Weeks Of Intervention Research Articles

Effect of water- and land-based exercise on lung function in children with post COVID-19 condition: secondary results from a randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesThis study aimed to assess the effect of water- and land-based exercise on lung function in children with post COVID-19 condition.MethodsThis was a randomized controlled trial with multigroup pretest-posttest design. Children with post COVID-19 condition aged 10–12 years were randomly assigned to water-based exercise (AQUA), land-based exercise (LAND), or control group with no exercise (CONTROL). The outcomes were the changes in lung function (Lungtest Handy) from baseline to immediately after the 8-week intervention. Parameters measured included forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and vital capacity (VC).ResultsAfter the intervention, there was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the AQUA and LAND groups compared to the CONTROL group for FEV1values (F(2,64)=6.80; p=0.91; p<0.01, η2=0.18), and significant differences between CONTROL and AQUA groups (p<0.01) and CONTROL and LAND groups (p<0.05) for FEV1(F(2,64)=6.96; p=0.91; p<0.01, η2=0.18). Repetitions-Groups interactions for FEV1/%FVC (F(2,64)=0.71, p=0.162, p>0.05,η2=0.030) showed that the changes that occurred varied from group to group and the reason for this was an upward trend in LAND and AQUA and a downward trend in CONTROL.ConclusionThe study found that a supervised twice weekly 8-week exercise training program in water and on land improved lung function in children with post COVID-19 condition.

Continuous high-soy protein soymilk intake affects ordinary walking speed in the Japanese pre-frail and frail elderly: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background To investigate whether continuous intervention using soymilk containing high soy protein improves physical frailty, a randomized controlled trial was conducted among the Japanese pre-frail and frail elderly. Methods Japanese pre-frail and frail elderly participants (n = 73) were randomly assigned to the high-soy protein and control groups, who then ingested soymilk containing 14.5 g/200 ml and 3.2 g/200 ml of soy protein, respectively. Before and after the 12-week intervention, walking speed, skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, and the revised Japanese CHS questionnaire regarding fatigue and physical activity were examined to evaluate the impact of each soymilk on physical frailty and compare the variation between the two groups. Physical activity (monitored using a pedometer), dietary intake (determined by questionnaire), and estimated protein intake (determined by casual urine testing) were also recorded before and after the intervention. Results For the final analysis of the entire cohort (n = 70), there were no significant differences in the endpoints between the two groups. In the subgroup analysis, among participants with a walking speed of at least 1 m/s (n = 35, P = 0.012) and at least 5,000 steps/day before intervention (n = 27, P = 0.0083), the variation in walking speed after the 12-week intervention was significantly higher in the high-soy protein group than in the control group. Estimated protein intake was also significantly higher in the high-soy protein group than in the control group after the intervention. Regarding physical activity and dietary intake, no significant differences were observed between the groups before or after the intervention. Conclusion The continuous 12-week intervention of high soy protein increased the walking speed among the Japanese pre-frail and frail elderly participants who had an ordinarily high walking speed and high step counts. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000044999. Registered July 29, 2021; https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000051409.

Cost-utility and cost–benefit analysis of a multi-component intervention (NEXpro) for neck-related symptoms in Swiss office workers

BackgroundNeck pain is a significant public health issue, especially among office workers, with a prevalence ranging from 42 to 68%. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-utility and cost-benefit of a multi-component intervention targeting neck pain in the general population of office workers in Switzerland. The 12-week multi-component intervention consisted of neck exercises, health promotion information workshops, and workplace ergonomics sessions.MethodsThe study was designed as a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial and assessed using an employer’s perspective. The main analysis focused on the immediate post-intervention period. Long-term effects were examined in a subsample at the 4, 8, and 12-month follow-ups. The intervention effects on costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were estimated using generalized linear mixed-effects models, controlling for confounding factors. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were presented, along with calculations of the break-even point and the return on investment. Various sensitivity analyses were performed.ResultsA total of 120 office workers participated in the trial, with 100 completing the intervention period and 94 completing the entire study. The main analysis included 392 observations. The intervention had a significant positive effect on QALYs and a nonsignificant effect on costs. The ICER was estimated at -25,325 per QALY gain, and the probability of the intervention being cost saving was estimated at 88%. The break-even point was reached one week after the end of the intervention.ConclusionThe multi-component intervention is likely to reduce company costs and simultaneously improve the quality of life of employees. However, the implementation of such interventions critically depends on evidence of their cost-effectiveness. As there is still a large research gap in this area, future studies are needed.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04169646. Registered 15 November 2019-Retrospectively registered.Trial protocolAegerter AM, Deforth M, Johnston V, Ernst MJ, Volken T, Luomajoki H, et al. On-site multi-component intervention to improve productivity and reduce the economic and personal burden of neck pain in Swiss office-workers (NEXpro): protocol for a cluster-randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2020;21(1):391. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-020-03388-x.

