Effects of cervical stabilization training in patients with headache: A single-blinded randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effects of Cervical Stabilization Training (CST) on the headache, neck pain and cervical musculoskeletal system in patients with headache compared to the control group. METHODS: A total of 90 female patients with migraine, tension-type headache and cervicogenic headache (CGH) participated in this study. The patients were divided into the cervical stabilization training group (CSTG) and the control group (CG). The CSTG performed the CST three times a week for 8 weeks while the CG continued their ongoing medical treatment. The pain intensity was assessed by Visual Analogue Scale, forward head posture by craniovertebral angle measurement, the endurance of deep cervical flexor muscles by craniocervical flexion test and the endurance of cervical muscles by flexor and extensor endurance tests before and after 8 weeks. In addition, disability levels, health-related quality of life, sleep quality and mood were assessed by the Migraine Disability Assessment questionnaire, Neck Disability Index (NDI), Short Form 36 Quality of Life Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Beck Depression Scale, respectively. RESULTS: Headache frequency, duration and intensity, neck pain intensity and forward head posture reduced while activation and performance of deep cervical flexor muscles, the endurance of cervical flexor and extensor muscles increased in the CSTG (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the disability levels, quality of life, sleep quality and mood also improved in the CSTG (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that CST reduces headaches and neck pain by improving the cervical musculoskeletal system in patients with headache. SIGNIFICANCE: The CST improved the headache frequency, duration and intensity, neck pain intensity, cervical posture, activation of deep cervical flexor muscles and endurance of cervical muscles in patients with headache. In addition, improvements in the cervical musculoskeletal system contributed to a reduction in the intensity of headaches and neck pain. Therefore, CST may be preferred in the treatment of headaches, especially with coexisting neck pain.

Exometabolomic analysis of susceptible and multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Multidrug resistant (MDR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains have recently become one of the major public health concerns worldwide leading to difficulties in selecting appropriate antibiotic treatment. Thus, it is important to elucidate the characteristics of MDR isolates. Herein, we aimed to determine the unique exometabolome profile of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates in monocultures that comprise high resistance to multiple antibiotics, and compare the differential metabolite profiles obtained from susceptible isolates by using GC/MS. Our results showed that partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) score plot clearly discriminated the MDR and susceptible isolates indicating the altered exometabolite profiles, and highlighted the significantly enriched levels of trehalose and glutamic acid in MDR isolates. Expression of trehalose synthase (treS) was also 1·5-fold higher in MDR isolates, relatively to susceptible isolates. Overall, our study provides insights into the distinct footprints of MDR P. aeruginosa isolates in mono-culture.

Effect of fully immersive virtual reality treatment combined with exercise in fibromyalgia patients: a randomized controlled trial.

This trial was designed to evaluate the effects of fully immersive virtual reality (IVR) treatment combined with exercise training in fibromyalgia patients. Twenty patients were randomized into exercise group (EG) or IVR combined with exercise group (Exercise+IVR). The EG had combined exercise training consisted of 30 minutes of aerobic training and 30 minutes of Pilates training and Exercise+IVR group had the same protocol with EG plus 20 minutes of IVR, twice a week for 8 weeks. Visual analogue scale for pain, Modified Sensory Organization Test for balance, Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia for kinesiophobia, Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire for impact of fibromyalgia, Fatigue Severity Scale for fatigue, International Physical Activity Questionnaire for level of physical activity, six-minute walk test for functional capacity, and Short-Form 36 Health Survey for quality of life were used for evaluation. Pain, balance, kinesiophobia, impact of fibromyalgia, fatigue, level of physical activity, functional exercise capacity and quality of life scores improved significantly in both groups (p < .05). Exercise+IVR group showed significant improvement compared to the EG regarding pain, kinesiophobia, fatigue, level of physical activity, and mental component of quality of life (p < .05). IVR treatment may be an effective method as an adjunctive therapy with other exercise trainings in fibromyalgia.

Structural changes in gut microbiome after Ramadan fasting: a pilot study.

