Post-treatment Scores Research Articles

Effects of a pilot 12-week exercise program on breast cancer survivors’ quality of life.

e12525 Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that breast cancer survivors commonly experience a decrease in quality of life including an increased risk of depression, insomnia, cancer-related fatigue, and negative body image. Several studies have shown that exercise interventions, such as yoga, Pilates, water aerobics, and strengthening exercises can improve survivors’ quality of life. We implemented a 12-week exercise program in breast cancer survivors and evaluated quality of life changes. Here we discuss our findings evaluating 13 quality of life questionnaires. Methods: We evaluated 46 participants who completed a baseline and post 12-week questionnaire assessment. All participants underwent an exercise program 3 times/week for 90 minutes/session. We calculated differences in baseline and post 12-week quality of life through 13 questionnaires: Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy - General (FACT-G) Physical, Social/Family, Emotional, and Functional, Social Support, Insomnia Severity Index, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Body Image after Breast Cancer (BIBCQ) Vulnerability Scale (VS), Body Stigma Scale (BSS), Limitations Scale (LS), Body Concerns Scale (BCS), Transparency Scale (TS), and Arm Concerns Scale (ACS) and assessed the intervention's efficacy by comparing the baseline and post 12-week scores using paired t-tests. Results: The difference between baseline and post 12-week quality of life are presented in the Table. 7/13 questionnaires showed statistical significance: FACT-G Physical and Functional, Insomnia Severity Index, Brief Fatigue Inventory, Patient Health Questionnaire, and BIBCQ LS and BCS. Conclusions: Our study showed improvement in metrics evaluated in breast cancer survivors who underwent the personalized exercise program. Specifically, body image was improved with exercise which further exemplifies the impact of lifestyle changes on quality of life measures and is an important adjunct to future cancer survivorship studies. Clinical trial information: NCT04013568 . [Table: see text]

Weight bias reduction intervention among nurse practitioner students using simulation-based experiences.

Few nurse practitioner (NP) programs include obesity and weight bias education in their curriculum. However, NPs will likely provide care for people living with obesity, many of whom have been discriminated against based on their weight by previous providers, and many NP students may feel unprepared to navigate weight management competently. This pilot study included a weight bias reduction (WBR) intervention, which included a simulation-based experience (SBE) with a standardized participant (SP) and educational activities embedded within the NP curriculum. Nineteen NP students participated in this pilot study, but only seven students had matching data for preintervention to postintervention scores. There were no statistically significant differences in preintervention and postintervention Attitudes Toward Obese Persons (ATOP) or Beliefs About Obese Persons (BAOP) scores. Despite this small sample size and not achieving statistical significance, SBE-SP holds promise to depict realistic patient encounters to improve NPs' attitudes and beliefs toward persons with obesity and to reduce weight bias. Therefore, incorporating SBE-SP may be a feasible component of the NP curriculum.

Body Safety Training Program for Children with Disabilities; A Case Study of Department of Special Education Punjab Pakistan

The current study aimed to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of a sexual abuse prevention training program to increase personal body safety skills in children having intellectual, hearing, visual or physical disability. A quasi-experimental design with Within-subject was used in which participants were compared on pre-test and post-test. A sample of 40 participants (n=20 boys, n=20 girls), age range 06-19, attended 8-week training were taken purposively. Personal Body Safety Training Program was used as school-based program which delivered the child sexual abuse prevention knowledge and self-protection school-based What If’ Situations Test used as pre and post result measure. The ‘What If’ Situations Test (WIST-III-R) contains six scales designed to assess children’s abilities to recognize, resist, and report inappropriate touching. Paired sample t test, independent t test and ANOVA were used for statistical analysis. The Results showed that by attending such programs, children with disabilities could increase their knowledge of personal safety skills and apply this knowledge in their day-to-day lives. Results showed significant differences between pre and post scores of participants after undergoing the Personal Body Safety Training Program. Moreover, a significant difference was found between participants disability wise in pretest and posttest scores but there was no significant difference observed between boys and girls. The study inculcated that the training contributed positively to the children’s sense of personal space and reporting skills.

