MWF and GMT2 measures are reproducible between scans and across sites with an equivalent MR scanner and sequence protocol. Multicenter clinical trials using quantitative T2 relaxation are feasible.

Background Income generation opportunities available to people who use illicit drugs have been associated with street disorder. Among a cohort of injection drug users (IDU) we sought to examine street-based income generation practices and willingness to forgo these sources of income if other low-threshold work opportunities were made available. Methods Data were derived from a prospective community recruited cohort of IDU. We assessed the prevalence of engaging in disorderly street-based income generation activities, including sex work, drug dealing, panhandling, and recycling/salvaging/vending. Using multivariate logistic regressions based on Akaike information criterion and the best subset selection procedure, we identified factors associated with disorderly income generation activities, and assessed willingness to forgo these sources of income during the period of November 2008 to July 2009. Results Among our sample of 874 IDU, 418 (48%) reported engaging in a disorderly income generation activity in the previous six months. In multivariate analyses, engaging in disorderly income generation activities was independently associated with high intensity stimulant use, as well as binge drug use, having encounters with police, being a victim of violence, sharing used syringes, and injecting in public areas. Among those engaged in disorderly income generation, 198 (47%) reported a willingness to forgo these income sources if given opportunities for low-threshold employment, with sex workers being most willing to engage in alternative employment. Conclusion Engagement in disorderly street-based income generation activities was associated with high intensity stimulant drug use and various markers of risk. We found that a high proportion of illicit drug users were willing to cease engagement in these activities if they had options for causal low-threshold employment. These findings indicate that there is a high demand for low-threshold employment that may offer important opportunities to reduce drug-related street disorder and associated harms.

Adult scoliosis patients over the age of 65 years treated operatively had significantly less pain, a better health-related quality of life, self image, mental health, and were more satisfied with their treatment than patients treated conservatively. However, we found no statistically significant differences in their degree of disability as measured by the ODI as well as physical and mental health by the SF-12 instrument. Preoperative radiographic deformity was not determined to be a significant factor for predicting whether an operative or nonoperative treatment course was chosen.

Previous in vivo and in vitro studies of forearm supination/pronation suggest that distal radioulnar joint kinematics may be affected by elbow flexion. The primary hypotheses tested by this study were that in vivo: 1) ulnar variance changes with elbow flexion and forearm rotation and 2) the arc of forearm rotation changes in relationship to elbow flexion.Materials and Methods-Changes in radioulnar kinematics during forearm supination/pronation and elbow flexion (0-90°) were studied in five uninjured subjects using computed tomography, dualorthogonal fluoroscopy, and three-dimensional modeling. Analysis of variance and post-hoc testing was performed. Discussion-Elbow position affects the kinematics of the distal radioulnar joint. The kinematics of the distal radioulnar joint are primarily affected by forearm rotation and secondarily affected by elbow flexion. These findings have clinical relevance to our understanding of ulnar impaction, and how elbow position affects the proximal-distal translation of the radius. These findings have implications upon the treatment of ulna impaction, radiographic evaluation of the distal ulna, and future biomechanical studies. Results-Proximal