Use Of Visual Analogue Scale Research Articles

Validity, reliability and responsiveness of digital visual analogue scales for chronic spontaneous urticaria monitoring: A CRUSE® mobile health study.

CRUSE® is an app that allows patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) to monitor their daily disease activity through the use of visual analogue scales (VASs). We aimed to determine the concurrent validity, reliability, responsiveness and minimal important difference (MID) of CRUSE® VASs. We evaluated the properties of three daily VASs: VAS for how much patients were affected by their CSU ('VAS urticaria'), VAS for the impact of urticaria on work/school productivity ('VAS productivity') and the VAS of EQ-5D. Concurrent validity was assessed by measuring the association between each VAS and the Urticaria Activity Score (UAS). Intra-rater reliability was determined based on the data of users providing multiple daily questionnaires within the same day. Test-retest reliability and responsiveness (ability to change), respectively, were tested in clinically stable and clinically unstable users. MIDs were determined using distribution-based methods. We included 5938 patients (67,380 days). Concurrent validity was high, with VAS urticaria being more strongly associated with the UAS score than the remaining VASs. Intra-rater reliability was also high, with intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) being above 0.950 for all VASs. Moderate-high test-retest reliability and responsiveness were observed, with reliability ICC being highest for VAS EQ-5D and responsiveness being highest for VAS urticaria. The MID for VAS urticaria was 17 (out of 100) units, compared to 15 units for VAS productivity and 11 units for VAS EQ-5D. Daily VASs for CSU available in the CRUSE® app display high concurrent validity and intra-rater reliability and moderate-high test-retest reliability and responsiveness.

A Double-Blind Study on the Effectiveness of Polarized Light Therapy in the Treatment of Venous leg Ulcers-Pilot Study.

Vein diseases are one of the most common civilization diseases. The most advanced form chronic venous insufficiency are venous leg ulcers. The study included 40 patients, 20 male (50%) and 20 female (50%) in age between 52 and 88 years (mean age: 68.00 ± 8.55 years) with venous leg ulcers lasting 12.50 ± 5.45 months. Patients were distributed randomly in a double-blind study into two equal groups including 20 patients each (group 1-polarized light therapy and group 2-sham exposure). Patients from both groups received routine pharmacological treatment, specialistic medical dressings and compression therapy. In addition, patients were exposed to a cycle of polarized light therapy procedures or to sham exposures (30 procedures performed in two series of 15 procedures). Wound surface area was evaluated by computerized planimetry and pain intensity was assessed with the use of Visual Analog Scale (VAS) before and after therapy (2.5 months). The analysis showed a statistically significant reduction of surface ulcers area between groups 1 and 2. The median (IQR) size of wounds in group 1 was 2.4 (1.95-2.9) cm2, in group 2; 2.8 (2.6-3.1) cm2 (p = 0.038). The level of pain (VAS) after treatment was assessed in group 1, median (IQR): 2 (2-3) points, in group 2 4.5 (4-5) points; and the observed difference was also statistically significant (p < 0.001). In group 1, after treatment, the area of ulcers decreased-median (IQR): 33.05 (28.7-41.48) %, in group 2 by 18.99 (15-24.4) % (p < 0.001). In group 1, the pain intensity measured using the VAS scale decreased with a median (IQR): 71.42 (61.25-71.42) %, in group 2: 37.5 (28.57-50) % (p < 0.001). Complex therapy with polarized light therapy added to standard care was more effective than standard care alone in reducing of ulcers surface area and intensity of pain ailments in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers.

