Status Of People Research Articles

Ridiculing the “tinfoil hats:” Citizen responses to COVID-19 misinformation in the Danish facemask debate on Twitter

We study how citizens engage with misinformation on Twitter in Denmark during the COVID-19 pandemic. We find that misinformation regarding facemasks is not corrected through counter-arguments or fact-checking. Instead, many tweets rejecting misinformation use humor to mock misinformation spreaders, whom they pejoratively label wearers of “tinfoil hats.” Tweets rejecting misinformation project a superior social position and leave the concerns of misinformation spreaders unaddressed. Our study highlights the role of status in people’s engagement with online misinformation.

Vitamin K status, all-cause mortality, and cardiovascular disease in adults with chronic kidney disease: the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort

Vascular calcification contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Vitamin K-dependent proteins function as calcification inhibitors in vascular tissue. We sought to determine the association of vitamin K status with mortality and CVD events in adults with CKD. Plasma dephospho-uncarboxylated matrix gla protein ((dp)ucMGP), which increases when vitamin K status is low, and plasma phylloquinone (vitamin K1), which decreases when vitamin K status is low, were measured in 3066 Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort participants (median age=61 y, 45% female, 41% non-Hispanic black, median estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] = 41mL/min/1.73m2). The association of vitamin K status biomarkers with all-cause mortality and atherosclerotic-related CVD was determined using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. There were 1122 deaths and 599 atherosclerotic CVD events over the median 12.8 follow-up years. All-cause mortality risk was 21-29% lower among participants with plasma (dp)ucMGP <450pmol/L (n=2361) compared with those with plasma (dp)ucMGP ≥450pmol/L (adjusted HRs [95% CIs]: <300pmol/L=0.71 [0.61, 0.83], 300-449pmol/L=0.77 [0.66, 0.90]) and 16-19% lower among participants with plasma phylloquinone≥0.50nmol/L (n=2421) compared to those with plasma phylloquinone<0.50nmol/L (adjusted HRs: 0.50, 0.99nmol/L=0.84 [0.72, 0.99], ≥1.00nmol/L=0.81 [0.70, 0.95]). The risk of atherosclerotic CVD events did not significantly differ across plasma (dp)ucMGP or phylloquinone categories. Two biomarkers of vitamin K status were associated with a lower all-cause mortality risk but not atherosclerotic CVD events. Additional studies are needed to clarify the mechanism underlying this association and evaluate the impact of improving vitamin K status in people with CKD.

Apathy Level, Disinhibition, and Psychiatric Conditions Are Related to the Employment Status of People With Traumatic Brain Injury.

An understanding of the potential prognostic factors as they relate to the employment status of people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) is necessary so that occupational therapy practitioners can provide the most effective treatment. To examine the impact of apathy, disinhibition, and psychiatric conditions on employment status after TBI. An observational study conducted from March 2015 to March 2020. Cognitive dysfunction clinics associated with two general hospitals in Japan. Japanese people of working age (N = 110, ages 18-65 yr) with TBI. Outcomes and Measures: As an outcome indicator, each participant's employment status was rated on a 3-point scale (i.e., 3 = regular employment, 2 = welfare employment [employed as a person with disabilities or undergoing vocational training in the Japanese welfare employment system, for which a worker is paid under either system], 1 = unemployment). Psychiatric, neuropsychological, and physical assessments were measured as explanatory variables. The impact of various factors on employment status was investigated using linear discriminant regression analysis. The level of apathy, disinhibition, and incidence of psychiatric conditions after TBI, as well as age and years postinjury, were related to employment status. Conclusion and Relevance: Although this is a cross-sectional study, interventions for apathy and disinhibition, as well as management of psychiatric conditions, are recommended to help improve employment status among people with TBI. What This Article Adds: The employment status of people with TBI is related more to apathy, disinhibition, and psychiatric conditions than to intelligence, memory function, or executive function.

Effects of Exercise on Nutritional Status in People with Cystic Fibrosis: A Systematic Review.

