196,070 research outputs found
A Corpus of Syriac Incantation Bowls. Syriac Magical Texts from Late-Antique Mesopotamia, written by M. Moriggi
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How to measure kyphosis in everyday clinical practice: a reliability study on different methods.
No full textIntroduction. The sagittal plane measures have a relevant role both in Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS) and in Hyperkyphosis (HK) management. Nevertheless, clinical tools for everyday use are scarce and not adequately studied. Aim. To assess the repeatability of different methods for the collection of the sagittal profile of patients with spinal deformities during everyday clinics. Methods. We performed 4 different studies in 4 different populations of AIS and HK patients. In the first study we reported the normative data and measurement error of the plumbline measures in a general population of 180 adolescents. In the second study we compared the sagittal distances from the plumbline of C7, T12, L3, and Sagittal Index (SI = C7+L3) with the measures of the Video Rasterstereography at the same levels and the angles of kyphosis and lordosis in 100 AIS patients. In the third study we evaluated the intra and inter-rater repeatability and the measurement error of kyphosis and lordosis angles measured with the Inclimed in 100 AIS patients. In the last study we evaluated the repeatability of the sagittal distances from the plumbline, by using a 1 mm change instead of 5 mm in a population of 40 patients. Statistical analysis: repeatability has been evaluated according to Bland and Altman, to identify the limits of variation that are clinically significant. Results. Study 1: the normative data were: females: 34 ± 11 mm for C7; 34 ± 15 mm for L3, males: 34 ± 10 mm for C7; 48 ± 10 mm for L3;. Study 2: a coefficient of correlation was calculated in order to compare measures. Study 3: the k value for Inclimed varied from fair to good. Study 4: the repeatability was fair for this measure. Conclusion. Some clinical instruments are now available for sagittal plane assessment in AIS and hyperkyphosis. The results of the present study report the limits during measurements in a clinical setting of parameters that are routinely collected by some clinicians
Consistent and regular daily wearing improve bracing results: A case-control study
No full textBackground: In respect to the prescribed regimen and the regular daily pattern, investigate how short-term results are affected by wear time adherence in terms of hours per day.
Methods: This is a case-control study. The setting is outpatient clinic. There were 168 subjects, all of whom met the inclusion criteria: adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and Sforzesco brace prescription of 18 to 23 h/day. The minimum period of follow-up was 4 months, and the maximum was 6 months, which is the average time passing between the Thermobrace (TB) adoption and out-of-brace X-ray before treatment. The brace wear adherence rate, calculated from the ratio of brace wear time with the prescription, was considered in combination with the daily pattern compliance, classified as consistent (104 patients) or inconsistent according to the abnormal distribution of Thermobrace data. The short-term results were finally explored.
Results: Consistent brace wear is associated with a higher probability of improvement in curve magnitude (OR 1.96 CI 95% 1.22-3.14 chi-square 7.78 p = 0.0053). Inconsistent brace wear is more likely to progress (OR 0.14 CI 95% 0.30-0.75 chi-square 10.13 p = 0.0015). Results from the logistic regression show that the most influencing factor for improvement is Cobb degrees at the start.
Conclusions: In clinical everyday activity, patients must be encouraged to consistently follow their brace wear prescription, because this attitude is clearly associated with a higher probability of improvement
On Arabic, religion and non-Arab descent: the case of al-Zamaḫšarī
No full textThis paper intends to offer a close reading and a few remarks on selected texts useful to give an insight into al-Zamaḫšarī’s view of Arabic and Arabic grammar in terms of identitarian and ideological construct. Considering the amount of scholarly literature available on al-Kaššāf, the paper focuses on the introduction to al-Mufaṣṣal fī ṣanʿat al-iʿrāb (The Detailed [Presentation] of the Art of Clear Speech, putting it in conversation with the introductions of Muqaddimat al-Adab (Introduction to Belles-Lettres), and Asrār al-balāġa (The secrets of eloquence, a dictionary of tropes) to show how al-Zamaḫšarī’s approach to Arabic exemplifies the deep interconnection between language, religion, and (ethnic) identity in the Arabic intellectual traditio
Correlation between in-brace radiographic correction and short time brace results.
No full textIntroduction. In-brace radiographic correction is considered a reliable check of brace efficacy. The aim of this study was to correlate the in-brace correction with the short term results of treatment (6 months). Methods Design: pre-post study Population: 41 consecutive adolescent girls with idiopathic scoliosis who were prescribed a brace treatment (39 thoracic curves, 37±12°; 16 thoracolumbar, 38±13°; 12 lumbar, 31±8°. Risser 0-3). In-brace radiographic correction and 6 months treatment out of brace X-ray results were correlated, according to curve localization. The in-brace/out-of-brace ratio was calcutated, curves were grouped according to the Risser sign, the results (45°). Statistical analysis: Correlation Coefficient. Results. The in-brace/out-of-brace ratio varied according to localization of curve and Risser, achieving the best results for thoracic curves (38-45\%). The groups of thoracolumbar and lumbar had higher variability (17-65\% and 17-40\%). The correlation coefficient between in-brace correction and out-of-brace results was statistically significant: 0.85 for thoracic curves, 0.64 thoracolumbar, 0.72 lumbar. Risser groups: 0.65-0.98 thoracic, 0,78-0.90 thoracolumbar, 0.94-0.98 lumbar. For Results groups, the correlation was better for the group with high degree of correction (High results) in lumbar and the group with low degree of correction (Low results) for thoracolumbar, no differences for thoracic. Low in-brace correction had a low correlation coefficient for thoracic and lumbar curves. No differences for Magnitude. Conclusion. The in-brace correction ranges from 17 to 47\% of the curve magnitude. The correlation between in-brace correction and short time results of brace is significant, range 0.64-0.98. The in-brace correction seems able to predict the short time results of treatment
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