Effects of adherence to treatment for repositioning therapy, physical therapy, and cranial remolding orthoses in infants with cranial deformation.

Deformational head shapes are most often treated through repositioning therapy (RT) and/or cranial remolding orthotic (CRO) treatment. However, there is conflicting evidence about the effectiveness of each method, and treatment compliance is suspected to affect treatment effectiveness. This study examines participant adherence with these treatment methods and explores if cranial correction is related to compliance. This study also reviews effects of developmental milestones and explores other potential impacts on compliance. A total of 45 infants with cranial deformation were consented and those with congenital muscular torticollis (CMT) concurrently received physical therapy. Infants were followed from 2 to 12 months of age and initially assigned to RT. Caregivers continued RT until the head shape corrected, caregivers chose to switch to a CRO, or infants turned 12 months of age. All participants were scheduled for a final visit at 12 months of age. Throughout treatment, caregiver surveys were used to examine compliance and developmental milestones. Results show promise for future investigation into the relationship between treatment modalities and adherence with treatment for deformational head shapes. Our findings provide preliminary support that treatment adherence may be linked with treatment success and concurrent enrollment in physical therapy increases patient compliance.

Complex magnetic ordering in Eu3InP3: a new rare earth metal zintl compound.

Eu3InP3 has been prepared as large single crystals with an indium flux reaction. The structure of the new compound is isotypic to Sr3InP3 and crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pnma with unit cell dimensions of a = 12.6517(15) A, b = 4.2683(5) A, and c = 13.5643(14) A (Z = 4, T = 140 K, R1 = 0.0404, wR2 = 0.0971 for all data). The structure consists of one-dimensional chains of corner-shared distorted [InP2P2/2]6- tetrahedra separated by rows of Eu2+ ions. Two of the three crystallographically distinct europium sites have a short Eu(1)-Eu(2) distance of 3.5954(7) A, which yields Eu-Eu dimers. The Eu-P bond distances range from 2.974(2) to 3.166(2) A. The temperature dependence of the conductivity indicates that Eu3InP3 is a small band gap semiconductor. Both magnetization and Eu-151 Mossbauer spectral measurements indicate that the europium in Eu3InP3 is divalent and that at least two magnetic transitions occur. Magnetization studies reveal magnetic transitions at 14, 10.4, and approximately 5 K. These transitions are also observed in heat capacity studies of Eu3InP3. The Mossbauer spectra indicate that the two europium sites are ordered at 12 K and that all three europium sites are ordered at 8 K.