Endoscopic radiofrequency facet joint treatment in patients with low back pain: technique and long-term results. A prospective cohort study

Aims: The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of endoscopic rhizotomy (ER) for denervation of lumbar facet joints in patients with chronic low back pain (LBP) due to facet joint syndrome (FJS). Methods: A total of 50 consecutive patients suffering from chronic LBP due to facet joints were screened to be treated with ER. The patients participating in the study had a 2-year follow up. Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were assessed in the preoperative and postoperative period. To evaluate secondary endpoints, patients were divided into groups. One group included the patients previously treated with percutaneous radiofrequency (RF). The other group comprised patients at their first interventional treatment. We also compared patients dividing them by age and by number of joints treated, trying to elucidate if these parameters could be predictive of effectiveness of the procedure. Results: All patients had a reduction in NRS and an improvement in ODI. NRS was reduced significantly after 1 month and remained the same until the end of the study. ODI was significantly improved from T1 (1 month after surgery) up to T7 (end of the study). The improvements did not differ whether already treated with percutaneous rhizotomy or not. Patients less than 60 years or with 1–2 joints treated had better improvement compared with the others. Conclusion: The results obtained demonstrate that ER for denervation of the facet joint is an effective treatment in patients with chronic LBP, with consistent and stable results at 2-year follow up. The technique has a rapid learning curve and no major complications occurred. Moreover, the previous percutaneous RF treatment had no influence on the results obtained with endoscopic technique. There is evidence that best results are obtained in younger patients and/or in patients with 1–2 joints treated. Lay summary: Low-back pain has facet joints inflammation or degeneration as pain generator in 20–40% of cases. Nervous lesion of the dorsal ramus innervating the facet joints has been shown as an efficacious treatment to obtain good analgesia. Percutaneous techniques have provided short term results for several reasons. This research aimed to see whether endoscopic denervation, which guarantees a more precise approach to anatomical structure, would result in more durable results. The study conducted on 40 patients has made it clear that this approach gives significant analgesia for at least 2 years, which was the time of patient follow up

Lithium Doping of MgAl2O4 and ZnAl2O4 Investigated by High-Resolution Solid State NMR

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A new model for storytelling complex learning objects

This paper focuses the attention on a particular complex learning resource, namely storytelling that is characterized by its capability to support high-level learning processes thanks to a remediation of languages, strategies and roles. In the traditional forms of storytelling, a story is told to learners in a predefined way (also known as plot). This approach is called plot-based. An alternative approach is known as character-based. The plot-based approach fails to model the dynamic behaviors of virtual characters. On the other hand, the character-based approach focuses on designing the specific behaviors or actions of the virtual characters. In this work a Storytelling Design Model is defined in order to provide pedagogy-based guidelines to the design of Storytelling Complex Learning Objects taking care of both the plot-based and character-based approaches. © 2011 IEEE

Cuantificación del contenido de cobre y otros minerales en pollinazas producidas en el estado de Yucatán

Analyses were made to quantify the copper (Cu), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and molybdenum (Mo) contents of poultry manure marketed by three of the most important poultry companies in the State of Yucatan, Mexico. Manure samples were taken weekly over a one-year period, from June 2000 to May 2001. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry analysis was done of dry matter, ash, Cu, S, Fe, Zn and Mo. Results were grouped according to company of origin (Company 1, 2 and 3) and annual season (rainy, June -,, October, windy, November -,, January, dry, February -,, May. Data was analyzed by the least-squares method using a model including the general mean, the effect of the season, the effect of the company of origin x season interaction and the random error [NiD (0, s2)]. Cu content in poultry manure was 82 ppm and was affected by the company of origin (PEl estudio se llevó a cabo con la finalidad de cuantificar el contenido de cobre (Cu), azufre (S), hierro (Fe), zinc (Zn) y molibdeno (Mo) en la pollinaza comercializada por tres de las más importantes empresas de Yucatán. La recolección de muestras se realizó semanalmente durante 12 meses comprendidos entre junio del 2000 y mayo del 2001. A las muestras se les determinó materia seca, materia mineral, así­ como Cu, S, Fe, Zn y Mo mediante espectrofotometrí­a de absorción atómica. Los resultados se agruparon dependiendo de su procedencia (Empresas 1, 2 y 3) y por época del año: lluvias (junio -,, octubre), nortes (noviembre -,, enero) y seca (febrero -,, mayo), y se analizaron mediante el método de cuadrados mí­nimos empleando un modelo lineal de efectos fijos. El promedio general del contenido de Cu en la pollinaza fue de 82 ppm, y estuvo afectado por la procedencia (

Time-dependent in-situ neutron diffraction investigation of a Li(Co 0.16Mn1.84)O4 cathode

10.1021/jp2026237Journal of Physical Chemistry C1154321473-2148