Sensation Of Fatigue Research Articles

Temporary protection, refugee fatigue and political discontent in European Union cities of refuge

Experience with the recent activation of the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) in the European Union has demonstrated its virtues as an emergency policy response to mass influx situations. However, in the absence of a long-term strategy to alleviate pressure, there is a risk that a sense of fatigue will emerge and intensify in cities of refuge, with this commentary presenting prima facie evidence of this issue. To mitigate the potential effect that refugee fatigue might have in terms of political discontent, we advocate a new temporary protection approach that embraces a genuine multi-level governance that recognises cities as key actors in refugee reception. The paradigm shift should prioritise cities when allocating funds to build reception capacity, as well as acknowledge the urgency of city-led relocation initiatives to alleviate the strain on overburdened cities. Finally, this commentary suggests the need to address one of the main drivers of fatigue: the uncertainty regarding the future for millions of Ukrainians once the TPD expires.

Analyze interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels in dry eye and the therapeutic effect of cyclosporine A.

Dry eye is a common eye disease. Artificial tears supplements are widely used for the treatment of dry eyes. However, multiple adverse effects have been observed in patients receiving long-term treatment with artificial tears, which may affect the therapeutic effect. To analyze the characteristics of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels in patients with dry eye and the therapeutic effect of artificial tears combined with cyclosporine A. A total of 124 dry eye patients treated at The First People's Hospital of Xining from April 2020 to April 2022 were selected as the observation group, while 20 healthy individuals served as the control group during the same period. Levels of inflammatory markers, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, were analyzed. The observation group was further divided into a study group and a control group, each consisting of 62 patients. The control group received artificial tears, whereas the study group received a combination of artificial tears and cyclosporine A. Inflammatory markers, Schirmer's test (SIT), tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) scores, and adverse events (AEs) were compared between the two groups. The observation group exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in comparison to the healthy group. Following treatment, the study group demonstrated substantial reductions in IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels relative to the control group. Moreover, after treatment, the study group experienced a marked decrease in CFS scores and significant increases in both SIT and BUT levels when compared to the control group. Additionally, significant improvements were observed in the primary symptom of dry eye and secondary symptoms such as photophobia, foreign body sensation, fatigue, red eye, and burning sensation within the study group. Furthermore, post-treatment NEI-VFQ-25 scores across all dimensions exhibited significant enhancements in the study group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). It is noteworthy that significant AEs were reported in both groups throughout the treatment period. Cyclosporine A combined with artificial tears is effective in treating dry eye, yielding enhanced outcomes by improving SIT and TBUT levels, reducing CFS scores, and ameliorating vision-related quality of life.

Does dry needling aid in post-training recovery? A critically appraised topic

Clinical scenarioFollowing intense physical training, it is common for athletes to develop muscle soreness, muscle tightness and a sense of fatigue. Minimizing the time spent in this state is advantageous to limit time off from sport, potential injury and lack of mental focus. Clinical questionDoes dry needling aid in post-training recovery in athletes? Summary of key findingsA search was performed for articles exploring the effect of dry needling on exercise/training recovery in athletes. Six articles were included in this critically appraised topic. Three articles were randomized controlled trials, one was a cross-over design, one was a case series, and one was a survey. Five of the six studies demonstrated that dry needling had some sort of positive effect on post-training recovery. One article found DN did not improve muscle soreness after a long distance race. Clinical bottom lineBased on six studies, DN provides mixed results on a variety of physiological and subjective measures. No adverse effects were reported with the use of DN on athletes following post-training. Strength of recommendationIn agreement with the Center of Evidence-Based Medicine, the consistent results from three Level II and two Level III intervention studies designate that there is grade D evidence that DN may aid in some post-training recovery variables.