EFFECTIVENESS OF SELF INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOUR AND ITS PREVENTION AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN SELECTED P. U. COLLEGES AT VIJAYAPUR

Background: Approximately 20% of the population in India consists of adolescents. Adolescence can be defined as a developmental period that serves as a bridge between childhood and maturity. The current stage of growth and development is characterized by a state of vulnerability. Methodology: A quantitative approach with pre experimental one group pretest post test design was adopted for the study. The samples from the selected PU colleges of Vijaypura district were selected using convenient sampling technique. The sample consisted of 60 PU college students. The tools used for data collection was knowledge questionnaire. Results: The study result reveal that, pre tests knowledge score mean was 20.4 and mean post tests score was 26.5. In pretest 8(13.3%) of Adolescents were had Inadequate Knowledge, 42(70.0%) of them were had Moderate Knowledge and 10(16.7%) of them were had Adequate Knowledge and in post test 12(20.0%) of them were had Moderate Knowledge and 48(80.0%) of them were had Adequate Knowledge.A significant difference will be found between the pre test and post test knowledge scores of the adolescents regarding Aggression behaviour and its prevention at 0.05 level of significance. Conclusion:Self instructional module improved the knowledge level of the participants. Since a very few studies have been conducted regarding this topic in India, so the nurse researcher can take further studies on the same topic.

Impact research of pain nursing combined with hospice care on quality of life for patients with advanced lung cancer.

This study aims to evaluate the impact of integrating pain nursing with hospice care on the quality of life among patients with advanced lung cancer. This study involving 60 advanced lung cancer patients admitted from January 2022 to January 2023. Participants were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the observation group received a combination of pain nursing and hospice care, while the control group received standard nursing care. The study assessed changes in the numeric rating scale for pain, self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), self-rating depression scale (SDS), cancer fatigue scale (CFS), death attitude, and various quality of life dimensions as measured by the Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30. Post-intervention, both groups exhibited reductions in numeric rating scale, SAS, SDS, and CFS scores compared to baseline, with more significant improvements observed in the observation group (P < .05). Additionally, post-intervention scores for death attitude and Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 domains (physical, cognitive, social, role, and emotional functioning, as well as overall health) increased in both groups, with the observation group showing greater improvements than the control group (P < .05). The combination of pain nursing and hospice care significantly reduces pain, anxiety, and depression, decreases cancer-related fatigue, and improves the quality of life and death attitudes in patients with advanced lung cancer, highlighting the benefits of this integrative approach in palliative care settings.

Investigating the effect of virtual reality glasses during inhaler therapy use in children: A randomized clinical trial

Abstract Objectives Virtual reality (VR) glasses have been used in the medical field, as they are perceived to be suitable for distracting children. In this study, we aimed to compare patients who received inhaler treatment with VR glasses with those who received treatment without the aid of any device in terms of treatment compliance. Materials and Methods A prospective, randomized controlled study was conducted on pediatric patients aged 2 to 5 years requiring inhaler treatment (salbutamol), with the informed consent of their families. Participating patients who received standard care were divided into three groups via randomization: roller coaster VR group, wild dolphin VR group, and no additional device group. The patients were observed during their 15-minute inhaler treatment, and the groups were compared in terms of crying times, pre- and post-treatment physician and family questionnaire data (Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolabity Scale [FLACC], Modified Yale Anxiety Scale [MYPAS], Modifiye Parents’ Pain Measure [MPMM], Wong–Baker Faces Pain Rating Scale [WBS]), and respiratory rate (RR), peripheral oxygen saturation, and heart rate value changes to determine any differences between them. Results Post-treatment questionnaire scores, RR, crying duration, and efficacy of treatment exhibited significant differences in Groups 1 and 2 compared to the control group. A significant difference was found in the post-treatment RR between groups 1 and 2, but no difference was observed in the other parameters. Conclusions Utilizing VR glasses during inhaler therapy has the potential to minimize adverse effects, such as pain, and enhance the overall comfort of the treatment environment for patients.

Effects of pain education on disability, pain, quality of life, and self-efficacy in chronic low back pain: A randomized controlled trial.

