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Background The aim of this paper is to study the role of kinetic rehabilitation treatment of idiopathic scoliosis with a Cobb angle less than 40° in junior football players. Cobb angle method was used to measure lateral curve severity in scoliosis so the main goal was to improve the scoliosis curvature and correct the associated hyperlordosis or khyphosis at the patients. Methods This study consist in a group of 10 patients, aged by 12 to 17, with lumbar scoliosis was performed in Bunavestire Rehabilitation Hospital in Craiova between february and april 2018. We studied the therapy effect for 3 months, 7 of 10 patients benefited from kinetic treatment while the other 3 were given electrotherapy sessions. Clinical and functional assessment was performed using the Adam's forward bend test, the plumb line test and X-ray exam showing the size of the Cobb angle. The assessments was made first day of physical exam and after 3 months of therapy. Results Analyzing the clinical trial related by age, there was a higher incidence of scoliosis in children aged 15. Cobb angle test reveals that most of the patients had a 25° scoliosis, representing 40% in terms of the curvature severity of the spine. 7 of them who received kinetic therapy for 3 months has Cobb angle reduced by 20-25 degrees and 3 patients from the study group have the spine curvature completely reduced! At the end of the kinetic treatment 4 patients with idiopathic scoliosis has hyperlordosis or kyphosis curvature reduced significantly. Three months of electrotherapy shows no significant decrease of the Cobb angle, but the benefits to the patient consists in pain relief and muscle relaxation. Conclusions Kinetic treatment has improved articular mobility and posture, reduced the scoliosis curvature decreasing Cobb angle while electrotherapy sessions has an antialgic and decontracturant effects but no significant results in reduced Cobb angle measurements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The preliminary treatment outcomes for 8 patients with sinonasal carcinoma have been presented. All the patients received a multimodality treatment including thermoradiotherapy followed by the operation and intraoperative radiotherapy. Clinical testing of the method of the combined treatment of sinonasal carcinomas with local hyperthermia has showed that the positive effect was achieved in all patients without causing pronounced complications during the treatment. Further studies with careful quality control are required to solve the existing problems of local hyperthermia in the head and neck region before this method of treatment can be recommended for a wide clinical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obvious advantage of IORT (intraoperative radiotherapy) is that the radiation source is delivered directly to the bed of the tumor during surgery, thus avoiding the negative impact on the skin, subcutaneous tissue and reducing the risk of fibrosis. Sinonasal tumors--a convenient object for intraoperative radiotherapy application (surface location, relatively small size tumors, good operational access). The surface location and comparatively small size of neoplasms, good operational access provide an efficient and accurate transfer of the electron beam to the postoperative cavity to increase the irradiation dose in the areas of the most probable recurrence, which makes the tumors of this localization a convenient object for the use of the intraoperative radiation therapy. The treatment was conducted using a mobile compact betatron (MIB-6E), 10-12 Gy single dose. IORT session extends surgery period by 30 min. There were no pathological clinical and laboratory reactions on IORT in the early postoperative period. Carrying out the procedure is possible in various standard operating rooms. It does not require special security measures for the patients and the staff. IORT with the help of electron beam allows avoiding post-radiation reactions and achieving a 5-year--disease-free survival of 66% of the patients. IORT session is possible through a minimal incision during organ preservation surgeries. Evident economic feasibility provides the prospects of applying IORT in the clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to design a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation Application (TENS App) according to the suggestions from potential users. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first App including meridian and acupoints for TENS. After its development, there are eight participants recruited for evaluating the usability. Despite two out of eight users reporting that the typical TENS system requires lower cost and has better functionality than TENS App, the results show that almost seventy percent of participants have a better perception of TENS App on price, functionality, convenience, operational ability and quality. However, participants still reported concerns about the safety issue of adopting TENS App. Therefore, for people who are the first time or unfamiliar with TENS App, instructions from occupational or physical therapists are recommended. We conclude that by using TENS App, users can not only use the portable electrotherapy devices at anyplace, but also reduce their outpatient visits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this work is to suggest a new reliable solution of electro-stimulation system for various therapeutic applications like functional rehabilitation and athletics training. This solution consists in creating a similar signal to that arriving of the central nervous system (CNS) to provoke muscular contraction of the peripheral nervous system (PNS). Thus, an electronic circuit is designed to generate a train of biphasic electrical rectangular pulses, which pulse width and frequency defined by the user. These stimuli allow muscular contraction of all types of muscular fibers by specifying the corresponding level of stimulation intensity. This stimulator system is composed of a clock, an inverter and a logical sequencer which shifts the clock signal. The stage of power permits to adapt the signals arrived on a transformer booster coupled to a command stage to regulate the amplitude of the impulse. We added a graphical user interface (GUI) to simplify control and to adapt the stimulator to various medical applications by changing stimulation parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Funded within the European Metrology Research Programme (EMRP) [1], the joint research project "Biologically weighted