Normal Activity Levels Research Articles

Positive Relationship Between Physical Activity and Emotional Mental Health In Housewives

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity and emotional mental health in housewives. This research is correlational with a cross-sectional study approach. A total of 35 women with criteria, namely being housewives, aged 20-30 years, living with their husbands, having children at least 2 years old, domiciled in Malang Regency, East Java, Indonesia voluntarily participated as respondents in this study by filling out and signing informed consent. The level of physical activity in this study was measured using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) and emotional mental health levels were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS42). Measurements of the level of physical activity and the level of emotional mental health were carried out simultaneously. The data analysis technique used the Chi-Square test with a statistical software package for social sciences (SPSS) version 21.0 with a significance level of 5%. The results of the analysis of the average level of physical activity of housewives in the medium category were 45.72% (16 people), the low category was 25.71% (9 people) and the high category was 28.57% (10 people). The average emotional-mental health of housewives in the normal category was 45.72% (16 people), mild 17.14% (6 people), moderate 20.00% (7 people), and heavy 17.14% ( 6 people). The results of the Chi-Square test show that there is a positive relationship between physical activity and emotional-mental health with the Pearson Chi-Square value of 55.222 and p-value=0.000. Based on the results of the study, it was concluded that there was a positive relationship between physical activity and emotional-mental health in housewives.

Comparative evaluation of pre and post operative functional outcomes determined by Lysholm knee score of patients undergoing arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

<p><strong>Background:</strong> The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the primary stabilizer of the knee joint and prevents the knee against anterior translation. After ACL tears, most patients experience recurrent episodes of instability (give way), pain and decreased function. Purpose of our study was to comparative evaluation of functional outcomes of pre and post operative patients after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction by using Lysholm knee score and its complications.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This is a prospective interventional study which were included total 45 patients undergoing arthroscopic ACL reconstruction by using hamstring autograft. Postoperatively patients were followed up at 6, 9 and 12 months for functional assessment by using Lysholm knee score.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> After ACL reconstruction increment in mean Lysholm knee score during follow up from 69.33 to 96.03 at final followup (p<0.001) which indicate that significant improvement in functional status of patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Reconstruction of ACL leads the patient to return to a normal activity level and prevent the occurrence of associate meniscal injury and post-traumatic osteoarthritis. A regular followup based and well-organized rehabilitation program provide a key role in functional outcome of knee after ACL reconstruction.</p>

Numerical studies on micro-cracking behavior of transversely isotropic argillaceous siltstone in Longyou Grottoes under three-point bending

Longyou Grottoes, the underground projects with a rich history of thousands of years, are one of the key cultural relics to be protected in China and are actively preparing to apply for a world cultural heritage site. However, due to the shallow buried argillaceous siltstone with low-strength bedding planes, some cavern roofs experienced apparent breakages or large-scale collapses. Clarifying the roof deformation and failure mechanism is essential for the long-term protection of the historical relic and sustainable development of tourism. Productive previous work proved that three-point bending tests of rock samples could reproduce stress states of cavern roofs. Therefore, three-point bending numerical models with various bedding plane structures for Longyou argillaceous siltstone are created in this study to investigate the rock mechanical behaviors. The simulation results show that as bedding mechanical properties decrease, the bending strength (BS) has a slow to fast decrease, indicating that timely protection in Longyou Grottoes before the BS drops sharply is conducive to preventing roof failures. This declining trend is further accelerated when the bedding dip angle changes from horizontal to vertical. Dip angles, mechanical properties, and spacings of bedding planes control fracture modes of models. Moreover, the fitted Gutenberg–Richter-type relationships between acoustic emission (AE) moment magnitudes and logarithmic AE events present high average activity levels and high proportions of large AE events in both bedding planes and rock matrix for models with strong, dispersedly distributed, and near-horizontal bedding planes. In summary, the simulation results reveal the impacts of transverse isotropy in surrounding rocks on roof bending failures, which may provide a valuable reference for the reinforcement and protection of Longyou Grottoes.

