Therapy Treatment Research Articles

Anticoagulation in embolic acute limb ischaemia-an observational study.

The management of embolic acute limb ischaemia commonly involves determining aetiology and performing emergency invasive procedures. This detailed study aimed to determine the impact of manipulation of anticoagulation in the aetiology of emboli in acute limb ischaemia and determine the efficacy of primary anticoagulation therapy vs. invasive interventions. Material and methods: Data collection was conducted at a single institution on a cohort of patients presenting consecutively with embolic acute limb ischaemia over one year. Two groups were compared, one receiving anticoagulation as primary therapy with those undergoing invasive treatment as the internal comparison group. Results: A likely haematological causation was identified in 22 of 38 presentations, related to interruption of anticoagulation in cardiac conditions, the majority atrial fibrillation (n=12), or hypercoagulable states (n=10). Limb salvage was pursued in 36 patients employing anticoagulation (n=19) or surgical embolectomy (n=17) as the primary therapy in upper and lower limbs (n=17 vs n=19 respectively). Despite delays often well beyond six hours and a range of ischaemic severity in both groups, 35 of 36 patients achieved full or substantive restoration of function with improved perfusion. Regarding anatomical distribution of arterial disease and therapy, three patients with multi-level disease proceeded to embolectomy following anticoagulation. Embolectomy was undertaken most often for proximal emboli and more profound paralysis. Conclusions: Anticoagulation and coagulopathy are commonly implicated in the aetiology of arterial emboli, with omission of effective anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation being associated in almost 1/3 of presentations. Whilst more profound limb paralysis and proximal or multi-level disease tended to be managed surgically, primary anticoagulation therapy alone or with a secondary embolectomy was effective across the spectrum of ischaemia severity and despite significant delays beyond guideline recommendations.

The Effect of Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for Optimizing Efficacy Self-Care in Cancer Patients Undergoing Treatment

Cancer is a disease that can threaten a person's life which can occur in every cancer sufferer, apart from that cancer can also cause psychological problems such as low efficacy of patient self-care which will have an impact on treatment compliance in cancer patients.Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the MBCT intervention on whether it could increase self-care efficacy in cancer patients undergoing cancer treatment. Method: The method used in this research is an experiment with a pretest-posttest design with control group design. The research subjects were 20 people who were divided into experimental and control groups with inclusive. Data analysis used the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests. Results: The results showed an increase in self-care efficacy after administering the mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) intervention with a self-care efficacy value of Z = -2.660 and p = 0.008. Conclusions: The research results show that mindfulness based cognitive behavior therapy (MBCT) can increase patient confidence in carrying out treatment regularly. Cancer patients who Applying MBCT in everyday life they can also feel the effects such as tense muscles becoming more comfortable, better conscious breathing begins to feel the impact on the subject's calmness, and increased ability to detect the body. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) changes the behavior of each participant to be able to accept themselves in any situation, more easily adapt to changes that occur in their physical and life and establish social relationships with other people.

Effects of a structured exercise therapy on health-related quality of life in pediatric stem cell transplantation

IntroductionThis randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of exercise therapy on cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and its association with health-related quality of life. The effect of exercise therapy on the quality of life of children after stem cell transplantation has not been extensively studied to date.MethodsSeventy-two children and adolescents after stem cell transplantation were randomly assigned to either an exercise therapy intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). The children in IG received sports therapy, while the children in the CG engaged in concentration tasks, memory games, and quizzes.ResultsSignificant improvements in CRF were found in IG only after discharge from the hospital. The improved CRF correlated significantly with increased health-related quality of life. However, during the inpatient phase, there was a rapid increase in CRF initially, which was accompanied by a significant reduction in health-related quality of life.ConclusionsExercise therapy can help reduce CRF and, therefore, increase health-related quality of life after the inpatient phase.

