Rolfing structural integration treatment of cervical spine dysfunction.

Background: Misalignments in the body compromise the architectural integrity. At the tissue level, fascia shortens and thickens as the body engages in compensatory strategies to maintain itself upright; these changes are known as myofascial contractions. In physical therapy, there are several methods by which practitioners treat neck dysfunction.

Patients' experience of transition onto haemodialysis: a qualitative study.

Transition onto haemodialysis is a time of increased psychosocial difficulty, yet, many renal patients exhibit personal resilience in continuing to lead productive lives. Using a positive psychological methodology, this qualitative study aims to identify factors identified by patients as helpful in the transition onto haemodialysis. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 10 patients within six months of starting haemodialysis.

Trends in the use of complementary and alternative medicine in Pakistan: a population-based survey.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of use of complementary and alternative systems of medicine by different segments of society and to identify the diseases in which they have been found to be effective.

Methods: This was a questionnaire-based descriptive study carried out from April 2002 to March 2004, in selected urban and rural areas of four provinces of Pakistan representing general strata of population from various socioeconomic conditions.

Results: The overall trend in Pakistan shows that 51.

Ultrasound-aided fixation of a biodegradable cranial fixation system: uses in pediatric neurosurgery.

Object: Bioresorbable implant systems have been used in neurosurgery for the rigid fixation of cranial and facial bones. A relatively recent advancement has been the fixation of these implants using an ultrasonic device. The experience with such a device in neurosurgical practice has been limited.

Genetic structure of the polymorphic metrosideros (Myrtaceae) complex in the Hwaiian islands using nuclear microsatellite data.

Background: Five species of Metrosideros (Myrtaceae) are recognized in the Hawaiian Islands, including the widespread M. polymorpha, and are characterized by a multitude of distinctive, yet overlapping, habit, ecological, and morphological forms. It remains unclear, despite several previous studies, whether the morphological variation within Hawaiian Metrosideros is due to hybridization, genetic polymorphism, phenotypic plasticity, or some combination of these processes.

Convergent evolution of 'creepers' in the Hawaiian honeycreeper radiation.

Natural selection plays a fundamental role in the ecological theory of adaptive radiation. A prediction of this theory is the convergent evolution of traits in lineages experiencing similar environments. The Hawaiian honeycreepers are a spectacular example of adaptive radiation and may demonstrate convergence, but uncertainty about phylogenetic relationships within the group has made it difficult to assess such evolutionary patterns.

Convergent evolution of Hawaiian and Australo-Pacific honeyeaters from distant songbird ancestors.

The Hawaiian "honeyeaters," five endemic species of recently extinct, nectar-feeding songbirds in the genera Moho and Chaetoptila, looked and acted like Australasian honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), and no taxonomist since their discovery on James Cook's third voyage has classified them as anything else. We obtained DNA sequences from museum specimens of Moho and Chaetoptila collected in Hawaii 115-158 years ago. Phylogenetic analysis of these sequences supports monophyly of the two Hawaiian genera but, surprisingly, reveals that neither taxon is a meliphagid honeyeater, nor even in the same part of the songbird radiation as meliphagids.

Progressive island colonization and ancient origin of Hawaiian Metrosideros (Myrtaceae).

Knowledge of the evolutionary history of plants that are ecologically dominant in modern ecosystems is critical to understanding the historical development of those ecosystems. Metrosideros is a plant genus found in many ecological and altitudinal zones throughout the Pacific. In the Hawaiian Islands, Metrosideros polymorpha is an ecologically dominant species and is also highly polymorphic in both growth form and ecology.

Ventriculogallbladder shunts in pediatric patients.

Object: The authors report a clinical protocol for the application of ventriculogallbladder (VGB) shunts in children who may be unable to maintain or receive ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunts.

Methods: Eighteen patients underwent placement of VGB shunts as an alternative to VP shunt therapy for the following reasons: malfunction of the VP shunt due to suspected failure of the peritoneum to absorb cerebrospinal fluid (17 cases) and multiple intraabdominal general surgical procedures (1 case). The patients ranged in age from 4 months to 17 years (mean 6.

Management of complicated shunt infections: a clinical report.

Objectives: The authors present their experience with a protocol for the treatment of patients with complicated shunt infections.

Methods: Complicated shunt infections are defined for the purpose of this protocol as multiple compartment hydrocephalus, multiple organism shunt infection, severe peritonitis, or infections in other sites of the body. The initial treatment protocol for these patients was 3 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy and 2 weeks of twice daily intraventricular/intrashunt antibiotic therapy.

Common polymorphisms in the folate pathway predict efficacy of combination regimens containing methotrexate and sulfasalazine in early rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: To study genetic polymorphisms in the folate pathway, a site of action of methotrexate (MTX) and sulfasalazine (SSZ), as predictors of efficacy of combination disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) regimens containing MTX and SSZ in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Ninety-eight Caucasian patients with early RA received MTX with SSZ, hydroxychloroquine, and folate according to a standardized protocol. Efficacy was evaluated using the Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and European League Against Rheumatism response criteria at 12 months.

