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Heliyon Jun 2024Narrative Medicine and Nursing are clinical-supporting intervention methodologies that aim to enhance professionals' communication skills and place patients at the heart...
Narrative Medicine and Nursing are clinical-supporting intervention methodologies that aim to enhance professionals' communication skills and place patients at the heart of their therapeutic path. A narrative interview (NI) is a communication tool between practitioner and patient. The role of NI is debated extensively in the literature, but no studies focus on its use by nurses responsible for first-diagnosed cancer patients. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and utility of NI, carried out by Nurses, in managing people recently diagnosed with cancer. A pilot mixed-methods study with before-and-after-intervention evaluation, qualitative longitudinal data analysis, and concurrent data triangulation was conducted. The Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer assessed disease adaptation, while the Psychological Distress Inventory investigated psychological distress. The qualitative analysis of the narrative interviews assessed the usefulness of this intervention. 13 out of 14 eligible patients took voluntary part in the study. Of those, 9 (69 %) completed T1 and T2 questionnaires and NI. The following five themes emerged from thematic analysis: reaction to the disease, feelings related to the new condition of life, changes, importance of relationships and perception of care. Patients reported being highly stressed and recognized the importance of a supporting social network for better coping with the condition. The adoption of an NI approach at the time of cancer diagnosis is feasible. Due to the limited sample size, it is unclear if NI may positively impact psychological distress in this patient population. Further studies would benefit from the integration of an additional investigation tool aiming to clarify whether NI promotes disease awareness in cancer patients. Furthermore, the recruitment of a larger sample is equally recommended.
PubMed: 38868003
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31802 -
Science Robotics Jun 2024Repetitive overhead tasks during factory work can cause shoulder injuries resulting in impaired health and productivity loss. Soft wearable upper extremity robots have...
Repetitive overhead tasks during factory work can cause shoulder injuries resulting in impaired health and productivity loss. Soft wearable upper extremity robots have the potential to be effective injury prevention tools with minimal restrictions using soft materials and active controls. We present the design and evaluation of a portable inflatable shoulder wearable robot for assisting industrial workers during shoulder-elevated tasks. The robot is worn like a shirt with integrated textile pneumatic actuators, inertial measurement units, and a portable actuation unit. It can provide up to 6.6 newton-meters of torque to support the shoulder and cycle assistance on and off at six times per minute. From human participant evaluations during simulated industrial tasks, the robot reduced agonist muscle activities (anterior, middle, and posterior deltoids and biceps brachii) by up to 40% with slight changes in joint angles of less than 7% range of motion while not increasing antagonistic muscle activity (latissimus dorsi) in current sample size. Comparison of controller parameters further highlighted that higher assistance magnitude and earlier assistance timing resulted in statistically significant muscle activity reductions. During a task circuit with dynamic transitions among the tasks, the kinematics-based controller of the robot showed robustness to misinflations (96% true negative rate and 91% true positive rate), indicating minimal disturbances to the user when assistance was not required. A preliminary evaluation of a pressure modulation profile also highlighted a trade-off between user perception and hardware demands. Finally, five automotive factory workers used the robot in a pilot manufacturing area and provided feedback.
Topics: Humans; Robotics; Wearable Electronic Devices; Equipment Design; Biomechanical Phenomena; Male; Shoulder; Adult; Range of Motion, Articular; Torque; Muscle, Skeletal; Electromyography; Industry; Shoulder Injuries; Female; Young Adult; Task Performance and Analysis; Shoulder Joint; Exoskeleton Device
PubMed: 38865477
DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.adi2377 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024It is unclear whether memory for images of poorer visibility (as low contrast or small size) will be lower due to weak signals elicited in early visual processing...
It is unclear whether memory for images of poorer visibility (as low contrast or small size) will be lower due to weak signals elicited in early visual processing stages, or perhaps better since their processing may entail top-down processes (as effort and attention) associated with deeper encoding. We have recently shown that during naturalistic encoding (free viewing without task-related modulations), for image sizes between 3°-24°, bigger images stimulating more visual system processing resources at early processing stages are better remembered. Similar to size, higher contrast leads to higher activity in early visual processing. Therefore, here we hypothesized that during naturalistic encoding, at critical visibility ranges, higher contrast images will lead to higher signal-to-noise ratio and better signal quality flowing downstream and will thus be better remembered. Indeed, we found that during naturalistic encoding higher contrast images were remembered better than lower contrast ones (~ 15% higher accuracy, ~ 1.58 times better) for images at 7.5-60 RMS contrast range. Although image contrast and size modulate early visual processing very differently, our results further substantiate that at poor visibility ranges, during naturalistic non-instructed visual behavior, physical image dimensions (contributing to image visibility) impact image memory.