Antiinflammation activity of Muntingia calabura L. leaves ethanol, ethylacetate and chloroform extracts

Muntingia calabura L. leaves extract are reported rich in flavonoidal compounds which shows a potential activity such as antidiabetic, antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory. Several subgroups of flavonoid compounds include flavones, flavanones, flavans and biflavans. This study aimed to analyze the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic, ethylacetate, and chloroform extracts of M. calabura L. leaves. The extraction process was carried out by maceration, where the yield of the three solvents were 19.14%; 8.41% and 6.59% w/w, respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity was carried out by observing a decrease in edema due to 1% carrageenan induction after 4 hours. The statistical results of anti-inflammatory activity showed that the ethanol extract had a significant difference with the positive control of p value < 0.05 in which a dose of 240 mg showed a decrease in edema volume (IEV) that was closed to the positive control (acetosal = 52.12%) which was 62.51% compared to the dose 60 mg and 120 mg. Furthermore, the % IEV of ethyl acetate extract of M. calabura L. leaves at a dose of 60, 120, and 240 mg were 36.30%, 26.83%, 24.24%, respectively. These results demonstrated that an average level of anti-inflammatory activity was 22.89%, and was closed to the dose of 500 mg/kg of acetosal-induced mice. Finally, the chloroform extract with the dose of 60 mg, 120 mg, 240 mg had a significant value of p < 0.05 with a positive control (acetosal). It could be concluded that the ethanol, ethylacetate and chloroform extracts of M. calabura L. leaves may have anti-inflammatory potential with acetosal as a comparison.

P-066 ABDOMINAL WALL RECONSTRUCTION FOLLOWING FULL THICKNESS BILATERAL RUPTURE OF THE RECTUS ABDOMINIS

Abstract Introduction Rupture of the rectus abdominis is rare injury with no consensus on management. Previous reported cases have been due to exercise-related injuries and blunt abdominal trauma. We report the case of a 20-year-old male trainee paratrooper who presented with severe lower abdominal pain that occurred during military training. MRI revealed full-thickness bilateral rupture of the rectus abdominis. Abdominal wall reconstruction involved bilateral rectus muscle repair and placement of a biosynthetic mesh in the retrorectus plane. Postoperatively, our patient could walk pain-free at 3 weeks, jog pain-free at 10 weeks, and run up to 2 miles at 25 weeks. Methods Pubmed, Medline and Embase were searched to identify relevant studies using the MeSH terms, “rectus abdominis” and “rupture”, as well as their free text counterparts and synonyms. Texts were restricted to publications in English and publications after the year 2000. The search resulted in 391 articles. Manual cross-referencing was performed, limiting the included articles to 8 for review. Results 6 out of the 8 selected articles discussed management using conservative means, while only 2 cases were managed surgically. Interestingly, no other exercise-related cases in the literature were managed surgically. Instead, all exercise related cases were managed conservatively, while only cases of traumatic aetiology were managed surgically. Among both surgically and conservatively treated patients, none suffered any treatment related complications, and all patients returned to normal levels of activity. Conclusion Full-thickness, bilateral rupture of the rectus abdominis can occur during exercise. Surgical and conservative treatment yield similar results.

Analytical performance verification protocols and performance specifications of platelet-dependent von Willebrand factor activity testing

Objective: To investigate the analytical performance verification protocols and performance specifications of platelet-dependent von Willebrand factor (VWF) activity testing (VWF:GPIbM) for clinical laboratories. Methods: According to Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) documents and National Health Standard of China, the performance verification of VWF:GPIbM was designed and implemented using Sysmex CS-5100 instrument and its corresponding reagents. (1) Precision verification: Two commercial quality control samples (with normal and low activity levels) and three plasma pools (with activity range from 5.0% to 150.0%) were prepared. Each sample was tested five times daily for five consecutive days. The coefficient of variation (CV) of intra-and inter-run precisions were calculated, and the precision evaluation criterion was set according to package inserts. (2) Trueness verification: The calibrator was diluted to five reference materials with activity values of 5.2%, 31.2%, 62.4%, 104.0% and 138.7%, and each reference material was tested five times daily for five consecutive days. The bias between the measured value and the reference value was calculated, and the trueness evaluation criterion was set according to the total allowable error. (3) Linearity verification: Ten pooled plasmas with theoretical value range from 3.6% to 160.4% were prepared for the linearity verification of two calibration curves set by the manufacturer (i.e. low range and normal range calibration curve). Each pooled plasma was tested three times in a single run. The slope and R2 of linear regression of mean of measured value and theoretical value, as well as bias, were calculated, and the linearity evaluation criterion was set according to National Health Standard of China and package inserts. (4) Limit of quantitation verification: The calibrator was diluted to two reference materials with activity values of 3.3% and 2.7%, and each material was tested twelve times. The limit of quantitation evaluation criterion was set according to CLSI document. Results: The CVs of intra-and inter-run were 1.0%-2.5% and 1.1%-2.6%, respectively. The biases of trueness verification were -0.4%, 1.0%, -2.6%, 0.3% and -2.7%, respectively. The linearity verification results of low range (3.6%-31.8%) and normal range (28.4%-160.4%) showed that the slopes of regression equation were 1.021 7 and 0.996 2, respectively, R2 were 0.993 5 and 0.993 9, respectively, and the biases with 0-1.8% and -10.1%-0 of plasmas met the criterion. The biases ranged from -0.4% to 0.3% of test results in the verification of limit of quantitation met the criterion. Conclusion: The verification results of VWF:GPIbM assay for precision, trueness, linearity and limit of quantification meet the performance requirements indicated in the package inserts and the criteria set in this study, which can be taken as a reference of performance verification for the clinical laboratories.

ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ ЕЛЕМЕНТІВ ПРОБЛЕМНОГО НАВЧАННЯ ЯК ЗАСІБ ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ УРОКУ БІОЛОГІЇ В СУЧАСНІЙ ШКОЛІ

Modern extremely difficult working conditions encourage teachers to make changes in the theory of pedagogy and the practice of the modern educational process. The concept of the New Ukrainian School envisages an orientation towards learning that will develop critical and productive thinking of schoolchildren, their creative approach to solving emerging problems. In the conditions of modern education, it becomes an objective necessity for the teacher to master and use innovative technologies in his lessons during training. Innovative learning is based on a certain number of technologies, among which there is also a place for problem-based learning. The article substantiates the expediency and investigates the possibility of using elements of problem-based learning in biology lessons as a means of increasing the effectiveness of the lesson in a modern school. 28 students of the 10th grade of secondary comprehensive school in Dnipro took part in the study, which was conducted in three stages. In order to find out the influence of elements of problem-based learning on increasing the effectiveness of the lesson, we used: problem situations, problem questions and tasks that were aimed at increasing the level of mental development of schoolchildren, their ability to independently search for new knowledge and creativity. The level of cognitive activity of students in biology lessons was assessed using the B. Pashnev questionnaire. The analysis of the results shows that at the beginning of the study, both girls and boys mainly had an average level of cognitive activity in class (72%). 18% of students had a low level of cognitive activity, and 10% of students had a high level. After the active use of elements of problem-based learning in lessons, a high level of cognitive activity became characteristic of 14% of students, i.e., the number of children with this level increased by 4%; the average level increased by 5% compared to the previous survey; the low level decreased by 9%. Thus, the elements of problem-based learning that were used to increase the effectiveness of the lesson are justified. It is important to use active learning methods that correspond to the learning content. It is in this way that it is possible to develop in students the ability to independently apply the acquired knowledge in non-standard situations. Key words: problem-based learning, motivational activity, problem situation, problem task, problem questions.

The effect of some trace elements on the expression of telomerase gene in lung cancer

Lung cancer is a disorder that begins due to genetic and epigenetic changes. These changes cause the activation of oncogenes and the inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. Various factors influence the expression of these genes. In this research, we investigated the relationship between the number of trace elements zinc and copper and the ratio of these two in serum with the expression of the telomerase enzyme gene in lung cancer. For this purpose, we included 50 people with lung cancer in the study as the case group and 20 patients with non-tumor lung diseases as the control group. The TRAP assay method measured the telomerase activity in biopsy samples of lung tumor tissue. Also, serum copper and zinc were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The results showed that the mean serum concentration of copper and the ratio of copper to zinc in patients were significantly higher than in the controls (120.8 ± 5.7 versus 107.2 ± 6.5μg/dL)(P<0.05). However, there is no significant difference in the mean serum concentration of zinc between the two groups (p > 0.05). The patients' mean ratio of copper to zinc is significantly higher than the control group (1.6 ± 0.4 versus 1.1 ± 0.2)(p < 0.05). The average level of telomerase enzyme activity of patients showed a significant difference from the control group 32.8 ± 16.1 vs. zero percent) (p < 0.01). There is a direct and significant correlation between the serum level of copper and the level of telomerase enzyme activity in patients (r = 0.36 and p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between total serum copper concentration and the increasing age of patients (r = 0.39 and p < 0.01). The correlation between the ratio of copper to zinc and the serum copper concentration of the patients was positive and significant (r = 0.36 and p < 0.05), but the correlation between the amount of serum zinc and the ratio of copper to zinc was negative and significant (r = -0/ 72 and p < 0.01). The average copper serum concentration of people with small cell carcinoma (123.7 ± 2.8 μg/dL) compared to non-small cell carcinoma (117.6 ± 4.8 μg/dL) is high and significant (P< 0.05). Patients with small cell carcinoma had a high mean telomerase concentration (112 ± 0.57%) and significantly compared to non-small cell carcinomas (6.4 ± 2.5%)(P < 0.05). This situation regarding the zinc element and the ratio of copper to zinc in non-small cell carcinomas compared to small cell carcinomas were evaluated as non-significant (P>0.05). Based on the obtained results, it can be assumed that determining the amount of zinc and copper and the telomerase enzyme activity in lung cancer can have a biological role in the initiation and progression of tumor tissue, which requires more studies.

