Group Interaction Effect Research Articles

Empowering University Students: The Impact of a Time Management Workshop on Academic Self-Efficacy

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-session time management workshop designed to enhance academic self-efficacy among university students. It hypothesized that participants undergoing the workshop would demonstrate significant improvements in academic self-efficacy compared to a control group receiving no intervention. A randomized controlled trial design was employed, with 40 undergraduate students aged 18-25 years randomly assigned to either an intervention group (n=20) or a control group (n=20). The intervention group participated in an 8-session workshop, each lasting 75 minutes, covering various aspects of time management. Academic self-efficacy was measured using the Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (ASES) at baseline, immediately post-intervention, and at a four-month follow-up. Data were analyzed using SPSS-27, employing repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc tests to assess changes over time and between groups. The intervention group showed a significant increase in academic self-efficacy scores from baseline to post-intervention (Mean Diff. = 9.01, p < 0.01), which was maintained at the four-month follow-up. The control group, in contrast, showed no significant changes in their scores over time. The ANOVA revealed significant time (p < 0.01, η² = 0.20), group (p < 0.01, η² = 0.25), and time × group interaction effects (p < 0.01, η² = 0.22), indicating the workshop's effectiveness in enhancing academic self-efficacy. The time management workshop significantly enhanced academic self-efficacy among university students, with effects sustained over a four-month period. These findings suggest that structured time management interventions can be an effective strategy for improving students' academic self-belief and potentially their academic performance. Further research with larger and more diverse samples is recommended to generalize these findings.

Assessing the Fundamental Movement Skills of Children With Intellectual Disabilities in the Special Olympics Young Athletes Program.

Mastering the ability to move proficiently from a young age is an important contributor to lifelong physical activity participation. This study examined fundamental movement skill (FMS) proficiency in children with intellectual disabilities (n = 96, 60% boys, age 5-12years) and typically developing children (n = 96, 60% boys, age 5-12years). Participants were assessed using the Test of Gross Motor Development-3rd edition and balance subtest from the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency 2. The FMS proficiency of typically developing children including mastery/near mastery level (combined variable representing mastery, which is achieving all criteria for the skill, over both trials and near mastery, wherein a participant performs all but one of the components of the skill correctly) was significantly higher than for children with intellectual disabilities. A similar observation was made with multiple linear regression analysis testing the interaction effect of participant group and age/gender on all three FMS subcomponents. The results presented will help establish a baseline of FMS proficiency and guidelines for future intervention for children with intellectual disabilities.

Effect of Core Stability Exercises on Shoulder Pain, Muscle Strength, and Range of Motion in Female Swimmers With Shoulder Impingement Syndrome

Background and Aims Previous studies have shown that core stability exercises reduce the applied force on the upper limbs in swimmers. However, the effect of these exercises on the range of motion (ROM), muscle strength, and pain in the shoulder of swimmers is unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of a core stability exercise program on shoulder pain, muscle strength, and ROM in female swimmers with shoulder impingement syndrome (SIS). Methods The study population consists of all female swimmers with SIS in Tabriz, Iran. Twenty eligible swimmers were selected and randomly divided into two exercise (n=10) and control (n=10) groups. The shoulder pain, ROM, and muscle strength were measured by the shoulder pain and disability index, a goniometer, and the bench press (One repetition maximum), respectively. The exercise group participated in a specific core stability exercise program. The data were analyzed in SPSS software, version 24 using repeated measures analysis of variance, independent t-test, and paired t-test for within-group and between-group comparisons. The significance level was set a t 0.05. Results After exercise, the amount of shoulder pain in the experimental group was significantly reduced compared to the control group (P=0.0001). It also had a significant effect on the ROM of the shoulder in this group. In addition, there was a significant difference in shoulder muscle strength in the experimental group before and after exercise (P=0.0001), but this difference was not significant in the control group (P=0.138). Moreover, there was a significant interaction effect of time and group in the shoulder girdle muscle strength (P=0.001). Conclusion The core stability exercises can reduce shoulder pain and improve shoulder ROM and muscle strength in female swimmers with SIS. Performing core stability exercises is recommended to reduce pain and improve shoulder girdle function in these swimmers.