Comparative Effectiveness of Acupuncture Versus Non-surgical Modalities for Treating Plantar Fasciitis: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Plantar fasciitis, or plantar heel pain, causes inflammation of the plantar fascia due to various causes, with no clear consensus on the treatment protocol. Standard first-line treatment includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and physiotherapy. Second-line treatment prior to surgery includes extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), ultrasound-guided (USG) therapy, corticosteroid injection (CSI), and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injection. Recently, the use of acupuncture treatment has been gaining popularity, with increasing published evidence showing its effectiveness in treating plantar fasciitis. The objective of this study was to determine whether acupuncture intervention was a viable alternative treatment method for managing plantar fasciitis when compared to ESWT, USG therapy, CSI, and PRP injection. Data sources from PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure were reviewed. Clinical trials were searched from their inception over the period of January 2000 to October 2020. A total of 32 relevant papers were included for analysis, totaling 2390 samples. Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores measuring pain were analyzed in terms of outcome after one and three months of treatment. Each time point was analyzed separately through a network meta-analysis using the frequentist approach. VAS scores for each intervention at baseline and the two-time points (i.e., one and three months) were included in the comprehensive meta-analysis. Then, differences in VAS scores were calculated in R studio (V4.1.2; RStudio: Integrated Development for R,RStudio, Inc., Boston, USA) using the netmeta package. The netmeta package was also used to perform the network meta-analysis and generate corresponding figures. Direct and indirect effects were assessed and visualized through a direct evidence plot and a node-splitting forest plot. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs involving treatments of acupuncture, ESWT, USG therapy, CSI, or PRP injection, either in comparison with each other or with a placebo, were included in our review. Our meta-analysis showed that at one month, VAS scores for acupuncture treatment had the highest mean difference (MD) of -1.33 (95% confidence interval (95% CI) = -2.19 to -0.46) compared to placebo, indicating thatacupuncture treatment was more effective than other treatment arms when compared to placebo. Analysis at threemonths showed that the highest-ranked treatment was PRP injection, with an MD of -2.67 (95% CI = -6.23 to 0.89). However, the CI for the net effect of all treatments crossed the null effect on the forest plot, indicating no statistically significant difference between the treatment and placebo. Acupuncture treatment should be considered as a second-line treatment for treatment of plantar fasciitis together with other common treatment options such as ESWT, PRP injection, CSI, and USG therapy. Further long-term studies measuring acupuncture treatment outcomes would be beneficial in the future.

A study to assess the effectiveness of sacral massage and music therapy on pain perception and birth satisfaction among women in labor at selected hospital at Dindigul

The study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of sacral massage and music therapy on pain perception and birth satisfaction among women in labor at selected hospital, at Dindigul. The research approach used for the study was evaluative approach. The research design used for the present study was quasi experimental non-equivalent control group post test only design. The conceptual framework was based on Modified Wiedenbach’s helping art clinical theory (1964). The samples were selected by non - probability purposive sampling technique. Sample size was 60 mothers out of which 30 were in experimental group and 30 were in control group. The tool used for this study was to assess the level of pain perception by using numerical pain rating scale and to assess the birth satisfaction by using birth satisfaction scale. The intervention of sacral massage and music therapy was given. The mean post test score of pain perception in experimental group and control group was 6(SD±0.66) and 8.13(SD±0.66). Respectively mean difference was 2.13. The calculated independent “t” value was 50.45 was significant at p< 0.05, level, which showed that sacral massage, and music therapy was effective in reducing pain perception among women in labor. the mean post test score of birth satisfaction in experimental group and control group was 107.4(SD±6.36) and 83.6(SD±6.12). The mean difference was 23.8 the calculated independent “t” value was 16.08 was significant at p< 0.05, level, which showed that sacral massage and music therapy was effective in improving birth Satisfaction among women in labor. The findings revealed that there is no significant association between post-test level of pain perception and demographic variables. Except religion (χ2 = 119.9), educational status (χ2 = 13.2), occupation (χ2 = 16.25) at P < 0.05 level of significance in experimental group. The findings revealed that there is no significant association between post test level of birth satisfaction and demographic variables. Except age in year (χ2 = 8.1), educational status (χ2= 313.4), occupation (χ2= 31.7), and age at marriage (χ2= 189.6) at P < 0.05 level of significance in experimental group. The statistical findings revealed that sacral massage and music therapy was beneficial and there was a significant reduction in pain perception and improving birth satisfaction among women in labor in experimental group.

