127 research outputs found
Kinematic and kinetic modifications in walking pattern of hip osteoarthritis patients induced by intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid
No full textBackground: A growing body of evidence points to the efficacy of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, in dealing with pain and function in hip osteoarthritis. To date, however, no data exist as to this treatment's effect on walking pattern. Methods: We performed a prospective, open study in order to verify, in a group of 20 hip osteoarthritis patients (12 men, 8 women, mean age 60.5, range 47-73), the clinical effects of 3 intra-articular injections of 2 ml of hyaluronic acid in the hip (1/week) in terms of pain and function at 1 (T1), 3 (T2) and 6-month (T3) follow-ups, as well as changes in the kinematics and kinetics of gait at 6-month follow-up. Findings: Pain as measured with visual analog scale significantly dropped after this procedure (P < 0.0001). A significant improvement was noted regarding stiffness (P = 0.005) and disability (P = 0.04), as measured by the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index. As regards gait analysis, patients at T3 walked with higher cadence (P = 0.004) and stride length (P = 0.02) compared to T0. Moreover, a significant increase for the pelvic tilt at heel contact (P = 0.0004) and for hip flexion-extension moment at loading response sub-phases of gait cycle (P = 0.02) was noted at T3. Interpretation: In line with current literature, our patients display clinical improvement 6 months after intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid, accompanied by changes in walking pattern, as measured by instrumental gait analysis. The kinematic and kinetic changes observed may be the consequence of the therapeutic effect of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd
Evaluation of the minimum iodine concentration for contrast enhanced subtraction mammography
No full textThe aim of this work is to investigate the use of iodine based contrast media in mammography with two different double exposure techniques: K-Edge Subtraction Mammography and Temporal Subtraction Mammography. Both techniques have been investigated by using monochromatic beams produced at a synchrotron radiation facility and conventional beams obtained with a clinical digital mammography system. A dedicated three-component phantom containing cavities filled with different iodine concentrations has been developed and used for measurements. For each technique, information about the minimum iodine concentration which provides a significant enhancement of the detectability of the pathology by minimizing the risk due to high dose and high concentration of contrast medium has been obtained. In particular for cavities of 5 and 8 min of diameter filled with iodine solutions (0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32 mg/ml), the minimum concentrations needed to obtain a contrast-to-noise ratio of 5 with a mean glandular dose of 2 mGy have been obtained
La diffusione dei principi contabili nelle pubbliche amministrazioni tra processi di isomorfismo istituzionale e coerenza culturale
No full textL’adozione e la diffusione dei principi contabili nel settore pubblico viene interpretato come processo di isomorfismo istituzionale (Scott, 1998; Powell e DiMaggio, 1983), e come coerenza tra i valori culturali organizzativi e i valori di fondo che principi contabili ispirano. Le pressioni istituzionali determinano cambiamenti culturali che omologano i comportamenti quanto all’adozione formale delle regole contabili. Il cambiamento culturale, non modifica i valori di fondo dei responsabili dei sistemi contabili, se legato soltanto ad un adempimento giuridico. Il coinvolgimento dei principali attori coinvolti nell’applicazione dei principi mediante programmi di formazione e l’intervento delle professioni contabili, come vettori di innovazioni nei processi di rinnovamento della cosa pubblica, sono elementi necessari perché la diffusione dei principi contabili sia coerente con le esigenze di armonizzazione dei sistemi contabili pubblici e di accountability verso i principali stakeholders, emergenti nell’ambiente istituzionale
Mammography with synchrotron radiation
No full textPURPOSE: To determine the feasibility of using synchrotron radiation (SR) in diagnostic mammography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Monochromatic SR of x-ray beams of selected energies of 14-20 keV were used to obtain mammograms of surgically removed breast specimens that contained tumor nodules. For comparison, conventional mammograms of the same specimens were also obtained. RESULTS: The mammograms obtained with SR had higher contrast and better resolution than did traditional mammograms and demonstrated excellent detail in all cases studied. The mean glandular doses at 17 and 18 keV were 1.56 and 0.83 mGy, respectively, which is compatible with the mean value of 1.41 mGy delivered with the conventional grid apparatus. CONCLUSION: SR mammography appears to be a promising diagnostic imaging technique
Studies of Artists: An Annotated Directory
No full textThis annotated directory documents more than 80 different studies of artist populations. The directory provides information about how the researcher in each study has defined the artist and identified the population. Studies are arranged by type of artist population and, within each category, by study date. Each entry indicates, in so far as possible from available materials, the study investigator, the artist population, the way in which artists were identified, sampling procedures, number of respondents and response rates, and publications based on the study. This directory should provide researchers and other interested parties with a range of definitions, identification methods, and sampling procedures currently used in studies of artists. The introduction to the directory provides a critical overview of the numerous methods for identifying and defining "artists."
