Effect of YH0618 soup on chemotherapy-induced toxicity in patients with cancer who have completed chemotherapy: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

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Epac2-deficiency leads to more severe retinal swelling, glial reactivity and oxidative stress in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion induced ischemic retinopathy

Ischemia occurs in diabetic retinopathy with neuronal loss, edema, glial cell reactivity and oxidative stress. Epacs, consisting of Epac1 and Epac2, are cAMP mediators playing important roles in maintenance of endothelial barrier and neuronal functions. To investigate the roles of Epacs in the pathogenesis of ischemic retinopathy, transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) was performed on Epac1-deficient (Epac1) mice, Epac2-deficient (Epac2) mice, and their wild type counterparts (Epac1+/+ and Epac2+/+). Two-hour occlusion and 22-hour reperfusion were conducted to induce ischemia/reperfusion injury to the retina. After tMCAO, the contralateral retinae displayed similar morphology between different genotypes. Neuronal loss, retinal edema and increase in immunoreactivity for aquaporin 4 (AQP4), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), peroxiredoxin 6 (Prx6) were observed in ipsilateral retinae. Epac2 ipsilateral retinae showed more neuronal loss in retinal ganglion cell layer, increased retinal thickness and stronger immunostaining of AQP4, GFAP, and Prx6 than those of Epac2+/+. However, Epac1 ipsilateral retinae displayed similar pathology as those in Epac1+/+ mice. Our observations suggest that Epac2-deficiency led to more severe ischemic retinopathy after retinal ischemia/reperfusion injury.published_or_final_versio

The health benefits of reduced air pollution: value and trade-offs

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Tai-chi for residential patients with schizophrenia on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functioning: a pilot randomized controlled trial

Objective. Patients with schizophrenia residing at institutions often suffer from negative symptoms, motor, and functional impairments more severe than their noninstitutionalized counterparts. Tai-chi emphasizes body relaxation, alertness, and movement coordination with benefits to balance, focus, and stress relief. This pilot study explored the efficacy of Tai-chi on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functioning disabilities towards schizophrenia. Methods. A randomized waitlist control design was adopted, where participants were randomized to receive either the 6-week Tai-chi program and standard residential care or only the latter. 30 Chinese patients with schizophrenia were recruited from a rehabilitation residency. All were assessed on movement coordination, negative symptoms, and functional disabilities at baseline, following intervention and 6 weeks after intervention. Results. Tai-chi buffered from deteriorations in movement coordination and interpersonal functioning, the latter with sustained effectiveness 6 weeks after the class was ended. Controls showed marked deteriorations in those areas. The Tai-chi group also experienced fewer disruptions to life activities at the 6-week maintenance. There was no significant improvement in negative symptoms after Tai-chi. Conclusions. This study demonstrated encouraging benefits of Tai-chi in preventing deteriorations in movement coordination and interpersonal functioning for residential patients with schizophrenia. The ease of implementation facilitates promotion at institutional psychiatric services.published_or_final_versio

Increased serum levels of TGFβ1 in children with localized scleroderma

scleroderm

Supervision of Chinese social work students during field practice: Harmonising a student-focused, egalitarian approach with traditional teaching and learning

This article explores the extent to which approaches to supervision developed outside of China fit with Chinese cultural approaches to learning and teaching. Qualitative data were collected from students and supervisors from three different regions in China. The findings suggest that a student-focused, egalitarian approach is fundamental to promote students’ learning at the current developmental stage of the social work profession in China. This approach is in conflict to some degree with the deeply rooted traditional teacher-centred, authoritative teaching and learning style. This study illustrates how a student-focused, equalitarian approach could be applied to alleviate such a tension

Floor transfer test for assessing people with chronic stroke

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The psychophysiological effects of Tai-chi and exercise in residential Schizophrenic patients: a 3-arm randomized controlled trial

Background Patients with schizophrenia are characterized by high prevalence rates and chronicity that often leads to long-term institutionalization. Under the traditional medical model, treatment usually emphasizes the management of psychotic symptoms through medication, even though anti-psychotic drugs are associated with severe side effects, which can diminish patients’ physical and psychological well-being. Tai-chi, a mind-body exercise rooted in Eastern health philosophy, emphasizes the motor coordination and relaxation. With these potential benefits, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) is planned to investigate the effects of Tai-chi intervention on the cognitive and motor deficits characteristic of patients with schizophrenia. Methods/design A 3-arm RCT with waitlist control design will be used in this study. One hundred and fifty three participants will be randomized into (i) Tai-chi, (ii) exercise or (iii) waitlist control groups. Participants in both the Tai-chi and exercise groups will receive 12-weeks of specific intervention, in addition to the standard medication and care received by the waitlist control group. The exercise group will serve as a comparison, to delineate any unique benefits of Tai-chi that are independent of moderate aerobic exercise. All three groups will undergo three assessment phases: (i) at baseline, (ii) at 12 weeks (post-intervention), and (iii) at 24 weeks (maintenance). All participants will be assessed in terms of symptom management, motor coordination, memory, daily living function, and stress levels based on self-perceived responses and a physiological marker. Discussion Based on a promising pilot study conducted prior to this RCT, subjects in the Tai-chi intervention group are expected to be protected against deterioration of motor coordination and interpersonal functioning. They are also expected to have better symptoms management and lower stress level than the other treatment groups.published_or_final_versio

