Autonomic nervous system and endocrine system response to upper or lower cervical spine mobilization in males with persistent post-concussion symptoms: a proof-of-concept trial.

Introduction: The peripheral stress response, consisting of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal-axis (HPA-axis), functions to maintain homeostasis in response to stressors. Cervical spine manual therapy has been shown to differentially modulate the stress response in healthy populations. No study has investigated whether cervical spine mobilizations can differentially modulate the stress response in individuals with persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS), a population characterized by a dysfunctional stress response.

Responses to the correspondence from McDowell et al.'s on CAM integrative review of health care professionals in New Zealand.

The authors of the manuscript 'Complementary and alternative medicine - practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review' [1] disagree with the assertion by McDowell et al. that our manuscript has extrapolation errors.

Dosage of joint mobilization for the management of patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain: A scoping review.

Background: Evidence supporting type and dosage of joint mobilizations and rationale for selecting joint mobilization dosage for patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain are limited.

Objectives: This scoping review aimed to systematically map the type and dosage of joint mobilizations used in previous trials for managing patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain; and summarize the rationale for adopting a specific joint mobilization dosage.

Methods: We searched six databases.

Effectiveness of spinal manipulation in influencing the autonomic nervous system - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Spinal manipulation (SM) has been hypothesized to influence the autonomic nervous system (ANS). Further, it has been proposed that the effects may vary depending on the segment manipulated. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesize the current level of evidence for SM in influencing the ANS in healthy and/or symptomatic population.

The role of micro-RNAs in neuropathic pain-a scoping review.

Neuropathic pain can be caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system characterised by pathological neuro-immune alterations. At a molecular level, microRNAs (miRNAs) act as regulators of gene expression orchestrating both immune and neuronal processes. Thus, miRNAs may act as essential modulators of processes for the establishment and maintenance of neuropathic pain.

Changes in biochemical markers following a spinal manipulation - a systematic review update.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to update the current level of evidence for spinal manipulation in influencing various biochemical markers in healthy and/or symptomatic population.

Methods: This is a systematic review update. Various databases were searched (inception till May 2023) and fifteen trials (737 participants) that met the inclusion criteria were included in the review.

Autonomic nervous system and endocrine system response to upper and lower cervical spine mobilization in healthy male adults: a randomized crossover trial.

Background: Cervical spine mobilizations may differentially modulate both components of the stress response, consisting of the autonomic nervous system and hypothalamic pituitary adrenal-axis, depending on whether the target location is the upper or lower cervical spine. To date, no study has investigated this.

Methods: A randomized, crossover trial investigated the effects of upper versus lower cervical mobilization on both components of the stress response simultaneously.

Dosage of joint mobilisation for the management of rotator cuff-related shoulder pain: protocol for a scoping review.

Introduction: Rotator cuff-related shoulder pain is the most common diagnosis of shoulder pain, which ranks as the third most common musculoskeletal disorder. The first-line treatment for patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain is physiotherapy, and joint mobilisation is widely used in conjunction with other modalities. The type and dosage of joint mobilisations could influence treatment outcomes for patients with rotator cuff-related shoulder pain, although research evidence is inconclusive.

Sensitivity to movement-evoked pain, central sensitivity symptoms, and pro-nociceptive profiles in people with chronic shoulder pain: A parallel-group cross-sectional investigation.

Objective: To investigate whether sensitivity to movement-evoked pain (SMEP), central sensitivity symptom burden, and quantitative sensory testing (QST) outcomes differ between healthy controls and people with chronic shoulder pain.

Methods: People with chronic shoulder pain (n = 39) and healthy controls (n = 26) completed validated questionnaires measuring demographic, pain characteristics, psychological factors, social support, sleep quality, central sensitivity inventory (CSI), and physical activity levels. A blinded assessor administered QST measuring pressure pain threshold, temporal summation, conditioned pain modulation, and cold hyperalgesia.

Acupoints sensitization in people with and without chronic low back pain:A matched-sample cross-sectional study.

Background: Acupoints are considered a dynamic functional area, which can reflect the internal condition of the body. In pathological states, disease-related acupoints are believed to be activated, which is known as acupoint sensitization.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the major manifestations of acupoint sensitization in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP) to provide better understanding of acupoint sensitization phenomena in the context of cLBP.

Developing clinical algorithm for identifying acute lumbar spondylolysis in elementary school children - Classification and regression tree analysis.

Objectives: To develop a clinical algorithm for classifying acute lumbar spondylolysis from nonspecific low back pain in elementary school-aged patients using the classification and regression tree analysis.

Methods: Medical records of 73 school-aged patients diagnosed with acute lumbar spondylolysis or nonspecific low back pain were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-eight patients were examined for establishing an algorithm and 15 were employed for testing its performance.

Paeoniflorin is a promising natural monomer for neurodegenerative diseases via modulation of Ca and ROS homeostasis.

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are a range of neurological disorders featured by neuronal degeneration and apoptosis. Cellular Calcium (Ca) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) dyshomeostasis are the earliest and important events in the development of NDDs and may yield promising therapeutic targets for NDDs. Paeoniflorin, a water-soluble monoterpene glucoside, is the major bioactive monomer extracted from the root of Paeonia lactiflora pall.

Designing Dual Compartment HIV Prevention Products: Women's Sensory Perceptions and Experiences of Suppositories for Rectal and Vaginal Use.

Dual compartment suppositories are being developed to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. Such products, for use in the rectum, the vagina, or both, could have a significant public health impact by decreasing global incidence of these diseases. In this study, 16 women each used two rheologically distinct suppositories in their vagina and rectum.

