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Current methods for treating and diagnosing spinal deformities caused by scoliosis are both surgically intensive and rarely allow for complete correction. This is mainly due to the fact that the diagnostic techniques used are rough estimates made by angles defined by observations of 2-D radiographs. By utilizing the latest software, our research is based on designing a tool that creates a 3-D representation of the spine. When creating a three-dimensional spinal model, it becomes possible to determine local curvature and local torsion values at each specific vertebrae. By manipulating these values at discrete locations on the spine, one can generate "virtual" spines in a three-dimensional environment. The Scoliosis Learning Tool includes algorithmic steps that determine the Lenke Classification of the "virtual" spines. The Lenke Classification is the most commonly accepted method for diagnosing spinal deformities. This patient building program will produce a group of spines with random values for curvature, torsion and initial spinal orientation. An algorithm within the software determines the Lenke Classification of each, and discards any curves that appear unnatural. By defining a metric that places an emphasis on certain geometric similarities, the software is able to define diameters of classification groups and separations between different classification groups. In turn it is possible to determine minor to major differences between spines within the same classification. In doing so, the opportunity exists to possibly find an undiscovered deformity that had previously fallen under another classification category. / Master of Science

Objective: The paper deals with the evaluation of the status of pulmonary and postural functions of the patients with pectus carinatum. Further, it deals with the development of pulmonary and postural functions after Welch surgery. Methods: Between the years 2010 and 2011 20 patients (19 men, 1 woman) went through Welch surgery at the Pediatric Clinic of the Faculty Hospital, Prague Motol. The average age of the group was 16,2 ± 1,2 years. Before surgery, pulmonary functions, respiratory muscle strength and posturography were evaluated. The received values were compared with the predicted, i.e. the controlled group, and in order to find mutual dependencies, also among themselves. 7 patients were repeatedly checked for pulmonary functions and posturography in the interval of 8,1 ± 3,0 months after their surgery. Pre and post - surgery values were compared. Results: Dynamic and static hyperinflation and also an increased patency of periphery respiratory tracts was found in 20 pre-surgery patients with PC. Testing of respiratory muscle strength showed significantly lower values than the predicted. Checking for posturography revealed the differences in postural system resulting, especially with complicated postural demands, in medio-lateral instability of the body. Worsening of the balance functions...

The thesis deals with diseases of muskuloskeletal systém of foals and young horses, concretly then osteochondrosis, flexural and angular deformities, tendon laxity and physitis. The method is based on case studies and evaluation questionnaire among horse breeders. On the basis of these data was determined preventive recommendations to farmers. Given that all these diseases are multifactorial in nature and their etiology is similar, are named as developmental orthopedic disease. The main causes are genetics, nutrition, exercise management and growth rate of the individuals who are directly related to the causes mentioned. Clinical symptoms vary widely depending on severity. Likewise therapy often is not needed, but may occur also to cases which are very important to today's intractable methods. The aim is to provide recommendations to farmers how to recognize the severity of the disease and how to avoid them.

In this study evidence is presented that suggests transdisciplinary art practices and participatory biology programs may successfully increase public understanding of ecological phenomenon. As today’s environmental issues are often complex and large-scale, finding effective strategies that encourage public awareness and stewardship are paramount for long-term conservation of species and ecosystems. Although artists and biologists tend to stay confined to their professional boundaries, and their discourses largely remain inaccessible to larger audiences, arguments here are presented for a combined approach, which may disseminate knowledge about ecology to non-specialists through novel art-science participatory research and exhibitions. Moreover, historically several scientists utilized varied creative art forms to disseminate scientific insights to a larger populace of non-specialists, such strategies as engaging writings and visually provocative artworks may still be effective to captivate contemporary audiences. In addition such historic hybrid science-art practitioners may have laid a conceptual terrain for some of today’s transdisciplinary art and citizen science practices. Furthermore, seminal ecological artworks from the 20th Century by Joseph Beuys, Patricia Johanson and Hans Haacke utilized novel strategies to reach audiences with a message of wetland conservation, blurring boundaries between art, ecology and activism. More recently artists like Cornelia Hesse-Honegger, Helen and Newton Harrison and others have integrated biological research into their art practices, which resulted in new scientific discoveries. Through my own transdisciplinary artwork about frogs, data suggests that the visual strategies I employ were effective to increase non-specialist understanding of the ecological phenomenon of amphibian declines and deformations. In addition through my participatory biology programs, Public Bio-Art Laboratories and Eco-Actions, evidence suggests that non-specialists achieved an increased awareness of the challenges amphibians and ecosystems currently face. Likewise, that through such participatory citizen science research new scientific insights about the proximate causes for deformities in anuran amphibians at select localities in middle England and Quebec were achieved. Here laboratory and field evidence, generated with the aid of public volunteers, found that non-lethal predatory injury to tadpoles from odonate nymphs and some fishes resulted in permanent limb deformities in post-metamorphic anurans. From an environmental-education and larger conservation standpoint, these findings are very relevant as they offer novel strategies for experientially engaging non-specialist audiences while generating important insights into biological communities and wetland ecosystems.

