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Alcohol use disorders (AUD) are pressing social problems. News media play a key role in setting the agenda for the public discourse and framing these problems. They provide people affected and unaffected with health-related information on different facets of the disease and present the topic in various contexts. In doing so, they shape the public opinion and influence behaviors. On the basis of an explorative quantitative content analysis of N = 402 articles published in 2019 in nine German newspapers and magazines, this study provides information on the topic-specific framing with regard to AUD. The results show only scant contextualization of the topic in the German media. This deficiency has particular regard to causal relationships and treatment opportunities, leaving room for interpretation from the audience. The topic-specific framing analysis showed that articles on AUD mostly appear either in the context of celebrities, endorsing favorable presentations of recovered people, or in the context of crime and violence, which goes hand in hand with portraying acutely affected people as perpetrators. Increased news coverage that includes the portrayal of non-famous people who have successfully engaged in alcohol treatment and recovery is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aimed to explore attitudes and training experiences of medical students toward gender medicine (GM). A cross-sectional study with convenience sampling was conducted (sample size = 430). To assess predictors of high GM consideration in patient management, a multivariable logistic regression was performed. A total of 82% considered sex and gender important; 61% stated that they would use GM skills in their careers. A total of 76% had never discussed GM with their tutors, with differences between male and female students (p =.002). Predictors of high GM consideration were: age (adjOR = 1.4, 95%CI = 1.1–1.8) and the impression that tutors considered patients' sex and gender during practice (adjOR = 3.9, 95%CI = 2.0–7.6). Thus, participants considered GM important, but some students were unsure whether it could be useful in practice. The strongest predictor of high GM consideration was the tutors' good example during training. It would be advisable to implement the teaching of this topic during both courses and traineeships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The goal of post-stroke early rehabilitation is to regain ambulation, standing and balance. Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of vestibular and somatosensory rehabilitation in addition to early rehabilitation on balance in patients with early subacute stroke. Design and setting: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at a university hospital. Methods: The study was included 52 hemiplegic hospitalized early suacute stroke patients. The experimental group (n: 30), was applied with vestibular and somatosensorial rehabilitation together with early rehabilitation. Vestibular exercises, included Cawthorne-Cooksey exercises, stimulate the vestibulo-ocular and vestibulo-spinal reflex. Somatosensory exercises, which included Frenkel exercises, stimulate the sensory proprioception and somatosensory systems. The control group (n: 22) patients with early subacute stroke were treated with the early rehabilitation program only. The balance parameters of the patients were evaluated with the Korebalance System, Functional Reach Test, Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke, and Functional Ambulation Scale. Results: The mean age of the patients was 67.32 ± 9.46 years, and the mean number of days that had passed since the stroke occurred was 17.90 ± 7.26. In calculating the balance scores, statistically significant differences were observed in the experimental and control groups, with a statistically greater improvement in the rehabilitation group. Statistically significant differences were determined between the groups in respect of the balance scores. Conclusions: Based on these findings, the use of vestibular and somatosensory rehabilitation can be recommended for better functioning of the compensatory mechanism of early subacute-stroke hemiplegic patients in early ambulation, and this can lead to considerably improved standing and dynamic upper and lower body balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent pandemic has shown that protecting the general population from hazardous substances or pathogens can be a challenging and urgent task. The key element to adequate protection is appropriately sized, well-fitted and sufficiently distributed personal protective equipment (PPE). While these conditions are followed for adult PPE wearers, they are less considered when it comes to protecting subadults. In this study, the assessment of the fit and design improvements of a 3D-printed facial half mask for subadult wearers (4–18 years) is designed. The target population was represented by 1137 subadults, aged 4.06–18.94 years, for whom 3D face models were acquired. The half mask tested, which was originally provided in one subadult size, did not fit appropriately the target population. This finding prompted the creation of four size categories using the age-dependent distribution of the centroid size calculated from 7 facial landmarks. For each size category, a modified half-mask virtual design was created, including resizing and reshaping, and fit was evaluated visually and numerically using averaged and random 3D face representatives. Practitioner summary: The reason for this study was to describe procedures which led to design improvement of an existing half-mask and provide respiratory protection for subadults. To address this, fit was assessed using an innovative metric approach. Four sizes were then created based on centroid size, resulting in improved fit and design. Abbreviations: CH: cheilion landmark; CS: centroid size; EX: exocanthion landmark; GN: gnathion landmark; N: nasion landmark; PPE: personal protective equipment; PR: pronasale landmark; RPE: respiratory protective equipment HIGHLIGHTS: 3D human face dataset was used for modifying and validating protective equipment for subadults To ensure optimal protection for subadults, four size categories were proposed based on 3D face landmarks and centroid size Modified half-mask design fit was validated virtually using a visual and numerical approach [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Among individuals who use substances, the perceived stigma of substance use harms their quality of life and may be an obstacle to quitting. We explored the effect of the stigma perceived due to substance use on executive functioning. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 80 individuals who used substances and sought to quit while admitted to a public neuropsychiatric hospital in south Iran in March 2022. Data were collected using the Barkley Executive Function Questionnaire and the Stigma Scale. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS v. 25. Results: The participants' mean age was 36.56 ± 9.37 years, and most (85.0%) were males. Among them, 28 (35%) used narcotics, 7 (8.8%) used stimulants, and 45 (56.3%) used multiple substances. Increased total sigma scores correlated with deficits in self-management to time, self-organization/problem-solving, self-regulation of emotion, self-motivation, self-restraint, and total executive function. Moreover, each stigma dimension had some correlations with executive dysfunction or its subscales. Conclusions: Self-perceived stigma is directly linked with executive dysfunction in individuals who use substances and seek to quit. Since stigma and executive function both play essential roles in addiction treatment success, interventions should be adjusted to reduce self-perceived stigma and executive function deficits among individuals who use substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The term psychotic experiences (PEs) encompass subclinical hallucinatory and delusional experiences. There are limited number of studies on PEs clinical and socio-demographic characteristics. We aimed to investigate the association between PEs and patterns of cannabis use, cognitive functions, schizotypy and childhood traumas. Methods: Participants were recruited from specialized units using the snowball method. All of the participants were regular cannabis users. Participants with PEs and without PEs were compared by looking into socio-demographic and clinical correlates. Significant variables at univariate comparisons were included in binary multivariate logistic regression analysis with PEs as the dependent variable. Results: Forty participants were recruited (20 with PEs, 20 without PEs). Adolescence onset of cannabis use (χ2 = 8.120; p < 0.05), positive schizotypy (t = 3.762; p < 0.01), Trail Making Test A (TMT A) Scores (u = 98.5; p < 0.01) and emotional neglect (u = 128; p = 0.05) were significantly associated with PEs. The binary