Formative Usability Evaluation of WiGlove - A Home-based Rehabilitation Device for Hand andWrist Therapy after Stroke

© 2023 Copyright held by the owner/author(s). Publication rights licensed to ACM.WiGlove is a passive dynamic orthosis aimed at home-based poststroke rehabilitation of the hand and wrist. This paper highlights results from WiGlove's formative evaluation as the first step towards its deployment. In this study, twenty healthy participants evaluated the usability and safety of the WiGlove compared to its predecessor, the state-of-the-art SCRIPT Passive Orthosis (SPO). In this within-subject experiment, they performed various tasks such as donning/doffing, adjusting the tension, grasping, etc., with both gloves and rated them using a Likert scale-based questionnaire. The results showed improvements in several aspects of usability and safety. This study provides preliminary evidence of WiGlove's fitness for the next assessment with its intended users, people recovering from stroke with sustained hand and wrist impairment

Pharmacological role of atorvastatin in myocardium and smooth muscle progenitor cells

Atorvastatin is a synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor with a great potency in the reduction of lipids and it has been well documented in both primary and secondary prevention studies. It exhibits pleiotropic properties in both in-vitro and in vivo conditions. Conversely, atorvastatin remain under-utilized in several situations. The main objective of this review is to focuses the pharmacological benefits, pleiotropic properties of the atorvastatin related to smooth muscle proliferation and myocardium

Boons amidst the banes- during COVID-19 pandemic

India recorded its first Covid-19 positive case in Kerala on January 30, 2020. This was followed by nationwide lockdown in 4 different phases from 25th March to 31st May 2020 and an unlock period thereafter. This pandemic brought many unseen challenges to the world. On one side human lives were put at risk, on the other side nature was recreating itself. Many diseases other than covid dropped down in massive percentage. The public understood the importance of handwashing, vaccination, covering mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing during this pandemic. Children facing this Covid pandemic had understood the importance of the role played by hygiene and social distancing in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Every coin has two faces, likewise, this pandemic has both positive and negative effects and we focus on positive effects in this article

Pharmacological role of atorvastatin in myocardium and smooth muscle progenitor cells

Atorvastatin is a synthetic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor with a great potency in the reduction of lipids and it has been well documented in both primary and secondary prevention studies. It exhibits pleiotropic properties in both in-vitro and in vivo conditions. Conversely, atorvastatin remain under-utilized in several situations. The main objective of this review is to focuses the pharmacological benefits, pleiotropic properties of the atorvastatin related to smooth muscle proliferation and myocardium

Prevalence of Impulsive Behaviour among Students in a Medical College: A Cross-sectional Study from Southern India

Introduction: Impulsive behaviour is the urge to act without thinking in any critical situation. Impulsive behaviour and risktaking behaviour in adolescence have the chance of disrupting the balance of their entire lives. Studies and research related to impulsive behaviour are minimal and remain a blind area for any effective interventions to be applied. Aim: To study the prevalence of impulsive behaviour and to determine the factors associated with impulsive behaviour among Medical College Students in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 medical students of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital in Perambalur, Tamil Nadu, India, from January 2022 to April 2022. All undergraduate students, present in the college at the time of the study, were enrolled in the study. A pre-tested, validated, semi-structured questionnaire was used and the data was collected during the break hours in the morning and afternoon during the college working hours on the weekdays. The obtained data were analysed using statistical tests like paired t-test, unpaired independent t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results: Total of 133 Medical students (mean age: 21.21±1.58 years, 66 (49.6%) males and 67 (50.4%) females) were included in the study and analysed. The factors such as age (M±SD: 21.21±1.58 years with p-value 0.01), Usage of mobile phone (M±SD: 4.94±2.31 hours with p-value 0.01), fear for exam (M±SD: 2.20±0.58 with p-value 0.03), sleeplessness (M±SD: 2.89±0.59 with p-value 0.001) were associated with impulsive behaviour. Conclusion: The impulsive behaviour of a student is influenced by his fear of exams, his lack of sleep, and his usage of mobile phones. Assessment of a person with impulsive behaviour could help in the better prognosis and early intervention of young adult mental disorders