A função mastigatória é uma das principais constituintes do sistema estomatognático e impreterivelmente antecede a absorção de nutrientes pelo organismo humano. A força de mordida é um componente dessa função e um indicador clínico do funcionamento desse sistema. Em sujeitos com deformidade dentofacial, a mastigação está prejudicada devido ao desequilíbrio das relações esqueléticas e musculares maxilomandibulares e da oclusão. A abordagem investigativa tridimensional é única que possui a vantagem de avaliar a morfologia facial nos três planos do espaço, tal como se configura a face humana e a deformidade dentofacial. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a variação da morfologia facial em diferentes medidas tridimensionais, assim como verificar possível assimetria na força de mordida e diferenças na distribuição de força e área dos contatos oclusais entre sujeitos com deformidades dentofaciais padrão dentoesquelético II, padrão dentoesquelético III e controles. O estudo foi realizado com 77 sujeitos que compuseram dois diferentes grupos, a saber: deformidade dentofacial (DDF) e controle (GC). O grupo com o diagnóstico de deformidade dentofacial (DDF) foi subdividido segundo a classificação da mesma. Assim, 20 sujeitos classe II (4 homens e 16 mulheres, com média de idade de 26 anos) integraram o subgrupo DDF II, 32 classe III (15 homens e 16 mulheres, com média de idade de 27 anos) formaram o DDF III e 25 voluntários saudáveis (9 homens e 16 mulheres, idade média de 24 anos) compreenderam o GC. Todos foram submetidos à avaliação tridimensional da morfologia facial, por meio de escaneamento facial a laser, medidas de força de mordida pelo gnatodinamômetro, análise da distribuição de força oclusal e área de contato dentário pelo sistema T-Scan. As comparações entre GC e DDF foram realizadas pela Análise de Variância (ANOVA) para amostras independentes. O teste de correlação de Spearman foi aplicado para avaliar as possíveis associações entre as medidas de força de mordida e as medidas antropométricas, além da análise de regressão linear múltipla para identificar as variáveis antropométricas associadas à força de mordida. Foi adotado nível de significância de 5%. Na investigação da morfologia, os sujeitos com DDF apresentaram características específicas e compatíveis com as classes II e III esqueléticas, com aumento da altura facial principalmente em retrognatas. A força de mordida foi menor para o grupo DDF, porém não se diferenciou entre os grupos e não houve assimetrias nesse quesito. A área de contato oclusal evidenciou-se mais deficitária para sujeitos com padrão dentoesquelético III, porém a distribuição de força oclusal não demonstrou diferenças entre os grupos. Pode-se concluir o método de análise tridimensional confirmou achados específicos relevantes no que diz respeito às deformidades dentofacias estudadas. E as proporções faciais foram consideradas fatores influenciadores da magnitude da força de mordida em sujeitos com a deformidade dentofacial. / The masticatory function is the one of the main constituents of stomatognathic system and necessarily precedes the absorption of nutrients by the human organism. Bite force is a component of this function and a clinical parameter of this system\'s health. In dentofacial deformity, chewing is impaired due the imbalance of skeletal and muscular maxillomandibular relationships and of the occlusion. Three-dimensioal investigative approach is unique and has the advantage about the evaluation of facial morphology in the three planes of space, such as the configuration of the human face and dentofacial deformity. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the variation of facial morphology in different three-dimensional measurements, as well as to verify possible asymmetry in bite force and the difference in the distribution of force in dental arc and occlusal contact area between subjects with dentofacial deformities class II, class III and control. The study was performed with 77 subjects who composed two different groups: dentofacial deformity (DDF) and control (CG). The group of dentofacial deformity (DDF) was subdivided according to its classification. Thus, 20 class II subjects (4 men and 16 women, mean age of 26 years old) were included in the DDF II subgroup, 32 class III (15 men and 16 women, mean age of 27 years old) formed DDF III, and 25 healthy volunteers (9 men and 16 women, mean age of 24 years old) comprised the CG. All were submitted to the threedimensional assessment of the facial morphology by laser scanning, bite force measurements by gnatodynamometer, analysis of occlusal force distribution and occlusal contact area by the T-Scan system. Comparisons between CG and DDF groups were performed by Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) for independent samples. Spearman\'s correlation test was applied to evaluate the possible association between bite force and anthropometric measurements, as well as multiple linear regression analysis to identify the anthropometric variables associated to the bite force. A significance level of 5% was adopted. In the investigation of morphology the subjects with dentofacial deformities presented specific features and compatible with the skeletal class II and skeletal class III, with increase of facial height, mainly in retrognathic subjects. The bite force was lower for DDF, did not differentiate between the groups and there were no asymmetries about them. The occlusal contact area was found to be poorer for subjects with class III deformity, but the occlusal force distribution did not show differences between the groups. It can be concluded the three-dimensional analysis method confirmed specific and relevant findings to the studied dentofacial deformities. And the facial proportions were considered factors influencing the magnitude of the bite force in subjects with deformity.

