Therapeutic Trend Research Articles

Syntax intervention in American Sign Language: an exploratory case study.

This case study describes the use of a syntax intervention with two deaf children who did not acquire a complete first language (L1) from birth. It looks specifically at their ability to produce subject-verb-object (SVO) sentence structure in American Sign Language (ASL) after receiving intervention. This was an exploratory case study in which investigators utilized an intervention that contained visuals to help teach SVO word order to young deaf children. Baseline data were collected over three sessions before implementation of a targeted syntax intervention and two follow-up sessions over 3-4weeks. Both participants demonstrated improvements in their ability to produce SVO structure in ASL in 6-10 sessions. Visual analysis revealed a positive therapeutic trend that was maintained in follow-up sessions. These data provide preliminary evidence that a targeted intervention may help young deaf children with an incomplete L1 learn to produce basic word order in ASL. Results from this case study can help inform the practice of professionals working with signing deaf children who did not acquire a complete L1 from birth (e.g., speech-language pathologists, deaf mentors/coaches, ASL specialists, etc.). Future research should investigate the use of this intervention with a larger sample of deaf children.

The protective effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester in the nephrotoxicity induced by α-cypermethrin.

Alpha cypermethrin (α-CYP) is an insecticide, a member of the group of synthetic pyrethroid pesticides. This study aims to assess the histopathological and biochemical subacute effects of α-CYP on the renal tissues of 48 male Spraque-Dawley adult rats. In this study, the rats were divided into six groups: control, α-CYP (10 mg kg-1), α-CYP (20 mg kg-1), caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) (10 µmol kg-1), α-CYP + CAPE (10 mg kg-1), and α-CYP + CAPE (20 mg kg-1) groups. The percentage of weight gain was found to be dose-dependent on α-CYP in all groups. As a result of exposure, the normal histological structure of renal tissue was also observed in the control and CAPE groups, while glomerular atrophy and haemorrhage, enlargement of Bowman capsule, glomerular lobulation, and degeneration in distal and proximal tubules were noted in the α-CYP-treated groups with an increased frequency and severity in parallel with the dose increase. Although the severity and intensity of lesions decreased in the α-CYP + CAPE groups, they were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). A decrease in the antioxidant parameter levels and an increase in oxidant parameters were observed in parallel with the negative effects of the antioxidant system in the α-CYP-treated groups. The groups exposed to CAPE in combination with α-CYP exhibited a therapeutic trend towards normalization in biochemical parameters due to the antioxidant character of CAPE. However, considering the statistical difference between the groups treated with α-CYP alone and CAPE alone, it was observed that the therapeutic features of those chemicals were not robust.

The Quintessence of Relationship-Based Youth Work and Temperament of Youth Workers

The professionality of youth work has long been questioned and challenged. This study examined the social work relationship of youth worker with young people in the context of Hong Kong. Youth service setting was adopted as a showcase of relationship-based social work practice. The understanding of relationship can be easily distorted by the pragmatic focus of practice, yet, it should not only be regarded as a means for youth workers to get in touch with service users. A qualitative inquiry with heuristic direction was chosen. Personal perceptions and particular stories of 10 senior practitioners were gathered as a form of knowledge through in-depth interviews and a rigorous process of coding, data analysis, and interpretation. Findings suggested that trustworthiness in social work relationship was highly valued. Youth workers did not consider themselves as experts in dealing with young people’s problem. Rather, they possessed multiple roles and were able to manage the interplay of relationships and boundaries in a close and highly charged intersubjective encounter. This study summarized a list of necessary qualities of a youth worker, namely curiosity, genuineness, sensitivity, perspicacity, non-authoritarian, acceptance, and charisma. Youth workers should possess these specific characteristics in order to engage in a voluntary and trustful social work relationship with young people despite working under the current therapeutic trend in social work. Both the youth work in Hong Kong and the function of youth workers had to be thoughtfully repositioned so as to respond to the changing needs of young people and the society nowadays.