Investigating the transient conditions of “Sabat” space and its influence on pedestrian sensations during thermal walks. Algiers’ Casbah case study

Cities are already witnessing the impacts of climate change. Prolonged heat exposure have a direct effect on pedestrians’ thermoregulatory system, causing serious heat-related issues in the form of fatigue and thermal exhaustion. While the human body is capable of maintaining heat balance, excessive heat exposure combined with increasing heat loads can deteriorate the thermoregulatory process which leads to discomfort. Walkability is one of the significant challenges for climate change mitigation. Balancing the dichotomy of walking to mitigate climate change, and mitigating climate change to walk emphasizes the importance of promoting resilient walkability. In this context, the term “resilience” is used to highlight the need to design urban spaces able to adapt to increased urban heat, enabling pedestrians to tolerate and recover from discomfort conditions. This study investigates the potential of the “Sabat”, a traditional semi-outdoor space with lift-up design, and its distribution in generating transient thermal aeraulic conditions, and reducing fatigue sensation, hence, supporting a positive walking experience. Thermal walks have been conducted in Casbah of Algiers during temperate and hot weather conditions, in the context of uphill walking. Results revealed the alliesthesial effect of cool-shaded and ventilated Sabats to reduce fatigue sensation, which was confirmed by the significant correlation at lag-(-1) (r = 0.504, p < 0.001). Findings shed light on the importance of maintaining dynamic alliesthesia to create modulated restorative opportunities and offer starting point for hypothesizing broader trends for future implementation of Sabat design in modern cities.

Neuropsychology intervention for managing invisible symptoms of MS (NIMIS-MS) group: A pilot effectiveness and acceptability study

BackgroundPeople with MS (pwMS) commonly experience a range of hidden symptoms, including cognitive impairment, anxiety and depression, fatigue, pain, and sensory difficulties. These “invisible” symptoms can significantly impact wellbeing, relationships, employment and life goals. We developed a novel bespoke online group neuropsychological intervention combining psychoeducation and cognitive rehabilitation with an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-informed approach for pwMS in an acute tertiary hospital. This ‘Neuropsychological Intervention for Managing Invisible Symptoms’ in MS (NIMIS-MS) consisted of 6 sessions, each with a psychoeducation and ACT component. The content included psychoeducation around managing cognitive difficulties, fatigue, pain, sleep and other unpleasant sensations in MS with the general approach of understanding, monitoring, and recognising patterns and potential triggers. Specific cognitive rehabilitation and fatigue management strategies were introduced. The ACT-informed component focussed on three core ACT areas of the ‘Triflex’ of psychological flexibility (Harris, 2019): Being Present, Opening Up, and Doing What Matters. Methods118 pwMS attended the NIMIS-MS group intervention which was delivered 14 times in six-week blocks over an 18-month period. To evaluate the effectiveness and acceptability, participants completed measures of depression and anxiety (HADS), functional impairment (WSAS), Values- Progress (VQ) and Values- Obstruction (VQ), and Acceptance of MS (MSAS) pre and post NIMIs-MS group intervention. Qualitative feedback was obtained during focus groups after the final session and via online feedback questionnaires ResultsPre-post analysis showed that symptoms of depression and anxiety were significantly lower and acceptance of MS was significantly higher following completion of the NIMIS-MS group. Qualitative feedback showed that participants reported that they felt more equipped to manage the “invisible” symptoms of MS following completion of the group, and benefited from using ACT-based strategies and techniques. Participants highly valued the peer support that evolved during the NIMIS-MS groups. The online format was considered more accessible than in-person groups, due to less concerns of travel time, cost, fatigue, and comfort and infection. ConclusionEvaluation suggests that our novel NIMIS-MS groups is an acceptable, beneficial and feasible approach for providing neuropsychological interventions to individuals with MS.

