Ultrasound imaging of lumbar multifidus immediately following three physical therapy techniques in asymptomatic individuals

Study Design Randomized, blinded, cohort, within subjects design. Background and Objective The effects of different manual therapy (MT) techniques on lumbar multifidus (LM) thickness have been investigated in subjects with low back pain (LBP) but have not been investigated in asymptomatic subjects. The objective of this study was to examine the immediate effects of mobilization and manipulation on contraction thickness of LM in healthy individuals. Methods and Measures Forty-two healthy individuals participated in the study. Ultrasound imaging techniques were used to record LM thickness (L4-5 level) at rest, during an abdominal drawing in maneuver (ADIM), and during a prone upper extremity (PUEL) lifting task. Images were taken before and immediately following one of three randomly assigned MT techniques. Participants returned on two subsequent days to receive the remaining techniques, and data was compared to assess the effects of each technique. Results A statistically significant interaction was found between treatment, contraction state and time for the PUEL task (p=0.019). Post hoc analysis revealed a statistically significant increase in resting muscle thickness following the supine anterior posterior thrust technique (p=0.005). No significant differences in muscle thickness were found with the other two techniques at rest or during the PUEL task (ps ≥ 0.887). This suggests that the supine AP thrust technique causes an increase in resting muscle thickness that does not occur with other MT techniques. For the ADIM data, no interaction among the three variables was found (p= 0.233). This suggests that no MT technique changed resting or contracted muscle thickness when the participants performed the ADIM. Conclusion Taken together, the findings from this study demonstrate that manual therapy had no effect on resting or contracted thickness in asymptomatic individuals. It may be that the changes in muscle thickness reported in the current body of literature are only observed in patients with LBP and may not occur in healthy individuals

A comprehensive examination of inflammatory bowel disease for genetic counselors

Inflammatory Bowel Disease is a complex, non-Mendelian auto-inflammatory/auto-immune disorder with increasing incidence worldwide. The pathogenesis of this disease remains elusive; however, the current theory postulates that the inflammation of the bowel is caused by an aberrant immune response to commensal gut bacterial. It is believed that this abnormal response occurs in a genetically susceptible host after exposure to environmental triggers. Research has still yet to prove a universal trigger for all cases of IBD Currently the genotype-phenotype data is too limited to provide any kind of substantial diagnostic genetic test and relative risk data provides as 1 in 10-20 risk for first-degree family members. Roughly 20-25% of disease heritability is explained and researchers believe an additional portion of the “missing heritability” may be found in either risk alleles with small effect sizes or the non-coding regions of the genome affecting gene expression through gene-to-gene interactions. Studies have shown patients are open and receptive to genetic counseling services; however, today’s data provides counselors with little useful information. In the future a panel of many small effect genes may help to elucidate those at the greatest risk for disease. The ability to determine those at the greatest risk for disease is of public health importance due to the ever-increasing burden of disease. With the average age of onset between 15-30 years old, the majority of an individual’s working life may be inhibited by disease related complications reducing their productivity, as well as, increasing the time and cost for which disease related health care services are required. Together these factors and more create a burden of disease on both the individual and the public health community

Extraction of pigment from plant material

The present invention is directed to a process for extracting pigments, namely carotenoids, from plant material. The process includes the step of combining shredded plant material with an enzyme. The enzyme breaks down the plants cellular walls releasing the carotenoids contained within the plant cells. The enzyme added to the plant material can be pectinase, cellulase, hemicellulase, or mixtures thereof

Reducing Maternal and Child Health Disparities among Latino Immigrants in South Carolina Through a Tailored, Culturally Appropriate and Participant-Driven Initiative