regression model included a significant contribution of positive schizotypy (OR = 1.16, CI 1.025–1.330) and TMT A Score (OR = 1.22, CI 1.03–1.44). Conclusions: Results showed a novel positive association of PEs with adolescent-onset cannabis use, TMT A Scores, positive schizotypy and emotional neglect. PEs were predicted independently by positive schizotypy and TMT A Scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: After stroke, upper limb somatosensation can be impaired which affects motor control. Vision is often used to compensate for this. A clinical assessment which assesses the combined sensorimotor function in the absence of vision would be beneficial in studies targeting sensorimotor improvement. Methods and materials: We adapted the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT) to be performed without vision and called this modified version the sensorimotor ARAT (sARAT). Sixty healthy participants and 22 participants with chronic stroke performed the ARAT, sARAT, Fugl-Meyer upper extremity assessment (FM-UE) and Erasmus modified Nottingham sensory assessment (EmNSA). Discriminative validity of sARAT was evaluated by comparing performance between healthy participants and participants with chronic stroke. Convergent validity was evaluated by correlating sARAT with FM-UE and EmNSA. Results: Participants with stroke performed worse on the sARAT compared to healthy participants (p < 0.001), with median scores of 52 (IQR 32-57) and 57 (IQR 57-57), respectively. The sARAT showed high correlations with FM-UE and EmNSA (r = 0.80-0.90). Conclusions: The sARAT shows good discriminative and convergent validity in people with chronic stroke. It allows a quick assessment of the combined upper limb sensorimotor function, by performing the well-known ARAT with the eyes closed. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: The sensorimotor adaptation of the Action Research Arm Test (sARAT) is a clinical assessment of upper limb activity which is performed with the eyes closed. Combining the gold standard ARAT with the sensorimotor adaptation sARAT can inform about the influence of somatosensory impairments on upper limb activity in stroke survivors when vision is blocked. The sARAT shows good discriminative and convergent validity in persons with chronic stroke. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Studies analyzing postures and mobility of the thoracic spine in the context of cervicogenic headache are missing. Insight in these parameters is needed since the cervical and thoracic spine are biomechanically related. Objective: To compare self-perceived optimal and habitual postures, active-assisted maximal range of motion, and repositioning error of the upper-thoracic and lower-thoracic spine between a cervicogenic headache-group and matched healthy control-group before and after a 30 min-laptop-task. Methods: A non-randomized longitudinal design was used to compare thoracic postures and mobility between 18 participants with cervicogenic headache (29–51 years) and 18 matched healthy controls (26–52 years). Outcomes were: self-perceived optimal and habitual postures, active-assisted maximal range of motion, and repositioning error of the upper-thoracic and lower-thoracic spine evaluated in sitting with a 3D-Vicon motion analysis system. Results: Habitual upper-thoracic postures in the cervicogenic headache-group were significantly (p =.04) less located toward the maximal range of motion for flexion compared to the control-group, self-perceived optimal upper-thoracic posture was significantly (p =.004) more extended in the cervicogenic headache-group compared to the control-group, and self-perceived optimal lower-thoracic posture could not be reestablished in the cervicogenic headache-group after the laptop-task (p =.009). Conclusion: Thoracic postures differ between a cervicogenic headache-group and control-group. These differences were detected by expressing the habitual thoracic posture relative to its maximal range of motion, and by analyzing the possibility of repositioning the thoracic spine after a headache provoking activity. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the contribution of these musculoskeletal dysfunctions to the pathophysiology of cervicogenic headache. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness and knowledge of professional team sport athletes about ACL injuries, injury prevention programs, and the return to sports after ACL injuries. A total of 419 athletes representing soccer, basketball, volleyball and handball sports were included in the study. We utilized a 15-item self-report survey to assess the awareness of athletes about ACL injury, ACL injury prevention program, and return to sport after ACL injuries. Male and soccer players participated in prevention programs more than female athletes (p = 0.001). Participation in prevention programs was significantly higher in the ≥ 18 years old group than in the < 18 years old group (p = 0.040). Participants who were informed about ACL injuries were 8.4 times more likely to participate in the ACL injuries prevention program than others (OR: 8.38, 95% CI: 3.823–18.376, p < 0.001). The majority of participants believed that return to sport after ACL injury takes 6 months and 81.4% of them thought that it is not possible to do sport without an ACL. This study revealed that the awareness and performance of ACL prevention training programs among professional team sport athletes were insufficient. The athletes' knowledge regarding return to sports after ACL injuries was also inadequate. Improving athletes' knowledge of ACL injuries may lead to increased participation in ACL injury prevention programs. Thus, the provision of tailored educational interventions to athletes could potentially enhance their awareness and understanding of ACL injuries, consequently contributing towards the prevention of such injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Describe the ear and hearing outcomes in Aboriginal infants in an Australian urban area. Design: Aboriginal infants enrolled in the Djaalinj Waakinj prospective cohort study had ear health screenings at ages 2-4, 6-8 and 12-18 months and audiological assessment at ∼12 months of age. Sociodemographic, environmental characteristics, otoscopy, otoacoustic emissions, tympanometry and visual reinforcement audiometry data were collected. Study Sample: 125 infants were enrolled in the study; 67 completed audiological assessment, 62, 54, and 58 of whom attended ear screenings at 2-4, 6-8 and 12-18 months. Results: Of the children that attended the audiological assessment, 36.5%, 50% and 64.3% of infants had otitis media (OM) at 2-4, 6-8 and 12-18 months. Using a 10 dB correction factor, 44.8% of infants had hearing loss (HL) (≥ 25 dB HL) at ∼ 12 months of age. More males (X2=5.4 (1df, p = 0.02)) and infants with OM at audiological assessment (X2=5.8 (1df, p = 0.02)) had HL. More infants that used a pacifier at 12-18 months of age had HL (X2=4.7 (1df, p = 0.03)). Conclusion: Aboriginal infants in an urban area have high rates of HL and OM, which requires early surveillance and timely treatment to reduce the medical and developmental impacts of OM and HL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Video on Demand (VOD) has become the most popular way for adolescent viewers to consume entertainment media, often without parental supervision. Given the potential for modeling, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and nature with which risky health behaviors are portrayed in popular VOD programs. A quantitative content analysis of trending programs (N = 529) from popular VOD-platforms investigated the prevalence, co-occurrence, tone, social context, and consequences with which alcohol use, tobacco use, drug use, unsafe sexual behavior, reckless behavior, and self-harm behaviors are portrayed in popular VOD programs. In addition, we analyzed the demographic characteristics of the characters who portrayed the risk behaviors Risk behaviors were portrayed frequently, with substance use behaviors (i.e. alcohol, smoking, drugs) being most prevalent and most likely to co-occur. Reckless behavior, self-harm behaviors, and explicitly unsafe sexual behaviors were much less common. Findings show that risk behavior was often portrayed in a normalized manner, with alcohol and smoking, in particular, being portrayed as neutral behaviors that rarely have consequences. Most risk-taking characters were (young) adult white males, mirroring the general overrepresentation of this demographic in popular media. Risk behavior was rarely problematized in popular on demand content. Potential consequences for adolescent viewers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of psychosexual care using the conceptual framework of the Salutogenic Model in promoting sexual well-being in women undergoing infertility treatment. This was a two-armed parallel randomised controlled trial which conducted with seventy primary infertility women