Metabolomic profiling of cancer-related fatigue involved in cachexia and chemotherapy

Patients with advanced cancer are frequently burdened with a severe sensation of fatigue called cancer-related fatigue (CRF). CRF is induced at various stages and treatments, such as cachexia and chemotherapy, and reduces the overall survival of patients. Objective and quantitative assessment of CRF could contribute to the diagnosis and prediction of treatment efficacy. However, such studies have not been intensively performed, particularly regarding metabolic profiles. Here, we conducted plasma metabolomics of 15 patients with urological cancer. The patients with and without fatigue, including those with cachexia or chemotherapy-induced fatigue, were compared. Significantly lower concentrations of valine and tryptophan were observed in fatigued patients than in non-fatigued patients. In addition, significantly higher concentrations of polyamine pathway metabolites were observed in patients with fatigue and cachexia than in those without cachexia. Patients with exacerbated fatigue due to chemotherapy showed significantly decreased cysteine and methionine metabolism before chemotherapy compared with those without fatigue exacerbation. These findings suggest that plasma metabolic profiles could help improve the diagnosis and monitoring of CRF.

Cognitive decline with pupil constriction independent of subjective fatigue during prolonged esports across player expertise levels

Cognitive fatigue, a transient cognitive decline stemming from extended mental and physical activity, is well established in conventional contexts. However, its manifestation and self-awareness during digital pursuits, as an integrated style of mental and physical activity, notably in electronic sports (esports), remain underexplored. Here we show that, using virtual football as a representative model for esports, prolonged esports cause cognitive fatigue with pupil constriction, independent of subjective fatigue across player expertise. Casual and hardcore esports players engaged in an intensive 3 h gaming session, and sense of fatigue, executive function, pupil diameter as a potential signifier, and other physiological parameters were recorded. Subjective fatigue remained unchanged for up to 2 h, but increased after 3 h, inversely linked to reported enjoyment, in both groups of players. Executive function, assessed by flanker interference, decreased after 2 h and 3 h in casual players. The accuracy of the flanker task decreased after 2 h and 3 h in hardcore players, despite an initial accuracy edge. Pupil diameter decreased after 2 h and 3 h and correlated with cognitive performance decline but diverged from subjective fatigue in both player types. Our findings clearly suggest a disparity between actual cognitive decline and subjective fatigue awareness in esports, transcending levels of player expertise. Pupil constriction is a potential neurobiological marker integrating divergent cognitive and subjective fatigue during digital engagement.

Enhancing weight perception in virtual reality: an analysis of kinematic features

This study investigates weight perception in virtual reality without kinesthetic feedback from the real world, by means of an illusory method called pseudo-haptic. This illusory model focuses on the dissociation of visual input and somatosensory feedback and tries to induce the sensation of virtual objects' loads in VR users by manipulating visual input. For that, modifications on the control-display ratio, i.e., between the real and virtual motions of the arm, can be used to produce a visual illusionary effect on the virtual objects' positions as well. Therefore, VR users perceive it as velocity variations in the objects' displacements, helping them achieve a better sensation of virtual weight. A primary contribution of this paper is the development of a novel, holistic assessment methodology that measures the sense of the presence in virtual reality contexts, particularly when participants are lifting virtual objects and experiencing their weight. Our study examined the effect of virtual object weight on the kinematic parameters and velocity profiles of participants' upward arm motions, along with a parallel experiment conducted using real weights. By comparing the lifting of real objects with that of virtual objects, it was possible to gain insight into the variations in kinematic features observed in participants' arm motions. Additionally, subjective measurements, utilizing the Borg CR10 questionnaire, were conducted to assess participants' perceptions of hand fatigue. The analysis of collected data, encompassing both subjective and objective measurements, concluded that participants experienced similar sensations of fatigue and changes in hand kinematics during both virtual object tasks, resulting from pseudo-haptic feedback, and real weight lifting tasks. This consistency in findings underscores the efficacy of pseudo-haptic feedback in simulating realistic weight sensations in virtual environments.

