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This page shows you the most recent publications within this specialty of the MedWorm directory. This is page number 16.

Additional Discovery Not Warranted, Illinois Magistrate Holds
CHICAGO - A disability claimant has not established a need for additional discovery, an Illinois federal magistrate judge ruled Dec. 18 (Petr Kratochvil v. The Prudential Insurance Company of Americas, et al., No. 12cv368, N.D. Ill.; 2012 U.S. Dist. Lexis 178550).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

Judge: De Novo Is Proper Standard Of Review
BROOKLYN, N.Y. - A New York federal judge on Jan. 2 ruled that the proper standard of review is de novo in an ERISA-governed benefits dispute where the plan did not properly confer discretion to the administrator (Robert Hamill v. Prudential Insurance Company of America d/b/a Prudential Financial, No. 11-CV-1464, E.D. N.Y.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183153).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

Insurer Is Entitled To Rescind Policy, Federal Judge Rules
LOS ANGELES - A group disability insurer is entitled to rescind a policy where the insured materially misrepresented information on the application, a California federal court ruled Dec. 19 (The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America v. Gabrielian & Associates, et al., No. CV-12-632, C.D. Calif.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 179718).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

Judge Dismisses Breach Of Fiduciary Claim Under ERISA
JACKSON, Miss. - A Mississippi federal judge on Jan. 4 ruled that a disability claimant cannot simultaneously maintain a wrongful denial of benefits claim and a breach of fiduciary duty claim under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act under Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals authority (Theresa A. Taylor v. The Prudential Insurance Company of America, et al., No. 3:12cv702, S.D. Miss.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 1397).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

New York Federal Judge Upholds Finding Of Mental Illness
NEW YORK - A New York federal judge on Dec. 27 upheld an ERISA-governed disability insurer's classification of a claimant's disability as a "mental illness" (Robert Veryzer, Ph.D. v. American International Life Assurance Company of New York, et al., No. 09-CIV-8229, S.D. N.Y.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 183172).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

Judge: Reliance On Medical Record Reviews Was Reasonable
MUSKOGEE, Okla. - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that relied on medical record reviews in its decision to terminate benefits to a claimant with shoulder problems acted reasonably, an Oklahoma federal judge ruled Dec. 17 (Donald Johnson v. Unum Group, et al., No. CIV-11-306-FHS, E.D. Okla.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 177876).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

8th Circuit: Administrator Didn't Abuse Its Discretion In Terminating Benefits
ST. LOUIS - A claims administrator did not abuse its discretion under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by terminating the disability benefits of a participant who suffered from severe depression, the Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed Jan. 2, concluding that the amendment granting the administrator discretionary authority was properly adopted (Siegel v. Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, et al., No. 12-1897, 8th Cir.; 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 11).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

Denial Of Benefits For Failure To See Specialist Violated ERISA, 6th Circuit Holds
CINCINNATI - A disability plan insurer's denial of benefits to a claimant who indisputably suffered from ankylosing spondylitis (AS) because she failed to consult with a rheumatologist was arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 20 in an unpublished opinion, noting that the insurer did not have a specialist conduct an independent medical evaluation (Sandra McCandless v. Standard Insurance Company, No. 11-1308, 6th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 26235).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

24-Month Benefit Cap Precludes Benefits, Federal Judge Holds
MACON, Ga. - An ERISA-governed disability plan administrator's reliance on a neuro-muscular disorder benefits cap in its decision to terminate coverage to a claimant with chronic back pain was reasonable, a Georgia federal judge ruled Jan. 3 (Lynn B. Bland v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., No. 5:11-CV-277, M.D. Ga.; 2013 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 599).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

2nd Circuit: Claimant Received A Full And Fair Review
NEW YORK - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that terminated benefit to a claimant with a knee injury acted reasonably, the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Jan. 7, finding that the claimant received a full and fair review of his claim (Joseph E. Duncan v. Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, No. 12-328, 2nd Cir.; 2013 U.S. App. LEXIS 527).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

