Dissertation submitted in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Durban University of Technology, 2007. / Each healing encounter, and every treatment, has specific and non-specific treatment effects. Non - specific effects, or placebo effects, are the benefits felt by the patients because of the nature of the healing encounter. Although difficult to quantify and control, a number of authors recognize that the non-specific component of management has an additive effect on the overall clinical outcome. It has been reported that due to the physical interaction and social nature of chiropractic, there is a strong non-specific component in the management process, but to what extent it facilitates in the healing encounter is unknown. It has also been shown that spinal manipulation has a clinical effect which exceeds that of placebo; therefore it is possible for its effect to be muted or amplified, depending on the presence or absence of non-specific effects. For the above reasons this study was conducted in an attempt to map the size of the nonspecific effect in the healing encounter by manipulating the practice setting in which the patients were treated. This was achieved using a prospective, randomised, comparative clinical experiment consisting of 60 individuals with Low Back Pain (LBP), selected by convenience sampling. Individuals were then divided into 2 groups of 30. The IV first group's treatment consisted of the standard diversified method of manipulation in a Clinical Research Setting, and the second group received the same treatment except the treatment took place in a Normal Practice Setting. / M

Dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Health in partial compliance with the requirements for the Master's Degree in Technology: Chiropractic, Technikon Natal, 2001. / The purpose of this study was to test the Effectiveness of Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitative Stretching combined with administration of Diclofenac compared to Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitative Stretching and placebo medication for the treatment of Cervical Facet Syndrome in a clinical experimental setting. Neck pain is a common disorder, which can often be attributed to mechanical dysfunction of the cervical spine. The patient with facet syndrome may complain of sudden onset of unilateral neck pain, often with referred pain. Muscle spasm is usually present causing restricted movement. Pain increases with movement and is relieved by rest. The pain is aggravated by hyperextension and relieved by flexion and often follows a sclerotomal rather than a dermatomal pattern. Forty subjects with mechanical neck pain were screened for facet syndrome and randomly divided into two groups of twenty. Each patient received Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitative (PNF) stretching of the Posterior Cervical and Trapezius musculature. In conjunction with this, half the patients received Cataflam D while the other half received placebo medication. The patients were treated five times over a period of two weeks. Both groups were evaluated in terms of subjective and objective clinical findings by making use of questionnaires (Numerical Pain Rating Scale 101, Short Form McGill Pain Questionnaire and the CMCC) and algometer and goniometer measurements respectively. The data was collected at the initial, middle and final treatments for each patient. / M

In the brain, the dendritic spine is a point of information exchange that extends the neuronal surface on which synapses occur, as well as facilitates and stabilizes those contacts. Furthermore, dendritic spines dynamically change in shape and number in response to a variety of factors. Dendritic spine numbers are reduced in mental retardation, enhanced during development, sensory enrichment or physical exercise, or fluctuate during the reproductive cycle. Thus, for a given neuron type, it might be expected that dendritic spine number might achieve a dynamic optimum. Indeed, many studies of spine density of pyramidal neurons in sensory cortex indicate that an average of ~1.4 spines/micron occurs is present (Briner et al., 2010). Most such studies examined dendritic spines from primary sensory areas which are dominated by inputs from a single sensory modality. However, there are a large number of neural regions that receive inputs from more than one sensory modality and it is hypothesized that spine density should increase to accommodate these additional inputs. To test this hypothesis, the present experiments used Golgi-Cox stained layer 2-3 pyramidal neurons from ferret primary somatosensory (S1) and auditory (A1) cortical regions, as well as from the higher-level rostral posterior parietal (PPr) and lateral rostral suprasylvian (LRSS) multisensory areas. Spine densities in S1 (avg 1.309 ± 0.247 spines/micron) and A1 (avg 1.343 ± 0.273 spines/micron) were measured to be significantly greater (p<0.05, t-test) than those observed in multisensory regions PPr (avg 1.242 ± 0.205 spines/micron) or LRSS (avg 1.099 ± 0.217 spines/micron). These results also indicate that spine densities are greater in primary (S1, A1) than in higher-level (PPr, LRSS) sensory areas. The functional consequences of such unexpected findings are discussed in light of potential biophysical differences between unisensory and multisensory neurons.