Cardiometabolic Index and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A population-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death worldwide and constitutes a global health problem. The cardiometabolic index (CMI) is a new metric that combines abdominal obesity and lipid levels. Studies have shown that the prevalence of lipid metabolism disorders is greater among COPD patients and that the CMI can help reveal the potential role of lipid metabolism in disease progression by assessing the body's metabolic status; however, the association between the CMI and COPD is not known. ObjectiveTo explore the association between the CMI and the prevalence of COPD. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted with 14,340 participants aged ≥ 20 years from the 2007–2018 NHANES databases. To assess the relationship between the CMI and the odds of COPD prevalence, we performed multivariate logistic regression analyses, subgroup analysis interaction tests, smoothed curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses. ResultsThe study included a total of 14,340 participants, 48.49 % male and 51.51 % female, and the average age was 49.75 ± 17.49 years. According to the regression model adjusted for all confounding variables, participants in the highest quartile of the CMI had 22 % greater odds of having COPD than did those in the lowest quartile (OR = 1.22, 95 % CI: 1.03, 1.21, p = 0.010). A nonlinear association was found between the CMI and COPD, with an inflection point of 0.26. The OR (95 % CI) before the inflection point was 1.27 (1.12, 1.44), p = 0.0002. The interaction was statistically significant only in the sex analysis. ConclusionsThe level of the CMI and the odds of COPD prevalence were positively correlated in our study. These findings suggest that managing abdominal obesity and lipid levels may help prevent or mitigate COPD, emphasizing the potential value of the CMI as an indicator for early intervention and precision therapy.

Axonal Regeneration after Spinal Cord Injury: Molecular Mechanisms, Regulatory Pathways, and Novel Strategies.

Axonal regeneration in the spinal cord after traumatic injuries presents a challenge for researchers, primarily due to the nature of adult neurons and the inhibitory environment that obstructs neuronal regrowth. Here, we review current knowledge of the intricate network of molecular and cellular mechanisms that hinder axonal regeneration, with a focus on myelin-associated inhibitors (MAIs) and other inhibitory guidance molecules, as well as the pivotal pathways implicated in both inhibiting and facilitating axonal regrowth, such as PKA/AMP, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and Trk, alongside the regulatory roles of neurotrophins and axonal guidance cues. We also examine current insights into gene therapy, tissue engineering, and pharmacological interventions that show promise in overcoming barriers to axonal regrowth.

The Effect of Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) Intervention on Reducing Anxiety and Improving the Quality of Self-Coping of Pregnant Women in the Working Area of the Nilam Sari Community Health Center, Bukittinggi City 2015

One indicator of the success of health services is reflected in the decline in maternal mortality. but in reality in Indonesia it is still relatively high. One of the factors that affect the health of pregnant women is excessive anxiety. The result of various studies in the world show, excessive anxiety in pregnancy adversely affect the quality of pregnancy and can lead to complications, mental health development of children. This study aims, know the effect of interventions Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) to decrease anxiety and quality of coping pregnant women in the region Puskesmas Nilam Sari Bukittinggi 2015. The method used in this study is Quasy Experiment design non randomized pretest – post test without control with a sample of 16 pregnant women categories moderate to very hight anxiety. Measuring Instruments used quesionnaires Pregnancy Anxiety Scale (PSA), Pregnancy Related Anxiety Scale (PRAS), Revised Ways Of Coping Scale (WCQR), and an Intervention Module designed practicing with psychologist regarding principle of step Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). Analysis of data using Friedman test, Wilcoxon and Marginal Homogeneity test.

Mesenteric ischemia caused by chronic occlusion of multiple mesenteric arteries: a case report

PurposeChronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) is a rare disease that progresses with acute mesenteric ischemia, along with high mortality. How to choose the appropriate surgical method and the artery which should be opened first is the key to the treatment.Case reportIn this study, we successively used vascular bypass and endovascular therapy to treat a case of complex chronic mesenteric ischemia.ConclusionFor mesenteric ischemic disease, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) should be opened preferentially. Arterial bypass or interventional therapy can be used, or both can be combined, to finally achieve the purpose of treatment.

Rapid bone destruction caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa septic arthritis: A case report.

Infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa are strongly associated with poor outcomes, including prolonged hospitalization and an increased risk of mortality. Antimicrobial options for the treatment of severe infections due to MDR P aeruginosa are quite limited, and treatment remains challenging. A 65-year-old woman presented to our orthopedic clinic with a 3-month history of progressive pain and stiffness in her left knee. Her primary care provider administered a hyaluronic acid injection, which unfortunately resulted in worsening symptoms. Subsequent treatment included a 1-month course of intravenous gentamicin and ceftriaxone, which failed to alleviate her symptoms. MDR P aeruginosa septic arthritis of the knee. The culture isolate was tested for susceptibility to multiple antibiotics. Magnetic resonance imaging evaluations were conducted, showing notable erosive and osteolytic changes around the joint surfaces that had progressed significantly. The patient underwent arthroscopic irrigation and synovectomy. The treatment regimen included a combination of intravenous colistin and piperacillin/tazobactam administered over a 6-week period. Total knee arthroplasty was performed 6 months later without additional antibiotic treatment. Patient's knee condition remained continuously stable without abnormal findings of inflammation. The patient's knee range of motion increased 0 to 125 degrees, her pain almost disappeared, and she was able to maintain activities of daily life. This case underscores the challenges of managing infections with MDR organisms in complex clinical scenarios, emphasizing the need for timely intervention and appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy for negative symptoms of schizophrenia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Cognitive-behavioral intervention techniques are increasingly demonstrating their efficacy in preventing relapses and managing problems in patients with schizophrenia. There is still variation in its effectiveness for negative symptoms, such as mood-related symptoms and motivation to engage socially. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science for English literature on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) interventions in patients with schizophrenia. The search included randomized controlled trials and nonrandomized controlled trials. The search period extended from the inception of the databases to September 30, 2022. Two researchers independently performed quality assessment and data extraction based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion or consultation with a third researcher. Initially, 169 articles were retrieved through database searches and other means. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 10 randomized controlled studies were included in the final analysis. The intervention group comprised a total of 680 patients with schizophrenia, while the control group included 686 patients with schizophrenia. Meta-analysis results demonstrated a statistically significant difference in negative symptom reduction between the CBT intervention group (WMD = -1.19, 95% CI [-1.73, -0.66], P < .0001) and the control group. We have analyzed the effectiveness of CBT based on our previous research, CBT was found to effectively improve negative symptoms in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Rehabilitation of patients with vulvovaginal atrophy

Background. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) is characterized by a number of pathological changes, in particular urological disorders, vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and sexual dysfunction. They are commonly accompanied by decreased quality of life (QoL) and often require medical intervention. At the same time, the steps taken to effectively solve this problem are not enough. Thus, it seems relevant to search for rehabilitation methods for VVA patients.Objective: to determine the effectiveness of current rehabilitation methods for VVA patients.Material and methods. The search of publications in international scientific databases PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, search engines and eLibrary revealed 4,330 publications, of them 44 sources were selected for the analysis after the screening procedure according to PRISMA scheme.Results. VVA is based on decreased serum estrogen level and estrogen receptors quantity. Estrogen is a vasoactive hormone that promotes blood supply to the genitals and is involved in maintaining the normal genitourinary microflora. This may occur in women for age-related reasons or as a result of ongoing therapy or radical surgical intervention. At the same time, GSM is often formed, where VVA is one of the key elements. These changes are accompanied by sexual dysfunction, distress and decreased overall QoL in women. It is advisable to carry out complex personalized rehabilitation and QoL monitoring for such patients. The effectiveness of estrogen-containing therapy for topical use as well as adjunctive therapy with non-hormonal lubricants and moisturizing gels or creams was shown for VVA patients.Conclusion. It was determined that VVA symptoms, in general, significantly affect the patients’ QoL, regardless of age. The necessity of developing specialized rehabilitation programs conducted by specialists of various profiles was noted. The effectiveness of these programs will be higher with timely diagnosis, which also requires significant attention.

Breathing for Two: Asthma Management, Treatment, and Safety of Pharmacological Therapy during Pregnancy.

The primary objectives of asthma management during pregnancy are to achieve adequate symptom control, reduce the risk of acute exacerbations, and maintain normal pulmonary function, all of which contribute to ensuring the health and well-being of both the mother and the baby. The Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) recommends that pregnant women with asthma continue using asthma medications throughout pregnancy, as the benefits of well-controlled asthma for both the mother and fetus outweigh the potential risks of medication side effects, poorly controlled asthma, and exacerbations. The classification of asthma medications by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) into categories A, B, C, D, and X is no longer applied. Instead, the potential benefits and risks of each medication during pregnancy and lactation are considered individually. The use of medications to achieve good asthma control and prevent exacerbations during pregnancy is justified, encompassing inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), some leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRA), short-acting beta-2 agonists (SABA), long-acting beta-2 agonists (LABA), short-acting muscarinic antagonists (SAMA), long-acting muscarinic antagonists (LAMA), and, recently, biological therapies, even in the absence of definitive safety data during pregnancy.

