The Portuguese osteopaths' attitudes towards a biomechanical or biopsychosocial model in the approach of chronic low back pain – A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey

ObjectiveThis study investigated the Portuguese Osteopaths attitudes towards a biomechanical or biopsychosocial approach of care in patients with chronic low back pain (cLBP).MethodsA cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of Portuguese registered osteopaths was composed using sociodemographic determinants, the Health Care Providers' Pain and Impairment Relationship Scale (HC-PAIRS) and Pain Attitudes and Beliefs for Physiotherapists (PABS-PT). The HC-PAIRS assesses the attitudes and beliefs about the functional expectations of patients with cLBP, and the PABS-PT assesses the dominant model of care.ResultsPortuguese registered osteopaths (n = 103) had mean PABS-PT subscale scores of 29.6 ± 7.7 [CI95% 28.12–31.14] (biomechanical) and 22.9 ± 5.3 [CI95% 21.88–23.94] (biopsychosocial). The mean HC-PAIRS total score was 52.4 ± 9.0 [CI95% 50.66–54.16]. There was a strong and positive correlation between the HC-PAIRS and the PABS-PT biomechanical subscale (n (103) = 0.55, p < 0.001, and in PABS-PT a negative correlation between the biomechanical and biopsychosocial subscale scores (n(103) = -0.21, p = 0.028).ConclusionsPortuguese osteopaths tend to adopt a biomechanical model of care instead of a biopsychosocial model in the management of patients with chronic low back pain. They seem to agree that chronic low back pain was due entirely to tissue damage, indicating strong biomechanical beliefs about the pain that may ultimately influence their clinical decisions.     

肌骨超声在腰痛诊断中的应用

腰痛已成为世界范围内主要的公共健康问题,常规的腰痛影像学检查会反复地对患者造成辐射伤害,并且存在一定的漏诊、误诊的可能性,延误治疗时机。肌骨超声是一种非侵入性的成像方法,具有安全、无创的特点,并且价格低廉,已经作为常用的腰痛辅助筛查手段。通过对腰痛的常规影像学检查手段进行分析比较,全面阐述肌骨超声在腰痛的诊断及康复过程中的价值,为更好地促进腰痛的诊断和康复提供理论基础。     

2-Dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione,isolated from the root of Averrhoa carambola L., protects against diabetic kidney disease by inhibiting TLR4/TGFβ signaling pathway

ObjectiveDiabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the leading cause of death and disability of diabetes mellitus. However, there is still a lack of specific drugs for the treatment of DKD. The chief aim of this research is to investigate the role and mechanism of 2-Dodecyl-6-methoxycyclohexa-2,5-diene-1,4-dione (DMDD) for DKD.MethodsWild type and TLR4 knockout mice were induced to diabetes. After 4-week treatment with DMDD, blood sugar, renal function, blood lipid and pathological changes were assessed. Real-time PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the expressions of TLR4, TGFβ1 and Smad2/3 in the renal tissue.ResultsDMDD improved the serum lipid and decreased fasting blood glucose levels in diabetic mice. CysC and urinary albumin levels increased markedly in the diabetic group, and they were obviously decreased after 4 weeks of DMDD treatment. Compared with the WT diabetic mice, the urinary albumin and CysC in the TLR4^-/- mice were expressed at lower levels. HE and Masson’s staining revealed that DMDD clearly ameliorated pathological changes and renal fibrosis. When TLR4 gene was knock out, the pathological was improved. Mechanistically, TLR4, TGF-β1 and Smad2/3 were obvious up-regulation in the renal tissues of diabetic mice. The expressions of these proteins were significantly down-regulated after DMDD treatment (p < 0.05). In the TLR4^-/- mice, mRNA and protein levels of TGF-β1 and Smad2/3 were obviously lower than those in the WT mice. In addition, IHC revealed that a strong in situ expressions of TLR4, TGF-β1 and Smad2/3 were seen in the kidney tissues of diabetic mice, which were distinctly weakened in the DMDD-treated mice. In the TLR4^-/- mice, however, expressions of TGF-β1 and Smad2/3 were not remarkable increase in the diabetic mice compared with normal mice.ConclusionsThese results strongly indicate that TLR4 is essential for DMDD protection against renal dysfunction in diabetic mice. Its hypoglycemic and anti-fibrosis effects were likely mediated by the TLR4/TGFβ signaling pathway.     

Return to Work Self-Efficacy (RTWSE-19) Assessment for Patients with Acute Work-Related Low Back Pain

Nurse practitioners (NPs) often see patients with occupational back pain. Research indicates that hesitation to return to work (RTW) is largely due to perceptions of being unable to resume job tasks or meet expectations. This pilot study evaluates whether the Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy–19 (RTWSE-19) questionnaire, which has been used for injuries at other anatomical sites, is appropriate for lower back pain. The RTWSE-19 was administered to 30 patients who presented with a complaint of an acute work-related back pain; however, it was found to be nonpredictive of RTW, suggesting that NPs should identify other tools to assess their patients’ ability to RTW.     

新疆低温奶消费情况调研报告

本文旨在探讨影响新疆低温乳消费市场的限制性因素及相应的对策。调研通过网络调查问卷和实地调研走访相结合的方式,从乳制品消费结构、消费能力,低温奶认知、低温奶购买意愿、购买便利性、购买偏好及健康饮奶习惯等方面分析影响新疆低温乳消费市场的因素。结果显示:32.93%的消费者不了解乳中生物活性物质(如乳铁蛋白)的热敏性,39.97%的消费者不能区分各类液态乳产品,47.64%的消费者有煮沸巴氏杀菌乳后饮用的习惯;43.21%的消费者"担心未消毒彻底,存在细菌",36.30%的消费者认为"加热后可增加营养价值和香味";72.64%的消费者曾感到"购买巴氏杀菌乳不方便";54.85%的消费者认为本地品牌"更新鲜、更健康"。结果启示:本地乳企应该充分利用在当地的良好品牌信誉度和牧场资源,尽早布局低温奶市场,通过研发高品质低温乳制品、普及科学饮奶理念、改善冷链物流能力、完善购物体验和精细化服务能力等手段,提高生产竞争力,抵御进口乳制品和常温乳对当地乳品市场的冲击,占领区域低温奶消费市场。