Name of the diploma thesis: Comparison in Frequency of Shoulder and Spine Injuries between 1st National Volleyball Men's and Women's League Players Goal of the diploma thesis: Goal of this thesis is to determine frequency of shoulder and spine injuries within men's category of professional volleyball. Thesis also surveys types of prevention and regeneration that players use, how long they warm up and how they compensate strain before training (match) and after training (match). At the end thesis compares men's results with women's that are based on survey from this thesis and from bachelor work (Vítová, 2012). Method: Required data was obtained by questionnaire in field. Acquired data was processed on the basis of perused Czech and foreign literature that is focused on injuries and prevention in sport. Results: Overview of frequency of shoulder and spine injuries within men's and women's volleyball. Key words: volleyball, injuries, shoulder, spine, prevention

Author: Bc. Veronika Valášková Title of the work: The effect of physiotherapeutic procedures on cervical spine surgery. Aim: The aim of my thesis is to give an overview of the physiotherapy treatment after surgery of herniated cervical intervertebral disc. Methods: This thesis is written as a review of literature sources. The thesis consists of three parts, the first of which highlights the issue of kinesiology, biomechanics, stability of the cervical spine, pathophysiology of a prolapsed spinal disc and imaging issues involved in the discovery of a the actual prolapse. The second part deals with the various surgical techniques and associated complications. The final theoretical part looks into physiotherapy treatment after the operation. I examine the chronology of physiotherapy after the operation, and ascertain if there is a necessity to apply a neck brace after the surgery. It is important to answer the question of when it is possible to return to work and when the patient can return to their original physical activities. Results: The results of this thesis shows that postoperative care in individual departments vary and is inadequately described within available resources. Subsequent physiotherapy is dependent on the patient's condition before the operation, the operation itself, and its...

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) can influence emotional and motivational states in primates by its dense connections with many neocortical and subcortical regions. Pyramidal neurons serve as the basic building blocks of these neocortical circuits, which have been extensively studied in other brain regions, but their morphological and electrophysiological properties in the primate ACC are not well understood. In this study, we used whole-cell patch clamp and high-resolution laser scanning confocal microscopy to reveal the general electrophysiological properties and detailed morphological features of layer 2 and 3 pyramidal neurons in ACC (area 24/32) of the rhesus monkey. Neurons from both layers had similar passive membrane properties and action potential properties. Morphologically, dendrites of layer 3 ACC neurons were more complex than those of layer 2 neurons, by having dendrites with longer total dendritic lengths, more branch points and dendritic segments, spanning larger convex hull volumes. This difference in total dendritic morphology was mainly due to the apical dendrites. In contrast, the basal dendrites displayed mostly similar features between the two groups of neurons. However, while apical dendrites extend to the same layer (layer 1), the basal dendrites of layer 3 extended into deeper layers than layer 2 because of the difference in soma-pia distance. Thus, basal dendrites of the two groups of neurons receive different laminar inputs. Analysis of spines showed that more spines were found in neurons of layer 3 apical dendritic arbors than layer 2 neurons. However, the apical spine densities were similar between neurons in the two layers. Thus, while higher spine number suggests that layer 3 neurons receive more excitatory input than layer 2 neurons, the similar spine density suggests similar spatial and temporal summation of these inputs. The combined effects of increased number of excitatory input and higher dendritic complexity in layer 3 than in layer 2 ACC neurons suggest the additional information received by layer 3 neurons, especially in the apical dendrites, might undergo more complex integration.