Thermomechanical interaction in a living tissue due to variable thermal loading with memory

AbstractIn order to address various clinical applications within living tissue, the aim of this work is to analytically study the thermomechanical interaction for a living tissue which is subjected to variable thermal loadings. Human tissues undergoing regional hyperthermia treatment for cancer therapy is based on graded changes of the cells, and as a consequences, the constitutive equations have been formulated using the nonlocal elasticity theory. The heat transport equation for the present problem is formulated in the context of Moore‐Gibson‐Thompson theory of generalized thermoelasticity assimilating the memory‐dependent derivative within a slipping interval. Both the boundaries of the tissue is maintaining the condition of zero traction. The lower boundary of the tissue is subjected to prescribed thermal loading while, the upper boundary is kept at zero temperature. Utilizing the Laplace transform mechanism, the governing equations have been solved and the general solutions have been obtained in the transformed domain. In order to arrive at the solutions in the real space‐time domain, suitable inversion of the Laplace transform has been carried out numerically using the method of Zakian. Numerical findings suggest that thermomechanical waves propagate through skin tissue over finite distances, which helps mitigate the unrealistic predictions made by the Pennes' model. Significant effect due to different effective parameter such as nonlocal parameter and the time‐delay parameter is reported. Also, how a nonlinear kernel function can be more effective in bio‐heat transfer, is outlined in the study also.

Evolution of treatment for unspecific back pain: From past to future.

Unspecific back pain (UBP) has long puzzled medical professionals. Historically, back pain (BP) was often attributed to mystical causes, treated with incantations or herbal concoctions. The Middle Ages shifted towards empirical practices, though still intertwined with superstition, using methods like leeches and bloodletting. The Renaissance introduced systematic healthcare approaches, laying the foundation for modern medicine. The 20th century saw significant advancements with diagnostic imaging, pharmacotherapy, physical therapy, and surgical interventions, though UBP remained elusive. Recent decades have seen a paradigm shift towards multidisciplinary approaches, addressing BP's multifactorial nature through holistic methods considering biomechanical, psychosocial, and lifestyle factors. This shift integrates quantitative research with hermeneutic interpretation, emphasizing evidence-based guidelines. Non-pharmacological interventions such as exercise therapy, electrotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction have gained prominence, empowering individuals in their recovery. Technological innovations like virtual reality and artificial intelligence offer personalized treatment plans, optimizing outcomes. The future of BP treatment holds promise with advancements in regenerative medicine, neuromodulation, telemedicine, and remote monitoring platforms, enhancing accessibility and continuity of care, especially in underserved communities. However, challenges such as the opioid epidemic and healthcare disparities remain, necessitating judicious prescribing practices and equitable resource distribution. The evolving treatment landscape for UBP reflects the dynamic interplay between scientific progress, clinical innovation, and societal needs, aiming to alleviate the burden of back pain and improve quality of life.

Psychological and Clinical Challenges in the Management of Type 1 Diabetes during Adolescence: A Narrative Review.

Adolescence, a critical period of physical and psychological development, presents unique challenges in type 1 diabetes (T1D) management due to endocrinological changes, reduced therapeutic adherence, and elevated susceptibility to psychological issues such as depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. This narrative review explores the impact of psychological and behavioral factors on glycemic control in adolescents with T1D. We examine the prevalence and influence of mental health disorders, lifestyle factors, harmful behaviors, and social dynamics on diabetes management and glycemic outcomes. Strategies for improving metabolic control are also reviewed, including cognitive behavioral therapy, technological devices, and educational interventions. The importance of tailored psychological support, family involvement, and targeted interventions to improve adherence to treatment and glycemic control in adolescents with T1D should be emphasized.

Inborn errors of immunity and invasive fungal infections: presentation and management.

We review the clinical presentations of invasive fungal infections in a selection of inborn errors of immunity. In addition, we review the particularities of their management, including antifungal therapy, prophylaxis, and immunomodulatory treatments. Patients with chronic granulomatous disease and with signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) deficiency are particularly prone to aspergillosis. Mold-active antifungal prophylaxis should be prescribed to all patients with chronic granulomatous disease, and in patients with STAT3 deficiency and underlying parenchymal lung disease. Invasive fungal infections are rare in patients with STAT1 gain-of-function mutations, while the clinical phenotype of caspase-associated recruitment domain-containing protein 9 deficiency encompasses a wide range of superficial and invasive fungal infections. Most patients with inborn errors of immunity and invasive fungal infections require prolonged durations of antifungals. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation should be considered early for patients with chronic granulomatous disease, but results have been more mixed for other inborn errors of immunity with active invasive fungal infections. Inborn errors of immunity can confer increased susceptibility to a variety of invasive fungal infections, which can present with specific clinical and radiological features. Management of fungal infections in these patients is often challenging, and relies on a combination of antimicrobial prophylaxis, antifungal treatments, and immunomodulation.

