Body image and self-esteem in lower-limb amputees.

BACKGROUND: Limb amputation is often an inevitable procedure in the advanced condition of various diseases and poses a dramatic impact on a patient's life. The aim of the present study is to analyze the impact of lower-limb amputations on aesthetic factors such as body image and self-esteem as well as quality of life (QoL). METHODS: 298 patients (149 uni- or bilateral lower-limb amputees and 149 controls) were included in this cross-sectional study in three centers. Demographic data was collected and patients received a 118-item questionnaire including the Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire (MBSRQ), the Rosenberg Self-esteem (RSE) scale and the SF-36 Health Survey (QoL). ANOVA and student's t-test were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: Unilateral lower-limb amputees showed a significant lower MBSRQ score of 3.07±0.54 compared with 3.41±0.34 in controls (p<0.001) and a lower score in the RSE compared to controls (21.63±4.72 vs. 21.46±5.86). However, differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.36). Patients with phantom pain sensation had a significantly reduced RSE (p = 0.01). The SF-36 health survey was significantly lower in patients with lower-limb amputation compared to controls (42.17±14.47 vs. 64.05±12.39) (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: This study showed that lower-limb amputations significantly influence patients' body image and QoL. Self-esteem seems to be an independent aspect, which is not affected by lower-limb amputation. However, self-esteem is influenced significantly by phantom pain sensation

Result of the SF-36 - QOL in unilateral lower-limb amputees and controls.

<p>Box plot showing the distribution of the SF-36 in unilateral lower-limb amputees (left) and controls (right). Horizontal red lines indicate medians; blue boxes specify inter-quartile ranges and dashed lines the ranges without outliers.</p

Results of the QoL – SF-36 and its subscales.

<p>Results of the QoL – SF-36 and its subscales.</p

Results of the MBSRQ in unilateral lower-limb amputees and controls.

<p>Box plot showing the distribution of the MBSRQ in unilateral lower-limb amputees (left) and controls (right). Horizontal red lines indicate medians; blue boxes specify inter-quartile ranges and dashed lines the ranges without outliers.</p

Results of the MBSRQ and its subscales.

<p>Results of the MBSRQ and its subscales.</p

Early Detection of Respiratory Diseases in Calves by Use of an Ear-Attached Accelerometer

Accelerometers (ACL) can identify behavioral and activity changes in calves. In the present study, we examined the association between bovine respiratory disease (BRD) and behavioral changes detected by an ear-tag based ACL system in weaned dairy calves. Accelerometer data were analyzed from 7 d before to 1 d after clinical diagnosis of BRD. All calves in the study (n = 508) were checked daily by an adapted University of Wisconsin Calf Scoring System. Calves with a score ≥ 4 and fever for at least two consecutive days were categorized as diseased (DIS). The day of clinical diagnosis of BRD was defined as d 0. The data analysis showed a significant difference in high active times between DIS and healthy control calves (CON), with CON showing more high active times on every day, except d -3. Diseased calves showed significantly more inactive times on d -4, -2, and 0, as well as longer lying times on d -5, -2, and +1. These results indicate the potential of the ACL to detect BRD prior to a clinical diagnosis in group-housed calves. Furthermore, in this study, we described the \u27normal\u27 behavior in 428 clinically healthy weaned dairy calves obtained by the ACL system