Vocal Load of University Professors: Preliminary Results

Purpose. To describe the acoustic characteristics of a classroom, voice quality, fatigue, and vocal load of university professors. Methods. Exploratory, observational, longitudinal, and descriptive study with a single group of participants, including vocal monitoring data over two weeks. Acoustic characterization of the classroom, perceptual-auditory evaluation, and acoustic analysis of voice samples were conducted before and after classes. Vocal dosimetry was performed during classes, and the Vocal Fatigue Index (VFI) was assessed at the beginning of each week. Descriptive analysis of the findings was conducted, and randomization test was performed to verify the internal reliability of the judge. Results. All participants reported speaking loudly in the classroom, with the majority reporting vocal changes in the past six months, and only one participant reported a current vocal change. The classroom had acoustical measures and estimations that deviated from established standards. The professors used high vocal intensities during classes. After the classes, an increase in the absolute values of the aggregated data for CAPE-V, jitter, and fundamental frequency was found, varying within the range of normality. Furthermore, there was an observed increase in both post-lesson intensity and VFI when comparing the two-week period. Conclusions. Vocal intensities and VFI were possibly impacted by the acoustics of the classroom. The increase in average VFI between the weeks may be attributed to a cumulative fatigue sensation. Further research with a larger number of participants and in acoustically conditioned classrooms is suggested in order to evaluate collective intervention proposals aimed at reducing the vocal load on teachers.

Low-intensity rehabilitation in persistent post COVID-19 dyspnoea: the value of Spa health resort as appropriate setting.

Post COVID-19 syndrome is a frequent disabling outcome, leading to a delay in social reintegration and return to working life. This was a prospective observational cohort study. The main objective was to explore the effectiveness of a Spa rehabilitation treatment on the improvement of post COVID-19 dyspnoea and fatigue, also analyzing the relationship between such symptoms. Additionally, it was assessed if different clinical characteristics could predispose patients in experiencing post COVID-19 symptoms or could influence the effectiveness of a Spa intervention. From July to November 2021, 187 post COVID-19 patients were enrolled in the study. All the patients complained persi-sting dyspnoea, whose impact on daily activities was assessed using the modified Medical Research Council dyspnoea scale. 144 patients (77.0%) reported also fatigue. The Spa treatment was started at least 3 months after COVID-19 acute phase. At the end of the treatment, patients were asked to rate the improvement in the dyspnoea and fatigue sensation. 118 patients also underwent the modified Borg Dyspnoea Scale for severity estimation of Exertion Dyspnoea and the Barthel index for severity estimation of Physical Limitation. 165 out of 187 patients (88.2%) reported an improvement in dyspnoea, while 116 out 144 patients (80.6%) reported an improvement in both dyspnoea and fatigue. On a total of 118 subjects, a clinically significant improvement in the modified Borg Dyspnoea Scale (i.e. Delta Borg equal or more than -2.0 points) was reached by the 50.8% of patients, while a clinically significant improvement in the Barthel index (i.e. Delta Barthel equal or more than +10.0 points) was reached by the 51.7% of them. The 31.4% of patients reached a minimal clinically important improvement in both the modified Borg Dyspnoea Scale and the Barthel index. No risk factors were associated to a clinically impacting dyspnoea at entry, while a BMI>30 Kg/m2 was the main risk factor for chronic fatigue. Presence of respiratory comorbidities, obesity and severe acute COVID-19 (phenotype 4) configured risk factors for the lack of improvement of dyspnoea after the treatment, while no risk factors were associated to a lack of improvement for fatigue. Older age, obesity and comorbidities seemed to make more difficult to reach a clinically meaningful improvement in the modified Borg Dyspnoea Scale and the Barthel index after treatment. Female gender may imply more physical limitation at entry, while male patients seem to show less improvement in the Barthel index after treatment. Dyspnoea and fatigue were confirmed to be important post COVID-19 symptoms even in younger subjects of wor-king age and subjects with absent or modest pulmonary alterations at distance from acute COVID-19. A Spa health resort seems to be an effective "low-intensity" setting for a rehabilitation program of such patients. There is a strong relationship in terms of improvement between dyspnoea and fatigue, even if risk factors for their occurrence appear to be different. The improvement in exertion dyspnoea and physical limitation seemed to be less mutually related, probably due to a greater complexity in the asses-sment questionnaires. Some risk factors may predict a lack of improvement in symptoms after treatment.