2nd Circuit: Benefit Termination Was Not Arbitrary Or Capricious
NEW YORK - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that terminated benefits to a claimant with neck pain and migraines acted reasonably, the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Dec. 20 (Susan A. Young v. Hartford Life and Accident Insurance Co., et al., No. 11-4501, 2nd Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 25985).
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - January 15, 2013 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news

New Start up Support for UK Disabled Entrepreneurs
New year - new start up support for disabled entrepreneurs - Budding disabled entrepreneurs will get extra support to start up their own business in 2013, Minister for Disabled People Esther McVey announced today.
Source: Disabled World - January 15, 2013 Category: Disability Tags: UK Disability Employment Source Type: news

DePuy Hip Implants and Chromium Metal Dangers
March of the year 2010 found the New York Times reporting that DePuy Orthopedics had warned doctors that its ASR hip replacement cup, also referred to as a, "socket," was failing in people within a few years after hip replacement surgery when the implants should have been expected to last fifteen years or more. The failures may lead to expensive and highly painful replacement operations called, "revision operations." The Food and Drug Administration approved DePuy's ASR implant cup and metal ball for use in America in the year 2005. There are approximately 140,000 people in America who have received a DePuy metal on metal hip implant.
Source: Disabled World - January 15, 2013 Category: Disability Tags: Bones & Joint Conditions Source Type: news

Tow Hitch Invention for Electric Mobility Scooters
The newest electric mobility scooter invention gives more shopping and recreational freedom to its riders.
Source: Disabled World - January 15, 2013 Category: Disability Tags: Scooter Accessories & Parts Source Type: news

Potential Non-Surgical Therapy For Neurofibromatosis Type 2 Brain Tumors
One in 25,000 people worldwide is affected by neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), a condition where the loss of a tumour suppressor called Merlin results in multiple tumours in the brain and nervous system. Sufferers may experience 20 to 30 tumours at any one time and such numbers often lead to hearing loss, disability and eventually death. Currently, the only available effective therapies are repeated invasive surgery or radiotherapy aimed at one tumour at a time and which are unlikely to eradicate all the tumours in one go...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 15, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology / Neuroscience Source Type: news

How Timothy Syndrome Mutation Causes Wiring Defects Associated With Cognitive Impairment
A new finding in neuroscience for the first time points to a developmental mechanism linking the disease-causing mutation in an autism-related disorder, Timothy syndrome, and observed defects in brain wiring, according to a study led by scientist Ricardo Dolmetsch and published online in Nature Neuroscience. These findings may be at the heart of the mechanisms underlying intellectual disability and many other brain disorders. The present study reveals that a mutation of the disease-causing gene throws a key process of neurodevelopment into reverse...
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 15, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Autism Source Type: news

Julie Burchill, transphobia and hostility towards the victims of oppression | Dean Burnett
The recent media furore over an article by Julie Burchill has brought to light prejudice against transgender individuals among people who should know better. But this tendency to demonise the victims of unfair treatment is a well established phenomenonThere was a bit of outrage flying around online recently. You may not know about it, and I wasn't involved, but if you have any interest in online media it was impossible to miss, in the same way that any ships travelling near Bikini Atoll would struggle to not notice when the military were running a few little tests there. It culminated in a Julie Burchill piece for the Obse...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - January 15, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Dean Burnett Tags: Psychology Blogposts Transgender guardian.co.uk Society Julie Burchill Science Source Type: news

Vestibular compensation after vestibular schwannoma surgery: normalization of the subjective visual vertical and disability.
Conclusions: The degree of caloric weakness before surgery influences faster or slower recovery of patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma surgery. The Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) is a good index to show the recovery of patients as it relates directly to an improvement or not of the subjective visual vertical (SVV). Objective: To evaluate the process of recovery of patients as measured by the SVV and the DHI after surgical removal of vestibular schwannoma. Methods: We studied 24 consecutive patients of the University Hospital of Salamanca who underwent vestibular schwannoma surgery. We assessed age, tumour size, d...
Source: Acta Oto-Laryngologica - January 15, 2013 Category: ENT & OMF Authors: Batuecas-Caletrio A, Santacruz-Ruiz S, Muñoz-Herrera A, Sousa P, Otero A, Perez-Fernandez N Tags: Acta Otolaryngol Source Type: research

