Central sensitization and functioning in patients with chronic low back pain:A cross-sectional and longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Central sensitization (CS) is present in a subgroup of patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP). Studies on the relationship between CS and functioning have limited operationalizations of CS and functioning. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether CS was related to functioning in patients with CLBP (cross-sectional); and to determine whether changes in CS were related to changes in functioning (longitudinal). METHODS: An observational prospective cohort study with data collected at baseline and discharge of an interdisciplinary pain rehabilitation program was executed. CS indicators: CS Inventory part A (CSI-A), quantitative sensory testing (QST), root mean square of successive differences of heart-rate variability (RMSSD). Functioning measures: lifting capacity, physical functioning subscale of Rand36 (Rand36-PF), Work Ability Score (WAS), Pain Disability Index (PDI). Main analyses included correlation and multiple regression controlling for confounders; cross-sectional with baseline data and longitudinal with deltas ([Formula: see text]). RESULTS: 76 patients with primary CLBP participated at baseline and 56 at discharge. Most associations were weak (cross-sectional [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 0.30–0.24; longitudinal [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 0.37–0.44). Cross-sectional multiple regression significant associations: mechanical pain threshold-QST and lifting capacity ([Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] 0.39), parasympathetic/vagal tone-RMSSD and physical functioning–Rand36-PF ([Formula: see text] 0.26). Longitudinal multiple regression significant associations: [Formula: see text] parasympathetic/vagal tone-RMSSD and [Formula: see text] lifting capacity ([Formula: see text] 0.48), [Formula: see text] CSI-A and [Formula: see text] disability-PDI ([Formula: see text] 0.36). Cross-sectional and longitudinal final regression models explained 24.0%–58.3% and 13.3%–38.0% of total variance. CONCLUSION: CS was weakly related to functioning, and decreases in CS were weakly-moderately related to increases in functioning

Is the relapse concept in studies of substance use disorders a ‘one size fits all’ concept? A systematic review of relapse operationalisations

Issues Relapse is a theoretical construct and empirical object of inquiry. It is unclear how relapse is operationalised with regard to the various phases in substance use disorders (SUD). The aim was to investigate relapse operationalisations in SUDs studies after short- and long-term abstinence and remission, recovery and slip/lapse. Approach Systematic review using the following databases: Epistemonikos, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL and DARE), MEDLINE, EMBASE, Google Scholar, CINAHL, Web of Science and PsycINFO. Search returned 3426 articles, with 276 meeting the following inclusion criteria: empirical study published in English in a peer-reviewed journal; samples meet diagnostic criteria for dependence syndrome or moderate–severe drug use disorder or alcohol use disorder; reports relapse, abstinence, recovery, remission, slip or lapse. Review protocol registration: PROSPERO (CRD42020154062). Key Findings Thirty-two percent of the studies had no definition of ‘relapse’. Most relapse operationalisations were defined according to measure (26%), time (17%), use (26%) and amount and frequency (27%). Of the 16 studies with a follow-up duration of up to 2 years, one (6%) contained a definition of ‘long-term abstinence’. Of the 64 studies with a follow-up duration of more than 2 years, four (6%) contained a definition of ‘long-term abstinence’. Of those, one (2%) mentioned ‘early relapse’ and one (2%) mentioned ‘late relapse’. Implications Future research is needed to explore the possible difference between early and late relapse. Moreover, working to increase consensus on relapse operationalisations in SUD research is warranted. Conclusions We identified no consensus on relapse operationalisations nor agreement on the differentiation between early and late relapse. The clinical utility of current relapse operationalisations seems low and may compromise knowledge accumulation about relapse and implementation of research into treatment.publishedVersio

Effects of Isomer Ratio on Pmdi Resin Reactivity and Oriented Strandboard Properties