The impact of asthma in the school environment and the use of telemedicine

Asthma is a common chronic disease in children, especially children from certain ethnic minority groups and those living in poverty. Asthma is also a burden on the health care system, requiring numerous doctor visits, hospitalizations, and urgent interventions, all of which are added to the costs of the treatments. In addition to the burden of symptoms and the high impact due to continuous exacerbations, children with asthma also experience schooling problems. The current therapeutic trend for children with persistent asthma symptoms is to recommend daily preventive anti-inflammatory drugs. In this review, we want to illustrate the impact of asthma in the school environment and the possibility of using interventions for a better quality of life in children with asthma.

Cell proliferation effect of deep-penetrating microcavity tandem NIR OLEDs with therapeutic trend analysis

Long wavelengths that can deeply penetrate into human skin are required to maximize therapeutic effects. Hence, various studies on near-infrared organic light-emitting diodes (NIR OLEDs) have been conducted, and they have been applied in numerous fields. This paper presents a microcavity tandem NIR OLED with narrow full-width half-maximum (FWHM) (34 nm), high radiant emittance (> 5 mW/cm2) and external quantum efficiency (EQE) (19.17%). Only a few papers have reported on biomedical applications using the entire wavelength range of the visible and NIR regions. In particular, no biomedical application studies have been reported in the full wavelength region using OLEDs. Therefore, it is worth researching the therapeutic effects of using OLED, a next-generation light source, and analyzing trends for cell proliferation effects. Cell proliferation effects were observed in certain wavelength regions when B, G, R, and NIR OLEDs were used to irradiate human fibroblasts. The results of an in-vitro experiment indicated that the overall tendency of wavelengths is similar to that of the cytochrome c oxidase absorption spectrum of human fibroblasts. This is the first paper to report trends in the cell proliferation effects in all wavelength regions using OLEDs.

Regenerative Potential of Stem Cell-derived Extracellular Vesicles in Spinal Cord Injury (SCI).

Spinal cord injury is a devastating condition that is critically challenging and progressive, needing immediate medical attention due to its complex pathophysiology and affecting the social status and economic burden. Stem cell therapy has been the emerging therapeutic trend to treat various diseases for decades. Mesenchymal stem cells pose more advantages over other stem cells in immune-modulation, immune evasiveness, self-renewal, multipotency, etc. Due to various issues in the recent past related to allogenic transplants, ethical concerns in obtaining tissues and adult cells, host immune response, GMP grade production and certification, cell-derived products or cell secretome have proven to be a promising approach and have been implicated in many studies and also in many clinical trials. Utilization of these human MSC-derived exosomes/extracellular vesicles in spinal cord injury has also been demonstrated in many pre-clinical animal models. It is now proven to be therapeutically more efficient and safer than cell therapy. This review focuses on employing human MSC derived EVs for SCI and continues to elucidate the recent advances and emerging EVs trends from other cell types. We discuss biomaterial-based synergistic intervention, mention mimetics and nanovesicles and finally touch upon safety concerns in EV therapy.

Selenocystine-Derived Label-Free Fluorescent Schiff Base Nanocomplex for siRNA Delivery Synergistically Kills Cancer Cells.

Chemo and siRNA synergic treatments for tumors is a promising new therapeutic trend. Selenocystine, a selenium analog of cysteine, has been considered a potential antitumor agent due to its redox perturbing role. In this study, we developed a nanocarrier for siRNA based on a selenocystine analog engineered polyetherimide and achieved traceable siRNA delivery and the synergic killing of tumor cells. Notably, we applied the label-free Schiff base fluorescence mechanism, which enabled us to trace the siRNA delivery and to monitor the selenocystine analogs’ local performance. A novel selenocystine-derived fluorescent Schiff base linker was used to crosslink the polyetherimide, thereby generating a traceable siRNA delivery vehicle with green fluorescence. Moreover, we found that this compound induced tumor cells to undergo senescence. Together with the delivery of a siRNA targeting the anti-apoptotic BCL-xl/w genes in senescent cells, it achieved a synergistic inhibition function by inducing both senescence and apoptosis of tumor cells. Therefore, this study provides insights into the development of label-free probes, prodrugs, and materials towards the synergic strategies for cancer therapy.