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar a influência do diâmetro do orifício piloto e a freqüência da colocação dos implantes no torque de inserção e na resistência ao arrancamento. Foram utilizados parafusos de 5, 6 e 7mm do sistema USS de fixação vertebral, os quais foram inseridos nos corpos de prova de madeira, poliuretana, polietileno e osso bovino. Para inserção dos implantes foram confeccionados com broca orifícios piloto com diâmetros menor, igual e maior que o diâmetro interno do parafuso. O torque de inserção dos parafusos avaliado nos corpos de prova de madeira foi mensurado por meio de torquímetro com capacidade de 5Nm, e nos demais corpos de prova foi utilizado torquímetro de 2Nm. Os ensaios mecânicos de arrancamento dos parafusos foram realizados utilizando máquina universal de ensaio Emic? e Software Tesc 3.13 para análise dos resultados, utilizando células de carga com capacidade de 2000 N e 20000 N, selecionadas de acordo com a resistência mecânica de cada corpo de prova, e com velocidade de aplicação de força de 2 mm/min. Os valores do torque de inserção dos parafusos de 5, 6 e 7mm de diâmetro externo, nos diferentes materiais, apresentaram maiores valores de torque na primeira inserção, com exceção dos corpos de prova de poliuretana com orifício piloto de 5,5mm. O diâmetro do orifício piloto em relação ao diâmetro interno do parafuso apresentou influência no torque de inserção dos implantes, nos diferentes corpos de prova, observando maior torque de inserção nos corpos de prova com orifício piloto menor que o diâmetro interno do parafuso e menor torque de inserção nos corpos de prova com diâmetro do orifício piloto maior que o diâmetro interno do parafuso. A força máxima de arrancamento nos parafusos de 5, 6 e 7mm de diâmetro externo, inseridos nos diferentes corpos de prova, apresentaram maiores valores na primeira inserção nos diferentes diâmetros de orifício piloto. O diâmetro do orifício piloto em relação ao diâmetro interno do parafuso apresentou influência na força máxima de arrancamento dos implantes, nos diferentes corpos de prova, observando maior força de arrancamento nos corpos de prova com orifício piloto menor que o diâmetro interno do parafuso e menor força de arrancamento nos corpos de prova com diâmetro do orifício piloto maior que o diâmetro interno do parafuso. Podemos concluir que a freqüência de colocação dos implantes influencia na qualidade da ancoragem. A realização de menor freqüência de colocação dos implantes proporciona uma melhor fixação. A perfuração do orifício piloto com instrumental de menor diâmetro, em relação ao diâmetro interno do parafuso, tende a apresentar melhor fixação do parafuso que a perfuração com diâmetro maior. / The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of the diameter of the pilot hole and the frequency of screw placement on pullout out resistance and insertion torque of the pedicle screw. Pedicle screws of 5, 6 and 7mm of the USS system for vertebral fixation were inserted into wood, polyurethane, polyethylene and bovine bone. The pilot hole for screw insertion was drilled with small, equal and wider than the internal diameter of the screw. The insertion torque was measured in the wood test bodies used a torquímetro with capacity of 5Nm, and other test bodies was used a torquimetro of 2Nm. Mechanical pullout assays were performed using a universal testing machine rehearsals of screws pullout were accomplished using universal machine Emic® and Software Tesc 3.13 for analysis of the results. Load cells were using with capacity of 2000 N and 20000 N, selected in agreement with the mechanical resistance of each test bodies. A constant displacement rate of 2mm/min was applied until failure. The values of the insertion torque of the screws of 5, 6 and 7mm of external diameter, in the different materials, they presented highest insertion torque in the first insert, in the different materials, except for the polyurethane test bodies with pilot hole of 5,5mm. The diameter of the pilot hole in relation to the internal diameter of the screw exerts an influence in the torque of insert of the implants. We observed highest insert torque in the test bodies with smaller pilot hole than the internal diameter of the screw and smaller insert torque in the proof bodies with diameter of the wider pilot hole than the internal diameter of the screw. The pullout resistance of the screws of 5, 6 and 7mm of external diameter performed highest values in the first screw insert, in the different diameters of pilot hole and test bodies. The diameter of the pilot hole in relation to the internal diameter of the screw exerts an influence in the pullout resistance of the implants. The highest pullout resistance was observed in the test bodies with smaller pilot hole than the internal diameter of the screw. The smaller pullout resistance was observed in the test bodies with diameter of the larger pilot hole than the internal diameter of the screw. We can conclude that the frequency of placement of the implants influences in the quality of the anchorage. The accomplishment of smaller frequency of placement of the implants provides a better fixation. The perforation of the pilot hole with instrumental of smaller diameter, in relation to the internal diameter of the screw, tends to present better fixation of the screw than the perforation with larger diameter.