The Group-based Compassion-focused Intervention on Academic Procrastination, Anxiety, and Quality of Life of University Students: A Controlled Trial With 3-month Follow-up

Objectives Procrastination is one of the critical issues for university students and is associated with various psychological problems. This study examined the effectiveness of group compassion-focused intervention on procrastination, anxiety, and quality of life of (QoL) university students. Methods This research is an experimental study of clinical trial type. The study participants were 40 students of Iran University of Medical Sciences selected by a convenience sampling method. After obtaining informed consent, they completed the demographic questionnaire; academic procrastination questionnaire; depression, anxiety, and stress scale-21 (DASS-21); and personal wellbeing index–adult (PWI-A), before, immediately after, and three months after the intervention. The experimental group received eight 120-minute sessions of group compassion-focused therapy once a week, while the control group received no intervention. The data were compared using GLM repeated measures analysis of variance (GLMRM). Results Regarding procrastination, there is no significant difference between the average preparation for assignments and the tendency to change people›s procrastination at different evaluation times. However, the interaction effect of time and group has a significance level smaller than 0.05, indicating a significant difference between the average preparation for the tasks of the experimental and control groups at different evaluation times (F=4.439, P=0.043). The effect size of 0.115 indicates a moderate effect. There is also a significant difference between the procrastination tendency of the experimental and control groups at different evaluation times (F=8.348, P=0.007). The effect size of 0.197 indicates a moderate effect. Also, there is a significant difference between the experimental and control groups› average anxiety (F=35.62, P=0.000) and quality of life (F=14.57, P=0.001) at different evaluation times. The size of the effect indicates its strength. Conclusion Group compassion-focused intervention can be used as an effective therapy in working with students. However, more studies are needed to examine and compare other variables with other evidence-based treatments.

Anesthetic effects of the ketamine and midazolam association by intranasal or intramuscular route in domestic chickens: prospective, blinded, randomized and crossover study.

This prospective, blinded, randomized crossover study aimed to assess the anesthetic effects of the combination of 30 mg/kg ketamine and 2 mg/kg midazolam via intranasal (IN) or intramuscular (IM) routes in twelve domestic chickens. Physiological parameters (respiratory rate - RR, heart rate - HR, and cloacal temperature -Tºcloacal) were monitored throughout the experiment, along with recovery time and sedation level (S0: awake, no recumbency, responsive to stimuli; S1: blinking eyes, recumbency, relaxed, response to stimulus, mild movement; S2: open eyes, recumbency, relaxed, mild response to stimuli; S3: closed eyes, recumbency, relaxed, no movement). In the IM group, all birds reached S3, while in IN 5/12 reached S3, 4/12 reached at most S1, and 1/12 at most S2. IM administration showed higher sedation at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 35, 40, and 45 minutes (p<0.05). IN administration exhibited a shorter total recovery time (26.3±21.4 min vs. 92.9±33.4 min; p<0.001). No time, group, or time-group interaction effects were observed in HR and cloacal Tº, with a trend to a decrease in RR both groups (p<0.001). Increased incidences of vocalization and agitation was observed via IM (4/12 vs. 0/12; p=0.028), with no difference in salivation. Despite faster recovery with less agitation and vocalization, the ketamine and midazolam combination via IN provided less consistent sedation compared to the IM route in chickens.

The effectiveness of nature-based therapy for community psychological distress and well-being during COVID-19: a multi-site trial

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the world population faced various mental health challenges, highlighting a need for new community-based psychosocial interventions. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness and feasibility of Nature-Based Therapy (NBT) for the community experiencing psychological distress during the pandemic. A multi-site trial comparing NBT and control groups was conducted in Korea with 291 participants exhibiting mild to severe depression or anxiety. A total of 192 participated in 30 sessions of therapeutic gardening, while 99 remained in the control group. Psychological distress and well-being were assessed using seven measures of depression, anxiety, daily activity, life satisfaction, mindfulness, stress, and loneliness. The effect sizes (Cohen’s d) of NBT compared to the control group were medium to large: depression (0.583), anxiety (0.728), daily activity (1.002), life satisfaction (0.786), mindfulness (0.645), stress (0.903), and loneliness (0.695). Multilevel analysis revealed significant Time × Group interaction effects for all measures. Pearson correlation (r = − 0.28 to 0.71) showed that changes in all variables correlated significantly with each other, with small to large effect sizes. Therapeutic alliance at post-test positively moderated the intervention effects on the outcomes. We concluded that NBT is a promising psychosocial intervention for treating psychological distress for community dwellers.