Symptom persistence and recovery among COVID-19 survivors during a limited outbreak in Canterbury, New Zealand: a prospective cohort study.

BackgroundIn Canterbury, near complete identification of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) cases during a limited outbreak provides unique insights into sequelae.AimsThe current study aimed to measure symptom persistence, time to return to normal activity, generalised anxiety and health‐related quality of life (HrQoL) among COVID‐19 survivors compared with uninfected participants.MethodsThe authors conducted a prospective cohort study of people tested for COVID‐19 by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction of nasopharyngeal swabs from 1 March to 30 June 2020. They enrolled participants who tested positive and negative at a 1:2 ratio, and administered community‐acquired pneumonia, 7‐item generalised anxiety disorder (GAD‐7) and HrQoL (RAND‐36) questionnaires.ResultsThe authors recruited 145 participants, 48 with COVID‐19 and 97 without COVID‐19. The mean time from COVID‐19 testing to completing the health questionnaire was 306 days. The mean age of patients was 46.7 years, and 70% were women. Four (8%) COVID‐19–positive and eight (8%) COVID‐19–negative participants required hospitalisation. Fatigue (30/48 [63%] vs 13/97 [13%]; P < 0.001), dyspnoea (13/48 [27%] vs 6/97 [6%]; P < 0.001) and chest pain (10/48 [21%] vs 1/97 [1%]; P < 0.001) were persistent in those with COVID‐19. Fewer COVID‐19–positive participants returned to normal activity levels (35/48 [73%] vs 94/97 97%; P < 0.001), with longer times taken (median 21 vs 14 days; P = 0.007). The GAD‐7 and RAND‐36 scores of both groups were similar across all anxiety and HrQoL subscales.ConclusionsPersistent symptoms and longer recovery times were found in COVID‐19 survivors, but not impaired generalised anxiety levels or HrQoL compared with COVID‐19–uninfected participants.

Особенности образа мира студентов, склонных к суицидальному поведению

Introduction. The issue of preventing suicidal behavior among young men becomes more and more serious every year in the context of modern teaching in the system of higher education. Within the framework of this work, an attempt has been made to identify such suicidal factors that would combine the above-described phenomena for possible further development of psychoprophylactic measures with tools at the disposal of higher education. This issue is actively studied in modern science, but mostly research on this topic focuses on teenagers, although the issue of suicidality is also acute in adolescence. The purpose of the article is to study the features of the image of the world in students who are prone to suicidal behavior. Methodology and methods: to study the propensity to suicidal behavior, the following methods were used: CP-45 by P.I. Yunatskevich, A Suicide Risk Questionnaire modified by T.N. Razuvaeva. To study the features of the image of the world, the following methods were used: The Methodology of Ideological Activity by D.A. Leontiev, A.N. Ilchenko; The System of Life Meanings Methodology by V.Y. Kotlyakov; The Value Orientations Methodology by M. Rokich (with modification of the research procedure by D.A. Leontiev). Results. The content aspect of the worldview as the core of the image of the world of a person prone to suicidal behavior is aimed at communicative meanings, while neglecting altruistic, family, hedonistic and self-realization meanings. The value image of an ideal personality in young men prone to suicidal behavior includes an image aimed at ethical and conformist values. The degree of activity in understanding the world by a person prone to suicidal behavior is at a high level. The greatest antisuicidal power in this aspect is the average level of activity. The features of the content aspect of the worldview indicate a high need for the suicidal person to communicate with other people, which is also indicated by the dominance of conformist values in the image of an ideal person. Given the high level of activity in the comprehension of the world by this person, it can be assumed that there is an existential and value crisis. This is also indicated by the disregard for the conservative dogmatic meanings of family and altruism.

