Participants In Control Group Research Articles

The effect of Tuina based on the concept of hip-knee-ankle conjugation in patients with chronic ankle instability: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Chronic ankle instability (CAI) is a common sports injury disease and characterized by limited mobility, perceived instability and muscle weakness, combined treatment of hip-knee-ankle is a common rehabilitation method. Tuina, as a traditional Chinese manual therapy, is usually used for CAI, but many of them only focus on the local ankle joint rather than the combination of hip and knee joint. Therefore, we have designed a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to investigate the effects of Tuina base on the concept of hip-knee-ankle conjugation on the stability and balance of lower limbs and ankle function in patients with CAI. We have designed a randomized controlled trial. A total of 72 participants with CAI will be randomly divided into functional training groups and hip-knee-ankle Tuina combined with functional training group in a 1:1 ratio. Participants in control group will receive 8 sessions of functional training (30 min per session, twice a week for 4 weeks). Participants in intervention group will receive 8 sessions of Tuina combined with functional training (twice a week for 4 weeks). The primary outcomes include the Y-Balance Test (YBT) and Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT). The Secondary outcomes include the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM) and ankle range of motion (ROM). The outcome assessments will be conducted before the first intervention and after the last intervention. The aim of this study is to explore a safe and effective manipulation program and serve as reference for clinical treatment of CAI and expect to provide the necessary theoretical and practical support to our future research. Chinese Clinical Trail Registry ChiCTR2300068274.

A randomized controlled trial of a brief internet intervention to prevent anxiety and depression among college students

Brief, scalable, and transdiagnostic prevention efforts are needed to prevent depression and anxiety among college students. Growth mindset interventions are brief, often web-based interventions to prevent or reduce depression symptom severity that have not yet been evaluated within a college student population. In this study, college students (n = 371) were randomized to either a web-based growth mindset intervention or a psychoeducation control. We examined acceptability and usability ratings as well as the impact of the intervention on new-onset depression and anxiety and symptom trajectories as assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) over a six-month period. Results indicated that participants found the intervention to be acceptable and usable. Assessing the potential of the intervention as a universal prevention approach among participants below clinical cutoffs at baseline (GAD-7 or PHQ-9 <10, N = 239 and N=229, respectively), the intervention was not associated with a reduction in new-onset depression or anxiety, nor a reduction in depression symptom trajectories compared with the control group. Control group participants experienced a greater increase in anxiety symptoms severity than participants receiving the intervention (d = 0.24). Among individuals above clinical cutoffs at baseline (GAD-7 ≥ 10; N=132, or PHQ-9 ≥ 10; N=142), the intervention reduced symptom severity to the extent that it changed beliefs about emotions. While the intervention was acceptable among college students and demonstrated promising effects on anxiety symptom severity and changes in beliefs about emotions, more work is needed to strengthen this approach to prevent new-onset depression and anxiety.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03707522

Influence of Sports on Cortical Connectivity in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury-A High-Density EEG Study

Background: Minutes after an injury to the spinal cord, structural and functional reorganization of the connected brain areas may be initiated. Exercise enhances this neuroplasticity in the further course of the condition, which might modulate the connectivity patterns in brain regions responsible for movement execution and imagination. However, connectivity patterns have not been analyzed as a correlate for activity effects on neuroplasticity after spinal cord injury (SCI). We hypothesize that wheelchair sport has a modulating effect on the cortical connectivity in patients with SCI, such that distinguished activity patterns can be observed between sportive and non-sportive individuals with SCI and healthy participants. Methods: Sportive (n = 16) and non-sportive (n = 7) patients with SCI as well as sportive (n = 16) and non-sportive (n = 14) healthy participants were instructed to either observe, imagine, or conduct an observed movement while high-density EEG (HD-EEG) was recorded. Functional connectivity was computed from the recorded signals, and the coefficients were compared between groups and conditions using a non-parametric repeated measures analysis. Results: We found that depending on being sportive or not, patients with SCI and controls would react differently to the conditions, but the effects depended on the location in the brain as well as the analyzed frequency range (p &lt; 0.05). Further analysis indicates that non-sportive patients showed higher connectivity received by the right posterior parietal cortex and a lower connectivity received by the left M1 compared to sportive patients. These effects were mainly observed during movement imagination, not during movement. Sportive and non-sportive participants in the healthy control group showed smaller differences than the patients. Conclusions: The results suggest a modulative effect of sports on connectivity patterns during movement imagination and to some extent during movement. This effect was predominantly found in patients with SCI, and to a lesser extent in healthy participants with opposing connectivity patterns. We suggest that this might be due to increased cortical excitability and the elevated brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) level in patients with SCI that is enhanced by exercise.