Efficacy of TCM Fumigation Using Dampness-and-cold-dispelling Formula Combined with Methotrexate and Leflunomide Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis with Cold-dampness Bi Syndrome

BackgroundRheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic autoimmune disease, has a high incidence and disability rate, causing patients significant discomfort. Although several medicines can be effective, they are also associated with significant adverse effects. In contrast, fumigation as one of the most often used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) external therapy has shown both efficacy and safety with less side effect. In light of this, we complement western medicine treatment with TCM fumigation therapy to improve patients' clinical efficacy, alleviate symptoms, and improve prognosis. ObjectiveTo investigate the therapeutic effect of TCM fumigation and modern medicine combined therapy in treating RA patients with cold-dampness Bi syndrome. MethodsA single-center, randomized, controlled study was designed. From January 2022 to December 2022, a total of 60 RA patients with cold-dampness Bi syndrome were enrolled in the study. The control group (30 cases) received conventional modern medicine treatment with methotrexate for 4 weeks, while the observation group (30 cases) for 4 weeks received a combination of TCM fumigation treatment and conventional modern medicine. The effects of the two groups were comprehensively compared, including the changes in TCM symptom scores and laboratory indicators, as well as the use of visual analogue scale (VAS) and health status rating scale (HAQ) before and after treatment. ResultsThe total effective rate of the observation group was 93.3%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group, which is 70% (P < 0.05). Before treatment, there were no significant differences in joint functional activity, pain visual analogue scale (VAS), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ-DI) and laboratory indexes between the two groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, each group compared to their initial condition, respectively, showed major improvement of joint functional activity and significantly decreased VAS, HAQ-DI, and RA-related biomarkers (P < 0.05); inter-group comparison of these indicators showed significanty further enhanced effect of TCM fumigation combined therapy on the RA-related biomarkers and joint functional activity of patients (P < 0.05), yet the control group receiving only modern medicine showed better results of the VAS and HAQ-DI . ConclusionThe TCM fumigation combined therapy is effective to treat RA patients with cold-dampness Bi syndrome, and to enhance their life quality, improving the joint function, and reducing inflammation.

Effect of botulinum toxin A on pain, bite force, and satisfaction of patients with bruxism: A randomized single-blind clinical trial comparing two protocols

PurposeThe current study aims to evaluate bite force, perception of orofacial pain, and treatment satisfaction of patients with bruxism using two protocols of botulinum toxin A (BTX-A) injections. Material and MethodsTwo groups of patients seeking bruxism treatment and presenting bilateral orofacial pain of muscle origin were randomly created according to BTX-A injection sites: masseter muscle only, bilaterally (3 points in each muscle, 10 U per point), and masseter and temporal muscles (3 points in each masseter muscle and 2 points in each temporal muscle, 10 U per point). The patients were evaluated preoperatively and longitudinally at 15, 90, 120, and 180 days by the use of visual analog scales for pain and treatment satisfaction and a gnathodynamometer for bite force recording. ResultsThe final sample included 10 participants in each group. Both groups presented mitigation of pain at 15, 90, 120, and 180 days in comparison with baseline; however, reduction in the posterior bite force was noted only at 15, 90, and 120 days. Quite high treatment satisfaction was reported from both groups at 15, 90, 120, and 180 days. No differences were observed between the groups in all evaluations and study periods. ConclusionIn general, considering pain relief, reduction in bite force, and treatment satisfaction, both protocols of BTX-A seem to be somewhat equally effective in the short-term management (up to 120 days) of bruxism.

Measuring control of disease in Chronic Rhinosinusitis; assessing the correlation between SinoNasal Outcome Test-22 and Visual Analogue Scale item scores.

In chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), aim of treatment is control of disease. EPOS2020 suggests the use of visual analogue scale (VAS) measurements on several symptoms. We aim to determine if individual VAS items can be replaced by widely used SinoNasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) items when determining control of disease, to avoid using double measurements and to stimulate its use in clinical practice. Analyses were made on correlations between individual SNOT-22 scores and symptom-specific questions from consecutive patients with CRS visiting our tertiary referral rhinologic clinic for the first time. 157 CRS patients were included. Correlations of individual items were strong (r greater than 0.8). Best parity in sensitivity, specificity, positive predicting value, negative predicting value, odds ratio and Receiver Operating Characteristic curves were found in individual item score of VAS greater than 5 and SNOT item-score. This cut off is valid for measuring control of disease, combining several nasal, facial pain and sleep symptoms (controlled, partially controlled and uncontrolled). There is strong correlation between individual items measured as SNOT or VAS. For the definition of CRS disease control, as proposed in EPOS2020, the use of symptoms specific SNOT 23 is predictive of VAS greater than 5.