Ultrasound-guided aspiration and corticosteroid injection of Baker's cysts in knee osteoarthritis: a prospective observational study
No full textTo determine the effect on pain, function, and ultrasonographic findings of ultrasonography-guided Baker's cyst aspiration followed by corticosteroid injection in a group of patients with Baker's cyst secondary to knee osteoarthritis. Prospective observational study. Twenty-six subjects participated in this study. Clinical and instrumental evaluations were performed at baseline (T0), 1 wk (T1), and 4 wks (T2) after procedure. Mean Visual Analog Scale scores significantly dropped after the procedure (T0 = 6.2 [1.2]; T1 = 4.48 [1.5]; T2 = 4.32 [1.3]; T0 vs. T1 and P < 0.0001). A significant difference between preprocedure and postprocedure Western Ontario and McMaster Universities scores was found for pain (P < 0.0001) but not for joint stiffness (P = 0.7239) and disability (P = 0.6318). Ultrasonographic evaluation showed a significant reduction for both axial (P = 0.006) and sagittal (P = 0.01) areas of Baker's cyst, but no correlation was found between pain relief and Baker's cyst volume reduction. Cyst aspiration with corticosteroid injection give pain relief and cyst volume reduction in patients with Baker's cyst and concomitant knee osteoarthritis. However, when compared with current literature, our results are similar to those obtained with intra-articular knee corticosteroid injectio
Vertebral rotation in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis calculated by radiograph and back surface analysis-based methods: Correlation between the Raimondi method and rasterstereography
No full textPurpose: The aim of the present research is to evaluate the relationship between an X-ray-based method (i.e. The Raimondi method) and rasterstereography in the evaluation of vertebral rotation (VR) in a sample of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) patients. Methods: A total of 25 patients (9 males; mean age 14 ± 3 years; mean height 160.7 ± 11.9 cm; mean weight 52.4 ± 10.7 kg) were considered for the present analysis. The mean Cobb angle was 30 ± 9. The evaluation of VR on radiographs was made using the Raimondi method regolo (Marrapese Editore - Demi S.r.1., Rome). Rasterstereography was performed by means of Formetric 4D® (Diers International GmbH, Schlangenbad, Germany). Correlations between rasterstereographic and radiographic measurement of VR were calculated, both for the whole sample and for thoracic and lumbar spinal segments considered separately, as well as for subgroups of patients with a Cobb angle <30 and ≥30 using Spearman's correlation coefficient by rank (r s). Results: When applied to the entire spine, measurement of VR by means of the two methods highlighted a significant correlation in the whole group (r = 0.52; p < 0.0001), as well as in the <30 Cobb (r = 0.47; p = 0.0001) and ≥30 Cobb (r = 0.42; p < 0.0001) subgroups. A significant correlation was found also when lumbar and thoracic VR were considered as separated groups (r = 0.30, p = 0.024 and r = 0.47, p = 0.002, respectively). Conclusions: Rasterstereographic evaluation of VR shows a good correlation with the Raimondi method, thereby confirming the possibility to use this non-invasive method for deformity assessment in AIS patients. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
Unbridled: Paintings and Drawings
No full text10 p.The author describes the process of creating his collection of five colored pencil and oil paintings and the inspiration of Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, Peter Blume
Kształtowanie kompozycji przestrzennej w obiektach martyrologii, krematorium i cmentarzach w Europie
No full textThe article presents research on the conscious shaping of the space of martyrology objects, cemeteries and crematoriums in Europe. In his research, the author focused on the elements of architectural and urban composition, as well as spatial treatments experienced by users on three levels: pre-narrative, proton-narrative and procedural narratives of the unconscious (Dimaggio, Semerari, 2001, 14: 1-23), as based solely on the user's sensual experience. Selected elements influencing the user were divided into three categories: inducing action, focusing attention or inducing a reaction, and building awareness of space.Artykuł prezentuje badania dotyczące świadomego kształtowania kompozycji przestrzennej w obiektach martyrologii, cmentarzach i krematoriach w Europie. W badaniach autor skupił się na elementach kompozycji urbanistycznej, oraz zabiegach przestrzennych doświadczanych przez użytkowników na trzech poziomach: prenarracji, protonarracji i narracjach proceduralnych nieświadomych (Dimaggio, Semerari, 2001, 14:1-23), jako opartych wyłącznie na doświadczeniach zmysłowych użytkownika. Wybrane elementy wpływające na użytkownika podzielono na trzy kategorie: wywołujące działanie, skupiające uwagę lub wywołujące reakcję, oraz budujące świadomość przestrzeni
Kształtowanie przestrzeni architektonicznej w obiektach martyrologii w Europie
No full textThe article presents research on the conscious shaping of the space of martyrology objects, cemeteries and crematoriums in Europe. In his research, the author focused on the elements of architectural and urban composition, as well as spatial treatments experienced by users on three levels: pre-narrative, proton-narrative and procedural narratives of the unconscious (Dimaggio, Semerari, 2001, 14: 1-23), as based solely on the user's sensual experience. Selected elements influencing the user were divided into three categories: inducing action, focusing attention or inducing a reaction, and building awareness of space.Artykuł prezentuje badania dotyczące świadomego kształtowania przestrzeni architektonicznej w obiektach martyrologii, cmentarzach i krematoriach w Europie. W badaniach autor skupił się na elementach kompozycji architektonicznej, oraz zabiegach przestrzennych doświadczanych przez użytkowników na trzech poziomach: prenarracji, protonarracji i narracjach proceduralnych nieświadomych (Dimaggio, Semerari, 2001, 14:1-23), jako opartych wyłącznie na doświadczeniach zmysłowych użytkownika. Wybrane elementy wpływające na użytkownika podzielono na trzy kategorie: wywołujące działanie, skupiające uwagę lub wywołujące reakcję, oraz budujące świadomość przestrzeni
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