Co-creating a person-centered creative engagement intervention for Parkinson's care

BackgroundRecent research in the field of “Arts and Health” has demonstrated the beneficial impact of arts-based interventions on health and well-being across diverse populations. Recognizing their potential, especially in cases where conventional healthcare cannot address the multifaceted impact of conditions such as in Parkinson's disease (PD), our study advocates for an integrative approach in medical practice and neuroscience. We recommend incorporating learning environments from the design phase through long-term care. The arts offer a unique opportunity to create such environments. In this study, we specifically focus on individuals with PD, co-designing an intervention as a creative engagement learning environment and a PD-specific creative arts therapy. In this study, the narratives of those affected contribute as scientific knowledge, shaping care and increasing the intervention's relevance to participants' lives.MethodsWe used a participatory design-based research approach. Fourteen individuals with PD, along with three creative therapists and three researchers, collaborated through iterative design cycles to co-develop a creative arts therapy intervention. Qualitative data were collected through interviews, group reflections, and ethnographic observations. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsThe co-creation process resulted in a 10-week creative engagement intervention delivered in a “creative playground” setting. Participants chose from multiple media and autonomously decided their creative activities. Guidance from the creative therapists was provided as needed to support individual engagement and guide reflection and learning processes. Narratives offered insights into the relevance of autonomy in care, the role of the arts, and the individuality of disease experience, resulting in seven key features of our intervention framework, which include (i) intervention structure (e.g., duration of the intervention and sessions), (ii) freedom in selection of creative media, (iii) environment as a creative playground, (iv) skills of creative therapists, (v) PD-specific considerations, (vi) financial considerations and logistics, and we list (vii) responsibilities of the Design Team.DiscussionThis study establishes an initial framework for a PD-specific creative arts therapy intervention designed as a creative engagement learning environment. Future research will focus on rigorously evaluating its effectiveness and exploring its scalability in diverse settings.

Improving sensory integration in Chinese children with moderate sensory integration challenges through engaging basketball training

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining basketball training with a traditional sensory integration therapy (SIT) vs. a SIT alone in enhancing sensory integration capability among Chinese children diagnosed with mild challenges in sensory integration and sensory processing (CSISP).MethodsThis study comprised a Control group and an Experimental group, both undergoing a 10-week intervention (4 sessions/week, 45 min/session). The Control group exclusively participated in traditional SIT for all sessions. In contrast, the Experimental group engaged in traditional SIT for two sessions per week and Basketball training for the remaining two sessions weekly. Three sensory integration measures (vestibular sensation, tactile perception, proprioception) and five gross motor performance measures (balance beam walking speed, single-leg standing with eyes closed, tennis ball throw, two-legged jump speed, 10-m shuttle run) were assessed before and after the 10-week training period. Separate 2 (Group) × 2 (Test Phases) Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures on the second factor were conducted for each measure. Interaction effects were further explored using Tukey's HSD test to clarify their nature.ResultsBoth groups demonstrated significant improvements in all sensory integration and gross motor performance measures following the 10-week training sessions (p < 0.001). Importantly, the group receiving the combination of basketball training and traditional SIT significantly outperformed the group undergoing SIT alone in all assessed areas.ConclusionThese results indicate that combining basketball training with traditional SIT enhances sensory integration capabilities more effectively among Chinese children aged 4–6 years with moderate CSISP compared to utilizing SIT alone.