The effect of shear stress on cardiac differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells.

Stem cell therapy is developing as a valuable therapeutic trend for heart diseases. Most recent studies are aimed to find the most appropriate types of stem cells for the treatment of myocardial infarction (MI). The animal models have shown that bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are a possible, safe, and efficient type of stem cell used in MI. The previous study demonstrated that 5-Azacytidine (5-Aza) could promote cardiac differentiation in stem cells. This study used 5-Aza to induce cardiomyocyte differentiation in BMSCs both in static and microfluidic cell culture systems. For this purpose, we investigated the differentiation by using real-time PCR and Immunocytochemistry (ICC) Analysis. Our results showed that 5-Aza could cause to express cardiac markers in BMSCs as indicated by real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry (ICC). However, BMSCs are exposed to both 5-Aza and shear stress, and their synergistic effects could significantly induce cardiac gene expressions in BMSCs. This level of gene expression was observed neither in 5-Aza nor in shear stress groups only. These results demonstrate that when BMSCs expose to 5-Aza as well as mechanical cues such as shear stress, the cardiac gene expression can be increased dramatically.

Teaching Parents Read, Ask, Answer, Prompt Strategies via Telepractice: Effects on Parent Strategy Use and Child Communication.

This study aimed to explore the feasibility of a telepractice communication partner intervention for children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and their parents. Five children (aged 3;4-12;9 [years;months]) with severe expressive communication impairments who use AAC and their parents enrolled in a randomized, multiple-probe design across participants. A speech-language pathologist taught parents to use a least-to-most prompting procedure, Read, Ask, Answer, Prompt (RAAP), during book reading with their children. Parent instruction was provided through telepractice during an initial 60-min workshop and five advanced practice sessions (M = 28.41 min). The primary outcome was parents' correct use of RAAP, measured by the percentage of turns parents applied the strategies correctly. Child communication turns were a secondary, exploratory outcome. There was a functional relation (intervention effect) between the RAAP instruction and parents' correct use of RAAP. All parents showed a large, immediate increase in the level of RAAP use with a stable, accelerating (therapeutic) trend to criterion after the intervention was applied. Increases in child communication turns were inconsistent. One child increased his communication turns. Four children demonstrated noneffects; their intervention responses overlapped with their baseline performance. Telepractice RAAP strategy instruction is a promising service delivery for communication partner training and AAC interventions. Future research should examine alternate observation and data collection and ways to limit communication partner instruction barriers.

Phonological awareness intervention using a standard treatment protocol for individuals with Down syndrome

This multiple baseline across-participants single case desgin study examined the effect of small group, phonological awareness intervention on the phonological awareness skills of three school-age children with Down syndrome. Each child with Down syndrome was paired with a typical peer to participate in small group intervention, three sessions per week for seven weeks. Lessons from a single unit in the Intensive Phonological Awareness Program were adapted to incorporate repeated exposure to the curriculum and increased opportunities for practice. A functional relation between the intervention and improved phonological awareness skills was not established based on visual analysis of the probe data across the three participants. However, an increasing therapeutic trend following delayed treatment effects as well as an increase in phase means from baseline to intervention was observed for each participant. This investigation provides preliminary guidance for adapting phonological awareness standard treatment protocols for children with Down syndrome by providing repeated opportunities for practice and including peers in small group intervention.