Low back pain stands as a prevalent contributor to pain-related disability on a global scale. In addressing chronic low back pain (CLBP), there is a growing emphasis on incorporating psychological strategies into the management process. Among these, pain education interventions strive to reshape pain beliefs and mitigate the perceived threat of pain. This randomized controlled trial sought to assess the effects of pain education on various aspects, including pain levels, disability, quality of life, self-efficacy, and prognostic characteristics in individuals grappling with CLBP. The clinical trial, retrospectively registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI/2021/08/035963), employed a two-arm parallel randomized design. Ninety-two participants with CLBP were randomly assigned to either the standard physiotherapy care with a pain education program or the control group. Both groups underwent a 6-week intervention. Assessment of pain intensity (using NPRS), disability (using RMDQ), self-efficacy (using the general self-efficacy scale), and well-being (using WHO 5I) occurred both before and after the 6-week study intervention. Post-intervention score comparisons between the groups revealed that the pain education intervention led to a significant reduction in disability compared to the usual standard care at 6 weeks (mean difference 8.2, p < 0.001, effect size Cohen d = 0.75), a decrease in pain intensity (mean difference 3.5, p < 0.001, effect size Cohen d = 0.82), and an improvement in the well-being index (mean difference 13.7, p < 0.001, effect size Cohen d = 0.58). The findings suggest that integrating a pain education program enhances the therapeutic benefits of standard physiotherapy care for individuals dealing with chronic LBP. In conclusion, the clinical benefits of pain education become apparent when delivered in conjunction with standard care physiotherapy during the management of chronic low back pain.

Comparative Analysis of Efficacy of Lactic Acid 30% with Ferulic Peel 12% (Combination Peel) Versus TCA 10% with Ferulic Peel 12% (Combination Peel) for Photoageing Skin.

Chemical peels are used to treat photoageing, pigmentation, improve complexion and dull skin, fine lines and scars. The objective of this study is to do comparative analysis of Lactic Acid 30% with Ferulic peel 12% (combination peel) versus TCA 10% with Ferulic peel 12% (combination peel) for Photoageing Skin. This is a retrospective study from September 2021 to 2022 with total 50 female patients aged between 25 and 40years were treated. Randomisation of patients was done (simple randomisation using lottery method) for both groups with 25 patients enrolled in each group. The first group (Group A-25 patients) were treated with lactic acid 30% with Ferulic peel 12% (combination peel). The second group (Group B-25 patients) were treated with TCA 10% with Ferulic peel 12% (combination peel). Inclusion and exclusion criteria have been defined for the study. Two scales have been used for assessing the results: Allergan Skin Roughness Scale (ASRS) and Allergan Fine Line Scale (AFLS). ASRS and AFLS scores were assessed at pre-treatment (pre) and post treatment (post-1month after last peel session). Data were summarised in Mean ± SD (standard deviation). Pre and post groups were compared by paired t test. The pre to post change in outcome measures between two independent groups were compared by independent Student's t test. Discrete (categorical) groups were compared by Chi-square (χ2) test. A two-tailed (α=2) P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Analyses were performed on SPSS software (Windows version 22.0). Patients were followed up for 6 months post treatment. In Group A, comparing the pre and post ASRS score, paired t test showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease or improvement of 56.1%. In Group B, comparing the pre and post ASRS score, paired t test showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease or improvement of 52.8%. Comparing the pre to post mean decrease or improvement in ASRS score of two groups, Student's t test showed similar (P > 0.05) improvement between the two groups though it was 2.5% higher in Group B as compared to Group A. In Group A, comparing the pre and post AFLS score, paired t test showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease or improvement of 63.2% at post as compared to pre. In Group B, comparing the pre and post AFLS score, paired t test showed significant (P < 0.001) decrease or improvement of 58.8% at post as compared to pre. Further, comparing the pre to post mean decrease or improvement in AFLS score of two groups, Student's t test showed similar (P > 0.05) improvement between the two groups though it was 16.7% higher in Group A as compared to Group B. Study found both the treatments equally effective in the management of ageing skin after 6months of treatment. However, study needs further validation on larger sample size, varied age groups and male gender. This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Latent profile analysis of vitamin D and its association with depression severity of hospitalized patients with bipolar depression

