Increasing the Amount and Intensity of Stepping Training During Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Improves Locomotor and Non-Locomotor Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of traditional rehabilitation interventions to improve locomotion post-stroke, including providing multiple exercises targeting impairments and activity limitations, is uncertain. Emerging evidence rather suggests attempts to prioritize stepping practice at higher cardiovascular intensities may facilitate greater locomotor outcomes. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of high-intensity training (HIT) to usual care during inpatient rehabilitation post-stroke. METHODS: Changes in stepping activity and functional outcomes were compared over 9 months during usual-care (n = 131 patients < 2 months post-stroke), during an 18-month transition phase with attempts to implement HIT (n = 317), and over 12 months following HIT implementation (n = 208). The transition phase began with didactic and hands-on education, and continued with meetings, mentoring, and audit and feedback. Fidelity metrics included percentage of sessions prioritizing gait interventions and documenting intensity. Demographics, training measures, and outcomes were compared across phases using linear or logistic regression analysis, Kruskal-Wallis tests, or χ2 analysis. RESULTS: Across all phases, admission scores were similar except for balance (usual-care>HIT; P < .02). Efforts to prioritize stepping and achieve targeted intensities during HIT vs transition or usual-care phases led to increased steps/day (P < .01). During HIT, gains in 10-m walk [HIT median = 0.13 m/s (interquartile range: 0-0.35) vs usual-care = 0.07 m/s (0-0.24), P = .01] and 6-min walk [50 (9.3-116) vs 2.1 (0-56) m, P < .01] were observed, with additional improvements in transfers and stair-climbing. CONCLUSIONS: Greater efforts to prioritize walking and reach higher intensities during HIT led to increased steps/day, resulting in greater gains in locomotor and non-locomotor outcomes.

Patients' perceptions following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: Sorry or satisfied?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) currently accounts for 70.1% of weight-loss surgeries in Australia, according to the Bariatric Surgery Registry. There are limited qualitative studies examining Australian patients' experiences. The aim of this study was to explore patients' perspectives following LSG, providing information for shared decision making. METHOD: Twenty-two patients one, two or three years post-LSG were recruited randomly. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth telephone interviews, and responses were analysed inductively. RESULTS: Three global themes were identified: 1) normality, 2) control and 3) ambivalence, with eight organising sub-themes: 1) weight, 2) physical changes and daily living enhancements, 3) exercise, 4) emotional responses, 5) eating behaviour, 6) societal influences, 7) body image and 8) relationships. DISCUSSION: LSG is generally associated with high levels of patient satisfaction, with physical and psychosocial benefits beyond metabolic improvements. The decision to undergo this elective procedure should be made with an understanding of the significant and permanent effects it has on patients' lives.

Access barriers to medical facilities for people with physical disabilities: the case of Peru.

People with disabilities (PWD) face several challenges accessing medical services. However, the extent to which architectural and transportation barriers impede access to healthcare is unknown. In Peru, despite laws requiring that buildings be accessible for PWD, no report confirms that medical facilities comply with such regulations. Thus, we aim to provide an association between these barriers and access to medical facilities. Data from a Peruvian disability survey were analyzed. Participants were 18 years of age and older people who reported having a physical disability. Accessibility was defined by reported struggles accessing medical facilities (health or rehabilitation centers). Absence of ramps, handrails, elevators, adapted bathrooms, and information counters in medical facilities were reported as architectural barriers. The transportation barriers analyzed included struggles using buses or trains. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and to control for confounding variables. 20,663 participants were included, their mean age was 66.5 years and 57.5% were females. Architectural and transportation barriers reported were 40% and 61%, respectively. All barriers reported were more prevalent in rural compared to urban areas (p < 0.001). Inadequacy of ramps, handrails, and adapted elevators and bathrooms were associated with limited use of rehabilitation centers (p < 0.001) but not of health centers (p > 0.05). Architectural and transportation barriers represent a hindrance to seeking treatment at rehabilitation centers. Actions to improve this situation are needed.

Access barriers to medical facilities for people with physical disabilities: the case of Peru / Barreras de acceso a centros de salud para personas con discapacidad física: el caso de Perú / Barreiras de acesso aos serviços de saúde para pessoas portadoras de deficiência física: o caso peruano

Abstract: People with disabilities (PWD) face several challenges accessing medical services. However, the extent to which architectural and transportation barriers impede access to healthcare is unknown. In Peru, despite laws requiring that buildings be accessible for PWD, no report confirms that medical facilities comply with such regulations. Thus, we aim to provide an association between these barriers and access to medical facilities. Data from a Peruvian disability survey were analyzed. Participants were 18 years of age and older people who reported having a physical disability. Accessibility was defined by reported struggles accessing medical facilities (health or rehabilitation centers). Absence of ramps, handrails, elevators, adapted bathrooms, and information counters in medical facilities were reported as architectural barriers. The transportation barriers analyzed included struggles using buses or trains. Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and to control for confounding variables. 20,663 participants were included, their mean age was 66.5 years and 57.5% were females. Architectural and transportation barriers reported were 40% and 61%, respectively. All barriers reported were more prevalent in rural compared to urban areas (p < 0.001). Inadequacy of ramps, handrails, and adapted elevators and bathrooms were associated with limited use of rehabilitation centers (p < 0.001) but not of health centers (p > 0.05). Architectural and transportation barriers represent a hindrance to seeking treatment at rehabilitation centers. Actions to improve this situation are needed.

