The role of early orthotic intervention in the management of post-traumatic elbow contractures: Study protocol for phase II double-blinded randomised controlled trial.

Background: Restoration of full elbow extension following trauma is difficult and influenced by the injury profile, surgeon preference, patient and environmental factors. The literature suggests that orthotic interventions are effective in improving contractures when movement plateaus despite normal therapeutic interventions. It is not known if extension orthotic intervention is more superior to standard treatment regardless of when it is commenced.

Considering occupational performance during recovery of distal radius fracture: A scoping review.

Introduction: Distal radius fracture (DRF) is one of the most common upper extremity fractures treated by hand therapists and can lead to chronic physical impairment and reduced occupational performance. This scoping review aimed to reveal what is currently known about occupational performance following DRF and to explore if and how occupational performance is defined and considered in the research.

Methods: This review was guided by the PRISMA-Scoping review and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines.

Current clinical practice patterns and perspectives of Australian hand therapists during the treatment of adults with distal radius fracture: A national survey.

Introduction: Successful return to pre-injury occupational performance following distal radius fracture (DRF) may be influenced by person and environment factors such as pain, age, social support, and socioeconomic status. The primary aim of this study was to explore Australian hand therapists' current clinical practice and determine whether they consider these factors during the management of DRF.

Methods: A mixed methods online survey was distributed to members of the Australian Hand Therapy Association.

A prospective randomised comparative study of dynamic, static progressive and serial static proximal interphalangeal joint extension orthoses.

Introduction: Many different types of proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint extension orthoses exist, yet evidence guiding orthosis choice is largely theoretical. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of three different PIP joint extension orthoses, over 4 weeks of treatment. Secondly, we aimed to explore the relationship between an abbreviated version of the Weeks test (WT) assessment of joint stiffness, and treatment outcome.

An Approach to a Patient With Primary Hyperparathyroidism and a Suspected Ectopic Parathyroid Adenoma.

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is characterized by hypercalcemia driven by excess parathyroid hormone (PTH) secretion. PHPT is a common endocrine condition with a prevalence of 1 to 7 cases per 1000 adults. PHPT typically presents in the fifth or sixth decade and shows significant female preponderance.

A cohort investigation of patient-reported function and satisfaction after the implementation of advanced practice occupational therapy-led care for patients with chronic hand conditions at eight Australian public hospitals.

Study Design: Prospective cohort.

Introduction: Patients referred to medical specialist outpatient clinics in Australian public hospitals often wait longer than the recommended timeframe for their first appointment. This study examines the use of advanced hand therapy practitioners to facilitate access to care for long-waitlisted patients with chronic hand conditions.

Mobilizing orthoses in the management of post-traumatic elbow contractures: A survey of Australian hand therapy practice.

Study Design: Mixed-methods survey.

Introduction: Elbow stiffness and contractures often develop after trauma. There is a lack of evidence on mobilizing orthoses and the factors guiding orthotic prescription.

Evaluation of occupational therapy-led advanced practice hand therapy clinics for patients on surgical outpatient waiting lists at eight Australian public hospitals.

Study Design: This is a prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Evidence is emerging that advanced practice hand therapy clinics improve patient outcomes.

Purpose Of The Study: The aim of this study was to evaluate an advanced practice hand therapy model of care for patients with chronic hand conditions on surgical outpatient waiting lists at eight Australian public hospitals.

CA-125 in Disease Progression and Treatment of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a destructive lung disease of women caused by proliferation of neoplastic-like LAM cells, with mutations in the TSC1/2 tumor suppressor genes. Based on case reports, levels of cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), an ovarian cancer biomarker, can be elevated in patients with LAM. We hypothesized that elevated serum CA-125 levels seen in some patients with LAM were due to LAM, not other malignancies, and might respond to sirolimus treatment.

Official American Thoracic Society/Japanese Respiratory Society Clinical Practice Guidelines: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis Diagnosis and Management.

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare cystic lung disease that primarily affects women. The purpose of these guidelines is to provide recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of LAM.

Methods: Systematic reviews were performed to summarize evidence pertinent to our questions.

Effect of fasting on the size of lymphangioleiomyomas in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Background: Lymphangioleiomyomas occur in 38% of patients with sporadic lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and may cause pain and increased abdominal girth, mimicking the presence of a malignancy. Lymphatic involvement in LAM is closely associated with elevated serum levels of vascular endothelium growth factor-D (VEGF-D). Because lymphangioleiomyomas undergo diurnal variation in volume, we hypothesized that daytime ingestion of food, by increasing chyle formation and lymphatic flow, is the cause of an increase in lymphangioleiomyoma volume.