Topics: Humans; Female; Male; Adult; Young Adult; Photic Stimulation; Visual Perception; Memory; Contrast Sensitivity; Attention
PubMed: 38862623
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63953-5 -
The Aging Male : the Official Journal... Dec 2024This study aims to examine the relationship between male genital self-perception and sexual functioning and depression anxieties.
AIM
This study aims to examine the relationship between male genital self-perception and sexual functioning and depression anxieties.
METHOD
The study included male patients who were referred to the andrology outpatient clinic between March 2022 and June 2022. Demographic data of the patients were recorded. Cigarette and alcohol consumption was also noted. The Male Genital Self Image Scale (MGSIS) questionnaire was used for the Genital Self Image(GSI) assessment, which consists of 7 questions. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), composed of 15 questions, was used to evaluate sexual function. STAI-I, STAI-II, and BECK scales were used for depression and anxiety. The penis size of the patients was measured in a flask and stretched condition, and the midpenile circumference was recorded. Patients were compared with respect to GSI, depression, anxiety, and sexual functioning.
RESULTS
A total of 75 patients were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 46.69 ± 11.32 (2672), and the mean BMI was 27.82 ± 3.79 (22.4640.40) kg/m. A slightly positive correlation was found between the patients' flask penis size and MGSIS-total scores ( = 0.260, = .024) and IIEF-SF scores ( = 0.240, = .038). There was a moderately positive correlation between the stretched penis size and IIEF-OS ( = 0.403, < .001) and IIEF-SF ( = 0.354, = .002). While the MGSIS-total score and the STAI-I and STAI-II scores had a moderate negative correlation, there was an advanced negative correlation between the MGSIS-total score and the BECK score.
CONCLUSION
Disruption of men's genital self-perception is moderately related to their susceptibility to depression and anxiety. This situation affects the person's sexual performance and causes orgasm problems to increase.
Topics: Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Depression; Adult; Anxiety; Self Concept; Surveys and Questionnaires; Aged; Penis; Sexual Behavior
PubMed: 38858824
DOI: 10.1080/13685538.2024.2363275 -
BMC Infectious Diseases Jun 2024We conducted a systematic review to explore the relationship between perceived risk for HIV acquisition and sexual HIV exposure among sexual and gender minorities. We...
We conducted a systematic review to explore the relationship between perceived risk for HIV acquisition and sexual HIV exposure among sexual and gender minorities. We included 39 studies divided into (i) correlations or associations, (ii) models using sexual HIV exposure as the outcome, and (iii) models using perceived risk for HIV acquisition as the outcome. The sample size range was from 55 to 16,667 participants, primarily cisgender men who have sex with men (73.3%) and White (51.3%). Sexual HIV exposure and perceived risk for HIV acquisition assessments and recall time frames across studies differed markedly. Most of studies (84.6%) found significant correlations, comparisons, or associations between different levels of perceived risk for HIV acquisition and high sexual HIV exposure. In addition, 51.3% of studies reported other variables associated with high sexual HIV exposure (i.e., misuse of substances or alcohol) or with high perceived risk for HIV acquisition (i.e., younger age). In conclusion, the association between perceived risk for HIV acquisition and sexual HIV exposure has shown to be consistent. However, the assessment for perceived risk for HIV acquisition should include more components of perception (i.e., an affective component), or for sexual HIV exposure should consider the different estimated sexual per-acts probability of acquiring HIV.
Topics: Humans; HIV Infections; Sexual and Gender Minorities; Male; Sexual Behavior; Female; Risk Factors; Adult
PubMed: 38858666
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09456-0 -
Surgical Endoscopy Jun 2024Despite the advancements in technology and organized training for surgeons in laparoscopic surgery, the persistent challenge of not being able to feel the resistance and...
