OBJECTIVES To evaluate the performance of liver and spleen stiffness measured by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography for noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis and esophageal varices in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus. METHODS Two hundred sixty-four participants, of whom 60 were healthy volunteers (classified as stage 0), 66 were patients with chronic hepatitis B wh...

background: there are various factors that may cause pain and dysfunction in the pelvic region. myofascial trigger points can likewise contribute in pelvic pain. common treatments for myofascial trigger points include electrotherapy, laser therapy, massage, ischemic compression, dry-needling, stretch, icing, heating, and biofeedback. case report: a 26 year old man with an exertion-related pain ...

the resonant frequency and sensitivity of an atomic force microscope (afm) cantilever with assembled cantilever probe (acp) have been analyzed and a closed-form expression for the sensitivity of vibration modes has been obtained. the proposed acp comprises an inclined cantilever and extension, and a tip located at the free end of the extension, which makes the afm capable of topography at sidew...

Aortic stiffness is a hallmark of aging, and classic cardiovascular risk factors play a role in accelerating this process. Current changes in medicine, which focus on preventive care, have led to a growing interest in noninvasive evaluation of aortic stiffness. Aortic stiffness has emerged as a good tool for further risk stratification because it has been linked to increased risk of atheroscler...

Shoulder stiffness is a condition of painful restriction of the glenohumeral range of motion. Numerous risk factors for primary and postoperative shoulder stiffness have been described. This article summarizes the known aspects of the pathophysiology of shoulder stiffness, with special attention to elements of molecular biology and genetics, which could influence the risk of developing shoulder...

Background: Arterial stiffness is one of the predictors of cardiovascular event. Arterial stiffness is commonly measured by pulse wave velocity between the carotid and femoral arteries. Recently the arterial stiffness index which is measured by computerized oscillometry at the upper arm was developed. As this procedure is a convenient means of measuring pulse wave velocity, we considered it sui...

When human hoppers are surprised by a change in surface stiffness, they adapt almost instantly by changing leg stiffness, implying that neural feedback is not necessary. The goal of this simulation study was first to investigate whether leg stiffness can change without neural control adjustment when landing on an unexpected hard or unexpected compliant (soft) surface, and second to determine wh...

Basilar membrane stiffness measurements were made in the base of the gerbil cochlea. Basilar membrane stiffness was determined by contacting the basilar membrane with a stainless steel needle (tip diameter 25 microns) attached to a force transducer, putting the needle/transducer structure through a low-frequency sinusoidal excursion with amplitude 5 or 25 nm, and measuring the restoring force e...

New generation robots, meant for physical human robot interactions, are no longer rigid; it has become soft in terms of introduction of considerable flexibility at the actuated joints, flexibility of the links and in terms of compliant coverings. Safety requirement becomes primary in situations where physical interactions occur, calling for compliance; but accuracy and control bandwidth get com...