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The authors report findings from a 15-month project that focused on the experiences of sex workers who live and work in an Eastern Canadian province. As part of a larger multi-phased study, 15 adults who identified as women, transgender, or non-binary, and received money or goods for sexual services, participated in photo-elicitation interviews. Drawing on a critical framing analysis, findings indicated supports—as identified and experienced by sex workers—encompassed three categories of care: self, community, and collective. These categories are described, with a particular focus on the latter two. Continuing with the care-based framework, recommendations to structure interventions draw on the role of accountability care in identifying how best to operationalize policies that promote health, well-being, and dignity of Canadian sex workers. The paper begins with a brief overview of the Canadian context and the role of supports. It follows with a discussion on the materials and methods and the results. It concludes with recommendations, limitations, and future considerations.

Objectives:To investigate global and momentary effects of a tablet-based non-pharmacological intervention for nursing home residents living with dementia.Design:Cluster-randomized controlled trial.Setting:Ten nursing homes in Germany were randomly allocated to the tablet-based intervention (TBI, 5 units) or conventional activity sessions (CAS, 5 units).Participants:N = 162 residents with dementia.Intervention:Participants received regular TBI (n = 80) with stimulating activities developed to engage people with dementia or CAS (n = 82) for 8 weeks.Measurements:Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES-I, primary outcome), Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease scale, QUALIDEM scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Geriatric Depression Scale, and psychotropic medication (secondary outcomes). Momentary quality of life was assessed before and after each activity session. Participants and staff were blinded until the collection of baseline data was completed. Data were analyzed with linear mixed-effects models.Results:Levels of apathy decreased slightly in both groups (mean decrease in AES-I of .61 points, 95% CI −3.54, 2.33 for TBI and .36 points, 95% CI −3.27, 2.55 for CAS). Group difference in change of apathy was not statistically significant (β = .25; 95% CI 3.89, 4.38, p = .91). This corresponds to a standardized effect size (Cohen’s d) of .02. A reduction of psychotropic medication was found for TBI compared to CAS. Further analyses revealed a post-intervention improvement in QUALIDEM scores across both groups and short-term improvements of momentary quality of life in the CAS group.Conclusions:Our findings suggest that interventions involving tailored activities have a beneficial impact on global and momentary quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia. Although we found no clear advantage of TBI compared to CAS, tablet computers can support delivery of non-pharmacological interventions in nursing homes and facilitate regular assessments of fluctuating momentary states.

Global estimates suggest that more than 100 million non-human animals are used for scientific purposes each year. The nature of the research, teaching, and testing conducted on these animals can be very invasive, painful, and fatal. Should we care? To discontinue these practices in some cases may result in human suffering. Should any human benefits of research, teaching, and testing outweigh the resultant animal suffering? This paper begins with an analysis of some of the most popular theories on the moral status of animals. From this analysis it is argued that mere species membership is not a morally relevant characteristic, and that non-human animals can have moral status and moral rights. A deontological approach to adjudicating moral claims across species is presented to overcome some of the challenges typical of utilitarian and rights-based approaches. This approach is used to sketch a general framework for evaluating which types of scientific animal use ought to be permitted. It is argued further that, while some forms of scientific animal use may be permitted at present, we ought to strive for the elimination of the practice. The focus will then shift to an analysis of Canada’s regulatory system for the scientific use of animals, identifying shortcomings of this system. The Canadian approach to regulation in this area will be compared against approaches that are taken in the UK and the Netherlands which are more closely aligned with the moral arguments made in the first section. There are opportunities for Canada to learn from these countries, and remarks will be made on how and why Canada should improve the regulation of animals in research, teaching, and testing. Such changes have the potential to improve the wellbeing not only of the animals used in science, but for humans as well. Finally, expected costs and benefits that would accompany the implementation of the recommendations are considered with comments on how costs can be alleviated and why they should be incurred.

