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Technology and Health Care : Official... 2024Patients with hemiparetic stroke experience diminished motor function, dynamic balance, and gait speed, which influence their activities of daily living (ADL).
The effectiveness of core stabilization exercise using ultrasound biofeedback on motor function, balance control, gait speed and activities of daily living in stroke patients.
BACKGROUND
Patients with hemiparetic stroke experience diminished motor function, dynamic balance, and gait speed, which influence their activities of daily living (ADL).
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the therapeutic effects of ultrasound biofeedback core exercise (UBCE) on Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA), Time up and go (TUG), 10-meter walking test (10MWT) and functional independent measure (FIM) in participants with stroke.
METHODS
Twenty-four stroke survivors consistently underwent UBCE or abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) for 30 min/session, 3 days a week for 4 weeks. Clinical outcome measurements - the FMA, TUG, 10MWT, and FIM - were observed pre-and post-intervention.
RESULTS
We detected significant changes in the FMA-lower extremities, TUG, 10MWT, and FIM scores between the UBCE and ADIM groups. UBCE and ADIM showed significant improvements in FMA-lower extremities, TUG, 10MWT, and FIM scores. However, UBCE showed more favorable results than ADIM in patients with stroke.
CONCLUSIONS
Our research provides novel therapeutic suggestion of neurorehabilitation in stroke patients.
Topics: Humans; Stroke Rehabilitation; Female; Male; Middle Aged; Activities of Daily Living; Postural Balance; Aged; Walking Speed; Biofeedback, Psychology; Exercise Therapy; Stroke; Adult; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 38759070
DOI: 10.3233/THC-248042 -
The Journal of Experimental Biology Jun 2024Myxine limosa is a burrowing species of hagfish that occurs in the western North Atlantic in areas with muddy substrate and at depths generally greater than...
Myxine limosa is a burrowing species of hagfish that occurs in the western North Atlantic in areas with muddy substrate and at depths generally greater than 100 meters. Burrowing of M. limosa has been observed from submersibles, but little is known about the behavior of these animals within the substrate or the biomechanical mechanisms involved. Here, we investigated burrowing in M. limosa by observing individuals as they burrowed through transparent gelatin. A photoelastic setup using crossed polarizers allowed us to visualize stress development in the gelatin as the hagfish moved through it. We found that M. limosa created U-shaped burrows in gelatin using a stereotyped, two-phase burrowing behavior. In the first ('thrash') phase, hagfish drove their head and their anterior body into the substrate using vigorous sinusoidal swimming movements, with their head moving side-to-side. In the second ('wriggle') phase, swimming movements ceased, with propulsion coming exclusively from the anterior, submerged portion of body. The wriggle phase involved side-to-side head movements and movements of the submerged part of the body that resembled the internal concertina strategy used by caecilians and uropeltid snakes. The entire burrowing process took on average 7.6 min to complete and ended with the hagfish's head protruding from the substrate and the rest of its body generally concealed. Understanding the burrowing activities of hagfishes could lead to improved understanding of sediment turnover in marine benthic habitats, new insights into the reproductive behavior of hagfishes, or even inspiration for the design of burrowing robots.
Topics: Animals; Hagfishes; Biomechanical Phenomena; Behavior, Animal; Swimming; Gelatin
PubMed: 38757152
DOI: 10.1242/jeb.247544 -
Environmental Research Sep 2024Addressing cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural lands is crucial, given its health implications and accumulation in crops. This study used pot experiments to...