Effect of Baduanjin exercise on executive function in older adults with cognitive frailty: A randomized controlled trial

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of Baduanjin exercise on executive function in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty. Design Randomized controlled trial. Setting Community residential centers. Subjects 120 eligible older adults. Interventions Baduanjin training group received supervised Baduanjin training, 60 min sessions three times per week for 24 weeks. The control group did not receive any exercise intervention. Main measures Primary outcome was executive function, assessed using Clock Drawing Test. Secondary outcomes included the subcomponents of executive function (working memory, inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility), attention and cognitive frailty (global cognitive function, physical frailty) assessed using Verbal Fluency Test, Trail Making Test-A/B, Stroop Test, Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Edmonton Frailty Scale, respectively, at baseline and 24 weeks after intervention. Results After the 24-week intervention, the scores of Clock Drawing Test and Verbal Fluency Test, the Trail Making Test-B time and the Card correct numbers of Stroop Test in Baduanjin training group showed significant improvement compared with control group (all P < 0.05) with small to moderate effect sizes and the significant interaction effect of group by time in the Clock Drawing Test and Trail Making Test-B test (P = 0.003 and P = 0.043); cognitive frailty variables, including Montreal Cognitive Assessment and Edmonton Frail Scale scores, also showed significant improvement (P = 0.002 and P = 0.004) with a moderate effect sizes and a significant interaction effect (P < 0.001, P = 0.013). No adverse events were reported. Conclusion Regular Baduanjin training may be an effective and safe intervention to improve cognitive frailty and executive function in community-dwelling older adults with cognitive frailty. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR2100050857. Data of registration: 8/5/2020, https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj = 133037.

Long-term continuous exercise training counteracts the negative impact of the menopause transition on cardiometabolic health in hypertensive women - a 9-year RCT follow-up

PurposeThe study examined effects of 9-yrs of multicomponent exercise training during the menopause interval on cardiometabolic health in hypertensive women. MethodsSedentary, middle-aged women (n = 25) with mild-to-moderate arterial hypertension were randomized into a soccer training (multicomponent exercise; EX; n = 12) or control group (CON; n = 13). EX took part in 1-h football training sessions, 1–3 times weekly, for a consecutive 9-years, totaling ∼800 training sessions, while CON did not take part in regular exercise training. 22 participants entered menopause during the intervention. ResultsA time×group interaction effect (P = 0.04) of 8.5 mmHg in favour of EX was observed for changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP) (EX: −4.8 [−10.7;1.1] mmHg, CON +3.7 [−2.0;9.3] mmHg). Time×group interaction effects in favour of EX were also observed for total body weight (4.6 kg, P = 0.008, EX: +0.7 [−1.7;3.0] kg, CON: +5.3 [3.0;7.6] kg, total fat percentage (5.7%-points, P = 0.02; EX (−1.9 [−4.4;0.6] %-points; P = 0.13), CON +3.8 [1.4;6.2] %-points and for total cholesterol (1.2 mmol/l, P = 0.03, EX: −0.5 [−1.0;-0.1] mmol/l, CON: +0.7 [0.2;1.1] mmol/l. EX reduced (P = 0.02) plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol by −0.4 [−0.8;-0.1] mmol/l, whereas an increase (P = 0.01) of 0.4 [0.1;0.8] mmol/l occurred in CON (interaction. P < 0.001). A time×group interaction (P = 0.004) existed for changes in exercise capacity in favour of EX. Fasting glucose remained unchanged in EX and increased (P < 0.001) by 0.7 [0.4;1.0] mmol/l in CON (time×group interaction P = 0.02). ConclusionIn conclusion, long-term multicomponent exercise training fully counteracts the detrimental effects of the menopause transition on cardiometabolic health in hypertensive women.

