Positive Body Image and Physical Activity in Pregnant Women

Generally, research has shown pregnant women have a more negative body image pre-pregnancy and early pregnancy compared to mid-to-late pregnancy. Negative body image in this population has been linked to several important pregnancy-related behaviours and poorer mental health that may put the mother’s and baby’s health at risk. In regards to positive body image, there has been a lack of research investigating how positive body image constructs such as body appreciation and embodiment change, and little work has examined how self-objectification changes. In nonpregnant populations, positive body image has been linked to several health behaviours and outcome; thus, it is important to determine if pregnant women experience positive body image during their pregnancy. In addition, participation in physical activity has been linked to improvements in body image via an increase in embodiment and a decrease in selfobjectification in young adult women. Whether this is true for the pregnant population is unknown. The overall purpose of this study was to understand the relationship between positive body image and physical activity in pregnant women. The first purpose was to determine whether body appreciation, embodiment, and self-objectification levels differ across trimester. The second purpose was to determine if physical activity was associated with body appreciation, and if this relationship was mediated by an increase in embodiment and a decrease in selfobjectification. Thirty-one women in the first trimester, 55 in the second trimester, and 75 in the third trimester completed measures of body appreciation, embodiment, self-objectification, and physical activity online. Multivariate analysis of covariance showed all measures differed by trimester. Post-hoc tests showed body appreciation (M = 3.79; SE = 0.08) and embodiment (M = 2.92; SE = 0.05) were higher and self-objectification (M = 3.86; SE = 0.14) lower in third trimester compared to first trimester (M = 3.37; SE = 0.12; M = 2.56; SE = 0.09; M = 4.54; SE = 0.22). Embodiment was also higher in the third trimester (M = 2.92; SE = 0.05) compared to the second trimester (M = 2.67; SE = 0.06). Serial mediation analysis revealed physical activity was associated with body appreciation through an increase in embodiment and a decrease in self-objectification. The findings from this study indicate positive body image improves across pregnancy and physical activity could be one way to improve positive body image in pregnant women

A multicentre, retrospective and observational study to evaluate safety and functional outcomes of arthroscopic shoulder ligament repair using Sironix suture anchor

Background: Arthroscopic shoulder ligament repair is one of the most performed procedures in the orthopaedic specialty. Suture anchor devices are used in arthroscopic surgeries to reattach ligaments or other soft tissues to bone. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and functional outcomes after shoulder ligament repair. Methods: This is a multicentric, retrospective, observational study conducted on patients who underwent primary arthroscopic shoulder ligament tear repair between April 2018 to July 2022, using Sironix suture anchors at Kumaran Hospital and Rela Institute, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, and DNV Ortho Care Hospital, Dharmapuri, Tamil Nadu, India. A total of 75 patients were included. Post-surgery measurements of functional outcomes were performed using the PENN shoulder score, simple shoulder test questionnaire, shoulder pain and disability index, and single assessment numerical evaluation. Adverse events were recorded. Results: At post-surgery follow-up visits, there was a significant improvement in the functional outcomes of all the patients. The PENN shoulder score had a mean (SD) pain score of 92.04 (7.50), a satisfaction score of 91.87 (8.00), and a function score of 93.18 (6.16), respectively. The mean (SD) SST score and SPADI score was 88.9 (9.7), and 2.8 (2.79) respectively. The SANE mean (SD) values of the operated joint and opposite joint were 91.0 (7.31) and 98.1 (4.26) respectively with a p value of 0.0001. Conclusions: Based on the study results, arthroscopic shoulder ligament repair with Sironix suture anchor resulted in good and desirable functional outcomes with no major adverse events and improved quality of life

Lasmiditan: new drug for acute migraine

Migraine is ranked by the World Health Organization as the world’s second leading cause of disability. The current state of knowledge suggests that migraine is a neuronal process involving activation and sensitization of the trigeminal nociceptors and the trigeminocervical complex, as well as cortical spreading depression and abnormal brainstem activity. The present non vascular etiological basis has opened a new horizon in the treatment of acute migraine targeting the trigeminal pathways. Lasmiditan, a highly selective 5-HT1F receptor agonist, acts on the trigeminal system without causing vasoconstriction because of its low affinity for 5-HT1B receptors. The compound belongs to a new class of drugs “ditans” and its mechanism of action is neuronal without evidence of vasoactive effects as seen with triptans. It lowers plasma protein extravasation decreasing the neurogenic inflammation of the dura and suppress neuronal firing within the trigeminal nucleus caudalis. Also, 5HT1F agonists have shown to decrease c-fos activity within trigeminal nucleus thereby reducing the level of synaptic activation. The onset of action of lasmiditan is fast, shows rapid absorption, oral bioavailability of 40% and linear pharmacokinetics. Most common adverse reactions seen are dizziness, paresthesia, somnolence, nausea, fatigue and lethargy with dizziness being the most recurrently reported adverse event. Clinical trials for lasmiditan to date have been positive, and maiden results suggest that lasmiditan may be a new safe and effective option for acute migraine treatment, especially for patients refractory to or unable to tolerate triptans, and/or for patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. With Eli Lilly and Co. having already applied for US FDA approval in Nov 2018, lasmiditan may soon be a new addition to the mounting armoury of drugs against migraine

