Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment Commons^™

Biomechanical Testing Of Two-Level Cervical Disc Arthroplasty, Laura J. Gilmour

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

In vitro biomechanical studies comparing two-level cervical disc arthroplasty with two-level fusion were completed using an established cadaveric cervical spine model. Three conditions were tested: non-instrumented, instrumented with two-level fusion (C5-C6 and C6-C7), and instrumented with two-level arthroplasty (C5-C6, C6-C7) using the Prestige Low-Profile (Medtronic Sofamor Danek, Memphis TN) or ProDisc-C (Synthes Spine, West Chester PA) prosthetic disc. Specimens were tested non-destructively in physiologic flexion-extension, lateral bending, and axial rotation to an end-limit load of 3-Nm or 45o rotation. Rotations at the superior, implanted, and inferior motion segment units (MSU) of the instrumented conditions were normalized to the non-instrumented condition …

A Computer Simulation Model Of The Human Head-Neck Musculoskeletal System, Jun Yan

Theses and Dissertations (ETD)

Objective. The objective of this research was to develop a muscle-driven biomechanical model of the human head-neck system that could be used to simulate neck movements under muscle control. This model can further be modified to enable input from an external stimulus, such as EMG data.

Summary of background data. Utilizing computer aided design (CAD) and dynamic simulation software programs, the Joint Implant Biomechanics Laboratory at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center developed a virtual model of the human cervical spine to simulate the in vitro biomechanical experiments. This in vitro model did not include any muscle …

Variability In Selecting Lateral Cephalometric Landmarks In Two Cbct Image Modes, Dana Nguyen

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the variability of lateral cephalometric landmark selection in two cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) lateral cephalometric simulations: 1) a mean projection image (MPI) and 2) a serial sagittal slice image (SSSI).

Methods: A MPI is a two-dimensional (2D) image obtained from the NewTom 3G^TM CBCT that resembles the conventional lateral cephalogram. A SSSI is a 2D image also obtained from CBCT data, but is created by superimposing a series of selected thin sagittal slices containing the required cephalometric landmarks. This study compared the Ricketts and Steiner analysis of the MPI …

Bone Morphogenic Protein Induced Repair Of The Premaxillary Cleft, Rick J. Rawson

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bony augmentation of premaxillary clefts in humans using recombinant bone morphogenic protein (rhBMP-2) in a collagen sponge carrier. 12 patients with unilateral cleft alveolar ridges were evaluated pre- and 4 months postoperatively. 10 patients were repaired with rhBMP-2 while two others were grafted with anterior iliac crest particulate marrow cancellous bone (PMCB). Computed tomographic studies were used to evaluate preoperative alveolar cleft volumes, postoperative bone bridge volumes, and pre/post operative volume ratios.

A pre/post operative volume ratio for patients repaired with rhBMP-2 ranged from 24.1% to 90.6% with a mean of …

Factors That Influence The Blood Flow Response Of Skin To Electrical Stimulation, Abdul-Majeed Raja Al-Malty

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Female reproductive hormones, aging, global heating and local heating are factors affecting skin blood flow (SBF), but their effect on electrical stimulation (ES) has never been examined until the present investigation. To investigate female reproductive hormones, nine women (age= 25.6±3.5 years) with a normal menstrual cycle (MC) underwent ES in thermoneutral (25°±0.5°C) and warm environments (35°±0.5°C). To investigate aging, ES was applied on active young (n=15, age=32.1±8.3 years) and old (n=8, 64.5±6.2 years) groups in thermoneutral and warm environments. To investigate the effect of global and local heating, groups of 15 and 18 subjects (age= 18-40 years) experienced ES under …

Influence Of Keratinized Mucosa, Bone Dimensions On Mucosal Recession And Bone Loss, Jeanette Keng Ling Chua

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects

Background: To accomplish successful esthetic outcome, it would be an advantage if some pre-implant placement conditions could be identified which would predict soft and hard tissue outcomes post-implant placement. This study was designed to evaluate the influence of 1) height of mid-buccal keratinized mucosa at implant surgery and 2) thickness of mid-buccal bone after osteotomy on the amounts of mid-buccal mucosal recession and bone loss during the first year after implant treatment. This report presents the initial 3-month follow-up.

Materials and methods: Nine patients scheduled for surgical placement of a total of 11 single-staged implants, without adjacent teeth and planned …

The Analysis And Characterisation Of Rotavirus And Norovirus Circulating In The South Of Ireland, Norma Reidy

Theses

On average more than 3,000 cases of rotavirus diarrhea are detected annually amongst Irish children less than 3 years of age. Rotavirus disease occurs mainly during the winter months, with peak infections detected from February to April. The symptoms of disease are diarrhea and dehydration, with 80% of patients requiring hospitalisation, The mean duration of hospitalisation is 3-4 days, with an average cost per day of €409. Eighteen percent of infections were detected in infants less than 6 months of age, suggesting inadequate maternal derived protection from existing strains, or the existence of novel strains in Ireland with little or …