The Effects of Group Interaction and Structure on a Achievement in Elementary School Robotics Classrooms

This study investigated the impact of group interactions and structure, specifically gender, on achievement in elementary robotics classes. The research involved 103 ‘s-grade (satisfactory grade)’ students, using a mixed methods embedded design to observe interactions, conduct a robotics assessment, and analyze the data. Group processing, positive interdependence, and promotive interactions were key elements of Cooperative Learning (CL) used to classify student interactions in both robotics classrooms and assessments. The findings indicated that interaction types within a group influenced achievement based on the robotics challenges, while gender did not affect the students’ Level of Achievement (LoA) but did impact the types of interactions. For simpler robotics challenges involving basic generalization skills, instructors are advised to encourage promotive interactions within classroom groups. Understanding these effects can inform effective instructional practices and pedagogies in educational robotics activities.

Exploring expected reward and efficacy in enhancing cognitive control in patients with depression

ABSTRACT Background Depression is associated with impairments in cognitive control. Considering the lack of mechanistic models accounting for cognitive control deficits in depression, the expected value of control (EVC) theory offers a mechanistic view for allocating cognitive control emphasizing motivational components (efficacy, value). Efficacy refers to the possibility that an effort leads to a special outcome and reward refers to the value (amount) associated with the outcome. This study aimed to examine the role of the EVC in depression. Method This study used a within-between-subject design. Participants with depression (n = 36) and healthy controls (n = 31) completed a clinical diagnostic interview, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the General Health Questionnaire-12, and a computer-based incentivized Stroop Color-Word Paradigm in which levels of efficacy (high vs. low) and the amount of rewards (high vs. low) were presented as cues before target stimuli. Results We found significant interaction effects of group × efficacy and efficacy × reward in terms of reaction time in the Stroop Paradigm. Follow-up analyses indicated the Depressed group were significantly slower than Controls on high efficacy trials, but the two groups did not differ significantly on low efficacy trials. Additionally, on high efficacy trials, reward did not influence performance, but on low efficacy trials, high reward improved performance in both groups. Limitation Lack of neurological measures and eye tracking techniques. Conclusion Overall, our findings suggest that reward and efficacy may jointly improve cognitive control allocation and highlight the need for further research examining EVC theory as a mechanistic account of cognitive control deficits in depression.

Delay differential equation modeling of social contagion with higher-order interactions

In this paper, we propose a social contagion model with group interactions on heterogeneous network, in which the group interactions are represented by incorporating higher-order terms. The dynamics of the proposed model are analyzed, revealing the effect of group interactions on the system dynamics. We derive a global asymptotically stability condition of the zero equilibrium point. If the parameters enhancement factor and transform probability meet the condition, the social contagion will eventually disappear. The bifurcation behavior arising from group interactions is investigated, when the enhancement factor exceeds a threshold, the system undergoes a backward bifurcation. This implies that R0<1 does not guarantee the disappearance of social contagion, we also need to control the initial values of social contagion at a lower level. The optimal control strategies for the model are provided. Moreover, the numerical simulations validate the accuracy of the theoretical analysis. It is worth noting that the group interactions lead to the emergence of a bistable phenomenon, in which the social contagion will either fade away or persist eventually, depending on the initial values.

Effects of Cognitive‐motor Rhythmic Training on Executive Functions and Motor Performance in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Trial

AbstractIntroductionIn recent years, prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has increased in older adults, exacerbating the potential impact on global health. Cognitive‐motor training is an emerging treatment modality with proven benefits in enhancing both physical and cognitive functions. In recent research findings, training of musical rhythmic skills with auditory‐motor synchronization is beneficial to reactivate the brain’s sensorimotor and perceptual regions as well as to improve cognition. However, there is limited research on combining these modalities.ObjectivesThis pilot study aims to develop a pioneer program on cognitive‐motor rhythmic training (CMRT), and to investigate whether the program would improve the executive functions (EF) and hand functions of patients with MCI.MethodologyThirty patients recruited from the Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital were randomized into two groups: (i) an intervention group receiving a 6‐week training program and (ii) a waitlist control group. The program was designed with reference to the rhythm game “Taiko no Tatsujin”, in which precise timed motor responses were required to hit the circular cues against the target zone. The game was designed with progression of difficulty levels and instant feedback. Classical Cantopop songs that were familiar to Hong Kong older adults were selected. Mental flexibility, inhibitory control, working memory, visuospatial memory, verbal fluency, processing speed and problem‐solving were assessed using domain‐specific cognitive tests, while hand dexterity was measured by the Purdue Pegboard Test. Paired t‐test and ANOVA were used to examine the within group difference and the comparison between groups. The level of significance was set at P&lt;0.05.ResultsThe analysis showed significant Time x Group interaction effects in Color Trail Test (p = 0.001), Color Word Stroop Test (P = 0.002), Digit Span Test (P&lt;0.001), Corsi Block‐Tapping Test (P&lt;0.001), Verbal Fluency Test (P&lt;0.001), Symbol Digit Modalities Test (P = 0.015), Maze Test (P&lt;0.001) and the Purdue Pegboard scores (P&lt;0.001) compared to the control group after training.ConclusionsThe 6‐week CMRT program is effective in improving the executive functions and motor performance in patients with MCI. This innovation can serve as an affordable and quality intervention in early stages of cognitive decline.