Preliminary Results of a Prospective Clinical and Radiological Study with Roentgen Stereophotogrammetric Analysis (RSA) after Implantation of a Posterior Dynamic Stabilization Device in the Lumbar Spine

Introduction: Posterior dynamic stabilization (PDS) can be based on interspinous distraction devices (IDD). The goals of these implants are maintaining or restoring intervertebral range of motion (ROM) in a controlled fashion and avoiding a complete restriction of mobility. Clinical and radiological data with the Wallis® spacer as one type of IDD have been rarely reported. The goal of this study was to present clinical and radiological data including roentgen stereophotogrammetric analysis (RSA) after a short- to mid-term follow-up period.&#x0D; Patients and Methods: 10 patients were included in this prospective monocentric study and had PDS of the lumbar spine with an IDD (Wallis® spacer). Before and soon after operation and 3, 6, and 12 months later clinical and radiological evaluations were performed. Pain and disability were analyzed by use of visual analog scale for back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index, Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire and Short-Form-36 Health Survey. The ROM of the operated levels and the total lumbar spine was determined by use of lateral functional x-ray images with calculation of the differences of the segmental and total lumbar spine angles in flexion and extension. Furthermore, RSA was used to measure the segmental ROM.&#x0D; Results: After a follow-up of 12 months, the results of the pain intensity and the disability and health related quality of life scores showed statistical significant improvement. The segmental angles of the operated levels demonstrated statistical significant reduction in ROM during the different follow-up examinations. The discrepancy of the conventionally determined segmental angles and the data measured by RSA were low with a mean of 1.77°. The mean total lumbar spine angles did not change statistically significantly during the postoperative controls.&#x0D; Conclusions: According to the radiological results of this study, the used implant leads to a posterior dynamic stabilization. The clinical findings are promising, but they are to be interpreted with caution because of the small number of patients and the lack of a control group.

Assessment of sick building syndrome using visual analog scales.

Despite there is no recommendations for assessing symptoms of sick building syndrome, the use of visual analog scales (VAS) seems attractive and appropriate. We aimed to demonstrate the benefits of using VAS for evaluating subjective symptoms of sick building syndrome. We compared an exposedgroup to a control group with a one-year follow-up. To assess chronology of symptoms, employees were asked to complete four VAS at different times: after vacations (time 1), beginning of the week-beginning of the day (time 2), beginning of the week-end of the day (time 3), and end of the week-end of the day (time 4). Measurements were repeated before and after ventilation work for the exposed group and at the same time in the control group without intervention. Confounding factors were assessed. We included 36 employees (21 in the exposed group and 15 in the control group). Both groups were comparable. Prior to ventilation work, the exposed group had more subjective symptoms than the control group with a chronology of symptoms. After ventilation work, symptoms did not differ between groups, and most symptoms decreased within the exposed group. The use of VAS provided reliable data for assessing sick building syndrome and showed a dose-response relationship between occupational exposure and symptoms.

Effectiveness of Single Dose Premedication of Piroxicam and Prednisolone on Post Endodontic Pain in One Visit Root Canal Treatment: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of premedication drugs including single dose Piroxicam and Prednisolone in regard to post endodontic pain at different time intervals (24, 48, 72 and 96 hours) after single visit root canal treatment. This randomized clinical trial (registration no. NCT04124822) was performed in operative dentistry department of a private clinical institute. One hundred twenty patients identified with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis were included in the study. The pain intensity levels were marked through the use of visual analog scale (VAS) before the commencement of treatment. The participants were randomly allocated in three groups, Group I (n=40) received no medication (control), Group II (n=40) received Piroxicam (20 mg) and Group III (n=40) received Prednisolone (20 mg). The drugs were administered thirty minutes before the endodontic procedure was initiated. Root canal treatmentwas carried out followed by placement of provisional restoration in a single appointment. The patients were instructed to continue marking their pain intensity levels after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours using VAS. All patients were called for follow up after 4 days for clinical evaluation and the placement of permanent restoration. The effectiveness of each drug over different time interval was studied employing ANOVA test. The significance level was set at P≤0.05. The results of the present study revealed that a higher percentage of patients in all 3 groups, reported no post-operative pain at all evaluated time durations (24, 48, 72, and 96 hours). However, the long term effectiveness (96 hours) of both drugs to reduce post-endodontic pain was observed to be statistically insignificant. There was no significant difference in demographic data in terms of age (P=0.14), gender (P=0.12), whilst tooth type (P≤0.05) showed statistically significant value. Pre-medication with either single dose piroxicam or prednisolone was able to prevent post-endodontic pain in patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis.

