The exercise programme had a beneficial effect on the severity of lumbopelvic pain in pregnancy, reducing the intensity of pain and the level of disability experienced as a result.

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ObjectivesOsteoprotegerin (OPG) has an important role in bone remodeling, and it has been proposed that the OPG gene might be a candidate gene for osteoporosis predisposition. Several studies have already assessed the connection between OPG gene polymorphism and bone mineral density (BMD). In this study we wanted to analyze the association of two polymorphisms in the OPG gene with BMD and bone turnover markers in women with and without osteoporosis.Material and methodsIn 22 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis (aged 65.6 ±12.6) and 59 women without osteoporosis (aged 60.8 ±8.7) we analyzed the association of two polymorphisms in the OPG gene with BMD, measured by dual energy absorptiometry and with bone turnover markers (crosslaps and osteoprotegerin). A163G, G209A, T245G and G1181C polymorphisms were determined.ResultsNo significant differences in age, anthropometry, number of fractures, osteocalcin and cross-laps were found between women with and without osteoporosis. Women with osteoporosis were significantly longer in postmenopause. Significantly more women with osteoporosis had AG polymorphism (p = 0.038) compared to women without osteoporosis, while no significant difference was found in prevalence of TT and GG polymorphism between patients with and without osteoporosis. No relationship was found between investigated polymorphism and bone turnover markers. A significant negative correlation between total hip BMD and crosslaps (p = 0.046) as well as between total hip T score and crosslaps (p = 0.044) was found in women without osteoporosisConclusionsPostmenopausal women with osteoporosis had AG polymorphism more frequently than women without osteoporosis. Our results indicate that A163G polymorphism could have an impact on higher bone loss in postmenopausal women.

AimTo explore the relationship between muscle strength and bone density in patients with different rheumatic diseases and to examine whether inflammatory arthritis was more harmful for muscle strength and bone loss than degenerative joint diseases.MethodsThe study included 361 men and women with a mean ± standard deviation age of 60.5 ± 11.4 years and different rheumatic conditions: regional syndromes, osteoarthritis of the hands, shoulders, knees, and hips, and inflammatory arthritis. Maximum voluntary back strength was measured by isometric dynamometry. Bone mineral density (BMD; g/cm2) of the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and distal radius was measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Anthropometry and lifestyle characteristics were also assessed.ResultsBack strength was lowest in patients with hand and shoulder osteoarthritis (20.0 ± 17.9 kg), followed by patients with inflammatory arthritis (24.8 ± 19.2 kg). Patients with inflammatory arthritis had the lowest BMD at the mid-radius (0.650 ± 0.115 g/cm2) and femoral neck (0.873 ± 0.137 g/cm2), while patients with hand and shoulder osteoarthritis had the lowest BMD at the mid-radius (0.660 ± 0.101). In both sexes, muscle strength was significantly lower in patients who had lower BMD (T score<-1.0). Multiple regression analysis identified significant predictors of back strength to be spine BMD (P = 0.024) and body mass index (P = 0.004) in men and femoral neck BMD in women (P = 0.004).ConclusionMuscle strength decline may be connected to bone loss in patients with rheumatic conditions, especially those with inflammatory joint diseases.

Introduction: Mirror illusion consist in the fact that, standing in front of a mirror put in a sagittal plane, with our head on one side and one arm stretched forward, we can see one side of our body reflected as if it were the other side, by mirror visual feedback. The aim of this study was to monitor blood flow changes in medial cerebral artery (MCA) by means of Transcranial Doppler (TCD) in individuals during motor tasks as well as tasks using mirror visual feedback. Subjects and methods: Eight young healthy volunteers (four male and four female) participated in this study. TCD recording of MCA was done during each task consisting of various motor and visuo-motor activities using mirror illusion. Both MCA mean blow flow velocity (MBFV) were measured while individuals seated in a comfortable chair. The obtained MCA MBFV are presented as baseline values Results: During the illusion of motoric hand activation, when the subject is making right hand flexions and watching its reflexion in the mirror, while the left hand is immobile, increase of mean blood flow velocity of contralateral MCA was observed (task 3 + 4.5% than in baseline values, P = 0.017). Furthermore, when the subject made left hand flexions while watching the reflection of the immobile right hand in the mirror, there was increase of MBFV in right MCA (+5.6% than in baseline values P = 0.044), more pronounced than during the illusion of motoric hand activation (task3) and less than during direct vision of hand flexion (task 2 + 6.3%than in baseline values P = 0.005). Conclusion: Our data showed that visual illusion of action, as well as direct action observation can increase mean blood flow value in MCA, which brings forward the possible usage of mirror illusion as a tool for motoric neurorehabilitation. Once considered rare, dissection of the internal carotid artery or vertebral artery is an increasingly recognized entity. Craniocervical arterial dissection is an uncommon cause of stroke in the general population, but is relatively common in patients below the age of 40. The early clinical manifestations are often subtle, however, permanent neurologic disability and death can result if the diagnosis is delayed. The present report describes eight patients (four men and four women) with dissection of the craniocervical arteries. Patient history was taken and clinical neurologic examinations were performed immediately upon admission. Diagnostic procedures included ultrasound (CDFI and TCD) and radiologic (computed tomography and digital subtraction angiography) examinations. The leading symptoms were focal neurologic deficits, and headache and neck ache. Ultrasound findings (CDFI) were positive for vessel dissection in seven (87.5%) patients, and DSA was consistent with dissection in five (62.5%) patients and negative in one patient, whereas in two patients this examination was not performed due to the known allergy to contrast medium. Five (62.5%) patients were treated with anticoagulants, one with platelet aggregation suppressants, and two patients w...