Esta pesquisa teve como principal objetivo, validar o teste de flexibilidade da coluna lombar (Testprop), utilizando-se da radiografia como teste critério e o teste flexibilidade da coluna lombar de ADRICHEM e KORST (1973) para o sexo feminino e masculino. Participaram 19 mulheres (média de idade= 23,2 anos e desvio padrão= 1,3) e 18 homens (média de idade= 22,3 anos e desvio padrão= 1,4), universitários, saudáveis e ativos do Curso de Educação Física e Ciências do Esporte da Universidade Estadual de Londrina - PR. Inicialmente, verificou-se a fidedignidade e objetividade dos testes de flexibilidade da coluna lombar (Testprop e Testeips). O coeficiente de correlação intraclasse mostrou que o teste de flexibilidade Testprop apresenta fidedignidade elevada para o sexo feminino (R= 0,86) e elevada para o sexo masculino (R=0,85), e demonstrou haver objetividade moderada (R= 0,73) para o sexo feminino e elevada (R= 0,96) para o sexo masculino. Quanto ao teste de flexibilidade Testeips, a fidedignidade foi elevada (R= 0,85) e (R= 0,86) para o sexo feminino e masculino, respectivamente. A objetividade do teste de flexibilidade Testeips foi moderada (R= 0,62) para o sexo feminino e elevada para o sexo masculino (R= 0,91). Em relação à validade, o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson mostrou correlação baixa para o teste de flexibilidade Testprop (r= 0,11) para o sexo feminino e correlação moderada (r= 0,52) para o sexo masculino. No que diz respeito ao teste de flexibilidade Testeips, o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson foi baixo para o sexo feminino (r= 0,24) e moderado para o sexo masculino (r= 0,50). Concluiu-se que os testes de flexibilidade da coluna lombar Testprop e Testeips foram fidedignos e objetivos, mas não foram considerados válidos. / The main goal was to validate the flexibility test for the lumbar spine (Testprop), using x-ray as a criteria and the flexibility test of the lumbar spine designed by ADRICHEM and KORST (1973) for females and males, 19 women participated (mean age= 23,2 years old; standard deviation= 1,3 year old) and 18 men (mean= 22,3 year old and standard deviation = 1,4) healthy and active students from the Physical Education and Sport Science Course at the Universidade Estadual de Londrina-PR. Initially, it was verified reliability and objectivity (Testprop and Testeips) the lumbar spine flexibility. The intraclass correlation coefficient showed that the reliability of test of flexibility Testprop was high for woman (R= 0.86) and high for men (R= 0.85), there was a moderate objectivity (R= 0.73) for women and high (R= 0.96) for men. Concerning the flexibility test Testeips, the reliability was high (R= 0.85) and (R= 0.86) for woman and men, respectively. The objectivity for the flexibility test Testeips was moderate (R= 0.62) for women and high for men (R= 0.91). Concerning the validity, Pearson correlation coeficient demonstrated a low correlation for the flexibility test Testprop (r= 0.11) for women and moderate for men (r= 0.52). About the flexibility test, Testeips, Pearson correlation coefficient was low for woman (r= 0.24) and moderate for men (r= 0.50). It was concluded that the flexibility tests of the lumbar spine Testprop and Testeips were reliable and objective, but they were not considered valid.