Different whole body HIIT protocols does not promote different muscle thickness and functional adaptations in healthy physically active men

IntroductionDespite robust evidence on the benefits of high intensity interval training using body weight (WB-HIIT), the effects of different training configurations on morpho-functional adaptations are still unclear. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effects of two distinct WB-HIIT protocols on morphological and general fitness adaptations in healthy active young individuals.MethodsThirty-four participants (22 males and 12 females) were randomly assigned to one of the following groups: 30 s of all-out effort interspersed with 10 s of passive recovery (G30 × 10, n = 17) or 40 s of an all-out effort interspersed with 20 s of passive recovery (G40 × 20, n = 17). Nine exercises were performed for both protocols, in two weekly sessions, during a 6-week intervention period. Morphological (ultrasound-derived muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis [MTVL]) and general fitness (muscle endurance and maximal oxygen consumption) assessments were performed at pre- and post-intervention moments.ResultsBoth training protocols elicited significant improvements in all dependent variables (p < 0.05), with no significant between-group differences.ConclusionRegardless of the training configuration, both WB-HIIT programs serve as time-efficient strategies to induce changes in muscle thickness of the vastus lateralis and functional adaptations in healthy, physically active young individuals.

The Impact of Exercise Play on the Biomechanical Characteristics of Single-Leg Jumping in 5- to 6-Year-Old Preschool Children

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of a 12-week self-designed exercise game intervention on the kinematic and kinetic data of the supporting leg in preschool children during the single-leg jump. Methods: Thirty 5- to 6-year-old preschool children were randomly divided into an experimental group (EG) and a control group (CG). The BTS SMART DX motion capture analysis system was used to collect single-leg jump data before the intervention. The experimental group underwent a 12-week intervention, with self-designed exercise games conducted three times a week for 30 min each session, while the control group only participated in regular kindergarten recess activities and physical education classes. After the intervention, the same equipment was used to collect single-leg jump data again, and the kinematic and kinetic data were analyzed using Anybody 7.4 simulation software. Results: After the intervention, the experimental group showed significant changes in joint angles and joint torques, with a notable increase in the force exerted by dominant muscles such as the vastus medialis, vastus lateralis, and gastrocnemius and a significant increase in the ground reaction force. Although the control group also showed some changes in the dominant muscles, the changes were not as significant as those in the experimental group. Conclusions: A 12-week exercise game intervention significantly improved the technique and force characteristics of 5- to 6-year-old preschool children during the single-leg jump, making muscle exertion more focused and efficient and effectively enhancing explosive power and performance during the single-leg jump.

Applying intervention mapping to develop a program for promoting short physical activity breaks during class time in upper secondary schools: the MOVE12 protocol study

IntroductionPhysical inactivity is a global health challenge, exacerbated by increased screen time and sedentary behaviors. Enhancing physical activity levels at schools offers a promising approach to promote lifelong healthy habits.MethodsThis protocol paper outlines the MOVE12 pilot study, a 12-week intervention study designed to increase physical activity among Norwegian upper secondary school students through 6–7-min daily MOVE-breaks integrated into lessons. Developed using the six-phase Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol, grounded in the social-ecological model and self-determination theory, the intervention focuses on fostering motivation and creating a supportive environment. Key steps include needs assessment, performance objectives, theoretical methods, and program structuring for sustainability.ResultsLinear mixed models, t-tests, and regression analyses will evaluate quantitative outcomes, while qualitative focus groups will explore engagement and behavior change.DiscussionMOVE12 provides insights into scalable school-based interventions addressing physical inactivity, highlighting the potential of the IM framework to establish sustainable health promotion strategies.

4-Week intervention combining kiwifruit consumption and small-sided soccer games improves sleep quality in children with overweight/obesity and pre-existing sleep problems.

Background: Childhood obesity is a global public health concern associated with various health risks, including disrupted sleep patterns. Aim: This study investigated the effects of kiwifruit consumption and small-sided soccer games (SSSG) over 4 weeks on sleep patterns in overweight/obese children with sleep problems. Methods: Thirty-six participants, aged 8 to 12 years with a body mass index above the 85th percentile, were randomly assigned to one of three groups: SSSG only (n = 12), SSSG-kiwifruit (SSSG-K, n = 12), or control (CG, n = 12). Sleep patterns were monitor 1 week before, and during the first and last 2 weeks of the intervention. The CG group maintained their usual routines without structured physical activity. The SSSG and SSSG-K groups, both engaged in SSSG type of training two to three times per week, with the SSSG-K group also consuming on a daily basis two kiwifruits 1 hour before bedtime. Results: In the final 2 weeks, the SSSG group demonstrated significant improvements in sleep efficiency (p = 0.03), sleep latency (p < 0.001), and bedtime timing (p < 0.001) compared to baseline. The SSSG-K group also showed significant improvements in sleep efficiency, sleep latency, and total sleep time compared to baseline, and relative to CG, and SSSG groups during the 4 weeks (all p < 0.05). Additionally, SSSG-K participants had earlier bedtimes and increased time in bed compared to their baseline (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Combining kiwifruit consumption with SSSG exercise effectively enhances sleep patterns in overweight/obese children.