Osteoprotegerin contributes to the metastatic potential of cells with a dysfunctional TSC2 tumor-suppressor gene.

In addition to its effects on bone metabolism, osteoprotegerin (OPG), a soluble member of the tumor necrosis factor family of receptors, promotes smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration and may act as a survival factor for tumor cells. We hypothesized that these cellular mechanisms of OPG may be involved in the growth and proliferation of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) cells, abnormal smooth muscle-like cells with mutations in one of the tuberous sclerosis complex tumor-suppressor genes (TSC1/TSC2) that cause LAM, a multisystem disease characterized by cystic lung destruction, lymphatic infiltration, and abdominal tumors. Herein, we show that OPG stimulated proliferation of cells cultured from explanted LAM lungs, and selectively induced migration of LAM cells identified by the loss of heterozygosity for TSC2.

Lymphatics in lymphangioleiomyomatosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

The primary function of the lymphatic system is absorbing and transporting macromolecules and immune cells to the general circulation, thereby regulating fluid, nutrient absorption and immune cell trafficking. Lymphangiogenesis plays an important role in tissue inflammation and tumour cell dissemination. Lymphatic involvement is seen in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).

Randomized controlled trial of daily total end range time (TERT) for Capener splinting of the stiff proximal interphalangeal joint.

Objective: Capener splinting is a common treatment for extension deficit of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint. This study compared the effect of daily splint total end range time (TERT) of 6-12 hr versus 12-16 hr.

Method: Twenty-two participants with extension deficits of the PIP joint were randomly allocated to a daily TERT of 6-12 hr or 12-16 hr.

The Long-term relationship between duration of treatment and contracture resolution using dynamic orthotic devices for the stiff proximal interphalangeal joint: a prospective cohort study.

Study Design: Descriptive design with a prospective cohort.

Introduction: Little is known about the long-term relationship between the duration of treatment using dynamic orthoses (splints), and contracture resolution in the stiff proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint.

Purpose Of The Study: To examine the long-term relationship between weeks of treatment using dynamic orthoses and contracture resolution, in both flexion and extension deficits of the PIP joint.

ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase regulates cell proliferation and tumorigenesis.

Protein ADP-ribosylation is a reversible posttranslational modification of uncertain significance in cancer. In this study, we evaluated the consequences for cancer susceptibility in the mouse of a genetic deletion of the enzyme responsible for removing mono-ADP-ribose moieties from arginines in cellular proteins. Specifically, we analyzed cancer susceptibility in animals lacking the ADP-ribosylarginine hydrolase (ARH1) that cleaves the ADP ribose-protein bond.

Dynamic splinting for the stiff hand after trauma: predictors of contracture resolution.

Study Design: Prospective cohort.

Introduction: Many variables are believed to influence the success of dynamic splinting, yet their relationship with contracture resolution is unclear.

Purpose Of The Study: To identify the predictors of outcome with dynamic splinting of the stiff hand after trauma.

Mobilizing the stiff hand: combining theory and evidence to improve clinical outcomes.

Unlabelled: The purpose of this narrative review is to provide a clinically reasonable guide to intervention choices, by combining a sound understanding of theory with available research evidence. The pathology of contracture formation is presented within the context of tissue repair. The soft tissue response to stress is explained and the optimal "dose" of treatment is discussed.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM): molecular insights lead to targeted therapies.

LAM is a rare lung disease, found primarily in women of childbearing age, characterized by cystic lung destruction and abdominal tumors (e.g., renal angiomyolipoma, lymphangioleiomyoma).

Involvement of lymphatics in lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare multisystem disease, occurs primarily in women, with cystic destruction of the lungs, abdominal tumors, and involvement of the axial lymphatics in the thorax and abdomen. To understand the pathogenesis of LAM, we initiated a longitudinal study of patients with LAM; over 500 patients have been enrolled. LAM results from the proliferation of a neoplastic cell (LAM cell), which has mutations in the tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) genes, TSC1 or TSC2.

Introducing peer-group clinical supervision: an action research project.

Clinical supervision (CS) has been found to be beneficial in the role development of nurses and can contribute to increased job satisfaction and reduced burnout. However, implementing CS can be resource intensive, and there are few accounts of it being implemented in developing countries. Ten psychiatric nurses in Trinidad engaged in an action research project over a 5-month period to develop, implement, and undertake an initial evaluation of a model of peer-group CS for use in routine practice.