The effect of education given to type 2 diabetic individuals on diabetes self-management and self-efficacy: Randomized controlled trial

AimThis study used a randomized controlled trial design and was carried out to examine the effect of education on diabetes self-management and self-efficacy in patients with type 2 diabetes.MethodsThe study was carried out between July 2016–March 2017. Data were collected using information form, Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ), self-efficacy scale for patients with type 2 diabetes (DSS).The individuals in the experimental group were given education. Both groups were reminded about the control time of their metabolic values on the phone in the 3rd and 6th months.ResultsThe average age of the individuals was 59.91 ± 8.93 (n = 78), 62.8% (n = 49) were female, 92.3% (n = 72), were married, 42.3% (n = 33) were high school graduates and their diabetes duration was 7.05 ± 3.9. There was a statistically significant difference in the 6th month metabolic values in the experimental group compared to the control group. When diabetes self-management and self-efficacy were examined, a statistically significant difference was found in the experimental group compared to the control group at 3rd and 6th months (p < 0.05, p < 0.01).ConclusionIn this study, a significant increase in diabetes self-management and self-efficacy and a significant decrease in metabolic values were observed as a result of education and phone reminders given to individuals with type 2 diabetes.     

Postural balance and oculomotor control are influenced by neck kinaesthetic functions in elite ice hockey players

BackgroundResearch indicates that neck kinaesthetic awareness plays an important role in oculomotor and balance control, however the relationship has not been studied in athletes. As performance in ice hockey demands visual perception acuity during skating, while constantly shifting between unilateral and bilateral stances in sports specific posture more in-depth relationship should be studied.Research questionWhat is the relationship between neck kinaesthetic awareness, postural balance and eye movement control in professional ice hockey players and non-trained individuals?MethodsIn this observational study, centre-of-pressure was measured using force plate in twenty-eight hockey players and thirty non-trained participants during different stances in eyes-opened and eyes-closed conditions. Butterfly test and Head-to-Neutral Relocation test were performed to assess neck kinaesthesia. Horizontal smooth pursuit eye movements were measured using video-oculography. Linear regression was used to determine the relationship between neck kinaesthesia, body sway and oculomotor control.ResultsTime-on-target in Butterfly test was able to predict low to medium proportions of variance in amplitude and velocity parameters for single leg stances in hockey players (R² = .220–.698). Head-to-Neutral Relocation test was able to predict low to medium proportion of variance in average eye movement velocity during first 100 milliseconds of smooth pursuit initiation for both groups (R² = .262–.541).SignificanceFindings from our study suggest that cervical spine afferent input plays an important role in maintaining unilateral postural balance in hockey players, with less evidence presented in controls. Sports specific posture or upper body loading could lead to adaptations in neck proprioception, not frequently considered when searching for balance related injury risk factors or performance deficits. Our study suggests, that in addition to balance control, neck kinaesthesia can also affect oculomotor performance which was present in both groups. This is especially evident when initiating changes in eye movement direction.     

Motor dysfunction in mild cognitive impairment as tested by kinematic analysis and transcranial magnetic stimulation

ObjectivePrevious studies have demonstrated voluntary movement alterations as well as motor cortex excitability and plasticity changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). To investigate the pathophysiology of movement abnormalities in MCI, we tested possible relationships between movement abnormalities and primary motor cortex alterations in patients.MethodsFourteen amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients and 16 healthy controls were studied. Cognitive assessment was performed using clinical scales. Finger tapping was recorded by a motion analysis system. Transcranial magnetic stimulation was used to test the input/output curve of motor evoked potentials, intracortical inhibition, and short-latency afferent inhibition. Primary motor cortex plasticity was probed by theta burst stimulation. We investigated correlations between movement abnormalities, clinical scores, and cortical neurophysiological parameters.ResultsMCI patients showed less rhythmic movement but no other movement abnormalities. Cortical excitability measures were normal in patients, whereas plasticity was reduced. Movement rhythm abnormalities correlated with frontal dysfunction scores.ConclusionOur study in MCI patients demonstrated abnormal voluntary movement and plasticity changes, with no correlation between the two. Altered rhythm correlated with frontal dysfunction.SignificanceOur results contribute to the understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms of motor impairment in MCI.     

品管圈对缩短结直肠癌患者术后胃肠功能恢复时间的效果观察

目的探讨品管圈对结直肠癌患者术后胃肠功能恢复时间的临床效果。方法选取2019年4月至5月间上海市健康医学院附属嘉定区中心医院收治的52例结直肠癌术后患者为改进前组,2019年6月至7月52例患者为改进后组。检查改进前组患者平均排气时间、排便时间及腹胀发生率,采用品管圈对改进后组患者进行干预,比较两组患者胃肠道功能和相关无形成果。结果改进后组患者排气时间、排便时间和腹胀发生率均低于改进前组,差异均有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。通过品管圈活动,圈员们责任心、自我价值、团队精神、科研能力、沟通能力和解决问题能力均提升。结论品管圈可缩短结直肠癌患者术后排气时间和排便时间,降低腹胀发生率,提高圈员综合素质,值得推广。     

