Optical Measurements of the Skin Surface to Infer Bilateral Distinctions in Myofascial Tissue Stiffness.

About half the U.S. adult population suffers from chronic neuromusculoskeletal pain.

Soft Tissue Manipulation Alters RANTES/CCL5 and IL-4 Cytokine Levels in a Rat Model of Chronic Low Back Pain.

Low back pain (LBP) is a common musculoskeletal complaint that can impede physical function and mobility. Current management often involves pain medication, but there is a need for non-pharmacological and non-invasive interventions. Soft tissue manipulation (STM), such as massage, has been shown to be effective in human subjects, but the molecular mechanisms underlying these findings are not well understood.

A Handheld Quantifiable Soft Tissue Manipulation Device for Tracking Real-Time Dispersive Force-Motion Patterns to Characterize Manual Therapy Treatment.

Objective: Low back pain (LBP) is one of the leading neuromusculoskeletal (NMSK) problems around the globe. Soft Tissue Manipulation (STM) is a force-based, non-invasive intervention used to clinically address NMSK pain conditions. Current STM practice standards are mostly subjective, suggesting an urgent need for quantitative metrics.

Quantifiable Soft Tissue Manipulation (QSTM™) - A novel modality to improve clinical manual therapy with objective metrics.

Soft Tissue Manipulation (STM), a form of mechanotherapy, offers a clinical modality to examine and treat Neuromusculoskeletal (NMS) pain disorders and dysfunction. The, current STM practice is mostly subjective and reliant on anecdotal patient feedback and lacks quantification with objective metrics. This paper proposes Quantifiable Soft Tissue Manipulation (QSTM™), a sensor based computerized technological advancement in Soft tissue examination and treatment enabling new standard of practice in manual therapy.

Risk assessment of trace element accumulation in two species of edible commercial fish Scomberoides commersonnianus and Cynoglossus arel from the northern waters of the Oman Sea.

Concentrations of heavy metals, namely, cadmium, copper, zinc, lead, and chromium were measured in the muscle tissue of Scomberoides commersonnianus and Cynoglossus arel from the northern waters of the Oman Sea. Human health risk assessment for Iranian child and adult consumers were also evaluated. The mean concentration of zinc and copper were lower than international standards of maximum permissible limits (MPL).

Ecological and human health risk assessment of trace element pollution in sediments and five important commercial fishes of the Oman Sea.

The distribution of trace elements in sediments and five commercially important fish species of the Oman Sea were assessed using an atomic absorption spectrometer to determine ecological and human health risk assessment. The ranges of trace elements concentration in sediments were: Cr: 5.42-68.

Soft Tissue Manipulation May Attenuate Inflammation, Modulate Pain, and Improve Gait in Conscious Rodents With Induced Low Back Pain.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) is common in warfighters. Noninvasive interventions are necessary to expedite return-to-function. Soft tissue manipulation, for example, massage, is a method used to treat LBP.

Mechanical stimulation of human dermal fibroblasts regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines: potential insight into soft tissue manual therapies.

Objective: Soft tissue manual therapies are commonly utilized by osteopathic physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists and massage therapists. These techniques are predicated on subjecting tissues to biophysical mechanical stimulation but the cellular and molecular mechanism(s) mediating these effects are poorly understood. Previous studies established an in vitro model system for examining mechanical stimulation of dermal fibroblasts and established that cyclical strain, intended to mimic overuse injury, induces secretion of numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Whole-Body Vibration Training Increases Stem/Progenitor Cell Circulation Levels and May Attenuate Inflammation.

Introduction: Whole-body vibration training (WBVT) may benefit individuals with difficulty participating in physical exercise. The objective was to explore the effects of WBVT on circulating stem/progenitor cell (CPC) and cytokine levels.

Methods: Healthy male subjects each performed three activities randomly on separate days: (1) standing platform vibration, (2) repetitive leg squat exercise; and (3) in combination.

Human health risk assessment of heavy metals via consumption of commercial marine fish (Thunnus albacares, Euthynnus affinis, and Katsuwonus pelamis) in Oman Sea.

This study was performed to determine the concentrations of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) in the gill, liver, muscle, and tail fin tissues of Euthynnus affinis, Katsuwonus pelamis, and Thunnus albacares from Oman Sea. All samples were analyzed using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer and the results were expressed as μg g dry weight. Metal concentrations were significantly higher in the liver than other tissues in three species (with some exceptions) (p < 0.

Taking the Next Steps in Regenerative Rehabilitation: Establishment of a New Interdisciplinary Field.

The growing field of regenerative rehabilitation has great potential to improve clinical outcomes for individuals with disabilities. However, the science to elucidate the specific biological underpinnings of regenerative rehabilitation-based approaches is still in its infancy and critical questions regarding clinical translation and implementation still exist. In a recent roundtable discussion from International Consortium for Regenerative Rehabilitation stakeholders, key challenges to progress in the field were identified.

Dysfunctional stem and progenitor cells impair fracture healing with age.

Successful fracture healing requires the simultaneous regeneration of both the bone and vasculature; mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are directed to replace the bone tissue, while endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) form the new vasculature that supplies blood to the fracture site. In the elderly, the healing process is slowed, partly due to decreased regenerative function of these stem and progenitor cells. MSCs from older individuals are impaired with regard to cell number, proliferative capacity, ability to migrate, and osteochondrogenic differentiation potential.