ABSTRACT Objective: Vitamin D is thought to be deficient in patients with bipolar disorder. The purpose of this study is to use latent profile analysis to identify the patterns of vitamin D levels in patients with episodes of bipolar depression, and to examine the relationship among these latent profiles and demographic and clinical characteristics. Methods: A total of 149 patients diagnosed with bipolar depression were selected in Guangzhou, China. Depression was evaluated by Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels tested at baseline and after two weeks of psychiatric treatment were included in the latent profile analysis to identify subgroups. P-trend analysis was used to assess the association between subgroups and depression improvement. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to assess the influencing factors of subgroups. Results: A three-profiles solution was found to demonstrate the best fit [low-level profile (32.9%), medium-level profile (51.0%), and high-level profile (16.1%)]. There was a significant nonlinear relationship between depression improvement and vitamin D high-level profile, compared to medium-level profile (P for trend <0.05). In multinomial logistic regression analysis, baseline and post-treatment SDS scores, admission season, age, and body mass index significantly affect the profile membership. Conclusions: This study found that individuals with high levels of vitamin D showed a significant improvement in depression severity. However, those with low levels of vitamin D remained deficient, indicating a need for targeted vitamin D supplementation. Our findings may provide valuable insights for designing tailored vitamin D supplement interventions to address vitamin D deficiency in bipolar depression.

Comparing the effectiveness of narrative therapy and EMDR-GTEP protocols in the treatment of post-traumatic stress in children exposed to humanitarian crises

BackgroundThe mental health of children living in humanitarian crisis situations is a major issue. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) causes great psychological suffering and has negative consequences on children's development. The aim of the study was to analyze retrospective data collected in a mental health and psychosocial support program for children in the Central African Republic, and to compare results of two trauma-focused treatment interventions: the narrative protocol Action contre la Faim (ACF)/KONO; and the EMDR-based Group Trauma Episode Protocol (G-TEP). Both protocols are proposed in a group setting and led by paraprofessionals.MethodsIn the program, 884 children attended a psychoeducation session and after that, 661 children (290 for ACF/KONO and 371 for G-TEP) benefited from all treatment sessions. PTSD was measured by the Children's Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-8). General distress was measured by the Child Psychosocial Distress Screener (CPDS). Data were collected before and after treatment, and measured 5 months after the end of treatment for 185 children.ResultsParticipants in the ACF/KONO group show a significant reduction on CRIES-8 (t = 44.8; p &amp;lt; 0.001, effect size = 2.63) and CPDS (t = 38.2; p &amp;lt; 0.001, effect size = 2.24). Participants to the G-TEP protocol show a significant effect with reduced scores on the CRIES-8 (t = 49.2; p &amp;lt; 0.001, effect size = 2.55) and CPDS (t = 57.2; p &amp;lt; 0.001, effect size = 2.97). A Student's t-test comparing the ACF/KONO and G-TEP groups shows no significant difference between the two types of treatment between pre- and post-treatment CRIES-8 scores (t = 1.744; p = 0.514, effect size = 0.040) and CPDS scores (t = 1.688; p = 0.092, effect size = 0.323). An analysis of the follow-up data for the 185 children shows that the effects of both protocols are maintained over time with mean scores after treatment and follow-up below the clinical cut-off for both CPDS (&amp;lt;8) and CRIES-8 (&amp;lt;17).ConclusionsBoth protocols have been shown to be effective in reducing traumatic symptoms in children exposed to conflict; they can be conducted by paraprofessionals and used in humanitarian crisis situations.

Effect of peer education on knowledge and frequency of smoking among high school students in disadvantaged districts: a quasi-experimental study

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of peer education on changing the knowledge and frequency of smoking of high school students. Method: The quasi-experimental study was conducted at the Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, Turkey, during the 2021-22 academic year, and comprised students of either gender from the 9th to the 11th grade. After baseline assessment, training that blended peer education with the photovoice technique was administered between March 2021 and January 2022. Post-intervention assessment included smoking frequency, cigarette exposure and health literacy. Data was analysed using R version 4.0.5. Results: Of the 465 students available, 395(84.95%) were part of the baseline assessment, while 434(93.3%) took the post-intervention assessment. At the baseline, 365(93.8%) participants were males and 24(6.2%) were femaes. The overall median age was 15 years (interquartile range: 15-16 years). Post-training, smoking rate and indoor exposure to cigarette smoke among the students were statistically lower than the baseline values (p&lt;0.05). The mean health literacy score post-intervention was significantly higher than the baseline score (p&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Photovoice combined with peer education seemed beneficial in terms of positive effect on smoking behaviour among youths. Key Words: Peer education, Smoking cessation, Peer influence, Smoking prevention, Adolescent, Health literacy.

