Effects of biofeedback postural training on pre-existing low back pain in static-posture workers.

BACKGROUND: Many studies report a relationship between poor static posture (SP) and low back pain (LBP). This study examined the effects of a biofeedback postural training program on pre-existing LBP, changes to level of physical activity and workability in participants. OBJECTIVE: To determine if static posture training with biofeedback alleviates LBP. METHODS: The control group wore a pedometer to track level of physical activity and the experimental group wore the postural training device, Lumo Lift, for three weeks. Participants completed the Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ) and completed pre- and post-intervention side-view pictures to evaluate changes in posture. Participants were predominately-sedentary work environment (N= 31; 13 men, 18 women; age = 33.1 ± 13.3 years; height = 170.2 ± 9.7 cm; mass = 71.6 ± 17.5 kg). RESULTS: LBP discomfort was statistically significant when comparing pretest and posttest CMDQ mean score in all subjects [F(1, 18) = 6.25, p= 0.02]. There was no significant evidence of reducing LBP experience and LBP interference at work when comparing all subjects. There was no statistical difference in level of physical activity by analyzing average steps between the experimental and control groups (95% CI =-1040.4-1845.4, p= 0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Postural training with biofeedback application helps with LBP management by decreasing level of LBP discomfort. People with LBP should be aware of their static posture and develop good muscle strength and endurance in order to maintain performance at work, school, or sports.

Epinephrine-induced lactic acidosis in orthognathic surgery: a report of two cases.

Submucosal infiltration and the topical application of epinephrine as a vasoconstrictor produce excellent hemostasis during surgery. The hemodynamic effects of epinephrine have been documented in numerous studies. However, its metabolic effects (especially during surgery) have been seldom recognized clinically. We report two cases of significant metabolic effects (including lactic acidosis and hyperglycemia) as well as hemodynamic effects in healthy patients undergoing orthognathic surgery with general anesthesia. Epinephrine can induce glycolysis and pyruvate generation, which result in lactic acidosis, via ß2-adrenergic receptors. Therefore, careful perioperative observation for changes in plasma lactate and glucose levels along with intensive monitoring of vital signs should be carried out when epinephrine is excessively used as a vasoconstrictor during surgery.

Infrared photoreflectance investigation of resonant levels and band edge structure in InSb.

Temperature-dependent infrared photoreflectance (PR) is employed on InSb for clarifying resonant levels (RLs) and band edge structure. Abundant PR features are well resolved around the bandgap and are verified to be of electronic inter-level transitions rather than the Franz-Keldysh oscillations. The evolution of the critical energies with temperature reveals the nature of the PR processes, from which one acceptor RL, two donor RLs, and a shallow acceptor level are quantitatively identified, and a detailed band edge structure is derived. The results show that temperature-dependent infrared PR analysis can serve as an efficient vehicle for clarifying both bound and resonant levels in semiconductors.

Effects of single-dose methylphenidate on cognitive performance in patients with traumatic brain injury: a double-blind placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of a single dose of methylphenidate on the cognitive performance of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), and particularly on working memory and visuospatial attention. DESIGN: A double-blind placebo-controlled study. The subjects were randomly divided into an experimental group taking methylphenidate and a control group taking a placebo. SETTING: The Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of a university hospital. SUBJECTS: Eighteen subjects with TBI (16 male and two female) were enrolled. INTERVENTIONS: The patients were given 20 mg methylphenidate or a placebo. Cognitive assessments were performed at three times: before the medication as a baseline, 2 h after medication and at follow-up (48 h later). MAIN MEASURES: Cognitive assessments consisted of working memory tasks and endogenous visuospatial attention tasks designed using SuperLabPro 2.0 software. Response accuracy and reaction time were measured. RESULTS: There were significant improvements in response accuracy in the methylphenidate group compared with the placebo group for both the working memory and visuospatial attention tasks. A significant decrease in the reaction time was also observed in the methylphenidate group only for the working memory task. CONCLUSIONS: The administration of single-dose methylphenidate has an effect in improving cognitive functioning following a TBI. The effects were most prominent regarding the reaction time of the working memory.

Propofol attenuates Kupffer cell activation during hypoxia-reoxygenation.

PURPOSE: We undertook a study to determine whether propofol may attenuate Kupffer cell (KC) activation, thus protecting the cells against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury through the modulation of intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i). METHODS: [Ca2+]i, the expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha mRNA, and KC viability were measured in response to hypoxia-reoxygenation following pretreatment with propofol 0.5 and 5 microg.mL(-1) (Groups P1 and P2, respectively) or without propofol (Group HRC). KCs were isolated and cultured from male Sprague-Dawley rats. KCs were incubated under an atmosphere of hypoxia (95% N2 + 5% CO2) for 60 min with subsequent 120 min reoxygenation (95% air + 5% CO2). [Ca2+]i for the first 12 min after reoxygenation, TNF-alpha mRNA, and KC viability at the end of reoxygenation in groups P1 and P2 were compared with those of HRC. RESULTS: The increase of [Ca2+]i from the baseline was attenuated in P1 (96.6 +/- 6.9%) and P2 (96.1 +/- 5.4%) compared with HRC (143.8 +/- 11.5%), (P < 0.001), with no difference between P1 and P2. The expression of TNF-alpha mRNA increased only in HRC during hypoxia-reoxygenation. KC viability increased in P1 (97.5 +/- 2.6%) and P2 (94.6 +/- 2.9%), compared with HRC (89.9 +/- 1.4%), (P < 0.005), with no difference between P1 and P2. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that propofol attenuates KC activation and protects KC from hypoxia-reoxygenation injury at clinically relevant concentrations. This attenuation seems to result from inhibition of [Ca2+]i increase in KC.