Background: Physical exercise is an important part of regular care for people with cystic fibrosis (CF). It is unknown whether such exercise has beneficial or detrimental effects on nutritional status (body composition). Thus, the objective of this review was to evaluate the effect of exercise on measures of nutritional status in children and adults with CF. Methods: Standardized reporting guidelines for systematic reviews were followed and the protocol was prospectively registered. Multiple databases were utilized (e.g., PubMed, Scopus, and CINHAL). Two reviewers independently reviewed titles/abstracts and then the full text for selected studies. Results: In total, 924 articles were originally identified; data were extracted from 4 eligible studies. These four studies included only children; pulmonary function ranged from severe to normal, and the majority of participants were at or below their recommended weight. Exercise training did not worsen nutritional status in any study; two studies that included resistance exercise reported an increase in fat-free mass. Three of the four studies also reported increased aerobic capacity and/or muscle strength. Conclusions: Exercise training can produce positive physiologic changes in children with CF without impairing their nutritional status. In fact, resistance exercise can help improve body mass. Much less is known about how exercise may affect adults or those who are overweight.

The ongoing battle to address respiratory health in people experiencing homelessness

The ongoing battle to address respiratory health in people experiencing homelessness

Vitamin C Status in People with Types 1 and 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Varying Degrees of Renal Dysfunction: Relationship to Body Weight.

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder and is associated with depleted vitamin C status. The underlying aetiologies and pathogeneses responsible for this association are poorly understood. This retrospective study explored the vitamin C status of 136 adult outpatients with types 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM/T2DM), with a focus on indices of renal function and metabolic health, including body weight. In the T1DM group (n = 73), the median plasma vitamin C concentration was 33 (18, 48) µmol/L, with 37% hypovitaminosis C and 12% deficiency. In the T2DM group (n = 63), the median plasma concentration was 15 (7, 29) µmol/L, with 68% hypovitaminosis C and 38% deficiency. Lower vitamin C was associated with macroalbuminuria (p = 0.03), renal dysfunction (p = 0.08), and hypertension (p = 0.0005). Inverse associations were also observed between plasma vitamin C and various other metabolic health parameters (p < 0.05), especially body weight (p < 0.0001), which was higher in those with hypovitaminosis C (<23 µmol/L; p = 0.0001). The association with bodyweight remained, even after multivariable analysis. In summary, body weight was a significant predictor of low vitamin C status in people with diabetes. This suggests that people with both diabetes and a high body weight may have greater than average vitamin C requirements.

Mental Health Status of People with Multiple Sclerosis during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Objective. This study assesses and compares the mental health status of people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) in Poland during the second wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (November 2020) to a similar group whose mental health status was examined in November 2017. It also analyzed the psychological resources such as self-efficacy and health locus of control (HLC) and their relationship to mental health in both groups. Methods. Cross-sectional study included two groups of PwMS with 113 respondents each. The respondents completed the General Health Questionnaire-12 and questionnaires for assessing self-efficacy and HLC. The clinical and demographic data of participants were also collected. Results. No differences in mental health status were observed between the studied groups. A hierarchical regression model of the group studied in 2020 revealed that general self-efficacy (β = −0.21, p = 0.032), HLC—internal (β = −0.21, p = 0.035), and education (β = −0.18, p = 0.048) explained 18% of the variance in the mental health of PwMS, whereas according to the model of the group assessed in 2017 self-efficacy (β = –0.31, p < 0.001), HLC—chance (β = 0.45, p < 0.001), and HLC—internal (β = −0.37, p < 0.001) explained 48% of the variance. Conclusions. Study results suggest that the pandemic and the related lockdown had no effect on the mental health status of PwMS. At the same time, it was noted that well known determinants of mental health such as self-efficacy and HLC seemed to retain their prominent role for mental functioning in the pandemic.

The Influence of Socioeconomic Characteristics on Anthropometry, Nutrition Knowledge, and Attitude of People Living With HIV/AIDS Attending Special Treatment Center (STC) National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria

The work is on the influence of socioeconomic status of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) on their anthropometry, nutrition knowledge, and attitude, attending special treatment center (STC) in National Hospital Abuja, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study design was carried out in the STC and a total of two hundred and seventy [270 (150 men and 120 women)] PLWHA were used for the study. The PLWHA attend STC once in 2 months and subjects were grouped into 16 giving 4 groups per week since the center runs Monday through Thursday weekly and by 2 months, there were altogether 32 groups. Socioeconomic characteristics, nutrition knowledge and attitude, and anthropometric data were collected. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, and regression analysis. The study revealed that 41.1% of PLWHA had poor knowledge of nutrition, 29.1% had both fair and good knowledge while 0.7% had excellent knowledge. A total of 52.8% had a positive attitude toward nutrition. The skinfold status of the respondents showed that 56.0% were malnourished, while their body mass index (BMI) revealed that 49.3% were normal. Gender (being female) and age (being young) had a significant (P < 0.01) influence on the BMI of PLWHA, while being female significantly influenced their skinfold status. Self-employed and being female were strongest (P < 0.01) positive predictors of nutrition knowledge, while low education had a negative influence on their attitude toward nutrition. Good nutrition knowledge, attitude, and improved socioeconomic characteristics are important tools in the care process of PLWHA, for sustainable healthy PLWHA, leading to a healthy society at large.

Impact of BMI, Physical Activity, and Sitting Time Levels on Health-Related Outcomes in a Group of Overweight and Obese Adults with and without Type 2 Diabetes.

Physical activity level and sedentary behaviors affect health status in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes (DM2); their assessment is mandatory to properly prescribe exercise programs. From January 2011 to February 2014, 293 overweight/obese adults (165 women and 128 men, mean age of 51.9 ± 9.5 years and 54.6 ± 8.3 years, respectively), with and without DM2, participated in a three-month intensive exercise program. Before starting, participants were allocated into three subgroups (overweight, body mass index or BMI = 25–29.9; class 1 of obesity, BMI = 30–34.4; or class 2 (or superior) of obesity, BMI > 35). The international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ-it) was used to evaluate participants’ baseline sitting time (SIT) and physical activity level (PAL). Stratified multiple analyses were performed using four subgroups of SIT level according to Ekelund et al., 2016 (low, 8 h/day of SIT) and three subgroups for PAL (high, moderate, and low). Health-related measures such as anthropometric variables, body composition, hematic parameters, blood pressure values, and functional capacities were studied at the beginning and at the end of the training period. An overall improvement of PAL was observed in the entire sample following the three-month intensive exercise program together with a general improvement in several health-related measures. The BMI group factor influenced the VO2 max variations, leg press values, triglycerides, and anthropometric variables, while the SIT group factor impacted the sitting time, VO2 max, glycemic profile, and fat mass. In this study, baseline PAL and SIT did not seem to influence the effects of an exercise intervention. The characteristics of our educational program, which also included a physical exercise protocol, allowed us to obtain positive results.

Perceptions of Live Donor Kidney Transplantation Using Segmentation Analysis and Perceptual Mapping to Understand Differences by Self-Reported Health Status in People on Dialysis

Living donor kidney transplantation is a superior treatment option for those with end stage kidney disease, but most transplants are from deceased donors. Securing a living donor for living donor kidney transplantation requires effective, well-timed communication which many may find difficult or intimidating. This study uses segmentation analysis and an innovative marketing technique called perceptual mapping to create three dimensional models to compare living donor kidney transplant perceptions by self-reported health status in 160 end-stage kidney disease dialysis patients of two hospital-based dialysis units and an online forum through cross-sectional surveys. Findings indicate patients with poor self-reported health status are more concerned with not knowing what to say or being afraid a person would say no to living donor kidney transplantation. They are also concerned about the donor’s ability to care for family or donate in the future. They are, however, more likely to see benefits of living donor kidney transplantation, including the kidney lasting longer and having a greater quality of life. Findings reveal messages that could be emphasized in interventions to enhance the ability to ask for living donor kidney transplantation, especially in those assessed as having poor health status. Segmentation analysis and perceptual mapping methods can provide a more nuanced look at how best to develop intervention content to increase living donor kidney transplant.

Hygienic Assessment of Ambient Air Pollution, Health Status and Laboratory Parameters of Workers and Residents of the Oil Production Area