Background: Non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) can improve cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms in nursing home residents living with dementia. However, delivery of suitable NPI can be challenging in everyday nursing home settings. Internet and communication technologies (ICT) may be promising tools for supporting NPI delivery in nursing homes. Methods: A two-arm cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted to investigate global and momentary effects of a novel ICT-based NPI for nursing home residents with dementia. Ten nursing homes were randomly allocated to the tablet-based intervention (TBI) or conventional activity sessions (CAS) group (each with five nursing homes) between April 2016 and May 2017. A total of N = 162 participants received either regular TBI (n = 80) or CAS (n = 82) over a period of eight weeks. Linear mixed models were used to analyse group differences regarding the primary outcome apathy (AES-I), and secondary outcomes quality of life (QOL-AD, QUALIDEM), neuropsychiatric (NPI-NH, psychotropic medication) and depressive symptoms (GDS). Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMA) of quality of life were also conducted in both groups before and after each activity session.Results: No significant group difference in the change of apathy (AES-I score, primary outcome) was found post intervention (mean group difference: B = .19; 95% CI: -3.90 to 4.28, p = .93). Regarding secondary outcomes, a reduction of psychotropic medication was found for TBI compared to CAS (B = .42; 95% CI: .15 to .69, p < .01). Further analyses revealed a post-intervention improvement of informant-rated quality of life across both groups (B = 3.69; 95% CI: .68 to 6.69, p = .02). Analysis of EMA also rendered short-term post-session improvements of quality of life in the CAS group (B = .43; 95% CI: .30 to .57, p < .001). Conclusions: These findings suggest that NPI involving individually tailored activities have a beneficial impact on quality of life in nursing home residents with dementia. Although we found no clear advantage of TBI compared to CAS, ICT have the potential to support NPI delivery and facilitate regular assessments of fluctuating momentary states in nursing home residents with dementia. Trial registration: The trial was retrospectively registered with the ISRCTN registry (Trial registration number: ISRCTN98947160) on 01/09/2016 http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN98947160.

Sustained weight loss is highly desirable in obesity. Although the role of incretins in the regulation of body weight is well known, macronutrient specific incretin response and the effects of weight loss on this response have not been investigated before. We aimed to examine GLP-1, GIP, ghrelin, insulin, and satiety response to meals with different macronutrient composition in overweight and obese subjects before and after weight loss.32 overweight and obese participants underwent meal tests before and after weight loss intervention. Test meals were designed to be either carbohydrate (CHO), fat (FAT), or protein (PRO) enriched to test macronutrient specific response. Macronutrient specific response of GLP-1, GIP, and ghrelin before and after weight loss were the primary outcome measures. Response of insulin and satiety were predefined secondary endpoints.There were macronutrient specific response patterns of GLP-1 (PROFAT=CHO), GIP (CHO=FATPRO), and insulin (CHOPRO=FAT). Postprandial decline of ghrelin did not differ between the test meals. Hunger, desire to eat, and prospective food consumption were highest after CHO intake (CHOPRO=FAT) at baseline. After weight loss, fasting and postprandial GLP-1 and insulin were reduced while concomitant ghrelin levels were increased. However, the macronutrient specific hormonal response pattern did not change after weight loss. While weight loss increased hunger and desire to eat, the macronutrient specific differences were lost after weight reduction. Higher weight loss was associated with a stronger decline of PRO induced GLP-1 response (ρ = 0.45, p = 0.024, n = 27).Both hormones and satiety showed a macronutrient specific response in overweight/obese participants with a possibly favorable role of protein. However, weight loss may cause a partial disruption of this hormone-satiety-connection as macronutrient specific response pattern of satiety scores representing impulse control in particular but not incretins disappeared.NCT02649907. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02649907.

Many serious games are most effective when played regularly; however, little is known about how individual game elements support player adherence over time. This work draws on evidence from existing frameworks and game design theories as well as from the design of casual games to investigate how individual game mechanics affect player attrition in a serious game. We implemented a math-learning game in which we could individually layer various game mechanics, and over the course of 3 weeks, 99 participants played one of six versions: Baseline, Rewards, Novelty, Completion, Waiting, or Blocking. We compared the game versions by analyzing the players' performance as well as behaviour. Using survival analysis, we identified that the addition of Completion and Blocking mechanics facilitated the strongest sustained engagement. These findings are congruent with existing theories of player experience and promote the development of guidelines on designing for sustained engagement in serious games.

