Search Results (254)

Endometriosis is a benign and often underdiagnosed condition that affects women of reproductive age, typically between 18 and 45 years. It can cause infertility and pain, including radicular pain and low back pain (LBP). The aim of this case report is to emphasize the importance of making a differential diagnosis when facing LBP and radicular symptoms. We report the case of a 17-year-old female patient, R.A., presented with a significant LBP (NPRS 8/10) radiating from her lumbar spine to her right buttock and occasionally to both legs, accompanied by weakness. She revealed exacerbation of pain during menstruation, despite being under hormonal contraceptive treatment. After three physiotherapy sessions that included education, manual therapy and exercise, the patient’s pain persisted so her physiotherapist recommended an evaluation in the emergency department, where standard radiography did not reveal any significant findings. Physiotherapy continued until the fifth session, when the patient agreed to undergo evaluation at a specialized endometriosis centre. Further investigations revealed endometriotic tissue on the uterosacral ligament, leading to hormonal therapy adjustment, with which pain gradually decreased to a manageable level (NPRS 2/10). This case report highlights the importance of an early differential diagnosis in patients with LBP, as endometriosis can present not only in older women but also in younger patients, including those already on oral contraceptives. Therefore, to mitigate the risk of pattern recognition bias, clinicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for endometriosis, even in atypical or unlikely clinical presentations. Full article

Limb–girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) encompasses a heterogeneous group disease, genetic and phenotypically. There are more than 30 subtypes divided into two groups: autosomal dominant and recessive. LGMDs are characterised by muscle weakness; however, psychosocial factors seem to be affected too, such as HRQoL. Given the lack of literature in this respect, the present cross-sectional study aimed to create a patient profile comparing both dominant and recessive forms by analysing HRQoL through the INQoL, and sociodemographic data. The LGMD-recessive group had a worse HRQoL compared to the dominant group, specifically in the dimensions of muscle weakness (p = 0.007), emotion (p = 0.046), independence (p = 0.029), and body image (p = 0.022). In addition, in the LGMD-dominant group, 77.9% of the relational indicator was explained by age (B = 0.907, p = 0.012), which can be understood as a limitation in their social role due to the disease progression. In contrast, no sociodemographic variables were found to be predictive of the HRQoL of patients with recessive forms of LGMD. These results are relevant for clinical practice, as they reflect the most affected areas of HRQoL in LGMD patients, differentiating between recessive and dominant forms. Full article

Background: Sexual dimorphism in Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) is evident in external features, but skeletal differences remain underexplored. This study aimed to examine the skull, scapula, and pelvis using traditional morphometric methods to assess sex-related variation. Methods: Eleven skeletal specimens were analyzed, including nine skulls, eleven pelves, and eighteen scapulae. Linear measurements were obtained using measuring tape and calipers. Statistical analyses included Mann–Whitney U tests, Pearson’s correlation, and logistic regression for sex prediction. Results: No significant differences were found in skull measurements between sexes. However, the pelvis and scapula exhibited notable variation. Significant pelvic parameters included pelvic girdle length (p = 0.024), symphysis length (p = 0.012), and pubis shaft perimeter (p = 0.048). Scapular differences were observed in diagonal breadth, mediolateral width, and spine length. Logistic regression using pelvic measurements yielded 100% accuracy for female classification and 66.67% for males, with an overall prediction accuracy of 90.91%. Conclusions: The pelvis demonstrated the highest reliability for sex determination. These findings enhance the anatomical understanding of Asian elephants and support applications in conservation, forensic science, and population studies. Future research with larger sample sizes and advanced imaging may improve the precision of morphometric sex prediction models. Full article