Introduction: Petroleum industry is a fundamental part of the economy of the Russian Federation. One of the approaches to up-to-date assessment of human health effects of subthreshold concentrations of pollutants is to determine changes in the immune and hormonal status in people with non-occupational or occupational exposure to industrial contaminants. Objective: To establish body mass indices, hormonal and immune status in workers of an oil producing enterprise and the population environmentally exposed to low concentrations of airborne pollutants emitted by oil production facilities. Materials and methods: The survey covered the population living in the area affected by oil production facilities and 131 oil extraction workers. We estimated the body mass index (BMI) of the subjects and tested their blood serum for the four main classes of antibodies (immunoglobulins IgA, IgM, IgG, and IgE), circulating immune complexes (CICs), and the levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), thyroxine (free T4), and cortisol. Results: We established that all the subjects (in both observation groups (workers (group I) and residents (group II), and the comparison group) were overweight but BMI of the industrial workers was within the normal range. We also found that the hormonal parameters did not differ significantly between the groups but the level of the stress hormone cortisol was lower among the workers. IgA and IgE levels were significantly higher in the exposed residents. A high level of circulating immune complexes in both population groups indicates high prevalence of chronic disorders. Conclusions: The study proves the need for an in-depth study of indices of the endocrine and immune systems and a clinical examination of both the exposed population and industrial workers. It is especially important to study the markers of exposure to oil production emissions in the biological media of the general population.

Comparative study of the texts on animals and on people in I. A Krylov’s fables

This article is dedicated to comparison of the texts on animals and people in I. A. Krylov's fables in the context of formation of a holistic image of the world of the Russian people. The use of zoomorphic metaphor in the text is one of the means of verbalization of the cultural code. Zoomorphic nominations f in Krylov&amp;rsquo;s fables are universal metaphorical units of literary speech, since they translate the stereotypical representation of animal behavior and status of people. Animals are selected in accordance with the principle of affinity to the folk epic tale: the fable feature only the animals, the representations of were deeply entrenched in people&amp;rsquo;s perception, as well as codified in their worldview. The folk that are the characters of the fable usually belong to the lower social class, and thus do not have any rights or freedom of expression. The scientific novelty of this research lies in the establishment of the dominant method of metaphorical conveyance, as well as in determination of the difference in the use of zoomorphic symbols in creating the images and direct nomination of human characters. As a result, it is proven that through a variety of animalistic images, I. A. Krylov explicates the traits of the human character in all their diversity. The fables about people depict the Russian everyday life and traditions. Due to the broad historical context, prevalence of the characters, and depth of psychologism, the plotlines of the fables are timeless.

Subjektivna procena zdravstvenog statusa i broj dana na bolovanju kod ljudi koji boluju od astme i hronične opstruktivne bolesti pluća

Introduction/Aim: There is a lack of studies focusing on the comparison of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between people with asthma and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The purpose of this study was to examine and compare self-reported health status in people who have asthma and people who have COPD. Methods: Data were collected from adult participants who came to primary health care institutions using a general questionnaire to examine their health status and the Serbian version of the HRQOL-14. The propensity score method was used to match people with asthma and COPD on age, gender, education level and adherence to therapy. Results: A total of 1,954 patients (47% men, 53% women) were included in the study. The average age of patients with asthma was 49.4±15.5, whereas the patients with COPD were older - 59.5±12.4. In both groups, 60% of the participants reported their health status as poor. No difference was found between patients with asthma and patients with COPD in terms of self-perceived general health status and the number of sick days. Patients with asthma and COPD reported the greatest number of days with sleep disorders, followed by days with symptoms of anxiety and depressive symptoms and the least number of days with having pain. Conclusion: These data indicate the need to improve sleep patterns in people with asthma and COPD. These data could be used to further examine specific features of sleep among people with asthma and COPD.

Some natural hypomethylating agents in food, water and environment are against distribution and risks of COVID-19 pandemic: Results of a big-data research.

Objective:This study analyzes the effects of lifestyle, nutrition, and diets on the status and risks of apparent (symptomatic) COVID-19 infection in Iranian families.Materials and Methods:A relatively extensive questionnaire survey was conducted on more than 20,000 Iranian families (residing in more than 1000 different urban and rural areas in the Islamic Republic of Iran) to collect the big data of COVID-19 and develop a lifestyle dataset. The collected big data included the records of lifestyle effects (e.g. nutrition, water consumption resources, physical exercise, smoking, age, gender, health and disease factors, etc.) on the status of COVID-19 infection in families (i.e. residents of homes). Therefore, an online self-reported questionnaire was used in this retrospective observational study to analyze the effects of lifestyle factors on the COVID-19 risks. The data collection process spanned from May 10, 2020 to March 19, 2021 by selecting 132 samples from more than 40 different social network communities.Results:The research results revealed that food and water sources, which contain some natural hypomethylating agents, mitigated the risks of apparent (symptomatic) COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, the computations on billions of permutations of nutrition conditions and dietary regime items, based on the data collected from people’s diets and infection status, showed that there were many dietary conditions alleviating the risks of apparent (symptomatic) COVID-19 infection by 90%. However, some other diets tripled the infection risk.Conclusion:Some natural hypomethylating agents in food, water, and environmental resources are against the spread and risks of COVID-19.