undergoing infertility treatment assigned to receive either psychosexual care (intervention group, n = 35) or routine care (control group, n = 35). The effects of psychosexual care were estimated by the t-test with the intention-to-treat principle. Sexual function was improved in the intervention group and significantly reduced in the control group. Sexual satisfaction was preserved in the intervention group and significantly reduced in the control group. Sexual esteem and self-efficacy significantly improved in women after psychosexual care compared with routine care. Although depression levels were improved in the intervention group, the difference in depression levels was not statistically significant between the intervention and the control groups. However, sense of coherence was significantly improved in the intervention group compared with the control group. Psychosexual care protected and promoted sexual well-being in women undergoing infertility treatment. Application of the health-oriented Salutogenesis Model may be useful to develop care interventions that enable women to reach a state of sexual well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This trial was carried out to investigate the effect of forced air warming in various body areas of women on hypothermia during cesarean delivery. The patients in the study groups (n = 76) were assigned to the full-body warming group, upper-extremity warming group, lower-extremity warming group, and control groups. The intervention groups received forced-air warming 30 min before the surgery and continued until 30 min after surgery. The incidence of hypothermia was significantly higher in the control group than in the other groups at the 60th minute of the operation (p < 0.01). The intervention and control groups showed significant differences in the frequency of shivering at the entrance to the PACU (p = 0.001). Thermal comfort scores have significant difference between the control group and all of the intervention groups (p<.001). It is said that the full-body forced-air warming technique prevents hypothermia, shivering, and thermal discomfort in women Cesarean Section (CS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we examined the effectiveness of Women's Postpartum Sexual Health Program (WPSHP) on Iranian women's sexual health in the postpartum period. A single-blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2016 on 80 postnatal women in Iran. We used the Female Sexual Function Index, Sexual Quality of Life - Female questionnaire and Female Sexual Distress Scale. The intervention group received counseling based on WPSHP. After 28 weeks, the mean score of the Female Sexual Function Index and Female Sexual Quality of Life significantly increased in the WPSH group (p < 0.001, p < 0.001), while the mean score of the Female Sexual Distress significantly decreased in the WPSH group (p < 0.001). We concluded that Women's Postpartum Sexual Health Program could promote postnatal women's sexual function and female sexual quality of life and reduces female sexual distress in women suffering from sexual problems in the postpartum period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore how plyometric-based hydro-kinesiotherapy (Plyo-HKT) would affect pain, muscle strength, postural stability, and functional performance in a convenience sample of children with hemophilic knee arthropathy (HKA). Forty-eight children with HKA (age: 8–16 years) were randomly allocated to the Plyo-HKT group (n = 24; underwent the Plyo-HKT for 45 min, twice/week over 12 wk in succession) or the comparison group (n = 24; performed the standard exercise rehabilitation at an equivalent frequency and duration). Pain, peak concentric torque of quadriceps and hamstring (produced at two angular velocities: 120 and 180 o/sec), dynamic limits of postural stability (DLPS), and functional performance [Functional Independence Score in Hemophilia (FISH) and 6-Minute Walk Test (6-MWT)] were assessed pre- and post-intervention. In contrast with the comparison group, the Plyo-HKT group achieved more favorable pre-to-post changes in pain (p =.028, η2p = 0.10), peak torque of quadriceps [120°/sec (p =.007, η2P = 0.15); 180°/sec (p =.011, η2P = 0.13)] and hamstring [120°/sec (p =.024, η2P = 0.11); 180°/sec (p =.036, η2P = 0.09)], DLPSdirectional [forward (p =.007, η2P = 0.15); backward (p =.013, η2P = 0.12); affected side (p =.008, η2P = 0.14); non-affected side (p =.002, η2P = 0.20)], DLPSoverall (p <.001, η2P = 0.32), and functional performance [FISH (p <.001, η2p = 0.26); 6-MWT (p =.002, η2p = 0.19)]. Plyo-HKT is likely helpful for reducing pain, improving strength, enhancing postural stability, and boosting functional capabilities in children with HKA. Physical rehabilitation practitioners should, therefore, consider this intervention strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To explore student and tutor perspectives on the learning efficacy of virtual, compared to in-person, problem-based tutorial (PBT) in occupational therapy, physiotherapy, and speech-language pathology health professional programs. Materials and Methods: This was a quality improvement study using a cross sectional survey at a single institution. Separate student and tutor surveys were disseminated online. Students received the survey at two timepoints, tutors received the survey at one timepoint. Descriptive statistics summarized quantitative survey questions. Chi-squared or Fischer's Exact analyses explored differences between in-person and virtual PBT. Exploratory analyses determined if associations amongst programs and/or between cohorts existed on variables of interest. Open-ended survey questions were analyzed using content analysis. Results: A total of 241 students and 85 tutors completed the survey. Results demonstrate most students and tutors were satisfied with the use of virtual tutorials (77%; 89% respectively) and felt that they were effective in exploring content within the PBT course. However, students in the most recent cohort rated virtual tutorials more highly (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Virtual modes of PBT were successful in achieving course objectives and led to high satisfaction in users. Health professional programs can use this information when designing virtual problem-based tutorial courses in the post-pandemic era. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: Problem-based learning (PBL) involves the active engagement of students in self-directed learning where learning gaps are identified, and information is retrieved and critically appraised to apply clinical reasoning to healthcare decisions. Traditionally, the PBL process has been implemented in-person through the use of small group tutorial with six to eight students and a tutor, however, the COVID-19 pandemic led to a quick transition to virtual tutorials. This study found that virtual modes of conducting PBL tutorial were successful in achieving course objectives and both students and tutors were satisfied with using virtual means to achieve course objectives in three professional rehabilitation programs (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech Language Pathology). Health professional programs in rehabilitation can use this information when designing courses using PBL processes in the future, and clinicians can use this information when considering the use of virtual means for care and for collaboration between professionals in various healthcare settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most research focuses around impairments in body function and structure, with relatively only a small number exploring their social impact. 1) compare characteristics for individuals who before stroke were blue collar vs. white collar workers 2) identify clinical, functional, and job-related factors associated with return to work within 1 year after discharge 3) identify specific ADL individual items (assessed at rehabilitation discharge) as return to work predictors and 4) identify return to work causal mediators. Retrospective observational cohort study, analyzing adult patients with stroke admitted to rehabilitation between 2007 and 2021, including baseline Barthel Index (BI) and return to work assessments between 2008 and 2022. Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional hazards were applied. Causal mediation analyses using 1000-bootstrapped simulations were performed. A total of 802 individuals were included (14.6% returned to work), 53.6% blue-collar and 46.4% white-collar. Blue-collar workers showed significantly higher proportion of ischemic stroke, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Individuals not returning to work presented a higher proportion of blue collar, dominant side affected, aphasia, lower BI scores, and larger length of stay (LOS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards identified age at injury, aphasia, hypertension, and total discharge BI score (C-Index = 0.74). Univariable Cox models identified three independent BI items at all levels of independence: bathing (C-Index = 0.58), grooming (C-Index = 0.56) and feeding (C-Index = 0.59). BI efficiency (gain/LOS) was a causal mediator. Blue collar workers showed higher proportion of risk factors and comorbidities. Novel factors, predictors, and a return to work mediator were identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Participating in home and community activities can be influenced by environmental factors and parent strategies. Children on the autism spectrum are reported to participate less in home and community activities than their neurotypical peers. Little is known about environmental factors that may influence their participation, and ways parents support their child's participation. Materials and methods: Parents of children on the autism spectrum aged 5–6 years (n = 72) and 10–11 years (n = 94) completed the Participation and Environment Measure for Children and Youth. This study reports on the perceived support, barriers, and resources in the home and the community environment. Parents reported strategies they used to support their child's participation in home and the community. Results: Home environmental factors were identified as more supportive by the parents of younger children. The sensory quality of activities and social demands were factors identified as making community participation harder for both groups. Parents used a range of different strategies in the home and the community to support their child's participation. Conclusions: Identifying environmental barriers and supports to participation can assist in developing interventions to support meaningful participation in activities for children on the autism spectrum. Implications for rehabilitation: Skills required for the activity and preferences of children on the autism spectrum are important considerations when supporting their participation in activities. When exploring a child's level of participation, it may be helpful to ask parents about what their child can do with or without their support. The sensory quality of the environment is a consideration when supporting the participation of children on the autism spectrum in community activities. As sensory processing is an individual experience, the impact of sensory elements of the environment may differ for individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In France, Mental Disorders (MD) are the second most common medical cause of unfitness-for-work notices. The main objective is to describe the MD causing permanent medically unfitness at the workstation. A cross-sectional multicenter survey was conducted among employees followed by 323 physicians from occupational health services of the South of France in 2017. The MD responsible for unfitness for the job were coded according to the ICD-10 nomenclature and their occupational origin was estimated by each physician. On 359,966 employees screened, 2,788 were unfitted. Among the 2,779 unfitness cases which were analysed, 985 were unfitted for MD. The incidence rate of unfitness for MD was 2.78 unfit per 1,000 employees followed. Representing 36.8% (985 cases) of all grounds for unfitness, MD were estimated to be work-related in 614 (63.6%) of cases. The main MD were 449 (45.6%) cases of major depressive episodes, 227 (23.0%) anxiety disorders and 131 (13.3%) recurrent depressive disorders. Their occupational origin was mentioned in 296 (67.3%), 168 (74.7%), 62 (49.6%) cases and the link with a Burnout (BO) in 166 (38.3%), 61 (27.9%) and 41 (34.2%) cases respectively among 364 all pathologies reported to a BO. Unfitness for MD was more common among women (ORa = 1.79 95% CI [1.50–2.13]), working in trade, transport, accommodation and catering (ORa = 1.47 95% CI [1.04–2.09]) and increase with age (ORa = 4.24 95% CI [2.73–6.60] for over 55). Major depressive episodes represent the MD most frequently responsible for unfitness and the most related to occupational origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narrative identity – how individuals narrate their lived and remembered past – is usually assessed via independent rater coding, but new methods relying on self-report have been introduced. To test the assumption that different methods assess aspects of the same underlying construct, studies measuring similar components of narrative identity with different methods are needed. However, such studies are surprisingly rare. To begin to fill this gap, the present study compared the narrative variables, temporal coherence, causal coherence, and thematic coherence, measured via rater coding of participants' self-generated narratives of the remembered past and via subscales of the self-report measure Awareness of Narrative Identity Questionnaire (ANIQ). The results showed that the ANIQ subscales did not correlate significantly with their corresponding rater-coded dimension, and that the ANIQ subscales were generally unrelated to the other rater-coded dimensions. Furthermore, an exploratory factor analysis demonstrated that the ANIQ subscales loaded together on a factor that did not include any rater-coded variables. The findings suggest that the narrative variables share little empirical overlap when assessed via the ANIQ and rater coding of self-generated narratives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various prediction scores have been developed to predict mortality in trauma patients, such as the shock index (SI), modified SI (mSI), age-adjusted SI (aSI), and the shock index (SI) multiplied by the alert/verbal/painful/unresponsive (AVPU) score (SIAVPU). The SIAVPU is a novel scoring system but its prediction accuracy for trauma outcomes remains in need of further validation. Therefore, we investigated the accuracy of four scoring systems, including SI, mSI, aSI, and SIAVPU, in predicting mortality, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), and prolonged hospital length of stay ≥ 30 days (LOS). This retrospective multicenter study used data from the Tzu Chi Hospital trauma database. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was determined for each outcome to assess their discrimination capabilities and comparing by Delong's test. Subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the prediction accuracy of the SIAVPU in different patient populations. In total, 5355 patients were included in the analysis. The median of SIAVPU were significantly higher among patients at those with major injury (1.47 vs 0.63), those admitted to the ICU (0.73 vs 0.62), those with prolonged hospital LOS≥ 30 days (0.83 vs 0.64), and those with mortality (1.08 vs 0.64). The AUROC of the SIAVPU was significantly higher than that of the SI, mSI, and aSI for 24-h mortality (AUROC: 0.845 vs 0.533, 0.540, and 0.678), 3-day mortality (AUROC: 0.803 vs 0.513, 0.524, and 0.688), 7-day mortality (AUROC: 0.755 vs 0.494, 0.505, and 0.648), in-hospital mortality (AUROC: 0.722 vs 0.510, 0.524, and 0.667), ICU admission (AUROC: 0.635 vs 0.547, 0.551, and 0.563). At the optimal cutoff value of 0.9, the SIAVPU had an accuracy of 82.2% for predicting 24-h mortality, 82.8% for predicting 3-day mortality, of 82.8% for predicting 7-day mortality, of 82.5% for predicting in-hospital mortality, of 73.9% for predicting Intensive Care Unit (ICU) admission, and of 81.7% for predicting prolonged hospital LOS ≥30 days. Our results reveal that SIAVPU has better accuracy than the SI, mSI, and aSI for predicting 24-h, 3-day, 7-day, and in-hospital mortality; ICU admission; and prolonged hospital LOS ≥30 days among patients with traumatic injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