Orientador: Tânia Moron Saes Braga / Banca: Alessandra Turini Bolsoni Silva / Banca: Sadao Omote / Banca: Andréa Cintra Lopes / Banca: Maria de Lourdes Morales Horiguela / Resumo: Os defeitos estruturais de orelhas externa, média e interna representam uma classe significativa de anomalias congênitas, pouco descrita em suas consequências sociais e de aprendizagem na infância. Em função disso, esta pesquisa compõe-se de dois estudos e tem, como objetivos, descrever o perfil de uma amostra de escolares que apresentam malformação de orelhas externa e/ou média, quanto aos aspectos sociodemográficos, audiológicos, cognitivos, comportamentais e de desempenho escolar e comparar o desempenho escolar, social e comportamental destes, sem e com malformação de orelhas externa e/ou média, sob a ótica de diferentes interlocutores, correlacionando os resultados dos instrumentos de avaliação utilizados em cada um dos estudos. O Estudo 1 foi realizado na Divisão de Saúde Auditiva (DSA), pertencente ao Hospital de Reabilitação de Anomalias Craniofaciais (HRAC) da Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Após selecionados 44 escolares com malformação de orelha e idade entre sete e 13 anos, foram aplicados, nos mesmos, o Teste de Matrizes Progressivas Coloridas de Raven - RAVEN (Escala Especial e Geral) e o Teste de Desempenho Escolar (TDE), além do Questionário de Capacidades e Dificuldades (SDQ) para pais e professores. Os resultados mostram, dentre outros aspectos, o nível socioeconômico baixo desses escolares e que a DA condutiva foi bilateral, de grau moderado, para a maioria, com capacidade intelectual preservada e desempenho escolar inferior à média. O Estudo 2 ocorreu nas escolas de Bauru/SP e região e dele participaram sete escolares (GP) com malformação de orelha, selecionados do Estudo 1 e 14 escolares sem malformação de orelha, sendo sete escolhidos pelos professores (GPE) e sete sorteados (GPS). Aqui, foram aplicados, nos escolares, o TDE... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The structural defects of external, middle and inner ears represent a significant class of congenital anomalies, little described in their socials impacts as well as in the learning process in childhood. Thus, this research comprises two studies which aim at describing the profile of a sample of school children, with and without external and/or middle ear malformation, in terms of socio-demographic, audiological, cognitive and school accomplishment aspects, comparing their school, social and behavioral performances, from the view of different interlocutors, by correlating the results of the assessment instruments utilized in each study. Study # 1 was carried out at the Hearing Health Division (DSA), with the Craniofacial Anomalies Rehabilitation Hospital (HRAC), University of São Paulo - USP. Forty-four school children presented with ear malformation, in the age range 7-13 yrs, were selected to take the Raven's test (Colored Progressive Matrices - Special and General Scales), and the SAT (School Accomplishment Test). The questionnaire Skills and Difficulties (SDQ) was applied to parents and teachers as well. The results show, among other aspects, the low socioeconomic level of these schoolchildren and that the conductive hearing impairment was a bilateral one, in a moderate degree for most of them, with a preserved intellectual capacity and school accomplishment inferior to the mean. Study # 2 took place in the school system of Bauru and nearby towns, with the participation of seven schoolchildren (GP) with ear malformation, selected from Study 1, and 14 schoolchildren with no ear malformation, being 7 chosen by the teachers (GPE) and 7 drawn (GPS). Here, TDE and the Multimedia Inventory of Children's Social Skills (IMHSC) were applied to the schoolchildren, and the SDQ and semi-structured questionnaires... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