INTRODUCTION
Despite the advancements in technology and organized training for surgeons in laparoscopic surgery, the persistent challenge of not being able to feel the resistance and characteristics of the tissue, including pulsations, remains unmet. A recently developed grasper (Optigrip®) with real time haptic feedback, based on photonic technology, aims to address this issue by restoring the tactile sensation for surgeons. The key question is whether pulsations can be detected and at what minimal size level they become clinical significant.
METHODS
To simulate arterial conditions during laparoscopic procedures, four different silicone tubes were created, representing the most prevalent arteries. These tubes were connected to a validated pressure system, generating a natural pulse ranging between 80 and 120 mm Hg. One control tube without pressure was added. The surgeons had to grasp these tubes blindly with the conventional grasper or the haptic feedback grasper in a randomized order. They then indicated whether they felt the pressure or not and the percentage of correct answers was calculated.
RESULTS
The haptic grasper successfully detected 96% of all pulsations, while the conventional grasper could only detect 6%. When considering the size of the arteries, the Optigrip® identified pulsations in 100% the 4 and 5 mm arteries and 92% of the smallest arteries. The conventional grasper was only able to feel the smallest arteries in 8%. These differences were highly significant (p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION
This study demonstrated that the newly developed haptic feedback grasper enables detection of arterial pulsations during laparoscopy, filling an important absence in tactile perception within laparoscopic surgery.
PubMed: 38858248
DOI: 10.1007/s00464-024-10877-w -
PloS One 2024This body image study tests the viability of transferring a complex psychophysical paradigm from a controlled in-person laboratory task to an online environment. 172...
This body image study tests the viability of transferring a complex psychophysical paradigm from a controlled in-person laboratory task to an online environment. 172 female participants made online judgements about their own body size when viewing images of computer-generated female bodies presented in either in front-view or at 45-degrees in a method of adjustment (MOA) paradigm. The results of these judgements were then compared to the results of two laboratory-based studies (with 96 and 40 female participants respectively) to establish three key findings. Firstly, the results show that the accuracy of online and in-lab estimates of body size are comparable, secondly that the same patterns of visual biases in judgements are shown both in-lab and online, and thirdly online data shows the same view-orientation advantage in accuracy in body size judgements as the laboratory studies. Thus, this study suggests that that online sampling potentially represents a rapid and accurate way of collecting reliable complex behavioural and perceptual data from a more diverse range of participants than is normally sampled in laboratory-based studies. It also offers the potential for designing stratified sampling strategies to construct a truly representative sample of a target population.
Topics: Humans; Female; Body Image; Adult; Psychophysics; Young Adult; Adolescent; Body Size; Visual Perception; Judgment; Internet
PubMed: 38857270
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302747 -
PloS One 2024Body image distortion and/or dissatisfaction may occur primarily due to body fat accumulation and/or distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of...
INTRODUCTION
Body image distortion and/or dissatisfaction may occur primarily due to body fat accumulation and/or distribution. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of body image perception and (dis)satisfaction categories in adult men and women according to the adiposity classification.
METHODS
This is a cross-sectional study (n = 514; 33-79 years; 265 women) that is part of a prospective cohort (Pró-Saúde study). Adiposity measurements were determined by two methods: anthropometry, used to calculate the body mass index (BMI) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), to estimate body fat percentage. Participants were grouped as "no excess adiposity" and "excess adiposity", considering BMI and body fat percentage (>30% for men, >40% for women). Perception and (dis)satisfaction with body image were evaluated using the Kakeshita scale, composed by 15 silhouettes, developed for the Brazilian population. Degree of distortion (perceived BMI - real BMI) and dissatisfaction (perceived BMI - desired BMI) were calculated.
RESULTS
A high proportion of men (58.6%; 74.3%), and especially of women (82.6%; 86.8%), presented body size overestimation and dissatisfaction due to excess weight, respectively. A relevant fraction of the women (32.6%) and men (30.8%) who were dissatisfied due to excess weight did not present excess adiposity, especially if classified by DXA. Variability in degree of distortion was hardly explained by anthropometric and DXA variables in women (<5%) and men (∼22%). Both anthropometric and DXA measurements accounted for ∼30% and ∼50% of the variability in degree of dissatisfaction among women and men, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest a high frequency of body image distortion in Brazilian adult individuals, as well as dissatisfaction with excess weight, especially among women with excess adiposity. The findings indicate that anthropometric measurements explain much of the variability in degree of body image dissatisfaction in men, with no apparent advantage of the use of more refined DXA measurements.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Middle Aged; Adult; Adiposity; Body Image; Aged; Cross-Sectional Studies; Body Mass Index; Absorptiometry, Photon; Personal Satisfaction; Brazil; Prospective Studies; Body Dissatisfaction
PubMed: 38857269
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304987 -
Juntendo Iji Zasshi = Juntendo Medical... 2023This study aimed to determine the effects of high-intensity isokinetic training with blood flow restriction during rest interval between set (rBFR) versus during...