Visokoplaninska i planinska oblast Republike Srbije, predstavlja jedan od 6 centara Evropskog biodiverziteta i jedan od 153 svetska centra. Srbiju karakteriše velika, ne samo genetička i specijska, već i ekosistemska raznovrsnost. Genetički resursi Srbije su veoma raznovrsni i bogati i to kako biljni, tako i animalni. U radu su analizirani međunarodni dokumenti, konvencije i organizacije nadležne za zaštitu i očuvanje biljnih genetičkih resursa. Analizirani su I i II Izveštaj FAO i I i II Akcioni plan FAO za biljne genetičke resurse. Razmatrane su aktivnosti Evropskih i regionalnih organizacija kao što su EURISCO (Evropska baza podataka za biljne genetičke resurse) i SEEDNet (regionalni program za očuvanje i korišćenje biljnih genetičkih resursa) i učešće Srbije u ovim organizacijama i programima. Prikazani su podaci o najvećim bankama biljnih gena u svetu, a posebno je analizirana međunarodna Svalbard banka biljnih gena. Analizirano je stanje biljnih genetičkih resursa u Srbiji, starih, autohtonih i novostvorenih sorti biljaka. Poseban akcenat je stavljen na Banku biljnih gena Srbije, njen razvojni put i sadašnje stanje kolekcija koje se nalaze u njoj. Navedene su naučne institucije (fakulteti i instituti) koji se bave proučavanjem, kolekcionisanjem, oplemenjivanjem, proizvodnjom i čuvanjem pojedinih biljnih genetičkih resursa. U radu je pojedinačno analizirano stanje populacija, starih i autohtonih sorti i oplemenjenih sorti žitarica i kukuruza, krmnog bilja, industrijskih biljaka, povrća, lekovitih biljaka, voća i vinove loze. Prikazan je diverzitet i načini čuvanja (in situ, on farm i ex situ) najvažnijih sorti, sa posebnim osvrtom na kolekcije koje su čuvaju u Banci biljnih gena Srbije. Obrađeno je posebno stanje šumskih ekosistema Srbije i diverzitet dendroflore i njihovih zajednica. Konstatovano je bogatstvo i raznovrsnost biljnih genetičkih resursa, njihov ekološki, poljoprivredni i ekonomski značaj. U zaključnim razmatranjima dati su predlozi za dalje aktivnosti na unapređivanju i očuvanju biljnih genetičkih resursa, pre svega kroz dalji rad i razvoj Banke biljnih gena Srbije, a predložen je i povraćaj pojedinih sorti i vrsta povrća, nekih industrijskih i krmnih biljaka koje su 2011. godine skinute sa Nacionalne sortne liste Srbije. Predloženo je i donošenje novog Nacionalnog programa očuvanja i održivog korišćenja biljnih genetičkih resursa, s obzirom da postojeći srednjoročni ističe ove godine. Predloženo je i niz drugih mera i aktivnosti sa ciljem unapređenja i razvoja aktivnosti na daljem očuvanju i održivom korišćenju biljnih genetičkih resursa. Posebno je analizirano stanje mikroorganizama i konstatovana njihova velika raznovrsnost i bogatstvo. Ukazano je na značaj mikroorganizama posebno u poljoprivrednoj proizvodnji. Konstatovano je da se kolekcije mikroorganizama čuvaju u više naučnih ustanova i laboratorija u Srbiji, ali i da je potrebno popisati sve postojeće kolekcije, kao i oformiti nacionalnu kolekciju koja bi se čuvala u Banci biljnih gena Srbije. Takođe je potrebno sačiniti i Nacionalni program očuvanja i održivog korišćenja mikroorganizama. U poglavlju o animalnim genetičkim resursima, analizirane su međunarodna dokumenta, konvencije i organizacije koje se bave zaštitom i očuvanjem animalnih genetičkih resursa. Analizirani su I i II izveštaji i akcioni planovi koje je doneo FAO, kao i aktivnosti Srbije na njihovom sprovođenju. Analizirano je stanje, status i trendovi animalnih genetičkih rseursa u svetu prema podacima FAO. Detaljno je analizirano stanje animalnih genetičkih resursa u Srbiji, posebno za svaku grupu životinja i to: konji, magarci, goveda, bivoli, ovce, koze, svinje, kokoši, guske, ćurke, patke, psi i pčele. Konstatovano je veliko bogatstvo starih autohtonih rasa životinja u Srbiji, prikazan je status ugroženosti i definisane su potrebne mere i aktivnosti na očuvanju i održivom korišćenju animalnih genetičkih resursa u Srbiji. Predloženo je da se na Uredbu o podsticajima za stare autohtone rase koju je donelo Ministarstvo poljoprivrede, uvrste još 15 rasa, odnosno 13 rasa i dva soja autohonih životinjskih vrsta. Dat je predlog i da se sačini Nacionalna strategija i program za očuvanje i održivo korišćenje animalnih genetičkih resursa, da se sačini Lista najugroženijih rasa životinja u Srbiji, utvrdi njihov status i brojnost, kao i da se popišu imaoci ovih najugroženijih rasa. Konstatovano je da je potrebno osnovati i Banku animalnih genetičkih resursa u Srbiji, a dat je predlog i za podsticajne mere države kako bi se unapredilo gajenje starih autohtonih rasa u većem obimu nego do sada. U poglavlju o Ekonomskoj koristi od genetičkih resusra Srbije, ukazano je na obim i potencijal ekonomske koristi kroz tri primera: lekovito bilje, gajenje i održivo korišćenje animalnih genetičkih resursa u Specijalnom rezervatu prirode Zasavica, i kroz broj košnica i proizvodnju meda u Srbiji. Konstatovano je da je ekonomski potencijal genetičkih resursa izuzetno visok i značajan. Ekonomska korist od biljnih genetičkih resursa kao što su žitarice, kukuruz, krmno bilje, brojne vrste i sorte industrijskog bilja, povrća, voća i vinove loze je velika i oni čine osnovu agrarne proizvodnje u Srbiji. Posebno su značajne autohtone i stare vrste i sorte zbog genetičkog diverziteta koji nose i koji je garancija očuvanja dobrih osobina (otpornost na bolesti, parazite i štetočine, adaptacija na klimatske promene i sl.). Animalni genetički resursi (autohtone stare rase i sojevi) predstavljaju značajni ekonomski potencijal koji još uvek nije u dovoljnoj meri ni afirmisan ni iskorišćen. Zaključeno je da je potrebno više podsticati, ekonomskim instrumentima države, veći nivo prerade i finalizacije proizvoda od biljnih i životinjskih genetičkih resursa (agrobiodiverziteta), podsticajima za podizanje preradnih kapaciteta, afirmacijom gotovih proizvoda putem sajamskih domaćih i međunarodnih manifestacija, smotri i izložbi, ali i pojačanom medijskom kampanjom koja bi ukazivala na kvalitet, zdravstvene prednosti i autentičnost takvih proizvoda. Na kraju je zaključeno da je genetički diverzitet Srbije (agrobiodiverzitet) od izuzetnog ekološkog, poljoprivrednog i ekonomskog značaja za Srbiju i da se prema njemu moramo odnositi sa mnogo više pažnje, aktivnosti i ulaganja.