Addressing cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural lands is crucial, given its health implications and accumulation in crops. This study used pot experiments to evaluate the impact of foliar selenium spray (Se) (0.40 mM), corn straw biochar (1%), and pig manure (1%) on the growth of rice plants, the accumulation of Cd in rice grain, and to examine their influence on health risk indices associated with Cd exposure. The treatments were designated as follows: a control group without any amendment (CK), biochar (T1), pig manure (T2), Se (T3), Se and biochar (T4), Se and pig manure (T5), and Se along with biochar and pig manure (T6). Our results indicated that the treatments affected soil pH and redox potential and improved growth and the nitrogen and phosphorus content in rice plants. The soil-plant analysis development (SPAD) meter readings of leaves during the tillering stage indicated a 5.27%-15.86% increase in treatments T2 to T6 compared to CK. The flag leaves of T2 exhibited increases of 12.06%-38.94% for electrolyte leakage and an 82.61%-91.60% decline in SOD compared to treatments T3 to T6. Treatments T1 to T6 increased protein content; however, amylose content was significantly reduced in T6. Treatment T6 recorded the lowest Cd concentration in rice grains (0.018 mg/kg), while T2 recorded the highest (0.051 mg/kg). The CK treatment group showed a grain Cd content reduction of 29.30% compared to T2. The assessment of acceptable daily intake, hazard quotient, and carcinogenic risk revealed an ascending order as follows: T6 < T3 < T5 < T4 < T1 < CK < T2. In conclusion, the application of treatment T6 demonstrates the potential to lower oxidative stress, enhance production, reduce cancer risk, and ensure the safe cultivation of rice in environments affected by Cd contamination.
Topics: Oryza; Cadmium; Selenium; Manure; Animals; Charcoal; Soil Pollutants; Swine; Plant Leaves; Risk Assessment; Humans
PubMed: 38754613
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119160 -
PloS One 2024Conducting functional assessments remotely can help alleviate the burden of in-person assessment on patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their caregivers. The... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Conducting functional assessments remotely can help alleviate the burden of in-person assessment on patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their caregivers. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether scores from remote functional assessment of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy correspond to in-person scores on the same functional assessments. Remote live stream versus in-person scores on the North Star Ambulatory Assessment (including time [seconds] to complete the 10-meter walk/run and time to rise from the floor [supine to stand]) were assessed using statistical analyses, including intraclass correlation coefficient, and Pearson, Spearman, and Bland-Altman analyses. The remote and in-clinic assessments had to occur within 2 weeks of one another to be considered for this analysis. This analysis included patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, aged 4 to 7 years. Participants in this analysis received delandistrogene moxeparvovec (as part of SRP-9001-101 [Study 101; NCT03375164] or SRP-9001-102 [Study 102; NCT03769116]) or were randomized to receive placebo (in Part 1 of Study 102). This study evaluates score reproducibility between live stream remote scoring versus in-person functional assessments as determined by intraclass correlation coefficient, and Pearson, Spearman, and Bland-Altman analyses. The results showed that scores from remote functional assessment of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy strongly correlated with those obtained in person. These findings demonstrate congruence between live stream remote and in-person functional assessment and suggest that remote assessment has the potential to reduce the burden on a family by supplementing in-clinic visits.
Topics: Humans; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne; Child; Child, Preschool; Male; Reproducibility of Results; Video Recording; Telemedicine; Female
PubMed: 38753764
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0300700 -
Hypertension (Dallas, Tex. : 1979) Jul 2024Prediabetes has garnered increasing attention due to its association with cardiovascular conditions, especially hypertension, which heightens the risk of prefrailty and...
BACKGROUND
Prediabetes has garnered increasing attention due to its association with cardiovascular conditions, especially hypertension, which heightens the risk of prefrailty and frailty among older individuals.
METHODS
We screened elders with prefrail hypertension from March 2021 to January 2023. We assessed the correlation linking cognitive dysfunction (Montreal Cognitive Assessment score), insulin resistance (triglyceride-to-glucose index), and physical impairment (5-meter gait speed). Then, we measured the risk of developing frailty after a 1-year follow-up period, adjusting the outcome using multivariable Cox regression analysis. We also investigated the impact of administering 500 mg of metformin once daily to a subset of frail subjects for an additional 6 months.