Toxicity and Mechanisms of Action of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Pollution in Red Algae (Gracilaria corticata) from the Northern Coast of the Oman Sea.

The activities of selected biomarkers including 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) were measured in the red algae (Gracilaria corticata) obtained from the Oman Sea. Chemical analyses were used to assess the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the red algae. Total PAH concentrations in the red algae ranged from 3.

Trace element concentrations, ecological and health risk assessment in sediment and marine fish Otolithes ruber in Oman Sea, Iran.

This study aimed to investigate the concentration of Cd, Ni, Cr, Pb and As in the tissues of Otolithes ruber and surface sediments in the Oman Sea. Trace element concentrations were analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS) for ecological and health risk assessment. The results showed a significant difference in trace element concentrations of the liver, muscle and sediments between different stations (p < 0.

Application of biomarkers in brown algae (Cystoseria indica) to assess heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg, Ni, Cr) pollution in the northern coasts of the Gulf of Oman.

In this study, selected biomarkers-Phytochelatin (PC) and Metallothionein (MT)- were measured in the brown algae (i.e., Cystoseria indica) obtained from the Gulf of Oman.

Conference Report: 6th Annual International Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation.

The 6th International Symposium on Regenerative Rehabilitation, hosted by the Alliance for Regenerative Rehabilitation Research and Training (ART), included a preconference meeting of institutional representatives of the International Consortium of Regenerative Rehabilitation, keynote talks from distinguished scientists, platform and poster presentations from experts and trainees, panel discussions and postconference workshops. The following priorities were identified: increasing rigor in basic, preclinical and clinical studies, especially the use of better controls; developing better outcome measures for preclinical and clinical trials; focusing on developing more tissue-based interventions versus cell-based interventions; including regenerative rehabilitation in curricula of professional programs like occupational and physical therapy; and developing better instruments to quantify rehabilitative interventions.

Understanding Mechanobiology: Physical Therapists as a Force in Mechanotherapy and Musculoskeletal Regenerative Rehabilitation.

Achieving functional restoration of diseased or injured tissues is the ultimate goal of both regenerative medicine approaches and physical therapy interventions. Proper integration and healing of the surrogate cells, tissues, or organs introduced using regenerative medicine techniques are often dependent on the co-introduction of therapeutic physical stimuli. Thus, regenerative rehabilitation represents a collaborative approach whereby rehabilitation specialists, basic scientists, physicians, and surgeons work closely to enhance tissue restoration by creating tailored rehabilitation treatments.

Instrument-assisted cross fiber massage increases tissue perfusion and alters microvascular morphology in the vicinity of healing knee ligaments.

Background: Ligament injuries are common clinical problems for which there are few established interventions. Instrument-assisted cross fiber massage (IACFM) was recently shown to accelerate the restoration of biomechanical properties in injured rodent knee medial collateral ligaments (MCL). The current study aimed to investigate the influence of IACFM on regional perfusion and vascularity in the vicinity of healing rodent knee MCL injuries.

Treatment of a patient with post-natal chronic calf pain utilizing instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization: a case study.

Musculoskeletal pain is commonly reported by pre- and postnatal women, with the most common complaint being low back pain. However, lower leg pain is also frequently reported by women particularly in the third trimester. The purpose of the case study is to illustrate how instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (ISTM) can be used to treat a patient with a 2-year history of chronic calf pain.

Instrument-assisted cross-fiber massage accelerates knee ligament healing.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of instrument-assisted cross-fiber massage (IACFM) on tissue-level healing of knee medial collateral ligament (MCL) injuries.

Background: Ligament injuries are common and significant clinical problems for which there are few established interventions.

Reiter's syndrome in a patient with polyarthritis and nail involvement.

An 8-year old boy with polyarthritis and nail involvement is presented in this report. Nail involvement in Reiter's syndrome is a rare condition that may include painless erythematous nduration of the base of the nail fold; subungual parakeratotic scaling and thickening opacification, ridging of the nail plate.

Regional alterations in protein expression in the dyssynchronous failing heart.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony induces regional heterogeneity of mechanical load and is an independent predictor of mortality and sudden death in heart failure (HF) patients. We tested whether dyssynchrony also induces localized disparities in the expression of proteins involved with mechanical stress, function, and arrhythmia susceptibility.

Methods And Results: Eleven dogs underwent tachycardia-induced HF pacing, either from the right atrium or high right ventricular free wall.

The Model Family Planning Project in Isfahan, Iran.

In the 1972-74 Isfahan Model Family Planning Project, which grew out of previous family planning projects in Isfahan, contraceptive education and services were provided by private doctors, family planning clinics, health centers, nurses, midwives, full-time field-workers, functionaries, and the mass media on a comprehensive and integrated basis. The percent of married women aged 15-44 using modern methods rose from 6 percent to 21 percent by the end of the project period. Continuation rates for the pill and IUD were comparable to those in other, more urban programs.

Evaluation of trained midwives in a copper-T IUD insertion Program in Isfahan, Iran.

From four centers in Isfahan, data from 252 insertions of the Cu-T-200 made by midwives and 646 insertions of the same device made by doctors are compared. Although the net cumulative one-year continuation rate for women who had a copper-T inserted by a midwife is significantly lower than for women who had a copper-T inserted by a doctor there are no significant differences between the one-year event rates for the two groups of patients. These data suggest that an expanded role for midwives in IUD insertion programs would be an efficient use of health personnel.