Treatment of sleep disorders may improve fatigue in multiple sclerosis

Objective

In a previous polysomnographic cross-sectional study we found a significant relationship between sleep disorders and multiple sclerosis (MS) related fatigue. The purpose of this open follow-up observation was to compare the impact of treatment of sleep disorders on MS related fatigue measured with the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS).

Methods

Non-randomized follow-up observation: treated versus untreated patients, subgroups according to compliance with sleep medical treatment recommendations (univariate, multivariate analysis, multiple logistic regression). 66 MS patients were followed after polysomnography, 49 patients with relevant sleep disorders and 17 without.

Results

Mean MFIS scores decreased from 41.2 to 26.2 (p = 0.025) in patients with good compliance (GC; n = 18), from 42.4 to 32.1 (p = 0.12) in patients with moderate compliance (MC; n = 12), and from 41.6 to 35.5 (p = 0.17) in non-compliant patients (NC; n = 17). Mean MFIS values increased in patients without sleep disorders from 22.9 to 25.4 (NSD; n = 12, p = 0.56). In multiple logistic regression, treatment of sleep disorders predicted decrease of MFIS-values (GC versus NSD odds ratio 13.4; p = 0.015; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.7–107.2, MC versus NSD odds ratio 13.8; p = 0.028; 95% CI 1.3–143.3).

Conclusions

Sleep medical treatment may improve MS related fatigue when patients adhere to treatment recommendations.     

Effect of fibre post length and adhesive strategy on fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth after fatigue loading

Objectives

To evaluate the effect of the length of fibre-posts¹ and type of adhesive cement² on the fracture resistance of endodontically treated teeth, after fatigue loading.

Methods

Eighty extracted upper pre-molars were sectioned at the CEJ and endodontically treated. After 24 h of water storage at 37 °C, RelyX Posts (3M-ESPE) were cemented with Panavia F 2.0 (Kuraray) or RelyX Unicem (3M-ESPE). A standardized composite core was built. Specimens were divided into four groups depending on the post–core ratio: (A) 2/1 (control); (B) 3/2; (C) 1/1 (small diameter); (D) 1/1(large diameter) and submitted to 1,200,000 cycles using a chewing simulator (Willytech). Immediately afterwards, all specimens that survived fatigue loading were fractured using a universal loading device (Micro-tester, Instron). Data were analysed with ANOVA.

Results

Four percent of the specimens failed during fatigue loading. The length of the post into the root affected the fracture resistance. The statistical outcome varied according to the inclusion of specimens failed during fatigue loading. However, the control group always had the lowest fracture resistance. The type of adhesive cement did not affect the fracture resistance. A prevalence of not-repairable failures was observed in specimens restored with the longest posts, whilst shorter posts led to more repairable failures.

Conclusions

Shortening the post length and the ensuing preservation of more tooth structure, offer the potential for reparability through an in-built fail safe mechanism and may thus reduce the occurrence of catastrophic failures.     

Fatigue,anxiety and depression overrule the role of oncological treatment in predicting self-reported health complaints in women with breast cancer compared to healthy controls

BackgroundWomen with breast cancer often attribute their health problems as side effects caused by oncological treatments. The aim of the study was to examine and compare self-reported health complaints (SHC) in postmenopausal patients with breast cancer to healthy controls.MethodWomen with breast cancer (N = 196) filled in 5 questionnaires 1–2 years after surgery; SHC Inventory, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Endocrine Subscale (FACT-ES), Fatigue – Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue subscale (FACIT-F), Fatigue Visual Analog Scale (Fatigue VAS), and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Controls comprised 101 blood donors who reported on the questionnaires except for HADS. Bonferroni adjustment and p < 0.0017 was considered statistically significant for SHC Inventory, p < 0.05 for the remaining questionnaires.ResultsThe patients, mean age 58.0 (SD 9.5), reported significantly more self-reported health complaints, whereof 6 of 29 complaints were significantly elevated compared to the controls, mean age 57.0 (SD 5.8) (p < 0.001). HADS scores in patients fell into normal range, mean 6.3 (SD 5.7). A subgroup of 48 patients experienced more frequent and severe symptoms in all the questionnaires compared to the remaining 148 patients, and the 101 controls. Among the patients, fatigue, anxiety and depression explained 49% of the total variance in self-reported health complaints (p ≤ 0.001).ConclusionMost women with breast cancer (76%) reported health complaints equal to the healthy controls. Fatigue, anxiety and depression, not oncological treatments, were significant predictors for the complaints.     

