Irregularities In Patients Research Articles

Paraspinal muscle fibre structural and contractile characteristics demonstrate distinct irregularities in patients with spinal degeneration and deformity.

Paraspinal and spinopelvic muscular dysfunction are hypothesized to be a causative factor for spinal degeneration and deformity; however, our fundamental understanding of paraspinal muscle (dys)function remains limited. Twelve surgical patients with spinal degeneration were recruited and categorized into group DEG (four patients) with no sagittal imbalance and no usage of compensatory mechanisms; group DEG-COMP (four patients) with no sagittal imbalance through use of compensatory mechanisms; and group DEG-COMP-UNBAL (four patients) with sagittal imbalance despite use of compensatory mechanisms. From each patient, four biopsies were collected from right and left multifidus (MULT) and longissimus (LONG) for single fibre contractile and structural measurements. Eight of 48 (17%) biopsies did not exhibit any contractile properties. Specific force was not different between groups for the MULT (p = 0.47) but was greater in group DEG compared to group DEG-COMP-UNBAL for the LONG (p = 0.02). Force sarcomere-length properties were unusually variable both within and amongst patients in all groups. Thin filament (actin) lengths were in general shorter and more variable than published norms for human muscle. This study is the first to show a heightened intrinsic contractile muscle disorder (i.e. impaired specific force generation)in patients with spinal degeneration who are sagittally imbalanced (compared to patients without deformity). Additionally, there are clear indications that patients with spinal degeneration (all groups) have intrinsic force sarcomere-length properties that are dysregulated. This provides important insight into the pathophysiology of muscle weakness in this patient group.

Parathyroid Axis Irregularities in Patients with Hyperaldosteronism

Parathyroid Axis Irregularities in Patients with Hyperaldosteronism

Menstrual Irregularities and Amenorrhea in Thyroid Eye Disease Patients Treated With Teprotumumab.

To evaluate the rates of amenorrhea and menstrual irregularities in patients with active thyroid eye disease treated with teprotumumab. A retrospective review was conducted of patients with active thyroid eye disease treated between 2020 and 2022 at a single institution. Female thyroid eye disease patients with regular menstruation at baseline who completed 8 infusions of teprotumumab were assessed. Patient-reported irregularities in menstruation or amenorrhea were recorded during routine clinic visits. Two sample t tests were used to assess differences between patients endorsing and denying menstrual irregularities. Twelve patients met the inclusion criteria. The mean age was 38.33 ± 9.6 years (range 25-53 years). The average follow-up after treatment completion was 11.43 months. Nine patients (75%) reported changes from their baseline menstruation. Four patients (33.3%) reported irregularities during treatment only. Three patients (25%) had persistence of irregularities after treatment; these patients regained normal cycles at an average of 3 months following teprotumumab completion. Two patients (16.7%) did not regain their normal cycles at the time of their last follow-up. One 53-year-old patient-reported persistent amenorrhea after treatment completion. One patient-reported menorrhagia at a 4-month follow-up. No significant age difference was found between patients with or without reported menstrual changes ( p = 0.43). Abnormalities of menstruation, including amenorrhea, were reported by 75% of patients treated with teprotumumab. These changes reverted to baseline after treatment in most affected patients.

Age-Related Changes in Total Corneal Astigmatism in Eyes With High Myopia.

The purpose of this study was to compare age-related changes in corneal astigmatism in eyes with and without high myopia. Eight-hundred eyes with high myopia (axial length ≥26.0 mm) and 800 eyes without high myopia (200 eyes each from patients in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and ≥70s) underwent videokeratographic examination. The amounts of vertical/horizontal (Rx) and oblique astigmatism (Ry) components, irregular astigmatism, and corneal shape were compared between eyes with and without high myopia and among age categories. In both groups, the mean Rx significantly changed to more positive with age ( P < 0.001), whereas the Ry did not change significantly. The Rx was significantly more negative in the high myopia group than in the control group in all age categories ( P ≤ 0.003), whereas the Ry did not differ significantly. The mean changes in the Rx and Ry during each 2 consecutive decades did not differ significantly between groups. The asymmetry and higher-order irregularity components increased with age ( P ≤ 0.001) but did not differ significantly between groups, except for the higher-order irregularity in patients in their 60s ( P = 0.018). In the averaged map, the corneal shape changed from with-the-rule to against-the-rule astigmatism with age in both groups, but the changes occurred later in the high myopia group. Age-related changes from with-the-rule to against-the-rule astigmatism occurred later in eyes with high myopia compared with eyes without high myopia in middle or older aged patients, but this change in each age decade was comparable between eyes with and without high myopia.