A Real-Time Matrix Iterative Optimization Algorithm of Booking Elevator Group and Numerical Simulation Formed by Multi-Sensor Combination

Elevators are an essential indoor transportation tool in high-rise buildings. The world is advocating the design concept of safety, energy-saving, and intelligence. We focus on improving operation speed and utilization efficiency of the elevator group. This paper proposed a real-time reservation elevator groups optimization algorithm, and a dynamic matrix iterative model has been established. The indoor navigation technology UWB is applied, which can help users to quickly find elevators. The manned equilibrium efficiency and running time equilibrium efficiency of elevator group are given. Moreover, the data filtering criterion formulas for user waiting time and elevator remaining space are defined. In this paper, three numerical examples are given. Example 1 is a single elevator in n-storey building. Example 2 is compared with different scheduling algorithms, such as FCFS, SSTF, LOOK, and SCAN algorithms, and the results show that our method has the advantages of short total running time and less round-trip frequency. At last, the matrix of numerical iteration results are visualized, and the data movement status of people on each floor can be observed. Example 3 introduced elevator group algorithms. For high-rise buildings, this paper adopts a high, medium, and low hierarchical management model; this model has high coordination, as well as fast response, batch process, and adaptive function. Finally, we also discussed and compared the complexity of single elevator and elevator group algorithms. Therefore, this method has great development potential and practical application value, which deserves further study.

Community Outbreak Moderates the Association Between COVID-19-Related Behaviors and COVID-19 Fear Among Older People: A One-Year Longitudinal Study in Taiwan.

Although health behavior theories indicate that fear is effective in activating preventive behaviors, the question of whether COVID-19 severity moderates the association between fear of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors remains unclear. The present study investigated the association between the fear of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors during the COVID-19 community outbreak of two severity levels in Taiwan. Data were obtained regarding the fear of COVID-19 and practice of preventive behaviors from 139 older people (mean age = 71.73 years; 30.2% men) through in-person interviews during a mild COVID-19 outbreak period (baseline assessment). Data from 126 of the 139 participants were obtained again through a telephone interview during a severe COVID-19 outbreak period (follow-up assessment). A significant increase in the fear of COVID-19 (d = 0.39, p < 0.001) and a decrease in preventive behaviors (d = 0.63, p < 0.001) were found in the follow-up assessment. The association between fear of COVID-19 and preventive behaviors was not significant at baseline (r = −0.07, p > 0.05) but became significant at the follow-up assessment (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). The severity of a COVID-19 outbreak may alter older people's psychological status and related behaviors.

Beneficial effects of livestock exclusion on tree regeneration, understory plant diversity, and soil properties in semiarid forests in Iran

AbstractZagros forests in western Iran have been impacted by severe fuelwood removal, traditional agricultural systems, non‐timber products removal, and livestock grazing. These conditions have led to the forest area diminishing from 10 to 6 million hectares over the last six decades. This study was conducted to understand the consequences of livestock exclusion on understory plant diversity, forest tree regeneration, and soil physicochemical properties in semiarid forests. We selected four neighbouring areas, including those subject to livestock exclusion and to grazing, in the Zagros oak forests of Iran. Ten randomized sampling plots (400 m2) were established, and all plant species were recorded in each area. A soil physicochemical analysis indicated a significant improvement in soil nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and organic matter in the livestock exclusion area compared to the grazing area. The Shannon–Wiener diversity and species richness was also significantly higher in the livestock exclusion areas compared to the grazed. Grazing tolerant species like Poa bulbosa were abundant in grazing areas, while palatable and nitrogen‐fixing species disappeared. The tree regeneration rate was significantly higher in the exclusion areas compared to the grazing areas, and its values were 0.079 and 0.006 per square metre in the exclusion and grazing areas, respectively. The results of the present study provided evidence that exclusion had a significant effect on improving soil chemical properties, understory plant diversity index, and sapling regeneration. However, the regeneration rates were still low, and therefore, livestock exclusion alone may not be enough to promote forest restoration. Therefore, to better understand plant diversity and tree regeneration in the Zagros forests, livestock exclusion and other factors such as soil seed bank and socio‐economic status of people should be considered.