Stem cells as a potential therapeutic trend for experimental trichinosis

Background: Trichinella spiralis causes trichinosis through ingestion of pork contaminated by its infectivelarvae, resulting in intestinal and muscular phases of infection in the same host. Stem cells (SCs) treatsome diseases due to their capacity for trans-differentiation and immunomodulation.Objective: To assess the therapeutic impact of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) during intestinal andmuscular stages in T. spiralis-experimentally infected mice; used alone as monotherapy or combined withmebendazole (MBZ).Material and Methods: Forty albino mice were used to obtain bone marrow MSCs. Another 100 albinomice were divided into 2 groups 50 mice each simulating intestinal (a) and muscular (b) phases. Eachgroup was further subdivided into 5 subgroups, 10 mice each as follows: G1a and G1b: negative noninfected control; G2a and G2b: positive infected control; G3a and G3b: infected and MBZ treated; G4aand G4b: infected and MSCs tested; and G5a and G5b: infected and combined MBZ and MSCs therapytested. Mice of intestinal phase were sacrificed on 7th day post-infection (PI) while mice of muscularphase were sacrificed on 49th day PI. Assessment was done by parasitological assessment (the number ofadult worms in the intestine in groups (a) and the number of encysted larvae in the diaphragm in groups(b); histopathological and histochemical assessment of all groups using hematoxylin and eosin (HE it showed the highest significant reduction in the numberof intestinal worms and encysted muscular larvae with preservation of the different tissues elements asinvestigated by different stains and TEM.Conclusion: MSCs can be used as additive/synergistic therapy in the treatment of trichinosis.

Prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a generalized bone disease characterized by diminished bone strength with an increased risk of fractures. Osteoporosis is a major health concern, both because of the risk of potentially serious fractures and because its prevalence is increasing as the population ages. The treatment of the disease is complex and includes adherence to a particular diet, medications (hormone replacement therapy, calcium, vitamin D, etc.), kinesitherapy, physiotherapy and orthotics. To reduce osteoporosis, it is necessary to avoid the risk of fractures, to do regular physical activities, to eat bone-healthy foods, to lead a proper lifestyle with the avoidance of negative habits and to maintain a healthy weight. A person also needs to have knowledge of personal risk factors and to consult a doctor if medical treatment is to be applied. The classic therapeutic approach is with antiresorptive anti-osteoporosis agents. A promising therapeutic trend is the study of compounds with low toxicity and potential properties to influence the pathogenetic mechanisms of disease and oxidative stress, such as phytoestrogens and hormone replacement therapy, at the same time. The aim of the article is to familiarize the audience with the preventive measures and therapies applied to the treatment of osteoporosis.

The Role of Psychedelics and Counseling in Mental Health Treatment

Psychedelics (i.e., ketamine, methylenedioxymethamphetamine, psilocybin) have been effectively used globally for centuries to treat mental health and addiction issues. However, in the 1950s–1970s, a number of factors, including misuse, abuse, and poorly conceptualized and conducted clinical trials, caused the Federal Drug Administration to classify most of the psychedelic substances as having no medical value. Now, however, recent research is indicating that psychedelic-assisted therapy can significantly reduce depression and suicidal ideation in treatment-resistant clients, and it may be efficacious in treating other mental health and addiction issues as well. Researchers have also identified the critical therapeutic components that ensure effective psychedelic-assisted therapy, not least the need for mental health counseling before, during, and after treatment. The purpose of this manuscript is to share the latest psychedelic therapy research and to discuss how mental health counselors can contribute to this reemerging therapeutic trend.

Epidemiological guideline influence on the therapeutic trend and patient outcome of uterine cervical cancer in Japan: Japan society of gynecologic oncology guideline evaluation committee project

ObjectiveThe Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology published its first clinical guidelines for uterine cervical cancer in 2007 which has been revised twice in 2011 and 2017. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of the first guideline publication on the therapeutic trend and patient outcome by analyzing uterine cervical cancer cases registered to the cancer registry organized by the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. MethodsData of uterine cervical cancer cases registered to the cancer registry from 2000 to 2012 were provided. Epidemiological and clinical trend were analyzed by the Chi-squared test with subsequent standardized residual analysis. Overall survival among the patients registered between 2004 and 2009 was analyzed using the Fine and Gray competing risk model. Results68,707 cases were registered during the study period. A trend analysis revealed that the guideline publication may have led to a decrease in neoadjuvant chemotherapy in parallel with an increase in radiation therapy mainly in stage II and III patients undergoing primary treatment. A survival analysis indicated that the introduction of the guideline may have improved overall survival among stage III uterine cervical cancer patients, even though a significant difference was not observed in all of the cases. ConclusionsThis study demonstrated the potential influence of the guideline publication on the clinical trend and patient outcome. As this is the first assessment of the guideline for uterine cervical cancer in Japan, continuous evaluation is necessary to further comprehend the significance of this guideline.