Formation of the Scientific Knowledge of the Students in the Study of Microclonal Reproduction of Apple Rootstocks

The article presents a methodology for implementing the design method in the educational process in order to direct students to research work. The design method allows students to organize cognitive activity based on personal experience, and also contributes to the development of behavioral qualities such as independence, curiosity, the development of social skills in the process of group interaction, research, the formation of creative thinking, the formation of intellectual, information, communication skills. Analyzing the subtleties of the combination of education and science, special laboratory work has been developed for conducting research work of students. In the process of forming research competence, students acquired a number of practical skills: the ability to work according to plan, independent work skills, the ability to work with laboratory equipment, etc. The features of improving the quality and efficiency of the educational process through the organization of laboratory work as a condition for the development of arbitrary qualities in the field of biology are considered. Based on the analysis of diagnostic results at the ascertaining and control stages of the level of cognitive activity of students during laboratory work: - low-level indicators in the group decreased from 34% to 10%; - indicators of the average level of activity decreased from 49% to 42; - indicators of a high level of cognitive activity increased from 17% to 48. As a result of the research work, an experimental diagnostic analysis was carried out.

ПОРОДНА СПЕЦИФІЧНІСТЬ ПІДТРИМКИ ПРООКСИДАНТНО-АНТИОКСИДАНТНОЇ РІВНОВАГИ М’ЯЗОВОЇ ТКАНИНИ ГУСЕЙ В ОНТОГЕНЕЗІ

Maximum content of lipid peroxidation end-products in the striated muscles of Legart geese was found at the end of embryonic ontogenesis. The content increased by 1.88 times compared to the input values. An antioxidant activity of the tissue reduced by 3.00 times during the ontogenesis. However, the increasing of antioxidant enzymes activity provided the maintenance of prooxidant-antioxidant balance in this period. There were no significant changes of the total unsaturated fatty acid content and the total tissue lipid unsaturation during the last week of embryogenesis in Legart breed. The content of lipid breakdown end-products in the original homogenate and after induction of peroxidation by Fe2+ ions in the skeletal muscles of Kharkiv breed had no weighty changes during the embryonic period. The highest values were on the 1st day of postnatal ontogenesis. There was a minimal value of antioxidant activity with its subsequent increase during the same period. Due to the activity of antioxidant protection enzymes, prooxidant-antioxidant balance in the skeletal muscles of Kharkiv breed was maintained. The activity is at a consistently high level during 22nd-28th days of embryogenesis. The average level of superoxide dismutase activity in the skeletal muscles of Kharkiv breed exceeded the value in Legart breed by 2.09 times, while glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity were at the same level. A prevalence of the superoxide dismutase in the antioxidant activity system indicated on higher adaptive breed potential – an average antioxidant activity was 1.5 times higher for the skeletal muscles of Kharkiv breed. Breed specificity is aimed to adapt goose organism to hyperoxia of atmospheric respiration in the skeletal muscles. Legart breed geese use the activation of antioxidant enzymes, whereas Kharkiv breed geese involve much more antioxidant enzymes – superoxide dismutase, probably, alternative mechanisms and low molecular weight antioxidants. It is established that the reduction of the total content of unsaturated fatty acids and unsaturation for this type of tissue and these breeds is not typical.

Interactive communication in the process of physical education: are social media contributing to the improvement of physical training performance.