nÃo hà / Background: Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A), one of the most potent biological toxins, acts by blocking neuromuscular transmission via inhibiting acetylcholine release and is a well-known treatment for poststroke spasticity, despite some variations among dose protocols. Spasticity is one of the factors that affect the functional rehabilitation process in stroke. Spasticity arises from the loss of myotatic reflex inhibition, resulting from upper motor neuron lesion. Equinus foot is common in lower limb spasticity after stroke worsening gait pattern and functional independence. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of BTX-A different doses on spastic foot in stroke patients in rehabilitation programme and on gait velocity and functional independence of these patients. Methods: This study was a randomized, prospective and double blind trial. Patients were recruited if they had diagnosis of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) with a poststroke period of at least six months and hemiparesis with spastic equinus foot (Ashworth score 3 or 4 in a range from 0 to 5). Twenty-one hemiparetic stroke patients enrolled in a rehabilitation programme were divided into two groups. The first group (n=11) received BTX-A 300UI in spastic foot and the second group (n=10) received BTX-A 100UI. All patients were assessed at baseline and 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks after injection for passive range of motion for ankle joint, Modified Ashworth Score, time walking 10 meters, clonus score and motor score of Functional Independence Measure (mFIM). Results: Higher dose group had significant improvement in range of motion on week 12 (p=0,021) and in Ashworth score on weeks 8 (p=0,012) and 12 (p < 0,0001) compared with lower dose group. There was slight improvement in clonus score in higher dose group on week 12 without statistical significance. Both groups had improvement in time walking 10 meters and mFIM without significant difference between them in the analyzed sample. There was no significant adverse effect. Conclusions: BTX-A is an important tool in poststroke rehabilitation for spasticity parameters improvement, but there was no significant difference between high and low doses of BTX-A for gait velocity neither for functional independence in the analyzed sample. Future studies with larger number of patients and evaluation of response to BTX-A reapplications are necessary to confirm these findings. / IntroduÃÃo: A toxina botulÃnica tipo A (TbA), uma das mais potentes toxinas biolÃgicas, age atravÃs do bloqueio da transmissÃo neuromuscular via inibiÃÃo da liberaÃÃo de acetilcolina e à um tratamento bem-estabelecido para espasticidade pÃs-AVE, apesar de variaÃÃes entre os protocolos de doses em diferentes centros. Espasticidade à um dos fatores que interferem no processo de reabilitaÃÃo funcional apÃs acidente vascular encefÃlico (AVE). Ela surge por causa da perda da inibiÃÃo do reflexo miotÃtico, resultante de lesÃo do neurÃnio motor superior. O pà equino à comum na espasticidade de membro inferior depois do AVE e sua instalaÃÃo piora o padrÃo de marcha e a independÃncia funcional. O objetivo desse estudo à avaliar os efeitos da TbA em diferentes doses sobre o pà espÃstico de pacientes com sequela de AVE inseridos em programa de reabilitaÃÃo e sobre a velocidade de marcha e independÃncia funcional desses pacientes. Metodologia: Este estudo foi realizado atravÃs de ensaio randomizado, prospectivo e duplo cego. Foram recrutados pacientes com diagnÃstico de AVE (isquÃmico ou hemorrÃgico) com perÃodo pÃs-AVE de pelo menos seis meses e hemiparesia com pà equino espÃstico (escore Ashworth 3 ou 4 em uma escala de 0 a 5). Vinte e um pacientes hemiparÃticos pÃs-AVE inseridos em programa de reabilitaÃÃo foram divididos em dois grupos. O primeiro grupo (n=11) recebeu aplicaÃÃo de 300UI de TbA no pà espÃstico e o segundo grupo (n=10) recebeu 100UI de TbA. Todos os pacientes foram avaliados no tempo zero e 2, 4, 8 e 12 semanas apÃs a injeÃÃo quanto aos seguintes parÃmetros: amplitude de movimento passivo da articulaÃÃo do tornozelo, escala de Ashworth modificada, tempo para andar 10 metros, escore clÃnus de aquileu e escore motor da Medida de IndependÃncia Funcional (MIFm). Resultados: O grupo 300UI TbA teve melhora significativa da amplitude de movimento na 12 semana (p=0,021) e da escala de Ashworth nas 8 (p=0,012) e 12 (p < 0,0001) semanas em comparaÃÃo ao grupo 100UI TbA. Houve tendÃncia à melhora do escore clÃnus na 12 semana no grupo 300UI TbA. Ambos os grupos apresentaram melhora durante o estudo no tempo para andar 10 metros e da MIFm sem diferenÃa significativa entre eles. NÃo foram observados efeitos adversos significativos no decorrer do estudo. ConclusÃes: TbA à uma importante ferramenta na reabilitaÃÃo pÃs-AVE para melhora dos parÃmetros de espasticidade, mas nÃo houve diferenÃa significativa entre dose alta e baixa de TbA para parÃmetros funcionais (velocidade de marcha e independÃncia funcional), na amostra analisada. Estudos futuros com um nÃmero maior de pacientes e avaliaÃÃo de resposta a reaplicaÃÃes de TbA sÃo necessÃrios para confirmaÃÃo desses achados.