#2121 The Kidney-specific Psychosocial ASSessment and support (Kidney PASSPORT) feasibility trial

Abstract Background and Aims Psychosocial interventions for depressive and anxiety symptoms are effective in CKD, but studies mainly focus on people on dialysis. Little is known about the role of screening and prevention of common mental health difficulties in early CKD. This trial assessed the research feasibility of an intervention to screen for psychological distress in CKD and deliver prevention approaches for sub-threshold symptoms. The intervention was facilitated by an Assistant Wellbeing Practitioner (AWP), a Band 3 healthcare assistant familiar with renal services and upskilled with specific competency-based training. Method We conducted a mixed-methods, one-year, single-centre, prospective, single-blind, wait-list, randomised controlled feasibility trial. We anticipated screening 250 individuals to identify 100 eligible, with a 40% screening positivity rate, a 45% participation rate and 20% attrition rate, to give 36 participants in the feasibility study. Primary outcomes are shown in Table 1. Potential participants were screened using an online self-completion questionnaire. Participants were randomised to 6 months of immediate or wait-list intervention. Data was collected using online self-report surveys, clinical research forms and semi-structured qualitative interviews. The trial was overseen by a steering committee and received the relevant ethics approvals. Funders included Kidney Care UK, the British Renal Society, the Royal Devon and Exeter Research Capacity Awards and the Exeter Kidney Unit development fund. Results We approached n = 233 people. Feasibility outcomes are shown in Table 2. Due to logistical issues an extension was obtained and in total n = 24 participants were recruited, agreed by the steering committee. All clinical research forms were completed. The most common intervention components were self-management and liaison with the clinical team. The median (interquartile range) difference in baseline and post intervention PHQ-9 score was −5 (−7, 0), n = 19, p = 0.003) and GAD-7 score was −7 (−8, −2), n = 19, p = 0.0002). Qualitative findings showed the AWP was seen as filling in the gaps left by other parts of the service. Key themes were accessibility, time availability, empathy, patient empowerment, and ability to empower the individual. Balance—especially family, work and health—was noted to be a challenge for participants. Importantly, the AWP was able to help participants overcome previous negative experiences. The trial provided valuable learning regarding role implementation, including recruitment, training, work patterns, everyday practicalities, and supervision arrangements. Conclusion We propose a novel intervention for screening and addressing early mental health problems in people with CKD. A single-centre feasibility design was appropriate. The screening positivity rate was lower than anticipated, informing samples for future trials. Outcome data collection via self-report surveys was not feasible. The intervention was well received, with the AWP being valued and self-help and clinical liaison being core elements. Significant reductions in depression and anxiety screening scores were observed. Despite the rigorous design, limitations included slow initial recruitment impacting the sample size and AWP role vulnerability. Future work includes adapting the AWP training and role based on trial learning and considering suitability for other long-term conditions. In conclusion, the AWP role shows promise in routine screening for and prevention of common mental health difficulties in CKD.

Normality analysis of numeric rating scale scores in patients with chronic axial spine pain before and after medial branch blocks: a multicenter study.

The statistical analysis typically used to compare pain before and after interventions assumes that scores are normally distributed. The present study evaluates whether numeric rating scale (NRS) scores, specifically NRS-11 scores, are indeed normally distributed in a clinically relevant cohort of adults with chronic axial spine pain before and after analgesic intervention. Retrospective review from 4 academic medical centers of prospectively collected data from a uniform pain diary administered to consecutive patients after they had undergone medial branch blocks. The pain diary assessed NRS-11 scores immediately before injection and at 12 different time points after injection up to 48 hours. D'Agostino-Pearson tests were used to test normality at all time points. One hundred fifty pain diaries were reviewed, and despite normally distributed pre-injection NRS-11 scores (K2 = 0.655, P = .72), all post-injection NRS-11 data were not normally distributed (K2 = 9.70- 17.62, P = .0001-.008). Although the results of parametric analyses of NRS-11 scores are commonly reported in pain research, some properties of the NRS-11 do not satisfy the assumptions required for these analyses. The data demonstrate non-normal distributions in post-intervention NRS-11 scores, thereby violating a key requisite for parametric analysis. We urge pain researchers to consider appropriate statistical analysis and reporting for non-normally distributed NRS-11 scores to ensure accurate interpretation and communication of these data. Practicing pain physicians should similarly recognize that parametric post-intervention pain score statistics might not accurately describe the data and should expect articles to utilize measures of normality to justify the selected statistical methods.