Long-term efficacy of a computer-tailored physical activity intervention for prostate and colorectal cancer patients and survivors: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) can improve the physical and psychological health of prostate and colorectal cancer survivors, but PA behavior change maintenance is necessary for long-term health benefits. OncoActive is a print- and web-based intervention in which prostate and colorectal cancer patients and survivors receive automatically generated, personalized feedback aimed at integrating PA into daily life to increase and maintain PA. We evaluated the long-term outcomes of OncoActive by examining the 12-month follow-up differences between OncoActive and a control group, and we explored whether PA was maintained during a 6-month non-intervention follow-up period. MethodsProstate or colorectal cancer patients were randomly assigned to an OncoActive (n = 249) or a usual care waitlist control group (n = 229). OncoActive participants received PA advice and a pedometer. PA outcomes (i.e., ActiGraph and self-report moderate-to-vigorous intensity PA (MVPA) min/week and days with ≥30 min PA) and health-related outcomes (i.e., fatigue, depression, physical functioning) were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Differences between groups and changes over time were assessed with multilevel linear regressions for the primary outcome (ActiGraph MVPA min/week) and all additional outcomes. ResultsAt 12 months, OncoActive participants did not perform better than control group participants at ActiGraph MVPA min/week, self-report MVPA min/week, or ActiGraph days with PA. Only self-report days with PA were significantly higher in OncoActive compared to the control group. For health-related outcomes only long-term fatigue was significantly lower in OncoActive. When exploratively examining PA within OncoActive, the previously found PA effects at the end of the intervention (6 months follow-up) were maintained at 12 months. Furthermore, all PA outcomes improved significantly from baseline to 12 months. The control group showed small but non-significant improvements from 6 months to 12 months (and from baseline to 12 months), resulting in a decline of differences between groups. ConclusionThe majority of previously reported significant between-group differences at 6 months follow-up were no longer present at long-term follow-up, possibly because of natural improvement in the control group. At long-term follow-up, fatigue was significantly lower in OncoActive compared to control group participants. Computer-tailored PA advice may give participants an early start toward recovery and potentially contributes to improving long-term health.

Development of a Multiple-Patient Simulation and its Effectiveness in Clinical Judgment and Practice Readiness: A Randomized Controlled Trial

BackgroundA Multiple Patient Simulation (MPS) involves multiple low-fidelity or high-fidelity simulators in one simulation setting. Previous research indicates MPS is a promising educational method that reflects the real-world experience of nurses who must care for multiple patients simultaneously. MethodsThe MPS program was developed according to a six-step approach, and four standardized patients were trained. This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of the MPS program in clinical judgment and practice readiness. A total of 46 nursing college students participated: 22 in the MPS group and 24 in the control group. A presurvey was conducted, and the experimental group conducted the MPS. Control group participants were provided a video lecture. Both groups completed a postsurvey. ResultsThe MPS group showed a significant increase compared to the control group in both clinical judgment (t = 4.95, p < .001) and practice readiness (t = 6.69, p < .001). ConclusionsFindings indicate MPS can be a valuable training method to help nursing students prepare for nursing practice.

Esketamine vs Midazolam in Boosting the Efficacy of Oral Antidepressants for Major Depressive Disorder

