PURPOSE The present study aimed to assess the impact of the ketogenic diet on arterial morphology and endothelial function of the big vessels of the neck and on cardiac diastolic function, in a cohort of epileptic children and young adults treated with the ketogenic diet. METHODS Patients were recruited based on the following inclusion criteria: (1) patients who were or had been on the ketoge...

The in vitro biomechanical properties of three methods for internal fixation of femoral neck fractures were evaluated. Fifty cadaveric femura from Beagle dogs were used. Ten intact femora served as controls. In 40 femura, an osteotomy of the femoral neck was performed to simulate a transverse fracture. With the remaining 30 femura, three repair methods (two medium Orthofix pins, a 2.7 mm cort...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Compressing the internal jugular veins can reverse ventriculomegaly in the syndrome of inappropriately low pressure acute hydrocephalus, and it has been suggested that this works by "stiffening" the brain tissue. Jugular compression may also alter blood and CSF flow in other conditions. We aimed to understand the effect of jugular compression on brain tissue stiffness and...

[Purpose] The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lumbar lordosis assistive support (LLAS) on craniovertebral angle (CVA) and mechanical properties of the upper trapezius (UT) muscle in subjects with forward head posture (FHP). [Subjects and Methods] This study recruited 20 subjects with FHP. CVA and muscle tone, viscoelasticity, and stiffness of the UT were measured using Myoton...

Fifty two patients with psoriatic spondyloarthropathy were monitored prospectively over a mean of 57 months (range 30-107). A comprehensive protocol was used to assess clinical and radiological features of disease activity and severity. Serial radiographs showed a significant increase in the number of patients with syndesmophyte formation and sacroiliitis. In contrast, there was no significant ...

DIAGNOSIS Symptoms and signs Bacterial meningitis can be difficult to diagnose as the symptoms and signs are often non-specific, especially in young children. The symptoms may include high temperature, poor feeding, vomiting, lethargy, and irritability. The clinical signs include bulging fontanelle, fever, drowsiness, apnoeas, convulsions, and purpuric rash. In older children the more classic s...

The prevalence of bone fractures increases markedly with age, which is correlated to osteoporosis, low bone mass and structural deterioration of trabecular bone. Infiltration of bone cement into vertebral bodies (vertebroplasty) has been shown to substantially increase the strength and stiffness of mechanically compromised trabecular bone. It was expected that a similar benefit might be realize...

BACKGROUND Chronic problems from whiplash trauma generally include headache, pain and neck stiffness that may prove refractory to conservative treatment modalities. As has previously been reported, such afflicted patients may experience significant temporary relief with injections of local anesthetic to painful trigger points in muscles of the shoulder and neck, or lasting symptomatic improveme...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to evaluate the biomechanical advantages of medial support screws (MSSs) in the locking proximal humeral plate for treating proximal humerus fractures. METHODS Thirty synthetic left humeri were randomly divided into 3 subgroups to establish two-part surgical neck fracture models of proximal humerus. All fractures were fixed with a locking proximal hume...