The effects of sustained, low- and high-intensity isometric tasks on performance fatigability and the perceived responses that contributed to task termination.

The present study examined the effects of sustained, isometric low- versus high-intensity tasks on time to task failure (TTF), performance fatigability (PF), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), and the perceived causes of task termination from a post-test questionnaire (PTQ). Ten men (mean ± SD: age = 21.1 ± 2.3 years; height = 180.2 ± 5.7 cm; body mass = 79.5 ± 8.8 kg) performed maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) before and after fatiguing, isometric forearm flexion tasks anchored to the torque corresponding to RPE values of 2 (TRQ2FT = 23.8 ± 7.1 N·m) and 8 (TRQ8FT = 60.9 ± 11.4 N·m). In addition, the subjects completed a PTQ which surveyed whether the perceived sensations of fatigue or pain, and/or the psychological factors of loss of focus and motivation contributed to the decision to terminate the task. Repeated measures ANOVAs, Wilcoxon-Signed Rank tests, and Spearman's Rank-Order Correlations were used to analyze the data. Across the fatiguing tasks, there were similar decreases in MVIC torque (95.2 ± 20.3 vs. 68.9 ± 15.6 N·m; p < 0.001) and RPE values (p = 0.122) at task failure for TRQ2FT (7.4 ± 2.7) and TRQ8FT (8.9 ± 1.0), but a longer (p = 0.005) TTF for the TRQ2FT (245.0 ± 177.0 s) than TRQ8FT (36.8 ± 11.1 s). Despite reaching task failure, the subjects were able to perform MVICs that were 100-300% greater than the target torque values within seconds of terminating the tasks. Thus, we hypothesized that task failure was not caused by an inability to produce sufficient torque to sustain the tasks, but rather an unwillingness to continue the task.

What motivates individuals to share information with governments when adopting health technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic?

BackgroundWhile digital governance has been adopted by governments around the world to assist in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of its implementation relies on the collection and use of personal information. This study examines the willingness of individuals to engage in information-sharing with governments when adopting health technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsData were obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 4,800 individuals drawn from 16 cities in China in 2021. Tobit regression models were used to assess the impacts of an array of determinants on an individual’s willingness to share information with governments when adopting health technologies.ResultsIndividuals who perceived a higher level of helpfulness, risk, expectations from others, weariness toward privacy issues, and were sensitive to positive outcomes were more willing to share information with governments when adopting health technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Across all the subgroups, self-efficacy only reduced the willingness to share information with governments for individuals who spent more than seven hours per day online. The negative impacts of being sensitive to negative outcomes on the willingness to share information were only found among females and the less educated group.ConclusionsThis study revealed the seemingly paradoxical behavior of individuals who perceived high risks of sharing information and a sense of fatigue toward privacy issues yet continued to be willing to share their information with their governments when adopting health technologies during the COVID-19 pandemic. This work highlighted significant differential motivations for sharing information with governments when using health technologies during a pandemic. Tailored policies that resonate with population sub-groups were suggested to be proposed to facilitate crisis management in future situations.