Investigating the impact of microbiome-changing interventions on food decision-making: MIFOOD study protocol

BackgroundObesity is a multifactorial disease reaching pandemic proportions with increasing healthcare costs, advocating the development of better prevention and treatment strategies. Previous research indicates that the gut microbiome plays an important role in metabolic, hormonal, and neuronal cross-talk underlying eating behavior. We therefore aim to examine the effects of prebiotic and neurocognitive behavioral interventions on food decision-making and to assay the underlying mechanisms in a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT).MethodThis study uses a parallel arm RCT design with a 26-week intervention period. We plan to enroll 90 participants (male/diverse/female) living with overweight or obesity, defined as either a Waist-to-Hip Ratio (WHR) ≥ 0.9 (male)/0.85 (diverse, female) or a Body Mass Index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2. Key inclusion criteria are 18–60 years of age and exclusion criteria are type 2 diabetes, psychiatric disease, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contraindications. The interventions comprise either a daily supplementary intake of 30 g soluble fiber (inulin), or weekly neurocognitive behavioral group sessions, compared to placebo (equicaloric maltodextrin). At baseline and follow-up, food decision-making is assessed utilizing task-based MRI. Secondary outcome measures include structural MRI, eating habits, lifestyle factors, personality traits, and mood. Further, we obtain fecal and blood samples to investigate gut microbiome composition and related metabolites.DiscussionThis study relies on expanding research suggesting that dietary prebiotics could improve gut microbiome composition, leading to beneficial effects on gut-brain signaling and higher-order cognitive functions. In parallel, neurocognitive behavioral interventions have been proposed to improve unhealthy eating habits and metabolic status. However, causal evidence on how these “bottom-up” and “top-down” processes affect food decision-making and neuronal correlates in humans is still scarce. In addition, microbiome, and gut-brain-axis-related mediating mechanisms remain unclear. The present study proposes a comprehensive approach to assess the effects of these gut-brain-related processes influencing food decision-making in overweight and obesity.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT05353504. Retrospectively registered on 29 April 2022.

Effects of Using Prompts During Parent-Child Shared Reading on the Language Development of Mildly Autistic Children.

The use of literal prompts (LPs) and inferential prompts (IPs) in shared book reading (SBR) facilitates children's use of language and promotes their thinking and understanding about the stories discussed and beyond. Furthermore, SBR provides a platform for mildly autistic children to have multiple rounds of communication with educators. This study investigated the contribution of LPs and IPs on the language development and affective factors of language learning in mildly autistic children. This study included 187 mildly autistic Chinese children who were stratified by random sampling and assigned into three groups (LP, IP and control). The mildly autistic children's language skills were tested immediately before and after the 12-week SBR intervention. Their parents were also included in this study. The results indicated that using prompts had positive effects on the mildly autistic children's language skills and on the affective factors central to language development. Moreover, LPs were beneficial in fostering mildly autistic children's affective factor development, whilst IPs fostered their Chinese word reading and listening comprehension skills. These findings indicated the benefits of using prompts during parent-child SBR, along with the extent to which prompts contribute to different language skills and affective factors central to language development in mildly autistic children.

Physical activity and the outcome of cognitive trajectory: a machine learning approach