Herpes Simplex Virus Infection and in vivo Alzheimer’s Disease Pathologies

AbstractBackgroundInterest in the role of Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) infection in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has increased in recent years. However, previous studies yielded inconsistent findings and no studies have yet investigated the relationship between HSV infection and in vivo AD pathologies such as beta‐amyloid (Aβ) and tau deposition in brain. We examined whether the level of serum anti‐HSV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies (HSV‐IgG), an index of past infection of HSV, is associated with in vivo Aβ and tau deposition in nondemented individuals. We also investigated the modulating effect of HSV‐IgG titer on the relationship between Aβ and tau deposition.MethodA total of 426 nondemented older individuals (55‐90 years old) were recruited from the Korean Brain Aging Study for the Early Diagnosis and Prediction of Alzheimer’s Disease (KBASE) cohort. All participants underwent comprehensive clinical assessment, [11C]‐Pittsburgh Compound B positron emission tomography (PET), and blood sampling for measurement of serum HSV antibodies. A subset of participants (N = 129) underwent [18F] AV‐1451 PET. Individuals whose HSV‐IgG titer was lower than 25 percentile of the whole group was classified as the HSVlow group, while those with HSV‐IgG titer higher than 25 percentile were classified as the HSVhigh group.ResultThere was no significant difference in age, sex, clinical diagnosis (cognitive normal vs. mild cognitive impairment), and apolipoprotein E e4 positivity (APOE4) between the HSVlow (N = 106) and HSVhigh (N = 320) groups. In terms of AD biomarkers, neither global Aβ nor tau deposition was different between the HSVhigh and HSVlow groups, even after controlling the effect of age, sex, and APOE4. However, there was a significant HSV group x Aβ deposition interaction effect on tau deposition (p = 0.037), suggesting the level of HSV‐IgG modulates the relationship between Aβ and tau deposition. Subsequent subgroup analyses showed a significant positive association between Aβ and tau deposition only in the HSVhigh group (p &lt; 0.001), but not in the HSVlow group.ConclusionOur finding suggests that past HSV infection may aggravate the influence of Aβ on tau deposition. In regard of AD prevention, the result also supports that more attention needed to be paid to controlling HSV infection.

Impact of an exergame intervention on cognitive-motor functions and training experience in young team sports athletes: a non-randomized controlled trial

IntroductionTeam sports athletes need excellent perceptual-cognitive skills, particularly executive functions (EF) to strategically perform on the field. The transfer effect of cognitive training might be accomplished by the inclusion of cognitive stimuli into a physically active environment as these couplings are required in real game situations. A training approach that combines both components is exergaming. The primary objective of this study was to gain preliminary insights into the effects of exergaming on cognitive-motor functions in young team sports athletes. The secondary objective was to investigate participants' training experience and well-being over time.MethodsParticipants were assigned to the intervention or control group. In the intervention group, participants trained with the ExerCube—a mixed reality exergame. The training was planned for 10 weeks (two sessions per week à 25 min) but had to be shortened by 2 weeks due to COVID-19 restrictions. The control group had no additional training. Outcomes included a computer-based alertness test and a cognitive-motor test battery to assess different EF (flexibility, divided attention, and inhibition) via a FitLight Trainer setup.ResultsTwenty-four athletes [mean age (±SD) 15.0 ± 0.7 years], evenly split into the intervention group (N = 12; male N = 6; female N = 6; 14.7 ± 0.5 years) and the control group (N = 12; male N = 7; female N = 5; 15.3 ± 0.8 years), participated in the study. Participants in the intervention group performed on average 9.4 ± 3.3 training sessions over 8 weeks. Significant time x group interaction effects were evident for the cognitive-motor sub-tests flexibility (F = 12.176, p &amp;lt; 0.001, d = 1.488) and divided attention for auditive stimuli (F = 9.776, p = 0.002, d = 1.404) in favour of the intervention group. For the alertness test, a medium effect size (time x group interaction) was seen for the variability of the reaction time (F = 2.196, p = 0.138, d = 0.632) in favour of the intervention group. Training experience and well-being were consistently at medium to high levels.ConclusionThe ExerCube training yielded positive effects on concentration, flexibility, and divided attention indicating that exergaming can be an innovative training approach for team sports athletes.

