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Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of recovery from general anesthesia with the administration of two low doses of dexmedetomidine in canine patients....
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the quality of recovery from general anesthesia with the administration of two low doses of dexmedetomidine in canine patients. For this blind randomized clinical trial study, 30 dogs undergoing general anesthesia for diagnostic procedures or elective surgery (ovariectomy/castration) were included. The patients were randomly divided into three groups, and at the end of anesthesia, they received a bolus of dexmedetomidine at 1 mcg/kg IV (D1), or a bolus of dexmedetomidine at 0.5 mcg/kg (D0.5), or a bolus of NaCl, in a total of 0.5 mL of solution for all three groups. After administration of the bolus, the anesthetist monitored the patients every 5 min by measuring heart rate, systolic and mean blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation. The quality of recovery was also assessed using 4 different scales. The extubation time, time of headlift, and standing position were also recorded. Both groups receiving dexmedetomidine had better awakening and a lower incidence of delirium when compared to saline administration. The heart rate was lower, while the systolic pressure was higher in the two groups D1 and D0.5 compared to the NaCl with a low presence of atrioventricular blocks. The extubation time resulted significantly higher in the D1 (17 ± 6 min) compared to the D0.5 (10 ± 4 min) and NaCl (8 ± 3 min) ( < 0.0001); the headlift time D1 (25 ± 10 min) resulted significantly longer than the NaCl group (11 ± 5 min) ( = 0.0023) but not than the D0.5 (18 ± 9 min). No significant differences were found among the three groups for standing positioning (D1 50 ± 18 min, D0.5 39 ± 22 min, NaCl 28 ± 17 min). The preventive administration of a bolus of dexmedetomidine at a dosage of 0.5 mcg/kg or 1 mcg/kg IV during the recovery phase improves the quality of recovery in patients undergoing general anesthesia.
PubMed: 38731387
DOI: 10.3390/ani14091383 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... Apr 2024This is the first report of parasitic granulomatous dermatitis caused by spp. in a buffalo. The affected buffalo was about seven years old, was a female of the Murrah...
This is the first report of parasitic granulomatous dermatitis caused by spp. in a buffalo. The affected buffalo was about seven years old, was a female of the Murrah breed and belonged to a property located on Marajó Island in the State of Pará. During the clinical examination, the animal was in a standing position and presented several multifocal nodular and placoid masses throughout the body, mostly on the forelimbs, hindlimbs, abdomen, mammary glands, perineum, vulva and tail. These masses were also observed on the nasal mucosa, head, neck, back and chest. On macroscopic examination, the skin had several multifocal-to-coalescent sessile nodular and placoid lesions. Histopathology of the skin showed a marked reduction in the number of hair follicles. In the superficial dermis, there was significant multifocal-to-coalescent inflammatory infiltration, consisting of macrophages, epithelioid macrophages, lymphocytes, plasma cells and multinucleated giant cells. In the remaining hair follicles, there were numerous cross and longitudinal sections of small rhabditoid nematodes characterized by a thin cuticle, platymyarian musculature, an intestinal tract, a rhabditiform esophagus and lateral alae (morphologically compatible with spp.). The diagnosis of parasitic dermatitis was confirmed by histopathological skin lesions associated with the presence of intralesional rhabditiform larvae morphologically compatible with spp.
PubMed: 38731331
DOI: 10.3390/ani14091328 -
Gait & Posture Jul 2024Despite the significance of muscle oscillation frequency, previous research has not established a correlation with muscle performance due to the challenges of applying...
Relationship between natural muscle oscillation frequency and lower limb muscle performance during instrumented sit-to-stand and stand-to-sit movements on a novel device in sedentary subjects.
BACKGROUND
Despite the significance of muscle oscillation frequency, previous research has not established a correlation with muscle performance due to the challenges of applying resistance without altering natural motion during functional tests.
RESEARCH QUESTION
What is the correlation between muscle oscillation frequency and lower limb muscle strength, power, and work during an instrumented sit-to-stand and stand-to- sit (iSTS-TS) task among sedentary subjects?
METHODS
In a cross-sectional study, the oscillation frequency of the gastrocnemius medialis (GM), biceps femoralis (BF), and vastus medialis (VM) muscles in both the dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) legs was assessed with a handheld myotonometer in 34 sedentary individuals before performing the iSTS-TS task.