0338 Association of Evening Circadian Preference and Languid/Flexible Circadian Type with Predisposing, Perpetuating Factors, and Treatment Acceptability in Patients with Chronic Insomnia Disorder

Abstract Introduction Circadian factors may contribute to sleep difficulties among chronic insomnia disorder (CID) patients who do not otherwise meet full criteria for a circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorder, particularly delayed and advanced sleep-wake phase disorders. Current nosology suggests that using circadian preference measures can provide important diagnostic information and aid in differential diagnosis. However, there is a lack of research identifying clinical factors associated with circadian dimensions in patients with CID. Methods 195 patients (45.50±15.99 years old, 66.2% female, 15.9% minority) with a diagnosis of CID and absent of any other sleep disorder were evaluated at the Behavioral Sleep Medicine (BSM) program of Penn State Health Sleep Research &amp; Treatment Center. All patients completed measures of circadian preference and type, insomnia severity, arousability, sleep reactivity, pre-sleep arousal, sleep-wake schedule and incompatible behaviors, dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes, mood and stress, and insomnia treatment acceptability. Multivariable linear regression examined which predisposing, perpetuating and treatment acceptability factors were associated with each circadian dimension, while adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity and insomnia severity. Results About 30% of the sample was classified as evening, 29% as morning, 74% as languid, and 43% as flexible types. Sleep-wake irregularity was associated with eveningness (β=-0.276, p&amp;lt;0.01), languidity (β=0.280, p&amp;lt;0.01) and flexibility (β=0.184, p&amp;lt;0.01). Pre-sleep cognitive arousal (β=-0.182, p&amp;lt;0.01) and sleep expectations (β=-0.127, p&amp;lt;0.05) were associated with eveningness. Negative cognitions about the consequences of insomnia (β=0.230, p&amp;lt;0.01) and sleep expectations (β=0.268, p&amp;lt;0.01) were associated with languidity. Sleep-incompatible behaviors (β=0.165, p&amp;lt;0.05) and perceived stress (β=0.267, p&amp;lt;0.01) were associated with flexibility, while trait anxiety (β=-0.137, p=0.058) and negative cognitions about the consequences of insomnia (β=-0.318, p&amp;lt;0.01) were associated with rigidity. Less agreeability to pharmacotherapy over behavioral therapy was associated with morningness (β=0.129, p&amp;lt;0.05), while greater agreeability to behavioral therapy over pharmacotherapy (β=-0.158, p&amp;lt;0.05) was associated with rigidity. Conclusion Sleep-wake irregularity in patients with CID is a perpetuating factor strongly associated with evening and languid/flexible circadian types, while other predisposing and perpetuating factors can be also determined by circadian preference and/or type. Circadian measures in the evaluation of CID patients may help clinicians individualize BSM treatments, including patients’ acceptability. Support (If Any)

Pathological and radiological irregularities in patients with chronic kidney disease - An observational study

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) encompasses a spectrum of different pathophysiologic processes associated with abnormal renal function and progressive decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study are 1) to assess basic tests and kidney function tests in patients with CKD, (2) to assess coagulation profile, sugar levels, and platelets levels in patients of CKD, (3) to do the urine analysis in patients with CKD, and (4) to assess GFR among the study population. Materials and Methods: After taking the informed consent, detailed history was taken and clinical examination of patient was done. Pathological tests such as hemogram, renal function tests, liver function tests, coagulation profile, blood sugar levels, urine routine, and microscopy were performed. Ultrasonography of abdomen and pelvis was done. Correlation was done between severity of sepsis and mortality in patients. Results: Anemia was moderate (7–8.9 g/dl) in 38%, mild (9–10.9 g/dl) in 31%, while severe (&lt;6.9) in 29 patients, that is, 29%. Thrombocytopenia was present in 58% of patients. Mean serum albumin in patients was 2.67±0.551 mg/dl; serum globulin was 3.89±0.345 mg/dl. Mean blood sugar of study subjects was 127.41±61.387 mg/dl fasting, 199.67±114.827 mg/dl post-prandial, and mean glycated hemoglobin was 5.63 ± 1.668. On ultrasound acute pyelonephritis, 25 (25%) was the most common finding. Conclusion: Correlation of clinical findings with pathological and radiological findings is very important in patients with CKD. Severity of sepsis directly correlates with mortality of patients.

