Effect of Lower Trapezius and Serratus Anterior Muscle Strengthening on Pain and Function in Patients with Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain

Background Neck pain is considered to be a very frequent and disabling complaint among the general population. Purpose To study the effect of strength training of Lower Trapezius and Serratus Anterior muscles on pain and function in patients with chronic mechanical neck pain. Method 24 chronic mechanical neck pain samples (12 experimental and 12 control groups) participated. The pre and post-assessment was done with Numerical Rating Scale (NRS), Algometer, Push-Pull Dynamometer and Neck Disability Index Scale (NDI) for Pain, Pain Pressure Threshold (PPT), Muscle Strength and Function respectively. The experimental group was given strength training along with conventional physiotherapy whereas the control group underwent only conventional physiotherapy. Results The results showed a statistically significant difference in PPT (p value 0.04), Lower Trapezius strength (p value 0.02), Serratus Anterior strength (p value 0.003) and NDI (p value 0.04). Conclusion Strength training for Lower Trapezius and Serratus Anterior muscles along with conventional physiotherapy should be incorporated in treatment of Chronic Mechanical Neck pain patients

Profile Study of Negative Autopsy among the Post Mortem Cases Referred from Medical Officers to Forensic Medicine Department, Ahmedabad, India

Background: The principal aim of an autopsy is to determine the cause of death, and the state of health of the person before he or she died. But in several instances even after detailed autopsy and various laboratory investigations, autopsy surgeon/ Forensic medicine expert cannot determine the cause of death and they end up with negative autopsy. The present study was carried out to find out the types of cases where we were unable to determine cause of death after autopsy at forensic medicine department, B J medical college, civil hospital, Ahmedabad, India.Methods: A total of 251 dead bodies were referred by Medical officers to forensic medicine department, B J medical college, Ahmedabad for expert post mortem examination from 1st January 2011 to 31st December 2015.Results: After thorough and complete post mortem examination, it was found that in 43(17.13%) cases no opinion as to the cause or nature of death could be given. Most common types of cases include decomposition (53.50%), and skeletal remains (23.25%).Conclusion: According to above mentioned facts it is clear that chances of getting cause of death is very poor if time lapse more and more after death like in decomposition and skeletal remains

Clinical Utility of Radiologic Disease Reassessment in the Management of Pediatric B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Although outcomes for children with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma are excellent, between 20% and 40% demonstrate residual radiologic abnormalities at disease assessment during consolidation therapy, the significance of which remains uncertain. The authors report the outcomes for all children treated for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma at our center over an 11-year period. Twenty-four of 64 (38%) children had residual radiologic abnormalities at disease remission assessment. Seven (29%) underwent histologic biopsies that were normal. No children with residual radiologic abnormalities experienced disease relapse or death, suggesting that imaging at this time point creates clinical uncertainty without indicating residual disease or predicting relapse

Reductions in negative automatic thoughts in students attending mindfulness tutorials predicts increased life satisfaction

University education confronts students with stressful developmental challenges that can lead to mental health problems. Innovative programs must address an increasing prevalence of these problems but are impeded by the high costs involved. In this study, thirty-nine undergraduate students attended weekly one hour mindfulness meditation tutorials during a single (14 week) semester. Tutorials involved 40 minutes of guided meditation, followed by open-ended discussions on mindfulness and related scientific research. Multiple regression analysis tested associations between self-reported changes in mindfulness, in negative automatic thoughts and in satisfaction with life.Reductions in automatic thoughts accounted for a significant proportion of variance in life satisfaction and decreases in automatic thoughts were associated with an increased life satisfaction. This finding suggests guided meditation tutorials merit consideration in promoting student mental health on university campuses.Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC

Multi-Response Optimization of WEDM Process Parameters for Machining of Superelastic Nitinol Shape-Memory Alloy Using a Heat-Transfer Search Algorithm

Nitinol, a shape-memory alloy (SMA), is gaining popularity for use in various applications. Machining of these SMAs poses a challenge during conventional machining. Henceforth, in the current study, the wire-electric discharge process has been attempted to machine nickel-titanium (Ni55.8Ti) super-elastic SMA. Furthermore, to render the process viable for industry, a systematic approach comprising response surface methodology (RSM) and a heat-transfer search (HTS) algorithm has been strategized for optimization of process parameters. Pulse-on time, pulse-off time and current were considered as input process parameters, whereas material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness, and micro-hardness were considered as output responses. Residual plots were generated to check the robustness of analysis of variance (ANOVA) results and generated mathematical models. A multi-objective HTS algorithm was executed for generating 2-D and 3-D Pareto optimal points indicating the non-dominant feasible solutions. The proposed combined approach proved to be highly effective in predicting and optimizing the wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process parameters. Validation trials were carried out and the error between measured and predicted values was negligible. To ensure the existence of a shape-memory effect even after machining, a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test was carried out. The optimized parameters were found to machine the alloy appropriately with the intact shape memory effect

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of the Animal Tissues

Animal tissues are extensively used as scaffolds for tissue engineering and regenerative therapies. They are typically subjected to decellularization process to obtain a cell-free extracellular matrix (ECM) scaffolds. It is important to identify chemical structure of the ECM scaffolds and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) appears to be a technique of choice. In this chapter, FTIR spectra of native and decellularized buffalo aortae, buffalo diaphragms, goat skin, and native bovine cortical bone are presented. The transmittance peaks are that of organic collagen amide A, amide B, amide I, amide II and amide III chemical functional groups in both native and decellularized aortae, diaphragms and skin. In bone, the transmittance peaks are that of inorganic ν1, ν3 PO43−, OH− in addition to organic collagen amide A, amide B, amide I, amide II and amide III chemical functional groups. These important transmittance peaks of the tissue samples will help researchers in defining the chemical structure of these animal tissues

Synthesis, Characterization and Antibacterial Activity of a New Series of s-Triazines Derived with Quinolines

8-Hydroxy quinoline was synthesized using Skraup reaction. This was condensed with trichloro-s-triazine. The product of the above reaction was allowed to react with triazole derivative. Finally, urea derivatives were allowed to react and the products were characterized by conventional and instrumental methods. Their structures were determined and important biochemical properties were studie

Ring inserts as a useful strategy to prepare tip-loaded microneedles for long-acting drug delivery with application in HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis

The role of microneedle array patches (MAPs) and, in particular, dissolving MAPs in transdermal drug delivery has increased exponentially over the last decade. MAPs are able to form drug depots in the viable skin from where poorly soluble drugs dissolve in a long-acting fashion, showing promise in the management of multiple diseases. The manufacture of these systems can present some challenges, including the presence of bubbles in the baseplates and consequent lack of uniformity in microneedle formation and drug content. Here, we present a simple method based on ring inserts to produce tip-loaded MAPs using the antiretroviral drug cabotegravir sodium (CAB). The obtained MAPs presented a high uniformity in terms of microneedle formation, and a suitable insertion capability, as per the mechanical characterisation performed. An optimisation based on design of experiments revealed that centrifugation parameters had a significant impact on the skin deposition of the MAPs in excised neonatal porcine skin using Franz cells, with values ranging from 62.24 ± 47.13 µg to 174.13 ± 41.10 µg of CAB. Pharmacokinetic studies carried out in rats evidenced the capacity of the MAPs to maintain therapeutic plasma levels of CAB for 14 days, with Tmax values reached between 5 and 8 days