This study used Xinxin 2 (Juglans regia L. ‘Xinxin2’), a major cultivated walnut variety in Xinjiang, China, to clarify the response and adaptation mechanisms of the anatomical structures of walnut related to source–sink–flow under altered source–sink relationships. We anatomically observed the leaves, fruit stalks, and fruit of bearing branches by artificially adjusting the leaf-to-fruit ratio (LFR). The LFR substantially affected the leaf structure and thickness of the fruit-bearing branches obtained via girdled (p < 0.05). The results of the analysis of the leaf anatomy revealed that a low LFR impeded leaf growth and internal structural development while accelerating senescence, whereas a high LFR promoted leaf growth and delayed senescence. The same trend was observed for the phloem area (PA) of the fruit stalk with the increase in fruit load when the number of leaves on the fruit branch was the same. The maximum PA was reached when the number of fruits was high (except for 4L:3F). This indicates that the micro-anatomical structure of the fruit stalk is more developed under the treatment of a higher number of pinnate compound leaves and fruit level of LFRs. The cells of the 1L:3F and 2L:3F were considerably smaller in the green peel and kernel of the fruit on the branches obtained via girdled than those of 5L:1F plants (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the number of cells per unit area or the cross-sectional area of cells in the pericarp and kernel of the fruit under LFRs (p > 0.05); however, a large difference was noted in the microanatomical structure of the pericarp and kernel of fruit. Changes in the structural adaptation characteristics of walnut leaves (source), fruit stalk (flow), and fruit (sink) are related to source–sink regulation. A change in the LFR affects the carbohydrate synthesis in the leaves (source), transport in fruit stalks (flow), and the carbohydrate reception in fruits (sink). Full article

Severe physiological fruit abscission significantly limits yield potential in macadamia. Polygalacturonase (PG), a key hydrolytic enzyme in pectin degradation, plays a critical role in fruit abscission. However, in the macadamia genome, the PG gene family and the members involved in fruit abscission remain poorly understood. In this study, 56 PG gene family members, which were unevenly distributed across 13 of the 14 chromosomes, were identified in the macadamia genome. Phylogenetic analysis clustered these genes into seven clades, with most members found in clades D and E. The MiPGs contained 3–11 exons and 2–10 introns, and except for those in clades E and G, most contained conserved domains I–IV and were predicted to be localized exclusively to the cell membrane. MiPG promoter analysis revealed numerous light-, phytohormone-, and stress-responsive cis-elements. Expression profiling during fruit development showed that twelve MiPGs were either undetectable or expressed at low levels in the fruit abscission zone, whereas eight were highly expressed. MiPG9, MiPG37, and MiPG53 were significantly upregulated during abscission induced by a combination of girdling with defoliation and ethephon treatments. Moreover, transient MiPG37 overexpression in lily petals promoted premature abscission, suggesting that this gene plays a pivotal role in macadamia fruit abscission. These findings advance the functional characterization of macadamia PG genes and highlight a subset of candidate genes for further genetic manipulation to improve fruit retention. Full article

Background: Low back pain (LBP) in older mothers is a prevalent and multifaceted condition influenced by a range of biopsychosocial factors. As the trend of late motherhood increases globally, it is essential to understand how LBP affects this population from a biopsychosocial perspective. Objective: This systematic review aims to examine the biopsychosocial determinants of LBP in older mothers by synthesizing findings from quantitative studies published between January 2010 and May 2024. Specifically, it explores the biological, psychological, and social factors contributing to LBP in this population and how it affects their daily lives and well-being. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, PsychInfo, Web of Science, EMBASE, DARE, and the Cochrane Library. Studies were screened for eligibility based on predefined criteria. Five quantitative studies with a combined sample of 118,964 participants were included. The methodological quality was assessed, and data were extracted for analysis. Results: All five studies addressed biological aspects of LBP, including pelvic girdle pain, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins. Three studies also explored psychological factors such as depression and stress. Two studies incorporated social dimensions, including inadequate support systems, occupational burdens, and healthcare access barriers. Age and parity were consistently reported as exacerbating physical and psychological symptoms. Conclusions: This review highlights the importance of considering biopsychosocial factors when managing LBP in older mothers. Tailored interventions, such as exercise programs, family support, and workplace accommodations, are essential for improving outcomes. Further research using longitudinal studies is needed to explore these factors in greater depth. Full article