Shaping corticospinal pathways in virtual reality: effects of task complexity and sensory feedback during mirror therapy in neurologically intact individuals

BackgroundRestoration of limb function for individuals with unilateral weakness typically requires volitional muscle control, which is often not present for individuals with severe impairment. Mirror therapy—interventions using a mirror box to reflect the less-impaired limb onto the more-impaired limb—can facilitate corticospinal excitability, leading to enhanced recovery in severely impaired clinical populations. However, the mirror box applies limitations on mirror therapy, namely that all movements appear bilateral and are confined to a small area, impeding integration of complex activities and multisensory feedback (e.g., visuo-tactile stimulation). These limitations can be addressed with virtual reality, but the resulting effect on corticospinal excitability is unclear.ObjectiveExamine how virtual reality-based unilateral mirroring, complex activities during mirroring, and visuo-tactile stimulation prior to mirroring affect corticospinal excitability.Materials and methodsParticipants with no known neurological conditions (n = 17) donned a virtual reality system (NeuRRoVR) that displayed a first-person perspective of a virtual avatar that matched their motions. Transcranial magnetic stimulation-induced motor evoked potentials in the nondominant hand muscles were used to evaluate corticospinal excitability in four conditions: resting, mirroring, mirroring with prior visuo-tactile stimulation (mirroring + TACT), and control. During mirroring, the movements of each participant’s dominant limb were reflected onto the nondominant limb of the virtual avatar, and the avatar’s dominant limb was kept immobile (i.e., unilateral mirroring). The mirroring + TACT condition was the same as the mirroring condition, except that mirroring was preceded by visuo-tactile stimulation of the nondominant limb. During the control condition, unilateral mirroring was disabled. During all conditions, participants performed simple (flex/extend fingers) and complex (stack virtual blocks) activities.ResultsWe found that unilateral mirroring increased corticospinal excitability compared to no mirroring (p < 0.001), complex activities increased excitability compared to simple activities during mirroring (p < 0.001), and visuo-tactile stimulation prior to mirroring decreased excitability (p = 0.032). We also found that these features did not interact with each other.DiscussionsThe findings of this study shed light onto the neurological mechanisms of mirror therapy and demonstrate the unique ways in which virtual reality can augment mirror therapy. The findings have important implications for rehabilitation for design of virtual reality systems for clinical populations.

Efficacy of predictive pain intervention in patients with aortic dissection.

Aortic dissection is usually managed with interventional therapy, conservative therapy, and surgery to inhibit disease progression and improve prognoses. Nevertheless, the absence of meticulous and effective nursing during the treatment greatly increases the complication rates, which is detrimental to the recovery of patients. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of predictive pain intervention in the nursing process of patients with aortic dissection. Sixty patients with aortic dissection who were admitted to our hospital from December 2018 to December 2020 were observed in this study. Specifically, these patients were randomly and equally classified into Group A (patients who were given conventional nursing intervention) and Group B (patients who were given predictive pain intervention). Subsequently, the pain score, complication rates, and nursing satisfaction in the two groups were compared and analyzed. Compared with patients in Group A, patients in Group B had significantly lower pain scores (P< 0.05); complication rates were significantly lower in Group B than in Group A (6.67% vs. 23.33%, P< 0.05); patient satisfaction with care was significantly better in Group B compared to Group A (96.67% vs. 73.33%, P< 0.05). Predictive pain intervention is widely recognized as useful in the treatment of patients with aortic dissection. It has significant clinical application value as it can largely alleviate pain and is relatively safe for patients.

Artificial intelligence techniques in liver cancer.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC), the most common primary liver cancer, is a significant contributor to worldwide cancer-related deaths. Various medical imaging techniques, including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound, play a crucial role in accurately evaluating HCC and formulating effective treatment plans. Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies have demonstrated potential in supporting physicians by providing more accurate and consistent medical diagnoses. Recent advancements have led to the development of AI-based multi-modal prediction systems. These systems integrate medical imaging with other modalities, such as electronic health record reports and clinical parameters, to enhance the accuracy of predicting biological characteristics and prognosis, including those associated with HCC. These multi-modal prediction systems pave the way for predicting the response to transarterial chemoembolization and microvascular invasion treatments and can assist clinicians in identifying the optimal patients with HCC who could benefit from interventional therapy. This paper provides an overview of the latest AI-based medical imaging models developed for diagnosing and predicting HCC. It also explores the challenges and potential future directions related to the clinical application of AI techniques.