Prognosis of subacute low back pain patients according to pain response

Centralization of referred pain or failure to centralize has in earlier studies been shown to be a predictor of low back pain prognosis. Research suggests that there are differences in how males and females experience pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome after 1 year, and to evaluate the prognostic value of the pain response in a mechanical test at the first consultation at a spine clinic, and the influence of gender, in order to identify patients with especially high risk of chronicity. The patients in this study were low back pain patients, included consecutively from a spine clinic in Northern Denmark. The criteria for entering this spine clinic were neck or low back pain with radiating symptoms and a duration of 4–26 weeks, without satisfactory improvement after treatment in the primary care system. The 793 patients were categorised into four subgroups according to their pain response in a mechanical test performed at the initial examination: centralization, non-lasting centralization, peripheralization and no effect. The patients were instructed in doing specific exercises according to the test results. The four subgroups were compared after 1 year with regard to changes in back and leg pain, disability and return-to-work status. The statistical evaluation was undertaken for the study group as a whole and stratified according to gender. A significant improvement in all outcome measures was found in all the subgroups, among both men and women. There were no systematic or statistically significant differences in the prognosis between the four subgroups of patients. The proportion of Centralizers in this study was 18%. The mechanical test at baseline is important for deciding the subject-specific exercises, but when treated according to test results, the prognostic value of the test seems limited. The project is approved by the Regional Scientific Ethical Committee.     

Experimentell erzeugte Wehenschwäche des isolierten Uterus als Folge intrauteriner Innendrucksteigerung und ihre pharmakologische Beeinflussung

Ohne Zusammenfassung Mit 1 Abbildung und 4 Kurven.     

über das Häufige Auftreten des Basedowoiden Krankheitsbildes beim Weiblichen Geschlecht in der Nachkriegszeit und Seine Erklärung

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Entwicklung und Schicksal der im Kaiserin Auguste Victoria Haus geborenen Kinder

Ohne Zusammenfassung     

Neither inflammatory bowel disease nor immunosuppressants are associated with an increased risk of severe COVID-19: an observational Dutch cohort study

Clinical and Experimental Medicine - Conflicting data about inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] and immunosuppressants are risk factors for severe COVID-19 confuse patients and healthcare providers....     

Determination of adipose tissue blood flow with local 133Xe clearance. Evaluation of a new labelling technique

Adipose tissue blood flow was measured in six healthy, non-obese subjects with the xenon wash-out technique after labelling of the tissue by either injection of 133Xe dissolved in isotonic sodium chloride (water depot) or injection of 133Xe in gas form (gas depot). The wash-out rates were registered from four depots simultaneously. Two depots were placed above the umbilicus, and two depots were placed below the umbilicus in the abdominal, subcutaneous adipose tissue. A water depot and a gas depot were placed in the two positions, respectively. It was not possible to demonstrate any difference between the wash-out rates registered from the two depot types, and it was also not possible to demonstrate any difference between the changes in wash-out rates induced by an oral glucose load. Similarly, the tissue distribution of the water and the gas depots appeared to be similar as registered by a gamma camera. It is concluded that that the two tissue labelling modes give identical results. However, there are significant regional differences in the wash-out rates of xenon from subcutaneous, abdominal adipose tissue, the wash-out rates from infraumbilical depots being about 20% lower than from the supraumbilical depots.     

Measurement properties of objective methods to assess shoulder muscle strength (a systematic review protocol)

Introduction: Shoulder disorders cause significant impaired function and health-related quality of life. Treatment consists of either conservative or surgical treatment, and results in substantial health care utilization. Strengthening exercises of the rotator cuff muscles are often included in physiotherapy treatment of patients with shoulder disorders. Valid and reliable measurement methods to assess shoulder muscle strength are important to analyse the efficacy of treatment in both clinical practice and research. There is a need for an up to date systematic review that summarize the evidence of measurement properties of objective measurements of isometric and isokinetic shoulder muscle strength in individuals with and without shoulder symptoms.

Aim: The aim of this review is to investigate measurement properties of objective methods to assess shoulder muscle strength.

Methods: The following databases; Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Pubmed, EMBASE, and PEDro will be searched for relevant studies reporting the assessment of measurement properties of objective methods used to assess shoulder muscle strength. The methodological quality will be assessed with the Consensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) checklist. The overall evidence of the measurement properties of the included instruments will be summarized in a best evidence synthesis.