Pre-therapy Data Research Articles

Exploring the Relationship of Self-Compassion and Gratitude: A Multidimensional Analysis Among Sports Professionals

The aim of this research is to investigate the intricate connection between self-compassion and gratitude among athletes using a multidimensional approach. By delving into the dimensions of both self-compassion and gratitude, this study aims to uncover how these two psychological constructs interact within the context of sports. Through comprehensive analysis, we seek to understand how self-compassion and gratitude manifest in athletes' lives and how they may influence each other. This exploration is vital for enhancing our understanding of the psychological dynamics within sports environments, potentially offering insights into strategies for promoting well-being and performance among athletes. A descriptive research design was employed, with correlational and independent t-test analyses conducted to explore relationships and gender-based differences. Pre-therapy data collection involved assessing participants' baseline levels of negative traits, such as fear, anxiety, depression, and worry, using validated scales, questionnaires, and interviews. Data simulation involved generating random integer values within specified ranges to initialise pre-therapy scores for fear, anxiety, depression, and worry, thereby creating a diverse participant group.Results reveal no significant relationship between gratitude and self-compassion, nor any gender-based differences. However, cognitive-behavioural therapy significantly reduced fear, anxiety, depression, and worry among participants. The p-values of 0.0000 for all measures indicate highly significant differences between pre-therapy and post-therapy scores, affirming the therapy's effectiveness. This highlights the importance of cognitive-behavioural interventions in addressing psychological well-being. While this study provides insights into gratitude and self-compassion among volleyball players, further research is needed to explore interventions enhancing these psychological factors.

Known and Unknown Unknowns in Making Erythrocyte Transfusion Decisions.

Known and Unknown Unknowns in Making Erythrocyte Transfusion Decisions.

Transperineal Ultrasound Visual Feedback Assisted Pelvic Floor Muscle Physiotherapy in Women With Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis and Dyspareunia: A Pilot Study

A prospective study with the aim to evaluate the effects of pelvic floor physiotherapy was conducted among women with deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) and associated dyspareunia. At initial evaluation superficial and deep dyspareunia were assessed using a numerical rating scale, and levator hiatus area (LHA) was assessed with 3-D/4-D transperineal ultrasound. Women underwent five individual sessions of ultrasound visual feedback assisted pelvic floor physiotherapy. One month after the therapy, dyspareunia and LHA were reassessed and compared with pre-therapy data. Pelvic floor physiotherapy seems to improve both superficial and deep dyspareunia and pelvic floor muscle relaxation in women with DIE.

Development and Evaluation of a Pharmacokinetic Model for Prediction of Radioimmunotherapy Based on Pretherapy Data

The aim of this work was to develop a pharmacokinetic model for the analysis of the pharmacokinetics of (111)Inlabeled monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in B-cell lymphoma patients and to evaluate the model's ability to predict a subsequent radioimmunotherapy by (90)Y-labeled mAbs. Data from quantified scintillation camera images and blood samples were used to fit a compartment model. The modeling included two steps: 1) a two-compartment model describing the total-body kinetics for the estimation of a set of global parameters and 2) a multicompartment model for estimating the model parameters for organs. In both steps, a correction for radiochemical impurity in the form of (111)In-DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid) was included. The model was found to describe all patient data with good accuracy. From the model, the time-activity data of all organs could be separated into extravascular and vascular components, where the estimates of the regional vascular volumes were found to be in close agreement with literature data. A significant improvement of the model fit to total-body activity data was obtained by correcting for radiochemical impurity. The therapy kinetics area under the curves (AUCs) predicted from pretherapy data were in good agreement with the measured therapy AUCs. The good correlation between the model estimates and measured data, the accurate prediction of the therapy kinetics, and the good estimates of regional vascular volumes demonstrates the reliability of the model. These findings also indicate that the model can be useful for individual optimization of the amount of activity to be administered with respect to patient dosimetry.

Documentation of progress in voice therapy: perceptual, acoustic, and laryngostroboscopic findings pretherapy and posttherapy

The effect of voice therapy in a group of chronically dysphonic patients with diverse diagnoses was studied according to the normal clinical procedure. The results were evaluated by perceptual rating, acoustic analysis, and the assessment of laryngostroboscopic recordings. Although the group effects for the differences between posttherapy and pretherapy data were clearly significant, the effects of voice therapy for the individual patients were divergent. For each of the three evaluation methods, a significant improvement was found for about 40% to 50% of the patients. The diversity of the therapy outcome among the patients could not be explained by the pretherapy status nor by age, gender, or diagnosis groups. In general, the perceptual ratings and the acoustic parameters from the baseline data were clearly correlated. However, these characterizations of the voice were only moderately correlated with the visual evaluation of the vocal fold vibrations. Relations among the three evaluation tools for the changes caused by voice therapy were very weak. The low correlation among the three methods suggests that a multidimensional evaluation of the voice is necessary to give a complete picture of the therapy outcome.

Permanent response to alpha-interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C is preceded by rapid clearance of HCV-RNA from serum

Background/Aims: Prediction of response to interferon therapy is important in the management of chronic hepatitis C. Pre-therapy data are valuable but they may be inaccurate in some cases. Our aim was to investigate whether the biochemical and virological events that occur early during interferon therapy in chronic hepatitis C may predict the final result of the treatment. Methods: ALT and serum HCV-RNA were serially measured in 53 HCV-RNA-positive patients who received a standard 6-month course of interferon therapy. Eleven patients with a sustained response, 23 who responded but subsequently relapsed and 19 who did not respond were studied. HCV-RNA was measured with a commercial kit (Amplicor HCV). Results: After 4 weeks of treatment, HCV-RNA became negative in 73% of sustained responders, in 26% of transient responders ( p=0.02) and in none of the non-responders. Corresponding figures after 8 weeks of therapy were 82% in sustained responders, 61% in transient responders and 9% in non-responders. The difference between sustained and transient responders at this times was not significant. After 4 weeks of therapy, 82% of sustained responders, 52% of transient responders and none of the non-responders presented normalization of alanine transferase. The difference between sustained and transient responders was not significant. Corresponding figures for normalization of alanine transferase at 8 weeks were 82%, 96% and 0% respectively. At the end of treatment, all sustained responders, 70% of transient responders and none of the non-responders had cleared HCV-RNA from serum. Conclusions: A rapid normalization of alanine transferase induced by interferon therapy is associated with response, but does not differentiate between transient and permanent response. In contrast, clearance of HCV-RNA after 4 weeks of treatment, but not after 8 weeks, is significatively associated with sustained response. Testing for HCV-RNA early during interferon administration may be valuable for further decisions concerning therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C.