Physiotherapy with and without superficial dry needling affects pain and muscle strength in

Objectives: To investigate the clinical efficacy of physiotherapy with and without superficial dry needling on patients with

Methods: A randomized clinical trial conducted in 2015, Tehran, Iran. Of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome, thirty-four subjects were randomly divided into two groups [11 in each group]. Group A was subjected to physiotherapy and group B to physiotherapy with superficial dry needling. Only for group B, superficial dry needling was applied during the ten-day sessions of physiotherapy, every other day. The needle remained for 6 minutes at three-points of the quadriceps muscle, accompanied with needle rotation. Both groups received 10 therapy sessions. For both groups, in the fir and and tenth sessions, knee pain and quadriceps muscle slrength was evaluated

Results: Statistical analysis showed the

Comparing the two groups, group B showed more pain reduction based on the visual analog scale [P<0.05]. However, according to manual muscle testing method, the muscle Strength between both the groups showed no significant difference [P<0.156]

Discussion: Physiotherapy with and without superficial dry needling were seen to reduce pain and increase muscle slrength of patients with patellofemoral pain syndrome. However, performing physiotherapy with superficial dry needling had a more significant effect on reducing knee pain. Superficial needling can cause many physiological and neurophysiological effects. Through stimulation of pain control mechanisms, it can help in further reduction of pain

Acceleration of Upper Trunk Coordination in Young Versus old Adults During Walking on the Level and Irregular Floor Surface Using MTx Sensor

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability of head and trunk acceleration measured by MTx sensors during walking on Level and Irregular surfaces and to compare the differences between healthy young and old adults.

Methods: Participants were 20 young female university students and 20 non-faller elderly women in Iran, 2013. Two MTX sensors were used to measure head and trunk accelerations in the vertical [VT], anteriorposterior [AP], and medial-lateral [ML] directions while participants walked on a 7-meter walkway.

Results: ICC values in young group were higher as compared to non- faller elderly group; ICC was greater than 0.7 for 89.47% [34/38] of variables in young group and for 60.52% [23/38] in non- faller. Intersession reliability for upper trunk coordination indices in regular surface and in young group showed highest values as compared with other conditions in both groups, whereas the lowest intersession reliability was found in irregular floor surface indices in non-faller elderly group.

Discussion: The calculated ICC, SEM, CV%, MDC values suggest that the MTX sensors provide precise recordings and detect small changes in upper trunk accelerometric parameters. ICC values were influenced by the age and the floor condition. In healthy young, all ICC values in regular surface were higher than 0.7. Floor condition effect was noticeable in elderly especially in ML direction. During walking on irregular surface, ML acceleration, velocity and harmonic ratio in elderly showed lower repeatability.

The potential role of granulosa cells in the maturation rate of immature human oocytes and embryo development: A co-culture study / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: In order to increase the number of mature oocytes usable for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), we aimed to investigate the effect of co-culturing granulosa cells (GCs) on human oocyte maturation in vitro, the fertilization rate, and embryo development. METHODS: A total of 133 immature oocytes were retrieved and were randomly divided into two groups; oocytes that were cultured with GCs (group A) and oocytes that were cultured without GCs (group B). After in vitro maturation, only oocytes that displayed metaphase II (MII) underwent the ICSI procedure. The maturation and fertilization rates were analyzed, as well as the frequency of embryo development. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients, their basal levels of follicle-stimulating hormone, and the number of oocytes recovered from the patients were all comparable between the two study groups. The number of oocytes that reached MII (mature oocytes) was 59 out of 70 (84.28%) in group A, compared to 41 out of 63 (65.07%) in group B (p=0.011). No significant difference between fertilization rates was found between the two study groups (p=0.702). The embryo development rate was higher in group A (33/59, 75%) than in group B (12/41, 42.85%; p=0.006). The proportion of highest-quality embryos and the blastocyst formation rate were significantly lower in group B than in group A (p=0.003 and p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings of the current study demonstrate that culturing immature human oocytes with GCs prior to ICSI improves the maturation rate and the likelihood of embryo development.

effects of consecutive supervised functional lumbar stabilizing exercises on the postural balance and functional disability in low back pain

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of consecutively supervised core stability training on postural control and functional disability in female patients with non-specific chronic low back pain. Twenty nine female participants with non-specific chronic low back pain participated in the study. They were randomly divided into two groups: experimental group [10 days consecutively core stability exercises under physical therapist's supervision] and control group [without intervention]. Before and after the intervention, stability situations, pain intensity and functional disability were assessed with Biodex, visual Analogue Scale, Oswestry and Quebec questionnaire scales respectively. Data were analyzed by using statistical methods, independent T test and ANCOVA. The study results indicated no statistically significant differences in all variables except age between two groups before intervention. Analysis by ANCOVA showed a significant difference in disability, pain intensity, Overall Stability Index with Double Leg Eyes Closed, Anterior-Posterior Stability Index with Double Leg Eyes Closed and Medio-Lateral Stability Index with Double Leg Eyes Closed scores between two groups after intervention. However, other variable differences were not significant while these changes were greater in the intervention group. The present study indicates that consecutively supervised core stability training is an effective approach in pain relief and improving postural control in female patients with non-specific chronic low back pain

Comments on "The Effect of Low-dose Ketamine on Post-caesarean Delivery Analgesia after Spinal Anesthesia"

No abstract available.

Intrathecal Meperidine Plus Lidocaine for Prevention of Shivering during Cesarean Section

BACKGROUND: Shivering related to spinal anesthesia may interfere with monitoring and is uncomfortable. The aim of the present study was to investigate low-dose intrathecal meperidine for the prevention of shivering after induction of spinal anesthesia in parturients with cesarean section. METHODS: This was a prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial including 100 parturients, of American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I or II, scheduled for elective cesarean section under spinal anesthesia who were randomly assigned to a meperidine (0.2 mg/kg) plus hyperbaric lidocaine (5%, 75 mg, n = 50; group M) group or a placebo plus hyperbaric lidocaine (5%, 75 mg, n = 50; group L) group. Demographic and surgical data, adverse events, and the mean intensity for each parturient were assessed during the entire study period by a blinded observer. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two study groups regarding the demographic and surgical data (P > 0.05). The incidence of shivering during the entire study period significantly decreased in the group of parturients who received intrathecal meperidine (P = 0.04). There were no significant differences in nausea and vomiting between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Low-dose intrathecal meperidine (10 mg) is safe and effective in reducing the incidence and severity of shivering associated with spinal anesthesia in parturients with cesarean section.