Reelin induces EphB activation.
Abstract The integration of newborn neurons into functional neuronal networks requires migration of cells to their final position in the developing brain, the growth and arborization of neuronal processes and the formation of synaptic contacts with other neurons. A central player among the signals that coordinate this complex sequence of differentiation events is the secreted glycoprotein Reelin, which also modulates synaptic plasticity, learning and memory formation in the adult brain. Binding of Reelin to ApoER2 and VLDL receptor, two members of the LDL receptor family, initiates a signaling cascade involving tyr...
Source: Cell Research - January 15, 2013 Category: Cytology Authors: Bouché E, Romero-Ortega MI, Henkemeyer M, Catchpole T, Leemhuis J, Frotscher M, May P, Herz J, Bock HH Tags: Cell Res Source Type: research

Development of metaphors to explain cognitive behavioural principles for patients with medically unexplained symptoms in Sri Lanka.
DISCUSSION: Metaphor is an effective clinical tool. The author's clinical experience and patients' feedback suggest that these metaphors are helpful in conveying the CBT principles to patients. To develop metaphors appealing to the client and effective clinically, carrying out qualitative research among patients' explanatory model is an important prerequisite. The generic and MUS-specific metaphors reported here should be tried in other cultural and clinical settings and evaluated. Further systematic work including qualitative work for consensus evaluation among CBT experts as well as opinion on user-friendliness of these ...
Source: The International Journal of Social Psychiatry - January 15, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Sumathipala A Tags: Int J Soc Psychiatry Source Type: research

Tocilizumab Inhibits Structural Joint Damage and Improves Physical Function in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Inadequate Responses to Methotrexate: LITHE Study 2-year Results.
CONCLUSION: Compared with placebo-MTX, tocilizumab-MTX significantly inhibited structural joint damage and improved physical function in patients with RA who previously had inadequate response to MTX. An extension of this study is continuing and will provide additional longterm efficacy and safety data. National Clinical Trials registry NCT00106535. PMID: 23322466 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: J Rheumatol - January 15, 2013 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Fleischmann RM, Halland AM, Brzosko M, Burgos-Vargas R, Mela C, Vernon E, Kremer JM Tags: J Rheumatol Source Type: research

The Relationship Between Cognitive Function and Physical Function in Rheumatoid Arthritis.
CONCLUSION: Cognitive impairment was significantly associated with greater functional limitations in patients with RA, suggesting that cognitive impairment may play a role in poor functional status in persons with RA. PMID: 23322467 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: J Rheumatol - January 15, 2013 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Shin SY, Julian L, Katz P Tags: J Rheumatol Source Type: research

Patients with Very Early-onset Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Exhibit More Inflammatory Features and a Worse Outcome.
CONCLUSION: Patients with EO exhibited a more aggressive and destructive disease course than patients with LO SJIA. PMID: 23322471 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: J Rheumatol - January 15, 2013 Category: Rheumatology Authors: Russo RA, Katsicas MM Tags: J Rheumatol Source Type: research

Epilepsy in Mowat–Wilson syndrome: Delineation of the electroclinical phenotype
Abstract Mowat–Wilson syndrome (MWS) is a genetic disease caused by heterozygous mutations or deletions of the ZEB2 gene and is characterized by distinctive facial features, epilepsy, moderate to severe intellectual disability, corpus callosum abnormalities and other congenital malformations. Epilepsy is considered a main manifestation of the syndrome, with a prevalence of about 70–75%. In order to delineate the electroclinical phenotype of epilepsy in MWS, we investigated epilepsy onset and evolution, including seizure types, EEG features, and response to anti‐epileptic therapies in 22 patients with genetically conf...
Source: American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A - January 15, 2013 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Authors: Duccio Maria Cordelli, Livia Garavelli, Salvatore Savasta, Azzurra Guerra, Alessandro Pellicciari, Lucio Giordano, Silvia Bonetti, Ilaria Cecconi, Anita Wischmeijer, Marco Seri, Simonetta Rosato, Chiara Gelmini, Elvio Della Giustina, Anna Rita Ferrari, Ni Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Weight Gain Among Elderly Women as Risk Factor for Disability: Health, Well-Being and Aging Study (SABE Study)
Discussion: Weight loss is generally considered more worrisome than weight gain in elderly. However, weight loss alone was not a risk factor for disability in our study.
Source: Journal of Aging and Health - January 15, 2013 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Corona, L. P., Nunes, D. P., Alexandre, T. d. S., Ferreira Santos, J. L., Oliveira Duarte, Y. A. d., Lebrao, M. L. Tags: Articles Source Type: research