Glittre-ADL test without backpack: A qualitative study of perceptions of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

BackgroundThe Glittre Activities of Daily Living (Glittre-ADL) test without backpack was recently validated to assess the functional capacity of people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) ObjectiveTo understand the perceptions of people with COPD about the Glittre-ADL test with and without backpack and the possible similarities with their activities of daily living (ADLs). MethodsParticipants performed 2 Glittre-ADL tests with a backpack (visit 1). On visit 2, participants randomly performed the Glittre-ADL test with and without backpack and completed a semi-structured interview with questions about the tests. Interviews were analyzed according to thematic analysis. ResultsTwelve participants aged between 57 and 76 years with mild to severe COPD were included. Interviews were grouped into four thematic categories: (1) Glittre-ADL test with a backpack: does the backpack make the test worse, or does it not matter?; (2) test tasks and ADL: what is in common between them?; (3) “I enjoyed taking the test”: the possibility of learning and new expectations; and (4) symptoms during the Glittre-ADL tests. ConclusionThe following perceptions while performing the Glittre-ADL test with and without the backpack were observed: dyspnea and fatigue sensation, difficulty using the backpack while performing tasks such as squatting, and similarities to ADLs tasks despite different perspectives regarding the degree of ease and expectations on how to perform test tasks at home.

A REVIEW ON BEYOND HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT): AYURVEDIC MANAGEMENT OF PERIMENOPAUSE.

According to WHO statistics, 467 million women were projected to be in perimenopause state in the year 1990, and this number is expected to increase to 1200 million by 2030. It is defined as the transitional period of two to eight years, antecedent to menopause and one year following the last menstrual period when the endocrinological and biological changes occur. In today’s scenario, women have a multifaceted perspective and contribute to society by their preposterous physical and mental achievements in every domain. The menopausal transition is amalgamated by different vasomotor, mental, genital, locomotor and GIT-related manifestations and consequently requires treatment for the same. In Ayurvedic texts, perimenopause can be compared with Rajonivritti janya kaal. When estrogen production falls below a critical value, it no longer impedes the production of FSH and LH; instead, they are produced in large and continuous quantities around menopause, but as the remaining primordial follicles become atretic, the production of estrogen by the ovaries falls eventually. The following physiological changes are noticed due to the loss of estrogen in the female body: Hot flushes characterized by extreme flushing of the skin, psychic sensation of dyspnea, irritability, fatigue, anxiety, decreased strength and calcification of bones throughout the body. There is a need for multi-centred randomized trials and future research in this domain where the fundamentals of Ayurveda can be incorporated into menopause management.

Effectiveness of Muscle Stretching Exercise on Quality of Life of Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disease affecting both kidneys in which progressive irreversible destruction of the renal tissues occurs. This leads to alteration of the metabolic function of the kidneys due to destruction of the nephrons. Kidney dysfunction is considered to occur when the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) falls below 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, for longer than three months. Aim of the Work To determine the effectiveness of structured muscles stretching exercise program on Quality of Life among patients undergoing haemodialysis Methodology We recruited 60 patients with hemodialysis from dialysis unit within Misr University for science and technology (MUST), faculty of medicine. Patients with mean age between 30 and 60 years old undergoing hemodialysis for at least 6 months in a regular form for at least 2 times a week were included. Patients with a history of orthopedic or psychological problems were excluded. Patients who were critically ill or have a prior history of dopamine receptor antagonist, benzodiazepines, opioids, anticonvulsants were also excluded. Informed consent was obtained from all participants before enrollment into the study. All methods correspond to the STROBE statement for cross sectional study. Results In our study, we applied the regular exercises programs for 6 months after each session and then administrated the KDQOL questionnaire again after completion of the exercises. We found that there was a slight increase in the quality of life with all domains. This increase was more evident especially in BKD domain in which the median increased from 0 (0 – 12.5) to 6.25 (0 – 12.5), and PCS in which the mean increased from 6.25 ± 5.8 to 8.13 ± 5.1 post exercise. However, none of those changes was statistically significant (p = 0.236, p = 0.510) respectively. Conclusion End stage kidney disease (ESKD) is a chronic disease that forms a great burden on the societies and governments. Regular monitoring and follow up of those patients and trying to improve their quality of life is extremely important. Regular physical exercises are considered the most useful nonpharmacological alternative that helps improves their QOL and prevents the dialysis induced complications as impaired muscle catabolism and sensation of chronic fatigue.