Diagnostics and therapy of bilateral choanal atresia in association with CHARGE syndrome.

Bilateral choanal atresia in patients with CHARGE syndrome becomes symptomatic immediately after birth. A prompt diagnosis, the implementation of sufficient preliminary measures, and the delivery of surgical therapy are crucial. This article is intended to assist in terms of diagnostics and a therapy recommendation. We performed a retrospective study using the medical records of all newborns in the University Hospital in Bonn, diagnosed with bilateral choanal atresia and CHARGE syndrome and underwent surgery at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery. A total of 21 patients have been treated with a unilateral or bilateral choanal atresia. 14 patients were primarily treated with transnasal endoscopy or underwent transnasal endoscopic surgery as a follow-up intervention (73.68%). Nine patients had a syndromal appearance, which was considered a definite diagnosis in six patients (five with CHARGE syndrome). All five patients with CHARGE syndrome received transnasal endoscopic treatment and a stent was inserted. Bilateral choanal atresia can be a life-threatening situation requiring acute measures. The therapeutic trend goes towards transnasal endoscopic resection. Primary intervention should be: minimally invasive, one-stage surgery, functional, and associated with low complication rates. Patency can be increased by saline irrigations, topical corticosteroids, endoscopic controls, and regular dilatation. The insertion of stents is controversially discussed but can be useful in syndromal patients. However, adjuvant therapy with a stent and mitomycin C is increasingly being abandoned. A significantly higher recurrence rate must be expected in association with CHARGE syndrome. Stenting should be considered on an individual basis. Continuous training and support of the parents are obligatory.

Combined use of apatinib mesylate and vinorelbine versus vinorelbine alone in recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial

BackgroundThe emergence of new molecular targeted drugs provides new prospects for the treatment of advanced breast cancer; the future therapeutic trend includes chemotherapy combined with molecular targeted therapy. Apatinib mesylate, a novel, small anti-angiogenic agent, highly selectively inhibits the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase. Apatinib mesylate also blocks the signaling of vascular endothelial growth factor binding to its receptor, thereby strongly inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and exerting an anti-tumor effect. However, there have been no reports of a randomized controlled clinical trial of apatinib combined with vinorelbine for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We will compare the therapeutic effect of vinorelbine alone or in combination with apatinib mesylate, in patients with recurrent or metastatic TNBC in North China who have received at least two drug treatments, including anthracyclines and taxanes.Methods/analysisThis study is a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. We plan to include 238 female patients with locally recurrent or metastatic TNBC, admitted to the Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Northeast China. All enrolled patients will be randomized to oral vinorelbine alone (40 mg, thrice a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) in each 3-week cycle), or in combination with oral apatinib mesylate (500 mg, once daily in each 3-week cycle). Radiographic assessment will be performed every 6 weeks for 36 weeks and every 9 weeks thereafter. The primary outcome is progression-free survival and secondary outcomes include overall survival, disease control rate, objective response rate, and incidence of adverse events at grades 3 and 4, as defined by the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria Version 4.0. Outcome measures will be evaluated at baseline (< 2 weeks before starting treatment), every 6 weeks during treatment, and at 4 weeks and every 3 months after treatment discontinuation.DiscussionBased on the data from this trial, we hope to identify a treatment plan that is suitable for female patients with TNBC, who have been treated with anthracyclines and taxanes, in Northeast China.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03932526. Registered on 30 April 2019.

A Need for Standardization of the Diagnosis and Treatment of Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Pilot Study in an Outpatient Clinic in Quito, Ecuador.