Survival Trends in Pediatric In-Hospital Cardiac Arrests: An Analysis From Get With The Guidelines-Resuscitation [Original Articles]
Conclusions— Rates of survival to hospital discharge in children with in-hospital cardiac arrests have improved over the past decade without higher rates of neurological disability among survivors.
Source: Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes - January 15, 2013 Category: Cardiology Authors: Girotra, S., Spertus, J. A., Li, Y., Berg, R. A., Nadkarni, V. M., Chan, P. S., for the American Heart Association Get With the Guidelines-Resuscitation Investigators Tags: Health policy and outcome research, CPR and emergency cardiac care, Arrhythmias, clinical electrophysiology, drugs Original Articles Source Type: research

SMC accepts clostridium botulinum toxin A (DysportT) for restricted use in patients with focal spasticity
Source: Scottish Medicines Consortium (SMC) Area: Evidence > Drug Specific Reviews The Scottish Medicines Consortium has accepted clostridium botulinum type A toxin-haemagglutinin complex (DysportT) for restricted use within NHS Scotland for the treatment of focal spasticity of the upper limbs associated with stroke. The drug advice (see link below) summarises the safety and efficacy data considered for this drug in this indication. This notes that clostridium botulinum type A toxin-haemagglutinin complex (Dysport®) produces a localised reduction in muscle tone in patients with post-stroke upper limb...
Source: NeLM - Drug Specific Reviews - January 15, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Source Type: news

The cost effectiveness of treating paediatric cancer in low-income and middle-income countries: a case-study approach using acute lymphocytic leukaemia in Brazil and Burkitt lymphoma in Malawi
The objective of the present work was to determine cost-effectiveness thresholds for common paediatric cancers using acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in Brazil and Burkitt lymphoma (BL) in Malawi as examples. Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) prevented by treatment were compared to the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of each country to define cost-effectiveness thresholds using WHO-CHOICE (‘CHOosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective’) guidelines. The case examples were selected due to the data available and because ALL and BL both have the potential to yield significant health gains at a low...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Bhakta, N., Martiniuk, A. L. C., Gupta, S., Howard, S. C. Tags: Oncology, Health policy, Immunology (including allergy), Child health, Health economics, Health service research Global child health Source Type: research

Violence against children with disabilities
Adults with disabilities, particularly those with psychological problems, are at increased risk of violence and it is suspected that children with disabilities are similarly vulnerable, but data are scarce. A systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reported between 1990 and 2010 (Lisa Jones and colleagues. Lancet 2012;380:899–907; see also Comment; ibid: 867–9) has confirmed the vulnerability but shown that presently available evidence is of poor quality. The analyses included 17 studies, 15 cross-sectional and two cohort, including a total of 18 374 children with disabilities. Overall, the prevalen...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Miscellanea Source Type: research

De novo mutations and severe nonsyndromic intellectual disability
Severe intellectual disability (severe cognitive impairment, an IQ of <50) affects about one in 200–300 people in developed countries. For most children with nonsyndromic severe intellectual disability and no clear prenatal or postnatal insult no diagnosis is made. A genetic cause is often suspected but cannot be proved. De novo point mutations have been suggested as a likely cause and two papers published in 1 week in November 2012 have shown the importance of such mutations. A study at 10 centres in Germany and Switzerland (Anita Rauch and colleagues. Lancet 2012;380:1674–82; see also Comment, ibid: 1...
Source: Archives of Disease in Childhood - January 15, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Tags: Miscellanea Source Type: research