RESULTS
In the isokinetic mode, no significant correlations were found. In the isotonic mode, the BF muscle oscillation frequency in the D and ND legs exhibited significant positive correlations with peak force, peak power, and work during sitting down, as well as peak power and work during standing up. Positive correlations were observed in both legs between the GM oscillation frequency and sitting down peak force and work. Additionally, significant positive correlation was found with standing up work in the D leg. Muscle oscillation frequency of the VM exhibited a positive correlation with sitting down peak force in the ND leg.
SIGNIFICANCE
Due to a greater number of correlations found, it is advisable to use the isotonic mode when assessing muscle oscillation frequency in relation to muscle performance during functional iSTS-TS tasks in sedentary subjects.
Topics: Humans; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Adult; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscle Strength; Sedentary Behavior; Lower Extremity; Sitting Position; Standing Position; Movement; Young Adult; Middle Aged; Biomechanical Phenomena; Quadriceps Muscle
PubMed: 38729082
DOI: 10.1016/j.gaitpost.2024.05.004 -
PloS One 2024People with chronic neck pain (CNP) commonly exhibit a range of physical impairments including cervical proprioceptive deficits. Assessing proprioception using a head... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
INTRODUCTION
People with chronic neck pain (CNP) commonly exhibit a range of physical impairments including cervical proprioceptive deficits. Assessing proprioception using a head mounted laser to assess joint position error (JPE) is a reliable and valid measure. However, the responsiveness of this measure has not been assessed.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the responsiveness of the measure of cervical JPE after a 4-week home-based neck proprioceptive training intervention in people with CNP.
DESIGN
An observational study to assess the responsiveness of the measure of cervical JPE.
METHODS
The JPE test was assessed in people with CNP before and after 4 weeks of neck proprioception training. JPE was assessed as participants performed neck joint position sense tests for flexion, extension, right rotation, and left rotation in sitting and standing which were performed in a random order. Both the absolute and constant JPE were assessed. The intervention consisted of neck repositioning exercises as well as movement sense exercises. Cohen's d effect size was used to assess the internal responsiveness of the JPE test. The Pearson's correlation was used to assess the change of scores of the laser pointer and measures from inertial measurement units (IMUs) (external responsiveness).
RESULTS
After 4 weeks of proprioception training, JPE assessed in sitting reduced from 2.69◦-3.57◦ to 1.88◦-1.98◦ for flexion, extension, and right rotation with large effect sizes (Cohen's d range: 1.25-2.00). For left rotation, JPE reduced from 3.23◦ to 1.9◦, and the effect size was close to being large (Cohen's d: 0.79). When assessed in standing, JPE reduced from 3.49◦-4.52◦ to 1.5◦-2.33◦ with large effect sizes (Cohen's d range: 0.89-1.25) for flexion, extension, right rotation, and left rotation. Large effect sizes were not observed for the constant JPE when assessed in either sitting or standing. The assessment of the external responsiveness revealed weak correlations between the change of scores obtained from the laser pointer and the IMUs for all movements, apart from the constant JPE in sitting for left rotation, which showed a strong correlation (r = 0.7).
CONCLUSION
The results of this study showed that the measure of the JPE has sufficient internal responsiveness, however, the external responsiveness was inadequate. Further research is advised.
Topics: Humans; Proprioception; Female; Male; Adult; Neck Pain; Middle Aged; Exercise Therapy; Range of Motion, Articular; Neck; Cervical Vertebrae
PubMed: 38728251
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303066 -
BMC Health Services Research May 2024Prolonged standing at work may contribute to increased risk of musculoskeletal pain in home care workers. Patients' activities of daily living (ADL) score may be a proxy...
BACKGROUND
Prolonged standing at work may contribute to increased risk of musculoskeletal pain in home care workers. Patients' activities of daily living (ADL) score may be a proxy for home care workers' standing time at work. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between patients' ADL self-care score, and workers standing time.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study measured time spent standing, sitting and in physical activity for seven days using thigh-worn accelerometers, among 14 home care workers. Patients' ADL self-care scores are routinely adjusted by home care nurses, and time intervals of home care visits are stored in home care services electronic patient journal. We collected ADL self-care scores and start and end time points of visits, and categorized ADL self-care scores as low (ADL ≤ 2.0), medium (ADL > 2.0 to 3.0) or high (ADL > 3.0). Physical behavior data were transformed to isometric log-ratios and a mixed-effect model was used to investigate differences in physical behavior between the three ADL self-care score categories.