The mineralized cover of chiton (Polyplacophora) soft tissue consists of aragonite, developed as shell-plates, girdle-scales, and girdle-spicules. This study characterizes crystallographic aspects of the girdle-spicules of the species Ischnochiton rissoi, Rhyssoplax olivacea, Acanthopleura vaillantii, and Acanthopleura spinosa. Spicule crystal arrangements and texture variations are described. Different misorientations between the spicule crystals are shown and are discussed with respect to the physical properties of the biomaterial. Characterization was performed with electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD), as well as with laser confocal and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) imaging. All investigated species had porous spicules and distinct structural characteristics. Spicule crystal co-orientation strength was strongly increased for R. olivacea and I. rissoi, and it was almost random for A. vaillantii. R. olivacea, I. rissoi. A. spinosa spicule crystal texture was axial, whereas A. vaillantii spicule crystals were almost untextured. For all species investigated, spicule aragonite was twinned, as demonstrated with the strong 63°/64° peak in the misorientation angle distribution diagram, indicating a {110}-twin relationship. R. olivacea and I. rissoi spicules consisted of few twinned crystals and twin boundaries; A. vaillantii and A. spinosa spicules showed an abundance of twinned crystals and twin boundaries. We observed a difference in spicule dimension, morphology, arrangement on the girdle, and crystal organization for the investigated species, but always the generation of twinned aragonite. Full article

Shoulder girdle plays a dominant role in coordinating the natural movements of the upper arm. Inverse kinematics, optimization, and data-driven approaches are usually used to conduct motion retargeting. However, these methods do not consider shoulder girdle movement. When the kinematic structure of human and that of exoskeletons share a similar joint configuration, analytical motion retargeting methods can be used for exoskeletons with shoulder girdle mechanism. This paper proposes a vector-based analytical motion retargeting approach for exoskeletons with shoulder girdle mechanism. The approach maps the vectors of the upper limb segments to the joint space using vector-based methods. Simulation results using four different motion descriptions confirm the method’s accuracy and efficiency. Full article

The human pelvis is adapted to accommodate bipedal locomotion while retaining a wide enough pelvic canal to birth large babies. Many forces act on the pubic bone, with the pelvis being in charge of supporting the organs of the abdominopelvic cavity. In this research, we investigate whether increases in gut volume (GV) and number of births (parity) impact the skeletal morphology of the pubic bone at two regions: the pubic symphysis and the pubic arch. Our results indicate that in our female sample, the pubic symphysis width increased with increased GV and parity, while the pubic arch width decreased with increased GV and parity, although not significantly. In the male sample, there was almost no effect of increased GV on the pubic symphysis, while the pubic arch width increased in response to increased GV. We hypothesize that while significance is not present for this entire data set, these pelvic structures are impacted by GV and parity, and these changes should be investigated further. These changes in the structure can impact the function of the pelvic girdle and result in pain and changes to mobility. Pelvic girdle pain may be one result of these structural changes due to increased forces, and thus it is vital to investigate what factors may or may not contribute to these bone morphology changes. Full article

Under the framework of classical electrodynamics, this article investigates the nonlinear Thomson scattering generated by the cross-collision between a tightly focused linearly polarized Gaussian laser pulse and a relativistic electron through numerical simulation and emulation. The oscillation direction and emission angle of the electron’s trajectory are influenced by the beam waist radius and the delay time. The spatial radiation distribution of electrons exhibits a comet-shaped pattern, with the radiation being concentrated in the forward position. This is attributed to the high laser intensity at the focus, resulting in intense electron motion. As the beam waist radius keeps increasing continuously, the maximum radiation polar angle in the spatial distribution decreases. The time spectrum exhibits a symmetrical three-peak structure, with a high secondary peak. Meanwhile, the supercontinuum spectrum gradually transforms into a multi-peak distribution spectrum. In the multi-peak mode, the main peak and the secondary peak will interchange during the increase in the waist radius, generating rays with higher frequencies and energies. The aforementioned research findings reveal a portion of the mechanism of the nonlinear Thomson scattering theory and are beneficial for generating X-rays of higher quality. Full article