The effects of aromatherapy with lavender essential oil on fatigue levels in haemodialysis patients: A randomized clinical trial

ObjectiveThis study was intended to examine the efficacy of lavender essential oil for the alleviation of fatigue in haemodialysis patients.Methods and materialsThis randomized clinical trial was conducted on 59 haemodialysis patients in two groups. The routine care group received the routine care, but the experimental group inhaled lavender essence 5% for 10 min, three times a week for 4 consecutive weeks. The Fatigue Severity Scale was used to assess fatigue before the intervention and after the last intervention in the second and fourth weeks.ResultsNo statistically significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the fatigue scores before, and after the last intervention in the second and fourth weeks.ConclusionOur result does not support other studies suggesting that lavender essential oil is effective on fatigue in haemodialysis patients. This conflicting result can mostly be ascribed to a variety of factors such as duration of aromatherapy and differences in concentrations of lavender essential oil.     

Efficacy and Safety of "URSA Complex" in Subjects with Physical Fatigue: A Multicenter,Randomized, Double-blind,Placebo-controlled Trial

Background:

Fatigue is a common symptom both in diseases status and in healthy subjects. Various supplements and nutraceuticals for relieving of fatigue have been used. However, there are a few studies to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of the drug for fatigue alleviation, we conducted using URSA Complex to evaluate the efficacy on physical fatigue via score changes in the checklist individual strength (CIS).

Methods:

The study was designed as a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, with subjects randomized to one of the two arms, receiving either placebo or URSA Complex administered as identical capsules. The primary efficacy endpoints of this clinical trials are the ratio of improving CIS scores < 76 points in patients at the end (4 weeks). Secondary efficacy variables are as follows one is an improvement of fatigue and the other is an improvement of the liver enzyme.

Results:

The fatigue recovery rate in who had improved CIS scores of < 76 points were 70.0%, 50.9% in the therapy group and placebo group, respectively (P = 0.019). The fatigue recovery rate in CIS score was higher in URSA Complex therapy group than placebo group. The difference between therapy group and placebo group was statistically significant at 4 weeks later, but not 2 weeks.

Conclusions:

Our results provided that the URSA Complex was effective in alleviating physical fatigue. The adverse event frequency in the therapy groups was similar to that in the placebo group.     

The association between neuropsychological impairment, self-perceived cognitive deficits, fatigue and health related quality of life in breast cancer survivors following standard adjuvant versus high-dose chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: The possible association between neuropsychological impairment, self-perceived cognitive deficits, fatigue and health related quality of life has been studied in high-risk breast cancer survivors 5 years following standard adjuvant (n=23) versus high-dose chemotherapy (n=24) and in early-stage breast cancer patients (n=29) (comparison group) following radiation therapy. METHODS: A neuropsychological assessment covering attention, memory and executive functions was used together with the questionnaire for self-perceived deficits in attention (FEDA), the multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI-20) and the EORTC-QLQ-C30. RESULTS: Findings have shown that neuropsychological impairment is not directly associated with self-perceived cognitive deficits, fatigue and HRQOL. However, 46% of patients reported self-perceived cognitive deficits and 82% of the patients complained about cancer related fatigue. Except for reduced activity we did not find significant group differences, even though patients who received standard-dose chemotherapy had consistently higher levels of self-perceived cognitive deficits and fatigue, and the lowest HRQOL. CONCLUSION: Results emphasize the need for psychosocial counseling and support during treatment phase and follow up care as well. Sensitive cancer-specific measures for the assessment of self-perceived cognitive deficits in different cognitive domains according to neuropsychological measurements are required. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: The role of self-perceived cognitive deficits and fatigue should be considered in educational interventions and counseling. Specific rehabilitation measures should be developed, implemented and evaluated in order to meet the needs of these patients and to decrease the frequency of cognitive deficits following cancer treatment.     

互联网企业员工疲劳及影响因素研究

目的 了解互联网企业员工躯体疲劳和脑力疲劳现状,探究疲劳的影响因素。 方法 于2016年6月~9月,采用横断面研究方法对3省(市)35家互联网企业3 603名员工进行了问卷调查,分别采用疲劳量表-14与简明中文版职业应激量表、职业倦怠自评量表、工作相关肌肉骨骼疾患量表,分析互联网企业员工疲劳现况及影响因素,运用多因素Logistic二元回归模型,分析职业应激等因素对疲劳的影响。 结果 互联网企业员工躯体疲劳得分(4.53±2.56),脑力疲劳得分(2.37±1.64),总疲劳得分(6.90±3.55)。躯体疲劳与职业倦怠、肌肉骨骼疾患呈明显正相关(r=0.426、r=0.485,P<0.05),脑力疲劳与职业倦怠呈正相关(r=0.429,P<0.05)。JDC模式职业应激、ERI模式职业应激、职业倦怠、高度肌肉骨骼系统疾患为躯体疲劳发生的危险因素,OR值分别为1.58、1.72、4.08、5.91(P<0.05);上述影响因素同为脑力疲劳发生的危险因素,OR值分别1.73、1.37、2.61、2.08(P<0.05)。睡眠时间7 h以上是脑力疲劳、躯体疲劳发生的保护因素,OR值分别为0.61、0.62(P<0.05)。 结论 互联网企业员工疲劳现状不容乐观,企业关注员工职业心理健康、积极采取有效措施对缓解互联网企业员工疲劳至关重要。