Loss of a previously effective response while still using adequate antidepressant treatment occurs in a relatively high proportion of patients with major depressive disorder (MDD); therefore, there is a need to develop novel effective treatment strategies. To assess the efficacy and safety of a single subanesthetic dose of esketamine in boosting the efficacy of oral antidepressants for treating fluctuating antidepressant response in MDD. This single-center, double-blind, midazolam-controlled pilot randomized clinical trial was conducted at Beijing Anding Hospital, Capital Medical University in China. The study enrolled participants aged 18 years and older with fluctuating antidepressant response, defined as patients with MDD experiencing fluctuating symptoms after symptom relief and stabilization. Patient recruitment was conducted from August 2021 to January 2022, and participants were followed-up for 6 weeks. Data were analyzed as intention-to-treat from July to September 2022. All participants in the esketamine-treated group received intravenous esketamine at 0.2 mg/kg in 40 minutes. Participants in the midazolam control group received intravenous midazolam at 0.045 mg/kg in 40 minutes. The primary outcome was the response rate at 2 weeks, defined as a 50% reduction in Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Secondary outcomes included response rate at 6 weeks, remission rates at 2 and 6 weeks, and change in MADRS and Clinical Global Impression-Severity score from baseline to 6 weeks; remission was defined by a MADRS score of 10 or lower. A total of 30 patients (median [IQR] age, 28.0 [24.0-40.0] years; 17 [56.7%] female) were randomized, including 15 patients randomized to midazolam and 15 patients randomized to esketamine; 29 patients completed the study. Response rates at 2 weeks were significantly higher in the esketamine-treated group than in the midazolam control group (10 patients [66.7%] vs 1 patient [6.7%]; P < .001). Participants treated with esketamine experienced significantly greater reduction in MADRS score from baseline to 2 weeks compared with those treated with midazolam (mean [SD] reduction, 15.7 [1.5] vs 3.1 [1.3]; P < .001). No serious adverse events were observed in this trial, and no psychotogenic effects and clinically significant manic symptoms were reported. This pilot randomized clinical trial found that a single subanesthetic dose of esketamine could boost the efficacy of oral antidepressants in treating fluctuating antidepressant response, with a good safety profile. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: ChiCTR2100050335.

Yoga Programme for Type 2 Diabetes Prevention (YOGA-DP): A Qualitative Study Exploring the Trial Team's Facilitators and Challenges in Conducting a Feasibility Trial in India.

In India, around 77 million people are at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Yoga interventions can be effective in preventing T2DM. We conducted a feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) in India, and the intervention was the Yoga Programme for T2DM Prevention (YOGA-DP). This study aimed to identify and explore the facilitators and challenges in conducting the feasibility trial in India, and more specifically, to explore the perceptions and experiences of trial staff in relation to running the feasibility trial and Yoga instructors in relation to delivering the intervention. An exploratory qualitative study was conducted at two trial sites in India (Yoga centers in New Delhi and Bengaluru). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten participants (six trial staff and four Yoga instructors) to explore their perceptions and experiences related to the study's aim. Data were analyzed using deductive as well as inductive logic and an interpretative phenomenological approach. Feasibility-trial-related facilitators were useful participant recruitment strategies and help and support received from the trial coordination center. Intervention-related facilitators were strengths of the intervention content, structure, and delivery (including materials) and competencies of Yoga instructors. Feasibility-trial-related challenges were lack of awareness about T2DM among potential participants, stigma and fear associated with T2DM among potential participants, difficulties in explaining the research and obtaining written informed consent from potential participants, expectations and demands of potential participants and control-group participants, gender and language issues in participant recruitment, other participant recruitment-related challenges, issues in participant follow-up, and issues in data collection and trial documentation. Intervention-related challenges were the limited interest of participants in Yoga, participants' time constraints on practicing Yoga, participants' health issues hindered Yoga practice, beginners' difficulties with practicing Yoga, participants' demotivation to practice Yoga at home, issues with the Yoga practice venue, confusion regarding the intervention structure, issues with intervention materials, and the incompetence of Yoga instructors. The perceptions and experiences of trial staff and Yoga instructors helped us to understand the facilitators and challenges in running a feasibility trial and delivering the intervention for T2DM prevention, respectively. These findings and their suggestions will be used when designing the definitive RCT for evaluating YOGA-DP's effectiveness, and may be helpful to researchers planning similar trials. India (CTRI) CTRI/2019/05/018893.

The Effectiveness of Improving Infectious Disease-Specific Health Literacy Among Residents: WeChat-Based Health Education Intervention Program.