Identification of clinically meaningful relationships among cognition, functionality, and symptoms in subjects with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder
Conclusion: Improved cognition was associated with beneficial changes in functional status and clinical symptoms (particularly disorganization symptoms) in subjects with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. Older subjects showed less overall cognitive improvement. Improved cognitive and functional outcome is correlated with symptom improvements in RLAI-treated patients with schizophrenia.
Source: Schizophrenia Research - January 14, 2013 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Gahan Pandina, Robert Bilder, Ibrahim Turkoz, Larry Alphs Tags: Cognition Source Type: research

Osteoarthritis
(OA) is the leading cause of disability among older adults. It is an incredibly prevalent condition affecting upward of 1 in 8 adults. Societal trends in aging, obesity, and increasing joint injury will lead to a doubling of the number of persons with OA in the next decade. In this context, this issue of Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America is timely, as we envision this increasingly prevalent disabling condition in an era where health care expenditure is increasingly scrutinized.
Source: Rheumatic Disease Clinics of North America - January 14, 2013 Category: Rheumatology Authors: David J. Hunter Source Type: research

Voice for Medicare, Medicaid Retiring Voice for Medicare, Medicaid Retiring
Sen. John D. Rockefeller's announcement Friday that he would not seek a sixth term in 2014 will leave the poor, elderly and disabled without one of their strongest advocates on Capitol Hill. Kaiser Health News
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - January 14, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Family Medicine/Primary Care News Source Type: news

Childhood obesity linked to more immediate health problems than previously thought
This study paints a comprehensive picture of childhood obesity, and we were surprised to see just how many conditions were associated with childhood obesity," said lead author Dr. Neal Halfon, a professor of pediatrics, public health and public policy at UCLA, where he directs the Center for Healthier Children, Families and Communities. "The findings should serve as a wake-up call to physicians, parents and teachers, who should be better informed of the risk for other health conditions associated with childhood obesity so that they can target interventions that can result in better health outcomes." With the d...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - January 14, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

Disabled group urges benefit rethink
Disability campaigners call on the government to reconsider changes to the benefit due to replace the Disability Living Allowance from April.
Source: BBC News | Health | UK Edition - January 14, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Issues in the support and disaster preparedness of severely disabled children in affected areas
Abstract: Relative to their numbers, more than twice the number of disabled children fell victim to the Great East Japan Earthquake than did normal people. It was important to find out needs and provide support, as the needs of disabled children vulnerable to the disaster, such as a shortage of diapers of the right size for disabled children in the affected areas, were not given priority. In addition, the role of coordinators to spread word of who needed what and where, and linking this to specific support, was important. Regions and authorities need to determine how disabled children are to be evacuated in a disaster. Eac...
Source: Brain and Development - January 14, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Soichiro Tanaka Tags: Review articles Source Type: research

Abdominal Pain in Physical Therapy Practice: 3 Patient Cases
This report describes the management of 3 adults with primary complaints of abdominal pain who were referred for physical therapy evaluation and treatment. DIAGNOSIS: Two of the patients had secondary symptoms of hip and/or low back pain and had previously undergone extensive medical testing for their chronic abdominal pain, without a definitive diagnosis having been determined. A physical therapy evaluation was conducted, and treatment, including manual physical therapy and exercise, was administered to address all relative impairments, once the physical therapist had determined that the patients’ symptoms were of m...
Source: The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy - January 14, 2013 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: February 2013 Volume 43, No. 2 Source Type: research

Risk Factors for Persistent Problems Following Acute Whiplash Injury: Update of a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
CONCLUSION: This review identified 2 additional prognostic factors and refined the estimates of 7 previously identified factors, bringing the total number of significant predictors across the 2 reviews to 12. These factors can be easily identified in a clinical setting to provide estimates of prognosis following whiplash. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognosis, level 1a.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2013;43(2):31-43. Epub 14 January 2013. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4507KEY WORDS: cervical spine, neck, prognosis, WAD
Source: The Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy - January 14, 2013 Category: Physiotherapy Tags: February 2013 Volume 43, No. 2 Source Type: research

