Using Akaike information criterion and minimum mean square error mode in compensating for ultrasonographic errors for estimation of fetal weight by new operators.

Objectives: The accuracy of ultrasound (US) measurements is operator dependent. In order to decrease the operator-dependent errors in estimated fetal weight (EFW), a model selection analysis was undertaken to select significant compensation weighting factors on ultrasonographic parameters to support artificial neural network (ANN), and thus to enhance the accuracy of fetal weight estimation.

Materials And Methods: In total, 2127 singletons were examined by prenatal US within 3 days before delivery for ANN development, and another 100 cases were selected from new operators for evaluation.

Efficient fetal size classification combined with artificial neural network for estimation of fetal weight.

Objectives: A novel analysis was undertaken to select a significant ultrasonographic parameter (USP) for classifying fetuses to support artificial neural network (ANN), and thus to enhance the accuracy of fetal weight estimation.

Methods: In total, 2127 singletons were examined by prenatal ultrasound within 3 days before delivery. First, correlation analysis was used to determine a significant USP for fetal grouping.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty for symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture adjacent to lumbar instrumented circumferential fusion.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous vertebroplasty for patients with symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures adjacent to lumbar instrumented circumferential fusion. Between January 2005 and June 2010, eighteen patients in the authors' institution with lumbar instrumented circumferential fusion had adjacent symptomatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures. The patients received percutaneous vertebroplasty using polymethylmethacrylate bone cement augmentation.

Clinical evaluation of repeat percutaneous vertebroplasty for symptomatic cemented vertebrae.

Background: Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV) with polymethylmethacrylate is widely used to treat osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture and satisfactory clinical outcomes have been reported in the literature. However, recurrent or persistent back pain after PV is not uncommon. Sometimes, the pain may result from pathogenesis within the previously treated vertebra.

Sliding and pressure evaluation on conventional and V-shaped seats of reclining wheelchairs for stroke patients with flaccid hemiplegia: a crossover trial.

Background: Reclining wheelchairs are commonly used to transport elderly stroke patients in Taiwan. However, there is concern that the patient's body in the wheelchair often slides forward when they return to a seated position, increasing the sitting pressure. Therefore, a novel reclining wheelchair with an ergonomic "V-Seat" was designed to prevent forward sliding and pressure sores.

Insertion of the ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway is more successful with the Flexi-Slip™ stylet than with the introducer.

Purpose: The ProSeal™ laryngeal mask airway (PLMA™) may be difficult to insert because of its large soft cuff, even when using a dedicated introducer tool. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether introduction of a stylet (Flexi-Slip™) in the drainage tube improved insertion characteristics compared with the standard introducer.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 160 adults were allocated randomly to either the Introducer group (n = 80) or to the Flexi-Slip stylet group (n = 80).

Use of the Rusch Flexi-Slip stylet for patients with difficult insertion of the ProSeal laryngeal mask airway.

The ProSeal laryngeal mask airway (PLMA) offers a more effective seal and is easier for gastric tube placement to prevent aspiration than the classical laryngeal mask airway. However, it is more difficult to insert with the digital and introducer tooling techniques. The Rusch Flexi-Slip stylet (RFSS) is an accessory intubation tool that consists of a malleable coated wire and a soft atraumatic tip.

Impact of cement leakage into disks on the development of adjacent vertebral compression fractures.

Study Design: A retrospective study assessing new adjacent vertebral compression fracture (VCF) after percutaneous vertebroplasty (PV).

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between cement leakage into the disk during initial PV and development of subsequent new adjacent VCF.

Summary Of Background Data: Cement leakage outside the vertebral body during PV has been reported and usually responds to conservative treatment.

The impact of timing and dose of rehabilitation delivery on functional recovery of stroke patients.

Background: To investigate the impact of both timing and dose of rehabilitation delivery on the functional recovery of stroke patients.