The development of modern technologies and the use of social networks create an environment for the exchange of information, interactive communication, learning, and optimization of various processes. The study describes the results of the effectiveness of using various social media tools to increase the level of physical activity in people of different ages (12–35 years old). Effective tools for increasing the level of physical activity that can be used on social media have been considered. A survey created in Google forms was conducted to select research participants and group them; the pedagogical experiment is the introduction of social media tools to encourage users to do sports. The experiment involved 148 people of different age groups: adolescents, students, adults. After the experiment with the experimental group, there were 59.20% of participants with an average level of physical activity and 22.37% of participants with a high level of physical activity; in the control group, 31.58% of participants had a low level of physical activity, 48.70%—average, 10.53%—high. Most participants of all ages (88.16%) refrained from posting videos of their achievements on social media, while nine participants (5 pupils and 4 students) posted their achievements in the form of short video exercises or screenshots, and reports of exercises in mobile applications in their groups. The research results are applicable to various social groups and can be used to create private groups on social media to encourage physical activity. The data obtained can be used for further development of specialized training programs using digital technology and social networks.

Colony specificity and starvation-driven changes in activity patterns of the red ant Myrmica rubra.

Although the activity levels of insect societies are assumed to contribute to their ergonomic efficiency, most studies of the temporal organization of ant colony activity have focused on only a few species. Little is known about the variation in activity patterns across colonies and species, and in different environmental contexts. In this study, the activity patterns of colonies of the red ant Myrmica rubra were characterized over 15 consecutive days. The main goals were to evaluate the colony specificity of the activity patterns and the impact of food deprivation on these patterns. We found that the average activity level varied across colonies and remained consistent over 1 week, providing evidence that the activity level is a colony-specific life trait. Furthermore, all colonies applied an energy-saving strategy, decreasing their average levels of activity inside the nest, when starved. Starvation induced no consistent change in the activity level outside of the nest. An analysis of activity time series revealed activity bursts, with nestmates being active (or inactive) together, the amplitudes of which reflected the ants' degree of synchronization. Food deprivation increased the amplitude and number of these activity bursts. Finally, wavelet analyses of daily activity patterns revealed no evidence of any periodicity of activity bouts occurring inside or outside of the nest. This study showed that M. rubra ant colonies are characterized by specific activity levels that decrease in response to starvation with the adoption of an energy-saving strategy. In addition, our results help to understand the functional value associated with synchronized and/or periodic fluctuation in activity, which has been debated for years.

BJS Prize 1 Postoperative electrical muscle stimulation attenuates loss of muscle mass and function following major abdominal surgery: A split body randomised control trial

Abstract Aims Significant loss of muscle mass and function occurs after major abdominal surgery. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been shown to reduce muscle atrophy in some patient groups, but evidence in postoperative patients is limited. This study assesses the efficacy of NMES in attenuating muscle atrophy following major abdominal surgery. Methods Fifteen patients undergoing open colorectal resection were recruited to a split body randomised control trial and their lower limbs randomised to control (CON) or NMES (STIM). The STIM limb underwent 15 minutes of quadriceps NMES twice daily on postoperative day (POD) 1 to 4. Ultrasound measurement of Vastus Lateralis (VL) cross sectional area (CSA) and muscle thickness (MT) was made preoperatively and on POD 5, as was dynamometer measurement of knee extensor strength (KES). All outcomes were analysed using linear mixed model techniques. The study was approved by NHS research ethics committee (ref 20/EM/069). Results NMES significantly reduced the loss of CSA (-2.52% vs -9.16%, p&amp;lt;0.001), MT (-2.76% vs -8.145, p=0.001) and KES (-10.35% vs -19.69%, p=0.03). No adverse events occurred, and patients reported that NMES caused minimal or no discomfort. Conclusions NMES reduces loss of muscle mass and function following major abdominal surgery and may be an important tool in aiding recovery to normal activity levels. This will be especially important in preventing postoperative loss of independence in the increasingly physiologically frail patients undergoing major abdominal surgery. Further studies should establish the efficacy of bilateral whole-leg NMES for improving patient-centred outcomes.

Asthma medications in schools: a cross-sectional analysis of the Asthma Call-back Survey 2017-2018.

Asthma is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the United States. Goals for asthma management include symptom control, the ability to maintain a normal activity level, and minimizing adverse events. The objective of this study is to analyze the number of children with asthma that are permitted to carry medications at school and without an asthma action plan. In this study, we analyzed the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Asthma Call-back Survey (ACBS) to assess the prevalence of children in school allowed to carry medication and with asthma action plans. Utilizing the sampling weights provided, we estimated population prevalence by age group and urbanicity. Results showed that, overall, 34.8% of students reported they were not allowed to carry asthma medications in school. Specifically, nearly 51% of children ages 5 to 9 and 33% of children ages 10 to 14 were reported not to be allowed to carry medications at school. Further, 58.2% of children did not have a written asthma action plan. Reported urbanicity was not significantly associated with access to medication at school (p=0.46) or having an asthma action plan (p=0.57). In our study, more than one-third of students were not permitted to carry asthma medications and nearly three-fifths did not have a written asthma action plan. Therefore, we recommend partnerships between schools, healthcare professionals, students, and osteopathic family physicians to increase access to asthma action plans and medication in schools.