Mastogloia is a large, morphologically diverse genus of primarily benthic marine species defined by the presence of partecta (chambers) on the valvocopula (girdle band next to the valve). Several genera have been found with valves that resemble Mastogloia but lack the ring of partecta; the most diverse group is in freshwaters, especially Aneumastus, but there are two marine genera, both monotypic. A third such species has been found in Cuba and is described here as Paramastogloia cubana gen. nov., sp. nov. Paramastogloia cubana, Mastoneis biformis, and Mastogloiopsis biseriata each resemble the valve structure of some species of Mastogloia but do not resemble one another. Paramastogloia is indistinguishable in light microscopy (LM) from naviculoid diatoms and had been identified as Navicula cf. sovereigniae. The resemblance of P. cubana to Mastogloia is in the areolae, particularly to those of M. umbra, M. dicephala, and M. mammosa, three species not likely to be in one monophyletic group. Mastoneis has been observed in LM from widespread warm-water localities and resembles some Mastogloia in having costae extending partway across the virgae (interstriae); new ultrastructural details are presented showing the girdle bands and absence of partecta, and a clearer genus diagnosis is proposed. The third genus, Mastogloiopsis, was established with ultrastructure and resembles species of Mastogloia sec. Marginulatae. The range of areolar characters that might be admissible to Paramastogloia is unknown, so the generic diagnosis has been left imprecise to allow for the possibility of other species. The relationships among these genera await genetic studies, which are still scarce in Mastogloiaceae. Full article

Background: The pelvic girdle is an important component of the human stabilization system, both during the maintenance of an upright standing position and during motor activities. Frequent functional and structural asymmetries within it can affect the structure and function of many organs and systems of the human body. The mechanism of their occurrence is not fully explained. The objective of the present study was to verify the hypothesis regarding the relationship between the value of pelvic asymmetry and the functional state of muscles that stabilize the lumbo–pelvic–hip complex, as measured by changes in their stiffness. Methods: The study group consisted of 40 young women aged from 19 to 29 years. The observational cross-sectional study incorporated the following elements: an interview, an anthropometric test, an inclinometric assessment of the magnitude of hip girdle rotation utilizing a duometer and tensiomyography. Results: Analysis of the variables examined in subjects with symmetric or rotated pelvises did not show significant differences between the studied sides in the two groups. Evaluation of associations between the magnitude of pelvic rotation and tensiomyography findings showed that with increased pelvic rotation, the stiffness of the back extensor muscles and the rectus thigh muscles increased only slightly bilaterally, and the contraction rate of the rectus abdominis and biceps thigh muscles decreased. Conclusions: The results of the tensiomyography study did not unequivocally demonstrate that changes in pelvic symmetry in the transverse plane are associated with dysfunction of the muscles that stabilize the pelvic girdle. Full article

Limb–girdle muscular dystrophy R1 (LGMDR1) is characterized by progressive proximal muscle weakness due to mutations in the CAPN3 gene. Little is known about CAPN3’s function in muscle, but its loss results in aberrant sarcomere formation. Human muscle structure was analyzed in this study, with observations including integrin β1D isoform (ITGβ1D) mislocalization, a lack of Talin-1 (TLN1) in the sarcolemma and the irregular expression of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) in LGMDR1 muscles, suggesting a lack of integrin activation with an altered sarcolemma, extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly and signaling pathway deregulation, which may cause frailty in LGMDR1 muscle fibers. Additionally, altered nuclear morphology, centrosome distribution and microtubule organization have been found in muscle cells derived from LGMDR1 patients. Full article