Association of Plaque Features with Infarct Patterns in Patients with Acutely Symptomatic Middle Cerebral Artery Atherosclerotic Disease

Background and PurposeUnderstanding the stroke mechanism of middle cerebral artery (MCA) atherosclerosis is important for stroke triage and future trial design. The aim of this study was to characterize intrinsic MCA plaque and acute cerebral infarct in vivo by using high-resolution black-blood (BB) and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and to investigate the relationship between plaque features and infarct patterns. MethodsA single-center retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary referral center between March 2017 and August 2019. Patients consecutively admitted for acute ischemic stroke with MCA stenosis underwent diffusion-weighted and BB MR imaging. Plaque features and infarct patterns were assessed. The association between plaque features and infarct patterns (binary variable: single/multiple) was evaluated using a multivariate logistic regression model. ResultsOf 49 patients with MCA atherosclerotic stenosis, diffusion-weighted MR imaging showed that 28 patients (57%) had multiple acute cerebral infarcts and 21 patients had single acute cerebral infarcts. In contrast to single infarct, multiple infarcts were associated with greater plaque burden (81.9±7.24 versus 71.3±13.7; P=0.012). A multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for 7 potential confounders confirmed a statistically significant positive association between plaque burden and multiple acute infarcts (adjusted R2 =0.432, P< 0.001). The rate of plaque surface irregularity was significantly greater in patients with multiple infarcts than those with single infarct (71% versus 43%, P=0.044). For single acute penetrating artery infarct, patients with infarct size > 2cm had greater plaque burden compared with patients with infarct size < 2cm (75.3±13.4 versus 63.4±10.9; P = 0.016). ConclusionsIncreased plaque burden, plaque surface irregularity in patients with MCA stenosis is associated with its likelihood to have caused an artery-to-artery embolism that produces multiple cerebral infarcts, especially along the border zone region, and increased plaque burden may promote subcortical single infarct size by occluding penetrating arteries. Our results provide important insight into stroke mechanism of MCA atherosclerosis.

The efficacy of macro-focused ultrasound in the treatment of upper facial laxity: A pilot study.

Recently, macro-focused ultrasound (MFU) has become a popular noninvasive esthetic treatment for facial laxity. However, there are no studies done that evaluated the use of MFU with a 2.0mm transducer for upper facial lifting. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of MFU with a 2.0mm transducer in the treatment of upper facial laxity in Thai patients. This was a prospective, evaluator-blinded pilot study with 34 Thai patients diagnosed with mild to moderate facial laxity. Patients were treated with a single session of MFU with 2.0mm transducer at the forehead, lateral and just below the eye area. Primary outcome was the clinical improvement of upper facial laxity graded by 2 blinded dermatologists at baseline, 1-week, 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-up. Objective measurements including eyebrow height, upper facial volume, and textural irregularities were evaluated. Patients' self-assessment scores and adverse effects were also recorded. Out of 34 patients, 27 (79.4%) attended all follow-ups. Clinical improvement of upper facial laxity was observed as early as 1-week follow-up. Eyebrow height elevation was significantly increased at every follow-up (P=.000) with an average of 1.22mm at 6-month follow-up. Wrinkles improved significantly at 1-week and 6-month follow-up (P=.002 and P=.010, respectively). Skin roughness showed significant improvement at 6-month follow-up (P=.004). Majority of the patients (53.6%) reported marked improvement at 3-month follow-up. No serious adverse event was noted. Macro-focused ultrasound is a safe and effective treatment for upper facial laxity and skin textural irregularities in patients with mild to moderate degree of laxity.

Corneal endothelial assessment in xeroderma pigmentosum: a case-control study.