It has been largely accepted that dietary changes have an effect on gut microbial composition. In this pilot study we hypothesised that Ramadan fasting, which can be considered as a type of time-restricted feeding may lead to changes in gut microbial composition and diversity. A total of 9 adult subjects were included in the study. Stool samples were collected before (baseline) and at the end of the Ramadan fasting (after 29 days). Following the construction of an 16S rRNA amplicon library, the V4 region was sequenced using the Illumina Miseq platform. Microbial community analysis was performed using the QIIME program. A total of 27,521 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with a 97% similarity were determined in all of the samples. Microbial richness was significantly increased after Ramadan according to observed OTU results (P=0.016). No significant difference was found in terms of Shannon index or phylogenetic diversity metrics of alpha diversity. Microbial community structure was significantly different between baseline and after Ramadan samples according to unweighted UniFrac analysis (P=0.025). LEfSe analysis revealed that Butyricicoccus, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Allobaculum, Eubacterium, Dialister and Erysipelotrichi were significantly enriched genera after the end of Ramadan fasting. According to random forest analysis, the bacterial species most affected by the Ramadan fasting was Butyricicoccus pullicaecorum. Despite this is a pilot study with a limited sample size; our results clearly revealed that Ramadan fasting, which represents an intermittent fasting regime, leads to compositional changes in the gut microbiota.

Effect of combined exercise training on serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, suppressors of cytokine signaling 1 and 3 in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Suppressors of cytokine signaling (SOCS) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are important immunologic, and neurotrophic factors for MS pathogenesis. The impact of exercise on these factors is yet to be fully elucidated in patients with MS. OBJECTIVE: The primary aim of this study is to investigate the effect of 8-week combined exercise training on serum concentrations of SOCS1, SOCS3, and BDNF. The secondary aim is to determine the effects of combined exercise training on balance, functional exercise capacity, and fatigue in patients with MS. METHODS: Serum SOCS1, SOCS3, and BDNF levels were assessed in 36 MS patients and 18 healthy individuals. In addition, balance, functional exercise capacity, and fatigue were assessed in the patients with MS. The patients were randomly divided into the combined exercise group (MS-EX, n:18) and the control group (MS-C, n:18). MS-EX received an 8-week combined exercise training. RESULTS: The serum SOCS1, SOCS3, and BDNF levels were similar in the MS patients and healthy control (HC). In MS-EX, the serum BDNF level, balance, functional exercise capacity, and fatigue improved after 8weeks (p<0.05), but the serum SOCS1, and SOCS3 levels did not change significantly (p>0.05). In MS-C, the serum SOCS1 level, and fatigue increased significantly after 8weeks (p<0.05), but serum SOCS3, BDNF, balance and functional exercise capacity did not change (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In summary, the combined exercise training improved BDNF, and physical performance in patients with MS. But, future studies are needed to clarify the role of SOCS proteins in MS pathogenesis and the effect of exercise on SOCS.

The effects of Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates in patients with Multiple Sclerosis: A randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Pilates is an exercise method which increases strength and endurance of core muscles and improves flexibility, dynamic postural control and balance. OBJECTIVE: To analyze and compare the effects of Mat and Reformer Pilates methods in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). METHODS: Thirty-eight patients with MS were included in the study. Participants were randomly divided into 3 groups as Mat Pilates, Reformer Pilates and control groups. The subjects in the Pilates groups did Mat or Reformer Pilates for 8 weeks, 2 days a week. The control group did breathing and relaxation exercises at home. Balance, functional mobility, core stability, fatigue severity and quality of life were evaluated. RESULTS: Balance, functional mobility, core stability, fatigue severity and quality of life improved after Pilates in Mat and Reformer Pilates groups (p < 0.05). On the other hand, we could not find any changing in the control group (p > 0.05). When the gain obtained in the Pilates groups is compared, it has been observed that progress has been more in trunk flexor muscle strength in the Reformer Pilates group (p < 0.05) and that the gain has been similar in the other parameters (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As a result, patients with MS have seen similar benefits in Reformer Pilates and Mat Pilates methods.

Characterization of chirped pulses with the fractional-order Fourier transformation.

