Association between Satisfaction with Life and Personality Types A and D in Young Women with Acne Vulgaris.

People with acne vulgaris report a lower level of satisfaction with life and are more frequently classified as having Type D personalities than those without acne. This research examined, for the first time, the moderating and mediating role of personality type in the relationship between acne severity and satisfaction with life. Among 300 female nursing and cosmetology students ranging in age from 19 to 24 years (M = 21.28, SD = 1.39), 150 individuals (50%) presented with symptoms of acne vulgaris (AV group), while the other 150 (50%) were categorized as controls without acne vulgaris (WAV sample). A cross-sectional study was conducted using three self-report questionnaires: The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), the Framingham Type A Scale (FTAS), and the Type D Scale (DS14). Acne vulgaris was clinically diagnosed using the Hellgren-Vincent Scale (HVS). The AV group scored significantly higher on the FTAS and DS14 and lower on the SWLS than the WAV sample. Life satisfaction correlated negatively with both the negative affectivity (NA) and social inhibition (SI) subscales of the DS14. The moderating role of the Type A behavioral pattern (TABP) and the mediating role of both NA and SI subscales of the DS14 were observed in the relationship between acne severity and satisfaction with life. The type of personality may explain the mechanism of the relationship between acne disease and subjective well-being. Therefore, psychological interventions and strategies focused on managing stress and mood may effectively improve satisfaction with life in people with acne.

Wireless Motion Sensors-Useful in Assessing the Effectiveness of Physiotherapeutic Methods Used in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis-Preliminary Report.

Osteoarthritis of the knee (OAK) is characterized by pain, limitation of joint mobility, and significant deterioration of proprioception resulting in functional decline. This study assessed proprioception in OAK patients following two ten-day rehabilitation programs using the Orthyo® system. Fifty-four study participants with clinical symptoms and radiological signs of OAK were randomly divided into an exercise group (n = 27) or a manual therapy group (n = 27). The control group consisted of 27 volunteers with radiological signs of OAK, but with no clinical symptoms or prior history of rehabilitation. The following parameters were assessed: knee proprioception using inertial sensors and a mobile application, patients' function using Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC), and pain intensity using the visual analog scale (VAS). Following rehabilitation, knee proprioception tests did not improve in either study group. Both study groups showed significant improvement of the WOMAC-assessed function (exercise group: p < 0.01, manual therapy group: p = 0.01) and a significant decrease (p < 0.01) of VAS-assessed pain following rehabilitation, but the post-therapy results did not differ significantly between the aforementioned groups. The Orthyo® system provided a quick and accurate assessment of the knee joint position sense. There was no direct relationship between functionality, pain, and proprioception threshold in the knee joint.

Outcome assessment after the surgical correction of scoliosis using the Cotrel-Dubousset method.

Background. The goal of our study was to assess the outcome of the surgical treatment of scoliosis using the Cotrel- Dubousset method. Material and methods. The study population consisted of 30 girls, aged 13-19 years, with right-sided thoracic scoliosis, grades II, III and IV. All these subjects were operated using the Cotrel-Dubousset method. The research program included measurements of the primary scoliosis angle (Cobb's angle), the vital capacity (VC) of the lungs, chest mobility, and body height. Examinations were performed before surgery, immediately after surgery, and one year after surgery. Results. Comparison of the Cobb's angle before, directly after, and a year after surgery showed that the Cotrel-Dubousset method caused significant correction of scoliosis. The mean VC was below normal before surgery, and despite some improvement remained below physiological values one year later. Chest mobility examinations found that respiratory mobility was adequate before surgery. The mean body height increase one year after surgery was statistically significant. Based on the Risser test performed before surgery we found that ossification was still in progress in the majority of patients one year later. Conclusions. Surgical treatment using the Cotrel-Dubousset method had a significant impact on the correction of scoliosis, as measured by Cobb's angle. The operation did not, however, cause a significant increase of VC in girls with lateral, primarily thoracic scoliosis. A large increase in height was observed in the operated patients. This may have been evoked by significant correction of the scoliosis.