How is precision regulated in maintaining trunk posture?

Precision of limb control is associated with increased joint stiffness caused by antagonistic co-activation. The aim of this study was to examine whether this strategy also applies to precision of trunk postural control. To this end, thirteen subjects performed static postural tasks, aiming at a target object with a cursor that responded to 2D trunk angles. By manipulating target dimensions, different levels of precision were imposed in the frontal and sagittal planes. Trunk angle and electromyography (EMG) of abdominal and back muscles were recorded. Repeated measures ANOVAs revealed significant effects of target dimensions on kinematic variability in both movement planes. Specifically, standard deviation (SD) of trunk angle decreased significantly when target size in the same direction decreased, regardless of the precision demands in the other direction. Thus, precision control of trunk posture was directionally specific. However, no consistent effect of precision demands was found on trunk muscle activity, when averaged over time series. Therefore, it was concluded that stiffness regulation by antagonistic co-activation was not used to meet increased precision demands in trunk postural control. Instead, results from additional analyses suggest that precision of trunk angle was controlled in a feedback mode

'Have a Pap smear!' - doctors, their clients, and opportunistic cervical cancer screening

Chingang LC, Bischof U, Andall-Brereton G, Razum O. 'Have a Pap smear!' - doctors, their clients, and opportunistic cervical cancer screening. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF STD & AIDS. 2005;16(3):233-236.In many middle-income countries with a high incidence of cervical cancer, organized screening programmes with the Pap test are being planned. We assessed the knowledge of, and attitudes towards, cervical screening among 63 doctors and 102 randomly selected community members in Trinidad where screening is still opportunistic. Doctors were well informed about cervical cancer, but not all knew the approximate specificity of the Pap test. Many did not routinely discuss the benefits and disadvantages of screening with their clients. Most women had heard of the Pap test, but only 56% knew its purpose; 25% would not participate in screening, stating reasons such as being in menopause or not having symptoms. More information about the aim of screening and the purpose of the Pap test must be communicated. Doctors need to keep their knowledge on screening upto-date, and offer counselling that helps women to make an informed decision whether or not to participate in screening

The relationship between mindful parenting and distress in parents of children with an autism spectrum disorder

Parenting a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can be highly challenging. Extensive behaviour problems associated with the disorder may contribute to poor psychological health amongst parents. It is important to investigate factors that are related to parental well-being and that may be amenable to intervention. The current study investigated mindful parenting amongst parents of children with ASD. Participants (N = 28) completed a questionnaire about their child's behaviour problems, parental stress, depressive and anxiety symptoms and mindful parenting, along with open-ended questions about mindful parenting practices and general parenting experiences. Higher levels of mindful parenting were related to lower levels of depressive symptoms and stress. There was no relationship between mindful parenting and anxiety symptoms. Higher levels of child behaviour problems were associated with more severe parental depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and stress and lower levels of mindful parenting. Contrary to expectations, preliminary analyses using partial correlations indicated that mindful parenting did not mediate the relationship between child behaviour problems and parental distress. Thematic analysis of the open-ended mindful parenting questions yielded four main themes: examples of mindful parenting practices, specific strategies, advantages of mindful parenting and difficulties in adopting these practices. Three themes regarding general parenting experiences emerged: parent and family problems, positive feelings towards the child and parenting approaches. Mindful parenting may have benefits for parents' psychological health. Further research exploring the effectiveness of mindful parenting interventions is warranted. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.Michelle Beer, Lynn Ward, Kathryn Moa