Efficacy of massage versus massage with post isometric relaxation in temporomandibular disorders: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundTemporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is a common condition affecting the masticatory muscles and joint mobility.ObjectivesThe primary objective was to compare the effects of massage therapy alone and massage therapy combined with post-isometric relaxation exercises in patients with TMD for pain and maximal mouth opening.DesignAssessor-blinded randomized controlled trial.SettingSir Ganga Ram Hospital, Chaudhry Muhammad Akram Dental Hospital, Lahore Medical and Dental Hospital.SubjectsTemporomandibular joint disorder patients.InterventionGroup A (n = 23) received conventional treatment including massage and therapeutic exercises consecutively for 2 weeks. Group B (n = 23) received post-isometric relaxation technique along with conventional treatment for consecutive 2 weeks.Main measuresThe main outcome measures were pain and maximal mouth opening. Pain was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and maximal mouth opening (MMO) was measured using the TheraBite Scale.ResultsBoth groups demonstrated significant improvements in pain and MMO scores post-treatment. However, Group B (massage with post-isometric relaxation exercises) showed significantly better outcomes compared to Group A (massage alone). There was a statistically significant difference in post-treatment pain scores (P = 0.000) and MMO scores (P = 0.000) between the two groups.ConclusionThe results suggest that massage therapy combined with post-isometric relaxation is more effective than massage therapy alone in managing pain and improving mouth opening in TMD patients. The study provides evidence supporting the use of these therapies in TMD management.Trial registry numberNCT05810831. Date of registration/First submission: 15 March 2023.

Effectiveness of simulation-based clinical research curriculum for undergraduate medical students - a pre-post intervention study with external control

BackgroundSimulation is widely utilized in medical education. Exploring the effectiveness of high-fidelity simulation of clinical research within medical education may inform its integration into clinical research training curricula, finally cultivating physician-scientist development.MethodsStandard teaching scripts for both clinical trial and cross-sectional study simulation were designed. We recruited undergraduates majoring in clinical medicine at 3th grade into a pre-post intervention study. Additionally, a cross-sectional survey randomly selected medical undergraduates at 4th or 5th grade, medical students in master and doctor degree as external controls. Self-assessment scores of knowledge and practice were collected using a 5-point Likert scale. Changes in scores were tested by Wilcoxon signed-rank test and group comparisons were conducted by Dunn’s tests with multiple corrections. Multivariable quantile regressions were used to explore factors influencing the changes from baseline.ResultsSeventy-eight undergraduates involved the clinical trial simulation and reported improvement of 1.60 (95% CI, 1.48, 1.80, P < 0.001) in knowledge and 1.82 (95% CI, 1.64, 2.00, P < 0.001) in practice score. 83 undergraduates involved in the observational study simulation and reported improvement of 0.96 (95% CI, 0.79, 1.18, P < 0.001) in knowledge and 1.00 (95% CI, 0.79, 1.21, P < 0.001) in practice. All post-intervention scores were significantly higher than those of the three external control groups, P < 0.001. Higher agreement on the importance of clinical research were correlated with greater improvements in scores. Undergraduates in pre-post study showed high confidence in doing a future clinical research.ConclusionOur study provides evidence supporting the integration of simulation into clinical research curriculum for medical students. The importance of clinical research can be emphasized during training to enhance learning effect.