quantities in radiotherapy" (BioQuaRT) [2] aims to develop measurement and simulation techniques for determining the physical properties of ionising particle tracks on different length scales (about 2 nm to 10 µm), and to investigate the correlation of these track structure characteristics with the biological effects of radiation at the cellular level. Work package 1 develops micro-calorimeter prototypes for the direct measurement of lineal energy and will characterise their response for different ion beams by experiment and modelling. Work package 2 develops techniques to measure particle track structure on different length scales in the nanometre range as well as a measurement device integrating a silicon microdosimeter and a nanodosimeter. Work package 3 investigates the indirect effects of radiation based on probes for quantifying particular radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Work package 4 focuses on the biological aspects of radiation damage and will produce data on initial DNA damage and late effects for radiotherapy beams of different qualities. Work package 5 provides evaluated data sets of DNA cross-sections and develops a multi-scale model to address microscopic and nanometric track structure properties. The project consortium includes three linked researchers holding so-called Researcher Excellence Grants, who carry out ancillary investigations such as developing and benchmarking a new biophysical model for induction of early radiation damage and developing methods for the translation of quantities derived from particle track structure to clinical applications in ion beam therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-ion radiotherapy has large physical and biological advantages, and clinical results performed by HIMAC at NIRS awaken a deep interest. Several hospital-specified facilities are recently under commissioning or construction in Japan. Carbon-ion radiotherapy is based on the advanced technology in wide various fields. In order to promote this treatment method to the daily treatment, constant cooperative efforts by public and private organizations are necessary, i.e. providing of abundant clinical data, technology transfer, personnel training, organizing of the specialists' network, and so on. The present status and future prospects in Japan are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop, investigate and implement IMRT method for Craniospinal irradiation (CSI) into the clinical environment. The study was performed for patients required either CSI or only extracranial (spinal) irradiation. IMRT plans with multiple isocenters without couch rotation and with overlap of field edges as well as standard technique 3D CRT plan were generated for each patient. The planning dose distributions for both methods and effect of patient set up uncertainties were investigated. As expected the IMRT treatment plans provided much better dose coverage and homogeneity in the target volume. Treatment verification proved, that interfractional movement of the field isocenters relative to the patient anatomy was within 3 mm limits in all cases. The IMRT plans provide much better dose distribution stability for these movements in comparison with 3DCRT plans. Dose bath in the dose range over 10 Gy within the "cancerous" distance from the fields' edges was significantly lower for all IMRT plans created. The developed IMRT method for CSI and spinal irradiation provides superior dose coverage throughout the target volume, simplifies the technical performance, is less dependent on intrafractional movements of the patient and potentially reduce the risk of deterministic secondary cancer incidence. This method is recommended for use in the clinic for all CSI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a measurement system, named DEFIMPULSE Recorder, developed for collection of high-resolution data associated with the patient response during cardioversion. DEFIMPULSE Recorder acquires signals via the two ECG/defibrillator pads and provides: (i) recording of high-intensity voltage and current pulses during defibrillation shocks; (ii) long-term recording of ECG, highfrequency impedance (baseline and variance). The correlation of this extended dataset with the patient diagnostic indicators is a powerful tool for statistical assessment of the optimal stimuli settings with improved efficacy of the treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapy currently available for the treatment of degenerative neurological diseases is far from satisfactory, and a novel therapeutic strategy, especially for pharmacologically unresponsive patients, would be welcomed. The vestibular nerves are known to influence neuronal circuits in the medullary cardiovascular areas and, through the cerebellar vermis, the basal ganglia and the limbic system. By means of noisy galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS), it may now be possible to ameliorate blunted responsiveness of degenerated neuronal circuits in the brains of multiple system atrophy (MSA) and/or Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, through a mechanism known as stochastic resonance. We evaluate the effect of 24-hour noisy GVS on long-term heart rate dynamics in seven MSA patients, and on daytime locomotor activity dynamics in twelve patients with either PD or levodopa unresponsive parkinsonism. Short-range heart rate variability and long-range anti-correlation of trunk activity are significantly increased by the noisy GVS compared with sham stimulation, suggestive of improved autonomic and motor responsiveness. The noisy GVS is effective in boosting the neuro-degenerative brains of MSA and/or PD patients, including those unresponsive to standard levodopa therapy. © 2005 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functional fitness of the alpha-emitter At-211 for radiotherapy of the thyroid gland cancer is evaluated. Radiation doses are calculated using the MIRD method and previously obtained pharmacokinetic data for At-211 in isotonic solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the findings of a study which determined the effect of knee electrical stimulation on impulsive loading rates that occur from weight acceptance of gait. It proposes the positive alteration of gait biomechanics through improved sensitivity and proprioception of 22 participants who suffer from medial knee osteoarthritis (OA). The results confirmed that subjects were able to improve knee flexion by undergoing treatment with the use of a knee sleeve and stochastic resonance (SR) stimulation.