Pediatric Herniotomy: A 2-year Follow-up Study at Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital

Repair of inguinal hernia is one of the most commonly performed pediatric surgical procedures. The standard of treatment has been open herniotomy (OH). Recent trends have shown promising results with use of laparoscopy (LH) for the same. The aim of this study was to compare laparoscopic herniotomy with the standard of care at the time of the study, which has become an increasingly common procedure at our center. This was a prospective follow-up study conducted at the Department of Surgery at Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital. A total of sixty-four patients who underwent herniotomy were included in the study and followed up for a total duration of two years post-operatively. Immediate post-op pain was assessed with the use of visual analogue scales. Complications, recurrence, and metachronous herniation were noted in the follow up visits. Use of laparoscopy resulted in a longer operative time (36.68 min vs 22.5 min for OH, P &lt;0.001). Pain scores were similar at immediate post-op period (LH 4.18 vs OH 3.93) but decreased significantly for LH compared to OH at 6 hours (3.68 vs 4.31, P = 0.018), 12 hours (2.71 vs 3.62, P &lt;0.001), and 24 hours (2 vs 3.03, P &lt;0.001). Difference in the mean hospital stay was statistically significant (LH 2.02 days vs OH 2.34 days, P &lt;0.001). No recurrences occurred during the follow up period of the study. No patients developed contralateral metachronous hernia during the follow-up period. The cost of OH compared to LH was significantly less. LH is a safer and better alternative to OH for management of pediatric inguinal hernia when comparing post-op pain and hospital stay. However, duration of surgery and cost for the procedure favor OH at present in our setup.

Experience of applying cosmetic Etafilcon A contact lens in cases with microcornea.

Microcornea is a rare condition that frequently resulets in serious cosmetic concerns due to the resultant asymmetrical appearance of the eye, and its cosmetic rehabilitation is possible with the use of colored contact lenses. This paper aims to present our experiences with the use of cosmetic Etafilcon A contact lenses for microcornea. Eight patients with unilateral microcornea without any systemic involvement were included in this study, and they underwent routine ophthalmological examination, corneal topography, and optical biometry. We applied the cosmetic Etafilcon A contact lens (1-DAY ACUVUE® DEFINE® with Lacreon®) of the same edge color to the patients. The levels of satisfaction in terms of cosmesis and comfort were evaluated with the use of visual analog scales (VAS). In the patients, the corneal diameter asymmetry was acceptably adjusted, and each of the patients reported extreme satisfaction. The mean VAS score was 8.9 ± 1.0 (range: 7-10) for the cosmetic satisfaction rate and 8.4 ± 1.0 (range: 7-10) for the comfort rate. The patients obtained the best-corrected visual acuity without or with additional eye-glasses. None of the patients complained about vision issues under photopic and scotopic conditions. 1-DAY ACUVUE® DEFINE® with Lacreon® lens has promising satisfactory cosmetic outcomes along with visual enhancement in cases of microcornea. This is the first study to report the use of this lens for the cosmetic rehabilitation of patients with microcornea.

