Delivering Occupation-Based Practice in Stroke Rehabilitation of Hospital Settings: Thai Occupational Therapists’ Experiences

Occupation-based practice (OBP) is central to the practice of occupational therapists where occupations or meaningful activities become the focus of the assessment, intervention, and outcomes measurement process. Although occupational therapists practising in Thailand claim that they engage in OBP, this claim warrants empirical investigation. This study aimed to investigate the experiences and perceptions of hospital-based occupational therapists of OBP within stroke rehabilitation. Utilizing a qualitative design, fourteen occupational therapists were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews until data saturation was reached. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified (1) Perspective towards OBP, (2) OBP as professional value and cultural identity, (3) Implementing OBP for stroke rehabilitation in hospital settings, (4) Environmental factors of using OBP in stroke rehabilitation, and (5) OBP in the service management. Occupational therapists perceived that OBP is important for professional identity. Using OBP provides positive changes in stroke clients. This study provides evidence that will help implement OBP into occupational therapy in Thailand

Occupational Therapists\u27 Experience of Using Home Adaptation and Assistive Products as Interventions for Older Individuals and Persons with Disabilities in Thailand

As Thailand becomes an aged society it is important to promote advancements in geriatric medicine to provide the best care for older individuals. The right assistive facilities and household mobility equipment are essential for everyday activities. The use of home adaptations and assistive products can maximize the quality of life for older individuals and make life more convenient for those with disabilities. This study aimed to investigate the experience of occupational therapists, using home adaptations and assistive products. An individual interview was conducted with eight occupational therapists who worked at regional hospitals and centers of excellence throughout Thailand using a qualitative study. The results were interpreted through thematic analysis. Five main themes emerged: (1) empowering independent living at home, (2) accident prevention and safety, (3) family financial constraints and barriers, (4) availability and accessibility of products, and (5) matching products with clients’ capabilities and needs. Based on an occupational therapy approach, this study examines Thailand\u27s needs for home adaptations and assistive products, as well as barriers to accessing those products and services. Through a contribution to knowledge and information based on occupational therapists\u27 experience, the laws and regulations regarding home adaptations and assistive products for people with disabilities can be improved. Additionally, the interdisciplinary team and authorities involved in this issue should also collaborate to formulate guidelines for home adaptations and assistive products for older individuals and persons with disabilities in the future

Delivering Occupation-Based Practice in Stroke Rehabilitation of Hospital Settings: Thai Occupational Therapists’ Experiences

Occupation-based practice (OBP) is central to the practice of occupational therapists where occupations or meaningful activities become the focus of the assessment, intervention, and outcomes measurement process. Although occupational therapists practising in Thailand claim that they engage in OBP, this claim warrants empirical investigation. This study aimed to investigate the experiences and perceptions of hospital-based occupational therapists of OBP within stroke rehabilitation. Utilizing a qualitative design, fourteen occupational therapists were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews until data saturation was reached. Each interview was recorded and transcribed verbatim, and data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Five themes were identified (1) Perspective towards OBP, (2) OBP as professional value and cultural identity, (3) Implementing OBP for stroke rehabilitation in hospital settings, (4) Environmental factors of using OBP in stroke rehabilitation, and (5) OBP in the service management. Occupational therapists perceived that OBP is important for professional identity. Using OBP provides positive changes in stroke clients. This study provides evidence that will help implement OBP into occupational therapy in Thailand

Strategic Organizational Knowledge Orientation and Firm Performance: An Empirical Research of Beverage Businesses in Thailand

As the primary constructive strategic advantage for an organization, significant observations have been logged recently for organizational knowledge as the most valuable strategic asset for an organization. This is likely to encourage creative new ideas leading to performance. Although the relationship between organizational knowledge and performance has been well-documented by earlier studies, a review of previous literature reveals that there are few studies on the dimensions of organizational knowledge viewed in terms of its consideration as a strategic asset. Therefore, this research aims to investigate the relationships between each dimension of strategic organizational knowledge orientation (SOKO), and its impact towards the consequence variables (organizational creativity, new idea generation, organizational innovation, business competitiveness and firm performance). The questionnaire survey method is used to collect the data from the managing directors or management partnership of 117 beverage businesses in Thailand. Regression results indicate that one dimension of SOKO (decision-making skills emphasis) is positively related to all of the consequence variables. However, each dimension of SOKO (emphasis business operation understanding focus, managerial information awareness, organizational experience usefulness, and environmental education dynamism) has partially direct effects on the consequence variables of SOKO. The contributions and suggestions for further research are also provided

The role of melatonin in amyloid beta-induced inflammation mediated by inflammasome signaling in neuronal cell lines

