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The present study examines how supportive touch impacts evaluations of esteem support content containing high emotion-focused (HEF) or high problem-focused (HPF) messages during observed esteem support interactions. A 2 (verbal content; i.e., HEF or HPF) by 2 (nonverbal content; i.e., presence or absence of supportive tactile communication) experiment was conducted to test for main and interactional effects. Results revealed that HEF conditions were perceived to be more effective by observers at enhancing the recipient's state self-esteem, state self-efficacy, and alleviating distress compared to HPF conditions. The supportive tactile communication conditions were perceived as better at enhancing state self-esteem and alleviating distress compared to the no supportive tactile communication conditions by observers. However, these main effects were qualified by significant two-way interactions between message content and nonverbal behavior on ratings of state self-esteem and distress alleviation, such that the addition of supportive tactile communication enhanced the effectiveness of HPF message content but not HEF content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This introductory chapter begins by outlining the background of this book: how the concept of excessive teacher entitlement took shape and was progressively enriched through my collaborative work with Cheryl J. Craig. Our ongoing informal dialogues gave rise to an invisible college where we co-created new meanings to deepen the understanding of professional inertia. We saw professional inertia as a manifestation of excessive teacher/faculty entitlement constantly adrift in a yin and yang relationship with their best-loved self. This insight came from challenging the narrow mainstream view of the notion of excessive entitlement as a purely volitional act of autonomous individuals which leads to blaming and pathologizing teachers/faculty. Instead, a Vygotskian cultural-historical perspective is proposed. This perspective facilitates a more complex historicized view of the phenomenon by directing attention to the historically and culturally mediated nature of excessive teacher/faculty entitlement and the means to alleviate it. The healing touch to excessive teacher/faculty entitlement repeatedly surfaces as humanizing pedagogy. This involves helping teachers/faculty develop empowered entitlement and work towards realizing their dreams, their best-loved self. Finally, this introductory chapter provides a brief overview of the 15 chapters that follow. They explore the notion of excessive teacher/faculty entitlement in diverse sociocultural contexts and examine promising approaches to address this problem from different theoretical and methodological angles. You are invited to join us in this rich journey of inquiry and transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Haptotherapy fosters a sense of unity between the body, mind, and emotions. In addition, it contributes to expanding the woman's perception of her pregnancy and developing a more positive attitude towards pregnancy and childbirth. The study aims to examine the Turkish validity and reliability of the Haptotherapeutic Well-Being Scale, which will be used to evaluate the well-being levels of haptonomy and haptotherapy practices in women. Design: The study was methodological type. Methods: The study conducted between October 20 and December 20, 2023, with 242 women who volunteered to participate by sharing forum pages on social media (Facebook, Instagram) via the web. Data were collected using a personal information form, including sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics and the Haptotherapeutic Well-Being Scale. Results: The Haptotherapeutic Well-Being Scale consists of 14 items and five sub-dimensions. In confirmatory factor analysis, all path coefficients were statistically significant (p < 0.001). The overall Cronbach's Alpha and sub-dimension values of the scale are above 0.90. There is a positive and very strong correlation between all sub-dimensions of the scale (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The Haptotherapeutic Well-Being Scale was found to be valid and reliable for the Turkish sample. Trials registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT06467188; registered June 14, 2024. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Methods Results Conclusions This study aimed to examine the effects of therapeutic touch (TT) on infantile colic symptoms (Infant Colic Scale (ICS) score, crying time and sleep time).This randomised controlled trial included infants aged 4–12 weeks diagnosed with infantile colic in a pediatric unit of a hospital. Infants were assigned to intervention or control groups using a stratified randomisation method. The intervention group received TT sessions six times, 3 days a week, in addition to usual care for 2 weeks. The control group received the usual care. Data were collected using Mother–Infant Information Form, ICS, Crying and Sleep Time Follow‐Up Forms. The infants were followed up for two weeks.A total of 64 infants who met the criteria were included in the study, including intervention (n = 32) and control (n = 32) groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the groups (intervention and control) in terms of ICS scores (U = 4.5; P < 0.001; d = 3.252; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.505–3.999), crying time (F = 57.097; ŋp2 = 0.461; P < 0.001) and sleep time (F = 17.884; ŋp2 = 0.211; P < 0.001). When the intervention group was compared with the control group at all time points, the size of the effect (group × time interaction) was found to be high.TT effectively relieved symptoms, decreased crying time and increased sleep time in infants with infantile colic. TT is recommended to relieve colic in infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Mediterranean Nursing & Midwifery is the property of Galenos Yayinevi Tic. LTD. STI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: To compare the difference in rebubbling rates between patients undergoing Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) with endothelium-in using a standard IOL cartridge and those with endothelium-out DMEK utilizing a no-touch technique with borosilicate glass cartridge transplantation. Methods: This retrospective study included all eyes that underwent preloaded endothelium-in or endothelium-out DMEK transplantation from June 2019 to December 2023 at the Hanusch Hospital, Vienna, Austria. All DMEKs were harvested, prepared and preloaded at the European Eye Bank of Venice, Italy. DMEK surgeries were done by one experienced surgeon and the procedure was completed by air tamponade of the anterior chamber. Results: Overall, 32 eyes each of 31 endothelium-out patients and of 29 endothelium-in patients were included. 