Effect of simultaneous application of arthrocentesis and occlusal splint versus splint in management of non-reducing TMJ disc displacement

Background/PurposeThis study aimed to compare the effect of four approaches in the treatment of TMJ disc displacement without reduction (DDwoR). Materials and methodsThirty-two patients (40 joints) with mean age 28.025 ± 7.18 (23 female patients and nine male patients) were assigned randomly into four groups (10 joints in each group). Group I, patients were treated by centric splint. Group II, patients were treated by distraction splint. Group III, patients were treated by arthrocentesis and centric splint, while group IV patients were treated by arthrocentesis and distraction splint. The groups were compared in terms of joint function (mouth opening), joint pain through joint palpation, and use of visual analog scale (VAS). These records were taken preoperatively, two weeks, one month, three, and six months postoperatively. Also, the presence of disc recapture was evaluated in all patients on MRI at the end of the treatment period. ResultsSignificant improvements in all parameters were recorded in all groups. At two weeks postoperatively, there was a significant improvement in all parameters in group III and group IV than group I and group II, while there was no statistical difference between group III and group IV. Regarding mouth opening and joint palpation, there was a significant improvement in group III than group I and group II. Also, there was a significant improvement in group IV than group II at the subsequent follow-up periods. Regarding VAS, at one and three months postoperatively, there was a significant improvement in group III than other groups. ConclusionHowever, both types of splints provide better results without a statistical difference; the simultaneous application of arthrocentesis and occlusal splint decreases pain and improving the function effectively and more rapidly.

Self-reported mini olfactory questionnaire (Self-MOQ): A simple and useful measurement for the screening of olfactory dysfunction.

Olfactory dysfunction is a common problem. However, too little attention has been paid to questionnaires used to evaluate quantitative olfactory dysfunction. Therefore, the current study aimed to develop a simple self-reported Mini Olfactory Questionnaire (Self-MOQ) for the screening of quantitative olfactory dysfunction in clinical practice. Two hundred and eighty-five patients who had subjective complaints of olfactory disorder participated. The Sniffin' Sticks test score was used to define functional anosmia, hyposmia, or normosmia. We assessed the factor structure as well as internal consistency, convergent validity, and discrimination performance. The results showed that the final version of the Self-MOQ included only one factor with five items. The Self-MOQ has a good internal reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.84) and validity (r = -0.60, P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic analyses indicated that the Self-MOQ as compared to a visual analogue scale (VAS) is an effective measure for discriminating normosmic from hyposmic/anosmic patients, anosmic patients, and hyposmic patients. The Self-MOQ is a simple, reliable and valid questionnaire to screen olfactory dysfunction in clinical practice that appears to be superior to the use of VASs but does not replace olfactory testing. 4 Laryngoscope, 2019.

Unilateral discectomy: outcomes, postoperative pain, complications.

In low back pain management surgery is currently commonly used with a new technique called minimally invasive discectomy, while open discectomy is still preferable in many cases. In this regard, the efficacy of tubular discectomy (TD) were compared with conventional standard lumbar disc procedure (conventional microdiscectomy). This study was performed as a clinical trial conducted on patients who were under TD and conventional microdiscectomy using unilateral retractor at Bou Ali, Mehrad, Laleh Hospitals during the years 2001 to 2017. The pain score was determined based on the use of Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). The Roland Morris Disability Questionnaires (RMQ) and mean Oswestry disability index (ODI) were also calculated. Our findings revealed that the two groups were similar in terms of demographic characteristics (age, sex, body mass index, etc.) (p> 0.05). The findings indicated the superiority of TD over the classic approach. The mean scores of ODI in conventional microdiscectomy and TD groups were reported as 12.53 ± 7.09 and 9.51 ± 7.83, respectively. ODI revealed that patients with TD surgery had less disability in lifting objects, sitting, standing, and traveling. In the conventional microdiscectomy group, 12 (20%) patients were affected by complications of surgery, but no complication was reported in any patient with TD (p = 0.000). The mean index of Roland Morris disability in the conventional microdiscectomy and TD groups were estimated to be 6.033 ± 2.98 and 3.73 ± 3.25 (p = 0.000). However, both groups did not differ in terms of visual scores for pain and relapse (p > 0.05). Our study demonstrates that disease relapse within 6 months after the surgery, the RMQ and the ODI values were significantly better in TD than the other group.