A elevação de uma carga leva ao surgimento de uma força de contato a região lombar (L5-S1) que pode atingir algumas vezes o valor do próprio peso do indivíduo, valor este que depende da carga elevada. A análise das forças (musculares, peso, carga), considerando a coluna como uma haste rígida, cuja extensão é feita unicamente pelo eretor espinhal, representa uma aproximação muito pobre para o sistema, uma vez que as diversas forças musculares envolvidas não são adequadamente analisadas e o movimento de retificação da coluna vertebral é desprezado. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de um modelo biomecânico simplificado em 2 dimesões, para a avaliação das forças atuantes durante atividades de levantamento impróprio de carga e o movimento de flexão/extensão a coluna lombar. A coluna vertebral foi modelada como um conjunto de três segmentos retilíneos rígidos articulados e entre si. Utiliza do o método da dinâmica inversa, aplicado a um modelo de segmentos articulados simplificado, foram estimadas as forças musculares médias e a força de contato articular na articulação vertebral L5-S1 como função dos â ângulos de inserção da musculatura extensora da coluna. Para a construção do modelo foram identificados: musculatura principal, dados antropométricos, ângulos de inserção musculares, modelo antropométrico e registro da imagem do levantamento de peso. O modelo matemático forneceu um sistema de equações que avaliam as forças que atuam na coluna vertebral durante o movimento de extensão, em função de dados a atômicos. / Load lifting yields a contact force in the lumbar region (L5-S1) that can sometimes reach the value of the body weight, depending upon the elevated load. Force analyses (muscular, weight, load), the spine being consided as a rigid shank, with extension beimg done only by the erector spine musculature, represent a poor approximation, since the several muscular forces involved are not adequately analysed and the rectification movement of the spine is not taken into account. The purpose of this study was to develop a simplified two dimensional biomechanical model in order to evaluate the forces during activities of improper load bearing and the movement of flexion/extension in the lumbar spine. The spine was assumed as a linear rigid array of articulate segments. Using inverse dynamics applied to a simplified link segment model,the average muscular forces and bone-to-bone contact force in the L5-S1 vertebral joint were evaluated as a function of the back extension muscles insertion angles. For the model construction the main musculature, the anthropometric data, and model the muscle insertion angles, and the image acquisition register of the weight loading movement were identified. The mathematical model yielded a system of equations that evaluates the acting forces on the spine during the extension movement, as a function of the a atomical data.

青少年特發性脊柱側凸(Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis, AIS) 是一種脊柱三維結構性畸形，其病因至今未明。它主要出現於11-13歲的青少年女性，其發病率為4%。由於目前此病的臨床治療效果未能盡如人意，因此必須明確其發病機制，以便能夠制定更有效的治療方案及預防措施。 / 既往有研究指出30%AIS患者存在系統性骨密度減低，且已證實骨密度的減少能夠預測其病情進展的情況。之前的研究主要通過傳統的雙能量X光骨質密度吸收儀（DXA）檢測骨密度，其測量結果僅局限於面積骨密度。然而，三維容積骨密度以及骨質微結構的分析對於深入了解患者的骨質量及其與發病機制的聯繫尤為重要。通過現代影像掃描技術發展，使我們可以通過高分辨率外周骨定量X-線斷層掃描儀（HR-pQCT）進行人體骨品質的無創定量檢測。其參數包括骨形態，容積骨密度以及鬆質骨的微結構。 / 本研究分為兩部分，研究目的為： 1）研究AIS患者與年齡，性別匹配的正常青少年骨品質的差異；2）評估及比較在AIS患者及其對照組中骨品質跟骨密度減少之關係。 / 未經治療AIS 患者214例，正常對照組187例，均為11-13歲的女性。 AIS患者及正常對照組均採用DXA掃描評估股骨頸的面積骨密度。此外，所有參加計劃者通過非優勢側橈骨遠端HR-pQCT 掃描，定量測量其骨形態，容積骨密度以及鬆質骨的微結構。 / 第一部分的結果顯示在校正年齡後AIS患者的皮質骨面積(p=0.048)，皮質骨容積骨密度(p=0.014)及鬆質骨骨小樑數目(p=0.003) 低於對照組，並且存在較高的骨小樑分離度(p=0.006)。