The effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment on pain and disability in patients with chronic low back pain: a single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Context: The evidence for the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) in the management of low back pain (LBP) is considered weak by systematic reviews, because it is generally based on low-quality studies. Consequently, there is a need for more randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a low risk of bias.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of an OMT intervention for reducing pain and disability in patients with chronic LBP.

The effects of osteopathic manipulative treatment on pain and disability in patients with chronic neck pain: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

Background: Neck pain (NP) affects up to 70% of individuals at some point in their lives. Systematic reviews indicate that manual treatments can be moderately effective in the management of chronic, nonspecific NP. However, there is a paucity of studies specifically evaluating the efficacy of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).

Model Simulations Challenge Reductionist Research Approaches to Studying Chronic Low Back Pain.

Background: Traditionally, low back pain (LBP) is studied using a reductionist approach, in which the factors contributing to the clinical presentation of LBP are studied in isolation to identify the primary pathology or condition linked to LBP. We argue that reductionism may not be suitable for studying LBP, considering the complex, multifactorial nature of this condition.

Objectives: To quantify the likelihood of successfully subclassifying patients with LBP and effectively targeting treatment based on a single dominant factor contributing to LBP.

Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Is Related to Multiparity and Hysterectomies in Older Women.

Study Design: A case-control study.

Objective: To determine whether parity and abdominal surgeries are associated with degenerative spondylolisthesis (DS).

Summary Of Background Data: DS is considered to be a major cause of low back pain (LBP) in the older population, with greater prevalence of DS among women.

Less precise motor control leads to increased agonist-antagonist muscle activation during stick balancing.

Human motor control has constraints in terms of its responsiveness, which limit its ability to successfully perform tasks. In a previous study, it was shown that the ability to balance an upright stick became progressively more challenging as the natural frequency (angular velocity without control) of the stick increased. Furthermore, forearm and trunk agonist and antagonist muscle activation increased as the natural frequency of the stick increased, providing evidence that the central nervous system produces agonist-antagonist muscle activation to match task dynamics.

Sagittal rotational stiffness and damping increase in a porcine lumbar spine with increased or prolonged loading.

While the impact of load magnitude on spine dynamic parameters (stiffness and damping) has been reported, it is unclear how load history (exposure to prolonged loading) affects spine dynamic parameters in sagittal rotation. Furthermore, it is unknown if both spine stiffness and damping are equally affected to prolonged loading. Using a pendulum testing apparatus, the effect of load magnitude and load history on spine sagittal rotational stiffness and damping was assessed.

Prognosis based on creatine kinase isoenzyme MB, cardiac troponin I, and right ventricular size in stable patients with acute pulmonary embolism.

Prognosis of stable patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE) has been assessed with cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and right ventricular (RV) function or size. Whether creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme (CK-MB) would add to the prognostic assessment is uncertain. We retrospectively assessed in-hospital mortality from PE in 392 stable patients to test the hypothesis that CK-MB would be of greater prognostic value than cTnI or RV size and we assessed whether combinations would increase prognostic value.

Nurse consultation support to primary care practices to increase delivery of health behavior services.

Tobacco use, lack of physical activity, poor diet, and alcohol use are the key preventable causes of death in the United States. This study tested the use of nurses as consultants to primary care practices to assist practice clinicians and staff in identifying and carrying out plans to help their adult patients improve these health behaviors. A pre-post chart audit was conducted, and 17 of 20 practices (85%, p = <.

Practice-based referrals to a tobacco cessation quit line: assessing the impact of comparative feedback vs general reminders.

Purpose: We undertook a study to assess the impact of comparative feedback vs general reminders on practice-based referrals to a tobacco cessation quit line and estimated costs for projected quit responses.

Methods: We conducted a group-randomized clinical trial comparing the impact of 6 quarterly (18 months) feedback reports (intervention) with that of general reminders (control) on practice-based clinician referrals to a quit-line service. Feedback reports were based on an Achievable Benchmark of Care approach using baseline practice, clinician, and patient survey responses, and referrals per quarter.

Is liquid-based pap testing affected by water-based lubricant?

Objective: To estimate the effect of water-based lubricant on the liquid-based Pap test.

Methods: Two hundred women each had 2 simultaneous Pap test collections. One specimen was randomly contaminated with 0.