Treatment of penetrating trauma of the extremities: ten years¿ experience at a dutch level 1 trauma center
Conclusion: A SNOM protocol for initial assessment and treatment of PTE is feasible and safe. Clinical examination of the injured extremity is a reliable diagnostic 'tool' for excluding vascular injury. Repeated assessments for nerve injuries are important as these are the ones that are frequently missed and result in long-term disability. Level of evidence: II / III, retrospective prognostic observational cohort study Key words Penetrating trauma, extremity, vascular injury, complications.
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine - January 14, 2013 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Oscar Van WaesEsther Van LieshoutWouter HogendoornJens HalmJefrey Vermeulen Source Type: research

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While pain is neither uncommon nor novel, the concept of central pain (CP) has only recently become a prominent concern in the medical literature. CP results from lesions to the central nervous system caused by conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and brain and spinal cord injuries. With the incidence of disability from these conditions increasing dramatically worldwide, it is no surprise that the diagnosis and treatment of CP are of growing interest in the fields of pain management, neurology, neurosurgery, and anesthesiology. However, inconsistent and contradictory reporting has e...
Source: Journal of the Neurological Sciences - January 14, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Aimee L. Alphonso, Jack W. Tsao Tags: Book Reviews Source Type: research

Cross-cultural Adaptation and Measurement Properties of the Brazilian Portuguese Version of the Victorian Institute of Sport Assessment - Patella (VISA-P) Scale.
CONCLUSIONS: The VISA-P Brazil is a reproducible and responsive tool and can be used in clinical practice and research to assess the severity of pain and disability of patients with patellar tendinopathy.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. Epub 14 January 2013. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4287. PMID: 23321783 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Physical Therapy - January 14, 2013 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Wageck BB, de Noronha M, Lopes AD, da Cunha RA, Takahashi RH, Costa LO Tags: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Source Type: research

Quality of Systematic Reviews on Specific Spinal Stabilization Exercise for Chronic Low Back Pain.
CONCLUSIONS: This review of SRs identified several high quality reviews which indicate some benefit of specific stabilization exercise programs for patients with non-specific chronic LBP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapy, level 1a.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. Epub 14 January 2013. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4346. PMID: 23321935 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Physical Therapy - January 14, 2013 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Haladay DE, Miller SJ, Challis J, Denegar CR Tags: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Source Type: research

Risk Factors for Persistent Problems Following Acute Whiplash Injury: Update of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
CONCLUSIONS: This review identified 2 additional prognostic factors and refined the estimates of 7 previously identified factors, bringing the total number of significant predictors across the two reviews to 12. These factors can be easily identified in a clinical setting to provide estimates of prognosis following whiplash. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognosis, level 1a.J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. Epub 14 January 2013. doi:10.2519/jospt.2013.4507. PMID: 23322093 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Physical Therapy - January 14, 2013 Category: Physiotherapy Authors: Walton DM, Macdermid JC, Giorgianni AA, Mascarenhas JC, West SC, Zammit CA Tags: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Source Type: research

Abdominal Pain in Physical Therapy Practice: 3 Patient Cases.
This report describes the management of 3 adults with primary complaints of abdominal pain referred for physical therapy evaluation and treatment. DIAGNOSIS: Two of the patients, with secondary symptoms of hip and/or low back pain, had previously undergone extensive medical testing for their chronic abdominal pain without a definitive diagnosis having been determined. A physical therapy evaluation was conducted and treatment, including manual physical therapy and exercise, was administered addressing all relative impairments once the physical therapist had determined that the patients' symptoms were of musculoskeletal orig...
Source: Health Physics - January 14, 2013 Category: Physics Authors: Rodeghero JR, Denninger TR, Ross MD Tags: J Orthop Sports Phys Ther Source Type: research