Qualidade de vida no trabalho nivel de estresse dos profissionais das UBS do Distrito Leste do Município de Foz do Iguaçu-PR

Trabalho de conclusão de Residência apresentado ao Programa Multiprofissional em Saúde da Família da Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana, como requisito para obtenção do título de Especialista em Saúde da Família na modalidade de Residência. Orientador: Prof. Dr Thiago Luis de Andrade Barbosa Co-orientador: Prof. Ms. Gilberto Garcia da RochaObjetivo: Avaliar a qualidade de vida no trabalho (QVT) e nível de estresse dos trabalhadores da Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) do distrito leste de Foz do Iguaçu-PR. Metodologia: Trata-se de estudo transversal no qual participaram 120 profissionais da APS pertencentes a 06 UBS do referido distrito. Os profissionais responderam questionários sociodemográfico, de QVT abreviado (QWLQ-Bref) e Escala do Estresse Percebido (PSS 13). Verificou-se associação da QVT e dos níveis de estresse com variáveis sociodemográficas com uso do teste t de Student, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney e Kruskal-Wallis. Nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Resultados: A avaliação da QVT dos profissionais foi 62,8±10,0 e associou-se com sexo (p=0,016), idade (p=0,042), presença de dor (p=0,029) e satisfação com trabalho (p=0,002). Em relação aos domínios avaliados da QVT, houve associação com presença de dor e satisfação laboral. O escore total médio de estresse percebido dos participantes foi 24,5±6,0. Notou-se relação com as variáveis percepção quanto à alimentação saudável (p=0,013), presença de dor (p=0,002), dor relacionada ao trabalho (p=0,004) e satisfação com trabalho (p=0,001). Conclusão: Constatou-se satisfatória QVT e níveis médios de estresse dos profissionais o que demanda ações preventivas que melhorem esse panorama na APS do municípioObjective: To evaluate the quality of working life (QWL) and stress level of workers at Primary Health Care (PHC) in the east district of Foz do Iguaçu-PR. Methodology: Cross- sectional study with 120 PHC professionals from 06 basic health units of this district. Professionals answered sociodemographic questionnaire, abbreviated QLW (QWLQ-Bref) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS 13). We verified the association of QWL and stress levels with sociodemographic variables using Student's t-test, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis. Level of significance was 5%. Results: The professional QWL assessment was 62.8 ± 10.0 and was associated with gender (p=0.016), age (p=0.042), presence of pain (p = 0.029) and work satisfaction (p=0.002). In relation to the evaluated domains of QWL, there was an association with presence of pain and job satisfaction. The mean total perceived stress score of the participants was 24.5 ± 6.0. There was a relationship with the variables of perception regarding healthy eating (p=0.013), presence of pain (p=0.002), pain related to work (p=0.004) and satisfaction with work (p=0.001). Conclusion: We observed satisfactory QWL and mean levels of stress of PHC workers that demand improvement of this situationObjetivo: Evaluar la calidad de vida en el trabajo (QVT) y nivel de estrés de los trabajadores de la Atención Primaria a la Salud (APS) del distrito este de Foz do Iguaçu-PR. Metodología: Se trata de un estudio transversal en el que participaron 120 profesionales de la APS pertenecientes a 06 UBS de dicho distrito. Los profesionales respondieron cuestionarios sociodemográficos, de QVT abreviado (QWLQ-Bref) y Escala del estrés percibido (PSS 13). Se verificó asociación de QVT y de los niveles de estrés con variables sociodemográficas con el uso del test t de Student, ANOVA, Mann-Whitney y Kruskal-Wallis. El nivel de significancia adoptado fue del 5%. Resultados: La evaluación de la QVT de los profesionales fue de 62,8 ± 10,0 y se asoció con sexo (p=0,016), edad (p=0,042), presencia de dolor (p=0,029) y satisfacción con el trabajo (p=0,029) 0,002). En relación a los ámbitos evaluados de la QVT, hubo asociación con presencia de dolor y satisfacción laboral. La puntuación total promedio de estrés percibido de los participantes fue de 24,5 ± 6,0. Se observó relación con las variables percepción en cuanto a la alimentación sana (p=0,013), presencia de dolor (p=0,002), dolor relacionado al trabajo (p=0,004) y satisfacción con el trabajo (p=0,001). Conclusión: Se constató satisfactoria QVT y niveles medios de estrés de los profesionales lo que demanda acciones preventivas que mejoren ese panorama en la APS del municipi