32 preloaded endothelium-in procedures were followed by 32 preloaded endothelium-out procedures. Rebubbling rate for endothelium-in was 15/32 (47%) and for endothelium-out was 7/25 (28%) (p = 0.035, Pearson's chi-squared test). Donor age was the most important variable for rebubbling in a random forest algorithm model (ROC: 0.69). Conclusions: Rebubbling rate in endothelium-out DMEK was less than two-thirds compared to endothelium-in DMEK favoring no-touch endothelium-out DMEK as the preferred technique of DMEK transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An editorial is presented on the consensus statement from the Hopkins-Oxford Psychedelics Ethics (HOPE) Working Group. Topics include the recognition of the ethical complexities and social justice issues related to the use of psychedelics, the importance of diverse perspectives in ethical discussions, and the need for continued research on both benefits and potential harms associated with psychedelics.

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a hands-on therapy aiming to achieve the global homeostasis of the patient. OMT focuses on treating the somatic dysfunctions characterized by tissue modifications, body asymmetry, and range-of-motion restrictions. The benefits related to OMT are thought to be associated with the interconnectedness of the body's systems and the inherent capacity for self-healing. However, whether OMT can influence brain activity, and, consequently, neurophysiological responses is an open research question. Our research investigates the literature to identify the effects of OMT on brain activity. The main purpose of the research question is: can OMT influence brain activity and consequently neurophysiological responses? A scoping review was conducted, searching the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and OSTEOMED.DR (Osteopathic Medical Digital Repository), Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Science Direct. The initial search returned 114 articles, and after removing duplicates, 69 were considered eligible to be included in the final sample. In the end, eight studies (six randomized controlled trials, one pilot study, and one cross-over study) were finally included and analyzed in this review. In conclusion, OMT seems to have a role in influencing functional changes in brain activity in healthy individuals and even more in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. However, further RCT studies are needed to confirm these findings. Registration protocol: CRD42024525390. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the current research, 6-gingerol (GA)-loaded nanofiber drug delivery system were developed, and their potential usage in wound healing was evaluated. Significance: This study investigates the effectiveness of nanofibrous membranes composed of sodium alginate (SA), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), and 6-gingerol (GA) as delivery systems for anti-inflammatory agents in the context of wound dressings. Methods: GA-loaded SA/PVA nanofiber was prepared using electrospinning. In vitro characterization of this nanofiber included the examination of comprehensive in vitro characterization, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, cytotoxicity, a scratch tes and in vivo skin test. Results: GA was extracted from Zingiber officinale, and its successful isolation was confirmed through analyses such as H-NMR, C-NMR. Then GA was electrospuned into the SA/PVA nanofibers, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging revealed that the fiber diameters of the formulations ranged between 148 nm and 176 nm. Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant studies demonstrated that the effectiveness of GA increased with higher doses; however, this increase was accompanied by decreased cell viability. In vitro release studies revealed that GA exhibited a burst release within the first 8 h, followed by a controlled release, reaching completion within 24 h. Within the scope of in vitro release kinetics, release data are mathematically compatible with the Weibull model with high correlation. The scratch test results indicated that TB2 (%1 GA) promoted epithelialization. Furthermore, it was determined that TB2 (%1 GA) did not cause any irritation. Conclusions: As a result, TB2 shows promise as a formulation for wound dressings, offering potential benefits in the field of wound care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), but infections pose a significant threat to its success. Current guidelines lack antifungal recommendations, despite rising fungal infection rates post-IPP surgery. This review examines epidemiology, risk factors (including diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, and obesity), and pathogenesis, highlighting the role of biofilm formation in device contamination. Clinical manifestations vary from acute to delayed, with fungal biofilms presenting challenges in diagnosis. Prophylactic strategies, including broad-spectrum antibiotics and antifungals, are crucial, with evidence suggesting a 92% reduction in infections. With fungal infections showing lower salvage rates, management involves culture-guided treatment, irrigation, and oral antibiotics. Future research aims to understand biofilm mechanisms and develop biomaterials to reduce infection rates. Implementing antifungal therapy, along with standard practices like the no-touch technique and antibiotic dips, is crucial in preventing IPP infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of touch and basal stimulation in pediatric care settings to alleviate pain and stress among children and adolescents. It explores various touch-based interventions, such as initial touch, stroking, washing, and limiting positioning, focusing on their role in promoting comfort and reducing anxiety. It emphasizes the significance of understanding and addressing the sensory needs of young patients to enhance their well-being during hospitalization.