RESULTS
We analyzed 931 patient visits and found that high ADL self-care scores were associated with longer standing times relative to sitting and physical activity, compared to low ADL score (0.457, p = 0.001). However, no significant differences in time spent standing were found between high and medium ADL patient visits (0.259, p = 0.260), nor medium and low (0.204, p = 0.288). High ADL score patients made up 33.4% of the total care time, despite only making up 7.8% of the number of patients.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that caring for patients with high ADL self-care score requires workers to stand for longer durations and that this group of patients constitute a significant proportion of home care workers' total work time. The findings of this study can inform interventions to improve musculoskeletal health among home care workers by appropriate planning of patient visits.
Topics: Humans; Activities of Daily Living; Cross-Sectional Studies; Male; Female; Self Care; Norway; Middle Aged; Home Health Aides; Home Care Services; Adult; Standing Position; Accelerometry; Musculoskeletal Pain
PubMed: 38724977
DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-10897-1 -
Physical Activity and Nutrition Mar 2024We aimed to identify the changes in pulmonary function after prolonged sitting. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) allow physicians to assess the respiratory capability of...
PURPOSE
We aimed to identify the changes in pulmonary function after prolonged sitting. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) allow physicians to assess the respiratory capability of patients under numerous clinical circumstances and when there are risk factors for lung sickness, occupational exposure, and pulmonary toxicity. PFTs are routinely performed in the standing or high sitting position because of the devices and patient comfort.
METHODS
A total of 180 asymptomatic office workers were recruited as eligibility criteria and divided into three groups according to their daily sitting duration (group 1:2-4 h, group 2:4-6 h, and group 3: > 6 h). PFTs were performed twice consecutively to determine the mean of the readings. A Helios 401 spirometer was used to quantify lung function. The parameters were "forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)", "forced vital capacity (FVC)", "peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR)", and the "ratio of FEV1 to FVC (FEV1/FVC)".
RESULTS
Our results suggest that noteworthy changes were present in the lung function of all the participants. For individuals with > 6 h of sitting; FVC, FEV1, and PEFR were higher compared to those of the participants with 2-4 h and 4-6 h of sitting. The FEV1/FVC ratio was also reduced in individuals with prolonged hours of sitting.
CONCLUSION
Body position impacts the result of PFTs; however, that as it may, the ideal position and extent of advantage changed between the review populaces. These results suggested that noteworthy changes occur in the lung function of healthy individuals exposed to sitting time.
PubMed: 38719462
DOI: 10.20463/pan.2024.0003 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Previous work assessing the effect of additive noise on the postural control system has found a positive effect of additive white noise on postural dynamics. This study...
Previous work assessing the effect of additive noise on the postural control system has found a positive effect of additive white noise on postural dynamics. This study covers two separate experiments that were run sequentially to better understand how the structure of the additive noise signal affects postural dynamics, while also furthering our knowledge of how the intensity of auditory stimulation of noise may elicit this phenomenon. Across the two experiments, we introduced three auditory noise stimulations of varying structure (white, pink, and brown noise). Experiment 1 presented the stimuli at 35 dB while Experiment 2 was presented at 75 dB. Our findings demonstrate a decrease in variability of the postural control system regardless of the structure of the noise signal presented, but only for high intensity auditory stimulation.
Topics: Humans; Noise; Female; Male; Acoustic Stimulation; Adult; Young Adult; Postural Balance; Color; Posture; Standing Position
PubMed: 38714827
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61186-0 -
Transplantation Proceedings May 2024The aim of this study was to present a rare cause of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a patient after kidney transplantation.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study was to present a rare cause of recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in a patient after kidney transplantation.
METHODS
The patient's consent was obtained, and full medical documentation was reviewed. After analyzing the literature, only 3 case reports of post-transplant nephroptosis were found.