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) may have an impact on cognitive function. Machine learning (ML) techniques are increasingly used in dementia research, e.g., for diagnosis and risk stratification. Less is known about the value of ML for predicting cognitive decline in people with dementia (PwD). The aim of this study was to use an ML approach to identify variables associated with a multimodal PA intervention that may impact cognitive changes in PwD, i.e., by distinguishing between cognitive decliners and non-decliners.MethodsThis is a secondary, exploratory analysis using data from a Randomized Controlled Trial that included a 16-week multimodal PA intervention for the intervention group (IG) and treatment as usual for the control group (CG) in nursing homes. Predictors included in the ML models were related to the intervention (e.g., adherence), physical performance (e.g., mobility, balance), and pertinent health-related variables (e.g., health status, dementia form and severity). Primary outcomes were global and domain-specific cognitive performance (i.e., attention/ executive function, language, visuospatial skills, memory) assessed by standardized tests. A Support Vector Machine model was used to perform the classification of each primary outcome into the two classes of decline and non-decline. GridSearchCV with fivefold cross-validation was used for model training, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) and accuracy were calculated to assess model performance.ResultsThe study sample consisted of 319 PwD (IG, N = 161; CG, N = 158). The proportion of PwD experiencing cognitive decline, in the different domains measured, ranged from 27–48% in CG, and from 23–49% in IG, with no statistically significant differences and no time*group effects. ML models showed accuracy and AUC values ranging from 40.6–75.6. The strongest predictors of cognitive decline or non-decline were performance of activities of daily living in IG and CG, and adherence and mobility in IG.ConclusionsML models showed moderate performance, suggesting that the selected variables only had limited value for classification, with adherence and performance of activities of daily living appearing to be predictors of cognitive decline. While the study provides preliminary evidence of the potential use of ML approaches, larger studies are needed to confirm our observations and to include other variables in the prediction of cognitive decline, such as emotional health or biomarker abnormalities.

Strawberry dietary intervention influences diversity and increases abundances of SCFA-producing bacteria in healthy elderly people.

The gut microbiome is amenable to dietary interventions, and polyphenol-rich diets have been shown to enhance abundances of bacteria associated with short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production. We examined the effects of a strawberry-based intervention on the gut microbiome of 69 healthy elderly German adults. Participants in five groups consumed varying amounts of strawberries, freeze-dried strawberries, and capers in olive oil over 10 weeks as part of a randomized controlled trial. 16S rRNA sequencing was used to analyze differences in microbial composition, diversity, phenotypes, differential abundance, and functional pathways. The intervention group featuring the highest amounts of fresh and freeze-dried strawberries without capers in olive oil (group 4) showed changes in gut microbial diversity and differential abundance that could be linked to improved health. Beta diversity, based on weighted UniFrac distances, increased significantly (P = 0.0035), potentially pathogenic bacteria decreased (P = 0.04), and abundances of SCFA-producing genera Faecalibacterium and Prevotella increased significantly. Other findings included a significant reduction of CAG-352, Preveotellaceae_NK3B31-group, and Eubacterium coprostanoligenes (group 2), and a trend of lowered Firmicutes-to-Bacteroidetes ratio (P = 0.067) and a reduction in Ruminococcaceae (group 3). Our findings suggest that a dietary intervention based on strawberries can positively alter the gut microbiota of healthy elderly people as seen in an enrichment of SCFA-producing genera, increased diversity, and a reduction in potentially pathogenic bacteria.IMPORTANCEAging is often associated with changes in the gut microbiome, including a decline in beneficial bacteria and an increase in potentially pathogenic species. Addressing these changes through lifestyle interventions is of significant interest. Our study demonstrates that a 10-week dietary intervention with strawberries can beneficially modulate gut microbial composition and diversity in healthy elderly individuals. Notably, the group consuming the highest amount of strawberries (without capers in olive oil) initially had higher abundances of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Here, the intervention led to increased abundances of the beneficial genera Faecalibacterium and Prevotella, which are linked to health benefits including reduced inflammation and improved lipid metabolism. These findings suggest that strawberry consumption can positively influence gut microbial composition, thereby contributing to overall health and disease prevention in older adults.

Impact of a Multi-Component Home-Based Physical Therapy Intervention on Cognitive Outcomes: Results From the CAP Randomized Controlled Trial.

