Cervico-mandibular muscle activity in females with chronic cervical pain a descriptive, cross-sectional, correctional study

Includes abstract.Includes bibliographical references.Chronic musculoskeletal conditions of the spine and periphery are a burden both internationally and in South Africa. There is a socio-economic burden as a consequence of the severity, duration and recurrence of chronic cervical musculoskeletal conditions among information technology and sedentary office workers. However, the precise mechanisms behind chronic cervical disorders remain unclear. It is theorised that the pathophysiological mechanisms in chronic cervical musculoskeletal conditions share a similar theoretical framework to chronic pain itself. The biopsychosocial model of chronic pain accepts the dynamic nature of pain. This model accepts the dual biological and psychosocial components that enhance the experience and maintenance of chronic pain, through central sensitisation. There appears to be a neurophysiological, biomechanical and psychological link between the cervical area and the temporomandibular area. Although numerous studies have implied that individuals with temporomandibular disorders have concurrent cervical dysfunction, there is currently no evidence that individuals with cervical dysfunction exhibit altered muscle activity in the masseter and cervical erector spinae muscles or report teeth clenching habits. Consequently, identification of factors that may contribute to chronic cervical musculoskeletal conditions, stemming from the temporomandibular area, may potentially be lost. The aim of the present study was to explore the activity levels of the cervicomandibular muscles in females with chronic cervical musculoskeletal conditions, who showed no symptoms of temporomandibular disorders. This study had a descriptive cross-sectional correlational design with single-blinding. The telephonic screening process was followed by the signing of informed consent forms. Validated questionnaires were used for categorisation and comparison of the socio-demographic and biopsychosocial profiles of the pain group (n = 20) and the no pain group (n = 22). The screening, informed consent and questionnaires were completed by an assistant. The first of five questionnaires, the adapted Research Diagnostic Criteria History questionnaire, was used as an instrument for exclusion of temporomandibular disorders and the recording of a daytime parafunctional teeth clenching habit. The remaining four questionnaires, listed as the Neck Disability Index, the Computer Usage Questionnaire, the Brief Pain Inventory, and the EuroQol-5D were used for determining levels of cervical disability for categorisation and comparison between groups, as well as for determining levels of pain-related disability, occupational and sporting activity, and health related quality of life

CBT Group Intervention to Increase CPAP Adherence Among Veterans with Sleep Apnea: A Pilot Investigation

Sleep Apnea (SA) is gaining increased attention among military populations due to the increasing prevalence rates (40-60%) and risk of serious health complications (i.e., cognitive decline, stroke) when untreated. Unfortunately, adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP; the gold standard treatment) is chronically low. This study examined the efficacy of a 6-week CBT group intervention to increase CPAP adherence among veterans diagnosed with SA and prescribed CPAP treatment. A final sample of 35 veterans was randomly assigned either to treatment as usual (TAU) or TAU plus the CBT group intervention. Participants completed various self-report measures and a therapist-administered cognitive screening at baseline and a 3-month post-assessment. On average the sample had severe SA, were obese, reported poor sleep quality, exhibited significant daytime sleepiness, and reported clinically significant symptoms of PTSD (59%), depression (62%), and anxiety (66%). Unfortunately, due to inconsistent and invalid CPAP adherence reporting in participant’s medical charts, we were unable to analyze this information. Veterans in the CPAP group condition reported a reduction in their mental health symptoms at the post-assessment, with small to moderate effect sizes (d = .20 to .50) compared to an increase in PTSD and anxiety symptoms among participants in the TAU condition (effect sizes; d = .25 to .60). Attending the group also appeared to reduce participants’ perceived risk of SA and improve their outcome expectations and treatment self-efficacy. The cognitive screening measures suggested that the overall sample was functioning within the average range at baseline and no changes were noted at the post-assessment. The present study was the first, to our knowledge, to investigate the efficacy of a group intervention for CPAP adherence among a veteran sample. The group intervention appeared to be well tolerated, with a lower dropout rate than those reported in published CPAP intervention studies, and the majority of group completers indicated that treatment “made things a lot better.” Barriers discovered during the study highlight the necessity of transdisciplinary care that integrates mental health with medical clinics to provide effective services to veterans. Possible future directions are discussed in order to further develop this area of investigation and treatment

