On English translation of infant Tuina points in traditional Chinese medicine

1 Introduction In recent years,several international standardized traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) nomenclatures have been published,including the major ones A Proposed Standard International Acupuncture Nomenclature by World Health Organization (WHO) in 1991[1],International Standard Terminologies on Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific Region[2] by WHO in the Western Pacific Region (WPRO) in 2007 and International Standard Chinese-English Basic Nomenclature of Chinese Medicine[3] by the World Federation of Chinese Medicine Societies (WFCMS) in 2007.However,an English translation of points applied in infant Tuina therapy is neither contained in any of these standardized nomenclatures,nor in major Chinese-English dictionaries of Chinese medicine[4-6].Infant Tuina is an effective and common therapy used in the pediatric department of Chinese medicine.As the points used in infant Tuina therapy are different from the points used in standard acupuncture,and are essential to practice,the authors believe it is important to make an English translation of infant Tuina points and explore the principles and protocol of their translation.     

A touchy topic: tactile assessment among pediatric therapists

Purpose: Tactile impairments affect over 77% of children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP). This study aimed to examine the current practices of pediatric therapists in relation to tactile assessment and the barriers to carrying out tactile assessment in children with CP.

Method: The study was in two parts. In part one, pediatric therapists (n?=?35) completed a questionnaire detailing their current knowledge and the use of tactile assessments in children. In part two, therapists (n?=?12) completed a questionnaire based on the Theoretical Domains Framework examining the barriers and facilitators to completing tactile assessments in clinical practice.

Results: Most therapists (over 90%) carry out tactile assessments in the minority (less than 25%) of children with CP that they treat. Therapists reported the need for improved knowledge/skills (n?=?24) and confidence (n?=?19) in carrying out tactile assessments, alongside the provision of necessary equipment (n?=?17). Qualitative reports also suggested that organizational assessment guidelines and templates may facilitate the implementation of tactile assessment.

Conclusions: A multi-faceted knowledge translation strategy to address the barriers to tactile assessment among pediatric therapists needs to be developed.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• Pediatric occupational therapists and physiotherapists may not be completing tactile assessments according to current evidence-based recommendations.

• Therapists identified five main barriers, including a lack of knowledge, skills, belief in their capabilities (confidence), behavioral regulation (organizational procedures), and environmental context (e.g., equipment).

• Therapists recommended several potential facilitators, including access to necessary equipment, procedures, record sheets, training in tactile assessments, and research supporting related interventions.

• Service providers are encouraged to develop multi-faceted knowledge translation strategies that address these barriers and maximize facilitators.

     

Physical activity promotion for people with spinal cord injury: physiotherapists’ beliefs and actions

Purpose: It is vital that people with spinal cord injury (SCI) lead a physically active lifestyle to promote long term health and well-being. Yet within rehabilitation and upon discharge into the community, people with SCI are largely inactive. Physiotherapists are well placed to promote a physically active lifestyle and are valued and trusted messengers of physical activity (PA) by people with SCI. Therefore this study aimed to explore the perceptions of physiotherapists in SCI rehabilitation on PA for people with SCI, and what is done to promote PA.

Method: Semi-structured interviews were completed with 18 neurological physiotherapists (2–22 years experience) from SCI centres in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Framed by interpretivism, an inductive thematic analysis was conducted.

Results: Three themes were identified: (1) perceived importance of PA; (2) inconsistent PA promotion efforts; and (3) concern regarding community PA.

Conclusions: This article makes a significant contribution to the literature by identifying that although physiotherapists value PA, active promotion of PA remains largely absent from their practice. To enable physiotherapists to promote and prescribe PA as a structured and integral component of their practice, effective knowledge strategies need designing and implementing at the macro, meso, and micro levels of healthcare.

• Implications for Rehabilitation

• Physiotherapists are well placed to promote a physically active lifestyle and are perceived as valued and trusted messengers of physical activity (PA).

• The importance of PA for patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) is valued by physiotherapists yet PA promotion is largely absent from their practice.

• Physiotherapists lack specific education and training on PA and SCI and hold certain beliefs which restrict their promotion of PA.

• Knowledge translation across the macro, meso, and micro levels of healthcare are essential to facilitate effective PA promotion.

     

Associations between neighborhood perceptions and mental well-being among older adults

This study examined whether perceived neighborhood factors were associated with positive well-being in older adults using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Neighborhood perceptions were assessed at baseline (2006/2007) and three measures of well-being – hedonic, eudaimonic and evaluative – were assessed at baseline and follow-up (2010/2011) for 6134 participants. In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, negative neighborhood perceptions were associated with poorer well-being on all three measures. These associations remained significant after adjusting for a range of sociodemographic and health status variables and depressive symptoms.     