Depressive Disorders of Polish University Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The aim of the study was to determine the symptoms of depressive disorders manifested by 151 students—138 (91.4%) women and 13 (8.6%) men—studying at Polish universities after a year of the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) virus in the country. The study used a depression test by David D. Burns, consisting of 25 questions (described states), in which students had the opportunity to choose one of four answers, to which appropriate points were assigned: 0: not at all; 1: rarely; 2: sometimes; 3: often; 4: very often. 151 students from randomly selected universities located in the central, northern, and southern parts of Poland participated in the study. The study, recognised as a pilot study, was conducted from May to September 2021. At the time of the study, only half of the students were vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The statistical analysis of test results was performed using Statistica 13.1 Dell Inc. software.&#x0D; Research results: The conducted research shows that the dominant symptoms of depressive disorders often manifested by students were: a sense of discouragement (33.8%), a sense of fatigue (33.2%), loss of motivation to act (27.8%), spending less time with family and friends (27.8%), sleep problems (26.5%), a poorer mood (25.8%), and difficulty making decisions (25.2%). On the other hand, very common symptoms of depressive disorders indicated by students were: feeling of exhaustion (34.4%), sleep problems (21.2%), loss of motivation to act (17.9%), feeling of discouragement (13.9%), problems with making decisions (13.2%), loneliness (13.9%), lack of interest in work and current tasks or actions (13.2%), feeling sad and depressed (11.9%), and worrying about their own health (11.3%). Based on these results, suggestions will be made within the scope of supporting well-being.

Depressive Disorders of Polish University Students During the Covid-19 Pandemic

The aim of the study was to determine the symptoms of depressive disorders manifested by 151 students—138 (91.4%) women and 13 (8.6%) men—studying at Polish universities after a year of the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) virus in the country. The study used a depression test by David D. Burns, consisting of 25 questions (described states), in which students had the opportunity to choose one of four answers, to which appropriate points were assigned: 0: not at all; 1: rarely; 2: sometimes; 3: often; 4: very often. 151 students from randomly selected universities located in the central, northern, and southern parts of Poland participated in the study. The study, recognised as a pilot study, was conducted from May to September 2021. At the time of the study, only half of the students were vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. The statistical analysis of test results was performed using Statistica 13.1 Dell Inc. software.&#x0D; Research results: The conducted research shows that the dominant symptoms of depressive disorders often manifested by students were: a sense of discouragement (33.8%), a sense of fatigue (33.2%), loss of motivation to act (27.8%), spending less time with family and friends (27.8%), sleep problems (26.5%), a poorer mood (25.8%), and difficulty making decisions (25.2%). On the other hand, very common symptoms of depressive disorders indicated by students were: feeling of exhaustion (34.4%), sleep problems (21.2%), loss of motivation to act (17.9%), feeling of discouragement (13.9%), problems with making decisions (13.2%), loneliness (13.9%), lack of interest in work and current tasks or actions (13.2%), feeling sad and depressed (11.9%), and worrying about their own health (11.3%). Based on these results, suggestions will be made within the scope of supporting well-being.

Application of indicators associated with mental fatigue in sanitary personnel from Heroes del Moncada Polyclinic in Cárdenas municipality, Cuba

Healthcare professionals undergo frequent job stress due to exposure to high cognitive demands. The present research was carried out at the "Héroes del Moncada'' polyclinic in the municipality of Cárdenas, Matanzas. The objective is to apply indicators associated to mental fatigue. The indicators applied are: Simple Reaction Time and Yoshitake Test. Statgraphic Centurion 15.0 software is used as a tool for information processing. The results of the research obtained in this study show significant differences between before and after in some of the indicators applied, which evidences the presence of mental workload at the end of the working day. When applying the Yoshitake Test after finishing the assigned activity, all the health personnel of the study sample manifested the presence of subjective sensation of fatigue, highlighting both physical and mental fatigue.

Clinical Symptoms Influencing Parkinson's Patients' Quality of Life in Latvia: A Single-Center Cohort Study.