Parents' Stress and Children's Psychological Problems during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

The first outbreak of (COVID-19) was in the Chinese city of Wuhan at the end of December 2019 in the form of acute pneumonia. COVID-19 is a serious and highly infectious disease that affected 245,621,992 cases worldwide, leading to a dramatic loss of everyday lifestyle and negatively impacting people's psychological status. This paper shows Parents' Stress and Children's Psychological Problems during this pandemic.&#x0D; Objectives: This work determined the psychological impacts of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on parents and children.&#x0D; Methods: Parents who have children aged between 4 and 16 years old (n=424) completed an online questionnaire using QuestionPro and gave written informed consent. The questionnaire was distributed through social media (WhatsApp, Telegram ) from December 6th to January 5th, 2020-2021. We excluded all responses that came from outside Saudi Arabia. Also, we excluded participants who did not have children; if the parent had more than one child, they were asked to report on one child only. Parents described the difficulties they faced, the parent-child dyadic stress, and their children's behavioral and emotional complications during the pandemic. The participants filled the depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Dass21) and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) scale.&#x0D; Results: There were significant impacts on the mental health of the public. Our findings demonstrated that the COVID-19 outbreak had remarkable psycho-social effects on children and their parents.The results showed that younger parents were more affected than older parents,Q6 (r = 0.150, p&lt;0.01), DASS stress (r = -0.266, p&lt;0.01), DASS anxiety (r = -0.201, p&lt;0.01), and DASS depression (r = -0.265, p&lt;0.01),but there was no significant psychological impact of having COVID-19. Those who had relatives who died from COVID were at a higher risk of depression (r=0.006, p&lt;0.05). Having a child diagnosed with mental illness seems to have increased the risk of depression, anxiety, and stress of parents. There was a significant association between parents' mental health and their children's psychological adjustment.&#x0D; Conclusions: Quarantining is stressful, especially for parents who also have work and school obligations. This circumstance puts parents at a greater risk of distress and might prevent them from being supportive parents. This, in turn, can lead to psychological symptoms in children. Governmental actions should consider the implications of lockdown on families and their mental health.&#x0D; Recommendation for Future Research: since this study had only focused on one child if parents have more than one with a limited number of participants, we recommended that further research be carried on a larger sample size to see whether there are any similarities in the findings.

Feasibility of the basic movements of Azeri dance in the balance and posture of a person with Parkinson's disease: ABA single-subject design

Background/aims Basic movements of Azeri dance as an intervention may have an impact on the physical and mental status of people with Parkinson's disease. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of basic movements of Azeri dance on the balance and static posture of a person with Parkinson's disease. The effects of basic movements of Azeri dance on quality of life, quality of sleep and the performance in activities of daily living were reported before and after the intervention. Methods In this single-subject experimental ABA design, a 64-year-old man with a 4-year history of Parkinson's disease was selected. The outcome measures consisted of the Functional Reach Test, Timed Up and Go Test, qualitative static posture analysis, Short Form Health Survey, Modified Barthel Index and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Results An increasing trend in balance from the initial baseline stage through to the end of the intervention stage was found. Static posture analysis showed that the patient's posture improved qualitatively. His quality of life score changed after the intervention; however, his sleep quality and activites of daily living scores did not change. Conclusions Basic movements of Azeri dance are useful in the rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson's disease who have balance issues and postural instability, but further research is warranted.

NEED FOR MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION IN INDIA

Today’s Indian society is complex and tremendously influenced by globalization, technology, media and modern living. This has affected mental health situation and status of people. People at large face challenges to keep up positive mental health though may not reach the threshold of mental disorders. Mental health care and treatment certainly need more attention and investment but at the same time prevention and promotion of mental health as public health priority needs focus to avoid future mental health problems. WHO framework for mental health promotion is holistic and inter-sectorial involving all the settings of public or private life. It proposes social determinants approach to promote health and implies mental health education as an important tool to achieve the goal of ‘mental health for all’. This paper is to introduce and explain the concept of mental health education and its need in India. This concept is very useful for health systems and practitioners to collaborate with other non-health sectors which contribute in development, education and work life balance for mental health promotion.