Mind Over Matter: A Qualitative Examination of the Coping Resources Used by Women with Cancer

Aim: This exploratory study investigates the coping resources used by six women diagnosed with cancer. Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide these women with the opportunity to discuss their cancer experiences along with the specific coping methods they found to be helpful throughout their journey. Methods: The participants, ranging in age from 25 to 63, completed a background questionnaire, followed by either a semi-structured interview (n=3) or an interview via written response (n=3). Results: Several key coping methods were described as being helpful to these women, and these methods fell into three major categories: intrapersonal, interpersonal, and extrapersonal coping resources. Although each of these resource categories had a direct influence on overall well-being itself, the interpersonal and extrapersonal resources also influenced the intrapersonal category, offering an alternate means by which they could influence overall well-being. These findings highlight the many coping resources used by these women when navigating their cancer journey

The Lived Experiences of Individuals with Acquired Deafblindness: Challenges and the Future

The lived experiences of seven individuals who are deaf blind (DB) were explored through the use of semi-structured face-to-face interviews. Two of the emerging themes from this phenomenological analysis were: (1) the daily challenges faced by the participants (e.g., difficulties with communication; compromised activities of daily living; lack of independence; and (2) their lack of preparedness for the future resulting from the uncertainties associated with their degenerative diseases. The findings from this study clearly articulate the importance of intervenor services from the perspective of these individuals

The Role of Medications in Predicting Activity Restriction Due to a Fear of Falling

Objectives: To examine the role of medication use and other factors in predicting activity restriction due to a fear of falling (AR/FF). Methods: Older adults were assessed twice with the interRAI Community Health Assessment and the Berg Balance Scale (BBS). The main outcome was limiting going outdoors due to an AR/FF. Medications were recorded by trained assessors. Results: Participants (n=441) had a mean age of 80.3 (sd=7.1) years, most were aged 65+ (96.8%) and 29.3% reported activity restriction. Taking nervous system active or cardiovascular medications was associated with AR/FF. In a multivariate model, the main predictors were having 3+ comorbid health conditions, lower (i.e., worse) scores on the BBS, having difficulty with climbing stairs, and having a visual impairment. Discussion: Modifiable risk factors, related to functional impairments, such as difficulties with balance and vision, appear to be more important predictors than medications

Physical Activity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD): A Review

Current recommendations indicate that children and youth ages 5–17 should participate in 60 min and adults in 150 min of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily. Research suggests that physical activity levels of individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are lower than typically developing and developed peers. Despite evidence for PA decreasing negative behaviors and promoting positive behaviors, individuals with ASD may be less motivated and less likely to participate. Individuals with ASD may be more likely to be overweight or obese than their typically developing counterparts as a result of decreased activity levels. Conflicting findings regarding PA levels in individuals with ASD have been reported. Given mixed evidence, further inquiry is warranted. The present chapter provides a review of literature pertaining to PA in individuals with ASD. Four databases were searched. Predetermined search terms and inclusion/exclusion criteria were clearly outlined to identify relevant articles which were then critically appraised. This research provides a greater understanding of the status of PA participation of individuals with ASD

Scoping Review: Physical Activity and Social Functioning in Young People With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects ~1 in 59 people in North America and diagnoses continue to rise (Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). Unfortunately, the exact cause of ASD is unknown and therapy remains the primary means of intervention. People with ASD experience social and behavioral deficits associated with the disorder, which affect all aspects of life such as academics, relationships, and physical activity. Research has shown a relationship between physical activity and social skills in typically developing individuals; however, this relationship is less understood in people with ASD. The purpose of this scoping review was to uncover what is known about ASD, physical activity, and social functioning. The authors searched four databases and included 40 primary research articles in the review, most of which demonstrated a relationship between physical activity and social functioning for people with ASD. The relationship appears bidirectional: social functioning influences physical activity (to a lesser extent) and physical activity influences social functioning (to a greater extent). Regrettably, there were many limitations in these articles, such as small sample sizes and the under-representation of females and adults. Therefore, the review highlights several directions for future research

Acoustic detection of larval fish aggregations in Galician waters (NW Spain)

14 páginas, 3 tablas, 7 figurasAn acoustic study was conducted on the Galician shelf (NW Spain) during late winter 2012 to detect and assess larval fish abundance. An echo sounder operating with 18, 38, 70, 120 and 200 kHz split-beam, hull-mounted transducers was employed. We analysed the acoustic records in order to describe vertical and horizontal distribution patterns of larval fish aggregations. Regressions between acoustic backscattered energy and density of the most abundant species (Micromesistius poutassou) indicated that larvae with a swimbladder incremented notably the acoustic response at 38, 70 and 120 kHz. However, the predicted acoustic resonance at larval size and depth shows that the frequency of 120 kHz was likely ineffective in detecting fish larvae. The contribution of zooplankton (fish larvae excluded) to total scattering was negligible, even at the higher frequencies, except for several groups of fluid-like zooplankton, such as chaetognaths and polychaetes. Horizontal and vertical distributions of acoustic backscattering also indicated that larval fish aggregations can be detected in Galician waters with acoustics and suggest that this technique is a useful tool for overcoming difficulties associated with larval ecology and fish recruitment studiesVersión del editor2,483

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy