How to improve aesthetics in patients with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS): a SPoRT brace treatment according to SOSORT management criteria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Aesthetics is a main goal of both conservative and surgical treatments in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). Previously, we developed and validated a clinical scale - the Aesthetic Index (AI)--in order to measure aesthetic impairment and changes during treatment.</p> <p>Aim</p> <p>To verify the efficacy of bracing on aesthetics in AIS.</p> <p>Study Design</p> <p>Prospective Cohort Study.</p> <p>Population</p> <p>Thirty-four consecutive patients, age 13.2 ± 3.7, initial Cobb Angle 32 ± 12°, ATR 10 ± 4° Bunnel, 11 males.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients with AI scores of at least 5/6 were included. Each of them had a brace prescription (18 to 23 hours per day), according to the SPoRT concept. AI was measured again after six months and at the end of treatment, and then the pre- and post-treatment scores compared. The Wilcoxon test was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Twenty-nine patients out of the 34 included completed the treatment and had six-month and final results; four patients were lost during the treatment, and one was fused. At baseline, median AI was 6 (95% IC 5-6) but the score decreased to 3 (95% IC 0-5; p < 0.05) after six months with brace, and this value was maintained in the 29 who completed the treatment (95% IC 1-6; p < 0.05 with respect to the baseline).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Aesthetics can be improved in a clinically significant way when the brace treatment is performed according to the SPoRT concept and by following the SOSORT management criteria. This is a relevant result for patients and a major goal of scoliosis treatment, be it conservative or surgical. The use of a more sensitive tool like TRACE could more easily detect the clinical changes; nevertheless, AI proved sensible enough that its use in everyday clinical practice can be suggested.</p

Stereoselective carbon-carbon and carbon-heteroatom bond formation mediated by bifunctional organocatalysts

2011 - 2012This PhD work describes the development of different Michael and Michael type processes employing different bifunctional organocatalysts. All the processes studied involved a non-covalent activation of the substrates provided by the organic promoters. An asymmetric epoxidation of electron-poor trisubstituted olefins has been developed by employing the commercially available diphenyl prolinol which afforded the epoxides in high yield, complete diastereocontrol and good enantioselectivity. Diaryl prolinols were found to promote a Michael addition of -ketoesters to nitroalkenes. An unexpected high efficiency and stereocontrol was observed with hexafluorobenzene as unconventional solvent, but also employed as an additive. A convenient tandem double Michael addition process was developed to access symmetrically and unsymmetrically 3,5-diaryl substituted cyclohexanones by using quinine as catalyst. An aziridination reaction of terminal electron-poor olefins has been disclosed by using a commercially available aminothiourea catalyst. The desired aziridines, bearing a quaternary stereocenter, were isolated in good yield and enantiocontrol. These compounds, were regioselectively ring-opened to access valuable ,-disubstituted -amino ester derivatives. Finally an asymmetric Fischer indolization to produce helical molecules was investigated employing a chiral phosphoric acid as promoter and an ion-exchange polymer as ammonia scavenger. [edited by author]XI n.s

Management of neuropathic pain: A graph theory-based presentation of literature review.

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Host-Pathogen Interactions: Organotypic Cultures to Unravel the Mysteries of the Primordial Hostility among Organisms

Note: In lieu of an abstract, this is an excerpt from the first page. The interaction of humans with microorganisms represents a subtle balance between harm and good [...