4.

Purpose In order to verify the potential association between the aetiopathogenesis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and the process of sexual maturation, we determined the concentrations of oestrogens in pre-and postmenarcheal girls affected by this condition. AIS, occurring mostly in pubescent girls, is one of the most frequent forms of faulty posture. Therefore, it was assumed that the multifactorial pathomechanism of AIS involves significant deficiency of oestrogens. Methods The diagnosis of AIS was established on the basis of physical examination and analyses of radiograms. Concentrations of FSH, LH, oestrogens, progesterone, osteocalcin and RANKL were determined by ELISA. The activity of alkaline phosphatase (AP) was measured by kinetic method. The study included pre-and postmenarcheal girls with AIS and corresponding groups of scoliosis-free controls. Results In premenarcheal scoliotic girls, the levels of FSH, LH and oestradiol were lower; the levels of progesterone, oestrone and oestriol were higher; and the concentrations of oestrone and oestriol were similar compared to premenarcheal controls. Higher levels of RANKL, osteocalcin and AP were observed in premenarcheal adolescents with AIS compared to controls. The concentrations of FSH, LH, oestradiol, and progesterone in postmenarcheal girls with scoliosis were lower, oestrone were slightly lower and oestriol did not differ compared with the control group. Significantly higher levels of RANKL, osteoc alcin an d A P w ere o bserv ed i n postmenarcheal scoliotic adolescents compared with controls. Conclusions There is an interdependence between the concentration of oestradiol and development of scoliosis. Determination of estradiol may have diagnostic value in the screening of spinal pathologies associated with AIS.

Applying whole-body cryotherapy to older women with spondyloarthrosis decreases the elasticity of erythrocytes and, despite favourable changes in the aggregation parameters, problems with perfusion may still appear. For this reason, the benefit of using whole-body cryotherapy in these persons is debatable.

Aim of the study: The purpose of this study was to analyse therapeutic effects of massage using the High Tone Power Therapy for pain relief in the cervical spine. Materials and methods: The study included a group of 40 patients aged from 34 to 55 years. All of them had received medical treatment of massage using the High Tone Power Therapy. During their therapy each patient was treated 6 times for 30 minutes. Treatments were twice a week. 100% of the examined persons completed their therapy. Everyone examined had their range of spine motion measured before and after the therapy, and they were asked to assess the intensity of their pain. Results: The application of the High Tone Power massage proved to be a very effective treatment which improved the extent of cervical spine mobility in a significant way. On examination in every possible movement an increased extent of mobility was observed. A significant alleviation of spinal pain was noticed by the remaining 32 participants. 25% of all patients were totally free of headache, and the rest felt a considerable pain relief, from 6.57 points to 4 points. Dizziness disappeared in the case of 30% of the examined patients. The therapy did not make any improvement 8 of the patients examined. Conclusions: High Tone Power massage treatment improved the range of spineal motion as well as the analgesic activity at the majority of examined patients. The presented report should be treated as a preliminary test, requiring further studies in a larger number of patients using a comparative group.

Positive effects of music therapy for people with dementia and their family carers are reported in a growing number of studies. However, small sample sizes or low recruitment rates often limit the success of these research studies. More adequately powered evidence-based studies are needed to impact policy and funding in dementia care. This systematic review examined recruitment strategies in music therapy clinical trials involving people living with dementia and/or their family carers. Eligible studies described enrolment, consent, accrual, or recruitment methods as well as recruitment or consent rates. Thirty studies with a total of 1,192 participants were included. Recruitment and conversion rates in residential aged care facilities (RACFs) (14 studies) were substantially higher than in community-based studies (16 studies). Whereas studies in RACFs most commonly recruited participants through staff approaching residents face-to-face or conversing with residents’ legal guardians, community-based studies utilized a vast array of strategies, including staff referral, demonstrations/information sessions by researchers, advertisements, and direct contact with residents. Recruitment rates are likely to be higher when recruiters have an existing relationship with potential participants and when an independent third-party dementia organization is involved. Randomized controlled trials led to equally or greater recruitment conversion rates than other designs. Findings suggest that recruitment in dementia trials is complex, challenging, and needs thorough planning and consideration to be time- and cost-effective. Future studies should include reporting of recruitment strategies, enrolment rates, and related aspects so that researchers can better design recruitment strategies and estimate resources needed to reach the target sample size.

The most frequently diagnosed type of longitudinal and transverse arch foot in the research group was normal MLA. There was no relationship between physical activity and transverse arch foot in any of the research groups.

Dance therapy modulates selected hematological parameters of older women; it leads to increase in erythrocyte count and hematocrit level. Dance therapy is reflected by higher plasma viscosity. Concentrations of fibrinogen and glucose are not affected by the dance therapy in older women, suggesting maintenance of homeostasis. Those findings advocate implementation of dance therapy programs in older women.

Background. The aim of this study was to analyze the