Background Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) refers to a spinal curvature of an unknown origin diagnosed in otherwise healthy children. A conservative treatment approach includes physiotherapy scoliosis-specific exercises (PSSE) with or without corrective bracing in preventing further spinal column deviation. However, several PSSE types have been developed to facilitate a positive patient outcome and/or preclude surgical remediation. Based on other reviews, there has been insufficient evidence published on the efficacy of PSSEs. In addition, the superiority of PSSE over no intervention or compared to other exercise modes has yet to be determined. Methods A comprehensive search of AIS literature, inception through February 2018, was conducted to reveal relevant PSSE articles. Only studies using commonly reported PSSEs were included. Examined databases included PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL Complete, and Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro). Google Scholar search engine was also examined. Article types included randomized or clinical control trials. All articles were published in English or were of English translation. Search parameters were collectively defined by the reviewers and subsequently used to determine included studies. Individual PSSE study methodology quality was determined by the PEDro scale. Effect sizes (Hedge’s g) and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated for Cobb angle between group changes. Results Of the initial 24 articles recovered only eight (33%) met the established search criteria. Patient ages from these sources ranged from 11.4–16.2 including both males and females. Examined papers included two Schroth method and six specifying the Scientific Exercise Approach to Scoliosis (SEAS) method. All articles demonstrated positive between group effect sizes for PSSEs. There were no studies that compared one PSSE to another. Determined PEDro scores indicated an overall moderate quality of these studies. Conclusions There is insufficient evidence to suggest that both Schroth and SEAS methods can effectively improve Cobb angles in patients with AIS compared to no intervention. There is limited evidence that the SEAS method is more effective at reducing Cobb angles compared to traditional exercises in treating AIS. Overall, this review revealed a noticeable lack of contemporary studies that could be used in answering our questions. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) supplies clinicians with verifiable results from well-designed and managed research studies. Consequently, more and varied studies of higher quality are needed before any definitive determination can be made as to the effectiveness of any PSSE let alone the one offering better patient outcomes.

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The effects of treatment of human lung carcinoma cell line A 549 with recombinant DNA-derived human leukocyte interferons A (rIFN-alpha A) or D (rIFN-alpha D), and human lymphoblastoid interferon (Wellferon) on in vitro cell invasion were investigated in a quantitative invasion assay using human amnion. The A 549 cells treated with IFN for one day were incubated on the denuded basement membrane of the amnion in the absence of IFN, and cells which penetrated the full thickness of the connective tissue barrier were measured after 4 days. A dose-dependent inhibition of cell invasion was produced by the recombinant IFNs. The one day treatment of cells with 2.4 X 10(3) to 1.8 X 10(4) units/ml of rIFN-alpha A resulted in a 60-80 per cent inhibition of invasiveness compared to untreated cells. After a one day exposure of cells to 2.2 X 10(4) units/ml of rIFN-alpha D, cell invasion was reduced by approximately 70 per cent; a concentration of 4.4 X 10(3) units/ml had no apparent effect. Similar treatment with lymphoblastoid IFN (6 X 10(4) units/ml) had no significant effect on cell invasion. Accompanying the one day exposure to rIFN-alpha A (1.8 X 10(4) units/ml) or rIFN-alpha D (2.2 X 10(4) units/ml), (2',5') oligo (A) synthetase activity was induced approximately 20-fold; a 4-fold induction of enzyme activity was found in cells exposed to lymphoblastoid IFN (6 X 10(4) units/ml). After exposure of A 549 cells to the three IFNs at these concentrations, no significant alteration of the ability of the cells to attach to the basement membrane was found. Moreover, none of the one day IFN treatment regimens were cytocidal, and cell proliferation ability was not affected. This model system may be useful for investigating anti-invasive activity of other IFN types and subtypes.

Previously, a boronium salt possessing a terminal benzyl group was reported to have greater antibacterial activity than a commercial quaternary ammonium disinfectant solution against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Results of the current study indicate that the same boronium salt without a benzyl group, exhibited equal or better antifungal activity against actively growing Candida albicans yeast and Aspergillus fumigatus mold when compared to the same quat disinfectant. This same compound also displayed antifungal activity against dormant A. fumigatus spores comparable to the quat disinfectant. In contrast, the boronium ion with a benzyl group was 4–16X less effective than either the non‐benzylated form or quat disinfectant for all 3 fungal test conditions. The observation that the boronium salt without a benzyl group exhibited substantial antifungal activity in the current study but did not display any antibacterial activity in the previous study is of particular interest. This finding represents a flip‐flop outcome from the previous bacterial testing. It suggests that the presence of a terminal benzyl group greatly influences the boronium ion's ability to interact with fungal membranes.

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