Prucalopride: novel drug for chronic idiopathic constipation

Chronic Idiopathic Constipation (CIC), defined as constipation in which the underlying cause is unknown, is a common medical illness with a profound negative impact on health-related quality of life and increased propensity for life threatening complications. Current treatment for CIC includes lifestyle modifications, over-the-counter medications, and prescription medications. Presently, the only approved, prescription products for CIC in the US are prosecretory agents. However, the current knowledge that serotonin plays an important role in colonic motility has opened new horizons in the treatment of CIC promoting use of prokinetic agents with a different mechanism of action. Prucalopride is a highly selective 5-hydroxytryptamine type 4 (5-HT4) receptor agonist that enhances propulsive motor patterns in the large intestine due to a high affinity for 5-HT4 receptors in gastrointestinal (GI) tissues.  The onset of action of Prucalopride is fast, shows rapid absorption, oral bioavailability of 93% and linear pharmacokinetics. Most common adverse reactions seen are headache, nausea, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Clinical trials for Prucalopride have been positive, and results suggest that the drug may be a new safe and effective option for CIC treatment, especially for patient’s refractory to prosecretory agents. As a prescription drug for the management of constipation and given the virtual demise of other prokinetic agents for this indication, prucalopride competes primarily with another class of agents: those that stimulate secretion. With Shire Pharmaceuticals having already received US FDA approval in Dec 2018, Prucalopride may soon be a new addition to the mounting armoury of drugs against CIC

Evaluation of safety, clinical outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes after meniscus repair using surestitch all inside meniscal repair implant: a retrospective and observational study

Background: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and meniscus injuries frequently co-occur, underscoring the interconnected nature of knee joint structures. Meniscus injuries, often caused by sports trauma or degenerative changes, necessitate careful management to preserve joint function and prevent complications like osteoarthritis. This retrospective observational study evaluates the safety, clinical outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes of meniscus repair using Surestitch all inside meniscal repair implant, a contemporary solution designed to optimize meniscal repair. Methods: The study, approved by the institutional ethics committee, included patients aged 18-80 years who underwent meniscus repair with Surestitch between October 2020 and July 2022. Data on demographics, surgical details, and outcomes were collected from medical records and telephonic follow-ups. Results: Among 36 subjects, the mean age was 36.89 years. The mean (SD) duration of follow-up was 364 days (127). There was no meniscus repair failure noted in any of the patients. Functional patient-reported outcomes assessed using international knee documentation committee (IKDC) with a score of (60.15±12.40), and Lysholm scores (77.03±14.45) demonstrated favorable results. The knee injury and osteoarthritis outcome score (KOOS) of (54.63) further indicated positive knee health across domains. There were no adverse events or reoperations. Conclusions: The study demonstrated favorable safety, clinical outcomes, and patient-reported outcomes, yielding satisfactory results, and consequently establishing the safety and effectiveness of the Surestitch All inside meniscal repair implant in meniscus repair

Standardization of the collection of exhaled breath condensate and exhaled breath aerosol using a feedback regulated sampling device

Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and associated exhaled breath aerosols (EBA) are valuable non-invasive biological media used for the quantification of biomarkers. EBC contains exhaled water vapor, soluble gas-phase (polar) organic compounds, ionic species, plus other species including semi- and non-volatile organic compounds, proteins, cell fragments, DNA, dissolved inorganic compounds, ions, and microbiota (bacteria and viruses) dissolved in the co-collected EBA. EBC is collected from subjects who breathe 'normally' through a chilled tube assembly for approximately 10 min and is then harvested into small vials for analysis. Aerosol filters without the chilled tube assembly are also used to separately collect EBA. Unlike typical gas-phase breath samples used for environmental and clinical applications, the constituents of EBC and EBA are not easily characterized by total volume or carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration, because the gas-phase is vented. Furthermore, EBC and associated EBA are greatly affected by breathing protocol, more specifically, depth of inhalation and expelled breath velocity. We have tested a new instrument developed by Loccioni Gruppa Humancare (Ancona, Italy) for implementation of EBC collection from human subjects to assess EBC collection parameters. The instrument is the first EBC collection device that provides instantaneous visual feedback to the subjects to control breathing patterns. In this report we describe the operation of the instrument, and present an overview of performance and analytical applications