Effect of obesity and low back pain on spinal mobility: a cross sectional study in women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>obesity is nowadays a pandemic condition. Obese subjects are commonly characterized by musculoskeletal disorders and particularly by non-specific chronic low back pain (cLBP). However, the relationship between obesity and cLBP remains to date unsupported by an objective measurement of the mechanical behaviour of the spine and its morphology in obese subjects. Such analysis may provide a deeper understanding of the relationships between function and the onset of clinical symptoms.</p> <p>Purpose</p> <p>to objectively assess the posture and function of the spine during standing, flexion and lateral bending in obese subjects with and without cLBP and to investigate the role of obesity in cLBP.</p> <p>Study design</p> <p>Cross-sectional study</p> <p>Patient sample</p> <p>thirteen obese subjects, thirteen obese subjects with cLBP, and eleven healthy subjects were enrolled in this study.</p> <p>Outcome measures</p> <p>we evaluated the outcome in terms of angles at the initial standing position (START) and at maximum forward flexion (MAX). The range of motion (ROM) between START and MAX was also computed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>we studied forward flexion and lateral bending of the spine using an optoelectronic system and passive retroreflective markers applied on the trunk. A biomechanical model was developed in order to analyse kinematics and define angles of clinical interest.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>obesity was characterized by a generally reduced ROM of the spine, due to a reduced mobility at both pelvic and thoracic level; a static postural adaptation with an increased anterior pelvic tilt. Obesity with cLBP is associated with an increased lumbar lordosis.</p> <p>In lateral bending, obesity with cLBP is associated with a reduced ROM of the lumbar and thoracic spine, whereas obesity on its own appears to affect only the thoracic curve.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>obese individuals with cLBP showed higher degree of spinal impairment when compared to those without cLBP. The observed obesity-related thoracic stiffness may characterize this sub-group of patients, even if prospective studies should be carried out to verify this hypothesis.</p

Mechanisms underlying center of pressure displacements in obese subjects during quiet stance

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Objective</p> <p>the aim of this study was to assess whether reduced balance capacity in obese subjects is secondary to altered sensory information.</p> <p>Design</p> <p>cross sectional study.</p> <p>Subjects</p> <p>44 obese (BMI = 40.6 ± 4.6 kg/m², age = 34.2 ± 10.8 years, body weight: 114,0 ± 16,0 Kg, body height 167,5 ± 9,8 cm) and 20 healthy controls (10 females, 10 males, BMI: 21.6 ± 2.2 kg/m², age: 30.5 ± 5.5 years, body weight: 62,9 ± 9,3 Kg, body height 170,1 ± 5,8 cm) were enrolled.</p> <p>Measurements</p> <p>center of pressure (CoP) displacements were evaluated during quiet stance on a force platform with eyes open (EO) and closed (EC). The Romberg quotient (EC/EO) was computed and compared between groups.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>we found statistically significant differences between obese and controls in CoP displacements (p < 0.01) and no statistically significant differences in Romberg quotients (p > 0.08).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>the increased CoP displacements in obese subjects do not need an hypothesis about altered sensory information. The integration of different sensory inputs appears similar in controls and obese. In the latter, the increased mass, ankle torque and muscle activity may probably account for the higher CoP displacements.</p

Florintesa, a program agreement for the italian botanical gardens and the national floristic heritage.

OUR CLAIM: "The Botanical Gardens are, par excellence, responsible for carrying out the important mission of the conservation of our flora, through specific actions on live plants and their seeds, along with education and outreach aimed at spreading a new environmental culture, more careful and respectful of the essential needs of life, more sensible to the aesthetic and scientific value of the national flora" To overcome the isolation and strengthen their role in our society, the University Botanical Gardens have become promoters of national and European consortiums: examples are the working group "Botanical and Historic Gardens" of the Italian Botanical Society (1) and, on the global level, the Botanic Garden Conservation International (2). Aims and tasks of the Botanical Gardens in the second millennium have been the topic of a thorough debate, with specific references to the provisions of the United Nations Programme for a sustainable development. In particular, the Action Plan for Botanic Gardens in the European Union (3) identifies the following major assets: scientific research, conservation of plant diversity, public advisory services on it, environmental education related to it. To pursue these objectives, initiatives are constantly needed to enhance the visibility of the institutions involved and help them to perform their functions. in this contest was born FLORINTESA FLORINTESA is a program agreement, funded by the Italian Ministry of Education (MIUR) with identification code ACPR12_00201, involving as partners ENEA, Plinianum Forum and the Italian Botanical Society, which contributes to bridge the still existing gap between the scientific research, the technical action of conservation and preservation of plant diversity and the public awareness on such themes. The main objectives of the FLORINTESA can be summarized as follows: - Establishing an institutional network service for information and dissemination on the flora of Italy, with reference to the role of Botanical Gardens as centers of research and knowledge on the national flora, as well as on the assessment and conservation of its rarest species,; - Disseminating and publicizing the activities of the University Botanical Gardens for the flora of Italy; - Increasing the visibility of the Italian Botanical Society and of its working group on "Botanical and Historic Gardens"; - Disseminating the achievements and helpful assistance offered by the Botanical Gardens in the implementation of the National Strategy for Biodiversity (4) and the Natura 2000 Network (5), through initiatives such as the Italian Germplasm Banks Network (6), the International Foundation pro Herbario Mediterraneo (7), the pan-Mediterranean Genmeda network (8), the Horti Mediterranei Educational Network (9). The flora of Italy will be the leitmotif of the actions envisaged in FLORINTESA, highlighting the unique role of the University Botanical Gardens and their respective institutions as "engines of knowledge" on the national flora heritage, as "engines of awareness" on the important issue of conservation of flora and habitats, as "engines of passion" for the grateful acknowledgement of the role of plants as primary producers not only of resources in the natural ecosystems, but also of inspiring beauty in the human cultures. The kick-off meeting, open to all members of the Italian Botanical Society, will take place in Rome, at the Auditorium of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei, on January 23, 2014