Infectious disease-specific health literacy (IDSHL) has become an important determinant of infectious disease incidence. It can not only reduce the incidence of re-emerging infectious diseases, but also effectively prevent the emergence of new infectious diseases such as COVID-19. WeChat, as a new media, has been proven to greatly reduce the chance of infectious diseases spreading from person to person, especially in case of respiratory infections. However, there is currently no concrete health education invention program to improve IDSHL using a WeChat public account. The aims of this study were as follows: (1) to determine the IDSHL of the population in Zhejiang, China; (2) to develop a health education program for the improvement of IDSHL using a WeChat public account; and (3) to evaluate the effectiveness of the health education program that was implemented in the prevention of infectious disease outbreaks. We used a standardized questionnaire, which consisted of 28 closed-ended questions, to measure the level and score of IDSHL before and after intervention. A multiple-stage stratified random sampling technique was used to select study participants from Zhejiang province in China, who were further divided randomly into 2 groups: the intervention and control groups. From July 2014 to January 2015, a WeChat-based health education intervention program was carried out on the intervention group. Standard descriptive statistics and chi-square and t tests were conducted to analyze the data. A total of 3001 residents participated in the baseline survey of this study. At baseline, participant IDSHL rates were 73.29% and 72.12% for the intervention and control groups, respectively (Χ21=0.5; P=.50). After 7 months of intervention, 9.90% (297/3001) of participants dropped out of the study. Of the lost participants, 119 were from the intervention group and 178 were from the control group. There were significant differences between follow-up and lost participants with respect to age (P=.04), marital status (P=.02) and occupations (P=.002). After intervention, the intervention group scores in the different domains were higher than those in the control group (infectious disease-related knowledge, prevention, management, or treatment, identification of pathogens and infection sources, and cognitive ability). There were significant improvements in the IDSHL of participants in both the intervention and control groups (Χ21=135.9; P<.001 vs Χ21=9.1; P=.003), and there was a greater change in the IDSHL among the intervention group participants than among the control group participants (1230/1359, 90.51% vs 1038/1359, 77.17%). The health education intervention program using a WeChat public account proved to be an effective, feasible, and well-accepted means to improve the IDSHL of the general population. In the future, this health education intervention program can be used as a reference for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

The Impact of Using Podcast Episodic Series of Spoken-Word Digital Audio on Improving Imam University EFL Beginners Listening Skills

This study aimed to investigate the role of podcasts on language development as an indirect educational approach to language in general and listening in particular among Imam Mohammed Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMISIU) EFL beginners. Thus, the purpose of this study lies in its potential effect on students of English by improving the process of introducing them to podcasts as a new input tool. Additionally, it examined how students perceived the use of audio-podcasts outside the classroom. Three questions were addressed in this study via a quantitative approach, a quasi-experimental pre/post-test method. These questions were: 1) What is the effect of using the Podcast Episodic Series of Spoken Word Digital Audio on developing the listening skills of Saudi undergraduate students? 2) How may the podcast facilitate the development of listening comprehension of Saudi undergraduate students? 3) What are Saudi university students’ attitudes towards integrating audio podcasts as a new input tool in the EFL classroom? Study participants in both experimental and control groups were 20 female students studying level two at the College of Languages and Translation (CLT), IMISIU in Saudi Arabia. The findings of the paired sample t-test method showed that there is a relationship between achieving high scores in the listening tests and implementing audio-podcasts as an indirect educational approach. A 10-item questionnaire was used to explore students’ attitudes toward the use of audio-podcasts by using the 5-point Likert scale. The findings showed that respondents have a positive attitude towards integrating audio podcasts as a new language input tool in the EFL classroom. The results also emphasize how imperative it is to incorporate podcasting into the process of developing listening skills to reduce anxiety among EFL learners, familiarize students with how to use the language in real-life situations, and learn the language from its native speakers.

Perioperative glycaemic control for people with diabetes undergoing surgery.

Perioperative glycaemic control for people with diabetes undergoing surgery.

Making a SmartStart for peanut introduction to support food allergy prevention guidelines for infants.

Food allergy affects up to 10% of Australian infants. It was hypothesized that if parents follow the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy guidelines, Australian food allergy rates may stabilize or decline. This project aimed to determine whether SmartStartAllergy influenced parental introduction of peanut by age 12 months, including in high-risk infants. SmartStartAllergy integrates with general practice management software to send text messages to parents via participating general practices. The intervention group participants were sent text messages when their child was aged 6, 9, and 12 months; the control group participants were parents of 12-month-old infants. When their child was aged 12 months, all participants completed a questionnaire regarding eczema and family history of atopy. Infants with severe eczema and/or a family history of atopy were considered high-risk. Between 21 September 2018 and 26 April 2022, a total of 29,092 parents were enrolled in SmartStartAllergy as intervention (n= 18,090) and control (n= 11,002) group members The intervention group was more likely to introduce peanut by 12 months (crude odds ratio= 5.18; P< .0001; 95% CI= 4.35-6.16). After adjustment for the infants' level of risk and family history of atopy and food allergy, the intervention group was more likely to introduce peanut by 12 months of age (adjusted odds ratio= 5.34; P< .01; 95% CI= 4.48-6.37). SmartStartAllergy appears to be an effective tool for encouraging parental introduction of peanut. The ability to provide parents with credible allergy prevention information, along with the capacity to collect simple responses via text along with additional information via an online questionnaire, make this a useful public health tool.