Background: This randomized controlled, pretest-post-test intervention study examined the effect of distance reiki on state test anxiety and test performance. Method: First-year nursing students (n = 71) were randomized into two groups. One week before the examination, intervention group participants performed reiki remotely for 20 minutes for 4 consecutive days, and control group participants received no intervention. Results: The intervention group had lower posttest cognitive and psychosocial subscale scores than pretest scores (p >.05). The control group had a significantly higher mean posttest physiological subscale score than pretest score (p <.05). Final grade point averages were not significantly different between the intervention and control groups (p >.05). One quarter of the intervention group participants noted reiki reduced their stress and helped them perform better on the examination. Conclusion: Reiki is a safe and easy-to-practice method to help students cope with test anxiety. [J Nurs Educ. 2024;63(5):298–303.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Problematic usage of the internet (PUI) is perhaps one of the most frequently studied phenomena of the 21st century receiving increasing attention in both scientific literature and the media. Despite intensive research there have been relatively few meaningful studies among elementary school students in Hungary and worldwide, who may be considered as a high-risk population with regard to problematic internet use. The aim of our study was to carry out a complex research focusing on the prevalence and risk factors of PUI among elementary school children aged 10–15 years (Grade 5–8). Methods: Demographics included were gender, age, place of stay, type of residence, family type, parental education, start of internet use, used devices, daily internet use, purpose of internet use, internet accounts, ways of keeping in touch with friends and sporting activities. PUI was evaluated using the paper-based version of the Potentially Problematic Use of the Internet Questionnaire. Results: Overall, 2000 paper-based questionnaires were successfully delivered and the final analysis included 1168 responses (overall response rate 58.4%). Mean age was 12.55 ± 1.24 years. Female gender (OR = 2.760, p = 0,006, CI 95% 0.065 to 0.384), younger age (11–12 years) (OR = 3.812, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 1.747–4.731), early exposure to the internet (OR = 3.466, p = 0.001, 95% CI 1.535–5.446), living in a small village (OR = 1.081, p = 0.002, 95% CI 1.041–1.186) urgency to answer online (OR = 4.677, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 2.714–6.639), decreased frequency of personal contact with friends (OR = 2.897, p = 0.004, 95% CI: 1.037–1.681), spending more than 6 h online (OR = 12.913, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 10.798–14.892), morning and nighttime internet use (OR = 3.846, p < 0.001, CI 95% 1.886–5.810) and never doing any sports (OR = 2.016, p = 0.044, 95% CI: 1.050–3.354) were independently associated with problematic internet use. Conclusions: Based on the results of our questionnaire survey more than 10% seemed to be problematic users in our study population, which is a relatively high rate. Early exposure to the internet as well as younger age were strongly related to this phenomenon. Duration of being online as well as daily time interval of internet use are important predisposing factors. Scarcely studied social factors such as being online at the expense of personal relationships and the lack of physical activity should be payed more attention to prevent the development of PUI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hoitotiede is the property of Hoitotieteiden Tutkimusseura HTTS r.y. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes pain and adversely affects functional status and holistic well-being. This randomized controlled trial investigated the effect of Reiki on pain, functional status, and holistic well-being in patients with knee OA. The sample consisted of 42 patients. The control group received standardized treatment only, whereas the intervention group received face-to-face Reiki (nine positions; 39 minutes) and distance Reiki on two consecutive days in addition to standardized treatment. The Reiki group had lower pain scores than the control group as measured by the Visual Analog Scale (p < .001) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index pain score (p < .001). Those participating in the Reiki group had improved holistic well-being scores specifically for the subscales of Sadness, Perception of Sadness, Spiritual Disruption, Cognitive Awareness, and General mood. Reiki is a safe, noninvasive, and cost-effective alternative treatment technique that has the potential to reduce symptoms of pain and improve holistic well-being in patients with knee OA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This is one of the first studies to investigate the impact of therapeutic touch on sleep quality and fatigue in menopausal women. • Therapeutic touch might be effective in increasing sleep quality and decreasing fatigue in menopausal women. • Therapeutic touch is a noninvasive and easily conducted method that can be used to improve women's health by nurses and midwives in line with their independent roles. The management of well-known and common complaints such as insomnia and fatigue experienced in the menopausal period has the potential to affect many aspects of life in women during this period positively. This research was carried out to determine the effect of therapeutic touch on sleep quality and fatigue in menopausal women. This randomized controlled experimental study was conducted with 48 (24 in the intervention group and 24 in the control group) women who sought