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to determine the effects of high-intensity isokinetic training with blood flow restriction during rest interval between set (rBFR) versus during exercise (eBFR) on muscle hypertrophy and increasing muscle strength and determine whether BFR-induced exercise pain is suppressed by rBFR.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fourteen arms (7 participants) were recruited for the study. We conducted the following interventions for each arm: eBFR (n=4), rBFR (n=5), and exercise only (CON, n=5). The participants performed elbow flexion training with a BIODEX device twice weekly for 8 weeks. This study training consisted of total four sets; each was performed until <50% peak torque was achieved twice consecutively. BFR pressure was set at 120 mmHg. Elbow flexor peak torque during concentric contraction (CC), isometric contraction (IM), and muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) were measured before and after the intervention. Numerical rating scale scores used to assess pain during exercise were determined during training.
RESULTS
Peak torque at the CC increased in the rBFR (p<0.05) and IM increased in the rBFR and CON (p<0.05), while CSA increased in the rBFR and CON (p<0.001). The pain during exercise was severe in the eBFR and moderate in the rBFR and CON.
CONCLUSIONS
This study's showed that high-intensity isokinetic training with rBFR did not have a synergistic effect on increasing muscle strength and muscle size. Additionally, high-intensity isokinetic training with BFR when it may be best not to perform it during exercise, because it was induces severe pain and may inhibit increases in muscle strength.
PubMed: 38855068
DOI: 10.14789/jmj.JMJ23-0014-OA -
BMJ Paediatrics Open Jun 2024Despite parental concern, few studies have investigated children's experiences with school-based screening of growth deviations. This study aimed to explore perceptions...
BACKGROUND
Despite parental concern, few studies have investigated children's experiences with school-based screening of growth deviations. This study aimed to explore perceptions of height and weight screening and associations with body size dissatisfaction (BSD) among third-grade children aged 8-9 years in central Norway.
METHODS
In a cross-sectional study between November 2021 and April 2022, perceptions of height and weight screening and BSD were assessed individually among 209 children (49% girls) through researcher-assisted interviews.
RESULTS
Most children indicated satisfaction with the screening by selecting a happy emoji, whereas only 1% indicated dissatisfaction, by selecting an unhappy emoji. However, 23%-30% selected a neutral emoji, indicating either neutrality or a response between satisfaction and dissatisfaction. No difference in the perception of height and weight screening was found between genders or body mass index (BMI). Children with parents from non-Western countries had a higher risk of being less satisfied with the height screening (OR=3.0, 95% CI 1.2 to 7.3) than those from Western origin, and children attending schools with lower socioeconomic status (SES) had increased risk of being less satisfied with both height (OR=5.5, 95% CI 2.2 to 13.5) and weight screening (OR=4.0, 95% CI 1.7 to 9.3), compared with children from schools with medium-high SES. Twenty-three percent reported BSD, in which 14% and 9% desired a thinner or larger body, respectively, independent of gender and BMI. No association was found between BSD and the perception of weighing (OR=1.1, 95% CI 0.6 to 2.4), however, BSD was associated with being more satisfied with height screening (OR=0.3, 95% CI 0.1 to 0.8).
CONCLUSION
In the present sample, most children indicated satisfaction with school-based height and weight screening, with no differences between gender or BMI category. However, more children of non-Western origin and from areas with low SES reported less satisfaction with the screening, independent of BSD.
Topics: Humans; Child; Female; Male; Cross-Sectional Studies; Body Height; Body Weight; Body Image; Norway; Schools; Mass Screening; Personal Satisfaction; Body Mass Index; Growth Disorders
PubMed: 38851222
DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2024-002568