It is well-established that extracellular potassium (Ko+) accumulation reduces muscle fiber excitability, however the effects of Ko+ on the excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) pathway are less understood. In vivo and in vitro studies following fatiguing stimulation protocols are limited in their ability to capture the effects of Ko+ on force production in combination with other simultaneously changing factors. To address this, a computational model of ECC for slow and fast twitch muscle is presented to explore the relative contributions of excitability-induced and metabolic-induced changes in force generation in response to increasing [Formula see text] . The model incorporates mechanisms previously unexplored in modelling studies, including the effects of extracellular calcium on excitability, calcium-dependent inhibition of calcium release, ATP-dependent ionic pumping, and the contribution of ATP hydrolysis to intracellular phosphate accumulation rate. The model was able to capture the frequency-dependent biphasic Force- [Formula see text] response observed experimentally. Force potentiation for moderately elevated [Formula see text] was driven by increased action potential duration, myoplasmic calcium potentiation, and phosphate accumulation rate, while attenuation of force at higher [Formula see text] was due to action potential failure resulting in reduced calcium release. These results suggest that altered calcium release and phosphate accumulation work together with elevated Ko+ to affect force during sustained contractions. The impact of childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis on school absenteeism is not fully elucidated. To determine the burden and predictors of chronic school absenteeism in children with AD and psoriasis. Data were analyzed from the 1999-2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Surveys, cross-sectional, population-based studies of health status and function in the United States. Among 3132 and 200 children with AD and psoriasis, respectively, 1544 (67.7%) and 97 (62.5%) missed ≥1day, and 120 (3.9%) and 5 (3.6%) missed ≥15days (chronically absent) per year due to illness. AD was associated with chronic absenteeism overall (logistic regression; adjusted odds ratio 1.42, 95% CI [1.13-1.78]) and with more severe disease (mild-moderate 1.33 [1.04-1.70], severe 2.00 [1.21-3.32]). No statistical difference in chronic absenteeism was found for children with versus those without psoriasis (1.26 [0.51-3.12]). Parents of children with AD were more likely to miss work for caregiving versus those of children without AD, whereas parents of children with psoriasis had similar rates of work absenteeism versus those of children without psoriasis. The severity of AD and psoriasis was assessed by treatment pattern. Children in the United States with AD had increased chronic school absenteeism. Further interventions are warranted to prevent school absenteeism in childhood AD.Children in the United States with AD had increased chronic school absenteeism. Further interventions are warranted to prevent school absenteeism in childhood AD.Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a debilitating inflammatory condition characterised by joint damage that affects the cervical spine most commonly at the atlantoaxial joint resulting in neck pain and myelopathy. The pathogenesis of RA involves the formation of a hyperplastic synovial tissue, termed pannus, which invades the local bone and causes osseous erosion. Here, we describe a case of rapid onset quadriparesis due to spinal cord compression at C5-C6 secondary to vertebral subluxation and mass effect from a large inflammatory pannus in the subaxial spine. Surgical decompression and resection of the subaxial pannus were performed, and the patient regained strength in all extremities. Histopathologic evaluation of the resected tissue confirmed the diagnosis of pannus over other more common epidural masses. Pannus formation commonly occurs in the peri-odontoid region; however, its presentation as a large soft tissue mass in the subaxial spine is not described in the current literature. Therefore, pannus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of epidural masses in the spine of RA patients. We use this case to discuss the pathology and radiological findings relevant to rheumatoid pannus formation in the subaxial cervical spine, as well as emphasise the importance of treatment in the context to severe degenerative disease. Repairing bone defects generated by craniectomy is a major therapeutic challenge in terms of bone consolidation as well as functional and cognitive recovery. see more Furthermore, these surgical procedures are often grafted with complications such as infections, breaches, displacements and rejections leading to failure and thus explantation of the prosthesis. To evaluate cumulative explantation and infection rates following the implantation of a tailored cranioplasty CUSTOMBONE prosthesis made of porous hydroxyapatite. One hundred and ten consecutive patients requiring cranial reconstruction for a bone defect were prospectively included in a multicenter study constituted of 21 centres between December 2012 and July 2014. Follow-up lasted 2 years. Mean age of patients included in the study was 42±15 years old (y.o), composed mainly by men (57.27%). Explantations of the CUSTOMBONE prosthesis were performed in 13/110 (11.8%) patients, significantly due to infections 9/13 (69.2%) (p<0.0001), with 2 (15.4%) implant fracture, 1 (7.7%) skin defect and 1 (7.7%) following the mobilization of the implant. Cumulative explantation rates were successively 4.6% (SD 2.0), 7.4% (SD 2.5), 9.4% (SD 2.8) and 11.8% (SD 2.9%) at 2, 6, 12 and 24 months. Infections were identified in 16/110 (14.5%) 8/16 (50%) superficial and 8/16 (50%) deep. None of the following elements, whether demographic characteristics, indications, size, location of the implant, redo surgery, co-morbidities or medical history, were statistically identified as risk factors for prosthesis explantation or infection. Our study provides relevant clinical evidence on the performance and safety of CUSTOMBONE prosthesis in cranial procedures. Complications that are difficulty incompressible mainly occur during the first 6 months, but can appear at a later stage (>1 year). Thus assiduous, regular and long-term surveillances are necessary.1 year). Thus assiduous, regular and long-term surveillances are necessary.