Scoliosis: Life, Support & Friends

Scoliosis Journal reports: Density-equalizing mapping and scientometric analysis Authors: Karin Vitzthum, Stefanie Mache, David Quarcoo, Cristian Scutaru, David A Groneberg and Norman Schoffel Published: 28 July 2009 Background Publications related to scoliosis have increased enormously. A differentiation between publications of major and minor importance has become difficult even for experts. Scientometric data on developments and tendencies in scoliosis research has not been available to date. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the scientific efforts of scoliosis research both quantitatively and qualitatively. Methods Large-scale data analysis, density-equalizing algorithms and scientometric methods were used to evaluate both the quantity and quality of research achievements of scientists studying scoliosis. Density-equalizing algorithms were applied to data retrieved from ISI-Web. Results From 1904 to 2007, 8,186 items pertaining to scoliosis were published and included ...

Reliability and validity of the adapted Greek version of Scoliosis Research Society Authors: Petros D Antonarakos, Labrini Katranitsa, Lefteris Angelis, Aristophanis Paganas, Errikos M Koen, Evangelos A Christodoulou and Anastasios G Christodoulou Published: 16 July 2009 Background The SRS-22 is a valid instrument for the assessment of the health related quality of life of patients with Idiopathic scoliosis. The SRS-22 questionnaire was developed in USA and has been widely used in the English speaking countries. Recently it has been translated and validated in many other languages. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of the adapted Greek version of the refined Scoliosis Research Society-22 Questionnaire. Methods Following the steps of cross - cultural adaptation the adapted Greek version of the SRS-22 questionnaire and a validated Greek version of the SF-36 questionnaire were mailed to 68 patients treated surgically for Idiopathic Scoliosis. 51 out of...

Axial Biotech have entered into a partnership with the University of Utah to Utilise the Utah Population Database to Develop Personalised Diagnostic Tests for Spine Disorders. This could be great news for those with Scoliosis. Released on PRNEWSWIRE Date: 22nd July, 2009 Axial Biotech, Inc., a company personalizing spine care through the development of molecular diagnostics, and the University of Utah today announced that they have entered into a collaboration that allows Axial access to the University's rich genetic resources including the Utah Population Database (UPDB). UPDB is a genealogical and family history database composed of more than 6 million records that provides a rich source of information for genetic, epidemiological, demographic and public health studies which can be used to identify familial clusters of disease including spinal disorders. The UPDB combined with Axial's proprietary GenDB Genealogical Database will help Axial researchers expand the indications ...

There have been recent reports that Madonna's daughter Lourdes Ciccone Ritchie has Scoliosis, there are photos flying around the internet that she has been spotted wearing a SpineCor brace, which is being widely used as bracing treatment for patients with Scoliosis. If this is true and Madonna's daughter does have Scoliosis then I wish the family all the best and hope that they can help treat Lourdes to avoid surgery....... I suppose the good thing for Lourdes is she will get the best of treatment for her Scoliosis and not have to put up with the NHS service, like I did! (where they use old material for Scoliosis surgery, they did it to me with the Harrington rod) But it does go to show that celebrities are like us in some ways and suffer from the same conditions that we do, which I suppose takes them off the pedestal for a little while - not that I am please Lourdes has Scoliosis - I wouldn't wish it on anyone! For those not familiar with SpineCor, we have a page over on ...

Scoliosis journal published research about relatively lower body mass index and how it is associated with an excess of severe truncal asymmetry in healthy adolescents: do white adipose tissue, leptin, hypothalamus and sympathetic nervous system influence truncal growth asymmetry? Authors: Theodoros B Grivas, R GEOFFREY Burwell, Constantinos Mihas, Elias S Vasiliadis, Georgios Triantafyllopoulos and Angelos Kaspiris Background In healthy adolescents normal back shape asymmetry, here termed truncal asymmetry (TA), is evaluated by higher and lower subsets of BMI. The study was initiated after research on girls with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) showed that higher and lower BMI subsets discriminated patterns of skeletal maturation and asymmetry unexplained by existing theories of pathogenesis leading to a new interpretation which has therapeutic implications (double neuro-osseous theory). Methods 5953 adolescents age 11-17 years (boys 2939, girls 3014) were examined in a school scr...

Sanford Health have recently released a new test for Scoliosis testing, this new test is being offered at Sanford Health (Sioux Falls, SD) to help identify young girls at risk for developing severe scoliosis. Scoliosis treatment can bring great challenges. In many cases, adolescent girls with small curves are treated with braces, sometimes for many years. The braces are expensive, uncomfortable and are frequently psychologically challenging at a time when teenagers are acutely aware of their appearance. In the past, physicians frequently recommended bracing for all patients with scoliosis, even though only a few had curves that would ultimately get larger. Previously, doctors could not identify which patients were at the highest risk for developing severe scoliosis. ScoliScore™ AIS Prognostic Test from Axial Biotech, Inc. Today, there is an alternative, the ScoliScore™ AIS Prognostic Test, a predictive test that provides increased peace of mind for patients, their families and clinica...