Big Five Personality Domains and their Impact on Problematic Mobile Phone Use among Medical Students in a Rural Tertiary Care Centre in Tamil Nadu India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The increasing usage of smartphones across the globe has resulted in considerable changes in people's daily lives, especially in terms of personality traits among adults. Research shows that the Big Five personality traits influence Problematic Mobile Phone Use (PMPU). Aim: To estimate the prevalence of PMPU using the Mobile Phone Problem Use Scale (MPPUS-10) and to evaluate the personality predictors of PMPU using the Big Five Inventory (BFI) questionnaire. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 289 medical students at a rural tertiary care centre in Tamil Nadu, India from November 2021 to April 2022. The questionnaire consisted of three sections. The first section collected demographic characteristics, the second section included questions on the MPPUS-10, and the third section contained questions from the BFI questionnaire. Reliability analysis was conducted to assess the internal validity of the MPPUS-10 questionnaire. Exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with varimax rotation and Kaiser normalisation was performed to measure the structural validity of the MPPUS-10 scale. A multiple linear regression model was applied to determine the relationship between PMPU and the personality domains. Results: The prevalence of PMPU among medical students was found to be 106 (36.7%). Spearman's rank correlation revealed a negative correlation between agreeableness personality (r=- 0.307, p-value <0.001) and conscientiousness personality (r=-0.369, p-value <0.001) with PMPU. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between neurotic personality and PMPU (r=0.325, p-value <0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis demonstrated that agreeableness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism significantly predicted 44.4% of the scores on the PMPU (F=23.276, p-value <0.001 at the 1% level). Therefore, individuals with lower levels of agreeableness, conscientiousness, and higher levels of neuroticism scored higher on the MPPUS-10 scale. Conclusion: The prevalence of PMPU among medical students was found to be high, requiring attention. Individuals with lower levels of agreeableness and conscientiousness, as well as higher levels of neuroticism, were more likely to exhibit PMPU

Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) adult study protocol: Rationale, objectives, and design.

IMPORTANCE: SARS-CoV-2 infection can result in ongoing, relapsing, or new symptoms or other health effects after the acute phase of infection; termed post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC), or long COVID. The characteristics, prevalence, trajectory and mechanisms of PASC are ill-defined. The objectives of the Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Multi-site Observational Study of PASC in Adults (RECOVER-Adult) are to: (1) characterize PASC prevalence; (2) characterize the symptoms, organ dysfunction, natural history, and distinct phenotypes of PASC; (3) identify demographic, social and clinical risk factors for PASC onset and recovery; and (4) define the biological mechanisms underlying PASC pathogenesis. METHODS: RECOVER-Adult is a combined prospective/retrospective cohort currently planned to enroll 14,880 adults aged ≥18 years. Eligible participants either must meet WHO criteria for suspected, probable, or confirmed infection; or must have evidence of no prior infection. Recruitment occurs at 86 sites in 33 U.S. states, Washington, DC and Puerto Rico, via facility- and community-based outreach. Participants complete quarterly questionnaires about symptoms, social determinants, vaccination status, and interim SARS-CoV-2 infections. In addition, participants contribute biospecimens and undergo physical and laboratory examinations at approximately 0, 90 and 180 days from infection or negative test date, and yearly thereafter. Some participants undergo additional testing based on specific criteria or random sampling. Patient representatives provide input on all study processes. The primary study outcome is onset of PASC, measured by signs and symptoms. A paradigm for identifying PASC cases will be defined and updated using supervised and unsupervised learning approaches with cross-validation. Logistic regression and proportional hazards regression will be conducted to investigate associations between risk factors, onset, and resolution of PASC symptoms. DISCUSSION: RECOVER-Adult is the first national, prospective, longitudinal cohort of PASC among US adults. Results of this study are intended to inform public health, spur clinical trials, and expand treatment options. REGISTRATION: NCT05172024