Evaluating Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions on Chronic Low Back Pain Using Goal Attainment Scaling

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: M Evaluating Traditional Chinese Medicine Interventions on Chronic Low Back Pain Using Goal Attainment Scaling Via Hindawi Publishing Corporation Background. Extensive studies have been conducted to evaluate the pain relief effect of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) interventions on patients with low back pain, including in China. However, there is a dearth in the literature documenting the diverse goals of TCM interventions, let alone the overall effect of such interventions. In this study, the goal attainment scaling (GAS) method was adopted to evaluate individualised TCM interventions on chronic low back pain. Methods. A pre-post intervention study was conducted on patients with chronic low back pain who received individualised TCM interventions in community health services. The study was undertaken in three community health centres in Hangzhou of China. A total of 165 eligible patients were invited, and 150 participated in the study, including 136 who completed both pre- and postintervention surveys. Each participant was asked to identify three to five intended goals from a pool of 26 outcome indicators and their corresponding expectations of these goals prior to the TCM interventions. Their conditions were rated against the selected indicators on a self-report five-point Likert scale before and after the TCM interventions, respectively. Gaps between the actual conditions and the expected goals were summed up for each participant and converted into a standardised GAS score, with a higher score indicating higher achievements, and 50 indicting patient expectations were met. Linear regression models were established to determine the factors associated with the pre-post GAS changes after adjustment for variations in other variables. Results. On average, an increase of 14.99 (SD = 9.81) in the GAS scores was achieved. This resulted in a mean GAS score of 48.33 (SD = 9.74) after the TCM interventions, falling slightly short ( View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

The contribution of pre-existing spinal pseudarthrosis to the surgical correction for thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: ... The contribution of pre-existing spinal pseudarthrosis to the surgical correction for thoracolumbar kyphosis secondary to ankylosing spondylitis Via Journal of Clinical Neuroscience Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis characterized by uncontrolled osteoproliferation, leading to the formation of syndesmophytes [1]. In the advanced stage of the disease, ossification and fusion of the affected joints and ligaments often produce a rigid and fixed thoracolumbar kyphosis [2]. Thus, a minor trauma may cause a transvertebral or transdiscal fracture in the ankylosed spine [3]. Meanwhile, spontaneous union of the injury site may be hindered by persistent motion or abnormal movement thereby developing a pseudarthrosis, somewhat like a long bone fracture [4–6]. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Duration of seropositivity following yellow fever vaccination

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Duration of seropositivity following yellow fever vaccination in U.S. military service members. Via Vaccine CONCLUSIONS: Neutralizing antibodies were present in > 95% of vaccine recipients for at least 19 years after vaccination, suggesting that booster doses every 10 years are not essential for most U.S. military personnel. PMID: 33239225 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine) View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Immunogenicity and safety of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Immunogenicity and safety of the quadrivalent human papillomavirus vaccine in Chinese females aged 9 to 26  years: A phase 3, open-label, immunobridging study. Via Vaccine CONCLUSION: Antibody responses induced by the 3-dose qHPV vaccination regimen in Chinese girls aged 9-19 years were non-inferior to those in Chinese young women aged 20-26 years. The vaccine was generally well tolerated in the study population. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03493542. PMID: 33239228 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine) View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Hepatitis A antibody persistence 8 and 10 years after 1-dose and 2-dose vaccination in children from Panama.

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: ... Hepatitis A antibody persistence 8 and 10  years after 1-dose and 2-dose vaccination in children from Panama. Via Vaccine CONCLUSION: Anti-HAV antibody persistence was observed in lower percentages of children receiving 1 dose versus 2 doses of Havrix, at 8 and 10 years post-vaccination in Panama. Further investigations are needed to confirm antibody persistence and conclude on the protection afforded beyond 10 years in the pediatric population in Latin America. PMID: 33239226 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine) View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Association between human papillomavirus vaccine status and sexually transmitted infection outcomes among females aged 18-35 with a history of sexual activity in the United States: A population survey-based cross-sectional analysis.