treatment in the gynecological outpatient clinic of a public hospital. According to the study procedure, while the intervention group received therapeutic touch, the control group received SHAM therapeutic touch for 10 min a day for five consecutive days. Data were collected through the Personal Information Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and the Piper Fatigue Scale. The median post-test total sleep quality score was significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (p=0.010). However, the mean total fatigue scores did not differ significantly between the groups (p=0.917). The results of this study showed that therapeutic touch was effective in improving sleep quality, but it did not affect fatigue in menopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted using a pre/posttest, randomized-controlled, single-blind trial method. After the pretest, a survey was administered and, distant Reiki was applied to nurses in the intervention group (n = 30) for 20 minutes a day for 4 consecutive days at a usual time. No intervention was made in the control group (n = 32). On the second day after the fourth Reiki session, a posttest survey was administered to nurses in the intervention group. The control group, on the other hand, was administered the posttest survey together with the last intervention group. As a result, in the intervention group, there was a decrease in the mean scores of the Helpless Approach subdimension on the Coping Style Scale and an increase in the mean scores of the Optimistic Approach and Social Support subdimensions (P <.05). In the Visual Analog Scale for Fatigue, the mean Fatigue score in the intervention group decreased and there was an increase in the Energy subdimension mean score (P <.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Objective measures of screen time are necessary to better understand the complex relationship between screen time and health outcomes. However, current objective measures of screen time (e.g., passive sensing applications) are limited in identifying the user of the mobile device, a critical limitation in children's screen time research where devices are often shared across a family. Behavioral biometrics, a technology that uses embedded sensors on modern mobile devices to continuously authenticate users, could be used to address this limitation. Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to summarize the current state of behavioral biometric authentication and synthesize these findings within the scope of applying behavioral biometric technology to screen time measurement. Methods: We systematically searched five databases (Web of Science Core Collection, Inspec in Engineering Village, Applied Science & Technology Source, IEEE Xplore, PubMed), with the last search in September of 2022. Eligible studies were on the authentication of the user or the detection of demographic characteristics (age, gender) using built-in sensors on mobile devices (e.g., smartphone, tablet). Studies were required to use the following methods for authentication: motion behavior, touch, keystroke dynamics, and/or behavior profiling. We extracted study characteristics (sample size, age, gender), data collection methods, data stream, model evaluation metrics, and performance of models, and additionally performed a study quality assessment. Summary characteristics were tabulated and compiled in Excel. We synthesized the extracted information using a narrative approach. Results: Of the 14,179 articles screened, 122 were included in this scoping review. Of the 122 included studies, the most highly used biometric methods were touch gestures (n = 76) and movement (n = 63), with 30 studies using keystroke dynamics and 6 studies using behavior profiling. Of the studies that reported age (47), most were performed exclusively in adult populations (n = 34). The overall study quality was low, with an average score of 5.5/14. Conclusion: The field of behavioral biometrics is limited by the low overall quality of studies. Behavioral biometric technology has the potential to be used in a public health context to address the limitations of current measures of screen time; however, more rigorous research must be performed in child populations first. Systematic review registration: The protocol has been pre-registered in the Open Science Framework database (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/92YCT). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: Guidelines have been created to improve the reporting of clinical trials of biofield therapies, e.g. External Qigong, Healing Touch, Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch. Appropriate use of these guidelines is likely to strengthen the evidence base for biofield therapies as well as increase their usage as stand-alone practices and as complementary therapies within mainstream healthcare. A set of guidelines has been developed to help improve reporting of clinical trials of biofield therapies. The need for enhanced transparency when reporting trials of this family of integrative health practices, e.g., External Qigong, Healing Touch, Reiki and Therapeutic Touch, has been advocated in systematic reviews of these studies. The guidelines, called Biofield Therapies: Reporting Evidence Guidelines (BiFi REGs), supplement CONSORT 2010 by including details of the intervention protocols relevant to biofield therapy trials. BiFi REGs evolved through a draft document created by a core group, two rounds of a Delphi process with an international group of subject matter experts and two panels, meeting via Zoom, which included editors of complementary and integrative medicine journals. BiFi REGs comprises a 15-item Intervention checklist. Modifications of two other CONSORT topic areas are also proposed to enhance their