A review of the six-minute walk test: Its implication as a self-administered assessment tool

Promoting self-management and monitoring physical activity are important strategies in chronic heart disease (CHD) management. The six-minute walk test (6MWT) is a commonly used sub-maximal exercise test for measuring physical functional capacity. The aim of this paper is to review the current literature on 6MWT relating to methodological issues as well as exploring the potential of the protocol to be adopted as a self-administered exercise test. The Medline, CINAHL, Science Direct and the World Wide Web using the search engine Google, were searched for articles describing the administration, reliability and validity of the 6MWT. Findings of the integrative literature review the 6MWT is a simple, safe tool. To date, the capacity for self-administration of the 6MWT has not been investigated. Adapting the 6MWT as a patient-reported outcome measure may enhance the capacity, not only for clinicians to monitor functional status, but also promote self-management by enabling individuals to monitor changes in their functional capacity

Atmospheric dust captation by ornamental species

Se clasificaron 90 especies de árboles y arbustos de uso frecuente en Mendoza (Argentina) en base a su capacidad de filtrado del particulado atmosférico en suspensión. Se utilizó colectores de polvo atmosférico impregnados en vaselina líquida como superficie adherente. Se analizó por turbi-dimetría en un Hach 2100 P, con lectura en unidades nefelométricas de turbidez (NTU). Dichos colectores de polvo se colocaron en el interior y el exterior de la copa de cada ejemplar, con un mínimo de 15 repeticiones para cada posición. Por diferencia de promedios de lectura entre el exterior y el interior de la copa se obtuvo, en cada caso, un valor característico. Para lograr valores comparables entre ejemplares, con variaciones producidas por el follaje, debe referirse la mencionada diferencia del ancho de copa atravesado por el aire que transporta el contaminante y una lectura unitaria, mediante la relación: ILi =[(Loi -Lci) / (Efi * Loi)] * 100 m-1 donde: • ILi = índice de lectura interferométrica de la especie "i" • Loi= lectura interferométrica exterior (promedio de NTU externos) • Lci= lectura interferométrica interior de la copa (promedio de NTU internos) • Efi = espesor - expresado en m- de la copa en línea recta horizontal. El ILI, por caracterizar cada especie según su capacidad de captación de polvo atmosférico, permite el mejor uso de las mismas en proyectos de espacios verdes para protección ambiental.Based in the capacity to filtrate the atmospheric particulate it was established a classification of 90 vegetable species: shrubs and trees, frequently used in Mendoza (Argentina). The method used atmospheric dust collectors, impregnated in liquid vaseline as adherent surface, which are analyzed by a turbidimeter Hach 2100 P, with digital lectures in nefelometric turbidimeter units (NTU). In the samples these collectors were situated inside and outside of the canopy, at least in a number of 15 repetitions for each position. By difference of averages lectures among outside and inside, is reached the characteristicvalue for the specimen. This difference must be related to the canopy´s width crossed by the air current and to the unitary lecture, to obtain comparable values among different specimens, with variations produced by the characteristics of foliage. Itwas stablishedthe following relation: ILi = [ (Loi -Lci)/ (Efi * Loi )] * 100[m-1 where • ILi=interferometric lecture index of the specie "i" • Loi = outside interferometric lecture (average of externals NTU) • Lci= inside interferometric lecture (average of internals NTU) • Efi= width -expressed in m-of canopy crossed by air current, in horizontal straight line. The ILI index allow to characterize the vegetable species in order to their atmospheric dust captation capacity easing their utilization in green spaces projects and in environmental protection.Fil: Codina, Ramón A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Fioretti, Sonia B.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Pérez, Paola V.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Ureta, Norberto M.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Llera, Joaquín. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Verd, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Carrieri, Sergio A.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias AgrariasFil: Manzano, Enrique R.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agraria

The need to research refractory breathlessness

High-quality research is needed to improve quality of life for people with chronic refractory breathlessness in COP

Serum Clara cell protein (CC16) in healthy young smokers.

The CC16 microprotein is the main secretory product of Clara cells, which are epithelial cells lining lung airways. In crossing through the bronchoalveolar/blood barrier, CC16 diffuses passively into plasma. Serum CC16 (sCC16) has recently been proposed as a biomarker for detecting Clara cell impairments. The aim of this study was to assess if sCC16 concentrations are reduced in a group of healthy young smokers. A group of 118 healthy young males volunteered to take part in the study. Each subject answered a questionnaire, and provided blood and urine samples. Serum CC16, urinary cotinine and creatinine were measured. Median serum CC16 concentrations were lower in smokers than in non-smokers (11.3 mug l(-1) vs 14.6 mug l(-1); p = 0.005; N = 89 and 29, respectively) but did not correlate with either the daily or the life-time cigarette consumption, or with urinary cotinine concentrations. sCC16 did not correlate with age or body mass index in the whole study population or in the groups of smokers and non-smokers. These results suggest the reduction in sCC16 concentrations in a group of healthy young smokers may be an early effect of cigarette smoking

