Chiropractic Day 2023: A Report and Qualitative Analysis of How Thought Leaders Celebrate the Present and Envision the Future of Chiropractic.

Objective: This study aimed to (1) collect and analyze statements about how to celebrate chiropractic in the present and roles that chiropractors may fulfill in the future, (2) identify if there was congruence among the themes between present and future statements, and (3) offer a model about the chiropractic profession that captures its complex relationships that encompass its interactions within microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, and macrosystem levels. Methods: For this qualitative analysis, we used pattern and grounded theory approaches. A purposive sample of thought leaders in the chiropractic profession were invited to answer the following 2 open-ended questions: (1) envision the chiropractor of the future, and (2) recommendations on how to celebrate chiropractic. Information was collected during April 2023 using Survey Monkey. The information was entered into a spreadsheet and analyzed for topic clusters, which resulted in matching concepts with social-ecological themes. The themes between the responses to the 2 questions were analyzed for congruence. We used the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research to report our findings. Results: Of the 54 experts invited, 32 (59%) participated. Authors represented 7 countries and have a median of 32 years of chiropractic experience, with a range of 5 to 51 years. Nineteen major topics in the future statements and 23 major topics in statements about celebrating chiropractic were combined in a model. The topics were presented using the 4 levels of the social-ecological framework. Individual (microsystem): chiropractors are competent, well-educated experts in spine and musculoskeletal care who apply evidence-based practices, which is a combination of the best available evidence, clinical expertise, and patient values. Interpersonal relationships (mesosystem): chiropractors serve the best interests of their patients, provide person-centered care, embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion, consider specific health needs and the health of the whole person. Community (exosystem): chiropractors provide care within integrated health care environments and in private practices, serve the best interests of the public through participation in their communities, participate through multidisciplinary collaboration with and within the health care system, and work together as a profession with a strong professional identity. Societal (macrosystem): chiropractors contribute to the greater good of society and participate on a global level in policy, leadership, and research. There was concordance between both the future envisioning statements and the present celebration recommendations, which suggest logical validity based on the congruence of these concepts. Conclusion: A sample of independent views, including the perceptions from a broad range of chiropractic thought leaders from various backgrounds, philosophies, diversity characteristics, and world regions, were assembled to create a comprehensive model of the chiropractic profession. The resulting model shows an array of intrinsic values and provides the roles that chiropractors may provide to serve patients and the public. This study offers insights into the roles that future chiropractors may fulfill and how these are congruent with present-day values. These core concepts and this novel model may have utility during dialogs about identity, applications regarding chiropractic in policy, practice, education, and research, and building positive relationships and collaborations.

Effects of Manual Versus Instrumental Spinal Manipulation on Blood Flow of the Vertebral and Internal Carotid Arteries in Participants With Chronic Nonspecific Neck Pain: A Single-Blind, Randomized Study.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the hemodynamic effects of manual spinal manipulation (MSM) and instrumental spinal manipulation (ISM) on the vertebral artery (VA) and internal carotid artery (ICA) in participants with chronic nonspecific neck pain (NNP). Methods: Thirty volunteers aged 20 to 40 years old with NNP over 3 months duration were included. Participants were randomly divided into the following 2 groups: (1) MSM group (n = 15) and (2) ISM group (n = 15). Ipsilateral (intervention side) and contralateral (opposite side of intervention) VAs and ICAs were evaluated using spectral color Doppler ultrasound before and immediately after manipulation. Measurements were recorded by visualizing the ICA carotid sinus (C4 level) and the VA at the V3 segment (C1-C2 level). The blood flow parameters of peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity, resistive index, and volume flow (only for VA) were evaluated. The spinal segment, in which biomechanical aberrant movement was detected by palpation in the upper cervical spine, was manually manipulated in the MSM group. The same methodology was performed for the ISM group using an Activator V instrument (Activator Methods). Results: Intragroup analysis exhibited no statistically significant difference between the MSM and ISM groups in terms of PSV, end-diastolic velocity, resistive index of ipsilateral and contralateral ICA and VA, in addition to volume flow of both VAs preintervention and postintervention (P > .05). Within the intergroup analysis, there was a significant difference in ipsilateral ICA PSV (P = .031) (preintervention vs postintervention difference was -7.9 ± 17.2 cm/s [95% confidence interval, -17.4 to 1.6] in the ISM group and 8.7 ± 22.5 cm/s [95% confidence interval, -3.6 to 21.2]) in the MSM group (P < .05). Other parameters did not show any significant difference (P > .05). Conclusion: Manual and instrumental spinal manipulations applied to the upper cervical spine in participants with chronic NNP did not appear to alter blood flow parameters of the VAs and ICAs.

Precision Oncology: An Ensembled Machine Learning Approach to Identify a Candidate mRNA Panel for Stratification of Patients with Breast Cancer.