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder. In addition to amyloid beta (Aβ) and tau, neuroinflammation is a crucial element in the etiology of this disease. However, the relevance of inflammasome-induced pyroptosis to AD is unknown. We aimed to clarify whether the anti-inflammatory effects of melatonin could prevent Aβ-mediated activation of the inflammasome. We demonstrated that Aβ upregulated NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a CARD, and cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase caspase (caspase 1) expression in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, resulting in the release of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). Melatonin prevented inflammasome signaling and excessive cytokine release caused by Aβ. We found that ethyl 2[(2-chlorophenyl)(hydroxy) methyl]acrylate (INF-4E, NLRP3 and caspase 1 inhibitor) significantly abolished Aβ-induced proinflammatory cytokine expression. The increase in cleaved-caspase 1, pro-IL18, and cleaved-IL18 caused by Aβ suggested the occurrence of pyroptosis, which was further confirmed by the increased expression of N-terminal gasdermin D (N-GSDMD). Melatonin plays a protective role against Aβ-induced inflammation via an inflammasome-associated mechanism that is essential in inducing the active forms of cytokines and pyroptosis. The ability of melatonin to inhibit inflammasome may represent a turning point in the treatment of AD progression

Melatonin Regulates Aging and Neurodegeneration through Energy Metabolism, Epigenetics, Autophagy and Circadian Rhythm Pathways

Brain aging is linked to certain types of neurodegenerative diseases and identifying new therapeutic targets has become critical. Melatonin, a pineal hormone, associates with molecules and signaling pathways that sense and influence energy metabolism, autophagy, and circadian rhythms, including insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), Forkhead box O (FoxOs), sirtuins and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways. This review summarizes the current understanding of how melatonin, together with molecular, cellular and systemic energy metabolisms, regulates epigenetic processes in the neurons. This information will lead to a greater understanding of molecular epigenetic aging of the brain and anti-aging mechanisms to increase lifespan under healthy conditions

Psychometric Assessment of the Handwriting Proficiency Screening Questionnaire (HPSQ)—Thai Version for Primary School-Aged Children

In this study, the original Handwriting Proficiency Screening Questionnaire (HPSQ) was translated into Thai and cross-culturally adapted for use among school-aged children in Thailand. Additionally, the initial psychometric properties of the new Thai version were assessed, including internal consistency, construct validity, and content validity. The original HPSQ was forward-translated by two independent translators from English to Thai and then back-translated. A final consolidation was conducted by an expert committee to develop the Thai HPSQ. In the psychometric evaluation, content validity was quantified using the item-objective congruence (IOC) value for each item. Intra-rater and inter-rater reliabilities were also assessed. Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, and confirmatory factor analysis models were used to examine its construct validity. The Thai version of the HPSQ had excellent internal consistency (α = 0.92), good construct, and content validity (IOC value > 0.6). Intra-rater reliability was good (intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.98), and inter-rater reliability ranged from fair to good (ICC = 0.46−0.77). Factor analysis revealed that a three-factor model best fitted the data. Thus, the Thai version of the HPSQ is a reliable and valid instrument for handwriting evaluation among Thai school-aged children. It can be useful for teachers and therapists to identify students with handwriting problems

Long-term administration of melatonin attenuates neuroinflammation in the aged mouse brain

Aging is often accompanied by a decline in cognitive function in conjunction with a variety of neurobiological changes, including neuroinflammation. Melatonin is a key endogenous indoleamine secreted by the pineal gland that plays a crucial role in the regulation of circadian rhythms, is a potent free radical scavenger, has anti-inflammatory activity and serves numerous other functions. However, the role of melatonin in sterile inflammation in the brain has not been fully investigated. In the present study, we investigated the neuroinflammation status in aged mouse brains. The results showed that the protein levels of integrin αM (CD11b), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), the major pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta [IL-1β], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α]) and phosphor-nuclear factor kappa B (pNFκB) were significantly increased, while Nmethyl- D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B, Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) were down-regulated in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC) of 22-months-old (aged) mice compared with 2-months-old (young adult) mice. Melatonin was administered in the drinking water to a cohort of the aged mice at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day, beginning at an age of 16 months for 6 months. Our results revealed that melatonin significantly attenuated the alterations in these protein levels. The present study suggests an advantageous role for melatonin in anti-inflammation, and this may lead to the prevention of memory impairment in aging

Huperzine A Regulates the Physiological Homeostasis of Amyloid Precursor Protein Proteolysis and Tau Protein Conformation—A Computational and Experimental Investigation

The beneficial actions of the natural compound Huperzine A (Hup A) against age-associated learning and memory deficits promote this compound as a nootropic agent. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathophysiology is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta (Aβ). Toxic Aβ oligomers account for the cognitive dysfunctions much before the pathological lesions are manifested in the brain. In the present study, we investigated the effects of Hup A on amyloid precursor protein (APP) proteolysis in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Hup A downregulated the expression of β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) and presenilin 1 (PS1) levels but augmented the levels of A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) with significant decrement in the Aβ levels. We herein report for the first time an in silico molecular docking analysis that revealed that Hup A binds to the functionally active site of BACE1. We further analyzed the effect of Hup A on glycogen synthase kinase-3 β (GSK3β) and phosphorylation status of tau. In this scenario, based on the current observations, we propose that Hup A is a potent regulator of APP processing and capable of modulating tau homeostasis under physiological conditions holding immense potential in preventing and treating AD like disorders