Thromboelastography and thrombin generation assessments for pediatric severe hemophilia A patients are highly variable and not predictive of clinical phenotypes

BackgroundSevere hemophilia A (SHA) patients vary in severity of bleeding, arthropathy, and requirements for replacement factor VIII (FVIII). Baseline hemostatic activity assays using calibrated automated thrombography (CAT) and thromboelastography (TEG) may offer insights into the physiological basis of clinical heterogeneity. ObjectivesUse CAT and TEG to measure baseline hemostatic activity in a cohort of 30 pediatric SHA patients with available clinical data. Determine effect of contact activation inhibition with corn trypsin inhibitor (CTI). Assess heterogeneity among patients for baseline hemostatic activity and examine correlations between assay results and clinical parameters including FVIII dosing regimen, von Willebrand factor level, and Pettersson arthropathy score. MethodsSHA blood after FVIII washout was subjected to TEG, and platelet‐rich (PRP) and platelet‐poor plasma was used for CAT assays. Varying concentrations of tissue factor (TF) were used. Statistical analysis examined relationships between assay results, and clinical parameters. ResultsCTI treatment was required to obtain TEG and CAT results representative of baseline hemostatic activity. Weak activity was observed in assays with low TF concentrations (0.5–2 pM), and most but not all samples approached normal activity levels at high TF concentrations (10–20 pM). A significant positive correlation was observed between results of TEG and CAT‐PRP assays. Correlations were not detected between hemostatic assay results and clinical parameters. ConclusionsIn vitro hemostatic assay results of samples containing platelets showed concordance. Assay results were not predictive of FVIII requirements or correlated with other clinical parameters. SHA patient heterogeneity is influenced by factors other than baseline hemostatic activity.

Editors' Note: Long-term Effect of Regular Physical Activity and Exercise Habits in Patients With Early Parkinson Disease

In “Long-term effect of regular physical activity and exercise habits in patients with early Parkinson disease,” Tsukita et al. reported that average regular physical activity levels over time were associated with slower deterioration of gait stability, activities of daily living, and processing speed in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Darweesh et al. contextualized these findings by noting they are consistent with the results of other studies, suggesting that regular exercise may slow progression of PD. They further proposed that vigorous exercise may reduce the risk of PD, implying that the findings of Tsukita et al. may also be attributed to reverse causality. Tsukita et al. agreed that reverse causality is feasible, although other data suggest that exercise may change the brain, modifying the course of PD. However, Gupta questioned the pathophysiologic mechanism by which exercise changes the brain and affects disease progression in PD, commenting that perhaps motivation to exercise may be relevant to disease progression in PD. In light of these comments, Tsukita et al. reinforced the need for the following types of future research: (1) international, multicenter randomized controlled trials on the effect of exercise on disease progression (for patients with PD) and development of clinical symptoms of PD (for patients with prodromal PD) which include neuroimaging; (2) evaluation of the motivation for patients with PD to exercise; and (3) animal studies on the effect of exercise on the brain, which include neuropathology assessment of α-synuclein. In “Long-term effect of regular physical activity and exercise habits in patients with early Parkinson disease,” Tsukita et al. reported that average regular physical activity levels over time were associated with slower deterioration of gait stability, activities of daily living, and processing speed in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). Darweesh et al. contextualized these findings by noting they are consistent with the results of other studies, suggesting that regular exercise may slow progression of PD. They further proposed that vigorous exercise may reduce the risk of PD, implying that the findings of Tsukita et al. may also be attributed to reverse causality. Tsukita et al. agreed that reverse causality is feasible, although other data suggest that exercise may change the brain, modifying the course of PD. However, Gupta questioned the pathophysiologic mechanism by which exercise changes the brain and affects disease progression in PD, commenting that perhaps motivation to exercise may be relevant to disease progression in PD. In light of these comments, Tsukita et al. reinforced the need for the following types of future research: (1) international, multicenter randomized controlled trials on the effect of exercise on disease progression (for patients with PD) and development of clinical symptoms of PD (for patients with prodromal PD) which include neuroimaging; (2) evaluation of the motivation for patients with PD to exercise; and (3) animal studies on the effect of exercise on the brain, which include neuropathology assessment of α-synuclein.

