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This pilot study assessed text messaging as an early intervention for preventing pressure ulcers (PrUs) in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) post-hospital discharge. Thirty-nine wheelchair-users discharged after acquiring a SCI, underwent randomisation into an intervention group (n = 20) with text messages and a control group (n = 19). All participants received standard post-discharge care and completed a skincare questionnaire before and 6-month after discharge. Primary outcomes included feasibility and acceptability of early intervention using text messaging, alongside performance, concordance, and attitudes toward skincare. Secondary outcomes measured perception and the incidence of PrUs. Baseline demographics were comparable between the intervention and control groups. Eight of 20 participants completed 6-month follow-up questionnaires in the intervention group, six participants completed the 6-month questionnaires in the control group,. Participants expressed high satisfaction with text messages, understanding of content, and increased confidence in preventing PrUs. At 6-month post-discharge, the intervention group showed improved prevention practices, heightened awareness of PrU risks, and increased perceived importance of prevention, which were not observed in the control group. However, there were no significant differences in PrU incidence, possibly due to the small sample size and short follow-up. The study demonstrates that using text messaging as an early intervention for PrU prevention in individuals with SCI is feasible and well-received. Preliminary results suggest a positive impact on participants' attitudes and practices, indicating the potential of text messaging to reduce PrU incidence. However, further research with larger samples and extended follow-up is crucial to validate these promising initial findings. • This is the first study evaluating feasibility of text messagings for PrU prevention in spinal cord injury patients. • Participants were highly satisfied with receiving and understanding text messages, recommending them for PrU prevention. • Participants receiving messages showed improved practices, awareness, and reduced barriers of PrU prevention post-discharge. • If future larger studies show significant results, this intervention could be a valuable tool in community healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity (PA) is recommended as part of the management of narcolepsy type 1 (NT1). This study aimed at 1) characterizing PA in children and adolescents treated for NT1 using objective and subjective measurements, 2) evaluating how PA is associated with NT1 symptoms and comorbidities, and 3) evaluating the effects of an Adapted Physical Activity (APA) program on PA and clinical characteristics. Patients with NT1 from the National Reference Center of Narcolepsy (Lyon, France) were consecutively included in an APA intervention protocol. Narcolepsy symptoms and comorbidities were collected using standardized questionnaires and sustained attention was evaluated using the Bron-Lyon Attention Stability Test before and after the four-week APA intervention. PA was measured objectively using actigraphy throughout the study. Twenty-seven NT1 patients were included (median age 14.7 years [8.3–18.4], cataplexy 88.9%, obesity 37.0%). At baseline, 52.4% of the patients had satisfactory PA levels according to international recommendations. Patients with leisure-time PA (LTPA) showed higher quality of life than patients without. 45% of the patients increased PA during the intervention compared to baseline. These responsive patients had more depressive feelings and tended to have lower objective PA than non-responsive patients at baseline. No significant correlation was found between PA levels before and during the intervention and other clinical data. Most children with NT1 showed satisfying PA levels despite their daytime sleepiness. LTPA engagement was associated with higher quality of life. An APA intervention could be effective in children with narcolepsy, especially for those with depressive feelings. • More than half of the children with narcolepsy were physically active. • Those who engaged in leisure time physical activities showed higher quality of life. • Those with depression are particularly responsive to a physical activity program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dyslipidemia is an important risk factor for coronary artery disease and stroke, and it has emerged as a major public health issue worldwide. Internet-based health management and intervention may offer a new approach to health management. This study was conducted to provide health guidance and education to people with dyslipidemia using an Internet health management platform and to assess the effectiveness of Internet health management and intervention in improving health-related behaviors and controlling blood lipids. Starting in 2013 (Baseline, N = 56,542), a Western longitudinal study in China was performed, and all interventional objects were provided with Internet health management. Health checkups were conducted annually, and questionnaires were administered every two years to analyze changes in health behaviors two years (2015) and four years (2017) following the intervention. In addition, factors affecting behavioral changes and lipid control were analyzed in the dyslipidemic population to understand the effectiveness and influencing factors of Internet health management on lipid control. By guiding interventional objects through the Internet health management platform, the awareness rate of dyslipidemia increased from 19.1% in 2013 to 34.4% in 2017; and the control rate of dyslipidemia increased from 9.1% at baseline to 18.5%. Certain health-related behaviors that are beneficial to health (tobacco use, physical activity, and partial dietary) were gradually improved over the intervention time. For patients with dyslipidemia, triglyceride decreased from 2.90 mmol/L (2013) to 2.77 mmol/L (2017) as the years went by. Analysis of factors affecting lipid control showed that non-compliance with health instructions affected lipid control; in addition to these, being female (0.722, 95% CI: 0.546,0.954) was found to be a protective factor for effective lipid control. The basic Internet-based health management platform in this study appears to be moderately successful and is a valuable and feasible application. Tobacco, dietary, and physical activity interventions provided significant protection against dyslipidemia in patients. [Display omitted] • Internet-based health management and intervention can improve the awareness rate and control rate of dyslipidemia. • By guiding individuals through the Internet health management platform, their health-related behaviors beneficial to health were gradually improved over the intervention time. • Serum cholesterol and triglyceride of patients with dyslipidemia decreased year by year over the intervention time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Heart failure is an increasing public health problem globally. Interventions are imperative in managing the disease. Objective To examine the effectiveness of a health education booklet and telephone follow-ups on patients’ medication adherence, health-related quality of life, and psychological status. Methods One hundred and sixty heart failure patients were assigned to either the experimental group (health education booklet and telephone follow-ups) or the control group (usual care). An independent t -test and the generalized estimating equation (GEE) model were used to compare the differences in the study outcomes. The statistical tests were two-sided and a p value below 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The patients in the experimental group showed greater improvement throughout the study period compared with those in the control group regarding all the study outcomes. Conclusions The study provided clues for healthcare professionals to develop interventions while undertaking clinical work with limited resources in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background and aim: Due to its high antioxidant and mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acid content virgin argan oil (VAO) could play a beneficial role in cardiovascular prevention. We were therefore interested in determining whether the consumption of VAO could improve plasma paraoxonase (PON1) activities and antioxidant status in healthy men. Methods and results: Sixty young men were included in this interventional study. They were given a controlled diet for 2 weeks as baseline and then received 25g/day of butter. The group was randomised to two diet group periods of 3 weeks each. The VAO group received 25ml/day of oil and the extra virgin olive oil (EVO) group received the same quantity of EVO as control group. Plasma PON1 activities, antioxidant vitamins and LDL susceptibility to oxidation were measured. The analysis of the results shows that PON1 activities increase significantly in both groups and that lipoperoxides and conjugated dienes formation decreases significantly in VAO and EVO groups compared to baseline values (P =0.001 and P =0.014, respectively). Vitamin E concentration increases significantly only in VAO group (P =0.007). Susceptibility of LDL to lipid peroxidation shows a significant increase in lag phase and a significant decrease in maximum diene production in VAO (P =0.005) and EVO groups (P =0.041 and P =0.005, respectively). Conclusions: Our findings confirm the beneficial effect of EVO on plasma antioxidant status and show for the first time the same effect for VAO supplementation in man. Thus, VAO offers an additional natural food supplement to reduce cardiovascular risk. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]