RESULTS
We assessed the relationship between the triglyceride-to-glucose index and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment score, observing a significant correlation (r, 0.880; <0.0001). Similarly, we analyzed the association between the triglyceride-to-glucose index and 5-meter gait speed, uncovering a significant link between insulin resistance and physical impairment (r, 0.809; <0.0001). Prediabetes was found to significantly (<0.0001) elevate the risk of frailty development compared with individuals without prediabetes by the end of the 1-year follow-up, a finding confirmed via multivariable analysis with Cox regression. Furthermore, among the subgroup of subjects who developed frailty, those who received metformin exhibited a significant decrease in frailty levels (<0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS
Insulin resistance and prediabetes play substantial roles in the development of cognitive and physical impairments, highlighting their importance in managing hypertension, even before the onset of frank diabetes. Metformin, a well-established drug for the treatment of diabetes, has shown favorable effects in mitigating frailty.
Topics: Humans; Metformin; Male; Prediabetic State; Aged; Female; Frailty; Hypertension; Hypoglycemic Agents; Insulin Resistance; Frail Elderly; Aged, 80 and over; Cognitive Dysfunction; Blood Glucose
PubMed: 38752357
DOI: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.124.23087 -
Cureus Apr 2024Background The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to evaluate the impact of five distinct commercial mouthwashes on the development of that had been adhered to...
Influence of Five Different Commercially Available Mouthwashes on the Growth of Candida albicans Adhered to Customized Prefabricated Heat-Cured Denture Base Acrylic Resin Sheets: An In Vitro Study.
Background The purpose of this in vitro investigation was to evaluate the impact of five distinct commercial mouthwashes on the development of that had been adhered to heat-cured acrylic resin sheets. Methods This in vitro investigation was carried out at the MES Medical College's Microbiology Department in Perinthalmanna, Kerala, India. A total of 72 heat-cured acrylic resin sheets, size 10 × 10 × 2 mm, were fabricated. After disinfection, all 72 acrylic sheets were placed in a flask containing a suspension of the standard strain of species (American Type Culture Collection) and incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours. Then, the acrylic sheets were randomly divided into six groups, with each group containing 12 acrylic sheets. Group 1 was the control group to which no mouthwash was added. In group 2, Colgate Plax was added. In group 3, Hiora Himalaya was added. In group 4, Oral B was added. In group 5, Listerine was added. In group 6, Pepsodent was added. Colony-forming units (CFUs) were assessed using a colony counter every six, 24, 48, and 120 hours. After obtaining the pH and CFU of all 72 specimens, software known as the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY) was used to analyze the data. Results adhered to heat-cured denture base acrylic resin sheets differed significantly in response to commercially available mouthwashes (Oral B, Colgate Plax, and Pepsodent) and non-commercial mouthwashes (Hiora Himalaya and Listerine) that contained cetylpyridinium chloride. Conclusions Compared to other mouthwashes that do not contain cetylpyridinium chloride (Listerine and Hiora Himalaya), mouthwashes with cetylpyridinium chloride as the active ingredient (Oral B, Pepsodent, and Colgate Plax) have shown good antifungal properties against the adhering on denture base resin.
PubMed: 38752083
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.58301 -
Journal of the American College of... Jul 2024
Topics: Humans; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Cardiomyopathies; Walking; Male; Aged
PubMed: 38750977
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.04.041 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Jul 2024Corrosion of brass plumbing materials may lead to metal release and deteriorate the drinking water quality. In this study, the initial corrosion of brass coupon cut from...
Corrosion of brass plumbing materials may lead to metal release and deteriorate the drinking water quality. In this study, the initial corrosion of brass coupon cut from commercially available water meter was investigated. High rates of Pb, Cu and Zn release from the brass coupon were found during the early stage of corrosion (0-5 d) due to general corrosion and galvanic corrosion. The corrosion current density (I) increased and resistance (R) decreased during this period indicating that severe corrosion had occurred. In a later stage (5-30 d), a decreased I and an increased R were observed due to the development of a denser layer of Pb and Cu corrosion products which regulated the release of soluble Pb and Cu. The release of Zn continued and no significant Zn precipitation was found. Overall, particulate Pb, particulate Cu and soluble Zn dominated in the metal release during the initial corrosion of brass. The release of Pb, Cu and Zn was enhanced by a lower pH. Free chlorine was found to slightly reduce the release of Pb but promote the release of Cu and Zn. The presence of Pb on the brass surfaces was found to alleviate the dezincification process. A conceptual model based on metal release profile and electrochemical characterization was proposed to describe the initial corrosion of brass in typical drinking water.