Background Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) diagnosis is often challenging as well as its treatment. This study sought to characterize the diagnostic and therapeutic trend among physicians at the outpatient level, in Quito, Ecuador, where currently no nationwide screening or specific clinical guideline has been implemented on PID or its main microbiological agents. Methods A retrospective analysis of medical records with pelvic inflammatory disease diagnosis in an outpatient clinic was performed. Electronic medical records from 2013 to 2018 with any pelvic inflammatory disease-related diagnoses were retrieved. Information with regard to age, sexually related risk factors, symptoms and physical exam findings, ancillary tests, method of diagnosis, and antibiotic regimens was extracted. Results A total of 186 records were included. The most frequent clinical manifestations were vaginal discharge (47%) and pelvic pain (39%). In the physical examination, leucorrhea was the most frequent finding (47%), followed by lower abdominal tenderness (35%) and cervical motion tenderness in 51 patients (27%). A clinical diagnosis was established in 60% of patients, while 37% had a transvaginal sonography-guided diagnosis. Antibiotic treatment was prescribed with standard regimens in 3% of cases, while other regimens were used in 93% of patients. Additionally, an average of 1.9 drugs were prescribed per patient, with a range from 1 to 5, all in different combinations and dosages. Conclusions No standardized methods of diagnosis or treatment were identifiable. These findings highlight the need for standardization of the diagnosis and treatment of PID attributed to chlamydial and gonococcal infections.

Kultura terapeutyczna i komunikacja medialna

&lt;p&gt;Artykuł podejmuje problem terapeutycznego trendu we współczesnej kulturze, którego znaczenie wciąż rośnie, zwłaszcza ze względu na jego obecność w komunikacji medialnej i rolę mediów w upowszechnianiu jego komponentów. W artykule omówiono główne stanowiska interpretacyjne w ujmowaniu kultury terapeutycznej, przedstawiono jej podstawowe składniki oraz dokonano przeglądu wybranych form jej obecności w komunikacji medialnej. Stwierdzono, że właściwie w każdym aspekcie i różnych wytworach medialnej komunikacji możliwe jest dostrzeżenie terapeutycznych odniesień i wartości.&lt;/p&gt;

Emerging trends in cardiovascular research: HFpEF in the spotlight. A bibliometric analysis of the years 2009-2016.

Up to 50% of patients suffering from acute decompensated heart failure show normal or slightly reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This syndrome, which is known as heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with increasing age. Epidemiological studies could portrait an increasing importance and an even emerging prevalence in the past decades. Still, there is currently no evidenced based medical treatment option available. Our aims were to identify upcoming trends and emerging concepts and to point out important centers in the global research of HFpEF. We performed a bibliometric study on current science in the field of HFpEF to identify study characteristics, impact factors and the countries of origin of basic and clinical studies that were published within the years 2009 to 2016. We further prepared density equalizing maps for visualization of the obtained data. A total of 5413 studies was screened, of which 794 were found eligible. The scientific output in clinical studies rose from 25 in 2009 to 165 in 2016. Most of the publications had a clinical topic, followed by studies on new imaging techniques. Basic research trials were by far beyond. The USA, Japan and Germany were identified as the most important national contributors to global scientific output. This first bibliometric study in the field of HFpEF shows a substantial increase of research within the last decade, mainly in the USA, Japan, and continental Europe. As an ongoing therapeutic trend in this field, we identified RAAS-blockade and 5-phosphodiesterase-inhibition.

Hemophagocytic syndrome, current diagnostic and therapeutic approach

Hemophagocytic syndrome or hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a highly lethal hyper-inflammatory disorder that leads to a storm of cytokines, hemophagocytosis and multiple organ failure. It can be primary, which is inherited, or secondary. In the latter, virus infections are a frequent trigger, predominantly the family of herpes viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus. An early treatment is recommended. Until recently there was no consensus about the management of secondary cases. The protocols for the treatment of primary HLH were used, which include cytotoxic agents and corticosteroids. We herein review the current diagnostic and therapeutic approach of HLH, based on a case associated with a reactivation of the Epstein-Barr virus in an immunocompetent adolescent. We highlight the importance of suspecting this disease in patients with a persistent inflammatory response state or with a fever of unknown origin, in order to carry out a timely treatment, with the least toxicity, and appropriate to the characteristics of each individual, which is the current therapeutic trend.