Evaluation of a School‐Based Attention Training Program for Improving Sustained Attention

ABSTRACTThis study evaluated the impact of a theory‐driven cognitive attention training program, Keeping Score!, in improving students' sustained attention capacity. Training was based on sustained updating. Students engaged this process by mentally keeping score during an interactive game of table tennis without external aids. Students (9–11 years) were assigned to a 6‐week training program (n = 18) or an active control (n = 18). Assessments of sustained attention/working memory and parent ratings of executive function were completed at pretraining, post‐training, and 6‐week follow‐up. We found no evidence to support the efficacy of training (i.e., there was no statistically significant time × group interaction effects for any outcome). Overall, these findings add to the mixed body of literature supporting the efficacy of cognitive attention training for improving children's attentional capacity. One possibility for why the training program was unsuccessful is perhaps that cognitive attention training may not be sufficient for enhancing sustained attention.

The efficacy of citalopram or escitalopram in patients with asthma and major depressive disorder

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder is common in people with asthma. Yet, few studies have evaluated depression treatment in those with asthma. ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between antidepressant use, depressive symptoms, and asthma control, pooled data from 3 randomized trials of either citalopram or escitalopram were assessed. MethodsLinear fixed effects and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted with between-subject covariates including treatment group, (original) study, and demographics. The within-subject effect of visit, and a treatment group–visit (between-within) interaction effect, were also evaluated. Analyses were repeated in a high asthma exacerbation subgroup having at least 3 oral corticosteroid bursts in the previous 12 months. Outcomes included the Hamilton rating scale for depression (HAM-D17), the 7-item asthma control questionnaire (ACQ), and oral corticosteroid use (yes or no). ResultsIn the pooled sample (n = 255), the antidepressant treatment group exhibited lower HAM-D17 overall (P ≤ .001) and a lower likelihood for oral corticosteroid use (P ≤ .001) relative to the placebo group. In the high-exacerbation subgroup (n = 96), treatment group participants had lower overall asthma control questionnaire (P = .004) and HAM-D17 scores (P ≤ .001), and a lower likelihood of oral corticosteroid use (P = .003), relative to placebo participants. All treatment group interaction effects were not significant. ConclusionCitalopram or escitalopram exhibited efficacy in reducing depressive symptoms and the need for rescue oral corticosteroids in patients with asthma and major depressive disorder. Future work should determine whether selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are effective at improving asthma outcomes in those with asthma who are not depressed. Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00621946 and NCT01324700 (one study was conducted before ClinicalTrials.gov requirements).

Effects of a temporal self-regulation theory-based intervention on self-management in hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of a temporal self-regulation theory-based intervention on self-management in hemodialysis patients. MethodsA randomized controlled trial was carried out in Lanzhou, China. Participants were randomly allocated to either the intervention group (n = 42) or control group (n = 42). The outcomes of self-management level, interdialytic weight gain, serum potassium and serum phosphorus were collected at baseline (T0), 1 month after intervention (T1), and 2 months after follow-up (T2). ResultsAfter intervention and follow-up, the self-management score of the intervention group was significantly higher than that of the control group, while the interdialytic weight gain, serum potassium, and serum phosphorus were significantly lower. The group and time interaction effects revealed that participants in the intervention group exhibited significantly greater improvement in self-management at T1 and T2. Interdialytic weight gain decreased significantly at T2. Serum potassium levels did not differ significantly at T1 or T2. The changes in serum phosphorus were both significant at T1 and T2. ConclusionThis study demonstrated that the temporal self-regulation theory-based intervention was effective in improving hemodialysis patients’ self-management. Practice implicationsThe findings suggest popularizing and applying this intervention in the clinic to maintain the long-term effectiveness of the intervention effect.