Therapeutic effectiveness of a single exercise session combined with Walk Aide functional electrical stimulation in post-stroke patients:a crossover design study

A growing body of evidence has suggested that the imbalance of epigenetic markers and oxidative stress appears to be involved in the pathophysiology and progression of stroke. Thus, strategies that modulate these biomarkers might be considered targets for neuroprotection and novel therapeutic opportunities for these patients. Physical exercise has been reported to induce changes in these epigenetic markers and improve clinical outcomes in different populations. However, little is reported on this in post-stroke patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a single exercise session with Walk Aide functional electrical stimulation(FES) on cognitive performance, clinical functional parameters, oxidative stress and epigenetic modulation in post-stroke individuals. In this crossover design study, 12 post-stroke individuals aged 54–72 years of either sexes were included and subjected to a single session of exercise(45 minutes) without Walk Aide functional electrical stimulation(EXE alone group), followed by another single session of exercise(45 minutes) with Walk Aide functional electrical stimulation(EXE + FES group). The clinical functional outcome measures, cognitive performance and blood collections for biomarker measurements were assessed pre-and post-intervention. After intervention, higher Berg Balance Scale scores were obtained in the EXE + FES group than in the EXE alone group. There was no significant difference in the Timed Up and Go test results post-intervention between EXE alone and EXE + FES groups. After intervention, a better cognitive performance was found in both groups compared with before the intervention. After intervention, the Timed Up and Go test scores were higher in the EXE + FES group than in the EXE alone group. In addition, the intervention induced lower levels of lipid peroxidation. After intervention, carbonyl level was lower, superoxide dismutase activity and superoxide dismutase/catalase activity ratio were higher in the EXE + FES group, compared with the EXE group alone. In each group, both histone deacetylase(HDAC2) and histone acetyltransferase activities were increased after intervention compared with before the intervention. These findings suggest that a single exercise session with Walk Aide FES is more effective on balance ability and cognitive performance compared with conventional exercise alone in post-stroke patients. This is likely to be related to the regulation of oxidative stress markers. The present study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Methodist University Center-IPA(approval No. 2.423.376) on December 7, 2017 and registered in the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials—Re BEC(RBR-9 phj2 q) on February 11, 2019.     

Increase in muscle tone promotes the use of ankle strategies during perturbed stance

Background:To maintain an upright standing posture against external disturbances, the human body mainly employs two types of postural control strategies: “ankle strategy” and “hip strategy.” While it has been reported that the magnitude of the disturbance alters the use of postural control strategies, it has not been elucidated how the level of muscle tone, one of the crucial parameters of bodily function, determines the use of each strategy. We have previously confirmed using forward dynamics simulations of human musculoskeletal models that an increased muscle tone promotes the use of ankle strategies. The objective of the present study was to experimentally evaluate a hypothesis: an increased muscle tone promotes the use of ankle strategies.Research question:Do changes in the muscle tone affect the use of ankle strategies?Methods:Participants were asked to maintain their standing posture on a movable platform sliding horizontally at several accelerations. Postural reactions for support surface translations were examined under three instructions with or without handgrips: relax state, squeezing a handgrip, and an increased muscle tone of the whole body. Surface-electromyography and marker locations of joints were measured to calculate the index of muscle tone and postural control strategies. The relationship of the indexes was evaluated based on correlation coefficients.Results:In half of the conditions, weak negative correlations were noted between the muscle tone index and postural control strategy index. In other words, an increased muscle tone rather promoted the use of the ankle strategy than the hip strategy. These findings are consistent with our previous simulation results.Significance:The results recognized a positive response to the research question. This suggests that it is crucial to take muscle tone into account to understand postural control strategies.     

Traumatisme et résilience associés à la pandémie de la COVID-19 dans les villes de Bafoussam et de Dschang au Cameroun