College students have been recognized as a risk group for substance use. Nevertheless, coherent risk factors for stimulant use remain to be elucidated. The objective of this paper is to identify risk factors associated with the recreational use of MDMA, cocaine, amphetamine and methamphetamine. An online questionnaire was distributed among colleges in Berlin. A sample of 12,914 college students participated, of which 9,382 met the inclusion criteria. Past-month prevalence was 7.0% for MDMA, 6.7% for amphetamine, 5.8% for cocaine and 0.1% for methamphetamine. Associated factors included male gender, "other" gender, homosexual and bisexual orientation, open relationship status or being single, engaging in sexual risk-taking behavior, having a psychiatric diagnosis, tobacco use, drinking alcohol and an increased number of (illicit) substances consumed in the past month and in life. Berlin college students showed a substantially higher prevalence of stimulant use compared to both the general population and college students in other cities. Certain parameters, e.g., polydrug use, were particularly high in this group. The results can be used in further development of prevention efforts. However, conclusions about causality are limited by the cross-sectional nature of this study, highlighting the necessity for longitudinal studies in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We investigated the association between the time to first post-extubation oral intake, barriers to oral intake, and the rate of activities of daily living (ADL) independence at discharge (Barthel Index score <70). Method: Consecutive patients admitted to the intensive care unit, aged ≥18 years, and mechanically ventilated for ≥48 hr were retrospectively enrolled. The time to first oral intake, barriers to oral intake, daily changes, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted for baseline characteristics was used to determine the association between time to first post-extubation oral intake and ADL independence. Result: Among the 136 patients, 74 were assigned to the ADL independence group and 62 to the dependence group. The time to first post-extubation oral intake was significantly associated with ADL independence (adjusted p = < 0.001) and was a predictor of ADL independence at discharge. Respiratory and dysphagia-related factors (odds ratio [OR] 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.15–0.82, p = 0.015 and OR 0.07; CI 0.01–0.68, p = 0.021, respectively) were significantly associated with the ADL independence at discharge. Conclusion: Respiratory and dysphagia-related factors, as barriers to the initiation of oral intake after extubation, were significantly associated with ADL independence at discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine health-related self-efficacy for individuals following acquired brain or spinal cord injury prior to enrollment in a weight-loss intervention and associations with demographics, injury characteristics, and additional physiologic variables. Cross-sectional analysis of baseline data for community-dwelling adults following stroke (CVA), traumatic brain injury (TBI), or spinal cord injury (SCI) across three disability-adapted weight-loss interventions. Overall results suggest a significant difference between injury type and self-efficacy as measured by the Self Rated Abilities for Health Practices (SRAHP) scale. On average, individuals with SCI had the lowest overall perceived self-efficacy of the three groups (11.2-unit difference; (CI: −17.4, −5.0), followed by those with TBI (9.5-unit difference; (CI: −16.7, −2.4). There were also differences between groups in age, number of household members, time since injury, sex, race, marital status, physiological measures, and employment status. Results suggest that individuals with different disabilities following neurological injuries have different baseline perceptions in their ability to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. Health interventions should be tailored for these groups based on disability-specific barriers and should include components to enhance health-related self-efficacy to address weight management among these populations. Evidence suggests that health-related self-efficacy may differ following different injury types and level of disability may impact one's ability to maintain health-related behaviors Results suggest that individuals with a spinal cord injury may have different baseline perceptions of self-efficacy related to their ability to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly compared to those with a traumatic brain injury or stroke. Health interventions should be tailored to encompass disability-specific barriers which may impact an individual's health-related self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perception of social support among patients with advanced diseases is influenced by various factors. The socio-cultural context of Bangladesh significantly shapes the experience of patients with advanced cancer and their perception of social support. This study's aim was to assess the perceived social support by these patients and investigate the factors that shape their perception. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 115 advanced cancer patients admitted to the palliative medicine department of a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh. Perceived social support was measured by the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS). Perceived social support was moderate to high for most (74.7%) of the participants. The majority (97.4%) perceived moderate to high level of support from their families. The lowest level of support was perceived from friends (53%). Factors such as economic status, family size, companionship of children, and emotional support from spouses influenced the level of perceived social support. Social support is one of the important aspects of palliative care. Identifying the factors influencing the perception of social support among cancer patients is essential for palliative care professionals to effectively address their care needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of paediatric fractures among winter sport athletes is not adequately studied. Our objective was to categorize fractures that occurred in paediatric skiers and snowboarders at a single ski resort. X-rays of 756 skiers/snowboarders aged 3–17 diagnosed with a fracture were categorized using the Salter-Harris (SH) classification. SH fractures were seen in 158 (21%) patients, with 123 (77%) being Type II. There were no significant differences between patients with a SH fracture and patients with a non-SH fracture for age, sex, snowboarding or skiing, mechanism of injury, terrain or the resort conditions on the day of injury. The most common mechanism of injury was falling onto snow while collisions resulted in more severe injuries. Compared to fractures without growth plate involvement, a higher proportion of SH fractures were seen in the humerus, radius, fibula and thumb; a lower proportion of SH fractures were observed at the tibia and clavicle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The health measures imposed by COVID-19 on workplaces created adverse communication settings. Our cross-sectional study aimed to document the nature and severity of the vocal difficulties experienced by educational professionals a few weeks after the implementation of health measures in schools and early childhood settings in Quebec, Canada while teaching in class. Methods: To this end, we conducted a self-report survey containing nine close-ended questions and one open-ended question regarding self-reported vocal difficulties and the implementation of health measures. The survey was answered by 194 educational professionals in October 2020. Results: Since the introduction of the health measures, respondents reported often or always: having difficulty making themselves heard (66.5%), needing to strain their voice (68.1%), having throat pain after work (38.1%), and being concerned about their vocal health (25.2%). 35.6% perceived that their voice changed moderately or a lot and 75.3% did not feel equipped to take care of their vocal health. Fisher's exact tests revealed the difficulties overall were more present in women (p < 0.05). Discussion: The qualitative analysis of open-ended question answers shows a circular process at play, where the vocal responses to the COVID-19-induced communication barriers contribute to creating more problematic communication settings, thus increasing the challenges for vocal health. Better equipping the professionals to take care of their vocal health by developing resources in their professional settings to help them face vocal challenges in both every day as well as extreme situations, should be a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing lifespan in our society emphasizes the importance of maximizing the well-being for older individuals. The objective of this research was to identify disparities in current physical fitness between older adults who engaged in regular exercise during their youth and those who did not. Additionally, the study aimed to determine the factors contributing to current levels of physical activity. This cross-sectional study involved a retrospective examination of the exercise habits of seniors. A total of 76 participants (35.5% male, aged between 60–80) underwent evaluation using the Fullerton Functional Fitness Test. The key findings of the study are as follows: 1. Seniors who consistently exercised during their younger years demonstrated superior physical fitness, including cardiorespiratory fitness. 