Adaptation and Validation of the Voice Symptom Scale into Kannada (VoiSS-K)

The Voice Symptom Scale (VoiSS) is a self-assessment tool that assesses vocal symptomsand measures the effect of dysphonia. Adapting VoiSS into Kannada can be beneficial in evaluating dysphonia-related symptoms, especially in the Kannada-speaking population. To adapt the VoiSS into Kannada and to assess the reliability, validity, and cut-off values of the VoiSS Kannada version (VoiSS-K). The study used a prospective nonrandomized standard group comparison. Initially, the VoiSS was translated into Kannada. The VoiSS-K was administered to 76 participants (34 females and 42 males) with a mean age of 46.4±14.5 years having voice disorders. The VoiSS-K was also administered to 76 respondents having clinically normal voice who were age and gender-matched to the participants with voice disorders. Cronbach's alpha was utilized to evaluate the internal consistency, and the intraclass correlation coefficient to evaluate the test-retest reliability. The findings indicated that the VoiSS-K had excellent test-retest reliability and internal consistency. The study group participants had significantly higher VoiSS-K scores than the control group participants. Thus, the outcomes indicated that the VoiSS-K had good discriminative validity. Receiver operating characteristiccurve analysis was conducted, and the cut-off score of VoiSS-K was 40.50. As the VoiSS-K is a rigorous, robust, and detailed self-assessment questionnaire, it can be used as a clinically sensitive tool to evaluate voice symptoms in Kannada-speaking individuals.

Using Meditation to Reduce Stress, Anxiety, and Depression in Nursing Students.

Nursing students experience higher rates of mental health issues than other college students. This study examined the effect of a mindfulness meditation intervention on nursing students' levels of self-reported depression, stress, and anxiety. This randomized, experimental study implemented an online mindfulness meditation intervention for an experimental group of nursing students and provided nursing news modules for a control group of nursing students. Participants in experimental and control groups completed the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale online before and after completing 4 weeks of audio modules. Results showed a statistically significant decrease in reported scores for depression, stress, and anxiety in the experimental group. This study demonstrated the potential benefits of implementing an online mindfulness meditation intervention to support and improve mental health for nursing students. [J Nurs Educ. 2023;62(8):443-449.].

Randomized Controlled Trial on the ASSYST Treatment Intervention with Female Children Polytraumatized by Adverse Childhood Experiences, Neglect, and Maltreatment

The aim of this randomized controlled trial with an intention-to-treat analysis was to evaluate the effectiveness, efficacy, and safety of the Acute Stress Syndrome Stabilization Individual (ASSYST-I) treatment intervention in reducing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in female children polytraumatized by adverse childhood experiences, neglect, and maltreatment. A total of 40 female children met the inclusion criteria and participated in the study. Participants’ ages ranged from 8 to 17 years old (M =14.67 years). A two-arm randomized controlled trial (RCT) design was applied. PTSD symptoms were measured in three-time points for all participants in the study. Results showed that the intervention had a significant effect for time on PTSD symptoms (F (2,76) = 36.92 p &lt;.000, η² = .493). A significant effect for group was also found (F (1, 38 = 32.7, p&lt;.005, η² = .896) with a large effect, and a significant interaction between time and group, (F (2, 76) = 56.00, p &lt;.000, η² = .600). Means comparison using t test between groups showed significant differences between the Treatment Group (TG) and the Control Group (CG) in the three-time points comparisons showing a large effect on Time 2 (Post-treatment assessment) which was maintained on Time 3 (Follow-up assessment). Results on the Reliable Change Index (RCI) and the Clinically Significant Change (CSC) Margin showed that the ASSYST-I treatment intervention exhibited reliable change on PTSD symptom reduction and clinically significant change, indicating that the treatment group participants are more likely to belong to the non-PTSD population after the intervention. Conversely, the control group participants are more likely to belong to the PTSD population. No adverse effects or events were reported by the participants during the treatment procedure administration or at follow-up. None of the participants showed clinically significant worsening/exacerbation of symptoms after treatment. Participants in the control group received the intervention treatment after the follow-up assessment, fulfilling our ethical criteria.

