BACKGROUND This review summarizes what is known about the pathological processes (e.g. structural and functional changes), by which spinal curvatures develop and evolve into spinal deformities. METHODS Comprehensive review of articles (English language only) published on 'scoliosis,' whose content yielded data on the pathological changes associated with spinal curvatures. Medline, Science Cit...

Discussion The spine is considered as an heterogeneous beam, and is modeled as a deformable wire, along which vertebrae are beads rotating about the wire. Each vertebra can rotate about the 3D spinal curve. 3D spinal curves are compound of plane regions connected together by zones of transition. The 3D spinal curve is uniquely flexed along the plane regions. The angular offsets between adjacent...

A simple and parsimonious model which originated from the Weibull frequency distribution was proposed to describe nonlinear survival curves of spores. This model was suitable for downward concavity curves (Bacillus cereus and Bacillus pumilus), as well as for upward concavity curves (Clostridium botulinum). It was shown that traditional F values calculated from this new model were no longer add...

By combining experiments with simple model calculations, we obtain new insight in spin transport through hybrid, CoFeB/Al2O3(1.5 nm)/tris(8-hydroxyquinoline)aluminium (Alq3)/Co spin valves. We have measured the characteristic changes in the I-V behavior as well as the intrinsic loss of magnetoresistance at the onset of multiple-step tunneling. In the regime of multiple-step tunneling, under the...

Sarabia et al. (1999) present a basic model to create ordered families of Lorenz curves, along with basic theorems that describe the conditions for the models to satisfy the definition of the Lorenz curve. Using these basic models, they suggest a family which includes several well-known Lorenz models as special cases. This paper first shows that their basic theorems can be generalized. The pape...

Serum disappearance curves in dogs after the intravenous injection of radioactive methotrexate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, 5-formyltetrahydrofolate, and folic acid followed first-order kinetics with half-disappearance times ranging from 1.3 to 9 hr respectively. Equilibration of spinal fluid tritium levels with those in serum was rapid (3.0 hr) for both of the reduced folates but was not observe...

OBJECTIVE Vertebral column resection (VCR) is a surgical technique that may be applied for correction of moderate to severe spinal deformities, including those with large rigid curves, fixed trunk translation, or asymmetry between the length of the convex and concave column of the deformity. This article reviews the VCR technique as it relates to correction of rigid spinal deformity, including ...

bracing is the non-operative treatment of choice for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (ais) and careful application of pads on apical segment of curve is very important for correction. control of pads` appropriate site in brace is not easy by clinical evaluation. therefore, we decided to compare results of braces which for better control of pads by radiographs, metal marker inserted around pads ...

The vertebral column is situated in the median line, as the posterior part of the trunk. It (backbone) consists of a series of 26 individual irregular bones called vertebrae, separated by fibrocartilaginous intervertebral discs and are secured to each other by interlocking processes and binding ligaments. There are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 fused sacral, and 4-5 fused coccygeal verte...