通過多元線性回歸分析校正了年齡，鈣攝入量及體育活動後，仍顯示AIS患者皮質骨容積骨密度(p=0.032)及鬆質骨骨小樑數目(p=0.005) 顯著低於對照組，骨小樑分離度（p=0.010）顯著高於對照組。而皮質骨週長的比較則未見顯著差異。皮質骨中骨質量的異常提示AIS患者內皮質成骨時可能存在骨礦堆積障礙。並且這種較低的皮質骨面積及容積骨密度預示著較弱的骨機械強度，從而誘發AIS患者脊柱的不隱定以至畸形。此外，AIS中較少的骨小樑數目反映了骨小樑形成的缺陷，這可能是由於患者存在軟骨內成骨及骨礦化的異常調節。 / 在第二部分，根據DXA測量及計算的Z值，參加者被分為骨量偏低組（Z值≤-1)及正常骨量組（Z值>-1)。研究結果顯示，AIS的骨量偏低組與對照組具有顯著差異。通過骨量偏低組及正常骨量組的比較，結果顯示鬆質骨品質與骨量偏低的關係只存在於AIS組中。本研宄發現，在AIS患者中的骨量偏低組存在鬆質骨容積骨密度，骨體積分數顯著減少及骨小梁變薄。並且結果顯示AIS患者骨小梁模型指數（SMI）較大（p<0.001)，提示骨小梁更接近柱收結構，而先前研究已經證明柱狀結構較板狀結構在力學上更不穩定。通常鬆質骨對於代謝及生物力學的改變更加敏感。骨量偏低的AIS患者松質骨中骨品質的異常改變提示AIS患者可能存在骨代謝功能障礙，從而導致異常的骨形成及重塑。鬆質骨中骨微結構的改變可能會引起骨強度的下降，從而導致脊柱在機械力學上的不穩定及側凸進展。因此本研究的重要臨床意義在於需要形成一個融合了骨品質及骨密度相關指標的複合預測因素，在AIS的臨床治療過程中預測側凸進展。 / 此體內研究首次對AIS患者的骨品質進行了報導。研究結果表明AIS患者存在骨品質異常，並且首次提出骨量下降的AIS患者存在鬆質骨的異常改變。骨品質異常的本質和原因及其在AIS的發病機制中的作用值得進一步研究。 / Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis is a three-dimensional spinal deformity of unknown etiology. It occurs mainly in girls between 11 to 13-year-old with a prevalence rate of 4%. This common spinal condition can be associated with significant cosmetic and clinical morbidities in severe cases. Since the treatment for AIS remains unsatisfactory, it is imperative to elucidate the etiopathogenesis of AIS so that effective therapeutic and preventive measures can be devised. Towards this end, Cheng et al. investigated and noted that osteopenia was present in 30% of AIS subjects. Osteopenia was found to be a significant prognostic factor for curve progression in AIS. In previous studies, only Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) was available and the measurement was confined to areal-BMD (aBMD). For in-depth understanding of the bone quality and its link to the etiopathogenesis of AIS, three-dimensional volumetric evaluation of bone mass and measurement of key parameters of bone quality would be important. With the advancement of imaging techniques and the availability of high-resolution pQCT (HR-pQCT), it is now possible to have in vivo measurement of bone quality including Bone Morphometry, Volumetric BMD (vBMD) and Trabecular Bone Micro-architecture in human subjects. / The current study utilized HR-pQCT with the following objectives: 1) to investigate bone quality in AIS vs. age- and sex-matched normal controls and 2) to evaluate and compare the correlation of bone quality with osteopenia between AIS and non-AIS control subjects. / 214 untreated AIS and 187 non-AIS healthy girls between 11-13 years old were recruited. aBMD of bilateral femoral necks was measured by DXA. Bone Morphometry, vBMD and Trabecular Bone Micro-architecture were measured at the non-dominant distal radius using HR-pQCT. / In the first part, our findings demonstrated that AIS was associated with lower Cortical Bone Area (p=0.048), Cortical Bone vBMD (p=0.014), Trabecular Number (p=0.003) and greater Trabecular Separation (p=0.006) after adjustment for age. With multivariate linear regression analysis, after adjusted for age, calcium intake and physical activity levels, the association of AIS with lower Cortical Bone vBMD, (p=0.032), Trabecular Number (p=0.005) and greater Trabecular Separation (p=0.010) remained. In contrast, no difference was found in the Cortical Perimeter between AIS and controls. / The abnormalities in cortical bone quality in AIS suggested the possibility of defects in mineral accretion during endocortical apposition. We speculated that lower Cortical Area and vBMD could be associated with reduced bone mechanical strength thus predisposing to the development or progression of spinal deformity in AIS. Furthermore, the association between AIS and lower Trabecular Number reflected a defect in trabecular formation, which might be due to abnormal regulation and modulation