Papers by Bruce Rothschild
Physical Therapy, 1983
The purpose of this article is to present an assessment method, in conjunction with age-related n... more The purpose of this article is to present an assessment method, in conjunction with age-related normal values, for lumbar spinal range of motion. Lumbar flexion, lumbar extension, and right and left lateral flexion were measured on 172 subjects by a combination of goniometry and spinal distraction techniques. Normal values are given for six age groups; each group had a range of 10 years. The results demonstrate that a significant decrease in lumbar spinal range of motion is expected with increasing age. The interobserver reliability based on 17 subjects was substantial for the four measurements taken; coefficients ranged from +.76 to +1.0. The information may prove useful to the clinician as an improved method for assessing the lumbar spine.
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 1996
The glossary on rheumatic spinal diseases by a study group of the Committee of Pathology of EULAR... more The glossary on rheumatic spinal diseases by a study group of the Committee of Pathology of EULAR' has certainly helped clarify many terms. This comment on spondylarthropathy is intended likewise to help with the terminology. The terms spondarthritis and spondylarthropathy, as we understand it, are now both used to describe a partly heterogenous group of diseases that have a number of features in common: familial aggregation, association with HLA B27 and probably other genetic factors, and several, partly overlapping, characteristic clinical symptoms. The authors recommend use of the term 'spondarthritis' originally proposed by Moll and Wright in 1974,2 their main argument being that the term spondarthritis (i) is original and historical, and (ii) emphasises the inflammation feature by including arthritis, while (iii) the term 'spondylarthropathy' can refer to any degenerative disease of the spine. We believe that neither the term spondarthritis nor spondylarthropathy can perfectly reflect the clinical and pathological background of this overlapping disease spectrum, and we prefer the term spondylarthropathy, for the following reasons: (1) The historical dimension and originality of the term spondarthritis is unimpressive, as the authors have to correct the original definitions introduced by Wright et al3 4 by excluding Whipple's disease and Behcet's disease.' We agree that these two diseases should be excluded from the spectrum because they lack HLA B27 association and have a distinctive clinical picture and pathogenesis. (2) In addition, the spectrum of clinical symptoms included in this conflation of spondylitis and peripheral arthritis, which had been listed by the 'Leeds group' in 1987,3 has changed since the introduction of the criteria introduced by the European Spondylarthropathy Study Group (ESSG).4 Features such as erythema nodosum and thrombo-phlebitis3 are no longer considered essential to the spondylarthropathies. (3) These classification criteria have been developed and evaluated by leading European rheumatologists who agreed on the term spondylarthropathy.4 Many other rheumatologists in Europe and the United States have approved these criteria, which have now gained wide international acceptance.58 (4) An advantage of the term spondylarthropathy in clinical use is that it is applicable to a group of patients suffering spondylarthropathy that is now frequently reported as 'undifferentiated spondylarthropathy'.8 9 When established criteria for more closely defined subcategories of spondylarthropathies
ABSTRACT. Objective. To validate the western Tennessee River limits of the originally described r... more ABSTRACT. Objective. To validate the western Tennessee River limits of the originally described rheumatoid arthritis (RA) catchment area and to assess the possibility that absence of tuberculosis allowed the original development of RA. The hypothesis that RA was related to tuberculosis was once a driving force in treatment approach. RA initially was very limited in geographic distribution, in contrast to tuberculosis. Classical tubercular lesions were not observed in the rheumatoid catchment area in ancient times. Similarities between clinical and radiologic manifestations of spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and adjuvant arthritis raised the possibility of a potential conditioning role for occurrence of nonrheumatoid erosive arthritis. Methods. Skeletal samples from ancient RA catchment and non-catchment areas were compared for frequency of tubercular-relatable pathologies.
Ameghiniana, 2017
Rothschild (2017). Elucidating bone diseases in Brazilian Pleistocene sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa, ... more Rothschild (2017). Elucidating bone diseases in Brazilian Pleistocene sloths (Xenarthra, Pilosa, Folivora): first cases reported for the Nothrotheriidae and Megalonychidae families. Ameghiniana 54: 331-340.
Biological Psychiatry, 1985
It is well-documented that a subgroup of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a sta... more It is well-documented that a subgroup of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) have a state-dependent alteration of their hypothalamopituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, most consistently demonstrated by nonsuppression of plasma cortisol following the Dexamethasone Suppression Test (DST) (Carroll et al. 1981). Although the sensitivity and specificity of this test vary considerably, recent studies of the nonsuppressor subgroup indicate that the test might have prognostic importance. Some investigators (Greden et al. 1980, 1983; Albala et al. 1981; Holsboer et al. 1982, 1983) have shown that conversion to a normal DST (suppression) in this subgroup of patients is associated with a favorable clinical response. As part of a longitudinal investigation of monoamine receptor and neuroendocrine regulation in patients with MDD, we examined the DST results pre and post treatment. We report our results in an attempt to characterize those patients who manifest nonsuppression prior to treatment and either
Comprehensive therapy, 1989
Netherlands Journal of Geosciences, 2005
Shark bite marks on mosasaur bones abound in the fossil record. Here we review examples from Kans... more Shark bite marks on mosasaur bones abound in the fossil record. Here we review examples from Kansas (USA) and the Maastrichtian type area (SE Netherlands, NE Belgium), and discuss whether they represent scavenging and/or predation. Some bite marks are most likely the result of scavenging. On the other hand, evidence of healing and the presence of a shark tooth in an infected abscess confirm that sharks also actively hunted living mosasaurs.
Spine, 2007
Study Design. Orientation of the lumbar articular facets at the L1-L5 level was measured and anal... more Study Design. Orientation of the lumbar articular facets at the L1-L5 level was measured and analyzed. Objective. To characterize the relationship between lumbar facet orientation and isthmic spondylolysis. Summary of Background Data. Whereas many studies have explored the relationship between facet orientation in the transverse plane and various spinal pathologies, there is insufficient data regarding this relationship and isthmic spondylolysis. Methods. A 3-dimensional digitizer was used to measure the transverse orientation of the lumbar facet joints at the L1-L5 level in 115 male individuals with bilateral isthmic spondylolysis (at L5) and 120 age and sexmatched normal control subjects from the Hamann-Todd Human Osteological Collection (Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH). Statistical analysis included paired t tests and analysis of variance. Results. In both isthmic spondylolysis and control groups, considerable shifts were noticed from sagittally oriented articular facets at L1 to frontally oriented facets at L5. The change in orientation was significantly greater (up to 13°at L4) in the isthmic spondylolysis group (right inferior facets). Three of the 4 articular facets of L5 (right and left inferior and right superior) were significantly more frontally oriented in isthmic spondylolysis compared to the control group. A greater tendency of asymmetry in facet orientation was noticed in the isthmic spondylolysis group. Conclusion. Individuals with more frontally oriented facets in the lower lumbar vertebrae incorporated with facet tropism are at a greater risk for developing isthmic spondylolysis at L5.
Journal of Rheumatology, 2003
To validate the western Tennessee River limits of the originally described rheumatoid arthritis (... more To validate the western Tennessee River limits of the originally described rheumatoid arthritis (RA) catchment area and to assess the possibility that absence of tuberculosis allowed the original development of RA. The hypothesis that RA was related to tuberculosis was once a driving force in treatment approach. RA initially was very limited in geographic distribution, in contrast to tuberculosis. Classical tubercular lesions were not observed in the rheumatoid catchment area in ancient times. Similarities between clinical and radiologic manifestations of spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and adjuvant arthritis raised the possibility of a potential conditioning role for occurrence of nonrheumatoid erosive arthritis. Skeletal samples from ancient RA catchment and non-catchment areas were compared for frequency of tubercular-relatable pathologies. Tubercular-relatable osseous pathologies were found only outside the rheumatoid catchment area (p < 0.0001). The original RA catchment area was ...