Differences in cognitive outcomes for two home-based 16-week interventions after usual rehabilitative care post-hip fracture were examined. Community Ambulation Project randomized controlled trial included 210 hip fracture participants. Interventions: Specific multi-component (PUSH) included strength-, balance-, function-, and endurance-based exercises; non-specific active control (PULSE) included seated range-of-motion exercises and sensory transcutaneous electrical neurostimulation. Cognitive measures: Modified Mini-Mental State Examination, plus Hooper Visual Organization Test and Trails A/B in an ancillary study (CAP-MP, n = 40), assessed pre-randomization and 16 and 40 weeks post-randomization. Over 16weeks, PUSH-assigned participants became faster on Trails A (Δ = -6.3, 95% CI: -16.7, 4.2); those in PULSE became slower (Δ = 9.3, 95% CI: -1.7, 20.3, p = .04). At 40 weeks, PUSH-assigned participants became faster on Trails B (Δ = -21.5, 95% CI: -46.2, 3.3) while those in PULSE became slower (Δ = 15.2, 95% CI: -11.9, 42.3, p = .04). No other significant differences were found. Results suggest that multi-component exercise interventions like PUSH may prevent/delay decline or improve attention and psychomotor speed in patients with recent hip fracture.

The use of individualised, media-based sleep hygiene education for professional female footballers.

Sleep hygiene can be defined as practicing habits that facilitate sleep; poor sleep hygiene is common among elite athletes, and improving this can be one way to enhance sleep indices. Given the large inter-individual variability of sleep, there is a need for further investigation into individualised sleep hygiene for elite female athletes, with consideration for the practical application of the method. Using a self-controlled time series design with repeated measures, n=16 professional female footballers completed a 9-week study during mid-season. Monitoring of sleep (actigraphy, self-report) occurred at week 1, 4, 7 and 9-a control period occurred at week 2 and 3, and a subsequent intervention period occurred at weeks 5 and 6. Based on baseline sleep monitoring, media-based messages were designed with the purpose of giving a singular sleep hygiene message; all participants received these individualised messages daily across the 2-week intervention period at a standardised time of 8.00p.m., with the intention of them actioning the sleep hygiene point. One-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was conducted to assess the differences between control period, intervention period and follow-up for each measured variable. Significant differences were observed post-intervention for sleep efficiency (p<0.001) and sleep latency (p<0.001), whereas the athlete sleep behaviour questionnaire score significantly improved in the follow-up period (week 9) post intervention (p=0.039). This is the first study to present this novel method of individualised sleep hygiene education for elite female athletes and is also the first study to demonstrate the use of sleep hygiene interventions to improve sleep factors for female athletes' mid-season. This demonstrates a promising, time-efficient approach to sleep hygiene education, with a potentially wide scope of application, as well as demonstrating there is indeed potential for elite female athletes to gain sleep improvements mid-season.

Efficacy and safety of interferon-alpha 1b injection into the intervertebral foramen with ultrasonic guidance in patients with postherpetic neuralgia: study protocol for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical trial

PurposePostherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a type of refractory neuropathic pain that causes significant suffering, disability, economic loss, and medical burden. In this study, we aim to evaluate the efficacy and safety of interferon (IFN)-α1b injection into the intervertebral foramen of patients with PHN.Patients and methodsThis is a study protocol for a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trial. A total of 200 participants with PHN from 11 hospitals will be recruited and randomly assigned to the treatment group administered with IFN-α1b and control group treated with placebo in a 1:1 ratio. Both groups will also receive oral pregabalin 150 mg twice daily and lidocaine injection into the intervertebral foramen as conventional therapy. This trial will involve a screening period, a 2-week intervention, and a 3-month follow-up. The primary outcomes will include the visual analog scale score and duration of pain relief. The secondary outcomes will include the 36-item short-form, dosage and duration of painkillers taken, viral load of varicella-zoster virus DNA, humoral cytokine level, and dosage and frequency of rescue medication. All adverse events and severe adverse events will be assessed during the study.ConclusionThis study is expected to provide evidence for the efficacy and safety of IFN-α1b injection into the intervertebral foramen in patients with PHN.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.chictr.org.cn/indexEN.html, identifier ChiCTR240008996.

Reducing the Risk of Inactivity among Office Workers: An Interventional Workday Steps Programme - Part 1

Background: The requirement to physically move in the workplace has been significantly reduced because of modern technology. Objective: The purpose of this project was therefore to explore the impact of a workday steps programme among office workers at a North London National Health Service Foundation Trust in the United Kingdom. Materials and Methods: A pre- and post-test design was used to explore the impact of a 6-week workday steps programme. The programme was based on total workday steps, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Data collection was scheduled at the workplace and health coaching sessions were scheduled online. Results: Office workers walked significantly more workday steps compared to pre intervention. There were no significant changes found in the BMI or waist circumference of office workers. Conclusion: The office workers that enrolled in this 6-week intervention increased their daily workdays steps. The findings have implications for occupational health and wellbeing clinicians who develop interventions at worksites.