Principles and requirements for stroke recovery science

The disappointing results in bench-to-bedside translation of neuroprotective strategies caused a certain shift in stroke research towards enhancing the endogenous recovery potential of the brain. One reason for this focus on recovery is the much wider time window for therapeutic interventions which is open for at least several months. Since recently two large clinical studies using d-amphetamine or fluoxetine, respectively, to enhance post-stroke neurological outcome failed again it is a good time for a critical reflection on principles and requirements for stroke recovery science. In principal, stroke recovery science deals with all events from the molecular up to the functional and behavioral level occurring after brain ischemia eventually ending up with any measurable improvement of various clinical parameters. A detailed knowledge of the spontaneously occurring post-ischemic regeneration processes is the indispensable prerequisite for any therapeutic approaches aiming to modify these responses to enhance post-stroke recovery. This review will briefly illuminate the molecular mechanisms of post-ischemic regeneration and the principle possibilities to foster post-stroke recovery. In this context, recent translational approaches are analyzed. Finally, the principal and specific requirements and pitfalls in stroke recovery research as well as potential explanations for translational failures will be discussed.     

Ketogenic diet for refractory epilepsy with MEHMO syndrome: Caution for acute necrotizing pancreatitis

BackgroundThe MEHMO (mental retardation, epileptic seizures, hypogonadism and hypogenitalism, microcephaly, and obesity) syndrome, which is caused by a hemizygous variant in the EIF2S3 gene on chromosome Xp22, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Refractory epileptic seizures and glucose dysregulation are characteristic manifestations of the MEHMO syndrome, which can often diminish patients’ quality of life.CaseA 5-year-old boy was referred to our hospital because of profound intellectual disability, micropenis, cryptorchidism, central hypothyroidism, and microcephaly. He had neonatal hypoglycemia at birth and later experienced refractory epileptic seizures and developed obesity and insulin-dependent diabetes. A diagnosis of MEHMO syndrome was established on the basis of the patient’s clinical manifestations and de novo novel missense variant in the EIF2S3 gene (NM_001415.3:c.805 T > G) that was detected through whole-exome analysis. Although the patient’s refractory seizures and diabetes had been well controlled with a combination of ketogenic diet (KD) therapy and insulin therapy, acute fatal necrotizing pancreatitis occurred at the age of 68 months. Moreover, despite intensive care, his condition rapidly deteriorated to multiple organ failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome, resulting in death.ConclusionThe pathophysiology of glucose intolerance in MEHMO syndrome remains to be elucidated; however, recent studies have suggested that EIF2S3 gene variants could lead to glucose dysregulation and β-cell damage in the pancreas. We suspect that in the present case, KD therapy led to an abnormal load on the beta cells that were damaged owing to eIF2γ dysfunction. Therefore, the adverse effects of KD in patients with MEHMO syndrome should be considered.     

Spanish Medical Interpreters’ Management of Challenges in End of Life Discussions

ObjectiveProfessional medical interpreters facilitate patient understanding of illness, prognosis, and treatment options. Facilitating end of life discussions can be challenging. Our objective was to better understand the challenges professional medical interpreters face and how they affect the accuracy of provider-patient communication during discussions of end of life.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with professional Spanish medical interpreters. We asked about their experiences interpreting end of life discussions, including questions about values, professional and emotional challenges interpreting these conversations, and how those challenges might impact accuracy. We used a grounded theory, constant comparative method to analyze the data. Participants completed a short demographic questionnaire.ResultsSeventeen Spanish language interpreters participated. Participants described intensive attention to communication accuracy during end of life discussions, even when discussions caused emotional or professional distress. Professional strains such as rapid discussion tempo contributed to unintentional alterations in discussion content. Perceived non-empathic behaviors of providers contributed to rare, intentional alterations in discussion flow and content.ConclusionWe found that despite challenges, Spanish language interpreters focus intensively on accurate interpretation in discussions of end of life.Practice ImplicationsProvider training on how to best work with interpreters in these important conversations could support accurate and empathetic interpretation.     

Processes of knowing in the translation of a health communication intervention for dialysis patients awaiting kidney transplantation

ObjectiveTo strengthen patients’ health literacy and their role as active knowledge actors, we developed a health communication intervention including a film-viewing and counselling session for patients awaiting kidney transplantation. We aimed to explore processes of knowing in the translation of the intervention.MethodsWe applied an ethnographic research approach, observing nine intervention sessions with patients and dialysis nurses. Afterwards, the patients and the nurses were interviewed in-depth. Data were analysed using Engebretsen’s modified version of Lonergans’ four-step model of knowing.ResultsThe following knowing processes were identified: i) Knowing as meaning-making; ii) Knowing as acquiring confidence; and iii) Accessing professionals’ and peer experts’ knowledge. Divergent considerations were taken by the different knowledge actors, which had a direct influence on the knowing processes and knowledge translation.ConclusionsThe findings support active interactions between patients and healthcare providers in processes of knowing. These include self-conscious approaches and critical questioning in both parties.Practice implicationsFor transplant professionals, this study demonstrates knowing processes in a real-life context. It also spotlights professional skills and attitudes regarding the importance of self-conscious questioning and a critical interrogating position (for both patients and providers).