relevance to trials of biofield therapies. Included for each item are an explanation, and exemplars of reporting from peer-reviewed published reports of biofield therapy trials. When used in conjunction with all other items from CONSORT 2010, we anticipate that BiFi REGs will expedite the peer review process for biofield therapy trials, facilitate attempts at trial replication and help to inform decision-making in the clinical practice of biofield therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preterm infants are sensitive and experience pain through invasive procedures in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit more than term infants. One of the painful and frequent procedures is cannulation. Aim: this study was to determine the effect of Yakson touch and pacifier on pain and physiological response in preterm infants during cannulation. Methods: a clinical trial of 60 preterm infants was conducted in a NICU affiliated with El-Arbain Hospital, Assiut governorate, Upper Egypt. Sixty preterm infants matched the inclusion criteria were included in this study divided chronologically into two groups (Yakson and control groups). Thirty infants were in each group. Neonatal Infant Pain Scale (NIPS) was used to evaluate pain responses. Pain and physiological indicators (pulse, respiration, and oxygen saturation) were measured before and after cannulation. Comparison was done among the control and study groups to define the effect. Results: The mean gestational age of the included infants was 33.17 and 33.93 weeks in both the Yakson and control groups respectively, and the weight mean was 1.49 kg with no statistical differences among both groups. While days of life have differed which infants in the control group had high days of life mean. Respiration and pulse rates decreased after the procedure in the Yakson group, while they increased in control. Also, the pain means scores increased after the painful procedure in the control group while decreased in Yakson (control after = 6.03, Yakson after = 3.90). Conclusion: Yakson's touch message successfully decreased pain levels, pulse, and respiration rates among preterm infants exposed to painful procedures. Moreover, performing Yakson improves oxygen saturation levels among preterm infants in the study group. Recommendations: try to incorporate Yakson touch into routine care to maintain preterm infants' stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer-related pain (C-RP) is a prevalent and debilitating concern among patients with cancer, with conventional treatments limited in their ability to provide adequate relief, and by the adverse effects associated with their use. Complementary and integrative medicine (CIM) modalities have been shown to be potentially effective and safe for the treatment of pain and related symptoms, when used in conjunction with conventional medications and under medical supervision. An increasing number of oncology centers provide CIM within their conventional supportive and palliative care service, in an "Integrative Oncology" (IO) setting. A large body of clinical research, including systematic reviews and guidelines such as those published in 2022 by the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), in collaboration with the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), support the use of some CIM modalities for C-RP and related concerns. These include acupuncture for general and peri-operative/procedural pain, as well as aromatase inhibitor-associated arthralgia (AIA); reflexology or acupressure for pain during systemic therapy for cancer; hypnosis for procedural pain or pain due to diagnostic workup; and massage for pain experienced by patients during palliative and hospice care. Further research is needed, within both randomized control trials and pragmatic non-controlled studies which are more reflective of the real-life IO setting. This review summarizes the evidence supporting the use of CIM for C-RP; the analgesic mechanism of the modalities presented; and the challenges facing IO researchers, as well as the implementation of the 2022 SIO-ASCO guideline recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Nursing & Health is the property of Journal of Nursing & Health (JONAH) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a hands-on therapy aiming to achieve the global homeostasis of the patient. OMT focuses on treating the somatic dysfunctions characterized by tissue modifications, body asymmetry, and range-of-motion restrictions. The benefits related to OMT are thought to be associated with the interconnectedness of the body’s systems and the inherent capacity for self-healing. However, whether OMT can influence brain activity, and, consequently, neurophysiological responses is an open research question. Our research investigates the literature to identify the effects of OMT on brain activity. The main purpose of the research question is: can OMT influence brain activity and consequently neurophysiological responses? A scoping review was conducted, searching the following databases: PubMed, Google Scholar, and OSTEOMED.DR (Osteopathic Medical Digital Repository), Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and Science Direct. The initial search returned 114 articles, and after removing duplicates, 69 were considered eligible to be included in the final sample. In the end, eight studies (six randomized controlled trials, one pilot study, and one cross-over study) were finally included and analyzed in this review. In conclusion, OMT seems to have a role in influencing functional changes in brain activity in healthy individuals and even more in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain. However, further RCT studies are needed to confirm these findings. Registration protocol: CRD42024525390.