Efficacy of spironolactone as adjunctive therapy to sodium valproate in bipolar-I disorder: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Treatment of mood and cognitive symptoms of patients with bipolar disorder is associated with many complications and is generally not associated with therapeutic satisfaction. In this clinical trial, we evaluated the effectiveness of spironolactone in controlling mood and cognitive symptoms, sleep quality, appetite, and body mass index in patients with bipolar disorder in manic episodes. Sixty inpatients with bipolar disorder in manic episodes were treated with spironolactone/placebo in an 8-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. They were evaluated using the Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), mini-mental state examination (MMSE), Pittsburgh sleep quality index, Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire, and body mass index in weeks 1, 4, and 8. For cognitive impairment (MMSE), there were significant interaction effects of group and time at week 8 (B=-1.60, SE=0.69, t=-2.33, p=.021) such that individuals in the spironolactone group experienced more improvement in their cognitive performance. For manic symptoms (YMRS), there were no significant interaction effects of group and time at week 8 (B=-2.53, SE=1.46, t=-1.73, p=.085). Considering the promising findings in this clinical trial, further study of spironolactone as adjunctive therapy in bipolar disorder in manic episodes with larger sample sizes, multicenter settings, and longer follow-ups are recommended.

Relationship between hypertension/blood pressure and hearing sensitivity among drivers: A correlation analysis.

One of the most common chronic diseases is hypertension. The majority of research has linked hearing loss to hypertension. However, the relationship between hypertension and hearing is still unknown. The primary goal of the study is to investigate the effect of hypertension on hearing and to find out the association between blood pressure levels and auditory health in auto-rickshaw drivers. The study utilized 121 healthy professional auto-drivers between the age range of 25 and 55 years. Pure-tone audiometry (PTA) and extended high-frequency audiometry (EHFA) were used to determine the participants' hearing thresholds from 0.25 to 16 kHz. The cochlear hair cell functioning was evaluated using distortion-product otoacoustic emission (DPOAE) testing. Blood pressure (mmHg) measurements were categorized under hypertension stage (normal (120; <80); elevated (120-129; <80); hypertension - stage 1 (130-139; 80-89); hypertension - stage 2 (≥140; ≥90)). The mean age of the study participants was 42.17 ± 9.03 years. The mean systolic and diastolic BP of all the study participants were 138.24 ± 19.73 (105-216) mmHg and 87.69 ± 12.14 (60-134) mmHg, respectively. BP levels were normal for 17.4% (N = 21) of the study participants, 21.5% (N = 26) had elevated blood pressure, 21.5% (N = 26) of the population falls under stage 1 hypertension, and 39.7% (N = 48) had stage 2 hypertension. Our study discovered a significant difference between main group effects and no significant difference between group interaction effects. Hearing thresholds were significantly higher in hypertensive participants compared to non-hypertensive participants. However, there was no statistically significant relationship between the two variables hypertension and hearing loss. Implementing health promotion initiatives and raising awareness about hearing health could improve the quality of life for a high-risk occupational group of drivers.

Effects of 12 weeks colostrum milk supplement among older adults: A randomised, double-blind and placebo-controlled trial

The effects of milk intake, particularly bovine colostrum-enriched skim milk among older adults, were investigated. Sixty-six adults aged 50–69 years old were recruited for a 12-weeks double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Participants were instructed to consume colostrum-enriched or placebo skim bovine milk in two sachets daily. Participants in the intervention and placebo groups showed significant (p <0.05) drop in BMI, hip circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, improvement in physical fitness test and increment in differential white cell count. Further, consumption of bovine colostrum-enriched skim milk could significantly (p <0.05) improve verbal memory (as indicated by Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test score), and reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels among older adults. However, none of the outcome measurements showed a significant interaction effect of group and time. In conclusion, consuming milk, especially the bovine colostrum-enriched skim milk could provide beneficiary health effects and promote healthy ageing among older adults.