An Internet-Based Intervention to Increase the Ability of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People to Cope With Adverse Events: Single-Group Feasibility Study.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people are at higher risk of mental health problems due to widespread hetero- and cisnormativity, including negative public attitudes toward the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to combating social exclusion at the societal level, strengthening the coping abilities of young LGBTQ+ people is an important goal. In this transdiagnostic feasibility study, we tested a 6-week internet intervention program designed to increase the ability of nonclinical LGBTQ+ participants to cope with adverse events in their daily lives. The program was based on acceptance and commitment therapy principles. The program consists of 6 web-based modules and low-intensity assistance for homework provided by a single care provider asynchronously. The design was a single-group assignment of 15 self-identified LGB community members who agreed to participate in an open trial with a single group (pre- and postintervention design). Before starting the program, participants found the intervention credible and expressed high satisfaction at the end of the intervention. Treatment adherence, operationalized by the percentage of completed homework assignments (32/36, 88%) was also high. When we compared participants' pre- and postintervention scores, we found a significant decrease in clinical symptoms of depression (Cohen d=0.44, 90% CI 0.09-0.80), social phobia (d=0.39, 90% CI 0.07-0.72), and posttraumatic stress disorder (d=0.30, 90% CI 0.04-0.55). There was also a significant improvement in the level of self-acceptance and behavioral effectiveness (d=0.64, 90% CI 0.28-0.99) and a significant decrease in the tendency to avoid negative internal experiences (d=0.38, 90% CI 0.09-0.66). The level of general anxiety disorder (P=.11; d=0.29, 90% CI -0.10 to 0.68) and alcohol consumption (P=.35; d=-0.06, 90% CI -0.31 to 0.19) were the only 2 outcomes for which the results were not statistically significant. The proposed web-based acceptance and commitment therapy program, designed to help LGBTQ+ participants better manage emotional difficulties and become more resilient, represents a promising therapeutic tool. The program could be further tested with more participants to ensure its efficacy and effectiveness. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05514964; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05514964.

The safety and efficacy of escitalopram and sertraline in post-stroke depression: a randomized controlled trial

ObjectivesThis study aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of escitalopram and sertraline in post-stroke depression (PSD) patients, to provide more reliable therapeutics for cardiovascular and psychiatric clinical practice.MethodsWe recruited 60 patients (aged 40–89 years old) with an ICD-10 diagnosis of PSD, who were then randomly assigned to two groups and treated with flexible doses of escitalopram (10 to 20 mg/day, n = 30) or sertraline (50 to 200 mg/day, n = 30) for consecutive 8 weeks, respectively. The 24-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-24), the 14-item Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAMA-14), the Treatment Emergent Symptom Scale (TESS), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (MOCA), and the Activity of Daily Living scale (ADL) were used to assess patients before, during, and after treatment for depression, anxiety, adverse effects, cognitive function, and daily living activities. Repeated measures ANOVA, the Mann–Whitney U test, the chi-square test (χ2), or Fisher’s exact test was employed to assess baseline demographics, response rate, adverse effects rate, and changes in other clinical variables.ResultsSignificant reduction in HAMD-24 and HAMA-14 scores was evaluated at baseline, as well as 1, 3, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of drug intervention (p < 0.01). There was a significant group difference in post-treatment HAMD-24 scores (p < 0.05), but no difference was observed in HAMA-14 scores (p > 0.05). Further analysis showed a significant variance in the HAMD-24 scores between the two groups at the end of the first week (p < 0.01). The incidence of adverse effects in both patient groups was mild, but there was a statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05). The improvement in cognitive function and the recovery of daily living abilities were comparable between both groups (p > 0.05).ConclusionEscitalopram and sertraline showed comparable efficacy for anxiety symptoms, cognitive function, and daily living abilities in PSD patients. In addition, escitalopram was more appropriate for alleviating depressive symptoms. To validate the conclusion, trials with a larger sample size are in demand in the future. The registration number is ChiCTR1800017373.

