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Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze olfactory ensheathing cell (OEC) proliferation and growth on Biosilicate and collagen bioscaffolds, and to determine whether the application of laser phototherapy would result in increased OEC proliferation on the scaffolds. The use of bioscaffolds is considered a promising strategy in a number of clinical applications where tissue healing is suboptimal. As in vitro OEC growth is a slow process, laser phototherapy could be useful to stimulate proliferation on bioscaffolds. Methods: OEC cells were seeded on the Biosilicate and collagen scaffolds. Seeded scaffolds were irradiated with a single exposure of 830-nm laser. Nonirradiated seeded scaffolds acted as negative controls. Cell proliferation was assessed 7 days after irradiation. Results: OECs were successfully grown on discs composed of a glass-ceramic and collagen composite. Laser irradiation produced a 32.7% decrease and a 13.2% increase in OEC proliferation on glass-ceramic discs and on collagen scaffolds, respectively, compared with controls. Laser phototherapy resulted in a reduction in cell growth on the Biosilicate scaffolds and an increase in cell proliferation on collagen scaffolds. Conclusions: These results were probably due to the nature of the materials. Future research combining laser phototherapy and glass-ceramic scaffolds should take into account possible interactions of the laser with matrix compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on indicators that emerged from The First Physical Therapy Summit on Global Health (2007), the Second Summit (2011) identified themes to inform a global physical therapy action plan to integrate health promotion into practice across the World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) regions. Working questions were: (1) how well is health promotion implemented within physical therapy practice; and (2) how might this be improved across five target audiences (i.e. physical therapist practitioners, educators, researchers, professional body representatives, and government liaisons/consultants). In structured facilitated sessions, Summit representatives ( n = 32) discussed: (1) within WCPT regions, what is working and the challenges; and (2) across WCPT regions, what are potential directions using World CaféTM methodology. Commonalities outweighed differences with respect to strategies to advance health-focused physical therapy as a clinical competency across regions and within target audiences. Participants agreed that health-focused practice is a professional priority, and a strategic action plan was needed to develop it as a clinical competency. The action plan and recommendations largely paralleled the principles and objectives of the World Health Organization's non-communicable diseases action plan. A third Summit planned for 2015 will provide a mechanism for follow-up to evaluate progress in integrating health-focused physical therapy within the profession. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic diseases (CD) - such as cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases - are projected to be the most common causes of mortality and morbidity by 2030. Use of a participatory decision-making model that emphasizes a partnership among practitioners, patients, and their families to achieve desired goals is a key strategy in achieving optimal outcomes. The Interactive Health Communication Applications (IHCAs) can support participatory decision making by providing the unique infrastructure needed to deliver support for the multiple requirements of patients with CD. The aim of this paper is to provide a descriptive review of the use of IHCAs in the treatment of chronic disease. Patient acceptability and satisfaction were identified as key issues that can be enhanced by ensuring that IHCAs provide: 1) emotional support and empowerment; 2) education and information from health professionals; and 3) telecommunication instead of onsite visiting. An important benefit of IHCAs can be an improved quality of communication between the patients and the health care professionals, which is a critical and predictive factor of treatment outcomes for many patients with CD. Similarly, there is good evidence to suggest that IHCAs can improve the patients' adherence to both medication and behavioral regimens designed to both treat and manage CDs. However, it is important to recognize that the technological development and effective implementation of an ICHA is a complex multidisciplinary operation that needs to take into account the needs of the various stakeholders as well as making use of the most suitable technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objective Methods Results Conclusion People living with Parkinson's disease (PD) commonly experience heat sensitivity—worsening symptoms and restricted daily activities in heat.This study aimed to develop a scale of heat sensitivity for people with PD.Through a search of the scientific literature and online forums, we developed 41 items relating to experiences of heat for people with PD to assess heat sensitivity. A panel of experts was then consulted to review the scale items critically. After two rounds of review, the scale was refined to 36 items with an overall scale content validity index of 0.89. Via an online survey, 247 people with PD responded to the items.The items were examined with exploratory factor analysis to determine the underlying factors therein. After several iterations, a simple structure was achieved with 29 items loading uniquely onto one of four factors: daily activities, sweating and exercise, heat‐related illness, and symptoms and medications. The model had acceptable to excellent fit statistics (root mean square error of approximation = 0.073 [90% confidence interval 0.067–0.081], root mean square of the residuals = 0.03, comparative fit index = 0.93, and