IntroductionCurrent analysis approaches of accelerometry data use sum score measures which do not provide insight in activity patterns over 24 hours, and thus do not adequately depict circadian activity patterns. Here, we used a functional approach to analyze accelerometer data that models activity pattern and circadian rhythm. As a test case, we demonstrated its application in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and age-matched healthy older volunteers (HOV). Moreover, we assessed the impact of chronotype on distribution of activity data.MethodsData of two studies were pooled for this analysis. Following baseline cognitive assessment participants were provided with accelerometers for seven consecutive days. A function on scalar regression (FoSR) approach was used to analyze 24 hours accelerometer data. In a second step, analyses were controlled for chronotype using the German version of the morningness-eveningness questionnaire (d-MEQ).ResultsInformation on 47 HOV (mean age 66 SD 6 years) and 13 patients with MCI (mean age 69, SD 8 years) were available for this analysis. MCI patients displayed slightly higher activity in the morning hours as compared to HOV (maximum relative activity at 7:35 am: 75.6%, 95% CI 2.6 to 200.4%, p = 0.031). After controlling for d-MEQ, disturbed activity patterns were found in MCI of intermediate or evening chronotype, compared to HOV, i.e., MCI presented with higher activities in the morning hours (peak at 8:40 am: 357.6%, 95% CI 92.9 to 985.1, p < 0.001) and early afternoon hours (peak at 1:40 pm: 401.8%, 95% CI 63.9 to 1436.4, p < 0.001).DiscussionUsing a novel approach of FoSR, we found timeframes with higher activity levels in MCI patients compared to HOV which were not evident if sum scores of amount of activity were used. In addition, we found that previously described activity patterns as a function of chronotype swere altered in MCI patients, possibly indicating that changes in circadian rhythmicity in neurodegenerative disease are detectable using easy-to-administer accelerometry.Clinical TrialsEffects of Brain Stimulation During Nocturnal Sleep on Memory Consolidation in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairments, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01782391?term=NCT01782391&rank=1,ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT01782391Effects of Brain Stimulation During a Daytime Nap on Memory Consolidation in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairment,https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01782365?term=NCT01782365&rank=1,ClinicalTrial.gov identifier: NCT01782365

