The effect of McKenzie protocol vs. deep neck flexor and scapulothoracic exercises in subjects with chronic neck pain - a randomized controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the impact of McKenzie exercises against deep neck flexor (DNF) combined with scapulothoracic exercises on improving pain severity, cervical mobility, and functional disability. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-five subjects suffering from chronic neck pain participated in this randomized controlled study. They were randomly assigned to three groups; the DNF group, which was treated by traditional physical therapy (i.e., physical therapy agents, stretching, and isometric exercises), combined with DNF, and scapulothoracic exercises; the McKenzie group, treated by traditional physical therapy, combined with McKenzie exercises; and finally, a control group, treated by traditional physical therapy. Before and after 6 weeks of treatment, they were assessed for neck pain severity, cervical range of motion (ROM), and functional disability using a visual analog scale (VAS), a gravity-reference goniometer, and the Copenhagen neck functional disability scale (CNFDS), respectively. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, all groups showed a significant decrease in neck pain severity and disability (p <0.05), and there was a significant increase in neck flexion/extension, lateral right flexion/left flexion, and right/left rotation ROMs (p<0.05). The improvement of the McKenzie group was significantly higher than the DNF group, and control group. Moreover, the improvement of the DNF group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The McKenzie exercises were better than DNF combined with scapulothoracic exercises to treat neck pain, functional disability, and mobility.

Expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand in ligature-induced periodontitis in osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the expression of a key mediator that regulates differentiation of osteoclasts, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL), in rats with or without osteoporosis and periodontitis, to provide a better understanding of the association between these two diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty adult Albino rats were divided into four groups: (1) control group; (2) experimentally induced periodontitis group; (3) experimentally induced osteoporosis group; and (4) experimentally induced osteoporosis and periodontitis group. At the end of the experimental period, blood samples were obtained and animals were sacrificed. Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity levels were measured. Histological evaluation and immunohistochemical detection of RANKL in the periodontal ligament and bone tissues were performed. RESULTS: There were significantly higher ALP levels in all of the experimental groups than in the control group. The pathology observed in the histological sections from group 4 was more severe than in either group 2 or group 3. The percentage of RANKL-immunoreactive cells in both the periodontal ligament and bone tissues in group 4 (16.8 +/- 5.1 and 11.2 +/- 5.2%, respectively) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in the other groups. In the periodontal ligament, the percentage of RANKL-immunoreactive cells in group 2 (10.1 +/- 1.9%) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in group 3 (5.3 +/- 2.7%) and the control group (4.12 +/- 1.5%). CONCLUSION: The increased bone loss observed in group 4 compared with either group 2 or group 3 supports the existence of an additive pathological effect of the two disease conditions. This is consistent with the increased RANKL expression observed in group 4.

Investigations on airborne microorganisms in animal stables. 2. Report: further characterization of airborne Clostridium perfringens.

Toxovars of 97 airborne C. perfringens isolates and 10 C. perfringens isolates from fecal samples of a calf stable were determined by an EIA procedure. Most airborne and fecal isolates belonged to toxovar A (88.7% and 80.0% respectively). Eight point two% of airborne C. perfringens were identified as toxovar C and 3.1% as toxovar D. Toxovar B was not found in the airborne state. Twenty% of fecal C. perfringens belonged to toxovar D. Toxovar B and C was not isolated from fecal samples. In addition, all fecal and air-borne isolates of C. perfringens toxovar D strains were analyzed in SDS-PAGE for their polypeptide pattern. All isolates from both sources exhibited the same polypeptide pattern after electrophoretic analysis in SDS-PAGE. Both results, determination of toxovars as well as polypeptide pattern analysis in SDS-PAGE, suggest that a major source of airborne C. perfringens in animal stables is animal feces.