Evaluation of Lipid Profile in H. Pylori Infected Coronary Artery Disease Patients

Increase in low density lipoprotein level and decrease in high density lipoprotein level result to coronary artery disease. Metabolism of lipids regulated during host response to H. pylori infection. Objective: To analyze the serum levels of lipid profile in H. pylori infected coronary artery disease patients. Methods: It was a comparative Cross-Sectional study. This study was done at the Department of Biochemistry, Peoples University of Medical Health Sciences for Women (PUMHSW) from 1st July 2022 to 15th December 2022. A sample of 60 subjects was divided into 2 groups. Group A (Control) comprised of 30 subjects and group B (cases) of 30 subjects. 5 mL of blood from each participant was collected under aseptic conditions. For the Lipid profile, 2 mL of the blood was collected in the Gel test tubes. A Spectrophotometer was used to perform the lipid profile. For the data analyzes SPSS Version-22.0 was used. Results: In this study we found that Helicobacter pylori positive subjects have higher levels of serum LDL.C, Triglycerides and total cholesterol. The outcomes of present research showed that H. pylori is associated with low level of HDL-C. The present study results shown an association among H. pylori infection and coronary artery possibility influence. Conclusions: We concluded in this study that serum levels of lipid profile become worse in positive H. pylori infected patients as compared to the control group participants which were negative H. pylori with coronary artery disease.

Youtube Videos as Supplementary Materials for Teaching English Literature

This study determined the effective use of YouTube videos as supplementary materials in teaching English. It utilized quantitative design using quasi-experimental approach to the Grade 6 pupils of Bernardo Vasquez Memorial Central Elementary School who were randomly assigned into two groups: the experimental group, who watched YouTube videos during the conduct of English lesson, and the control group, who were not exposed to YouTube videos. It used the researcher-made questionnaire as assessment tool to determine the effectiveness of YouTube videos as supplementary material in teaching English. Based on the results of the study, the following findings were identified: The performance in English of the participants in both control and experimental groups have improved as per pretests and posttests results in the writing and speaking tasks. However, the experimental group has higher post-test results after using YouTube relevant videos in the English class in both writing and speaking perform ancethan the control group.; There was a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test results of each group in terms of writing and speaking; There exist a significant difference on the post-test English performance between the control and experimental groups after controlling the effect of the pretest. From the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: (a) The performance of the pupils in writing and speaking in English in both groups prior and after the use of relevant Youtube videos as supplementary material to teaching English have improved after the conduct of the study; (b) The students in both experimental and control classes demonstrated the skills as expected of them in the teaching of language, but the experimental group performed better, and (c) the YouTube videos used to teaching language are effective in teaching language

The Effect of Couple Training on Treatment Adherence of Breast Cancer Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy

Background: Success in cancer treatment requires accepting treatments and the patient’s compliance with them. One of the factors affecting treatment adherence in women is to be supported, especially by their husbands, during different stages of treatment. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of couple training on treatment adherence of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted on 80 breast cancer patients admitted to the chemotherapy rooms of Khatam Al-Anbia and Ali-Ibne Abitaleb hospitals affiliated with Zahedan University of Medical Sciences and their husbands in 2022. The participants were selected using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. First, the pretest was administered to the participants in both groups. The patients in the intervention group and their husbands attended a couple-training program for three consecutive chemotherapy sessions, each lasting 40 to 60 minutes. However, the control group participants received routine training in the chemotherapy departments. Six weeks after the last intervention session, the Medication Adherence in Chronic Diseases Scale was administered to both groups. The collected data were analyzed with SPSS software (version 27) and using the paired samples t-test, independent samples t-test, chi-square test, and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The significance level in this study was considered less than 0.05 (P &lt; 0.05). Results: The mean treatment adherence score of the patients in the intervention and control groups changed from 162.60 ± 22.79 and 164.97 ± 12.95 to 175.15 ± 10.64 and 166.95 ± 9.67, respectively. The independent samples t-test showed that the mean treatment adherence score was significantly higher in the intervention group than in the control group after the couple training intervention (P &lt; 0.001). The ANCOVA also indicated that the mean treatment adherence scores of breast cancer patients in the two groups showed a statistically significant difference after the couple-training intervention (P &lt; 0.001). Conclusions: Given the positive effect of couple training on patients’ treatment adherence, it is necessary to carry out educational interventions with the presence of spouses in training and care programs to encourage patients to pursue and adhere to treatment and emphasize their role in the continuation of treatment and adherence to it.