Background Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are commonly-used surrogates for clinical outcomes in cancer research. When researching severe diseases such as cancer, it is difficult to avoid the problem of incomplete questionnaires from drop-outs or missing data from patients who pass away during the observation period. The aim of this exploratory study was to explore patient characteristics and the patient-reported outcomes associated with the time-to-dropout. Methods In an Oncological Social Care Project (OSCAR) study, the condition of the participants was assessed four times within 12 months (t0: baseline, t1: 3 months, t2: 6 months, and t3: 12 months) by validated PROMs. We performed competing-risk regressions based on Fine and Gray’s proportional sub-distribution hazards model for exploring factors associated with time-to-dropout. Death was considered a competing risk. Results Three hundred sixty-two participants were analyzed in the study. 193 (53.3%) completed a follow-up after 12 months, 67 (18.5%) patients dropped out, and 102 patients (28.2%) died during the study period. Poor subjective social support was related to a higher risk of drop-out (SHR = 2.10; 95%CI: 1.01–4.35). Lower values in health-related quality of life were related to drop-out and death. The sub-scales global health status/QoL, role functioning, physical functioning, and fatigue symptom in the EORTC QLQ-C30 were key characteristics of early drop-out. Conclusion Severely affected cancer patients with poor social support and poor quality of life seem more likely to drop out of studies than patients with higher levels of social support and a better quality of life. This should be considered when planning studies to assess advanced cancer patients. Methods of close continued monitoring should be actively used when patient experiences a substantial deterioration in their health-related quality of life and symptoms during the study. Results for such studies have to be interpreted with caution in light of specific drop-out mechanisms. Trial registration OSCAR study was registered to the German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS-ID: DRKS00013640). Registered 29 December 2017. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12874-021-01259-0.

Background & AimsWeight loss is associated with an improvement of insulin sensitivity. Both, a negative energy balance and changes of body composition are integrative components of weight loss interventions. However, the individual impact of these two components on insulin sensitivity and energy metabolism is unclear.MethodsWe performed a randomized controlled trial including 80 overweight or obese post-menopausal women. Participants randomly assigned to the intervention group underwent an 800 kcal/d liquid diet for 2 months followed by four weeks in which the formula diet was substituted by a calorie reduced healthy diet to facilitate further weight loss. This weight loss phase was followed by a 4-week weight maintenance phase, where weight stability was achieved by individualized daily caloric intake without negative energy balance. Volunteers of the control group were instructed to keep their weight stable during the entire period of 4 months. Metabolic phenotyping was performed in both groups at baseline (M0), after weight loss (M3) and after the maintenance period (M4). Additional phenotyping was performed during follow-up at 12 (M12) and 24 months (M24). Primary outcomes were changes of lean body mass (LBM) and changes of insulin sensitivity (ISIClamp) between baseline and M3 and M4. Estimates of energy metabolism were secondary endpoints.ResultsNo significant changes of body weight or LBM were found in the control group between any time points. A significant reduction of body weight, fat mass (FM) and LBM was found in the intervention group between M0 and M3, while no further change was seen between M3 and M4. Only subjects of the intervention group were characterized by an improvement of the second primary outcome ISIClamp at M3, which was preserved until M4. Notably, a lower resting energy expenditure per LBM (REELBM) at M3 as well as the individual difference of REELBM between M3 and M4 significantly predicted a stronger regain of fat mass during follow-up.ConclusionsIn summary, our data demonstrate that modulation of LBM and insulin sensitivity during weight loss is predominantly driven by changes in body weight and body composition, rather than an individual effect of negative energy balance. However, the variance in energy expenditure during negative and steady energy balance indicates a thrifty phenotype, which is highly susceptible to future regain of fat mass.