Tucker‐Lewis index = 0.91), and each factor showed high reliability (Cronbach's α ≥0.89). Factor and total scale scores were significantly higher among those reporting sensitivity to heat and poor health status.This new heat sensitivity scale for people living with PD can enable health professionals and clients to assess the severity and impact of heat sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale: Spinal cord ischemia injury is a serious complication after intra-aortic surgery, with a low incidence but high disability rate. However, patients often do not receive comprehensive treatment in the early stages of the disease. Therefore, active neurological intervention is needed to protect and prevent spinal cord ischemia during and after surgery. In this paper, rehabilitation program and imaging data of 2 cases with spinal cord ischemic injury are presented and discussed regarding causes, prevention and acute treatment with this disease, which could be referred by clinicians., Patient Concerns: Case report 1: A 69-year-old male patient underwent aortic arch aneurysm and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (coated stent) was performed under general anesthesia. Complete paralysis of both lower limbs, constipation, and urinary retention occurred after surgery and was subsequently referred to our rehabilitation department. Case report 2: A man aged 41 years experienced sudden chest pain with no dizziness or headache. Weakness of both lower limbs gradually appeared over 30 minutes with subsequent loss of consciousness. He was diagnosed with aortic dissection and underwent aortic stent implantation. Inpatient rehabilitation began systematically 3 months after discharge., Diagnoses: The 2 patients were diagnosed with paraplegia and spinal cord ischemic injury., Interventions: The patients received strength and transfer training, sensory input, health mission, and activities of daily living., Outcomes: Patient 1 returned home without assistive devices and patient 2 returned home with wheelchair., Lessons: Perioperative spinal cord protection is directly related to postoperative quality of life. Once the symptoms of spinal cord ischemic injury occur, cerebrospinal fluid drainage should be performed as soon as possible to increase mean arterial pressure. At the same time, methylprednisolone, ganglioside, anticoagulation, vasodilator drugs, and symptomatic supportive treatments are required. Intercostal artery and subclavian artery are reconstructed if necessary. Symptom stability flags referral to commence rehabilitation. Repetitive functional training is necessary to help patients return to the family and society as soon as possible., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2024 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Beginning in 2018, Mater Health was enacting its next stage of strategic planning focusing on services designed around consumers and strengthening technology to improve access to care and information for delivering better outcomes. Telehealth was part of the strategy. Allied health services sought to meet future community needs by increasing the number of its offsite or virtual services without the need for expensive infrastructure. Our aim was to reinforce allied health professional capability in telehealth, as part of sustainable allied health telehealth delivery. We used a Model for Improvement that included use of the Plan, Do, Study, Act cycles, incorporating a community of practice and evaluation framework with strategies such as appreciative inquiry designed to enhance communication and understanding among team members. Telehealth has proven of great value to health services and consumers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Scaling up of telehealth during the pandemic resulted in recognition of multiple factors needing to be addressed for telehealth to be sustainable. Our work provides insights into staff and consumer perspectives of TH, forming a basis for future telehealth research.

Background: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a common peripheral nerve disorder of the wrist. Nonsurgical treatments e.g. laser therapy may cause potential beneficial effects., Aim: To compare the dose dependent effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) and high intensity laser therapy (HILT) on pain and electrophysiology studies in patients with CTS., Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial., Setting: Outpatient physiotherapy clinic., Population: Ninety-eight participants with CTS, aged between 20 to 60 years, were randomly assigned to five groups., Methods: All participants undertook four standard exercises, with one group serving as exercise-only controls. Patients were randomly allocated to either high or low fluence LLLT or high or low fluence HILT received over 5 sessions. All patients were assessed by visual analogue scale, median compound muscle action potential (CMAP) and sensory nerve conduction studies before and 3 weeks after the interventions., Results: VAS was significantly lower in all groups after 3 weeks (P<0.05). CMAP latency decreased in all groups. The interaction of group and time (5×2) was significant for pain (P<0.001), the latency of CMAP (P=0.001) and CMAP amplitude (P=0.02). The interaction of group and time was not significant for the CMAP conduction velocity, sensory nerve latency and amplitude (P>0.05)., Conclusions: HILT with a power of 1.6 W and low fluence of 8 J/cm 2 was superior in reduction of pain and improvement of the median motor nerve electrophysiological studies compared to LLLT and exercise-only control groups., Clinical Rehabilitation Impact: LLLT and HILT in conjunction with exercise program are effective in reducing pain and improving median motor nerve conduction studies of the patients with CTS. It seems that high power and low fluence laser therapy is better than LLLT and exercise interventions to treat these patients.