To analyze and compare corneal endothelial mosaic in terms of endothelial cell population, morphology and irregularity in patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) with clear corneas with normal age and sex matched subjects using specular microscopy. Nine patients with XP without corneal involvement were evaluated in the study. An age and sex matched group of nine healthy subjects participated as control group. Evaluation of corneal endothelial layer was performed using specular microscopy. Each study group consisted of five males and four females with total mean age of 28 ± 11.3years (12-46years). Endothelial cell density was significantly lower in patients with XP in comparison with controls (P < 0.002). Maximum and minimum cell areas were significantly higher in XP group (P < 0.016 and P < 0.029, respectively). Although central corneal thickness was higher in controls, the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.106). Furthermore, our study showed that the patients with XP had no difference with controls in terms of coefficient of variation of cell areas. This study showed that endothelial cell population can decrease in patients with XP, although other specular microscopic variables such as coefficient of variation and central corneal thickness may remain within normal values.

Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of the State of Vaginal Biocenosis among Patients with Preterm Labor

Relevance. Premature birth (PR) in the etiopathogenetic relationship is a clinical syndrome characterized by polyetiology, a chronic course of the process, the participation of the fetus in pathogenesis, a variety of clinical symptoms, and the involvement of genetic and environmental factors. The infectious factor is considered as the leading risk for the development of PR. According to the literature, more than 40% of PR is due to the presence of an infectious process. The most significant are intrauterine and cervical vaginal infections. Purpose of the study was a clinical and microbiological assessment of the state of the vaginal biotope in women with various options for spontaneous preterm birth. Materials and methods . The diagnostic complex included bacterioscopic, bacteriological, and also molecular genetic studies. The object of the study was pregnant women with timely physiological delivery and with various types of preterm birth, who were hospitalized in specialized medical organizations of the Nizhny Novgorod region. A total of 260 patients were examined, and 1000 studies were conducted. Material for research was the contents of the vagina and cervical canal. Results. The state of the vaginal biocenosis was characterized by pronounced irregularity in patients with different variants of spontaneous preterm birth. In women with premature rupture of the membranes, a local inflammatory process with the prevalence of conditionally pathogenic microflora over lactic acid bacteria was significantly frequent. Lactoflora prevailed among patients with true PR and with timely physiological labor in the composition of the vaginal biotope. In women with preterm labor with isthmic-cervical insufficiency, there were mixed disorders of the vaginal biocenosis. Conclusions. The risk of developing spontaneous preterm birth is reliably determined by the state of the vaginal biocenosis.

Assessment of Epithelial Thickness in Keratoconic Patients Before and After Intracorneal Ring Segment Implantation Using Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract Background Keratoconus, the most common primary corneal ectasia, is a bilateral asymmetric corneal degeneration accompanied with local corneal thinning and occurs mostly in the inferior and central part of the cornea, it usually causes high myopia and irregular astigmatism which results in poor quality of vision. Based on disease severity, many treatment modalities exist including glasses and contact lenses for mild to moderate disease, while corneal graft preserved for more advanced disease. In advent of alternative treatments, intrastromal ring implantation have been introduced which improves visual acuity and optical aberrations and also corrects refractive errors and mean keratometric data, anterior segment Optical cohehernce Tomography epithelial mapping is anew modality to assess epithelial thickness. Objective: To investigate epithelial thickness changes in keratoconic patients before and after intracorneal ring segment implantation using AS OCT. Methods: Thirty eyes with early to moderate keratoconus were included in this prospective interventional case series study which has been conducted at patients from Ain shams university hospitals, after the approval of the research ethical committee in the Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University between March to October. All cases underwent a Complete ophthalmological examination before surgery. the examination included Visual acuity assessment and Best corrected visual acuity. Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy examination with fundus examination through dilated pupil using D lens &amp; Corneal Topography, Anterior segment Optical cohehernce Tomography Epithelial mapping(zeiss). Results: we found that epithelial thickness showing statistically significant change comparing pre and post operative epithelial mapping especially in certain areas in the map,area ( _ ),( _ ) mm. Conclusion: There is increase in epithelium thickness in keratoconic corneas after intracorneal ring segment implantation to compensate for stromal irregularities in patients with keratoconus.