Aggressive management of shunt infection: combined intravenous and intraventricular antibiotic therapy for twelve or less days.

Objective: This report is limited to patients with a single cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt infected by a single organism, and compares two treatment protocols.

Methods: In the initial protocol (1975-1991), patients underwent removal of the shunt system and received intravenous and intraventricular antibiotics. Intraventricular antibiotics were administered twice daily to those with external ventricular drainage.

Influence of medical training on self-medication by students.

Objective: To examine the influence of medical training on the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication by medical students.

Subjects And Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive study. A self-developed, pre-validated questionnaire containing open-ended and close-ended items was used for data collection.

Spinal peritoneal shunts for conditions other than hydrocephalus and pseudotumor cerebri: a clinical report.

Background: To treat with minimally invasive surgery, recurrent spinal arachnoid cysts, progressive syringomyelia, cranial and spinal cerebrospinal fluid fistulas.

Patients And Methods: This is a clinical report that describes the management of recurrent spinal arachnoid cysts (2 patients), progressive syringomyelia (11 patients), postoperative spinal cerebrospinal fluid fistulas (15 patients) and postoperative cranial cerebrospinal fluid fistulas (2 patients) that were treated with spinal peritoneal shunts. The spinal arachnoid cyst and syringomyelia patients promptly resolved the signs and symptoms.

Lack of influence of CYP2D6 genotype on the clearance of (R)-, (S)- and racemic-methadone.

Objective: To investigate the influence of CYP2D6 genotype on the oral clearance of (R)-, (S)- and rac-methadone.

Methods: In this retrospective study, CYP2D6 genotypes were identified in 56 methadone maintained subjects. Plasma concentrations of (R)-, (S)- and rac-methadone were determined by stereoselective HPLC and sufficient data were available to estimate the apparent oral clearances of (R)-, (S)- and rac-methadone using a population kinetic model in 37 of the genotyped subjects.

Effect of CYP2D6 metabolizer status on the disposition of the (+) and (-) enantiomers of perhexiline in patients with myocardial ischaemia.

Aims: This study investigated the effects of increasing doses of rac-perhexiline maleate and CYP2D6 phenotype and genotype on the pharmacokinetics of (+) and (-)-perhexiline.

Methods: In a prospective study, steady-state plasma concentrations of (+) and (-)-perhexiline were quantified in 10 CYP2D6 genotyped patients following dosing with 100 mg/day rac-perhexiline maleate, and following a subsequent dosage increase to 150 or 200 mg/day. In a retrospective study, steady-state plasma concentrations of (+) and (-)-perhexiline were obtained from 111 CYP2D6 phenotyped patients receiving rac-perhexiline maleate.

Using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale with learning disabled mothers.

Accurate identification of postnatal depression in mothers with a learning disability is essential if they are to be offered appropriate treatment and support. However, health visitors have raised concerns about the usefulness of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) with this group of women. In this small-scale study, mothers with a learning disability were asked to complete an EPDS and take part in a structured interview, which was designed to be more appropriate to their level of intellectual ability.

Classifications used by Australian forensic odontologists in identification reports.

Forensic odontologists are repeatedly called upon to assist in the identification of deceased persons. A great deal of information is available in the literature as to how and why comparative dental investigation of identification is performed but there is little information on the descriptive terms used in reporting these identifications. A forensic odontology report sets out the findings of a comparison between antemortem and postmortem evidence and indicates the odontologist's opinion on the identification.

Primary treatment with temporary subcutaneous peritoneal shunts for postoperative spinal cerebrospinal fluid fistulas.

Object: The authors describe a series of attempts to treat with minimally invasive surgery cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistulas that develop following operations of the spine for congenital anomalies.

Methods: Sixteen patients in whom CSF fistulas developed following repair of congenital spinal disorders (nine lipomeningoceles, one arachnoid cyst, two myelocystoceles, three tethered cords after myelomeningocele repair, and one scoliosis surgery) underwent placement of a temporary subcutaneous peritoneal shunt. The CSF fistulas resolved in all instances.

Good bite mark evidence: a case report.

Bite mark analysis is unquestionably the most difficult, and contentious, work undertaken by forensic odontologists. Each injury must be assessed to determine if it was made by human or animal teeth, if the quality of the evidence allows presentation to a Court of Law, and if the pattern can be reasonably compared to a suspect dentition. Many injuries examined by forensic odontologists do not meet these criteria.

Evaluation of the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among first-year medical students.

Objective: This study was undertaken to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of self-medication among first-year medical students of the Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain.

Subjects And Methods: This was an anonymous, questionnaire-based, descriptive study. A prevalidated questionnaire, containing open-ended and close-ended questions, was administered to the subjects.

The effect of intravenous fluid replacement on the response to mannitol in experimental cerebral edema: an analysis of intracranial pressure, serum osmolality, serum electrolytes, and brain water content.

Albino rabbits that had undergone a cryogenic insult over the left parieto-occipital cortex were analyzed for serum osmolality, serum electrolytes, brain water content, and intracranial pressure (ICP) following either a baseline infusion of intravenous (i.v.) fluid (45 mL total) for 3 hours or above-maintenance isotonic saline (73.