The purpose of the study is to determine whether administering healing touch (HT) is more effective than deep breathing (DB) for reducing acute care nurses' stress during a shift. A randomized cluster trial assessed 150 nurses' vital signs and Visual Analog Scale for Stress (VASS) levels pre, post, and at follow-up to achieve a power of.7 and medium affect size. Open-ended questions following the intervention enriched quantitative findings describing the experience, facilitators, and barriers to potential use in nursing. The generalized estimating equation 1 (GEE1) comparisons of mean change over time, found that nurses in the HT intervention, had significantly lower VASS stress scores at posttreatment (−0.95, p =.0002) and at follow-up (−0.73, p =.0144) than the DB group, and the respiratory rate (RR) rate differences were nearly significant at post-intervention and significant at follow-up, respectively (1.36, p =.0568 and −2.28, p =.0011), indicating lower RR after HT. These findings support the use of HT as an effective stress reduction strategy as a relevant strategy to sustain a viable nurse work force post-COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Client experiences of virtual energy healing include embodied sensations, relaxation, release, sense of peace, and connection to self and others. • Clients reported increased relaxation, increased well-being, and decreased pain after virtual energy healing sessions via Zoom. • Clients reported they were surprised that virtual energy healing worked. During the COVID-19 pandemic medical and holistic health practitioners turned to utilizing virtual healthcare. As energy healing practitioners and educators who shifted to an online format, it seemed important to document descriptions of client experiences of virtual energy healing. To describe client experiences of virtual energy healing sessions. Descriptive pre-post intervention design. Two experienced and eclectic energy healing practitioners developed a protocol and conducted energy healing sessions via Zoom. A convenience sample of Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) Consociates, people of diverse life-styles and spiritual traditions who are committed to living the mission of the CSJs in the St. Paul Province. Pre-post 10-point Likert scale rating of relaxation, well-being, and pain. Pre-post primarily qualitative questionnaires. Results indicated significant pre-post differences: pre-session relaxation (M=5.036, SD = 2.9) and post-session relaxation (M=7.86, SD = 6.4): t(13)=2.16, p=.0017*; pre-session well-being (M=5.86, SD = 4.29); post-session well-being (M=8, SD = 2.31), t(13), p=.0001*; pre-session pain (M=4.0, SD = 6.15) and post-session pain (M=2.25, SD = 3.41), t(13)=2.16, p=.004*. Thematic analysis revealed six themes related to client experiences of virtual energy healing: 1) embodied sensations, 2) relaxation, 3) release - a letting go of tasks/anxieties/worries, 4) sense of peace/joy/calm, 5) connection to themselves, others, and something larger, and 6) surprise that virtual energy healing works. This was a descriptive study using a convenience sample, therefore, there was not a control group, a large sample size, and the sample might be more prone to report better results than the general population because of their spiritual perspectives. Results were not generalizable. Clients reported positive descriptions of virtual energy healing and say they would do it again. However more research is needed to understand the variables that influenced the results and the underlying mechanisms of action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reiki is a philosophy and healing technique that directs the use of vital energy (ki) for energy rebalance, as well as healing, in a holistic sense, of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual processes. The practice is part of the integrative and complementary practices recognized by the World Health Organization. This study aimed to evaluate the Reiki effects on people's life quality perception, by using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). We analyzed the answers of 144 individuals, and the data were categorized in quartiles according to the number of Reiki sessions attended. The results of each question and dimension of the questionnaire were analyzed by Student's t test (individual questions) and analysis of variance (dimensions). We observed significant improvement in the perception of physical pain, need for medical treatment, meaning of life, physical environment, availability of money, availability of information, locomotion, work capacity, access to health, place of residence, and transportation facilities. Reiki sessions have improved people's quality of life perception in many aspects, proving its therapeutic efficacy in a broader approach to health promotion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a leading cause of chronic pain and disability and one of the most common conditions treated in outpatient physical therapy (PT). Because of the high and growing prevalence of knee OA, there is a need for efficient approaches for delivering exercise-based PT to patients with knee OA. A prior randomized controlled trial (RCT) showed that a 6-session Group Physical Therapy Program for Knee OA (Group PT) yields equivalent or greater improvements in pain and functional outcomes compared with traditional individual PT, while requiring fewer clinician hours per patient to deliver. This manuscript describes the protocol for a hybrid type III effectiveness-implementation trial comparing two implementation packages to support delivery of Group PT. Methods: In this 12-month embedded trial, a minimum of 16 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) will be randomized to receive one of two implementation support packages for their Group PT programs: a standard, low-touch support based on Replicating Effective Programs (REP) versus enhanced REP (enREP), which adds tailored, high-touch support if sites do not meet Group PT adoption and sustainment benchmarks at 6 and 9 months following launch. Implementation outcomes, including penetration (primary), adoption, and fidelity, will be assessed at 6 and 12 months (primary assessment time point). Additional analyses will include patient-level effectiveness outcomes (pain, function, satisfaction) and staffing and labor costs. A robust qualitative evaluation of site implementation context and experience, as well as site-led adaptations to the Group PT program, will be conducted. Discussion: To our knowledge, this study is the first to evaluate the impact of tailored, high-touch implementation support on implementation outcomes when compared to standardized, low-touch support for delivering a PT-based intervention. The Group PT program has strong potential to become a standard offering for PT, improving function and pain-related outcomes for patients with knee OA. Results will provide information regarding the effectiveness and value of this implementation approach and a deeper understanding of how healthcare systems can support wide-scale adoption of Group PT. Trial registration: This study was registered on March 7, 2022 at ClinicalTrials.gov (identifier NCT05282927). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to find out how values and norms related to touch are perceived in the physiotherapist-patient relationship. 149 physiotherapists and 100 patients participated in the study. The questionnaire used in the survey was prepared in two versions, both containing the same 30 items describing the use of therapeutic touch from two perspectives. The respondents had to provide their answers on 6-point ordinal scales with the centre excluded. In our analyses we treated the applied research tool as a scale of fulfilment of touch-related norms in the case of therapists and, respectively, a scale of expectations of fulfilment of these norms in the case of patients. The reliability of the tool was checked with Cronbach’s α method. Factor analysis, Student’s t-test and one-way analysis of variance were used to develop the obtained results.