Background and Objectives: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic, progressive illness with a profound impact on health-related quality of life, and it is crucial to know what factors influence the quality of life throughout the course of the disease. This study aimed to evaluate PD patients' motor and non-motor symptoms to compare symptom severity between PD clinical phenotypes and to assess the impact of disease symptoms on quality of life in a cohort of Latvian patients. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 43 patients with Parkinson's disease. Fourteen patients had tremor dominant (TD) PD, twenty-five patients had postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD), and four patients had a mixed phenotype. Results: The patients' mean age was 65.21 years, and the disease's mean duration was 7 years. The most common non-motor symptoms were fatigue (95.3%), sleep disturbance (83.7%), daytime sleepiness (83.7%), and pain and other sensations (81.4%). PIGD patients had a higher prevalence of depressed mood, daytime sleepiness, constipation, lightheadedness on standing, cognitive impairment, and severe gastrointestinal and urinary disturbances (as assessed using the SCOPA-AUT domains) compared with TD patients. A high prevalence of fatigue was assessed in both disease subtypes. Health-related quality of life significantly statistically correlated with MDS-UPDRS parts III and IV (r = 0.704), the Hoehn and Yahr scale (r = 0.723), as well as the SCOPA-AUT scale's gastrointestinal (r = 0.639), cardiovascular (r = 0.586), thermoregulatory (r = 0.566) and pupillomotor domains (r = 0.597). Conclusions: The severity of motor symptoms, as well as non-motor symptoms, such as fatigue, apathy, sleep problems and daytime sleepiness, pain, and disturbances in gastrointestinal and cardiovascular function, negatively affect PD patients' health-related quality of life. Thermoregulatory and pupillomotor symptoms also significantly affect PD patients' well-being.

Listening to Music Pretask on Neuromuscular Fatigue During Exercise: Preferred vs. Nonpreferred Music.

Diehl, TL, Yu, JN, Storer, FM, and Malek, MH. Listening to music pretask on neuromuscular fatigue during exercise: preferred vs. nonpreferred music. J Strength Cond Res 37(7): 1537-1542, 2023-Studies indicate that listening to music can elicit various physiological responses ranging from distracting the subject from the sensation of fatigue to changes in specific regions of the brain. Indeed, the use of music, as an ergogenic aid, to improve human performance has been shown to be a powerful tool. Many studies on the effect of music on human performance have had subjects listen to music in-task (i.e., during the activity). There is, however, a growing interest to determine the role of listening to music pretask (i.e., before the activity) on exercise outcomes. In addition, it is important to consider the subject's music preference as that may influence the target outcome variable(s). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether listening to preferred music pretask influences the physical working capacity at the fatigue threshold (PWC FT ). We hypothesized that listening to preferred music pretask will increase the estimated PWC FT compared with the control condition, which is listening to nonpreferred music. Nine healthy college-aged men (mean ± SEM : age, 23.4 ± 0.4 years; body mass, 71.6 ± 2.5 kg; and height, 1.81 ± 0.02 m) volunteered for this study. Each subject visited the laboratory on 2 occasions separated by 7 days. In a randomized manner, subjects listened to their preferred music for 30 minutes before the exercise test for 1 visit, whereas for the other visit, subjects listened to their nonpreferred music 30 minutes before the exercise test. Exercise outcomes were recorded for both visits and analyzed using a paired-samples t test. The results indicated no significant ( p > 0.05) mean differences for maximal power output (mean ± SEM : 60 ± 4 W vs. 60 ± 4 W), PWC FT (25 ± 3 W vs. 29 ± 2 W), or heart rate at end exercise (153 ± 8 b·min -1 vs. 155 ± 7 b·min -1 ) between listening to nonpreferred vs. preferred music 30 minutes before the exercise activity. These findings suggest that listening to music pretask does not influence neuromuscular fatigue during the exercise workbout.