Exploring the Role of Insomnia in the Relation between PTSD and Pain in Veterans with Polytrauma Injuries

Soldiers returning from Operation Enduring (OEF) and Iraqi (OIF) Freedom endure many ploytrauma injuries including traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study examines the role of insomnia, PTSD and pain-related outcomes in a sample of TBI veterans. The medical records of 147 OEF/OIF veterans seen at a VAMC Polytrauma clinic were reviewed. Analyses indicated a high prevalence of PTSD, insomnia, and pain in this population, co-occurring in 47.6% of veterans. Increased PTSD symptomatology was significantly correlated with reports of more pain severity (r = .51), pain interference (r = .56), and insomnia (r = .64). Insomnia partially mediated the relation between PTSD and both pain severity and interference. These results indicate the overlap and complexity of presenting complaints in OEF/OIF veterans and highlight the role of sleep disturbances in complicating diagnosis and treatment of veterans. They further suggest the importance of a multidisciplinary team approach to assessing and treating these veterans

Identification and characterization of new factors in the framework of Arabidopsis thaliana miRNA function

One of the major forces steering differentiation and fate specification is transcription. A main regulator controlling transcript accumulation are small RNAs (sRNAs). Within those, microRNAs (miRNAs) are amidst the most abundant components, and important factors in regulation of protein coding gene expression in higher eukaryotes. Their biogenesis and processing are well characterized in animals, and a large number of protein complexes and cofactors involved have been identified and studied. In plants, considerably fewer details are known, and especially the regulation of miRNA biogenesis and function is far from understood. In recent years, numerous screens were employed to enlighten this labyrinth. Within the frame of my thesis, I characterized three novel cofactors involved in miRNA biogenesis and function that were identified by two forward genetics screens established in our laboratory, and broadened our knowledge about additional regulatory layers. The first screen yielded two candidates characterized here, TRANSCRIPTIONAL DEFECTS OF HPR1 BY OVEREXPRESSION 2 (THO2) and the REGULATOR OF CBF GENE EXPRESSION 3 (RCF3). We found that THO2 is associated with miRNA precursors and their processing, as well as with splicing. This substantiates the connection between miRNA pathways, transcription and splicing, and adds detail to the picture of co-transcriptional miRNA precursor processing. RCF3, on the other hand, proved to influence miRNA levels and action prevalently in young, dividing tissues, presumably via affecting the phosphorylation and thus activity of a major miRNA processing factor. These findings shift the focus to tissue-biased action as novel regulatory layer and emphasize the importance of chemical modifications to modulate miRNA co-factors’ function. The third candidate studied in my thesis, HAWAIIAN SKIRT (HWS), stems from a screen looking for modifiers of miR156 function. I genetically and molecularly connect HWS to the general miRNA framework. Function of HWS in this setting appears to be dependent on the activity of its F-box domain, presumably in the context of an Skp-Cullin-F-box (SCF) complex that normally targets substrates for ubiquitination

