Normal range of spinal mobility for healthy young adult Turkish men

Anthropometric characteristics may vary among human populations, especially with differences in race. The aim of the present study is to find normal values of some measures (chest expansion, Schober's test and modified Schober's test) frequently used in the assessment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis, in young adult Turkish men. Initial recruitment identified 2,925 healthy male participants aged 20-30 years, and the final study sample included 1,982 of them. Participants joined the research from all cities except one in Turkey. The measurements of chest expansion, Schober's test, and modified Schober's test were performed by the same researcher using a plastic measuring tape. The mean (+/- standard error) values of the chest expansion, Schober's test, and modified Schober's test were 6.11 (+/- 0.02), 5.62 (+/- 0.02), and 7.78 (+/- 0.02) cm, respectively. The estimated normal lower bounds for chest expansion, Schober's test, and modified Schober's test may be between 3.71-3.86 cm, 3.86-3.97 cm, and 5.46-5.60 cm, respectively, for young adult Turkish men. No correlation was found between height and spinal mobility. The normal values for spinal mobility in this sample of healthy young adult Turkish men differed from those reported for other young adult male populations (chest expansion a parts per thousand yen5 cm, Schober's test > 5 cm, modified Schober's test > 7 cm). It is thus useful to consider nationality in interpreting results of spinal mobility tests

A Case Report on Aspergillus lentulus Pneumonia

Background: Aspergillus lentulus was described as a new species in 2005 but it was isolated from Turkey for the first time. Case report: A. lentulus was isolated as the cause of pneumonia from a patient who had renal transplantation 4 months ago. The patient received immunosuppressive treatment after transplantation. A. lentulus was isolated from his sputum as an agent in pneumonia developed 4 months after the transplantation. Leukocytes, blastospores, and hyphae were seen in both Gram- and Giemsa-stained smears of the sputum. The isolate was identified by using the Maren A. Klich algorithm and molecular methods and confirmed by the reference laboratory of the CBS Fungal Biodiversity Centre (The Netherlands). In the susceptibility tests of the isolate, minimal inhibitory concentrations for amphotericin B, voriconazole, posaconazole, and caspofungin were found to be 0.5 µg/mL, 0.25 µg/mL, 0.125 µg/mL, and 0.25 µg/mL, respectively. The patient recovered with voriconazole treatment (2x200 mg/day). Conclusion: The use of the molecular tests is important for identification of A. lentulus strains because they are very easily confused with A.fumigatus strains according to phenotypic characteristics

Accessory Navicular Bone Mimicking Navicular Fracture after Ankle Sprain

An accessory navicular bone (ANB) is present in 10-30% of normal feet. A morphological classification of ANB on the basis of the radiographic appearance distinguishes three types. Most symptomatic ANBs are of type 2. Although the diagnosis and treatment of sprained ankle are generally straightforward, together with an ANB, it might be misdiagnosed as a fracture. We present a 20-year-old male with type 2 ANB who was misdiagnosed as navicular fracture following sprained ankle. Turk J Phys Med Rehab 2011;57:172-4

Forearm Bone Mineral Density in Healthy Young Adult Mobile Phone Users

The electromagnetic radiation of mobile phone (MP) can produce a variety of adverse health effects. Bone mineral density (BMD) of rats exposed to radiation emitted by MPs was found to be a statistically non-significant decrease. The aim of the present study was to investigate forearm BMD in healthy young adult MP users. Two hundred and sixty three healthy subjects (86 male MP users, 14 male controls and 97 female MP users, 66 female controls) were included in this study. Ages ranged from 20 to 35 years. Dominant hands were the rightsight in all cases. BMD was measured in the proximal femur and right ultradistal (UD) radius using a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The mean UD radius BMD was statistically significant lower in MP user than non-MP users. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that a risk for osteopenia was found to be higher in females than males (Odds ratio=6.66 P=0.006), and in MP users than MP non-users (Odds ratio=7.92 P=0.004). In conclusion, MP can cause osteopenia in the forearm of healthy young adult females. [Med-Science 2012; 1(1.000): 35-40

Alteration of facet joint orientation and asymmetry with time in lumbar disc herniation

In the previous studies, the facet tropism and its relation to the development of lumbar disc herniation (LDH) were investigated. However, these studies have shown inconsistent conclusions. The aim of this study was to investigate the alteration of facet joint angle and (a)symmetry in LDH. Fifty-four patients with LDH were included. In the first and second computed tomography images, all facet angles were measured from the similar axial slice by the same observer who was blinded with regard to the date of computed tomography scan. Total reproducibility of the variability was found to be 1.85 degrees. Thirty-one patients had a change in the orientation of at least I facet joint. The mean rate of the change in the facet orientation varied from 2.69 to 3.63 degree/y. The most common observed change in the orientation was sagittalization. Females, taller patients, cases with median herniation, and patients with longer course of LDH had a higher risk of this change (P = 0.011). The facet asymmetry was found to develop in 7 patients and to recover in 7 patients (P = 0.002). The facet orientation could change and the facet asymmetry could develop or recover in the same patient with time in LDH. These results could explain contradictory results in the literature

Vibration parameters affecting vibration-induced reflex muscle activity

Purpose: To determine vibration parameters affecting the amplitude of the reflex activity of soleus muscle during low-amplitude whole-body vibration (WBV).Materials and methods: This study was conducted on 19 participants. Vibration frequencies of 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, and 50Hz were used. Surface electromyography, collision force between vibration platform and participant's heel measured using a force sensor, and acceleration measured using an accelerometer fixed to the vibration platform were simultaneously recorded.Results: The collision force was the main independent predictor of electromyographic amplitude.Conclusion: The essential parameter of vibration affecting the amplitude of the reflex muscle activity is the collision force

The Effects of Radius Bone Density on the Resting Myoelectrical Activity of Contralateral Wrist Flexors in Subjects Exposed to Unilateral Forearm Vibration

Objective: To investigate whether bone mineral density or bone mineral content of the ultradistal radius has any effect on the resting muscle activity of contralateral wrist flexor muscles during unilateral forearm vibration. Material and Methods: Ninety healthy adult volunteers (33 women, 57 men) were included in this study. The mean age of participants was 34.2 (20-52) years. The right forearm was exposed to vibration for 1 minute. The frequency of vibration was 46 Hz. The resting myoelectrical activities of the right and left wrist flexor muscles were simultaneously measured by surface electromyography before, during and after vibration. The right ultradistal radius bone mineral density and bone mineral content were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorbtiometry. Results: The resting myoelectrical activity of the left wrist flexor muscles significantly increased during vibration (from 2.0 +/- 0.8 microvolts to 4.5 +/- 2.2 microvolts, p=0.0001). It decreased to 1.8 +/- 0.9 microvolts after vibration (p=0.0001). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the right ultradistal radius bone mineral density was an independent predictor of the resting myoelectrical activity of the left wrist flexor muscles measured during vibration. However, age, gender, body mass index, the right ultradistal radius bone mineral content and, the right and left wrist flexor muscles' resting myoelectrical activity measured before vibration were not predictors (R2=0.772, F=301.8, p = 0.0001). Conclusion: It is suggested that the ultradistal radius bone may affect the resting myoelectrical activities in the contralateral wrist flexor muscles, based on its bone mineral density during unilateral forearm vibration