Osteopathic evaluation of somatic dysfunction and craniosacral strain pattern among preterm and term newborns.

Context: Palpatory skills are a central part of osteopathic manipulative treatment and palpatory diagnosis. The aim of osteopathic structural examination is to locate somatic dysfunction and cranial strain pattern, which are the hallmarks that form the basis for treatment decisions and strategy. In the osteopathic literature, there is a lack of studies evaluating preterm or term newborns during hospitalization.

Effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment on gastrointestinal function and length of stay of preterm infants: an exploratory study.

Background: Organizational improvement of neonatal intensive care units requires strict monitoring of preterm infants, including routine assessment of physiological functions of the gastrointestinal system and optimized procedures for the definition of appropriate discharge timing.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study on the effect of osteopathic manipulative treatment in a cohort of N = 350 consecutive premature infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit without any major complication between 2005 and 2008. In addition to ordinary care, N = 162 subjects received osteopathic treatment.

Osteopathic manipulation as a complementary treatment for the prevention of cardiac complications: 12-Months follow-up of intima media and blood pressure on a cohort affected by hypertension.

Background: Aim of the present study was to investigate the association between osteopathic treatment and hypertension.

Methods: The design was a non-randomized trial including consecutive subjects affected by hypertension and vascular alterations, using pre-post differences in intima-media thickness, systolic and diastolic blood pressure as primary endpoints. Statistical analysis was based on univariate t tests and multivariate linear regression.

Regional cortical blood flow changes following sodium lactate infusion in Alzheimer's disease.

Bilateral temporoparietal hypoperfusion is a characteristic single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) finding in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Lactate is a metabolic vasodilator and is known to provoke increased cerebral blood flow (CBF) in healthy adults. This work investigated whether lactate, which is present in high concentrations in AD cerebrospinal fluid, affects AD-specific perfusion abnormalities.

Diagnostic dilemmas in biliary strictures mimicking cholangiocarcinoma.

Background/aims: Bile duct strictures may be malignant or benign. In the absence of previous biliary surgery a precise preoperative diagnosis is often difficult, in particular when a tumor mass is absent in the preoperative radiologic findings.

Methodology: A review of 179 patients observed between 1982 and 2001 by the same surgical team with a preoperative diagnosis of malignant stricture of the biliary tree.