IntroductionThe emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic in Cameroon, as in Africa and around the world, was marked by a suddenness and unpredictability that fascinated the imagination. The considerable psychic and social repercussions of the pandemic mobilized a significant anguish of death. The sudden onset of the pandemic was followed by spectacular, high-profile deaths that fascinated the imagination, listing it in the order of traumatic events, provoking reactions of astonishment, flight and avoidance.GoalThe objective of this study is to determine the symptomatology of post-traumatic stress disorder, as well as the resilience, associated with the Covid-19 pandemic in the Western Region of Cameroon.MethodologyThe research was carried out following the model of general population mental health surveys. The availability of area frames (sampling) made it possible to opt for probabilistic calculations. First and second year master's students in clinical psychology from Dschang University were involved in data collection. They benefited from a two-day seminar on data collection techniques in the general population. The calculated sample size is 384 households. The anticipated response rate, set at 90%, made it possible to increase robustness and to anticipate a total sample of 424 households, spread over 3 districts of Bafoussam and Dschang, according to the choice previously made. The study followed the ethical provisions of the Helsinki Protocol. The data collection tools used are: the Impact of Event Scale-Revised and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale.Results409 subjects were recruited, representing a completion rate of 106.5%. 70.7% of subjects exhibited symptoms of PTSD. These symptoms are more often mild (40.9%) or moderate (25.6%). Women are more affected (73.7%) by PTSD than men (67.9%). In addition to sex and age, area of residence and marital status, appear to be significantly associated with symptoms of PTSD: subjects under 35 years of age have a significantly higher prevalence rate than those over 35; the rate of PTSD is significantly higher in subjects living in urban areas than in those living in rural areas; single subjects are more affected by PTSD (40.1%) than married subjects (26.7%). The average score recorded on the CD-RISC is 64.3, the standard deviation is 15.3 and the coefficient of variation is 24%. This average falls into the second quartile of the distribution, indicating average resilience. CD-RISC scores are not affected by gender, age, marital status, level of education, or occupational status. These characteristics are therefore not factors of resilience.ConclusionThe Covid-19 pandemic has had a psychological impact in Cameroon which has made it a major psychosocial stressor. More than 6 in 10 people have symptoms of PTSD. But this symptomatology is often weak or moderate, testifying to an effective resilience, to balance the traumatic effects of the pandemic.     

The impact of a total knee arthroplasty on jaw movements,upper body posture,plantar pressure distribution,and postural control

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on linked cranial and caudal structures.

Methods: Thirty-five (14f/21m) subjects participated in this study: 15 subjects (9f, 6m) pre- and post- TKA and a control group of 20 subjects (5f, 15m). The measurements included: jaw condyle position and movement, back scan, plantar pressure distribution, and body sway.

Results: There were no significant differences in electronic position analysis of the jaw; however, the protrusion of the TKA group improved (p = 0.001). The test group had a more anteriorly inclined thoracic spine and a less pronounced lumbar lordosis. Before and after surgery, the body sway in the test group was larger.

Conclusion: The TKA affected most prominently the static mechanisms of the postural control and the spine position. The trajectories of the mandible during protrusion also changed slightly.     

张应力对小鼠蝶枕软骨联合细胞增殖及低氧诱导因子- 1α表达的影响

目的:了解循环张应力对小鼠颅底蝶枕软骨联合细胞(SOSCs)增殖及低氧诱导因子-1α表达的影响。方法:采集1 d龄小鼠的SOSCs进行体外培养,对第三代细胞加载牵张形变率分别为3%、6%、9%,频率为1 Hz,持续时间为1 h的循环张应力;用流式细胞术测算细胞增殖指数,用蛋白免疫印迹技术分析Hif-1α的表达水平。用按相同条件培养但不加力的细胞作为对照。结果:各实验组细胞的增殖指数和Hif-1α相对表达量都高于对照组(P<0.05);其中,6%牵张形变率组的细胞增殖指数和Hif-1α相对表达量较对照组增加最多。结论:适宜强度的循环张应力对体外培养小鼠SOSCs的增殖和Hif-1α表达具有促进作用。     

Primary vaccination in adult patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation – A single center retrospective efficacy analysis

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) results in a loss of humoral immunity and subsequent risk for severe infections. Thus, re-vaccination is required but may fail due to incomplete immune reconstitution. We retrospectively analyzed predictors of immune response to primary vaccination applied according to the EBMT (European Blood and Marrow Transplantation Group) recommendations. Serologic response to vaccination against diphtheria (D), tetanus (T), Bordetella pertussis (aP) and Haemophilus influenzae (Hib) (administrated as combined DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccination) was studied in 84 alloHSCT patients transplanted between 2008 and 2015 (age at alloHSCT: 18.6–70.6 years). All patients with a relapse-free survival of ≥9 months, at least 3 consecutive vaccinations and absence of intravenous immunoglobulin administration within 3 months before and after vaccination met the primary inclusion criteria. Additionally, immunological response to a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine was analyzed in a subgroup of 67 patients. Patients’ characteristics at the time of first vaccination were recorded. Responses were measured as vaccine-specific antibody titers. Regarding DTaP-Hib-IPV vaccination, 89.3% (n = 75) of all patients achieved protective titers to at least 3 of the 4 vaccine components and were thus considered responders. 10.7% (n = 9) of the patients were classified as non-responders with positive immune response to less than 3 components. Highest response was observed for Hib (97.4%), tetanus (95.2%) and pneumococcal vaccination (83.6%) while only 68.3% responded to vaccination against Bordetella pertussis. Significant risk factors for failure of vaccination response included low B cell counts (p < 0.001; cut-off: 0.05 B cells/nl) and low IgG levels (p = 0.026; mean IgG of responders 816 mg/dl vs. 475 mg/dl of non-responders). Further, a trend was observed that prior cGvHD impairs vaccination response as 88.9% of the non-responders but only 54.7% of the responders had prior cGvHD (p = 0.073). The results demonstrate, that the currently proposed vaccination strategy leads to seroprotection in the majority of alloHSCT patients.