Empatia, intuição e cognição no processo terapêutico de pessoas idosas

The changes that occur in individuals during physiological aging are a well-known and experienced reality. However, when assisting the elderly, the intervening parties are usually involved in this situation, without fully considering the expected and unique modifications of each subject. Empathy, intuition and cognition are three closely related factors, although they present differentiated neuronal circuits in which changes occur throughout life. Knowing the changes that occur over the years will allow establishing adequate communication and better therapeutic bonds. Subsequently, it will be necessary to investigate the way in which each person processes these modifications, giving rise to their own characteristics and the consequent therapeutic approach.Los cambios que se producen en los individuos durante el envejecimiento fisiológico son una realidad bien conocida y experimentada. Sin embargo, a la hora de asistir a las personas mayores, las partes intervinientes suelen quedar envueltas en esta situación, sin considerar integradamente las modificaciones esperables y singulares de cada sujeto. La empatía, la intuición y la cognición son tres factores íntimamente relacionados, aunque presentan circuitos neuronales diferenciados en los que se producen cambios a lo largo de la vida. Conocer las modificaciones que se producen con el paso de los años permitirá establecer una adecuada comunicación y un mejor vínculo terapéutico. Posteriormente se tendrá que investigar la manera en que cada persona procesa estas modificaciones, dando lugar a las características propias y el consecuente enfoque terapéutico.  As mudanças que ocorrem nos indivíduos durante o envelhecimento fisiológico são uma realidade bem conhecida e vivenciada. No entanto, na assistência ao idoso, os intervenientes geralmente estão envolvidos nessa situação, sem considerar plenamente as modificações esperadas e singulares de cada sujeito. Empatia, intuição e cognição são três fatores intimamente relacionados, embora apresentem circuitos neuronais diferenciados nos quais ocorrem mudanças ao longo da vida. Conhecer as mudanças que ocorrem ao longo dos anos permitirá estabelecer uma comunicação adequada e um melhor vínculo terapêutico. Posteriormente, será necessário investigar a forma como cada pessoa processa essas modificações, dando origem às suas próprias características e a consequente abordagem terapêutica

A research methodology study to map the process of initiating and operating a randomised controlled trial of podoconiosis treatment in Northern Ethiopia

No description supplie

Aporte del recreo a la recomendación diaria de actividad física de escolares de primero a sexto básico en un colegio particular privado del sector oriente

Tesis (Profesor de Educación Física para la Enseñanza Básica, Licenciado en Educación)Hace algunos años, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) estableció que los niños y jóvenes de 5 a 17 años deben invertir como mínimo 60 minutos diarios en actividades físicas de intensidad moderada a vigorosa para que sea un beneficio para la salud. El motivo de esta declaración es debido a que nuestros jóvenes están alcanzando grandes índices de sobre peso y obesidad. En Chile, siete de cada diez niños no cumplen con los estándares de la OMS, mientras que, en adolescentes, ocho de cada diez. Dentro del colegio, los espacios designados donde los niños se mueven son las clases de educación física y los recreos. Sin embargo, en la actualidad las horas de educación física han disminuido notoriamente en la malla curricular para darle énfasis a otras asignaturas. Por lo tanto, el recreo se vuelve un momento fundamental para la sociabilización, dispersión y desarrollo de actividad física que aportan al bienestar del escolar. El objetivo del presente estudio es analizar el gasto energético generado en los recreos y determinar si la intensidad de la actividad es un aporte significativo para cumplir con la recomendación diaria de actividad física en escolares de primero a sexto básico en un colegio particular privado del sector oriente. La muestra corresponde al 90% de los niños y niñas de primero básico a sexto básico de un colegio particular privado del sector oriente. El principal instrumento para medir el gasto energético fue un podómetro, cuya función es medir la cantidad de pasos, calorías y distancia recorrida en kilómetros y millas. Con todos estos datos es posible determinar la intensidad de la actividad física y el gasto calórico generado por los niños en los 15 minutos del primer recreo de la jornada escolar. La intensidad del ejercicio está determinada por los METs y por la cadencia de pasos dados en el receso escolar. Tras analizar los datos entregados por los podómetros (kilómetros, calorías, pasos) y establecer los METs y cadencia de cada escolar durante el recreo, se determinó que los niños ejecutan actividad física de mayor intensidad que las niñas. Por otro lado, se encontró que los promedios más elevados provenían del curso de cuarto básico, donde se movieron con una intensidad de 2,6 METs y recorrieron alrededor de 1.400 pasos durante el recreo. La actividad promedio de los seis cursos evaluados no es menor, sin embargo, se clasifica como actividad de baja intensidad, debido a que a partir de los 3 METs y/o 1.800 pasos en 15 minutos, se considera una actividad física de intensidad moderada a vigorosa. Por ende, se llegó a la conclusión de que actualmente los escolares de este colegio particular privado no alcanzan en esos 15 minutos, las recomendaciones sugeridas por la OMS para niños y adolescentes

Технический университет как субъект инновационной инфраструктуры

Материалы ХI Международной науч.-техн. конф. студентов, магистрантов и аспирантов [28-29 апреля 2011 г., г. Гомель]. - Гомель, 2011