Background and aim To report the six-month safety analyses among patients enrolled in the “Physical Fitness Training in Subacute Stroke—PHYS-STROKE” trial and identify underlying risk factors associated with serious adverse events. Methods We performed a pre-specified safety analysis of a multicenter, randomized controlled, endpoint-blinded trial comprising 200 patients with moderate to severe subacute stroke (days 5–45 after stroke) that were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either aerobic, bodyweight supported, treadmill-based training (n = 105), or relaxation sessions (n = 95, control group). Each intervention session lasted for 25 min, five times weekly for four weeks, in addition to standard rehabilitation therapy. Serious adverse events defined as cerebro- and cardiovascular events, readmission to hospital, and death were assessed during six months of follow-up. Incident rate ratios (IRR) were calculated, and Poisson regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for serious adverse events and to test the association with aerobic training. Results Six months after stroke, 50 serious adverse events occurred in the trial with a higher incidence rate (per 100 patient-months) in the training group compared to the relaxation group (6.31 vs. 3.22; IRR 1.70, 95% CI 0.96 to 3.12). The association of aerobic training with serious adverse events incidence rates were modified by diabetes mellitus (IRR for interaction: 7.10, 95% CI 1.56 to 51.24) and by atrial fibrillation (IRR for interaction: 4.37, 95% CI 0.97 to 31.81). Conclusions Safety analysis of the PHYS-STROKE trial found a higher rate of serious adverse events in patients randomized to aerobic training compared to control within six months after stroke. Exploratory analyses found an association between serious adverse events occurrence in the aerobic training group with pre-existing diabetes mellitus and atrial fibrillation which should be further investigated in future trials. Data access statement The raw data and analyses scripts are provided by the authors on a secure online repository for reproduction of reported findings.

NEW FINDINGS What is the central question of this study? Would ovariectomy cause prolonged changes in ventilation and sustained loss of acute, intermittent hypoxia-induced neuroplasticity or would these outcomes be restored with time? What is the main finding and its importance? Our main findings demonstrate that ovariectomy elicits minimal alteration in overall breathing function but impairs acute, intermittent hypoxia-induced plasticity for ≤ 12 weeks. ABSTRACT Sex hormones are necessary to enable respiratory neuroplasticity, including phrenic long-term facilitation (pLTF), a form of respiratory motor plasticity elicited by acute, intermittent hypoxia (AIH). Female rats exhibit a progressive increase in phrenic nerve amplitude after AIH characteristic of pLTF only during pro-oestrus, the stage of the oestrous cycle notable for elevated circulating oestradiol levels. Removal of the ovaries [ovariectomy (OVX)], the primary source of circulating oestradiol, also eliminates AIH-induced pLTF after 1 week. Ovariectomy is used routinely as a model to examine the impact of sex hormones on CNS structure and function, but the long-term impact of OVX is rarely examined. Extra-ovarian sites of oestradiol synthesis, including multiple CNS sites, have been identified and might possess the capacity to restore oestradiol levels, in part, over time, impacting respiratory function and the expression of respiratory neuroplasticity. We examined both ventilation in awake, freely behaving female rats, using barometric plethysmography, and the expression of AIH-induced pLTF in anaesthetized, ventilated female rats 2 and 12 weeks after OVX and compared them with age-matched ovarian-intact female rats. Our findings indicate that chronic OVX had little impact on baseline breathing or in the response to respiratory challenge (10% O2 , 5% CO2 , balance N2 ) during plethysmography. However, OVX rats at both 2 and 12 weeks demonstrated a persistent loss of AIH-induced pLTF relative to control animals (P

Background: Statistics is often not a popular subject for medical students and researchers. However, methodological skills are essential for the quality of research and for the correct interpretation of research results. Understanding statistical concepts in particular plays a central role. In standard[for full text, please go to the a.m. URL], 65th Annual Meeting of the German Association for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (GMDS), Meeting of the Central European Network (CEN: German Region, Austro-Swiss Region and Polish Region) of the International Biometric Society (IBS)

Background: Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may improve motor recovery after stroke. This study investigated if uni- and bihemispheric tDCS of the motor cortex can enhances fine motor training outcome and transfer to clinical assessments of upper motor function. Methods: In a randomized, double-blinded, sham-controlled trial, forty chronic stroke patients underwent five days of fine motor skill training of the paretic hand with either unilateral or bilateral (N=15/group) or placebo tDCS (N=10). Immediate and long-term (three months) effects on training outcome and motor recovery (Upper Extremity Fugl-Meyer, UE-FM, Wolf Motor Function Test, WMFT) were investigated. Results: Trained task performance significantly improved independently of tDCS in a curvilinear fashion. Anodal, but not dual tDCS resulted in a steeper learning curve on the UE-FM. Neither training nor combined training-tDCS improved WMFT performance.Conclusions: Fine motor skill training can facilitate recovery of upper extremity function. Minimal add-on effects of tDCS were observed.Clinical Trial Registration-URL: NCT01969097 retrospectively registered on 25/10/2013.