2. Generally, individuals who engaged in exercise during their youth were more likely to maintain an active lifestyle in later life. 3. Current levels of physical activity were associated with regular exercise during youth and the absence of chronic diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 had a significant impact on older South Africans' experience of social support. This cross-sectional study explored possible risk and protective factors of social support among community-dwelling older adults (N = 118). Social support pre- to during COVID-19 decreased significantly; however, overall social support was greater for those who were older, had more face-to-face contact, and had a greater number of friends or relatives. From a socio-ecological perspective on resilience, greater opportunities for older adults to create connections, such as classes or community events, are recommended to facilitate desired social supports, which in turn supports greater health and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Screening for depression may identify persons for HIV prevention services and to ensure linkage to care for ART and mental health. We assessed factors associated with depressive symptoms using multiple logistic regression among 15- to 29-year-old gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women who have sex with men (TGW) attending HIV prevention clinics at Silom Community Clinic or Bangrak Hospital in Bangkok or Rainbow Clinic in Nakhon Sawan, Thailand. We defined depressive symptoms as a self-report of feelings of sadness that impacted daily life in the past one month. Among 192 MSM, 51 TGW, and 11 gender-questioning persons screened: 12.6% met the criteria for depression; 5.9% had new HIV diagnosis. Independently associated factors which increase the risk of depressive symptoms included: studying in a private school (AOR 7.17); experiencing any type of bullying (AOR 2.8); having a partner with HIV (AOR 4.1); and learning about the study from sources other than a friend (AOR 4.2). Given many youths had depressive symptoms, screening for depression and connection to mental health services would be beneficial in sexual health settings to meet the needs of HIV-vulnerable youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gynecological examination has an very place among to maintain women's health. Negative attitudes and anxiety about gynecological examination may affect coming to the examination. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of online training and counseling on women's attitudes and anxiety toward the gynecological examination. We randomized 100 women participating in the study into experimental and control groups. We concluded that online training and counseling had a positive effect on the attitudes of women in the experimental group toward gynecological examination. Also we determined that online training and counseling reduced women's state anxiety toward gynecological examinations. In this study, we determined that online training and counseling positively improved women's attitudes toward gynecological examination. We also found that online training and counseling reduced women's state anxiety about gynecological examinations. In the literature, most of the studies on gynecological examination have a descriptive design. This study is important since it contributes to scientific knowledge in determining the attitudes and anxiety levels of women that may affect their status of undergoing gynecological examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Professionals with lived experience (LE) of mental distress might better understand service users, educate colleagues, and serve as role models. This exploratory quantitative study asked U.S. social work education leaders if they perceive positives and negatives of professionals having LE; what advice they would offer students with LE; and analyzed whether certain experiences influenced responses. Having LE and/or close relationships with people with LE was associated with perceiving positives, which was associated with advising students about using LE to help others. Perceiving negatives was associated with advising about difficulties. Implications are offered for preparing professionals to use LE in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate the additional effects of perioperative immunonutrition (IMN) compared with preoperative immunonutrition (IMN) on anthropometric, nutritional, and biochemical parameters, hospital stay and postoperative complications in patients with colorectal cancer. Oral supplementation enriched with arginine, omega-3 fatty acids, and dietary nucleotides was given to 25 patients before and after the operation (Group 2); 25 patients received the same formula before surgery and standard isocaloric nutrition following the operation (Group 1). Postoperative body weight, body mass index (BMI), and middle upper arm circumference (MUAC) of Group 1 decreased more than Group 2 during follow-up (p < 0.05). The biochemical parameters, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were higher, and albumin was lower than the baseline in Group 1 compared to Group 2 (p < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between CRP and Nutrition Risk Screening (NRS) 2002 scores, and prealbumin and NRS 2002 scores had a positive correlation (p = 0.007, r = 0.384; p = 0.012, r = 0.352). There was no difference in hospital stay and postoperative complications between the groups (p > 0.05). Perioperative immunonutrition, compared to preoperative immunonutrition, can be used as a positive and effective approach in improving some anthropometric measurements and biochemical parameters in patients undergoing colorectal cancer surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2023 nationwide study of 386 Iranian married heterosexual men assessed compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) and its correlation with demographic, sexual, and mental health variables. Using the cut-off point ≥ 18 of CSBD Scale-7, 5.2% were CSBD+. Univariate analysis revealed that CSBD+ men had higher rates of substance abuse, pornography use, paraphilic behaviors, sexual desire, arousal, orgasm ability, and younger age at first sex. After Bonferroni correction (p < 0.005), paraphilic behaviors and orgasm ability remained significant. Regression analysis showed positive associations between CSBD and lower age, substance use, extramarital affairs, paraphilic behaviors, higher sex drive, and less orgasm satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to examine sexting behavior, specifically the prevalence of sexting, and its relationships with sociodemographic characteristics (i.e. gender, sexual orientation, and age) and psychological adjustment. To this end, a cross-sectional study was conducted using an online survey. The sample consisted of 999 young adults (98% Italian, 76% female, 67.4% heterosexual) with a mean age of 24.47 years (SD = 3.11). Results showed differences in sexting behavior according to gender and sexual orientation. Age was also associated with sexting behavior. These findings have important implications for clinical practice and future research. Awareness of sexting behavior and its relationships with sociodemographic characteristics can inform the development of targeted interventions to promote safe and ethical use of digital technologies in the realm of sexuality. Additionally, further research can delve into the psychological dynamics involved in sexting and identify risk and protective factors associated with its use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of a traditional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program with an enhanced program incorporating the model of therapeutic engagement (MTE) and extended remote support for patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) patients. In a randomized controlled trial, 88 CABG patients were assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group received integrated MTE cardiac rehabilitation, and assessments were conducted at three time points: pre-CR, one month later, and three months post-CR. The study measured medication adherence (MARS-5) and sense of coherence (SoC-13) scales. The study found no significant differences in demographic factors between the experimental and control groups. However, significant differences were observed in MARS and individuals' SoC scores over time in the experimental group, with notable improvements (p < 0.001). The control group showed significant changes only up to one month. Group effects were evident, with consistent increases in the experimental group's outcomes at each assessment point. Integrating the MTE into CR programs offers benefits in terms of medication adherence and individuals' sense of coherence, which warrants further investigation and clinical implementation. