Daily music listening to reduce work-related stress: a randomized controlled pilot trial.

BACKGROUND: Literature shows that music can reduce stress conditions. This pilot study investigated the effects of music listening on work-related stress and well-being in healthcare professionals. METHOD: A total of 45 subjects were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: No Music, Individualized Music and Melomics-Health Listening. Music groups experienced a daily 30-min-playlist listening for 3 weeks at home. The Maugeri Stress Index-Revised (MASI-R) and the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) were administered at baseline, after 3 weeks and after 7 weeks (follow-up). Longitudinal data were analyzed by means of a nested ANOVA model, testing the main effects of time and treatment and the interaction between them. RESULTS: MASI-R scores showed a positive trend in music groups and a worsening in the control group. Only the interaction time/treatment emerged as supporting a trend toward statistical significance (P = 0.07). PGWBI showed a stability in music groups and a clear decline in controls, without significant effects. CONCLUSIONS: Results from the study support the need for a larger clinical trial: it is suggested that daily music listening could be implemented to reduce work-related stress and that the effects may be related, not only to individual musical preferences and familiarity, but also to specific music structures and parameters.

Music, music therapy and dementia: a review of literature and the recommendations of the Italian Psychogeriatric Association.

This study reviews the most recent (from 2000 to 2011) Clinical Controlled Trials (CCT) and Randomized Controlled Trials (RCT) concerning the use of music and music-therapy (MT) in the context of dementia and related issues. Studies which explored the efficacy of music and MT on behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are prevalent, while those aiming at assessing a potential effect of these approaches on cognitive and physiological aspects are scant. Although with some limitations, the results of these studies are consistent with the efficacy of MT approach on BPSD. In this context, the ability of the music therapist to directly interact with the patients appears to be crucial for the success of the intervention. This review was endorsed by the Italian Psychogeriatric Association (AIP) and represents its view about the criteria to select appropriate music and MT approaches in the field of dementia. Accordingly, we have developed a list of recommendations to facilitate the current use of these techniques in the context of non-pharmacological treatments for patients with dementia.

Addendum to 'Efficacy of music therapy treatment based on cycles of sessions: a randomised controlled trial' (Raglio et al., 2010).

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this paper is to provide further detail about the results of a randomised controlled study published in this journal (Raglio et al., 2010, 14, 900-904), in which we assessed the efficacy of music therapy (MT) on the behavioural disturbances in people with moderate-severe dementia. METHODS: Sixty patients were randomly assigned to the experimental (MT and standard care) and control group (standard care only). The experimental group received three cycles of 12 MT sessions each, three times a week. Each cycle of treatment was followed by one month of washout period, while the standard care activities continued over time. RESULTS: The impact of the treatment (12 MT sessions) was reliable on NPI global scores, as the interaction Time by Group was significant (F(1,49) = 4.09, p = 0.049). After the end of the treatment the NPI global scores of the experimental and control groups tended to become similar, as both groups worsened (Time effect: F(1,48) = 4.67, p = 0.014) and the difference between them disappeared (F < 1). Interaction Time by Group was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirms that active MT determines a positive response and can amplify and strengthen the efficacy of therapeutic interventions towards people with dementia.

[Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia syndrome and thrombosis in patients undergoing periodic haemodialysis]. / La sindrome di trombocitopenia e trombosi indotte dall eparina (HIT) in emodialisi.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is the most important immunological drug reaction that patients face today. Being unfractionated heparin the standard anticoagulation used in haemodialysis, acute or chronic uremic patients starting haemodialysis are at risk of developing HIT. Through the accurate description of two patients, one with chronic and the other with acute uraemia, who developed this complication at the start of haemodialysis, we compare the distinct clinical problems of haemodialysis-related HIT with the general clinical features of HIT. We report the occurrence of repeated clotting of both dialysers and catheters, as well as thrombosis of the central veins where the catheters are placed and of the fistulas. We also report an accurate review of the literature on haemodialysis-related HIT. We have observed that HIT seems to be particularly rare in haemodialysis patients. Since newly treated haemodialysis patients are at risk of developing HIT, and most of the studies were made on long-term chronic haemodialysis patients, we assume that the syndrome is poorly documented. Our own experience on 37 haemodialysis patients who developed HIT is reported by focusing on both the clinical presentation of HIT as well as the long-term follow up of the patients. We present some considerations on the treatment options of acute HIT in uremic patients as well as on the problem of heparin re-exposure subsequent to the HIT episode, a very prominent problem in chronic haemodialysis patient.

Modern Healthcare celebrates the 25th anniversary of the magazine's ownership by Crain Communications.

In many ways it's been a quarter-century of change. But in some ways it's been just the opposite. To mark Modern Healthcare's silver anniversary under its current ownership, the magazine's staff took a trip through time, looking at pivotal events in healthcare during the past 25 years and the people who helped shape the industry.