Newly arrived Latino immigrants in South Carolina (SC), especially Latina mothers, experience many health related barriers including a general lack of health services information. The PASOs program, which means “steps” in Spanish, uses education, outreach, partnerships and advocacy to empower Latino families to utilize available health care services throughout SC. PASOs is a community-based program conducted by college trained bilingual/bicultural facilitators with the support from community health care workers (promotores de salud). Participants (n=523) were expectant mothers with an average age of 27 (SD=6) years, mostly from Mexico (69%), with an average of 9 (SD=4) years of education and 7 (SD=5) years living in the US. Repeated measures analyses from pre-test to post-test indicated significant knowledge improvement (p<0.005) regarding the importance of prenatal care, signs of preterm delivery, benefits of breastfeeding, and the importance of folic acid intake during periconception. By the end of the course, the majority of the Latinas (93%; p<0.0001) were able to name a birth control method they planned to use following their current pregnancy. Results of this study emphasize the benefits associated with the implementation of a culturally-appropriate program with newly arrived Latino immigrants, including an increase on preconception, pregnancy, and post-pregnancy knowledge

Long-Term In Vivo Gene Expression via Delivery of PEI–DNA Condensates from Porous Polymer Scaffolds

Nonviral delivery vectors are attractive for gene therapy approaches in tissue engineering, but suffer from low transfection efficiency and short-term gene expression. We hypothesized that the sustained delivery of poly(ethylenimine) (PEI)-condensed DNA from three-dimensional biodegradable scaffolds that encourage cell infiltration could greatly enhance gene expression. To test this hypothesis, a PEI-condensed plasmid encoding β-galactosidase was incorporated into porous poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLG) scaffolds, using a gas foaming process. Four conditions were examined: condensed DNA and uncondensed DNA encapsulated into PLG scaffolds, blank scaffolds, and bolus delivery of condensed DNA in combination with implantation of PLG scaffolds. Implantation of scaffolds incorporating condensed β-galactosidase plasmid into the subcutaneous tissue of rats resulted in a high level of gene expression for the entire 15-week duration of the experiment, as exemplified by extensive positive staining for β-galactosidase gene expression observed on the exterior surface and throughout the cross-sections of the explanted scaffolds. No positive staining could be observed for the control conditions either on the exterior surface or in the cross-section at 8- and 15-week time points. In addition, a high percentage (55–60%) of cells within scaffolds incorporating condensed DNA at 15 weeks demonstrated expression of the DNA, confirming the sustained uptake and expression of the encapsulated plasmid DNA. Quantitative analysis of β-galactosidase gene expression revealed that expression levels in scaffolds incorporating condensed DNA were one order of magnitude higher than those of other conditions at the 2- week time point and nearly two orders of magnitude higher than those of the control conditions at the 8- and 15-week time points. This study demonstrated that the sustained delivery of PEI–condensed plasmid DNA from PLG scaffolds led to an in vivo long-term and high level of gene expression, and this system may find application in areas such as bone tissue engineering.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/63281/1/hum.2005.16.609.pd

Nurses\u27 Alumnae Association Bulletin - Volume 5 Number 8

Calling All Nurses Financial Report Calendar of Events Lest You Forget! Attention Review of the Alumnae Association Meetings President\u27s Report Barton Memorial Division Oxygen Therapy Welcome, White Haven Alumnae Clinical Use of Penicillin in Infections of the Ears, Nose and Throat Address - Graduation of Nurses, 1945 Miscellaneous Items The Blood that Kills The Story of Malaria Program Prizes - May, 1946 Capping Exercises The Economic Security Program of the Pennsylvania State Nurses\u27 Association The Clara Melville Scholarship Fund Card of Thanks The Poet\u27s Corner The Hospital Pharmacy Jefferson Medical College Hospital School of Nursing Faculty Jefferson Hospital Gray Lady Unite, A.R.R. The Volunteer Nurses\u27 Aides Salute Jefferson Nurses Changes in the Staff at Jefferson Hospital Red Cross Recruits Did You Know That The Pennsylvania Nurse Medical College News Magazine and Newspaper Items Central Dressing Room and Transfusion Unit Rules Concerning Central Dressing Room Radios and Electrical Appliances Attending College Nurses in Anesthesia Condolences Marriages New Arrivals Deaths The Bulletin Committee Attention, Alumnae New Addresse