Short‐term changes in chewing efficiency and subjective evaluation in normal dentate subjects after insertion of oral appliances with an occlusal flat table

Oral appliances with an occlusal flat table are used as treatment dentures. However, the short‐term effect of insertion of such oral appliances on chewing has not been reported. This study aimed to determine whether experimental and continuous insertion of oral appliances with an occlusal flat table has an effect on chewing efficiency and Oral Health Impact Profile (OHIP) in healthy participants. Ten participants each in the oral‐appliance and control (no oral‐appliance insertion) groups attended six data collection sessions for 5 consecutive days. Participants answered the OHIP questionnaire and underwent the chewing efficiency test. For each parameter, intergroup differences were investigated in terms of change from baseline to immediately after oral‐appliance insertion (0 hour; P < .05) and from 0 hour to 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after oral‐appliance insertion (P < .05). There were significant differences between groups in the degree of change in chewing efficiency and OHIP scores for functional limitation, physical pain, physical disability and handicap from baseline to 0 hour (all, P < .001); among these, only OHIP scores for functional limitation and physical pain demonstrated significant differences in degree of change between the two groups at 96 hours after appliance insertion (P = .477 and .275, respectively). Differences between the two groups in the degree of change in other parameters were not significant. Insertion of oral appliances caused a decrease in chewing efficiency and an increase in OHIP scores. Continuous insertion improved functional limitation and physical pain within 96 hours.     

Suppression of serum lipid transfer proteins involved in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism by intensive insulin therapy in the first year of type 1 diabetes mellitus: Prospective InLipoDiab1 study

Background and aimsCholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) and phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) are crucial proteins in reverse cholesterol transport. There are insufficient data on regulating these proteins by insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). We aimed to assess prospectively the impact of insulin therapy initiation on transfer proteins serum levels in adults with newly diagnosed T1DM.Methods and results57 adults with newly diagnosed T1DM were enrolled in the InLipoDiab1 Study. All participants were treated with subcutaneous insulin in the model of intensive insulin therapy since the diagnosis of diabetes. Serum PLTP and CETP concentrations were measured at diagnosis, after three weeks, six months, and after one year of insulin treatment, using the immunoenzymatic method ELISA.A significant decrease in PLTP and CETP concentrations were demonstrated during twelve months of insulin therapy in newly diagnosed T1DM. The dynamics of changes in the level of these proteins varied depending on the occurrence of remission after a year of the disease. In the group without remission, a significant decrease in PLTP and CETP levels appeared after six months of follow-up. The remission group was characterized by a decrease in proteins concentration only after one year of treatment. In the non-remission group, significant negative correlations were found between the daily dose of insulin and levels of PLTP and CETP.ConclusionExogenous insulin is an inhibitor of lipid transfer proteins involved in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism in the first year of treatment.     

瑞舒伐他汀隔日与每日治疗对血脂异常患者血脂及炎症标志物的影响

目的研究瑞舒伐他汀隔日给药10mg与每日给药10mg对血脂异常患者的血脂和炎症标志物的治疗差异。方法将37例患者随机分为2组,分别接受瑞舒伐他汀隔日给药10mg(N=19)和每日给药10mg(N=18)治疗6周后,比较用药前后血清中的低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C),和血浆中C-反应蛋白(CRP)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)的浓度变化。结果服药6周后,隔日治疗组和每日治疗组患者血清LDL-C、CRP、IL-6浓度与治疗前相比均有明显下降,高密度脂蛋白胆固醇和甘油三酯均有明显改善,但治疗效果两组间相比无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论 10mg瑞舒伐他汀隔日治疗和每日治疗能同样有效改善中国患者的血脂和炎性标记物水平。     

Quantitative assessment of the effects of 6 months of adapted physical activity on gait in people with multiple sclerosis: a randomized controlled trial

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to quantitatively assess the effect of 6 months of supervised adapted physical activity (APA i.e. physical activity designed for people with special needs) on spatio-temporal and kinematic parameters of gait in persons with Multiple Sclerosis (pwMS).