Epstein‒Barr virus (EBV) is a human herpes virus that is saliva-transmissible and universally asymptomatic. It has been confirmed that more than 90% of the population is latently infected with EBV for life. EBV can cause a variety of related cancers, such as nasopharyngeal carcinoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and Burkitt lymphoma. Currently, many clinical studies have demonstrated that EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and other cell therapies can be safely and effectively transfused to prevent and treat some diseases caused by EBV. This review will mainly focus on discussing EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes and will touch on therapeutic EBV vaccines and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy briefly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and objectives: The present study examined the impact of intraoperative acupuncture on anesthesia-related parameters in patients undergoing gynecological oncology surgery. Methods: Participants underwent preoperative integrative oncology (IO) touch/relaxation treatments, followed by intraoperative acupuncture (Group A); preoperative IO treatments without acupuncture (Group B); or standard care only (Group C). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), MAP variability (mean of MAP standard deviation), bispectral index (BIS), and calculated blood pressure Average Real Variability (ARV) were measured intraoperatively. Results: A total of 91 patients participated: Group A, 41; Group B, 24; Group C, 26. Among patients undergoing open laparotomy, Group A showed lower and more stable MAP and HR compared to Group B, (MAP, p = 0.026; HR, p = 0.029) and Group C (MAP, p = 0.025). Mean BIS, from incision to suture closing, was lower in Group A (vs. controls, p = 0.024). In patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, MAP was elevated within Group A (p = 0.026) throughout surgery, with MAP variability significantly higher in Group A (P = 0.023) and Group B (P = 0.013) 10 min post-incision (vs. pre-incision). All groups showed similar intraoperative and post-anesthesia use of analgesic medication. Conclusion: Intraoperative acupuncture was shown to reduce and stabilize MAP and HR, and reduce BIS in gynecology oncology patients undergoing laparotomy, with no impact on perioperative analgesic medication use. In the laparoscopic setting, intraoperative acupuncture was associated with elevated MAP. Further research is needed to explore the hemodynamic and BIS-associated benefits and risks of intraoperative acupuncture, and the impact on the use of analgesic drugs in response to these changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Reiki is a biofield therapy which is based on the explanatory model that the fields of energy and information of living systems can be influenced to promote relaxation and stimulate a healing response. Objective: To conduct a pragmatic within-subject pilot trial of a remote Reiki program for frontline healthcare workers' health-related symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Healthcare professionals in the UK (eg, physicians, nurses, and paramedics) were eligible to sign up for a distance Reiki program and were also invited to participate in the research study. Eight Reiki practitioners simultaneously gave each participant Reiki remotely for 20 minutes on 4 consecutive days. Feasibility of the research was assessed, including recruitment, data completeness, acceptability and intervention fidelity, and preliminary evaluation of changes in outcome measures. Participants' stress, anxiety, pain, wellbeing, and sleep quality were evaluated with 7-point numerical rating scales. Measures were completed when signing up to receive Reiki (pre) and following the final Reiki session (post). Pre and post data were analyzed using Wilcoxon signed ranks tests. Results: Seventy-nine healthcare professionals signed up to receive Reiki and took the baseline measures. Of those, 40 completed post-measures after the 4-day intervention and were therefore included in the pre-post analysis. Most participants were female (97.5%), and the mean age was 43.9 years old (standard deviations = 11.2). The study was feasible to conduct, with satisfactory recruitment, data completeness, acceptability, and fidelity. Wilcoxon signed ranks tests revealed statistically significant decreases in stress (M = −2.33; P <.001), anxiety (M = −2.79; P <.001) and pain (M = −.79; P <.001), and significant increases in wellbeing (M = −1.79; P <.001) and sleep quality (M = −1.33; P =.019). Conclusions: The Reiki program was feasible and was associated with decreased stress, anxiety and pain, and increased wellbeing and sleep quality in frontline healthcare workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This personal reflection explores the life and work of Veronica Sherborne. It follows her journey from a student of physical education and dance at Bedford College in the 1940s to senior lecturer in special education at Bristol Polytechnic, where she taught student teachers about pair work with children with special educational needs and disabilities. It depicts how she met her mentor, Rudolf Laban, and young people with profound and multiple learning disabilities and their influences on the development of Sherborne Developmental Movement. Throughout the reflection, there