Can you give me a hand? A comparison of hands and feet as optimal anatomical sites for skin conductance recording

The fingers and feet have long been accepted as optimal anatomical recording sites for electrodermal activity. The available literature suggests that the feet are more responsive than the fingers. The present report compared skin conductance level (SCL) and responses (SCRs) from the left foot and the distal phalanges of the fingers on the nondominant hand among 19 participants. The principal results were (a) SCRs recorded from the fingers were significantly larger and more frequent with shorter latencies than SCRs from the foot, (b) SCL from the fingers was significantly higher than from the foot, (c) the fingers exhibited significantly greater discrimination conditioning than the foot, and (d) skin conductance measures recorded from the fingers and foot were significantly positively correlated. Specifically, our results demonstrate that the distal phalanges of the fingers are electrodermally more responsive than the abductor hallucis area of the foot.     

One Year Impact on Social Connectedness for Homebound Older Adults: Randomized Controlled Trial of Tele-delivered Behavioral Activation Versus Tele-delivered Friendly Visits

ObjectivesLonely and socially isolated homebound older participants of a randomized trial comparing behavioral activation (BA) versus friendly visiting, both delivered by lay counselors using tele-videoconferencing, were reassessed at 1-year to determine whether benefits at 12 weeks were maintained over time.MethodsThe study reinterviewed 64/89 (71.9%) participants.ResultsThe positive 12-week impact of tailored BA on 3 indicators of social connectedness (loneliness, social interaction and satisfactions with social support) was maintained, albeit to a lesser degree, over 1 year. The positive impact on depressive symptoms and disability was also maintained.ConclusionsThe intervention's potential reach and scalability are suggested by several factors: participants were recruited by home delivered meals programs during routine assessments; the intervention was brief and delivered by lay counselors; care delivery by tele-videoconferencing is increasingly common. The 1 year outcomes indicate that brief BA delivered by tele-video conferencing can have an enduring impact on social connectedness.     

“You Must Become a Chameleon to Survive”: Adolescent Experiences of Camouflaging

Camouflaging includes strategies used by individuals to mask or hide autistic traits. Research has shown that both autistic and neurotypical individuals engage in camouflaging and that there may be sex differences in the reasons for camouflaging in autistic adults. The purpose of this qualitative study was to extend previous research on the lived experience of camouflaging through exploring camouflaging motivations and consequences in autistic and neurotypical adolescents through both questionnaires (n?=?132) and semi-structured interviews (n?=?19). Results revealed trends in camouflaging motivations and consequences by diagnosis and sex, as well as by sex within the autistic group. These findings further inform our understanding of camouflaging and why it may be reported as particularly detrimental for autistic females.

     

Transcranial direct current stimulation for post-stroke dysphagia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Journal of Neurology - Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been investigated as a tool for dysphagia recovery after stroke in several single-center randomized controlled trials...     

Do indices of baroreflex failure and peripheral noradrenergic deficiency predict the magnitude of orthostatic hypotension in Lewy body diseases?

Clinical Autonomic Research - Patients with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension in the setting of Lewy body diseases (LBnOH) typically have baroreflex failure and peripheral noradrenergic...     

Brain activation and connectivity in anorexia nervosa and body dysmorphic disorder when viewing bodies: relationships to clinical symptoms and perception of appearance

Brain Imaging and Behavior - Anorexia nervosa (AN) and body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) are characterized by distorted perception of appearance, yet no studies have directly compared the neurobiology...     

Combination Therapy Reverses Hyperglycemia in NOD Mice With Established Type 1 Diabetes

An increasing number of therapies have proven effective at reversing hyperglycemia in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse model of type 1 diabetes (T1D), yet situations of successful translation to human T1D are limited. This may be partly due to evaluating the effect of treating immediately at diagnosis in mice, which may not be reflective of the advanced disease state in humans at disease onset. In this study, we treated NOD mice with new-onset as well as established disease using various combinations of four drugs: antithymocyte globulin (ATG), granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), a dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor (DPP-4i), and a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Therapy with all four drugs induced remission in 83% of new-onset mice and, remarkably, in 50% of NOD mice with established disease. Also noteworthy, disease remission occurred irrespective of initial blood glucose values and mechanistically was characterized by enhanced immunoregulation involving alterations in CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, and natural killer cells. This combination therapy also allowed for effective treatment at reduced drug doses (compared with effective monotherapy), thereby minimizing potential adverse effects while retaining efficacy. This combination of approved drugs demonstrates a novel ability to reverse T1D, thereby warranting translational consideration.     