Methods: Twenty-two pwMS with Expanded Disability Status Scale scores ranging from 1.5 to 5.5 were randomly assigned either to the intervention group (APA, n?=?11) or the control group (CG, n?=?11). The former underwent 6 months of APA consisting of 3 weekly 60-min sessions of aerobic and strength training, while CG participants were engaged in no structured PA program. Gait patterns were analyzed before and after the training using three-dimensional gait analysis by calculating spatio-temporal parameters and concise indexes of gait kinematics (Gait Profile Score – GPS and Gait Variable Score – GVS) as well as dynamic Range of Motion (ROM) of hip, knee, and ankle joints.

Results: The training originated significant improvements in stride length, gait speed and cadence in the APA group, while GPS and GVS scores remained practically unchanged. A trend of improvement was also observed as regard the dynamic ROM of hip, knee, and ankle joints. No significant changes were observed in the CG for any of the parameters considered.

Conclusions: The quantitative analysis of gait supplied mixed evidence about the actual impact of 6 months of APA on pwMS. Although some improvements have been observed, the substantial constancy of kinematic patterns of gait suggests that the full transferability of the administered training on the ambulation function may require more specific exercises.

• Implications for rehabilitation

• Adapted Physical Activity (APA) is effective in improving spatio-temporal parameters of gait, but not kinematics, in people with multiple sclerosis.

• Dynamic range of motion during gait is increased after APA.

• The full transferability of APA on the ambulation function may require specific exercises rather than generic lower limbs strength/flexibility training.

     

Development of a conceptual model of oral health for malocclusion patients

Objectives:To provide an empirical test of the applicability of Locker''s conceptual model of oral health for malocclusion patients, and to suggest alternative models of the effect of malocclusion on well-being.Materials and Methods:Data from a survey of 323 adolescents attending for orthodontic treatment were analyzed to develop a new oral health model for malocclusion patients. Oral health–related quality of life (OHRQoL) was measured using the 14-item Oral Health Impact Profile; malocclusion was measured using the Dental Health Component (DHC) of the Index of Orthodontic Treatment Need (IOTN). Using structural equation modeling, the relationship between conceptual domains in Locker''s model was explored and three models of their interrelationship tested for goodness of fit.Results:Fit indexes for Locker''s model indicated that it did not fit the data well. Therefore, a modified model was developed to incorporate additional paths between other levels to better fit the data. The best fit was provided by a model in which the direct effects of malocclusion on pain, discomfort, and handicapping—and the direct effect of pain on disability—were removed. A direct effect of functional limitation on disability was allowed. The modified Oral Health Impact Profile model proved to be a good fit to the data (root mean square error of approximation  =  0.069).Conclusion:The pathways identified in Locker''s (1988) conceptual model of oral health may not be appropriate for describing the relationships between OHRQoL constructs in individuals with malocclusion. An alternative model is proposed.     

Use of the Gait Profile Score for the evaluation of patients with joint hypermobility syndrome/Ehlers–Danlos syndrome hypermobility type

Gait analysis (GA) is widely used for clinical evaluations in various pathological states, both in children and in adults, such as in patients with joint hypermobility syndrome/Ehlers–Danlos syndrome hypermobility type (JHS/EDS-HT). Otherwise, GA produces a large volume of data and there is the clinical need to provide also a quantitative measure of the patient's overall gait. Starting from this aim some global indexes were proposed by literature as a summary measure of the patient's gait, such as the Gait Profile Score (GPS). While validity of the GPS was demonstrated for the evaluation of the functional limitation of children with Cerebral Palsy, no studies have been conducted in patients JHS/EDS-HT. The aim of our study was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of the GPS in the quantification of functional limitation of patients with JHS/EDS-HT. Twenty-one adult (age: 36.1 ± 12.7 years) individuals with JHS/EDS-HT were evaluated using GA and from GA data the GPS was computed. The results evidenced that the GPS value of patients was 8.9 ± 2.6, statistically different from 4.6 ± 0.9 displayed by the control group. In particular, all values of Gait Variable Scores (GVS) which compose the GPS were higher if compared to controls, with the exception of Pelvic Tilt and Foot Progression. The correlations between GPS/GVS and Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) showed significant relationship between GPS and the item 11 (“Walking 2 blocks”) (ρ = ?0.56; p < 0.05) and 12 (“Walking a mile”) of LEFS (ρ = ?0.76; p < 0.05). Our results showed that GPS and GVS seem to be appropriate outcome measures for the evaluation of the functional limitation during gait of patients with JHS/EDS-HT.     