A comparative study between dinoprostone pessary and dinoprostone gel for induction of labor and neonatal outcome

This study compares the safety and efficacy of two dinoprostone formulations – a pessary and a gel. A retrospective randomised observational study was conducted to compare Dinoprostone controlled release pessary and Dinoprostone gel for induction of labor at term in women with unfavourable cervix at Apollo Hospitals BGS, Mysuru during August 2018 – May 2020. Among study participants 50 expectant mothers received Dinoprostone pessary while 50 women received Dinoprostone gel for induction of labour. Both groups were compared and the outcomes were analysed. The primary outcomes of the study were induction to delivery interval, successful vaginal delivery, need for operative vaginal delivery and need for caesarean section. Secondary outcomes were observed for neonatal morbidity and uterine hyperstimulation. There was a significant (p=&amp;#60;0.001) improvement in Bishop scores after induction in both groups. When only the post-induction scores for the two formulations were compared, the pessary helped to improve the bishops score (or helps in cervical ripening) better than the gel formulation and therefore can help to improve the chances of vaginal delivery(because there is a significant change in post induction bishop score in pessary group). The mean interval from induction to delivery for the pessary group was 11.03±4.648 hours and for the gel it was 21.18±9.127 hours with a significant p value &amp;#60;0.005The pessary showed a significant improvement in the post-induction Bishop score and a shorter induction to delivery time compared to the gel. Differences in the mode of delivery were not significant. Fortunately, no serious side effects to the mother or fetus were observed with both products. Both formulations of dinoprostone are safe for induction of labor at term. However, pessary achieves comparitively a higher rate of spontaneous vaginal delivery with a shorter labor induction time. Ease of administration, single application and thus decreased chance of infections are its additional benefits.

Are relative contraindications for unicompartmental knee replacements in medial compartment osteoarthritis really contraindications?

BackgroundMedial unicompartment knee replacement (UKR) is performed for isolated medial compartment osteoarthritis. Understanding the factors influencing functional outcomes helps patient selection and outcomes. We will review the association between pre-operative BMI and patellofemoral articular wear on post operative Oxford Knee Scores at >2 and > 5 years. MethodsA retrospective review of a prospectively collected database was performed. Inclusion criteria were medial UKR for medial compartment OA. The exclusion criteria were age <16, revision procedures and lateral UKR's. Data was collected between 26/6/2014 and 25/8/2022. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Significance was given to variables that reached p < 0.05. Results159 UKR procedures were identified in 155 patients. 116 procedures carried out on 111 patients had follow up at > 2 years. At 5 years there were 14 patients had OKS recorded. There was no statistical difference in the ICRS grade I&II vs III&IV groups for >2 year or >5 year OKS with p = 0.408 and p = 0.876. For BMI there was a moderately negative correlation on spearman's rank p(df) = -0.339 (CI 95 % −0.538, −0.104) at >2 years, which was statistically significant with p = 0.004. >5 year data didn't reach significance with p = 0.828. ConclusionBMI maybe an important patient factor in predicting post operative OKS at 2–5 years. This is beneficial to surgeons for patient selection in medial UKR. Patellofemoral wear doesn't appear to impact on post operative functional outcomes. This supports the theory that patient who suffer from patellofemoral wear, as well as medial compartment wear can benefit from UKR, expanding the current indications.

Effect of sequential gemcitabine and epirubicin therapy on high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer following transurethral bladder tumour resection

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of sequential gemcitabine and epirubicin therapy on high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) after transurethral resection of bladder tumour (TURBT). Methods: The records of 100 high-risk NMIBC patients, who underwent TURBT at the Tongling People's Hospital, Tongling City, China between January 2020 and March 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 46 patients, treated with epirubicin after operation, were assigned to control group, while 54 patients, treated with both gemcitabine and epirubicin, were included in the study group. DKK-1 and YKL-4 levels were assayed by immunomagnetic bead‐based liquid chip technology and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Furthermore, treatment efficacy was determined and compared between the two groups. Results: There were no significant differences in the pre-treatment DKK-1 and YKL-40 levels between the two groups (p &gt; 0.05). However, both groups experienced a significant drop in post-treatment levels, with significantly lower post-treatment levels in the study group (p &lt; 0.05). There were no significant differences in catheter retention time and hospitalization time between the two groups (p &gt; 0.05). The study group achieved a significantly better overall response rate than the control group. The pre-treatment SF-36 scores of the two groups were similar, while their post-treatment SF-36 scores increased significantly (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Sequential therapy with gemcitabine and epirubicin is effective in the therapy of high-risk NMIBC after TURBT. It significantly lowers DKK-1 and YKL-40 levels, improves postoperative quality of life and reduces the postoperative recurrence rate without increasing adverse reactions and affecting the catheter retention and hospitalization times. A more comprehensive analysis is required to obtain improved outcomes.