of endochondral ossification and bone mineralization in AIS. / In the second part, subjects were classified into the osteopenic (Z-score≤-1) and non-osteopenic (Z-score>-1) group. Interestingly, we found that osteopenia in AIS was distinctly different from osteopenia in non-AIS controls. Alterations in trabecular bone quality in association with osteopenia were only detected in AIS. Osteopenic AIS was uniquely associated with lower Trabecular Bone vBMD, BV/TV, Trabecular Thickness (all p<0.001) and greater SMI (p=0.008) indicating predominance of rod-like trabeculae when compared with non-osteopenic AIS. / The trabecular compartment is generally more vulnerable and responsive to changes in the metabolic and biomechanical environment. The unique alterations of trabecular bone quality in osteopenic AIS suggested the presence of metabolic dysfunction resulting in abnormal modeling and remodeling processes in AIS. These altered trabecular bone micro-architecture might lead to reduced bone strength thus resulting in mechanical weakness of the spine and subsequent curve progression. Another clinical significance of the present study was the call for developing a composite prognostic factor incorporating both BMD and bone quality parameters for more accurate prediction of curve occurrence and progression in AIS in clinical practice. / In conclusion, this is the first series of in vivo studies evaluating bone quality in AIS. Our findings demonstrated abnormal bone quality in AIS and unique alteration of trabecular bone profile in osteopenic AIS. Further studies are warranted to better define the nature, origin and abnormal metabolic pathways and processes leading to the derangement in bone quality and its link to the etiopathogenesis of AIS. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Yu, Wing Sze. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2012. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-134). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese; appendixes includes Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / ABSTRACT (in Chinese) --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.vi / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.vii / LIST OF TABLES --- p.x / LIST OF FIGURES --- p.xi / LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS --- p.xii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- General overview of scoliosis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1. --- Classification of scoliosis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2. --- Prevalence of AIS --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2. --- Natural History of AIS --- p.3 / Chapter 1.3. --- Curve progression --- p.4 / Chapter 1.4. --- Current treatment modalities --- p.5 / Chapter 1.5. --- Etiology of AIS --- p.6 / Chapter 1.5.1. --- Bone mass and bone development --- p.9 / Chapter 1.5.2. --- Measurement of bone mineral density --- p.10 / Chapter 1.5.3. --- Osteopenia in AIS --- p.11 / Chapter 1.6. --- Bone quality --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6.1. --- Limitation of two-dimensional BMD measurement by DXA --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6.2. --- Bone quality assessment --- p.14 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- METHODOLOGY --- p.22 / Chapter 2.1. --- Research questions and Objectives --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2. --- Study Design --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- Study Flowchart --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3. --- Subject Recruitment --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1. --- AIS patients --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.2. --- Normal Controls --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4. --- Patients Consents --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5. --- Radiological Assessment --- p.30 / Chapter 2.5.1. --- Curve severity --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6. --- Anthropometric and pubertal assessments --- p.31 / Chapter 2.6.1. --- Body weight --- p.31 / Chapter 2.6.2. --- Body height --- p.31 / Chapter 2.6.3. --- Arm span --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6.4. --- Sitting height --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6.5. --- Body mass index --- p.32 / Chapter 2.7. --- Menstrual status and pubertal maturity --- p.33 / Chapter 2.8. --- Dietary calcium intake --- p.33 / Chapter 2.9. --- Physical activities --- p.34 / Chapter 2.10. --- Bone mineral density (BMD) measurements --- p.34 / Chapter 2.10.1. --- Areal BMD measured by Dual energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA) --- p.34 / Chapter 2.10.2. --- Definition of osteopenia or low bone mass --- p.35 / Chapter 2.11. --- Bone quality assessment --- p.36 / Chapter 2.11.1. --- Positioning --- p.36 / Chapter 2.11.2. --- Standardization of the Region of Interest (ROI) for Scan Acquisition --- p.36 / Chapter 2.11.3. --- Analysis of the Scan Results --- p.38 / Chapter 2.12. --- Statistical analysis --- p.41 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- RESULTS --- p.55 / Chapter 3.1. --- Subject characteristics --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2. --- Age of menarche, breast development and pubic hair development --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3. --- Anthropometric assessment --- p.55 / Chapter 3.4. --- Dietary calcium intake --- p.56 / Chapter 3.5. --- Physical activities --- p.56 / Chapter 3.6. --- aBMD and prevalence of osteopenia in AIS and controls --- p.56 / Chapter 3.7. --- Comparison of bone quality between AIS and controls --- p.57 / Chapter 3.7.1. --- Bone Morphometry --- p.57 / Chapter 3.7.2. --- Volumetric BMD --- p.58 / Chapter 3.7.3. --- Trabecular Bone Micro-architecture --- p.59 / Chapter 3.7.4. --- Short summary --- p.59 / Chapter 3.8. --- Comparison of bone quality Vs. Osteopenia between AIS and Controls --- p.61 / Chapter 3.8.1. --- Demographic characteristic of osteopenic and non-osteopenic AIS and controls --- p.61 / Chapter 3.8.2. --- Bone quality Vs Osteopenia in AIS and controls --- p.62 / Chapter 3.8.3. --- Short summary --- p.64 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- OVERALL DISCUSSION and CONCLUSION --- p.81 / Chapter 4.1. --- Low bone mineral density in AIS --- p.82 / Chapter 4.2. --- Comparison of bone quality between AIS and controls --- p.83 / Chapter 4.2.1. --- Alterations of Cortical Bone Morphometry and vBMD in AIS --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.2. --- Lower Trabecular Number and greater Trabecular Separation in AIS --- p.88 / Chapter 4.3. --- Correlation between bone quality and osteopenia in AIS Vs normal controls --- p.90 / Chapter 4.3.1. --- Unique alteration of bone quality of trabecular bone in osteopenic AIS subjects --- p.90 / Chapter 4.3.2. --- Effect of the alterations in trabecular bone quality on bone strength in osteopenic AIS and its possible relationship with curve progression --- p.92 / Chapter 4.4. --- Justification of the Methodology --- p.95 / Chapter 4.4.1. --- Site of BMD measurement --- p.95 / Chapter 4.5. --- Summary and clinical significance --- p.97 / Chapter 4.6. --- Limitations and further studies --- p.99 / APPENDIX --- p.101 / BIBLIOGRAPHY --- p.122 / CONFERENCES AND PUBLICATIONS --- p.136