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: ,, Association between human papillomavirus vaccine status and sexually transmitted infection outcomes among females aged 18-35 with a history of sexual activity in the United States: A population survey-based cross-sectional analysis. Via Vaccine CONCLUSION: Among females who reported a history of sexual activity, HPV vaccination status was protective against vaccine-type HPV and not associated with lab-based STI outcomes. Although findings may be susceptible to reporting bias, results indicating low vaccine uptake at routine-recommended ages requires additional efforts promoting HPV vaccination before sexual-debut. PMID: 33239227 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vaccine) View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Autonomic Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women with the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: ... Autonomic Dysfunction in Postmenopausal Women with the Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Via Latest Results for Neurophysiology Women frequently experience rather severe autonomic symptoms during the postmenopausal period. The carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is also known to be accompanied by certain autonomic symptoms. We aimed to evaluate some autonomic functions in postmenopausal women suffering from CTS. In this case-control study, we performed median nerve conduction and sympathetic skin response (SSR) tests. All patients and healthy individuals were questioned about the autonomic symptoms at the hands (red or purple skin coloration, excessive sweating, and feeling cold) and also about hot flashes and night sweats. The data from 80 women with postmenopausal idiopathic CTS were compared with those from 75 postmenopausal women without this syndrome. About half (47.5%) of the CTS patients had complaints of red or purple discoloration, 66.3% complained about sweating, and 12.5% complained about feeling cold in their hands, while the corresponding rates were 21.3%, 17.3% and 4.0% in the control group. There was a statistically significant difference between the control and patient groups in terms of sweating (P < 0.001) and discoloration (P = 0.034). Among postmenopausal vasomotor symptoms, hot flashes (P < 0.001) and night sweats (P = 0.026) were significantly more frequent in patients with CTS. The latter demonstrated a higher mean SSR amplitude (P = 0.02) and longer mean SSR latency (P = 0.01). We conclude that the effects of hormonal changes (mainly reduced estrogen levels) on autonomic functions are noticeably aggravated by the respective autonomic effects in CTS patients. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Ganglion-Specific Sensitivity of P2X3 Receptors to Leu-Enkephalin

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: ,,,,,,,,,, Ganglion-Specific Sensitivity of P2X3 Receptors to Leu-Enkephalin Via Latest Results for Neurophysiology In this study, several properties of modulation of P2X3 currents by an endogenous opioid, leu-enkephalin (LEK), in neurons of the dorsal root and nodose ganglia (DRGs and NGs, respectively) were compared. P2X3-mediated currents were recorded using a patch-clamp technique in the whole-cell configuration. P2X3 receptors in DRG neurons were found to be more sensitive to LEK application compared to NG neurons; complete suppression of the corresponding currents required lower concentrations of LEK and rose more quickly. Short-term preapplication of naloxone (a nonselective opioid receptor antagonist) on NG neurons did not alter the effect of the tested opioid on P2X3 currents, while it dramatically enhanced LEK-induced inhibition in DRG neurons. This fact may be indicative of the existence of specific intracellular pathways involved in opioid-induced modulation of P2X3 receptors of different peripheral ganglia in vertebrates. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Regulation and Ethics of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Regulation and Ethics of Transcranial Electrical Stimulation: A General View Via Latest Results for Neurophysiology Transcranial application of low-intensity electrical stimuli is a non-invasive brain stimulation procedure, which allows one to alter the excitability of cortical cells in both humans and animals. There is a broad consensus regarding the safety of this approach in humans, and different versions and protocols of this technique have been used in basic research and clinical studies for years. In this review, we aim to provide updated information on regulatory and ethical issues concerning the use of different versions of transcranial electrical stimulation (tES). This information may be critical due to its implications on the welfare and health of patients. Although tES is a safe and effective method with potential clinical and research utilities, the legal regulation criteria concerning the use different versions of tES are of critical relevance due to implications of brain stimulation for human health and well-being. Recent publications that review a nd describe all regulatory and safety aspects regarding the use of tES offer a practical vision about the most up-to-date information in this field and more relevant ethical implications. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Diagnostic Value of the F-wave in Loss of Cervical Lordosis