Interdisciplinary Case Study: Geochemistry Meets the Clinic in Search for a Metal ALS Biomarker

Interdisciplinary Case Study: Geochemistry Meets the Clinic in Search for a Metal ALS Biomarker

Chronic Uterine Dehiscence Secondary to Genitourinary Tuberculosis: A Case Report

Background: Genitourinary tuberculosis (GU TB) most commonly presents as infertility, pelvic pain, or menstrual irregularities in patients from countries where the disease continues to be endemic. Case: A 27 year-old G1P1001 from western Asia presented to our institution’s urogynecology office for management of pelvic pain secondary to known uterine dehiscence. The patient underwent a laparotomy for repair of the dehiscence. During the procedure she was noted to have a large, white mass within the uterine dehiscence that was later determined to likely be GU TB. The patient was referred to the Health Department where she received one year of anti-TB treatment. Conclusion: GU TB should be considered in the differential diagnosis of uterine dehiscence in patients from countries where the disease remains endemic.

Smoking, physical activity and respiratory irregularities in patients with panic disorder.

In the past decades different evidences suggested a relationship between panic disorder (PD) and respiration, among which the presence of different respiratory irregularities at rest in PD patients. It has been hypothesized that PD could be characterized by a dysfunction of those areas involved in the central control of respiration. The aim of the present study was to elucidate possible differences in breath-by-breath respiratory function at rest between a sample of PD patients with agoraphobia and healthy controls (HC), with particular attention to smoking and physical activity as possible relevant factors in the understanding of respiratory dynamics in PD. Respiratory physiology was assessed in 32 PD patients and 24 HC. Respiratory rate (RR), tidal volume (VT), minute ventilation (VE), and end-tidal CO2 (pCO2) have been assessed. A significant diagnosis-by-smoking interaction was found for mean RR and VT. Mean pCO2 was significantly higher in active than in sedentary patients. Anxiety state did not account for the results. Our findings suggest an abnormal regulation of the respiratory system as a key mechanism in PD. In future studies it should be useful t o stratify data taking into account level and intensity of physical activity and smoking behaviour, as well as to consider the cardiac profile and the effect of those variables able to modulate the homeostatic brain functioning. .

Anterior corneal optical irregularity measured by higher‐order aberrations induced by a broad beam excimer laser

Background: The aim was to analyse anterior corneal optical irregularity in patients receiving photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with a conventional broad beam laser.Methods: Pre‐ and post‐operative anterior corneal aberrations including Zernike coefficients and root mean squares of higher‐order aberrations were measured and derived with a Placido‐ring‐based corneal topographer and wavefront software, respectively, from 768 right eyes of patients receiving either PRK or LASIK for myopia with a conventional broad beam excimer laser in National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Multiple linear regression models selected by Mallows' Cp criteria were used to evaluate predictability of surgically induced aberrations and relevant factors.Results: Mean attempted spherical equivalent correction was ‐7.37 ± 2.33-D (range: ‐16.5 to ‐1.95). Root mean squares of higher‐order aberrations and variances of Zernike coefficients all increased significantly after surgery (p < 0.01). All post‐operative higher‐order aberrations increased with the amount of attempted myopic correction and secondary astigmatism increased with attempted cylindrical correction. LASIK surgery induced less coma and third‐order aberrations but more fifth‐ and sixth‐order aberrations than PRK, although squared partial correlation coefficients were low. Larger optic and transitional zones meant fewer higher‐order aberrations after surgery. Younger patients tended to have more surgically induced aberrations in the 3.0 mm pupil zone.Conclusions: Anterior corneal optical irregularity increased tremendously after refractive surgery by conventional broad beam lasers and correlated with greater attempted myopic correction, younger age and a smaller treatment zone. The effect of corneal flaps on post‐operative corneal irregularity differed trivially.

Study of menstrual irregularities in patients receiving antipsychotic medications

Study of menstrual irregularities in patients receiving antipsychotic medications

P01-133 - Modifying respiratory functionality in healthy subjects: towards development of anti-panic breathing therapy

