Assessing outcome in postoperative pain trials: are we missing the point? A systematic review of pain-related outcome domains reported in studies early after total knee arthroplasty.

The management of acute postoperative pain remains suboptimal. Systematic reviews and Cochrane analysis can assist with collating evidence about treatment efficacy, but the results are limited in part by heterogeneity of endpoints in clinical trials. In addition, the chosen endpoints may not be entirely clinically relevant.

Inter-Rater Reliability of Pain Provocation Tests for Painful Lumbar Facet Joints. A Pilot Study.

Background: With a life-time prevalence of 39%, low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Correct diagnosis of underlying causes is commonly seen as a prerequisite for successful therapy of LBP. Currently, there is no useful, non-invasive clinical test to diagnose painful lumbar zygapophyseal joints.

Point Divergence Gain and Multidimensional Data Sequences Analysis.

We introduce novel information-entropic variables-a Point Divergence Gain ( Ω α ( l → m ) ), a Point Divergence Gain Entropy ( I α ), and a Point Divergence Gain Entropy Density ( P α )-which are derived from the Rényi entropy and describe spatio-temporal changes between two consecutive discrete multidimensional distributions. The behavior of Ω α ( l → m ) is simulated for typical distributions and, together with I α and P α , applied in analysis and characterization of series of multidimensional datasets of computer-based and real images.

Super-resolved 3-D imaging of live cells' organelles from bright-field photon transmission micrographs.

Current biological and medical research is aimed at obtaining a detailed spatiotemporal map of a live cell's interior to describe and predict cell's physiological state. We present here an algorithm for complete 3-D modelling of cellular structures from a z-stack of images obtained using label-free wide-field bright-field light-transmitted microscopy. The method visualizes 3-D objects with a volume equivalent to the area of a camera pixel multiplied by the z-height.

Approaches to optimize focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) based on an observational study of 363 feet with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis.

Introduction: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is an established second-line treatment option for plantar fasciitis. Longer term results of focused ESWT are rare in literature. This study assessed the treatment success-rates of single session ESWT compared to repetitive ESWT treatment sessions, the mid-term results as well as treatment- or patient-related factors influencing the outcome of focused ESWT for plantar fasciitis.

Effects of vitamin D on patients with fibromyalgia syndrome: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

The role of calcifediol in the perception of chronic pain is a widely discussed subject. Low serum levels of calcifediol are especially common in patients with severe pain and fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). We lack evidence of the role of vitamin D supplementation in these patients.

Radio-lunate arthrodesis in rheumatoid arthritis: outcome and techniques.

Background And Purpose: The wrist is one of the most affected joints in rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of this retrospective study was to assess clinical, functional and radiographic results of radio-lunate arthrodesis. Two different operation and fixation techniques are compared and detailed outcome after this intervention is presented.

[Motivation for physical activity - a survey in a Central European state].

Introduction: Physical activity has high importance in the prevention of diseases, particularly where lifestyle diseases are concerned. To motivate a person to be physically active often proves to be difficult in clinical practice. Thus it was the aim of this study to find out through interviews how to best motivate most notably the part of the population that is less active.

[Reports of pain in the musculoskeletal system: results of a questionnaire among a representative Austrian population].

Objective: The objective of this study was to document the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain in the Austrian population as well as an analysis of the different pain parameters and a comparison between the group of persons with and without pain. Relevant data like pain region, pain intensity, duration of treatment and geographic distribution are presented in detail.

Methodology: 503 persons selected by the "quota procedure" as representative for the Austrian population were interviewed face to face.

Fusion of the wrist in rheumatoid arthritis: a clinical and functional evaluation of two surgical techniques.

We retrospectively compared wrist arthrodesis using the Mannerfelt technique in 19 or an AO-plate in 23 patients with long-standing rheumatoid arthritis. The mean follow-up was for 76 months. Compared with the Mannerfelt fusion group, patients in the AO-plate group reported greater satisfaction with their wrist function (74% vs 37%, p = 0.

[Pain patterns of disc lesions of the lumbar spine].

Aim: The aim of this study was to find out the reliability of several dermatomic maps (description of pain pattern within a nerve root lesion) according to the respective segmental area.

Methods: Different studies which deal with pain pattern caused by disc lesions were searched for with MedLine support and then reviewed.

Results: A clear correlation between the pain projections of the lumbar spine does not seem to exist.

[Virologic detection of arboviruses in greater cormorants].

Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo, Pelecaniformes) caught in southern Moravia (Czech Republic) in 1989-1990 were examined for arbovirus infections. Isolation experiments were carried out using blood samples of 56 birds. The results were negative.

[Botulism in birds living in an aquatic environment in Nové Mlýny in the Breclav District].

Epizootic of wild water birds caused by the toxin Clostridium botulinum of C type occurred in extensive shallow artificial lakes of the Nové Mlýny dam system from May to October 1988 and later on from February to early April 1989. In total more than 3,000 dead or dying birds of 44 species were found, the following orders were prevailing: Anseriformes (56%), Lariformes (33%), Charadriiformes (6%) and Ralliformes (4%). Botulotoxin was detected at high concentrations in sarcophagic fly larvae of Calliphora vomitoria and Lucilia sericata which were collected in bird cadavers, but it was not found in different components of the aquatic environment (water, submersed vegetation, phytoplankton, zooplankton, Gastropoda, Crustacea, Oligochaeta, larvae of Odonata, Chironomidae and Ceratopogonidae).

Bone demineralization in rheumatoid arthritis.

In a group of 210 patients with various stages of rheumatoid arthritis divided according to mobility in 3 groups the highest clavicular cortico-diaphyseal indices were found in the group of exercising patients and the lowest results were in the immobilized group. Double measurements repeated after two years allowed us to establish the annlay loss of cortical bone in each group: -2.19% in the exercising group, -6% in the non-exercising group and -8.