PC-FACS

PC-FACS

The influence of various anesthetic thechniques on life quality of patients during the postoperative period after curettage of the uterine cavity

Curettage of uterine cavity (CUC) is an informative diagnostic and treatment method, which is widely applied in gynecology of one day. However, its low injury rate is not able to exclude completely the development of postsurgical pain syndrome, consequently changing the life quality of patients. The occurrence of psychosomatic effects is influenced by the underlying disease, concerning which the manipulation was performed, the psycho-emotional atmosphere of the hospital, the intensity of the pain syndrome, etc. Objective : to define the range of clinically significant changes of life quality after outpatient endouteral operational interventions, and to evaluate the influence of components of anesthesia service, which have the greatest influence on changing life quality of female patients in the early postoperative period. Materials and methods : during the postoperative period the interviewing of patients was conducted with the use of scale enquirer of life quality EQ-5D, “Enquirer of life quality of patients during the postoperative period” and with the use of visual analogue scale (VAS), statistical processing of received data was also performed. Results : the conducted research identified prime factors of influence over life quality of patient in pre- and postoperative period of CUC, rational methods of improving life quality after CUC. These are physical (postoperative pain syndrome) and psychological (fear of future surgery, nervousness regarding its carrying-out, its results and expectation of pain during operative intervention) factors. Conclusions : the prime factor, which has notional influence on life quality in the postoperative period of CUC, is a disorder of emotional-volitional sphere, albeit in imperceptible intensity, however in statistically significant feeling jittery and mental depression, caused by fear of women before the upcoming operational intervention, peculiarities of its performance and results, as well as the quality of anesthesia service. In the postoperative period of CUC the greatest influence on life quality of patients has the postsurgical pain syndrome. A method of preventive intraoperative anesthesia allows to prevent the development of pain syndrome in an efficient and timely manner, and thus goes into efficient way of improving life quality of patients of gynecologic hospital of one day in the postoperative period of endouteral operational interventions. Research results have also found out a circumstantial positive influence of the indicated method of anesthesia on the characteristics of emotional state and a possibility to prevent disorders in emotional-volitional sphere of female patients

Cocreative Development of the QoL-ME: A Visual and Personalized Quality of Life Assessment App for People With Severe Mental Health Problems.

BackgroundQuality of life (QoL) is a prominent outcome measure in mental health. However, conventional methods for QoL assessment rely heavily on language‐based communication and therefore may not be optimal for all individuals with severe mental health problems. In addition, QoL assessment is usually based on a fixed number of life domains. This approach conflicts with the notion that QoL is influenced by individual values and preferences. A digital assessment app facilitates both the accessibility and personalization of QoL assessment and may, therefore, help to further advance QoL assessment among individuals with severe mental health problems.ObjectiveThis study focused on the development of an innovative, visual, and personalized QoL assessment app for people with severe mental health problems: the QoL-ME.MethodsThis study targeted 3 groups of individuals with severe mental health problems: (1) people with psychiatric problems, (2) people treated in forensic psychiatry, and (3) people who are homeless. A group of 59 participants contributed to the 6 iterations of the cocreative development of the QoL-ME. In the brainstorming stage, consisting of the first iteration, participants’ previous experiences with questionnaires and mobile apps were explored. Participants gave their feedback on initial designs and wireframes in the second to fourth iterations that made up the design stage. In the usability stage that comprised the final 2 iterations, the usability of the QoL-ME was evaluated.ResultsIn the brainstorming stage, participants stressed the importance of privacy and data security and of receiving feedback when answering questionnaires. Participants in the design stage indicated a preference for paging over scrolling, linear navigation, a clean and minimalist layout, the use of touchscreen functionality in various modes of interaction, and the use of visual analog scales. The usability evaluation in the usability stage revealed good to excellent usability.ConclusionsThe cocreative development of the QoL-ME resulted in an app that corresponds to the preferences of participants and has strong usability. Further research is needed to evaluate the psychometric quality of the QoL-ME and to investigate its usefulness in practice.

Comparison of Er,Cr:YSGG and diode laser effects on dentin hypersensitivity: a split-mouth randomized clinical trial.