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: ..... Diagnostic Value of the F-wave in Loss of Cervical Lordosis Via Latest Results for Neurophysiology We investigated peculiarities of the F waves elicited by stimulation of the median and ulnar nerves in 76 subjects having pronounced loss of cervical lordosis (LCL) and 42 control subjects. The CL angles in these two groups were 0–30 and 31–40 deg, respectively. As was found, the averaged minimum, maximum, and mean latencies and chronodispersion values of both median and ulnar F waves in most cases were slightly longer than in the control, but all intergroup differences were statistically insignificant. At the same time, the averaged median F wave persistence in both upper limbs of LCL patients was significantly smaller (P = 0.000) than that in control subjects. There was no such difference in the ulnar F responses. Recording of the median F wave can be used as an additional approach in diagnosing the LCL state. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Brain Network Connectivity and the Choice Motor Reaction in Combatants with Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: , Brain Network Connectivity and the Choice Motor Reaction in Combatants with Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries Via Latest Results for Neurophysiology We examined times (latencies) of two types of the sensorimotor (visuomotor) reactions, simple sensorimotor reaction (SSMR) and choice motor reaction (ChMR), in men (combatants) suffering from the consequences of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) during the Joint Forces Operation in the East of Ukraine (17 right-handed volunteers aged 27–43 years) and compared the respective values with those demonstrated by healthy control men (16 right-handed volunteers, 18–21 years). Combatants with mTBI were characterized by significantly greater values of the latency in the ChMR, mostly determined by considerably longer times necessary for decision-making processes. Results of the analysis of cerebral network connectivity based on the data of EEG recording, coherence measurements, and LORETA neurovisualization gave reasons to suppose that a large-scale synchronized frontoparietal neuronetwork functions in control subjects; this network is responsible for decision ma king according to the results of control, analysis of information, and coordination of various alternatives. Unlike this, an associative decision-making system mostly functions in combatants with mTBI; this system uses coding networks in the primary and secondary visual cortices; functioning of the above associative system is followed by the creation of imaginary phenomena and associations, which are then realized in motor acts. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Motor Commands for Planar Movements of the Upper Limb: Modeling with Taking into Account Realistic Osteo-Muscular Relations

alkiviadis.1961 shared this article with you from Inoreader Message: , Motor Commands for Planar Movements of the Upper Limb: Modeling with Taking into Account Realistic Osteo-Muscular Relations Via Latest Results for Neurophysiology Studies of motor control in humans require the formation of adequate concepts about the structure and metric characteristics of the musculoskeletal system, which provides the performance of the respective movements; such representations, in turn, are necessary prerequisites for further modeling of the phenomenology of motor control, theoretical analysis of the relevant processes, and interpretation of the obtained experimental data. We measured the length and shape of the muscles of the shoulder girdle (deltoideus pars scapilaris and pectoralis major pars clavicularis) of a healthy person performing planar (realized within the horizontal plane) movements of the upper limb, in which the hand moved via a straight line in the parafrontal plane at the level of the shoulder joint, and also calculated the corresponding arms of torques developed by these muscles. Such measurements were performed based on the results of computed tomography and 3D p rints of the bones (scapula, clavicula, and humerus). According to these data, we built regression formulas for the dependence of metric parameters of the muscles on values of the angle in the shoulder joint. The results of modeling of descending activation of these muscles during the mentioned movements are also presented; EMG signals recorded from the corresponding muscles were considered correlates of the descending commands. The results of such simulation demonstrated a satisfactory similarity between the characteristics of the modeled motor commands and those recorded in real experiments. The results obtained show that we have developed a realistic model of the musculoskeletal system of the upper extremity, which can be effectively used in studies of motor control in humans. Moreover, there are reasons to believe that our proposed method of estimating the parameters of the musculoskeletal system of the human arm is significantly more adequate than tho se previously proposed, in which the original data underwent excessive simplification. View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.