Radiographic, Pain, and Functional Outcomes in an Adult Post-Fusion Patient Using a Scoliosis Activity Suit: Comparative Results after 8 Months

There are few conservative treatment options for adult patients with idiopathic scoliosis who are status post-fusion surgery. These typically include pharmacologic pain management, epidural injections, and generalized CAM treatments such as massage and chiropractic manipulation in the non-fused areas of the spine. The purpose of this study was to compare the post-treatment results in an adult post-fusion patient who wore a scoliosis activity suit for 8 months. Pain was evaluated using a quadruple visual analog scale (QVAS), while function was measured using an SRS-22r questionnaire. After 8 months of wearing the scoliosis activity suit, her pain scores improved, here SRS-22r improved, and a significant correction in radiographic Cobb angle was observed. This case report is the first to document a Cobb angle change in an adult patient wearing a scoliosis activity suit who is status post-fusion. Given that pain and dysfunction are primary reasons for scoliosis treatment in the adult population, more studies need to address the disparity between available treatments for adult scoliosis and the incidence of adult scoliosis, especially in the post-meno-pausal population. Future prospective studies should consider evaluating treatment effects of this suit using intent-to-treat methodology.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene Mutations in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Clinical Chart Review

The effects of genetic variations of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) enzyme activity have been the discussion of many research papers. It has been associated with multiple neurological sequelae, and has been implicated in other chronic diseases. Although many genetic influences on the development and/or progression of idiopathic scoliosis have been reported, there has been no report of any relationship between MTHFR mutations and idiopathic scoliosis. This paper compared two groups of patients who received MTHFR genetic testing. One group had a history of idiopathic scoliosis, while the other served as a control group. The scoliosis group showed a positive MTHFR mutation in 23 out of 44 patients, while the control group showed 11/44 (P < 0.01). Given the increased incidence of MTHFR defects in scoliosis patients, this study warrants further investigation into how MTHFR variations may trigger the development or progression of idiopathic scoliosis.

Detection of Influenza Viruses Attached to an Optical Disk

Detection of polystyrene beads with a diameter of 100 nm was conducted using an optical disk drive tester equipped with a laser of 405 nm wavelength and an objective lens with a numerical aperture of 0.65. The polystyrene beads were used to mimic the influenza virus. A grooved disk with a (ZnS)85(SiO2)15/SiO2 layered surface structure was used for the detection. The detection of influenza viruses (A/Udorn/307/1972) with Au nanoparticles was also demonstrated using the optical disk drive tester. In this case, a grooved disk with an indium tin oxide (ITO) film was used. The ITO film functioned both to tune the reflectance of the disk and as an electrically conductive layer for scanning electron microscopy. In both cases, the target substances were successfully recognized in a single scan with a high scanning speed of 4.9 m/s. The results indicate that this optical disk system can be used to detect 100 nm scale substances like influenza viruses, which are smaller than the diffraction limit of the system.

Association between Urinary Neurotransmitter Status and Scoliosis Progression: A Case-Controlled Series

Previous investigations into the relationship between neurotransmitter abnormalities and idiopathic scoliosis have been mixed. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the differences in a urinary neurotransmitter profile across three different groups. These groups included a progressive scoliosis group, a non-progressive scoliosis group, and a non-scoliotic control group. When evaluating urinary neurotransmitter levels across all groups, statistically significant differences were observed between all three groups for multiple neurotransmitters. The differences seemed to increase as the scoliosis increased in Cobb angle measurement. Further studies should seek to distinguish a potential cause or effect relationship between these neurotransmitter abnormalities and idiopathic scoliosis onset and/or progression.

Catechol-O-Methyl Transferase (COMT) Enzyme Gene Variations in Patients with Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Clinical Chart Review

The effects of genomic variations and their associations with idiopathic scoliosis have been the discussion of many research trials. Previous investigations into catechol-o-methyl transferase (COMT) have identified its importance in dopamine and estrogen metabolism. While many genetic influences on idiopathic scoliosis have been observed, there has been no report of any relationship between COMT mutations and idiopathic scoliosis. The present study compared two groups of patients who received COMT genetic testing. The first group had a history of idiopathic scoliosis, while the other served as a non-scoliotic control group. The scoliosis group showed a positive COMT mutation in 33 out of 58 patients, while the control group showed 22/58 (P < 0.05). The homozygous genotype Met/Met occurred significantly more frequently in the scoliosis group. The increased incidence of COMT defects in the current scoliosis patient group warrants further study into how COMT variations may relate to the development or progression of idiopathic scoliosis.

Pain and Radiographic Outcomes in Adult Idiopathic Scoliosis Patients Using a Scoliosis Activity Suit: An 18-Month Case Controlled Chart Review

There are few conservative treatment options for patients with adult idiopathic scoliosis. These typically include pharmacologic pain management, epidural injections, and generalized CAM treatments such as massage and chiropractic manipulation. The purpose of this study was to compare the post-treatment results in patients wearing the scoliosis activity suit versus baseline assessments as well as adult scoliosis patients who did not wear the activity suit. The pain and Cobb angle outcomes of 53 consecutive patients with adult idiopathic scoliosis following a trial of a scoliosis activity suit were reviewed. The average scores and measurements at 18 months were statistically significantly improved for both the quadruple numerical pain rating scale as well as Cobb angle. The scoliosis activity suit may be a viable supportive therapy for the treatment of chronic pain associated with adult idiopathic scoliosis. Further prospective studies should evaluate treatment effects of this suit using intent-to-treat methodology.

Chiropractic Rehabilitation of a Scoliosis Family: Results from a 9-Year Follow-Up

Scoliosis bracing is typically prescribed when the curvature reaches to between 30° - 50°. Although there has been a vast amount of bracing literature published, the results remain equivocal. Many patients face issues of compliance, comfort, and decreased self-esteem due to social stigmas with bracing. This has caused many patients to seek non-bracing options. Although these treatments are plausible, they lack the research background that bracing has. Therefore, many physicians are reluctant to prescribe exercise-based rehabilitation for their scoliosis patients. This study reports on 3 patients who sought non-bracing, exercise-based chiropractic rehabilitation for their scoliosis. Their results before, after, and at long term follow up are included.

Design of Environmental Biosensor Based on Photonic Crystal Fiber with Bends Using Finite Element Method

In this paper, a biosensor based on photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is proposed and designed using Full-Vectorial Finite Element Method (FVFEM). The proposed PCF sensor consists of three concentric circles surrounding the core. The key optical sensor characteristics such as sensitivity, the field profiles and real part of the refractive index of the proposed PCF structure are investigated by employing the FVFEM. The proposed sensor can be deployed for environmental sensing when the PCF active region is filled with either analytes such as liquids or gas. By careful selection of the design parameters such as the radius of the sensing circle, the diameter of air holes in the core region and hole to hole spacing, Λ, the sensitivity analytes is determined. Our simulation results show that, the electric field distribution is primary localized in the third concentric circle with a radius of 16 μm. Effects of PCF bending on the sensitivity is also studied and reported.