The rise of machine learning (ML) has recently buttressed the efforts for big data-driven precision oncology. This study used ensemble ML for precision oncology in breast cancer, which is one of the most common malignancies worldwide with marked heterogeneity of the underlying molecular mechanisms. We analyzed clinical and RNA-seq data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) (844 patients with breast cancer and 113 healthy individuals) and the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) (1784 patients with breast cancer and 202 healthy individuals). We evaluated six algorithms in the context of ensemble modeling and identified a candidate mRNA diagnostic panel that can differentiate patients from healthy controls, and stratify breast cancer into molecular subtypes. The ensemble model included 50 mRNAs and displayed 82.55% accuracy, 79.22% specificity, and 84.55% sensitivity in stratifying patients into molecular subtypes in TCGA cohort. Its performance was markedly higher, however, in distinguishing the basal, LumB, and Her2+ breast cancer subtypes from healthy individuals. In overall survival analysis, the mRNA panel showed a hazard ratio of 2.25 (p = 5 × 10-7) for breast cancer and was significantly associated with molecular pathways related to carcinogenesis. In conclusion, an ensemble ML approach, including 50 mRNAs, was able to stratify patients with different breast cancer subtypes and differentiate them from healthy individuals. Future prospective studies in large samples with deep phenotyping can help advance the ensemble ML approaches in breast cancer. Advanced ML methods such as ensemble learning are timely additions to the precision oncology research toolbox.

Response of Practicing Chiropractors during the Early Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Report.

OBJECTIVE: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has strained all levels of healthcare and it is not known how chiropractic practitioners have responded to this crisis. The purpose of this report is to describe responses by a sample of chiropractors during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: We used a qualitative-constructivist design to understand chiropractic practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, as described by the participants. A sample of chiropractic practitioners (doctors of chiropractic, chiropractors) from various international locations were invited to participate. Each described the public health response to COVID-19 in their location and the actions that they took in their chiropractic practices from April 20 through May 4, 2020. A summary report was created from their responses and common themes were identified. RESULTS: Eighteen chiropractic practitioners representing 17 locations and 11 countries participated. A variety of practice environments were represented in this sample, including, solo practice, mobile practice, private hospital, US Veterans Administration health care, worksite health center, and group practice. They reported that they recognized and abided by changing governmental regulations. They observed their patients experience increased stress and mental health concerns resulting from the pandemic. They adopted innovative strategies, such as telehealth, to do outreach, communicate with, and provide care for patients. They abided by national and World Health Organization recommendations and they adopted creative strategies to maintain connectivity with patients through a people-centered, integrated, and collaborative approach. CONCLUSION: Although the chiropractors in this sample practiced in different cities and countries, their compliance with local regulations, concern for staff and patient safety, and people-centered responses were consistent. This sample covers all 7 World Federation of Chiropractic regions (ie, African, Asian, Eastern Mediterranean, European, Latin American, North American, and Pacific) and provides insights into measures taken by chiropractors during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. This information may assist the chiropractic profession as it prepares for different scenarios as new evidence about this disease evolves.

Chiropractic Nimmo Receptor-Tonus Technique and McKenzie Self-Therapy Program in the Management of Adjacent Segment Disease: A Case Report.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study objective was to describe adjacent segment disease (ASD) from a chiropractic management prospective and subsequently to stimulate further research into the chiropractic therapeutic effects on such cases and to contribute to chiropractic literature. CLINICAL FEATURES: A 44-year-old woman had a history of lumbar stabilization revision operation by pedicle screw fixation for spondylolisthesis. Her intractable back pain episodes, which were diagnosed as ASD, began shortly after this surgery. At presentation, she was taking pregabalin 75 mg 2 times a day for postoperative neuropathic pain without any pain relief. Clinical testing revealed myofascial tender points reproducing the pain. INTERVENTION AND OUTCOME: After taking the case history and performing a physical examination, the patient was managed with chiropractic Nimmo receptor-tonus technique in combination with McKenzie exercises. Nimmo was applied by manually pressing on clinically relevant points for 5 to 15 seconds in 11 visits over 3 weeks. The patient by herself did McKenzie exercises 5 to 10 times a day for 10 to 12 repetitions over 2 months. After 3 weeks of therapy, visual analog scale and Oswestry Disability Index scores were improved. Furthermore, because of the amelioration of the patient's symptoms, her neurosurgeon successfully discontinued pregabalin 75 mg 2 times a day without negative consequences to care. CONCLUSION: As far as the authors are aware, there is currently no published case of ASD care in chiropractic literature. Our rehabilitative management received a favorable response. It can be hypothesized that it offers a perspective that informs improved patient care.

Chiropractic in Global Health and wellbeing: a white paper describing the public health agenda of the World Federation of Chiropractic.

The World Federation of Chiropractic supports the involvement of chiropractors in public health initiatives, particularly as it relates to musculoskeletal health. Three topics within public health have been identified that call for a renewed professional focus. These include healthy ageing; opioid misuse; and women's, children's, and adolescents' health. The World Federation of Chiropractic aims to enable chiropractors to proactively participate in health promotion and prevention activities in these areas, through information dissemination and coordinated partnerships. Importantly, this work will align the chiropractic profession with the priorities of the World Health Organization. Successful engagement will support the role of chiropractors as valued partners within the broader healthcare system and contribute to the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.