The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical efficacy of diode laser and Er,Cr:YSGG lasers in the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity. Thirty-four teeth from 17 patients with dentin hypersensitivity were divided into two groups. In group D, the teeth were irradiated with diode laser beams with a wavelength of 940nm for 1min, and in group E, the teeth were irradiated with Er,Cr:YSGG laser beams with a wavelength of 2780nm and a pulse width of 140-200μs. Treatments with laser beams were carried out in 1 session. Sensitivity was assessed with air spray and a dental explorer. Pain severity was measured with the use of visual analog scale (VAS) before and after laser application. A decrease in dentin hypersensitivity was observed in both groups immediately, 1week, and 1month after laser irradiation. Statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in dentin hypersensitivity severity only 1month after laser application. The decrease in dentin hypersensitivity by Er,Cr:YSGG laser was significantly higher than that by diode laser at this time interval. The decrease in dentin hypersensitivity after application of Er,Cr:YSGG laser was significantly higher than that after the application of diode laser at 1-month postoperative interval. Er,Cr:YSGG laser is a better choice than diode laser for the treatment of dentin hypersensitivity in the short term.

Post-stroke pain

The purpose of the study was to assess the prevalence of post-stroke pain and the effectiveness of its diagnosis and treatment in the conditions of university clinic. It was shown that the frequency of post-stroke pain syndrome is 55.8% of the total number of patients with PPS. The pain in the shoulder joint of the paretic limb is most often recorded, due to the subluxation of the humerus, which is recorded in 28.3% of patients with PPS during hospital stay and 20.3% in the first weeks after discharge. The frequency of PPS of the central genesis is 31.1%. Syndrome of complex regional pain occurs in 4.4% of patients, pain associated with spasticity – in 13.0%. The use of visual analog scales makes it possible to diagnose post-stroke pain syndrome in patients who are conscious and have no significant cognitive deficits. With the application of complex treatment of pain syndrome, a satisfactory clinical effect is achieved in all patients, and the best response to treatment was in patients with pain in the shoulder joint of the paretic limb due to the subluxation of the head of the humerus.

Use of Visual Analog Scales in Occupational Therapy Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Abstract Date Presented 4/20/2018 Visual analog scales, connected to course learning objectives and administered before and after course delivery, can be considered a viable option for instructors’ toolkit as a method for assessing students’ perception of knowledge gained over the course of a semester. Primary Author and Speaker: Margaret (Peggy) Morris

Comparison the effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) jelly and piroxicam jelly on pain of knee osteoarthritis

ackground and Aim: Oral drugs and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs which are used to relieve pain are associated with certain side effects in the patients with knee osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a herbal drug, Zingiber officinale jelly, and piroxicam jelly on pain relief, morning stiffness, and physical performance in the patients with knee osteoarthritis. Material and Methods: In this semi-experimental study one hundred and twenty patients with osteoarthritis were randomly assigned to three groups of 40. Z. officinale 2% jelly, piroxicam jelly, and placebo were given twice a day for 14 days to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd groups respectively. Concurrently, diclofenac tablet 100mg/ day was given to all groups. Physical examination was performed before intervention and two weeks after completion of the treatment. The level of pain was measured by use of visual analogue scale. Furthermore, the WOMAC index was used to investigate the effect of pain on the patients' performance. Using SPSS software, data were analyzed by paired t-test, chi-square and ANOVA. Result: There were no significant difference between Z. officinale jelly and piroxicam jelly in relation to relief of overall pain and morning stiffness, (P>0.05). The relief of pain (P=0.01) and morning stiffness (P=0.002) were significantly more marked in the piroxicam-treated group compared to those in the placebo group. Improvement of the physical functioning was not significantly different between the piroxicam-treated and Z. officinale-treated groups (P>0.05). Conclusion: Z. officinale jelly and piroxicam jelly were effective in pain relief, amelioration of morning stiffness, and improvement of physical functioning in the patients with knee osteoarthritis, and there were no significant differences between the effects of the jellies.