Here, cancer cell spheroids were allowed to form before adding fibroblasts. Immunohistochemical examination showed fibroblasts scattered throughout the epithelial spheroid, not dissimilar to the relationship of tumour stroma in human breast cancer.ConclusionsBecause of its ease of handling, matrix-free 3D cell culture may be a useful model to study the influence of fibroblasts on breast cancer epithelial cells with use of epiFL culture medium taking this a step further towards a fully humanised 3D model. This methodology could be applied to other types of cancer cell lines, making this a versatile technique for cancer researchers wishing to use in vitro systems that better reflect cancer in vivo.