Journal of Rheumatology, 2001
To determine the relationship of what has been called pre-Columbian Old World rheumatoid arthriti... more To determine the relationship of what has been called pre-Columbian Old World rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to the RA identified in pre-Columbian North America. All published claims of pre-Columbian Old World RA were reviewed against the established North American standard for its recognition in archeologic sites. Those characteristics included polyarticular symmetrical marginal erosions [in the absence of subchondral erosions, peripheral joint fusion, or axial skeletal involvement (C1-2 excepted)], but requiring the presence of perilesional osteopenia on radiographic examination. T test and Fisher's exact test were used to assess the significance of the extent of joint distribution and the presence of subchondral erosions, peripheral joint fusion, and axial disease in the Old World cases that some have claimed represent RA. Old World reports of alleged RA often describe isolated bones or isolated "finds" without epidemiologic consideration. Subchondral erosions were prese...
Spine, 2005
Thoracolumbar facet and interfacet linear dimensions were measured and analyzed. To characterize ... more Thoracolumbar facet and interfacet linear dimensions were measured and analyzed. To characterize and analyze the thoracolumbar facet and interfacet size and shape in relation to gender, ethnic group, and age and to detect the extent of normal facet tropism along the thoracolumbar spine. Knowledge on facet tropism and interfacet shape is limited in the literature as most data are based on 2-dimensional measurements, small samples, or isolated vertebrae. Facet shape as represented by width, length, width/length ratio and interfacet distances was obtained directly from dry vertebrae of 240 adult human spines. The specimen&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s osteologic material is part of the Hamann-Todd Osteological Collection housed at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Cleveland, OH. A total of 4080 vertebrae (T1-L5) from the vertebral columns of individuals 20 to 80 years of age were measured, using a Microscribe 3-dimensional apparatus (Immersion Co., San Jose, CA). Data were recorded directly on computer software. Statistical analysis included paired t tests and ANOVA. A significant correlation was found between all thoracolumbar facet dimensions and an individual&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s height and weight. Facet tropism is a major characteristic of the thoracolumbar spine, the left being longer in the thorax while the right is longer in the lumbar. In general, facet size is age-independent and greater in males compared with females with a significant ethnic component. Facet length is similar for all thoracic vertebrae, whereas it sharply and continuously increases in the lumbar vertebrae. Facet dimension manifests a bipolar distribution along the thoracolumbar vertebrae. Width/length ratio indicates that facets are longer than wider for most verte-brae. The interarticular area manifests a marked inverted trapezoidal shape at T1-T2, a rectangular shape at T3-L3, and an ordinary trapezoidal shape at L4-L5. Facet tropism is a normal characteristic in humans, yet it varies along the thoracolumbar spine.
s, including authoritative papers on the origins of rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, sy... more s, including authoritative papers on the origins of rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, syphilis, and tuberculosis, and character of bone changes in metastatic cancer, myeloma, leukemia, tuberculosis, fungal disease, renal disease, treponemal disease, rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, gout, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and hypertrophic osteoarthropathy. He is the author of four books and has participated in eight Discovery Channel/BBC documentaries on origins of diseases and ancient reptiles. Since 1986, Dr. Rothschild has been professor of medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, Rootstown, OH. He is also adjuvant professor of anthropology at The University of Kansas and of biomedical engineering at The University of Akron, Ohio, and holds research associateships at the Carnegie Museum and Biodiversity Institute of the University of Kansas. He was the fi rst director of the Rheumatology Division at The Chicago Medical School and a prime force behind the resurgence of data-based paleorheumatology and comparative osseous pathology. Hans-Peter Schultze, Ph.D. , graduated from the Universität Tübingen, Germany, in 1965. After 2 years as postdoc at the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet Stockholm, Sweden, and 11 years at the Universität Göttingen as assistant
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Papers by Bruce Rothschild