Background/Objectives: Many patients evaluated by shoulder specialists suffer from intractable pain, neuropathy, and weakness. The pectoralis minor (PM) remains the only scapula muscle to receive lower trunk (C8-T1) input. We propose a novel syndrome: the Human Disharmony Loop. This model portrays how this unique PM innervation causes scapular dyskinesia, which deranges the anatomy of the upper limb girdle and produces a refractory symptom complex of pain, neuropathy, and weakness. We hypothesize that certain patients with historically intractable symptoms of the upper limb girdle may benefit from PM tenotomy. Methods: Ten patients of diverse etiologies presented with a similar constellation of complaints. The patients included a female athlete, a female with macromastia, a male bodybuilder, and patients with post-radiation breast cancer, post-operative shoulder arthroplasty, interscalene block injury, cervical spine disease, persistent impingement after rotator cuff repair, direct traction injury, and occupational disorder. All patients exhibited coracoid tenderness, scapula protraction with internal rotation and anterior tilt, and pain involving the neck, shoulder, and upper back. The patients demonstrated varying degrees of arm neuropathy, subacromial impingement, and occipital headaches. The patients failed all prior treatments by multiple subspecialists, including surgery. Each patient underwent isolated open PM tenotomy. Results: In all ten patients, PM tenotomy substantially reduced shoulder, upper back, and neck pain, cleared concomitant neuropathy, restored full motion, and eradicated occipital headaches. The response to surgery was rapid, dramatic, and durable. Conclusions: The unique asymmetric neurologic innervation to the sole ventral stabilizer of the scapula, the pectoralis minor, predisposes the human shoulder to neurologic and musculoskeletal imbalance. This produces the Human Disharmony Loop: a clinical syndrome spanning from the neck to the fingertips, with chronic pain, neuropathy, and weakness. These challenging patients may benefit dramatically from isolated PM tenotomy. Full article

Background: Pelvic girdle pain (PGP) is described in the literature as a subgroup of low back pain (LBP), characterized by pain localized between the posterior iliac crest and the gluteal fold, particularly near the sacroiliac joints. This condition can manifest in different forms non-specific PGP, occurring during pregnancy or postpartum (pregnancy-related PGP), which represents the most prevalent form and non-pregnancy-related PGP, resulting from mechanical alterations caused by trauma or microtrauma. Specific PGP, associated with identifiable causes such as fractures, infections, or arthritis. Over the years, research has focused on identifying the most effective approaches for managing this condition and addressing its associated biopsychosocial impairments. The aim of this narrative review is to determine the types of motor control exercises (MCEs) used to reduce short-term pain in patients with PGP and to assess whether these exercises are designed in accordance with the principles of motor control (MC) theories. Methods: A narrative review was conducted through searches in various medical and rehabilitation databases, including MEDLINE (via PubMed), PEDro, Scopus, and Web of Science. The inclusion criteria of the review encompassed case studies, case reports, editorials, original research articles, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and systematic reviews (SRs). Results: Six articles met the eligibility criteria, comprising two SRs and four RCTs, all of which were included in the qualitative analysis. Among these, two studies examine MCEs for non-pregnancy-related PGP, while all the other studies focus on pregnancy-related PGP. The exercises described focused on lumbar–pelvic stabilization or deep spinal muscle activation. Among the six included studies, five did not report statistically significant changes in pain outcomes, while only one study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement. Conclusions: The analysis highlighted that the exercises currently employed are generally unspecific and not systematically structured according to the principles outlined in MC theories. The available evidence, combined with the incorrect design of these exercises, does not allow for definitive conclusions regarding the efficacy of MCEs in reducing short-term pain in patients with both pregnancy-related and non-pregnancy-related PGP. Full article