The DSM-5 dissociative-PTSD subtype: Can levels of depression,anxiety, hostility,and sleeping difficulties differentiate between dissociative-PTSD and PTSD in rape and sexual assault victims?

The DSM-5 currently includes a dissociative-PTSD subtype within its nomenclature. Several studies have confirmed the dissociative-PTSD subtype in both American Veteran and American civilian samples. Studies have begun to assess specific factors which differentiate between dissociative vs. non-dissociative PTSD. The current study takes a novel approach to investigating the presence of a dissociative-PTSD subtype in its use of European victims of sexual assault and rape (N = 351). Utilizing Latent Profile Analyses, we hypothesized that a discrete group of individuals would represent a dissociative-PTSD subtype. We additionally hypothesized that levels of depression, anger, hostility, and sleeping difficulties would differentiate dissociative-PTSD from a similarly severe form of PTSD in the absence of dissociation. Results concluded that there were four discrete groups termed baseline, moderate PTSD, high PTSD, and dissociative-PTSD. The dissociative-PTSD group encompassed 13.1% of the sample and evidenced significantly higher mean scores on measures of depression, anxiety, hostility, and sleeping difficulties. Implications are discussed in relation to both treatment planning and the newly published DSM-5.     

Gender-based measurement invariance of the Substance Use Risk Profile Scale

Gender may influence the psychometric properties of psychological and affect-related measures. The American Psychological Association has made recommendations to conduct tests of group-level measurement invariance (MI) before comparing scores between groups. Gender-based measurement invariance has been examined in many well-known psycho-social scales such as the CES-D and the Big Five Inventory. The Substance Use Risk Profile is a 23-item scale measuring affective- and personality-related traits known to increase risk for substance use, with 4 dimensions: anxiety sensitivity, hopelessness, sensation seeking and impulsivity. Despite similarities in the constructs assessed by the SURPS, the CES-D and the Big Five Inventory, gender-based measurement invariance of the SURPS has not yet been published. Multi-group confirmatory factor analysis was used to assess the measurement invariance of the four dimensions of the SURPS across gender. MI was conducted with M-Plus 6.2 using a 2-step analysis for ordinal variables suggested by Muthén and Muthén, and model fit was assessed using the comparative fit index (CFI) criteria recommended by Cheung and Rensvold. A single group confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was also conducted. The sample was composed of 1352 adolescents (56% female, mean age of 14 years) participating in the BC Adolescent Substance Use Survey, an online survey capturing substance use and psychosocial trends in secondary students across British Columbia, Canada. Measurement invariance across gender was demonstrated for the SURPS (ΔCFI = 0.003), and the single group CFA supported a four-dimensional structure for the SURPS items (CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 061, 95% CI = 0.058–0.065).     

Do Ratings of Swallowing Function Differ by Videofluoroscopic Rate? An Exploratory Analysis in Patients After Acute Stroke

ObjectiveTo determine differences between continuous videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) with a pulse rate and frame rate of 30 and the same swallows reduced to 15 frames per second (fps) on measures of swallowing function in patients after acute ischemic stroke.DesignBlinded comparison.SettingAcute hospital.ParticipantsPatients after ischemic stroke (N=20).InterventionsNot applicable.Main Outcome MeasuresSingle and sequential sips of thin liquids, single sips of nectar liquids, pudding, and cookie boluses were rated on measures of timing of swallowing events, Modified Barium Swallowing Impairment Profile component scores, and Penetration-Aspiration Scale scores. The ratings for videos at 15 fps and 30 fps were compared by Wilcoxon signed rank tests.ResultsPharyngeal transit time was longer and bolus entry into the hypopharynx was later for 30 fps than for 15 fps. Components of Oral Residue and Pharyngoesophageal Segment Opening ratings were more severe for 15 fps than 30 fps, whereas Bolus Transport and Initiation of Pharyngeal Swallow were rated as more severe for 30 fps than for 15 fps. There was no difference between 30 fps and 15 fps on the remaining measures, including Penetration-Aspiration Scale scores.ConclusionContinuous VFSS recorded at 30 fps and their down-sampled 15 fps duplicates yielded contrasting results on certain durational and functional measures of swallowing, though not on others. VFSS should be administered continuously or at 30 pulses per second for valid assessment of swallowing while using other methods to reduce radiation exposure.