Topics: Corrosion; Copper; Zinc; Lead; Drinking Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical
PubMed: 38750810
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124154 -
Journal of Biomechanics May 2024Chiari Malformation (Chiari) is a congenital condition occurring from an inferior herniation of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum. Given the role of the...
Chiari Malformation (Chiari) is a congenital condition occurring from an inferior herniation of the cerebellar tonsils into the foramen magnum. Given the role of the cerebellum in postural control, it is reasonable to expect joint motion to be affected in this patient population. In fact, joint stiffness is a common self-reported symptom of Chiari, however it has never been assessed in these individuals. This study aimed to examine if ankle joint quasi-stiffness is correlated with Chiari severity. The human body was considered as an inverted oscillating pendulum without damping. A Fast Fourier Transform was used to extract natural frequency from the center of pressure trajectories during upright standing. Ankle joint quasi-stiffness was then calculated using the relationship between natural frequency and moment of inertia. Twelve Chiari participants (Chiari), six with decompression surgery (Chiari-D) and six without (Chiari-ND), and eight control individuals (Control) participated. Participants completed three, 30-second quiet standing trials on a force plate, focused on a target three meters in front of them. Chiari, regardless of surgery, had significantly lower quasi-stiffness than controls (Chiari-D vs. Control p = 0.0011, Chiari-ND vs. Control, p < 0.001). The proposed method is advantageous as it incorporates the entire center of pressure signal, minimizes error from instantaneous muscular dynamics, and does not require motion capture.
Topics: Humans; Arnold-Chiari Malformation; Female; Adult; Male; Ankle Joint; Standing Position; Biomechanical Phenomena; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38749240
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112146 -
JAMA Surgery May 2024Obesity and insulin are risk factors for breast cancer, and retrospective studies suggest bariatric surgery reduces breast cancer risk in women. However, long-term...
IMPORTANCE
Obesity and insulin are risk factors for breast cancer, and retrospective studies suggest bariatric surgery reduces breast cancer risk in women. However, long-term prospective data on breast cancer risk after bariatric surgery and the role of baseline insulin levels are lacking.
OBJECTIVE
To examine if bariatric surgery is associated with breast cancer incidence in women and if treatment benefit is modified by baseline insulin levels.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS
The Swedish Obese Subjects (SOS) study was a nonrandomized intervention trial designed to investigate the long-term effects of bariatric surgery on obesity-related mortality and morbidity. Study recruitment took place between 1987 and 2001, and median (IQR) follow-up time was 23.9 years (20.1-27.1) years. The study was conducted at 25 public surgical departments and 480 primary health care centers in Sweden and included 2867 women aged 37 to 60 years and with body mass index 38 or greater (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared).
INTERVENTION
In the surgery group (n = 1420), 260 women underwent gastric banding, 970 vertical banded gastroplasty, and 190 gastric bypass. The remaining contemporaneously matched control individuals (n = 1447) received usual obesity care.
MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURES
Breast cancer, the main outcome of this secondary report, was not a predefined outcome in the SOS study. Breast cancer events were identified in the Swedish National Cancer Registry.
RESULTS
The study population comprised 2867 women with a mean (SD) age of 48.0 (6.2) years. During follow-up, there were 154 breast cancer events, 66 in the surgery group and 88 in the usual care group, and a decreased risk of breast cancer was observed in the bariatric surgery group (hazard ratio [HR], 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.94; P = .019; adjusted HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-1.01; P = .06). The surgical treatment benefit on breast cancer risk was greater in women with baseline insulin levels above the median 15.8 μIU/L (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.31-0.74; P = .001; adjusted HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.35-0.86; P = .008) compared to those below (HR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.59-1.53; P = .84; adjusted HR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.61-1.66; P = .97; interaction P = .02).
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE
This prospective clinical trial indicated a reduced risk of breast cancer after bariatric surgery in women with obesity. The surgical treatment benefit was predominantly seen in women with hyperinsulinemia.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01479452.
PubMed: 38748431
DOI: 10.1001/jamasurg.2024.1169