The prevalence and incidence of sexually transmitted infections in a prospective cohort of injection drug users in Vancouver, British Columbia.

BACKGROUND: While several studies have reported on sexual risk behaviours and the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among injection drug users (IDUs), there are fewer prospective studies that have been able to examine populations of IDUs with no history of STIs. Therefore, the authors examined prevalence, correlates and factors associated with time to first STI infection in a prospective cohort of IDUs in Vancouver, British Columbia. METHODS: The authors examined the prevalence and correlates of STIs among IDUs at the time of recruitment into a prospective cohort study. The authors also evaluated the cumulative rate of time to first STI among IDUs with no history of STIs at baseline using the Kaplan-Meier method, and modelled factors independently associated with first STI using Cox regression. RESULTS: Between May 1996 and November 2003, 1560 individuals were recruited into the cohort; of these individuals, 745 reported a history of STI at baseline. Among the 815 who did not report an STI at baseline, 671 (82%) had at least one follow-up visit and were eligible for the analysis of time to first STI. After 36 months of follow-up, the cumulative rate of first STI was 8.2% for men and 15.9% for women (log-rank P<0.001), whereas the cumulative rate of first STI was 8.0% for IDUs who did not report sex trade involvement versus 19.8% for IDUs who reported sex trade involvement (log-rank P<0.001). In multivariate analyses, the risk of first STI remained independently associated with unprotected sex with regular partners (relative hazard=2.04, 95% CI 1.29 to 3.23; P=0.001) and unprotected sex with sex trade clients (relative hazard=2.36, 95% CI 1.46 to 3.82; P=0.005). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the authors found that STIs were associated with both regular sex partnerships and sex trade involvement. These findings are of particular concern because both unprotected sex with regular partners and sex trade involvement is common among IDUs. Interventions to encourage condom use among IDUs, particularly those with regular sex partners and those involved in the sex trade, should be further developed.     

KNOWLEDGE OF INJURY PREVENTION AND PREVALENCE OF RISK FACTORS FOR THROWING INJURIES IN A SAMPLE OF YOUTH BASEBALL PLAYERS

Background

Information on baseball injury prevention and pitch count recommendations is growing, however, the incidence of throwing injuries continues to rise. This study is the first to assess knowledge of safe throwing guidelines and risk factors from the perspective of youth athletes.

Purpose

The purpose of this study is two‐fold: (1) to evaluate knowledge of safe throwing guidelines and (2) to assess the reporting of risk factors for throwing injuries in a sample of youth baseball players.

Study Design

Survey study of 98 overhead athletes between the ages of 4 and 18.

Methods

A 35‐question survey was developed with questions related to knowledge of injury prevention, presence of risk factors associated with throwing injuries, and understanding and compliance with USA Baseball Medical & Safety Advisory Committee (USA BMSAC) overhead throwing guidelines.

Results

Respondents demonstrated variability in their knowledge of the USA BMSAC guidelines related to throwing frequencies. The 13‐16 year old age group displayed the least knowledge of USA BMSAC guidelines. The 9‐10 and 11‐12 year old age groups demonstrated the greatest knowledge of recommended BMSAC guidelines. Eighty‐five (82/98) percent of the respondents reported that they had never heard of the USA BMSAC guidelines. Sixty‐two percent (59/98) disagreed with the statement, “The more you throw, the more likely you are to get an injury”. Fifty‐seven percent of respondents (39/98) indicated that they would not seek medical help if they experienced a tired or sore arm during a game.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that young baseball players demonstrate the need for education on the following topics: the USA Baseball Medical and Safety Advisory Committee throwing guidelines, risk factors for developing throwing‐related injuries, the long‐term implications of playing with an injured or fatigued arm, and the benefit of seeking medical help when fatigue or soreness is experienced in the throwing arm.

Level of Evidence

Level 3