Resumen: Las personas con discapacidades (PWD por sus siglas en inglés) se enfrentan a diversos desafíos, en lo que se refiere a servicios de salud. Pese a ello, se desconoce hasta qué punto se extienden las barreras arquitectónicas y de transporte que impiden el acceso al sistema de salud. En Perú, a pesar de que las leyes requieren que los edificios sean accesibles para PWD, no existe ningún informe que muestre que los establecimientos médicos cumplan con esta normativa. Por lo tanto, nos proponemos determinar la asociación entre tales barreras y el acceso a centros médicos. Se analizaron datos procedentes de una encuesta nacional sobre discapacidad. Los participantes eran personas de 18 años y más que informaron de una discapacidad física. La accesibilidad se definió mediante las dificultades de acceder a centros de salud (centros de salud o rehabilitación). Las barreras arquitectónicas consideradas, y que fueron informadas, son: ausencia de rampas, barandillas, ascensores, baños adaptados para discapacitados, así como mostradores de información en centros médicos. Las barreras de transporte examinadas incluyeron las dificultades usando autobuses o trenes. Los modelos de regresión Poisson con variancia robusta se usaron para estimar la ratio de prevalencia (PR) y para controlar las variables de confusión. Se incluyeron a 20.663 participantes. La edad media fue 66,5 años y un 57,5% eran mujeres. Las barreras arquitectónicas de las que se informó representaron un 40% y las de transporte un 61%. Los informes de todas las barreras fueron mayores en áreas rurales, en comparación con las áreas urbanas (p < 0,001). Las deficiencias en rampas, barandillas, ascensores y baños adaptados estuvieron asociadas con una baja utilización de los centros de rehabilitación (p < 0,001), pero no en el caso de los centros de salud (p > 0,05). Las barreras arquitectónicas y de transporte representan un impedimento para la búsqueda de centros de salud y rehabilitación. Se necesitan más iniciativas para mejorar esta situación.

Resumo: As pessoas portadoras de deficiência (PPD) enfrentam diversos desafios no acesso aos serviços de saúde. Entretanto, não se sabe até que ponto as barreiras arquitetônicas e de transporte impedem o acesso à assistência. No Peru, apesar de leis que exigem a acessibilidade dos prédios para PPD, não há relato de que os serviços de saúde cumpram com tais regras. O estudo teve como objetivo determinar a associação entre esse tipo de barreira e o acesso aos serviços de saúde. Foram analisados os dados de um inquérito nacional sobre deficiência. Os participantes eram pessoas com 18 anos ou mais que relatavam ser portadoras de deficiência física. A acessibilidade era definida pelo relato de dificuldades em acesso aos serviços de saúde (centros de saúde ou de reabilitação). As barreiras arquitetônicas consistiam na ausência de rampas, corrimões, elevadores e banheiros adaptados e balcões de informação nos serviços de saúde. As barreiras de transporte incluíam dificuldades no uso de ônibus ou trens. Foram utilizados modelos de regressão Poisson com variância robusta para estimar razões de prevalência (RP) e controlar por fatores de confusão. Foram incluídos 20.663 participantes, com média de idade de 66,5 anos, sendo 57,5% do sexo feminino. Houve relato de barreiras arquitetônicas e de transporte por 40% e 61% dos participantes, respectivamente. O relato de barreiras era mais frequente em áreas rurais comparado com áreas urbanas (p < 0,001). A ausência de rampas, corrimões e elevadores e banheiros adaptados estava associada com menor utilização de centros de reabilitação (p < 0,001), mas não de centros de saúde (p > 0,05). As barreiras arquitetônicas e de transporte representam um impedimento à busca de assistência em centros de reabilitação. São necessárias medidas para melhorar essa situação.

Singlet oxygen mediated degradation of lignin--a kinetic study.

Singlet oxygen mediated degradation was carried out on lignin from steam-exploded straw, organosolv lignin and alkali lignin. The lignins were characterized by elemental analysis, UV, FTIR, 1H and 13C NMR, gel permeation chromatography, and thioacidolysis. The kinetics of singlet oxygen degradation were obtained by following the gel permeation chromatograms in the presence of an external standard. This procedure cannot be used for alkali lignin. In the case of steam-exploded and organosolv lignins, the reactions follow zero-order kinetics for the first 4-8 hours; thereafter, the reactions slow down and follow slower zero-order kinetics This behaviour can be explained assuming that easily degradable structures in the outer sphere of lignins are degraded in the first period, while the core lignin is degraded in the second one. The degradation in organosolv lignin is faster than in steam-exploded lignin. Molecular weight distribution and the absence ofguaiacyl units in steam-exploded lignin can give rise to this behaviour. Similar behaviour was obtained in the singlet oxygen degradation of the pulp of steam-exploded straw.