The Effects of Conceptual Knowledge Goal Intervention on the Development of Poor Readers’ Reading Comprehension

Conceptual knowledge goal (CKG) is a typical component of outcome-based learning. However, the contribution of CKG to poor readers’ reading comprehension development remains unclear. Following the suggestion of the Simple View of Reading theory for the poor reader category, the current study recruited 90 poor decoders (PD), 76 poor comprehenders (PC), and 100 general poor readers (GPR) to be randomly divided into CKG and control conditions. After a 12-week intervention, readers who received the CKG condition performed significantly better in character reading and receptive vocabulary than control condition readers, regardless of the reader category. Only PDs who received CKG performed significantly better in listening comprehension than those in the control condition. The results indicate that CKG is an effective approach for educators to enhance the reading comprehension abilities of poor readers in primary schools.

Effects of body weight-supported Tai Chi Yunshou training on upper limb motor function in stroke patients: A three-arm parallel randomized controlled trial.

To form a unique body weight support-Tai Chi Yunshou (BWS-TCY) training method, apply it to the treatment of upper limb dysfunction after stroke, and provide a new safe and effective treatment method for the clinic. A total of 93 subjects were recruited and randomly divided into conventional rehabilitation treatment (CRT) group, BWS-TCY group and traditional robot-assisted training (RAT) group in equal proportions. Subjects in the CRT group received 60 minutes of CRT daily. Subjects in the BWS-TCY group received 30 minutes of CRT and 30 minutes of BWS-TCY. Subjects in the RAT group received 30 minutes of CRT and 30 minutes of RAT. All interventions were conducted 5 days per week for 12 weeks. Outcome assessments included the Fugl-Meyer Upper Extremity Motor Function Assessment (FMA-UE), Wolf Motor Function Test (WMFT), absolute angular error (AAE), joint range of motion (JMA), modified Barthel Index (MBI), and stroke-related quality of life. Table (SS-QOL). Outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks later, and statistical analyzes were performed using two-way repeated measures analysis of variance. After 12 weeks of intervention, significant improvements were observed in all evaluation indicators for the three groups of subjects compared to before the intervention. The upper limb motor function (FMA-UE and WMFT) and proprioception (AAE) showed time effects, time × group interaction effects, and group effects. When comparing the groups, the FMA-UE in the BWS-TCY group, as well as the WMFT and MBI, showed statistically significant differences compared to the CRT group (P<0.05), but not statistically significant compared to the RAT group (P>0.05). The AAE of the BWS-TCY group showed no statistical difference (P>0.05) when compared to the CRT group and RAT group. Furthermore, a time effect was observed on the rotation direction (P<0.05), and pairwise comparison between groups revealed that the BWS-TCY group performed better than both the CRT group and the RAT group. After 12 weeks of intervention, there were time effects and interaction effects between BWS-TCY and daily living activities (MBI) and quality of life (SS-QOL), but no group effect was observed. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in SS-QOL. However, there was a statistical difference (P<0.01) in MBI between the two groups. The 12-week BWS-TCY intervention has been shown to effectively improve upper limb motor function. Retrospectively registered at chictr.org.cn on August 31, 2022 [ChiCTR2200063150] https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=176229.

Exploring the mechanism of change in exercise behavior during a theory-based exercise intervention among community-dwelling (pre)frail older adults: A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a theory-based exercise intervention on exercise beliefs and behavior, and clarified the underlying mechanism of the exercise intervention among community-dwelling (pre)frail older adults. A 12-week exercise intervention based on the integration of Health Belief Model, Theory of Planned Behavior and Health Action Process Approach was implemented to 149 participants. The positive effects were significant on exercise beliefs (β = -1.630 - 3.500, P < 0.05) and exercise behavior (β = 0.851, P < 0.001), and most of them persisted at 12- and 24-week postintervention. Furthermore, perceived barriers (β1β2 = 0.118, P = 0.037) and descriptive norms (β1β2 = 0.144, P = 0.047) mediated the relationship between exercise intervention and exercise behavior. The theory-based exercise intervention improves exercise beliefs and behavior, and perceived barriers and descriptive norms play a crucial role in increasing exercise behavior among the target population.