Aging disrupts locus coeruleus-driven norepinephrine transmission in the prefrontal cortex: Implications for cognitive and motor decline.

The locus coeruleus (LC)-prefrontal cortex (PFC) circuitry is crucial for cognition, planning, posture and mobility. This study examines the role of norepinephrine (NE) in elucidating the neurobiological basis of age-related cognitive and motor declines. Aged mice exhibited reduced spatial learning, impaired memory, decreased physical endurance, and notable changes in locomotor behavior.

Quantitative matching of forensic evidence fragments using fracture surface topography and statistical learning.

The complex jagged trajectory of fractured surfaces of two pieces of forensic evidence is used to recognize a "match" by using comparative microscopy and tactile pattern analysis. The material intrinsic properties and microstructures, as well as the exposure history of external forces on a fragment of forensic evidence have the premise of uniqueness at a relevant microscopic length scale (about 2-3 grains for cleavage fracture), wherein the statistics of the fracture surface become non-self-affine. We utilize these unique features to quantitatively describe the microscopic aspects of fracture surfaces for forensic comparisons, employing spectral analysis of the topography mapped by three-dimensional microscopy.

Accelerated sarcopenia precedes learning and memory impairments in the P301S mouse model of tauopathies and Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) impairs cognitive functions and peripheral systems, including skeletal muscles. The PS19 mouse, expressing the human tau P301S mutation, shows cognitive and muscular pathologies, reflecting the central and peripheral atrophy seen in AD.

Methods: We analysed skeletal muscle morphology and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) through immunohistochemistry and advanced image quantification.

Cisplatin exhibits superiority over MMC as a perfusion agent in a peritoneal mesothelioma patient specific organoid HIPEC platform.

Peritoneal mesothelioma (PM) is a rare malignancy with poor prognosis, representing about 10-15% of all mesothelioma cases. Herein we apply PM patient-derived tumor organoids (PTOs) in elucidating personalized HIPEC responses to bypass rarity of disease in generating preclinical data. Specimens were obtained from PM patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC.

Quantitative matching of forensic evidence fragments utilizing 3D microscopy analysis of fracture surface replicas.

Silicone casts are widely used by practitioners in the comparative analysis of forensic items. Fractured surfaces carry unique details that can provide accurate quantitative comparisons of forensic fragments. In this study, a statistical analysis comparison protocol was applied to a set of 3D topological images of fractured surface pairs and their replicas to provide confidence in the quantitative statistical comparison between fractured items and their silicone cast replicas.

Patient-Reported Physician Treatment Recommendations and Compliance Among U.S. Adults with Low Back Pain.

Numerous recently published clinical care guidelines, including the 2017 American College of Physicians (ACP) Guideline for Low Back Pain (LBP), call for nonpharmacological approaches to pain management. However, little data exist regarding the extent to which these guidelines have been adopted by patients and medical doctors. The study objective was to determine patient-reported treatment recommendations by medical doctors for LBP and patient compliance with those recommendations.

Classification with the matrix-variate- distribution.

Matrix-variate distributions can intuitively model the dependence structure of matrix-valued observations that arise in applications with multivariate time series, spatio-temporal or repeated measures. This paper develops an Expectation-Maximization algorithm for discriminant analysis and classification with matrix-variate -distributions. The methodology shows promise on simulated datasets or when applied to the forensic matching of fractured surfaces or the classification of functional Magnetic Resonance, satellite or hand gestures images.

Association Among Opioid Use, Treatment Preferences, and Perceptions of Physician Treatment Recommendations in Patients With Neck and Back Pain.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between self-reported use of opioids by patients with neck and back pain and their demographics, pain characteristics, treatment preferences, and recollections of their physicians' opinions regarding treatment options.

Methods: We analyzed 2017 Gallup Poll survey data from 1680 US adults who had substantial spine pain in the past year and used logistic regression to explore the aforementioned relationships.

Results: Our multiple regression analysis indicated that adults with neck or back pain severe enough to have sought health care within the last year were more likely to have used opioids in the last year if they (in descending order of marginal impact) had pain that had lasted 1 year or less (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 34.

Characteristics of US Adults Who Have Positive and Negative Perceptions of Doctors of Chiropractic and Chiropractic Care.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare characteristics, likelihood to use, and actual use of chiropractic care for US survey respondents with positive and negative perceptions of doctors of chiropractic (DCs) and chiropractic care.

Methods: From a 2015 nationally representative survey of 5422 adults (response rate, 29%), we used respondents' answers to identify those with positive and negative perceptions of DCs or chiropractic care. We used the χ(2) test to compare other survey responses for these groups.

Similar Effects of Thrust and Nonthrust Spinal Manipulation Found in Adults With Subacute and Chronic Low Back Pain: A Controlled Trial With Adaptive Allocation.

Study Design: A three-arm controlled trial with adaptive allocation.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare short-term effects of a side-lying, thrust spinal manipulation (SM) procedure and a nonthrust, flexion-distraction SM procedure in adults with subacute or chronic low back pain (LBP) over 2 weeks.

Summary Of Background Data: SM has been recommended in recently published clinical guidelines for LBP management.

Public Perceptions of Doctors of Chiropractic: Results of a National Survey and Examination of Variation According to Respondents' Likelihood to Use Chiropractic, Experience With Chiropractic, and Chiropractic Supply in Local Health Care Markets.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether general perceptions of doctors of chiropractic (DCs) varied according to likeliness to use chiropractic care, whether particular demographic characteristics were associated with chiropractic care use, and whether perception of DCs varied according to the per-capita supply of DCs in local health care markets.

Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of results from a 26-item nationally representative survey of 5422 members of The Gallup Panel that was conducted in the spring of 2015 (response rate, 29%) that sought to elicit the perceptions and use of DCs by US adults. We compared survey responses across: (1) respondents who had different likelihoods to use DCs for treatment of neck or back pain and (2) respondents who had different experiences using DCs.

Effects of spinal manipulation on sensorimotor function in low back pain patients--A randomised controlled trial.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a major health problem in industrialized societies. Spinal manipulation (SM) is often used for treating LBP, though the therapeutic mechanisms remain elusive. Research suggests that sensorimotor changes may be involved in LBP.

Consensus Recommendations to NCCIH from Research Faculty in a Transdisciplinary Academic Consortium for Complementary and Integrative Health and Medicine.

Background: This commentary presents the most impactful, shared priorities for research investment across the licensed complementary and integrative health (CIH) disciplines according to the Academic Consortium for Complementary and Alternative Health Care (ACCAHC). These are (1) research on whole disciplines; (2) costs; and (3) building capacity within the disciplines' universities, colleges, and programs. The issue of research capacity is emphasized.

Improving Our Nation's Health Care System: Inclusion of Chiropractic in Patient-Centered Medical Homes and Accountable Care Organizations.

Objective: This report summarizes the closing plenary session of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges Educational Conference-Research Agenda Conference 2014. The purpose of this session was to examine patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations from various speakers' viewpoints and to discuss how chiropractic could possibly work within, and successfully contribute to, the changing health care environment.

Discussion: The speakers addressed the complex topic of patient-centered medical homes and accountable care organizations and provided suggestions for what leadership strategies the chiropractic profession may need to enhance chiropractic participation and contribution to improving our nation's health.

Confidence interval procedures for system reliability and applications to competing risks models.

System reliability depends on the reliability of the system's components and the structure of the system. For example, in a competing risks model, the system fails when the weakest component fails. The reliability function and the quantile function of a complicated system are two important metrics for characterizing the system's reliability.

Adding chiropractic manipulative therapy to standard medical care for patients with acute low back pain: results of a pragmatic randomized comparative effectiveness study.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To assess changes in pain levels and physical functioning in response to standard medical care (SMC) versus SMC plus chiropractic manipulative therapy (CMT) for the treatment of low back pain (LBP) among 18 to 35-year-old active-duty military personnel.

Summary Of Background Data: LBP is common, costly, and a significant cause of long-term sick leave and work loss.

Effect of spinal manipulation on sensorimotor functions in back pain patients: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is a recognized public health problem, impacting up to 80% of US adults at some point in their lives. Patients with LBP are utilizing integrative health care such as spinal manipulation (SM). SM is the therapeutic application of a load to specific body tissues or structures and can be divided into two broad categories: SM with a high-velocity low-amplitude load, or an impulse "thrust", (HVLA-SM) and SM with a low-velocity variable-amplitude load (LVVA-SM).

Glucocorticoids suppress growth in neonatal cardiomyocytes co-expressing AT(2) and AT(1) angiotensin receptors.

Background: Perinatal glucocorticoid treatment is associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, but the cellular mechanism is controversial. An underlying interaction between glucocorticoids and the renin-angiotensin system may be important, but whether glucocorticoids modulate angiotensin II (AngII)-dependent cardiomyocyte growth responses in the neonate has not been investigated.

Objectives: The major aim of this investigation was to determine whether glucocorticoids modulate the neonatal cardiomyocyte growth response to AngII.

Health professions education and integrative healthcare.

Over the past three decades, evidence has accumulated that demonstrates that the US healthcare system as currently structured is untenable given the cost of healthcare, poor outcomes associated with this cost, imminent shortages in many categories of health professionals, and underutilization of other health professionals. The system also faces other challenges, such as the lack of access to care and a growing demand by consumers for healthcare that offers choice, quality, convenience, affordability, and personalized care. Workforce analyses estimating needs and anticipated shortages of health professionals are projected on the current healthcare system, which generally does not include integrative healthcare and does not include complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners.

A randomized controlled trial comparing 2 types of spinal manipulation and minimal conservative medical care for adults 55 years and older with subacute or chronic low back pain.

Objective: Chiropractic care is used by many older patients for low back pain (LBP), but there are no published results of randomized trials examining spinal manipulation (SM) for older adults. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of 2 biomechanically distinct forms of SM and minimal conservative medical care (MCMC) for participants at least 55 years old with subacute or chronic nonradicular LBP.

Methods: Randomized controlled trial.

Chiropractic management of low back pain and low back-related leg complaints: a literature synthesis.

Objectives: The purpose of this project was to review the literature for the use of spinal manipulation for low back pain (LBP).

Methods: A search strategy modified from the Cochrane Collaboration review for LBP was conducted through the following databases: PubMed, Mantis, and the Cochrane Database. Invitations to submit relevant articles were extended to the profession via widely distributed professional news and association media.

Recruitment and enrollment for the simultaneous conduct of 2 randomized controlled trials for patients with subacute and chronic low back pain at a CAM research center.

Objective: To describe recruitment and enrollment experiences of 2 low back pain (LBP) randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Design: Descriptive report.

Setting: Chiropractic research center in the midwest United States that is not a fee-for-service clinic.