Poststroke spasticity: Sequelae and burden on stroke survivors and caregivers
Among the estimated 20% to 40% of stroke survivors who develop spasticity, the burden of this condition on patients, caregivers, and society is substantial. Stroke survivors with spasticity may experience reductions in their ability to perform activities of daily living and in their health-related quality of life. The occurrence of spasticity in stroke survivors may also result in an increased burden on their caregivers, who exhibit poorer physical and emotional health as compared with the general population. The responsibilities that caregivers have to the stroke survivor—in terms of providing medical care, protecti...
Source: Neurology - January 14, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Zorowitz, R. D., Gillard, P. J., Brainin, M. Tags: ARTICLE Source Type: research

Assessing and treating functional impairment in poststroke spasticity
Poststroke spasticity (PSS) is associated with significant consequences for a patient's functional status and quality of life. Nonetheless, no uniform definition of spasticity exists that can be utilized across clinical research settings, and difficulties in validating proper assessment tools—both clinical and nonclinical—complicate the ability to evaluate and appropriately treat spasticity. Consequently, the current state of defining, assessing, and treating spasticity requires improved consistency and ongoing validation as clinical research efforts advance. When selecting clinical measures for PSS assessment ...
Source: Neurology - January 14, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Sunnerhagen, K. S., Olver, J., Francisco, G. E. Tags: ARTICLE Source Type: research

Pathophysiology of spasticity in stroke
Spasticity is defined clinically by increased muscle tone and tendon jerk hyperreflexia in patients who are at rest. However, the excitability of spinal circuits changes during movement, and this definition provides no insight into the extent to which spasticity and associated motor disturbances cause disability. Only a few spinal circuits have been shown to underlie the abnormalities of patients at rest. Movement can be restrained by pathologically enhanced muscle tone, and there is defective control of the feedback to active motoneurons through virtually all spinal reflex pathways. Spasticity does not necessarily require...
Source: Neurology - January 14, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Burke, D., Wissel, J., Donnan, G. A. Tags: ARTICLE Source Type: research

Toward an epidemiology of poststroke spasticity
Poststroke spasticity (PSS)-related disability is emerging as a significant health issue for stroke survivors. There is a need for predictors and early identification of PSS in order to minimize complications and maladaptation from spasticity. Reviewing the literature on stroke and upper motor neuron syndrome, spasticity, contracture, and increased muscle tone measured with the Modified Ashworth Scale and the Tone Assessment Scale provided data on the dynamic time course of PSS. Prevalence estimates of PSS were highly variable, ranging from 4% to 42.6%, with the prevalence of disabling spasticity ranging from 2% to 13%. Da...
Source: Neurology - January 14, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Wissel, J., Manack, A., Brainin, M. Tags: ARTICLE Source Type: research

The global burden of stroke and need for a continuum of care
Until 4 decades ago, the rates of stroke in low- and middle-income countries were considerably lower than those in more economically robust countries. In the intervening years, however, the rates of stroke in places such as southern India and rural South Africa have approximately doubled, whereas stroke rates in more economically developed nations have decreased. What is far more striking is that rates of disability and mortality arising from stroke are at least 10 times greater in medically underserved regions of the world compared with the most developed nations. The causes of these disparities are clear: above all, ther...
Source: Neurology - January 14, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Norrving, B., Kissela, B. Tags: ARTICLE Source Type: research

Poststroke spasticity: Treating to the disability
People who have strokes are subject to numerous potentially devastating sequelae, most often sensorimotor paresis, impairment of cognition and language, and other functional disabilities, including depression and dementia. Of these sequelae, spasticity occurring with motor dysfunction is a frequent finding that has to be evaluated in light of other diagnoses, such as central paresis, ataxia, pathologic stance or gait, and other coordination dysfunctions. Often, spasticity is not notably present in acute ischemic strokes but develops later on, and may then become a major obstacle for achieving independence in performance of...
Source: Neurology - January 14, 2013 Category: Neurology Authors: Brainin, M. Tags: INTRODUCTION Source Type: research