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is recognized as one of the most effective interventions for secondary prevention, but its accessibility is limited in middle-income countries (MICs). This study represents one of the first theoretically-informed CR trials in a MIC that incorporates the model of therapeutic engagement (MTE) combined with extended remote support services into CR program. The MTE model, as a theoretical framework, was highly suitable for CR settings and demonstrated favorable outcomes. This approach has the potential to greatly benefit cardiac patients, particularly those who may initially show hesitance or reluctance towards engaging in CR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Librarians' involvement in Evidence-Based Medical Practice (EBMP) has been widely reported from the Global North. The cross-sectional study designed a survey to investigate how African medical librarians integrate into EBMP. The respondents comprised medical librarians from 12 African countries. Findings revealed that African medical librarians are mostly involved in EBMP activities related to resource use, management, and evidence dissemination. The leading EBMP tools reportedly used or promoted by the librarians include UpToDate and Cochrane Library, while the leading challenges encountered in offering support for EBMP are related to skill deficiency, poor funding, and poor internet connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The medical information about anemia prevention produced by health-care professionals is difficult to understand because of its complicated terminology. To evaluate quantitatively for the first time the clarity of existing online information about anemia prevention in Japanese. On January 20, 2023, we used the keyword "anemia" to evaluate 200 websites, followed by use of the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool for Printable Materials (PEMAT-P) and the Clear Communication Index (CCI) to evaluate understandability and actionability. The PEMAT-P and CCI were both evaluated as excellent in terms of understandability and actionability, with cutoff values of 70% or higher and 90% or higher, respectively. We also evaluated readability using jReadability and quality using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria and The Global Quality Scale (GQS). The PEMAT-P scores for understandability and actionability exceeded the cutoff value in 59 (29.5%) and 36 cases (18.0%), respectively, while the CCI exceeded the cutoff value in two cases (1.0%). With respect to web pages, nine (4.5%) were considered "readable" and 96 (48.0%) "neutral." These findings suggest that websites on anemia in Japanese have poor "understandability," "actionability," and "readability," and are therefore inaccessible to the general public. Improving existing anemia websites using indicators such as the PEMAT-P could improve behaviors related to anemia prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Māori adolescents are more likely to have lived through an array of adverse experiences due to unequal exposure to social disadvantage that Indigenous Māori face in Aotearoa New Zealand. Most of this disadvantage arises from intergenerational inequity resulting from the British colonial process. This study aimed to investigate how disadvantage manifests in the backgrounds of Māori adolescents with harmful sexual behaviours. Background characteristics in a sample of 1024 males (aged between 12 and 17), who were referred to a treatment programme for harmful sexual behaviour, were analysed and comparisons made between Māori and non-Māori on risk factors. Māori exhibited higher rates of risk factors (substance abuse, familial criminality, physical abuse victimisation and family violence) at different contextual levels (i.e. individual, family, school). Risks of school exclusion and sexual abuse victimisation were similar across ethnicities. Recommendations are made for prevention/treatment efforts that use holistic and culturally informed approaches. Culturally appropriate treatment for Māori with harmful sexual behaviours (HSBs) is recommended. This needs to be led by Māori, for Māori and with Māori, including whānau/family-based treatment and prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This study aimed to adapt a Spanish translation of the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) into a cross-cultural version for the Mexican population. The objectives were to verify the validity and reliability of the adapted ODI and to compare pain perception between patients with and without obesity. We included 102 patients with low back pain from two neurosurgery departments in Mexico. The ODI questionnaire was translated and culturally adapted. Validity and construct were evaluated using exploratory factor analysis, and the external convergent validity was assessed by correlating ODI scores with pain intensity, age, and obesity. Test-retest reliability was calculated using the intraclass correlation coefficient, and confirmatory analysis was employed to validate the factorial structure. Patients with obesity were older and had higher pain scores than patients without obesity. The exploratory analysis of the ODI in Mexican Spanish showed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha of 0.923) and validity (factorial loading range, 0.681 − 0.818). The confirmatory analysis showed almost null or very low discrepancy between the proposed model and the real data. A Spanish translation of ODI was cross-culturally adapted for the Mexican population. The Mexican version of the ODI showed good reliability and validity in Mexican culture. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) is a widely used tool to measure physical disability in daily activities due to low back pain. A Spanish-language version has not been culturally adapted and validated for Mexican habits and lifestyle. This study describes the process of the Spanish ODI translation and cultural adaptation, showing it is a reliable and valid tool for assessing disability in patients with low back pain, with a good factorial structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patient activation is associated with treatment adherence, self-accountability for healthcare and a healthy lifestyle change. Mobile health (m-Health) apps can lead to greater patient treatment adherence and health behaviour change. This study aimed to evaluate the health behaviour change of elderly people through a healthcare programme focused on activation with the support of technology. Three phases were conducted: (1) pre-intervention – design of the intervention protocol and the app, (2) intervention – randomised clinical trial with 41 overweight/obese elderly people. m-Health app-supported group psychotherapy was compared with group psychotherapy only and individual psychotherapy (control) and (3) post-intervention – statistical analysis, intervention's assistant interviews and app heuristics evaluation. By crossing the results, the study has shown that there was no significant difference in the activation level before and after intervention between groups. However, there was a significant increase from the initial mean score to the final one when considering the three groups together. Group therapy, whether with or without the support of the app, was more effective for behaviour change measured by the achievement of the goals, than individual psychotherapy. The lack of impact on group therapy with app support calls into question which and how much technology support is useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the balance in patients with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and knee osteoarthrosis (KOA), measured by postural stability computerized evaluation (PSCE), and to evaluate the effect of post-TKA patients' characteristics in their performance on PSCE. An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in two sets of patients: (A) patients with KOA and primary TKA surgery scheduled and (B) patients who underwent primary TKA >9 months. Sociodemographic, radiographic, clinical and PSCE parameters (using the Biodex Balance System) were assessed. Post-TKA patients placed more load on the replaced knee than the contralateral osteoarthritic knee (p = 0.027). They had less imbalance on the balance tests performed with the eyes open, on stable (p = 0.032), and unstable platforms (p = 0.022). These patients also showed better postural stability in monopodalic stance, both standing on the TKA (p = 0.010) and contralateral knee (p = 0.017). Age, weight, pain on the operated knee, extension deficit on the operated knee, and Berg Balance Scale scores on post-TKA patients were significantly associated with their performance on PSCE tests. PSCE can be useful to quantify the balance of post-TKA and KOA patients. Total knee arthroplasty is the definitive treatment for knee osteoarthrosis and it has several benefits, but its effect on balance is still unknown. Postural stability computerized evaluation is used to evaluate balance on vestibular diseases and it has been recently studied on musculoskeletal conditions. Postural stability computerized evaluation may be useful to evaluate patients' balance before and after total knee arthroplasty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine whether extended compared to standard level of physiotherapy is feasible and has beneficial effects on physical function in ICU survivors. This prospective pilot study with a before and after design included patients discharged from ICU to a surgical ward. The comparison group were recruited between January and April 2019 and received standard level of physiotherapy. The intervention group were recruited between May and December 2019 and received extended physiotherapy, corresponding to 50% additional physiotherapist, working 4 hours per weekday. The intervention participants received an individual rehabilitation plan developed in collaboration with a ward-based physiotherapist, and an extended number of sessions provided by the extra resource included practicing individualized exercises, for example walking and stair climbing. Physical function was measured with the Chelsea Critical Care Physical Assessment tool (CPAx) at ICU discharge, during hospital stay and discharge. Group differences were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U-test and Chi2 test. Out of 46 eligible patients, 39 (85%) fulfilled the study (comparison n = 12, intervention n = 27) and were included in the final analyses. No adverse events occurred, and the attendance rate was high (98.5%). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding physical function, hospital stay, and readmissions, but there were tendencies to better outcomes in all these parameters in favor of the intervention group. Additionally, patients in the intervention group had statistically significantly higher scores in the CPAx items "transferring from bed to chair" (median 5 vs 4, p =.039) and "stepping" (median 5 vs 4, p =.005) at hospital discharge. This pilot study indicates that extended physiotherapy after ICU discharge is feasible and does not entail patient safety risks. However, determining the potential beneficial effects for the patients remains to be evaluated in a larger trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) became a significant challenge for the work and personal experience of physiotherapists (PTs) To investigate how the work activities of PTs in a region in Italy have changed, describe the reasons for change, perceived competence, and effectiveness of professional education, and explore their personal experience We adopted a monocentric convergent mixed-methods light–questionnaire variant study. The questionnaire contains both closed-ended and open-ended questions. Quantitative and qualitative data were combined to interpret the results Among 78 respondents (response rate 24.4%), 87.2% worked during the pandemic, 52.9% treated patients with COVID-19, and 45.6% changed their working activities. Professional competence was perceived as low in intensive and sub-intensive care settings. The major critical aspect of professional education was respiratory rehabilitation. Life-learning education was judged as effective, even if mainly focused on safety. Nine themes emerged from the analysis of the PTs' experiences: 1) Physiotherapy during COVID-19; 2) Fear and negative feelings; 3) Positive aspects; 4) Organization and management; 5) Prevention measures; 6) Patients; 7) Change; 8) Information; and 9) Professional education PTs who have direct experience with patients with COVID-19 showed great resilience. They overcame the first phase of disorientation and fear, despite a specific lack of competence in the respiratory field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The risk of injury in archery is supposedly low. However, relations between pain, shooting phases and types of bow have not been studied. Understanding the biomechanical mechanisms of archery-related injuries. Online survey for archers from all types of bow. Variables were analyzed using contingency tables and chi-squared tests. 396 surveys were completed. 36.9% of the archers had practiced archery for more than 10 years, 23.3% between 5 and 10 years. Olympic recurve bow was the most commonly used (38.2%), followed by traditional (23.3%) and compound (22.0%). 57.3% of the archers suffered some kind of injury during archery practice. Drawing shoulder (28.2%) and neck/back injuries (19.9%) were the most prevalent, preventing 50.3% of those who suffered them from continuing archery practice. There was a moderate association between drawing arm injuries and symptomatology in the drawing phase, especially in the shoulder region (0.55), elbow (0.20), and hand (0.13), and to a lesser extent in the neck/back (0.28). Our results show that injury chronicity is frequent on archery. Correlations between types of bow, phases of the shoot and areas of pain could be a starting point for future studies on the repercussions of different types of injuries in archery practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early cardiac rehabilitation using non-invasive ventilation (NIV) and aerobic exercise may reduce the length of hospital stay in patients with heart failure (HF), however, there is still no evidence of this effect on patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). to investigate the effects of aerobic exercise (AE) performed simultaneously with non-invasive ventilation (NIV) on the length of intensive care stay (LICUS) in patients diagnosed with decompensated heart failure (HF) admitted to the intensive care units (ICU). Twenty-eight patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) because of decompensation of HF were randomised into two groups: the intervention group (AE + NIV), and a control group. The intervention group's treatment strategy involved simultaneous AE with NIV daily. The control group performed non-simultaneous AE and NIV daily during their ICU stay. The primary outcome was LICUS. The secondary outcomes were the length of hospital stay, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, functional status, functional classification, and exercise tolerance. The mean LICUS was shorter in AE + NIV than in the control group (6.3 ± 4.7 days vs 8.3 ± 3.6 days, respectively; p = 0.015). Secondary outcomes were similar between groups, except for exercise hemodynamics, which was improved in AE + NIV, as showed by the decreased diastolic blood pressure immediately after the exercise tolerance test. The use of AE simultaneous with NIV reduced the LICUS of patients admitted to the ICU because of decompensated HF. This innovative approach is a promising tool for accelerating ICU discharge during the in-hospital rehabilitation of patients with HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes data on the gender distribution of mental health disorders among adolescents of Togo, West Africa. The sample size of this study included 242 patients. Gender and mental health disorders according to the definition of International Classification of Disease, tenth revision (ICD-10) were considered. Females were significantly more likely to develop a mental health disorder than males (61.16% vs 38.84% of the sample), and females were significantly 3 times more likely to develop Somatoform Disorders- Other Neurotic Disorders compared to males. Males were significantly 2 times more likely to develop Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Astragaloside IV (AST) has been confirmed to have antiasthmatic effects. However, the underline mechanism is unclear. The study aimed to explore the treatment mechanism of AST based on autophagy of memory T cells. AST treatment significantly decreased the number of T effector cells in asthma mice blood and the nude mice that received AST-treated TCMs had relieved inflammation compared with the untreated group; meanwhile, we found that AST significantly decreased the autophagy level and inhibited OX40/OX40L signal pathway of lymphocytes. The results highlighted that AST regulated autophagy to inhibit differentiation of effector T-cell phenotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trunk muscles' function and characteristics are of great importance for both static and dynamic tasks in different sports, and abnormalities of trunk flexors and extensors might be associated with low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the functional, morphological and contractile properties in trunk flexors and extensors of young gymnasts with and without LBP. Young gymnasts (14/25 females, 14–18 y) were screened for the presence of chronic LBP. Abdominal and lumbar muscles were tested for function (McGill's endurance tests), thickness (ultrasound), and contractile responses (tensiomyography). An 8-sessions physiotherapy intervention including postural reeducation was performed by a subsample of 10 subjects with LBP. LBP was found to be associated to higher flexors-to-extensors endurance ratio (OR 11.250, 95% CI: 1.647–76.849, p = 0.014), reduced mean lumbar multifidus thickness (OR 16.500, 95% CI: 2.246–121.228, p = 0.006), and reduced mean erector spinae radial displacement (OR 16.500, 95% CI: 2.246–121.228, p = 0.006). The physiotherapy intervention was found to reduce LBP symptoms and it was associated with a significant improvement in the flexors-to-extensors ratio (p < 0.001). This study provides preliminary evidence of functional, morphological, and contractile trunk muscles' alterations associated with chronic LBP in young gymnasts, and presents the effects of a postural reeducation program on symptoms and muscles' functional properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]