ObjectivesSeveral studies showed respiratory irregularities in patients with Panic Disorder (PD). This led to the development of the Breathing Therapy, a therapeutic strategy aimed to modify dysfunctional respiratory patterns. However, it remains unclear whether and how BT regularize respiration. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether and how a single performance of a specific respiratory technique could modify respiration at rest.MethodsTwenty-eight healthy subjects were randomly assigned to two groups, performing either a slowed 9-breaths-per-minute respiration (group 1) or a “combined” respiration (group 2) so as to evaluate the most effective respiration able to produce respiratory modifications. Respiratory recording took 40 minutes including basal respiration (T1), breathing technique (T2), natural breathing (T3). We evaluated Tidal Volume (VT), respiratory frequency (RF) and end-tidal PCO2 (PetCO2) standard deviations (SD), Approximate Entropy (ApEn).ResultsIn both groups ApEn values significantly decreased from T1 to T3. However, we observed an increase of ApEn values from T2 to T3 and of VT'SD from T1 to T2. In group 2 RF'SD decreased and PetCO2'SD increased from T1 to T3. RF'SD increase in both groups from T2 to T3.ConclusionBoth techniques could modify respiratory physiology, leading to reduced ApEn values and increased respiration variability. The repeated practice of such respiratory techniques could modify respiratory functioning. Further studies are needed to determine which technique has the highest likelihood to reduce breathing irregularities and its possible use for the treatment of PD.

Assessment of a Suction-Assisted Cartilage Shaver Plus Liposuction for the Treatment of Gynecomastia

The development of feminized breasts in men may cause significant emotional distress and embarrassment, particularly in young men and adolescents. Numerous techniques have been described for the correction of gynecomastia, many of which include the removal of fat and glandular tissue. The authors assess the utility of combining vibroliposuction with the use of a power-assisted arthroscopic-endoscopic cartilage shaver to correct gynecomastia and suggest a treatment algorithm for patients with gynecomastia. Forty consecutive patients with a median age of 32 years (range 19-57 years) and with varying degrees of gynecomastia underwent a combined approach that included vibroliposuction (power-assisted tumescent liposuction) for the removal of fatty tissue, followed by the removal of fibrous tissue with the use of a power-assisted cartilage shaver. Follow-up periods ranged in duration from six to 18 months. All patients had satisfactory results. However, expansive hematomas requiring surgical drainage developed in three patients. Other complications included one case of insufficient resection requiring reoperation and three cases of hyperpigmentation and skin irregularities in patients with grade I gynecomastia. Combination treatment using vibroliposuction and a power-assisted arthroscopic-endoscopic cartilage shaver is an effective treatment for gynecomastia, but the technique has a learning curve. This procedure is most appropriate for patients with grades II and III gynecomastia, or as a first-stage treatment for patients with grade IV gynecomastia.

Fractal dimension analysis of MR images reveals grey matter structure irregularities in schizophrenia

The fractal dimension (FD) was used to reveal brain structure irregularities in patients with schizophrenia. FD provides a unique way of quantifying the shape complexity of cortical folding of the human brain. MR images were obtained from seven patients with schizophrenia that were compared with six healthy control subjects. The MR images were first segmented, and the FD was calculated for the grey/white matter boundary for the whole brain and the hemispheres separately, using the box-counting and Minkowski–Bouligand methods. The results showed that the patients had larger FD values than the controls, for the whole brain volume and right hemisphere.

Movement behaviour in patients with chronic neck pain

The present study evaluated whether patients with chronic neck pain demonstrate characteristic angular movement deviations during repeated cervical spine movements. Sixteen patients with chronic neck pain and a group of 18 aged-matched healthy control subjects performed 10 repetitive maximal cervical movement cycles (flexion/extension, rotation, lateral flexion) at a self-determined velocity. To collect the kinematic data of the cervical spine, a three-dimensional ultrasonic movement analysis system (Zebris CMS70, Germany) was used. To describe the movement variability in the maximum oscillation amplitudies the intra-subject coefficients of variation (CV %) was calculated. The maximum difference was characterized by the absolute differences between the minimum and maximum oscillation amplitudes of iterated movement cycles. Pain intensity was obtained by visual analogue scales (VAS). The average pain rating of the patients with chronic neck pain indicated moderate neck pain intensity (3.7 (+/-0.8)). Independent Student's t-tests revealed a significantly decreased range of movement (ROM) in the chronic neck pain group for all anatomic values (p < 0.05), except for the lateral flexion to the right. The maximum differences and variability parameters showed significantly increased values in the chronic neck pain group in all directions (p < 0.001). Maximal cervical ROM was significantly lower, and movement variability was significantly higher, in patients compared with healthy control subjects. The differences of cervical motion variability point towards increased movement irregularities in patients with chronic neck pain. The present study shows evidence to support the hypothesis that additional information may be gained from the analysis of movement variability.