Development of Grammatical Knowledge: Using Mind Map or Inductive Instruction?

This experimental research aimed to 1) compare academic achievement in grammatical knowledge between an experimental group taught with the mind map concept and a control group taught with inductive concept and 2) compare the experimental and control group participants’ satisfaction with the management of instructional activities to develop grammatical knowledge after being taught through the mind map concept. A total of 40 Grade 8 Thai students attending an English class in the second semester of the 2020 academic year were recruited through a simple random sampling approach. The sample was divided into two groups, with 20 students in the experimental group and 20 in thecontrol group. The research instruments consisted of 1) a mind map lesson plan; 2) an inductive lesson plan; 3) an academic achievement test; and 4) a satisfaction questionnaire. Descriptive statistics (mean scores and standard deviations) and inferential statistics (independent samples t-tests) were employed to analyze the quantitative data collected in this study.The findings demonstrate that the experimental group participants improved their academicachievement in grammatical knowledge more than the control group participants at the .01 significance level. In addition, the experimental group participants were significantly more satisfiedwith the management of the instructional activities to developgrammatical knowledge than the control group participants at the .01 significance level.

Olfactory Dysfunction as a Marker for Essential Hypertension in a Drug-Naive Adult Population: A Hospital-Based Study.

Essential hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity worldwide, but its precise etiology remains unclear. Although its prevalence is high, there is no established predictor for the condition at an early age. Recent research has suggested that olfactory function may be associated with blood pressure regulation. This study sought to explore the association between olfactory function and essential hypertension. Thirty middle-aged volunteers of both sexes with essential hypertension were recruited for the study along with 30 healthy control subjects matched for age and demographic characteristics. Participants completed a demographic questionnaire and then underwent olfactory function tests to assess odor threshold and identification using the Indian Smell Identification Test (InSIT). The researchers calculated a combined threshold-identification score for both groups and performed the statistical analysis. The study group showed significant olfactory scores in comparison to the control group participants. Control group showed a significantly higher mean combined olfactory scorethan the study population (p = 0.03). Significant negative correlation between systolic blood pressure and olfactory function (Pearson's coefficient = -0.329, p = 0.011) and a similar significant negative correlation between diastolic blood pressure and olfactory function (Pearson's coefficient = -0.252,p = 0.052) were the other observations. Gender differences did not account for any difference in the smell sense. There may be a connection between olfactory function and blood pressure regulation in individuals with essential hypertension. However, further research is needed to better understand this association and to determine whether olfactory function could be used as a predictor or marker for hypertension.

Artificial gravity during a spaceflight analog alters brain sensory connectivity

Spaceflight has numerous untoward effects on human physiology. Various countermeasures are under investigation including artificial gravity (AG). Here, we investigated whether AG alters resting-state brain functional connectivity changes during head-down tilt bed rest (HDBR), a spaceflight analog. Participants underwent 60 days of HDBR. Two groups received daily AG administered either continuously (cAG) or intermittently (iAG). A control group received no AG. We assessed resting-state functional connectivity before, during, and after HDBR. We also measured balance and mobility changes from pre- to post-HDBR. We examined how functional connectivity changes throughout HDBR and whether AG is associated with differential effects. We found differential connectivity changes by group between posterior parietal cortex and multiple somatosensory regions. The control group exhibited increased functional connectivity between these regions throughout HDBR whereas the cAG group showed decreased functional connectivity. This finding suggests that AG alters somatosensory reweighting during HDBR. We also observed brain-behavioral correlations that differed significantly by group. Control group participants who showed increased connectivity between the putamen and somatosensory cortex exhibited greater mobility declines post-HDBR. For the cAG group, increased connectivity between these regions was associated with little to no mobility declines post-HDBR. This suggests that when somatosensory stimulation is provided via AG, functional connectivity increases between the putamen and somatosensory cortex are compensatory in nature, resulting in reduced mobility declines. Given these findings, AG may be an effective countermeasure for the reduced somatosensory stimulation that occurs in both microgravity and HDBR.