The effect of varying 2,4'-MDI to 4,4'-MDI isomer ratio in diphenylmethane diisocyanate (pMDI) adhesives was investigated. In addition to probing resin cure kinetics, oriented strandboard panels were produced to investigate the effect of isomer ratio on panel properties. With one exception, differential scanning calorimetry results showed a trend of increasing activation energy with increasing 4,4'-MDI content—the opposite of what was predicted. Results of internal bond testing indicate that increasing 4,4'-MDI content gave higher internal bond strength, but no correlation was evident between resin and panel density, MOR, MOE, or 24-h thickness swell. It is important to note that isomer ratio was not the only variable within the resin series; oligomer content and hence viscosity increased as 4,4'-MDI content increased, which complicated the analysis

Effects of Selected Wood Species and Moisture Content on PMDI Resin Application and Panel Properties

This study investigated the effect of selected species and moisture conditions on resin distribution and composite panel properties. Flakeboard composites were made from aspen, pine, or poplar flakes that were equilibrated to 4, 8, or 12% moisture content (MC). Resin droplet size (resin "footprint") was measured, as was the percentage of the flake surface that was covered by resin. Aspen flakes showed higher resin coverage and also larger resin droplet sizes. Conversely, pine and poplar flakes had smaller resin droplets and lower resin coverage per flake surface, suggesting greater pMDI penetration. Internal bond (IB) testing revealed optimal performance for aspen flakes at 12% precure MC, and poplar and pine flakes at 8% precure MC. Modulus of rupture and modulus of elasticity results correlated with IB results. Aspen panels bonded at 8 and 12% MC had minimal thickness swell

Maximal aerobic capacity is associated with lifting capacity, but not with self-reported functioning measures in patients with primary chronic low back pain:a cross-sectional study

Objective Maximal exercise testing is considered the gold standard to assess (V)over dotO(2)max. However, maximal exercise testing was previously deemed unfeasible and unsafe in chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients. Consequently, most previous studies on aerobic capacity and functioning in patients with CLBP were performed with submaximal testing protocols. A recent study demonstrated the safety, feasibility and tolerance of maximal exercise testing in patients with CLBP. Therefore, the relation between aerobic capacity and functioning should be reevaluated. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the relationship between maximal aerobic capacity and four measures of functioning: lifting capacity, work ability, pain-related disability and physical functioning in patients with CLBP. Methods The maximal aerobic capacity of patients with CLBP was assessed with a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test. Functioning was measured with a floor-to-waist lifting capacity test and three questionnaires: Work Ability Score, Pain Disability Index and Physical Functioning subscale of RAND-36. The associations between maximal aerobic capacity and each of the functioning measures were analysed with multiple linear regression analyses while controlling for potential confounders. Results Data of n=74 patients with CLBP were analysed. After controlling for potential confounders, maximal aerobic capacity was moderately associated with lifting capacity (beta=0.32, p=0.006), but not with any of the other functioning measures (beta=-0.08 to 0.12, p>0.288). Conclusion A higher level of maximal aerobic capacity is moderately associated with a higher lifting capacity, but not with self-reported work ability, pain-related disability and physical functioning

Do rehabilitation patients with chronic low back pain meet World Health Organisation's recommended physical activity levels?

Purpose: Primary: to analyse the time that patients with chronic low back pain (CLBP) admitted to pain rehabilitation spent on moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and compare this to the WHO recommen-dations. Secondary: to explore factors that might differentiate between those who do and do not meet the recommendations. Materials and methods: A Cross-sectional study embedded in secondary interdisciplinary rehabilitation of adults with CLBP. PA was measured with a tri-axial accelerometer for 1 week during admission phase. Time spent in each PA level was calculated. MVPA was also analysed in >= 10 min bouts. Results: Complete datasets of 4-6 days recorded accelerometery of n = 46 patients were analysed. Time spent in MVPA was on average 6.0% per day. MVPA per day in >= 10-min bouts occurred on average 0.8 times per day (sd = 0.9; min-max 0-4). Percentage of patients meeting the recommended level of MVPA was 21.7% (10/46) and 84.8% (39/46) for the 2010 and 2020 recommendations, respectively. Most demographic and clinical variables did not seem to differentiate between those who met the WHO recommendations, and those who did not. Conclusion: The minority of the patients (22%) met the WHO recommended MVPA level of 2010. The more lenient recommendation of 2020 was met by 85%