Methods: From chart review, we included 76 patients who were admitted to a regional hospital for first-ever stroke, and who had received multidisciplinary rehabilitation programs including physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) at the inpatient department, and continuous rehabilitation therapy at the outpatient department for at least 3 months. The collected data included age, sex, type of stroke (hemorrhage/infarction), onset of stroke, initial motor status by Brunnstrom's motor recovery stages, time to rehabilitation intervention (from onset of stroke), length of stay, existence of aphasia, craniotomy (yes/no), and total units of rehabilitation.

A two-stage approach to positioning and identification of tracheal intubation using LED-based lightwand and acoustic models.

This paper proposes a two-stage approach to positioning and identifying tracheal intubations by computer-assisted diagnosis system. First, an innovated LED-based lightwand is developed for positioning the opening of the trachea and inserting the endotracheal tube rapidly. The proposed LED-based lightwand instrument significantly reduces the effects of temperature reaction without changing transillumination through the tissue.

Revision strategies for complications and failure of vertebroplasties.

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is widely discussed in the management of osteoporotic spinal compression fracture, but few reports are available concerning salvage procedures after failure of this technique. We studied 22 percutaneous vertebroplasty patients who required revision surgery upon presentation of new symptoms postoperatively. The indications for revision surgery included recurrent intractable back pain with no response to medical treatment, infectious spondylitis, cement leakage with neurologic deficit, and cement dislodgement and/or fragmentation.

Effectiveness of two forms of feedback on training of a joint mobilization skill by using a joint translation simulator.

Background And Purpose: Joint mobilization is a complicated task to learn and to teach and is characterized by great intersubject variability. This study's purpose was to investigate whether quantitatively augmented feedback could enhance the learning of joint mobilization and, more specifically, to compare the effects of training with concurrent or terminal feedback by using a joint translation simulator (JTS).

Subjects: Thirty-six undergraduate physical therapist students were randomly assigned to control (no feedback), concurrent feedback, and terminal feedback groups.

Relationships among speech perception, self-rated tinnitus loudness and disability in tinnitus patients with normal pure-tone thresholds of hearing.

Exactly how speech perception and tinnitus perception are related remains unclear. This study investigated how tinnitus alone affects speech perception and the relationship between speech perception, tinnitus loudness, and tinnitus disability. The Mandarin Speech Perception in Noise Test (MSPIN), Tinnitus Loudness Scaling (TLS), and Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) were utilized to assess 20 tinnitus patients with normal hearing.

Evaluation of the mixing point in tinnitus sound therapy by a psychoacoustic matching protocol with a digital tinnitus evaluation system.

Directive counseling and sound therapy have been reported to effectively alleviate tinnitus suffering. Without objective evaluation, researchers doubt the real effect of sound therapy. This study was designed to evaluate the frequency and intensity of the theoretical 'mixing point' (MP) in sound therapy and to investigate its relationship with the minimal masking level (MML) of tinnitus.

Effects of liner stiffness for trans-tibial prosthesis: a finite element contact model.

The socket liner plays a crucial role in redistribution of the interface stresses between the stump and the socket, so that the peak interface stress could be reduced. However, how the peak stress is affected by various liner stiffnesses is still unknown, especially when the phenomenon of the stump slide within the socket is considered. This study employed nonlinear contact finite element analyses to study the biomechanical reaction of the stump sliding with particular attention to the liner stiffness effects of the trans-tibial prosthesis.

Immediate effects of various physical therapeutic modalities on cervical myofascial pain and trigger-point sensitivity.

Objective: To investigate the immediate effect of physical therapeutic modalities on myofascial pain in the upper trapezius muscle.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Setting: Institutional practice.

Effects of a calcium channel blocker on electrical activity in myofascial trigger spots of rabbits.

Objective: This study investigated the effect of a calcium channel blocking agent, verapamil, on the spontaneous electrical activity (SEA) in a myofascial trigger spot of biceps femoris muscles of rabbits.

Design: Left and right legs of eight adult New Zealand rabbits were randomly assigned into either experimental or control groups to assess the effect of verapamil on SEA. Verapamil and normal saline were injected into the external iliac artery for experimental and control groups, respectively.