Older Patients\u27 Perspectives of Online Health Approaches in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex, chronic condition.Patients commonly have limited access to face-to-face support due to decreased mobility, symptom burden, and availability of services. Online health care approaches provide the potential for increased access to self-management education and support. This study sought to understand older patients with COPD's perspectives of online approaches to health care. Materials and Methods: Participants older than 65 years were recruited from a respiratory service at an academic medical center. Qualitative, focus groups were used and recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key and repeated emergent themes. Results: Focus groups were undertaken between January and May 2014. Thematic analysis resulted in five overall themes: (1) concern over risks in the online environment; (2) multimedia and technology use as part of everyday life; (3) online resources as an opportunity for revision of forgotten knowledge; (5) potential for facilitation of decision-making support across geographical and physical barriers; and (4) perceived benefits of online peer support for people with COPD. Conclusions:Overall, these older participants with COPD had positive views of online health information, but did raise the need for guidance to ensure valid and reliable online sources. The capacity for online sources to increase access to decision support and up-to-date information was viewed positively, as was the ability to interact with peers who had similar experiences. Telecommunication tools and approaches are already being utilized in health care interactions. Further research is required into the most appropriate, feasible, and sustainable online health approaches to support patients with chronic illnesses such as COPD

I mortaria fittili romani da Altino: tipologia, corpus epigrafico e distribuzione areale.

Background: Self-management education for cardiopulmonary diseases is primarily provided through time-limited, face-to-face programs, with access limited to a small percentage of patients. Telecommunication tools will increasingly be an important component of future health care delivery. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe the patterns of technology use in patients attending a cardiopulmonary clinic in an academic medical center. Methods: A prevalence survey was developed to collect data on participant demographics (age in years, sex, and socioeconomic status); access to computers, Internet, and mobile phones; and use of current online health support sites or programs. Surveys were offered by reception staff to all patients attending the outpatient clinic. Results: A total of 123 surveys were collected between March and April 2014. Technological devices were a pervasive part of everyday life with respondents engaged in regular computer (102/123, 82.9%), mobile telephone (115/117, 98.3%), and Internet (104/121, 86.0%) use. Emailing (101/121, 83.4%), researching and reading news articles (93/121, 76.9%), social media (71/121, 58.7%), and day-to-day activities (65/121, 53.7%) were the most common telecommunication activities. The majority of respondents reported that access to health support programs and assistance through the Internet (82/111, 73.9%) would be of use, with benefits reported as better understanding of health information (16/111, 22.5%), avoidance of difficult travel requirements and time-consuming face-to-face appointments (13/111, 18.3%), convenient and easily accessible help and information (12/111, 16.9%), and access to peer support and sharing (9/111, 12.7%). The majority of patients did not have concerns over participating in the online environment (87/111, 78.4%); the few concerns noted related to privacy and security (10/15), information accuracy (2/15), and computer literacy and access (2/15). Conclusions: Chronic disease burden and long-term self-management tasks provide a compelling argument for accessible and convenient avenues to obtaining ongoing treatment and peer support. Online access to health support programs and assistance was reported as useful and perceived as providing convenient, timely, and easily accessible health support and information. Distance from the health care facility and a lack of information provision through traditional health sources were both barriers and enablers to telehealth. This is particularly important in the context of a cardiopulmonary clinic that attracts patients from a large geographical area, and in patients who are most likely to have high health care utilization needs in the future. Telecommunication interfaces will be an increasingly important adjunct to traditional forms of health care delivery

Risk of Severe Bacterial Infection in People Living Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection in the Combined Antiretroviral Therapy Era

International audienceBackground: Severe bacterial infections are the first cause of morbidity in people with human immunodeficiency virus (PWH). We aimed to assess their incidence and to analyze their determinants.Methods: We studied human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected individuals aged at least 15 years and prospectively followed between 2006 and 2015 in the French Hospital Database on HIV. The Andersen and Gill model was used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratios (HRs), focusing on heavy alcohol use and neutrophil function-altering comorbidities.Results: Of 25 795 participants, 1414 developed 1883 severe bacterial infections. Between 2006 and 2009 and 2013 and 2015, the incidence fell from 13.2 (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.3-14.1) to 7.1 (95% CI, 6.3-7.8) per 1000 person-years. Heavy alcohol use was associated with an increased risk of severe bacterial infection (HR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.1-1.7 for 40-80 g/day and HR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.2-2.1 for >80 g/day), as were diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage liver disease (HR = 1.2, 95% CI = 1.0-1.4 when 1 comorbidity; HR = 2.3, 95% CI = 1.6-3.4 when more than 1 comorbidity), and nonacquired immune deficiency syndrome-defining malignancy (HR = 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6-2.4).Conclusions: Heavy alcohol use was associated with an increased risk of severe bacterial infection, as were neutrophil function-altering comorbidities. Controlled-drinking approaches should be promoted and comorbidity management should be strengthened in PWH

Sensory Priming: The olfaction as an attention inducer

Abstract In this study, we investigated the influence of the olfactive stimulus on visual attention. Two groups of 30 subjects participated in two experiments. Both experiments presented two arrays of fruits stimulus intercalated by an olfactive intervention. The stimulus was received in the form of images by the first group and in the form of words by the second group. An eye-tracking device monitored the timekeeping of visual attention dispensed in each stimulus. The results showed that olfactive priming influenced visual attention in both cases but with a greater degree in the images stimulus group. This study shows for the first time that image information is more susceptible to priming olfactive information than wording information. This effect may be associated with the formation of mental images in working memory, aroused by fragrances