Planck intermediate results XXIV : Constraints on variations in fundamental constants

Any variation in the fundamental physical constants, more particularly in the fine structure constant, a, or in the mass of the electron, me, affects the recombination history of the Universe and cause an imprint on the cosmic microwave background angular power spectra. We show that the Planck data allow one to improve the constraint on the time variation of the fine structure constant at redshift z - 10(3) by about a factor of 5 compared to WMAP data, as well as to break the degeneracy with the Hubble constant, H-0. In addition to a, we can set a constraint on the variation in the mass of the electron, me, and in the simultaneous variation of the two constants. We examine in detail the degeneracies between fundamental constants and the cosmological parameters, in order to compare the limits obtained from Planck and WMAP and to determine the constraining power gained by including other cosmological probes. We conclude that independent time variations of the fine structure constant and of the mass of the electron are constrained by Planck to Delta alpha/alpha = (3.6 +/- 3.7) x 10(-3) and Delta m(e)/m(e) = (4 +/- 11) x 10(-3) at the 68% confidence level. We also investigate the possibility of a spatial variation of the fine structure constant. The relative amplitude of a dipolar spatial variation in a (corresponding to a gradient across our Hubble volume) is constrained to be delta alpha/alpha = (-2.4 +/- 3.7) x 10(-2).Peer reviewe

NEW LIMITS ON THE NEUTRINO MASS FROM COSMOLOGY

We place a nre upper limit on the sum of neutrino masses by using measurements of luminosity-dependent galaxy bias at several different redshifts, SDSS at z = 0.05, DEEP2 at z = 1 and LBGs at z = 3.8, combined with WMAP five-year cosmic microwave background anisotropy data and SDSS Red Luminous Galaxy survey three-dimensional clustering power spectrum. We obtain the upper limit of ∑ mν < 0.28eV at the 95% confidence level for a ΛCDM + mν model, with a σ8 equal to σ8 = 0.759 ± 0.025 (1σ). When we allow the dark energy equation of state parameter w to vary we find w = -1.30 ± 0.19 for a general wCDM + mν model with the 95% confidence level upper limit on the neutrino masses at ∑ mν < 0.59eV. Finally, we have investigated the ability of the future Euclid mission to constrain differences in the mass of individual neutrino species

Limits on the neutrino mass from cosmology

We use measurements of luminosity-dependent galaxy bias at several different redshifts, SDSS at z = 0.05, DEEP2 at z = 1 and LBGs at z = 3.8, combined with WMAP five-year cosmic microwave background anisotropy data and SDSS Red Luminous Galaxy survey three-dimensional clustering power spectrum to put constraints on cosmological parameters. Fitting this combined dataset, we show that the luminosity-dependent bias data that probe the relation between halo bias and halo mass and its redshift evolution are very sensitive to sum of the neutrino masses: in particular we obtain the upper limit of ∑m ν<0.28 eV at the 95% confidence level for a ΛCDM+m ν model, with a σ8 equal to σ8 = 0.759±0.025 (1σ). When we allow the dark energy equation of state parameter w to vary we find w = -1.30±0.19 for a general wCDM+mν model with the 95% confidence level upper limit on the neutrino masses at ∑m ν<0.59 eV. The constraint on the dark energy equation of state further improves to w = -1.125±0.092 when using also ACBAR and supernovae Union data, in addition to above, with a prior on the Hubble constant from the Hubble Space Telescope. Finally, we have investigated the ability of future cosmic shear measurements, like those achievable with the proposed Euclid mission, to constrain differences in the mass of individual neutrino species. © 2010 American Institute of Physics

Effects of tiotropium and formoterol on quiet breathing pattern assessed by optoelectronic plethysmography in COPD patients: a pilot study

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease characterized by an airflow limitation that is not fully reversible. β 2 -agonists and anticholinergics represent the most effective therapeutic options. Optoelectronic plethysmography (OEP) is a novel technology, which provides noninvasive steady-state measurements of chest wall kinematics, together with the assessment of the relative contribution of all different thoracic and abdominal compartments to tidal volume. Objectives: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the changes in quiet breathing due to different long-acting bronchodilators (namely, formoterol and tiotropium) administered to COPD patients of different severity. Methods: Eight moderate-to-severe COPD patients were studied according to a randomized crossover design. All subjects received both the long-acting bronchodilators: formoterol (long-acting β 2 -agonist, 24 µg) and tiotropium (long-acting anticholinergic bronchodilator, 18 µg). The effect of bronchodilators on quiet breathing was evaluated by means of OEP at base conditions, and 2 and 7 hours after inhalation. Results: Both bronchodilators caused changes in the quiet breathing pattern in COPD patients that had previously reported only negligible changes in FEV 1 (ΔFEV 1 = 2.6% after salbutamol). The main changes were observed in increased ventilation per minute, inspiratory and expiratory flow, and decreased breath-by-breath variability. Formoterol induced its main effects during the first 2 hours after inhalation, while tiotropium caused improvements between 2 and 7 hours. Conclusion: Even though a greater cohort of COPD patients is needed in order to confirm the present results, this pilot study reports a novel piece of evidence concerning the effects of bronchodilators on quiet breathing pattern in severe and very severe COPD patients