0 +/- 8.1 degrees and 5.9 +/- 6.4 degrees, respectively. The average change

in fusion area length was a 1.2 mm increase from before to after the operation and a 1.8 mm decrease from after the operation to the final follow-up. The average recovery rate of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association score was 63.0%. The surgical outcome of ACF with an ACP is satisfactory.\n\nConclusions: Insertion of an ACP is a good solution for preventing problems with the grafted bone after ACF. Our study suggests that the indications for an Selleckchem JQ1 anterior-only procedure for the management of cervical OPLL can be expanded.”
“The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and validity of a modified two-dimensional electrical inclinometer to measure scapular upward rotation during static humeral elevation. Numerous techniques have been proposed to qualitatively and quantitatively measure upward rotation of the scapula. These techniques are limited by expense or an inability to be synchronized with other measurements, such as muscle activity and force output. For validity testing, static scapular upward rotation was measured separately with a digital protractor and electrical inclinometer while participants were at rest and 60 degrees, 90 degrees and 120 degrees of humeral elevation in the scapular plane. For reliability testing,

either 20 min before or 20 min after validity testing, participants performed the testing positions while measurements were taken with the electrical inclinometer Danusertib only. Significant correlations existed between the modified electrical inclinometer Selleck Fludarabine and digital protractor at all four positions (r > 0.996, p < 0.001). The electrical inclinometer demonstrated good to excellent intra-rater reliability (ICC3,1 > 0.892, 95% CI: 0.785-0.988 and SEM < 1.8

degrees). These results support the use of the electrical inclinometer to measure scapular upward rotation. These findings provide clinicians and researchers with a practical instrument that can accurately measure scapular upward rotation in synchrony with other measurements, such as electromyography and isokinetic data. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The elastic properties of the vocal folds (VFs) vary as a function of depth relative to the epithelial surface. The poroelastic anisotropic properties of porcine VFs, at various depths, were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based indentation. The minimum tip diameter to effectively capture the local properties was found to be 25 mu m, based on nonlinear laser scanning microscopy data and image analysis. The effects of AFM tip dimensions and AFM cantilever stiffness were systematically investigated. The indentation tests were performed along the sagittal and coronal planes for an evaluation of the VF anisotropy.