Rest-Activity Rhythm Is Associated With Obesity Phenotypes: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

BackgroundThe prevalence of obesity continues to increase in spite of substantial efforts towards its prevention, posing a major threat to health globally. Circadian disruption has been associated with a wide range of preclinical and clinical disorders, including obesity. However, whether rest-activity rhythm (RAR), an expression of the endogenous circadian rhythm, is associated with excess adiposity is poorly understood. Here we aimed to assess the association of RAR with general and abdominal obesity.MethodsNon-institutionalized adults aged ≥20 years participating in the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011-2014 who wore accelerometers for at least four 24-hour periods were included (N=7,838). Amplitude, mesor, acrophase and pseudo-F statistic of RAR were estimated using extended cosinor model, and interdaily stability (IS) and intradaily variability (IV) were computed by nonparametric methods. We tested the association between rest-activity rhythm and general obesity defined by body mass index and abdominal obesity by waist circumference. Waist-to-height ratio, sagittal abdominal diameter, and total and trunk fat percentages measured by imaging methods were also analyzed.ResultsIn multivariable analysis, low amplitude (magnitude of the rhythm), mesor (rhythm-corrected average activity level), pseudo-F statistic (robustness of the rhythm), IS (day-to-day rhythm stability), or high IV (rhythm fragmentation) were independently associated with higher likelihood of general or abdominal obesity (all Ps<.05). Consistently, RAR metrics were similarly associated with all adiposity measures (all Ps<.01). Delayed phase of RAR (later acrophase) was only significantly related to general and abdominal obesity in women.ConclusionsAberrant RAR is independently associated with anthropometric and imaging measures of general and abdominal obesity. Longitudinal studies assessing whether RAR metrics can predict weight gain and incident obesity are warranted.

Effect of Femoral Head and Neck Osteotomy on Canines' Functional Pelvic Position and Locomotion.

Simple SummaryRemoval of the femoral head and neck is a common surgical procedure used to provide pain relief in dogs with severe hip-related diseases. We investigated the chronic effect of the surgery on movement and position of the pelvis. Dog owners completed a questionnaire regarding their dog’s rehabilitation. An orthopaedic examination, anatomical measurements, and pressure-sensitive walkway analysis were conducted on all of the dogs. According to the questionnaire results, nine of ten dogs had returned to normal physical activity level, and the owners of the dogs considered the outcome of the surgery to be good or excellent. However, the dogs had less muscle mass, less hip extension, and less weight bearing on the operated limb when standing. The trot of the dogs was unaffected; no differences emerged between the operated and non-operated limb regarding length of stance or swing time of step or weight bearing during step. Pelvic position did not change in a specific way; i.e., the pelvis did not tilt towards or away from the surgically treated limb.The long-term effect of femoral head and neck osteotomy (FHO) on the locomotory system of dogs was evaluated. The study comprised an owner questionnaire and an orthopaedic examination, anatomical measurements, and pressure-sensitive walkway analysis for dogs. Linear mixed effect models were used for statistical analysis. Ten dogs with a median of 2.5 years since their unilateral FHO were included. According to the questionnaire results, nine dogs had returned to a normal physical activity level. Muscle atrophy (p = 0.005), less extension in the coxofemoral joint (p = 0.003), and less static weight bearing on the FHO limb (p = 0.003) were observed. No consistent pattern regarding tilt or position of the pelvis was noted when measuring height of the tuber ischii (p = 0.39). Five of the dogs tilted away from, and five towards the FHO side when measured from the tuber sacrale with a Myrin goniometer. No differences regarding stance time, swing time, or peak pressure between the FHO and non-FHO limb were seen in trot (p = 0.70, p = 0.26, and p = 0.91, respectively). Over the long term, the FHO limb has muscle atrophy, decreased coxofemoral extension, and decreased static weight bearing. However, this does not seem to affect the trot of the dogs. Dog owners considered the outcome of surgery to be good or excellent.