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Pitt’s research on photonic crystals has resulted in a contact lens that will have a color bar, hidden below the eyelid, that will measure blood glucose levels.  The lens is now being tested on animals, human testing begins next month in preparation for FDA approval.   The devices will cost around US$20, and will be easy for people to check compared to finger pricking up to 7x/day

 

Approximately 400,000 Americans, between the ages of 20-50, mostly women, have MS.  A rat study using stem cells found that injection into the spinal cord or blood resulted in reduced paralysis and motor dysfunction.  Testing on monkeys begins next month, and results of that test are expected by 2004.

 

The cause of Progeria, the rapid aging disease, has been tied to one gene, called Lamin A (or LMNA), which has also been linked to 6 other diseases.  A simple switching of the amino acid guinine to adenine is the cause.

 

Click Here to go to HealthSource, where educational literature, including posters of The Activity Pyramid (for different age decades) and Food Pyramids (also for different age groups), along with other educational information, can be ordered.

 

Click Here for a weblink to a new journal, titled Current Opinion in Orthopaedics, where a free copy can be ordered.  Yearly subscription can be pricey, but may be worth it. 

 

Below are the definitions set forth by the Terminology and Measurement Committee of the Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society, as reported by the reputable Joe Tomarro, in Orthopaedic Practice, Vol. 7;4:95

 

HINDFOOT:  The portion of the foot proximal to the transverse tarsal, or talonavicular and calcaneocuboid joints

MIDFOOT:  The portion of the foot between the transverse tarsal (talonavicular and calcaneocuboid) joints and the tarsometatarsal joints

FOREFOOT:  The portion of the foot distal to the tarsometatarsal joints

HINDFOOT VARUS:  From the posterior view, frontal (coronal) plane angulation of the central heel line to a line inwards with respect to the midline of the lower leg.

HINDFOOT VALGUS:  From the posterior view, frontal (coronal) plane angulation of the central heel line outwards with respect to the midline of the lower leg.

FOREFOOT VARUS:  Frontal plane rotation of the plantar aspect of the forefoot towards the midline of the body, such that the medial forefoot is elevated relative to the lateral forefoot.

FOREFOOT VALGUS:  Frontal plane rotation of the plantar aspect of the forefoot away from the midline of the body such that the lateral forefoot is elevated relative to the medial forefoot.

MIDFOOT ADDUCTUS:  Medial deviation (towards the midline of the body) of the midfoot relative to the Hindfoot in the transverse plane

MIDFOOT ABDUCTUS:  Lateral deviation of the midfoot relative to the Hindfoot in the transverse plane.

FOREFOOT ADDUCTUS:  Medial deviation of the forefoot relative to the midfoot in the transverse plane

FOREFOOT ABDUCTUS:  Lateral deviation of the forefoot relative to the midfoot in the transverse plane

HAMMER TOE:  Deformity of the toe with MTP in extension or neutral, PIP flexion, and DIP extension or neutral.

CLAW TOE:  Deformity of the toe with MTP in extension or neutral and both PIP and DIP in flexion

MALLET TOE:  Deformity of the toe with MTP neutral, PIP neutral, and DIP in flexion.

SUPINATION:  A combination of adduction, inversion, and plantarflexion

PRONATION:  A combination of abduction, eversion, and dorsiflexion.

Here is a method of a biceps tendon manipulation as taught to me tonight by another PT (one other PT in the room swears it worked quite well for a few of his patients).  If the patient is not coming along with the typical rotator cuff program, has tenderness to the biceps tendon, lie the patient supine, arm at side, elbow slightly flexed and assess elbow flexion strength.  Then place the arm into 90 degrees of abduction, get your thumb under and in front of the biceps tendon (will be quite sore), and apply a superior force to the tendon while taking the arm into internal rotation.  Sometimes a manipulation will be felt, others not.  Evidently, this technique (taught to the PT by a chiropracter), reseats the biceps tendon, perhaps only minute amounts, but usually reduces pain and improves the biceps strength (which may just be a case of motor learning from the first trial).  I can’t attest to this technique myself, but plan on trying it on a patient this week who may benefit.  Will keep you informed.

 


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