RESULTS
A 32-year-old woman with a history of type 1 diabetes, after kidney and pancreas transplantation a year earlier, was admitted to the hospital due to another incident of fever, dysuria, and pain in the lower abdomen. UTIs had been recurring for several months despite prophylaxis, initially with co-trimoxazole and then with fosfomycin. There were no anatomic abnormalities, and tacrolimus concentrations always remained at the lower range of normal. Kinking of the ureter was suspected because of a change in the position of the transplanted kidney. Ultrasonography performed in the standing and lying positions confirmed the diagnosis. A double J catheter was inserted into the ureter. In the following months, no UTI or urinary retention recurrence was observed.
CONCLUSIONS
Nephroptosis of a transplanted kidney is extremely rare. The standard place for graft implantation-the iliac fossasignificantly limits the potential for migration. Kidneys implanted intraperitoneally also do not show clinically significant mobility due to postoperative adhesions. Floating kidneys potentially lead to serious complications. In addition to pain, a migrating graft may cause urine retention, predisposing to UTI and acute kidney injury.
Topics: Humans; Female; Kidney Transplantation; Adult; Urinary Tract Infections; Recurrence
PubMed: 38710603
DOI: 10.1016/j.transproceed.2024.04.008 -
PloS One 2024This study aimed to uncover the competitive advantages of King Khalid University (KKU) as a higher educational institution and identify the strategies needed to...
This study aimed to uncover the competitive advantages of King Khalid University (KKU) as a higher educational institution and identify the strategies needed to strengthen its competitive stance through a qualitative case study approach. Data were collected via detailed interviews with 30 university staff, comprising 19 faculty members and 11 academic leaders. Following this, the data were qualitatively analyzed using MAXQDA 2022 software. The results showed that KKU has 30 sub-competitive strengths, including work ethics, future vision, academic excellence, creativity, teamwork, respect for intellectual property, continuous customer-focused improvement, a positive workplace environment, organizational trust, and the ability to attract international students. Additionally, the study identified 8 challenges hindering KKU's advancement in global university rankings, spanning academic, human, and administrative areas. To improve its standing in international rankings, thematic analysis revealed 11 strategies to enhance KKU's competitiveness. These include aligning academic programs with job market demands, enhancing research facilities, boosting funding for academic and research endeavors, fostering international academic and scientific partnerships, and upgrading the technological infrastructure for academics and administration. The analysis underscores the need for KKU to adopt a comprehensive suite of academic, human, and administrative strategies to bolster its competitive position. This is crucial for KKU's rise in global university rankings and its alignment with the National Vision 2030, aiming to place over five Saudi universities among the top 100 or 200 globally.
Topics: Universities; Humans; Saudi Arabia; Faculty; Male; Female; Students
PubMed: 38709768
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302887 -
PeerJ 2024Humans continuously maintain and adjust posture during gait, standing, and sitting. The difficulty of postural control is reportedly increased during unstable stances,...
BACKGROUND
Humans continuously maintain and adjust posture during gait, standing, and sitting. The difficulty of postural control is reportedly increased during unstable stances, such as unipedal standing and with closed eyes. Although balance is slightly impaired in healthy young adults in such unstable stances, they rarely fall. The brain recognizes the change in sensory inputs and outputs motor commands to the musculoskeletal system. However, such changes in cortical activity associated with the maintenance of balance following periods of instability require further clarified.
METHODS
In this study, a total of 15 male participants performed two postural control tasks and the center of pressure displacement and electroencephalogram were simultaneously measured. In addition, the correlation between amplitude of center of pressure displacement and power spectral density of electroencephalogram was analyzed.
RESULTS
The movement of the center of pressure was larger in unipedal standing than in bipedal standing under both eye open and eye closed conditions. It was also larger under the eye closed condition compared with when the eyes were open in unipedal standing. The amplitude of high-frequency bandwidth (1-3 Hz) of the center of pressure displacement was larger during more difficult postural tasks than during easier ones, suggesting that the continuous maintenance of posture was required. The power spectral densities of the theta activity in the frontal area and the gamma activity in the parietal area were higher during more difficult postural tasks than during easier ones across two postural control tasks, and these correlate with the increase in amplitude of high-frequency bandwidth of the center of pressure displacement.
CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, specific activation patterns of the neocortex are suggested to be important for the postural maintenance during unstable stances.
Topics: Humans; Postural Balance; Male; Electroencephalography; Young Adult; Adult; Posture; Cerebral Cortex; Standing Position
PubMed: 38708344
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17313