The Refraction Assessment and the Electronic Trial Frame Measurement during Standing or Sitting Position Can Affect Postural Stability

Vision has been shown to influence body posture. The purpose of this study is to investi‐ gate the correlations between visual acuity and body postural control both in a standing and seated position. This cohort study included 37 patients examined using Adaptica’s (Italy) Kaleidos and VisionFit. Objective refraction was measured with Kaleidos both in a standing and seated position by the same operator and in the same environmental conditions. The parameters obtained with the device were binocular refraction, monocular refraction, pupil distance, pupil size, head tilt, gaze, phorias, and tropias. The results obtained were then subjectively tested using VisionFit: an elec‐ tronic trial frame with phoropter functionalities. The study’s outcome revealed that the differences in the visual acuity parameters obtained in standing and seated positions were statistically signifi‐ cant; the Student’s t‐test showed a p‐value < 0.001 in all parameter averages. Automated refraction is widely being performed and postural control can affect the visual acuity parameters; therefore, it is relevant to consider the possibility of measuring in orthostatism. It might be appropriate to take into account the possibility of measuring in orthostatism and wearing trial frames in orthostatic conditions as well as walking freely around the room, looking outside of a window, sitting, and readin

Muscle strength, aerobic capacity, and exercise tolerance are impaired in left ventricular assist devices recipients: A pilot study

Background: Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are increasingly being used as a therapy for advanced heart failure, both as a bridge to heart transplant and, given the rapid advances in the LVAD’s functionality and safety, and constant lack in availability of donor organs, as long-term destination therapy. With the diffusion of such therapy, it is crucial to assess patients’ muscle strength, aerobic capacity and exercise tolerance, to improve their functional capacity. Methods: 38 LVAD recipients (33 men and five women) were included. Exercise testing including a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), handgrip, isometric and isokinetic strength testing of knee and ankle flexion/extension, and Romberg balance test in three conditions (eyes open, eyes closed, double task). Given the small and heterogeneous final sample size, a mostly descriptive statistical approach was chosen. Results: 12 participants were classified as “Obese” (BMI&gt;29.9). The most common comorbidities were type II diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Only 12 participants were able to successfully complete all the assessments. CPET and isokinetic strength trials were the least tolerated tests, and the handgrip test the best tolerated. Mean VO2 peak was 12.38 ± 3.43 ml/kg/ min, with 15 participants below 50% of predicted VO2 max, of which 6 below 30% VO2max. Mean handgrip strength was 30.05 ± 10.61Kg; 25 participants were below the 25° percentile of their population’s normative reference values for handgrip strength, 10 of which were below the 5° percentile. Issues with the management of the external pack of the LVAD and its influence on the test limited the validity of the balance tests data, therefore, no solid conclusions could be drawn from them. VO2 peak did not correlate with handgrip strength or with any of the lower limb strength measures. Conclusion: LVAD recipients show greatly reduced functional capacity and tolerance to exercise and exercise testing, with low overall strength levels. As strength variables appear to be independent from VO2 peak, different lower limbs strength tests should be explored to find a tolerable alternative in this population, which is subjected to muscle wasting due to old age, reduced tissue perfusion, side effects from the pharmacological therapies, and prolonged periods of bedrest

Argus-T Sling in 182 Male Patients: Short-term Results of a Multicenter Study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term results with Argus-T sling in patients with post-prostatectomy incontinence (PPI).MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 182 patients with PPI were treated with Argus-T sling at 5 urologic centers from June 2008 to March 2013. The preoperative evaluation included medical history, pad count (1-2 pads: mild PPI; 3-5 pads: moderate PPI; > 5 pads: severe PPI), visual analog scale on continence, quality of life score scale, physical examination, cystoscopy, and urodynamic evaluation. Postoperative evaluation was performed 6 weeks postoperatively, and late follow-up was achieved in April 2013. We considered a successful result when patients were cured (0-1 pads/24 hours) and or improved (1-2 pads/24 hours or a reduction in pad per day usage greater than 50%).RESULTS Twenty-one (11.8%), 96 (52.7%), and 65 (35.7%) patients have mild, moderate, and severe incontinence, respectively. At the median follow-up of 22 months, the overall success rate was 86.2%. We obtained successful results of 95% in mild incontinence, 78% in moderate incontinence and 70% in severe incontinence. In cured and improved patients, we observed a statistically significant amelioration of quality of life (P <. 0001). Sling regulation was carried out in 42.9% of cases, whereas its removal occurred in 9.3% of cases. Postoperative complications were reported in 14.3% of patients. In patients with previous radiotherapy, we observed a successful result in 61.2% of cases.CONCLUSION This study represents the first report that shows short-term results of Argus-T positioning in a large population. Argus-T seems to offer good outcomes in patients with mild and moderate PPI. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc

The Role of Facebook® in Promoting a Physically Active Lifestyle: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: it is well known in literature that sedentary lifestyle contributes to worsening people’s health. This issue highlights the need for effective interventions to promote an active lifestyle. Research suggested multilevel intervention strategies to promote adherence to recommended physical activity levels, including the use of social networks that may simplify access to health notions. Being Facebook® the most extensive worldwide social network, this document aimed to analyze the current body of evidence on the role of Facebook® in the promotion of physical activity. Methods: eighteen manuscripts were considered eligible for this systematic review, and it was performed a meta-analysis (PRISMA guidelines) for overall physical activity parameters in eleven out of eighteen studies. Results: significant improvements were detected in the total amount of physical activity. In parallel, an increase in other parameters, such as cardiovascular, body composition, and social support, were found. The aerobic training, with supervised and tailored modalities, showed more considerable improvements. Conclusions: this study showed that Facebook® might be considered a feasible and accessible approach to promoting regular exercise practice and achieving health benefits indicators. Future research on the cross-link between physical activity and social network management could also focus on strength training to verify if a more structured intervention would show an effect

The Role of Physical Exercise in the Prevention of Musculoskeletal Disorders in Manual Workers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Work -related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) are the most common occupational health problem in the European Union. Physical exercise interventions have been investigated to prevent WMSDs in many sectors. Therefore, we aimed to assess the effect of physical exercise on manual workers for the primary and secondary prevention of WMSDs. We conducted a systematic search of the literature, and papers were included if the participants were adult employees exclusively engaged in manual labor tasks, non -acute physical exercise intervention, pain, disability, physical functioning, or health -related quality of life outcome, with pre -post intervention measurements. We retrieved 10,419 unique records and included 23 studies. A random effect meta -analysis was conducted on the studies with a control group design, using a three -level model to estimate the pooled effect for pain outcomes (g=0.4339, 95% CI: 0.1267-0.7412, p&lt;0.01), and a two -level model for disability outcomes (g=0.6279, 95% CI: 0.3983-0.8575, p&lt;0.0001). Subset analysis revealed a moderate -to -large effect on the VAS outcome (g=0.5866, 95% CI: 0.3102-0.8630, p&lt;0.0001). Meta -regression on pain outcomes revealed a significant effect for sex, age, study quality, and body segments tested. The analyses on all outcomes except VAS showed substantial heterogeneity (I2 pain=93%, of which 72% at the study level, I2disability=78%, and I2 vas=56%, of which 44% at the study level). Physical exercise programs seem to have a positive effect on pain and disability stemming from WRMSDs in manual workers