are details about the teaching and impact of her pioneering movement work. It highlights the importance of her relational shared movement experiences in nurturing social engagement, bonding, emotional regulation, and focus in vulnerable children. There is reference to Sherborne's intuition about movement, play, and touch as embodied languages. The author posits why neuroscience might recognise Sherborne Developmental Movement as a body-based bottom-up approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy medicine (EM), is a type of complementary and alternative medicine, which encompasses a range of practices aimed at promoting holistic well-being through the manipulation of energy fields within the body. EM has immense potential in delivering valuable support in a wide range of health conditions. It is imperative for healthcare professionals to be aware of EM, its safety and efficacy in the management of various conditions. Despite its growing popularity, EM remains controversial and encounters several barriers to its recognition and acceptance by the medical fraternity. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the concept and practice of EM including its history, various types, mechanism of action, applications, driving factors for its practice, current status and future prospects. Putative types of EM modalities are the focus of this paper. Additionally, we examine the challenges to its widespread recognition and acceptance and discuss the importance of further rigorous scientific research to establish its efficacy and safety and bridge the gap between conventional and energy medicine.

Pregnancy is one of women's natural processes. At the end of pregnancy, the mother will encounter a childbirth process started with uterine contractions and followed by pain which causes fear and anxiety. Prior to childbirth, Primigravid patients can take pregnancy exercises and healing touch as two of the antenatal care services to reduce anxiety. This study aims to determine the effect of pregnancy exercise and healing touch on cortisol levels and anxiety levels in Primigravid patients toward childbirth. This is quasi-experimental type of research using a one-group pretest-posttest design. Observations were conducted on 30 primigravida pregnant women in the third trimester (28-35 weeks) of pregnancy. They were divided into 2 groups: 15 people in the pregnancy exercise group and another 15 people in the healing touch group. The research was conducted in January-December 2017 at BPM Dince Safrina Pekanbaru. The Purposive Sampling Technique was used for sample selection, and Shapiro-Wilk was used for the data normality test. Whereas, the test of cortisol level and level of anxiety in the pregnancy exercise and healing touch groups used a dependent T-test, and the test for cortisol levels and level of anxiety differences towards Primigravid patients between those in the pregnancy exercise group and those in healing touch group used independent T-test. The research result showed differences in the Primigravid patient's cortisol levels and anxiety levels before and after pregnancy exercise prior to childbirth. It also came true before and after the healing touch. Whereas, other results showed no difference in Primigravid patients' cortisol levels and anxiety levels between those joining the healing touch and those with a pregnancy exercise program. Thus, pregnancy exercise and healing touch can work as alternative activities to reduce primigravida pregnant women's cortisol levels and anxiety levels, and eventually scale down potential pregnancy complications and childbirth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Model Hospital is an NHS online resource summarising performance data for, amongst other things, operating theatres categorised by NHS Trust and specialty. As an official source of information, it might be assumed that metrics, such as 'average late start time', 'average early finish time', and 'average late finish time', are calculated in a way to reflect performance in these domains, but this is not the case. These values are, respectively, only for those lists that start late, finish early, and finish late, with the number of lists in each category unreported. The Model Hospital reports utilisation appropriately as 'touch time' (the time delivering anaesthesia and surgery) but prefers a 'capped' measure, in which any touch time occurring in late finishes is ignored. The Model Hospital aggregates utilisations across lists in a mathematically invalid way, which leads to the assumption that small aliquots of unused time on lists can be combined to create larger time blocks, in which to complete more operations. We present alternative, more intuitive, and mathematically conventional methods to derive performance metrics using the same data. The results have implications for hospitals developing their own dashboards and international organisations seeking to create national databases for operating theatre performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The article discusses the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in nursing practice. Topics include how Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has effectively managed AI's integration in nursing, benefits of AI, and its drawbacks including the potential erosion of the human touch in care and decision-making.