A Phase transition in acoustic propagation in 2D random liquid media

Acoustic wave propagation in liquid media containing many parallel air-filled cylinders is considered. A self-consistent method is used to compute rigorously the propagation, incorporating all orders of multiple scattering. It is shown that under proper conditions, multiple scattering leads to a peculiar phase transition in acoustic propagation. When the phase transition occurs, a collective behavior of the cylinders appears and the acoustic waves are confined in a region of space in the neighborhood of the transmission source. A novel phase diagram is used to describe such phase transition. Originally submitted on April 6, 99.Comment: 5 pages, 5 color figure

Association of folate receptor (FOLR1, FOLR2, FOLR3) and reduced folate carrier (SLC19A1) genes with meningomyelocele.

BACKGROUND: Meningomyelocele (MM) results from lack of closure of the neural tube during embryologic development. Periconceptional folic acid supplementation is a modifier of MM risk in humans, leading toan interest in the folate transport genes as potential candidates for association to MM. METHODS: This study used the SNPlex Genotyping (ABI, Foster City, CA) platform to genotype 20 single polymorphic variants across the folate receptor genes (FOLR1, FOLR2, FOLR3) and the folate carrier gene (SLC19A1) to assess their association to MM. The study population included 329 trio and 281 duo families. Only cases with MM were included. Genetic association was assessed using the transmission disequilibrium test in PLINK. RESULTS: A variant in the FOLR2 gene (rs13908), three linked variants in the FOLR3 gene (rs7925545, rs7926875, rs7926987), and two variants in the SLC19A1 gene (rs1888530 and rs3788200) were statistically significant for association to MM in our population. CONCLUSION: This study involved the analyses of selected single nucleotide polymorphisms across the folate receptor genes and the folate carrier gene in a large population sample. It provided evidence that the rare alleles of specific single nucleotide polymorphisms within these genes appear to be statistically significant for association to MM in the patient population that was tested

Implementation of a quantum algorithm to solve Bernstein-Vazirani's parity problem without entanglement on an ensemble quantum computer

Bernstein and Varizani have given the first quantum algorithm to solve parity problem in which a strong violation of the classical imformation theoritic bound comes about. In this paper, we refine this algorithm with fewer resource and implement a two qubits algorithm in a single query on an ensemble quantum computer for the first time

Native phytoseiid mites as indicators of non-target eVects of the introduction of Typhlodromalus aripo for the biological control of cassava green mite in Africa

Article purchasedThe need to evaluate non-target effects of classical biological control of arthropod pests has received considerable attention in recent years. We determined with repeated field surveys the changes in abundance and distribution of the phytoseiid mite fauna in cassava fields resulting from the introduction of the neotropical phytoseiid Typhlodromalus aripo into two countries—Malawi and Mozambique—in southern Africa for the biological control of Mononychellus tanajoa. Typhlodromalus aripo abundance was similar, while the abundance of the target pest M. tanajoa declined progressively, during the 2 years after the introduction of T. aripo into the target countries. We did not detect any changes in the abundance of the most common native phytoseiids mites—Euseius baetae, Euseius bwende and Ueckermannseius saltus—on cassava in Mozambique. In contrast, the abundance of two of the most common native phytoseiids, Euseius fustis and Iphiseius degenerans, on cassava in Malawi were apparently facilitated—i.e., their abundance was enhanced by the introduction of T. aripo; while the abundance of a third species, U. saltus, was not affected. For only one species, E. baetae, within-plant distribution shifted to the lower parts of the cassava canopy as a result of the introduction of T. aripo, which resides in the upper parts of the cassava canopy, but without any measurable negative effects on biological control of M. tanajoa. While the overall abundance of phytoseiid mites found on non-cassava vegetation was not affected by T. aripo introduction, there were some changes in relative abundance of some species in Malawi. Possible mechanism for the increase in abundance of I. degenerans and E. fustis in Malawi, and changes in within-plant distribution of E. baetae and I. degenerans in Mozambique and Malawi, respectively, are discussed. The methodology developed for assessing potential non-target effects of T. aripo introduction into southern Africa has significantly advanced classical biological control efforts against an economically important cassava pest