Thoracic Spinal Manipulation Effect on Neuroendocrine Response in People With Achilles Tendinopathy: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine the neuroendocrine response after a thoracic spinal manipulation in people with Achilles tendinopathy.

Methods: This was a randomized 2-sequence, 2-period crossover trial. A total of 24 participants, mean (standard deviation) age of 48 (7) years, with a diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy (>3 mo) were randomly assigned into sequence 1 (sham intervention and then thoracic spinal manipulation) or sequence 2 (thoracic spinal manipulation and then sham intervention).

Can the neck contribute to persistent symptoms post concussion? Long-term follow up from a prospective descriptive case series.

Objective: To describe individual long-term outcomes of people with persistent symptoms following a concussion who received neck treatment as part of multidisciplinary concussion care. A secondary objective is to report on how participants describe the outcomes of neck treatmentMethods: Long-term follow-up for a subgroup of participants in a prospective case series (n = 11). Data were collected at initial assessment, completion of neck treatment, 6 and 12 months including standard questionnaires (Rivermead post-concussion symptoms questionnaire, neck disability index, dizziness handicap inventory); patient-reported measures of headache, dizziness and neck pain and participant descriptions of the effects of neck treatmentResults: Grouped measures of post-concussion symptoms were further improved or sustained at 6 and 12 months.

Barriers and facilitators experienced by osteopaths in implementing a biopsychosocial (BPS) framework of care when managing people with musculoskeletal pain - a mixed methods systematic review.

Background: Clinical practice guidelines commonly recommend adopting a biopsychosocial (BPS) framework by practitioners managing musculoskeletal pain. However, it remains unclear how osteopaths implement a BPS framework in the management of musculoskeletal pain. Hence, the objective of this review was to systematically appraise the literature on the current practices, barriers and facilitators experienced by osteopaths in implementing a BPS framework of care when managing people with musculoskeletal pain.

Efficacy and safety of Chinese herbal footbaths for the treatment of dysmenorrhea: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Chinese herbal footbaths are an external therapy of traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used to treat dysmenorrhea. This review aims to systematically evaluate its efficacy and safety for the treatment of dysmenorrhea.

Methods: Databases of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CIHAHL, Web of Science, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure(CNKI), Chinese Scientific Journals Database (VIP), Wanfang Database, China Biomedical Literature Database(CBM), and Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System (SinoMed) will be searched from the inception to September 30, 2020.

Complementary and alternative medicine - practice, attitudes, and knowledge among healthcare professionals in New Zealand: an integrative review.

Background: The prevalence of CAM use is increasing. This integrative review investigated New Zealand healthcare professionals' practice of, attitudes toward, and knowledge about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

Methods: Literature search was conducted in four databases from inception to April 2020.

Identifying Acute Lumbar Spondylolysis in Young Athletes with Low Back Pain: Retrospective Classification and Regression Tree Analysis.

Study Design: Case-control study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to establish an algorithm to distinguish acute lumbar spondylolysis (LS) from nonspecific low back pain (NSLBP) among patients in junior high school by classification and regression tree (CART) analysis.

Summary Of Background Data: Rapid identification of acute LS is important because delayed diagnosis may result in pseudarthrosis in the pars interarticularis.

Effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine Shaoyao Gancao Tang for the treatment of restless leg syndrome: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: A growing body of clinical trials has demonstrated that traditional Chinese medicine Shaoyao Gancao Tang may improve restlessness leg syndrome (RLS). This review aims to systematically assess its effectiveness and safety in the treatment of patients with RLS.

Methods: Eight databases will be searched from the inception to 31 August 2020, including the Chinese Biological Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, VIP Information Database, the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science.

Six things you need to know about low back pain.

Low back pain (LBP) is the leading contributor to years lived with disability, and imposes an enormous burden on individuals and on health-care systems. General practitioners and physiotherapists are generally the front-line health professionals dealing with patients with LBP, and have a key role in minimising its effect. Here we review six key issues associated with LBP including its effects, diagnosis and management in primary care, and highlight the importance of the biopsychosocial model and matched care for patients with LBP.

Acute and cumulative benefits of Photobiomodulation for xerostomia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The objective was to explore the effectiveness of photobiomodulation therapy for treating patients who suffer xerostomia and/or hyposalivation due to the most prevalent clinical diagnoses. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL and Cochrane Library for randomized or clinical controlled trials published until 31 October 2019. Risk of bias assessment and meta-analysis were conducted using the Cochrane tools.

Clinical decision-making for shoulder surgery referral: An art or a science?

Rationale: Decision-making in musculoskeletal health care is complex, with discrepancy among clinical providers and variation in the per cent of referrals for specialist care. To date, there is an increased focus on specialist referrals, risking overuse of expensive testing and contributing to unnecessary treatment.

Aims And Objectives: This report will considerer the difficulties of primary care musculoskeletal decision-making using shoulder injuries as an example, presenting a solution based on multi-criteria decision-making analysis with online software.

Hypertriglyceridaemia as a risk factor for critical care admission in acute pancreatitis: A prospective study.

Background And Aims: Hypertriglyceridaemia is both a primary cause of acute pancreatitis and an epiphenomenon. This study aimed to define the associations between hypertriglyceridaemia and clinical outcomes in patients admitted with acute pancreatitis.

Methods: This single-centre prospective observational study included patients with a confirmed clinical, biochemical or radiological diagnosis of acute pancreatitis from August 2017 to September 2018.