We show that the fractional-order Fourier transformation (FRT) is a suitable method to describe chirped pulses submitted to group-velocity dispersion in a linear dispersive medium. Amplitudes exhibiting different chirp coefficients are easily separated with the FRT, although they are temporally superposed.

Measurement of the elliptical birefringence of single-mode optical fibers.

The polarization properties of single-mode optical fibers are theoretically modeled with use of the Jones formalism. The fiber is described as an elliptical birefringent plate. The properties predicted by this model are discussed and lead to the development of a simple experimental method to extract the parameters that describe a real fiber. A magneto-optic method that measures the beat length of the fiber is also presented and gives a more complete description of the fiber. The validity of the model is then clearly established. Finally, the wavelength dependence of the parameters characteristic of the fiber is experimentally investigated.

All-fiber tunable ytterbium-doped double-clad fiber ring laser.

We have designed and realized a cw all-fiber tunable Yb-doped double-clad fiber laser in a unidirectional ring cavity. The side-pumping V-groove technique is used, yielding very good launching efficiency of the high-power pumping laser diode, together with a compact configuration. The fiber laser delivers as much as 800 mW of power and is tunable in the spectral range 1.04-1.10 microm . The laser linewidth is ~0.1 nm .

Hologram reconstruction by use of optical wavelet transform.

High-speed in-line holography is used to visualize the trajectories of glass fibers being drawn out in a turbulent flame. To improve the signal-to-noise ratio, the images are not observed by a conventional reconstruction setup, but the holographic plate is placed directly on the input plane of a wavelet-transform optical system. This processing system is based on a VanderLugt correlator with inclusion of an electrically addressed spatial light modulator. The shape of the matched filters is deduced by successive rotation and dilatation operations of wavelet functions in the Fourier domain. We estimate the three-dimensional location of a fiber element and its orientation by searching for the daughter wavelet that yields the maximum intensity on the output plane of the correlator, which also contains the reconstructed image. The results are compared with those obtained by conventional optical reconstruction. The signal-to-noise ratios of the images observed on the output plane are improved. Moreover, it is shown that the axis coordinate accuracy is improved to Dz = +/-50 microm, instead of +/-0.5 mm for holographic reconstruction.

Conjugation fidelity of double phase-conjugate mirrors in photorefractive materials with two-center transport.

The temporal evolution of double phase-conjugate mirrors (DPCM's) in photorefractive materials such as BaTiO(3):Co:Fe is studied by use of the plane-wave expansion method. The buildup time of DPCM and its conjugation fidelity are compared with those of photorefractive materials with a single-center transport. Numerical simulations show that one can decrease the threshold value of the coupling strength required for the DPCM operation with a high conjugation fidelity by doping the BaTiO(3) crystals weakly with Co in comparison with undoped crystals.

Methods for the deconvolution of defocused-image pairs recorded separately on two CCD cameras: application to particle sizing.

An optoelectronic in-line imaging system for particle sizing is described. The images are scanned by two CCD cameras viewing the same object field that is illuminated with two pulses. One of the cameras is double exposed and the other is activated only during the second pulse. Two successive analogical subtractions between the video output signals gives the sign of the transverse velocity vector. Out-of-focus images are deconvolved with the assumption of a Gaussian point-spread function (PSF) whose spatial parameter ς increases with the defocusing distance z. In the case of low particle density, an algorithm based on the exploitation of the power spectral density is used to estimate the particle diameter. This method can be applied to the case of fast-moving particles (e.g., v < 500 m/s). The accuracy of the size measurement is better than 10% in the diameter range 20-160 µm. The main result is that this accuracy is obtained with an amount of defocusing in the range [-2, 2] mm. Thus, the depth of field is significantly extended in comparison with a conventional microscopic imaging system.

Optical amplification of diffraction-free beams by photorefractive two-wave mixing and its application to laser Doppler velocimetry.

The Fraunhofer diffraction pattern of a narrow annular slit is recorded holographically to generate a beam that approximates a diffraction-free Bessel beam. The experimental limitations resulting from the annular-slit parameters such as the opening width and the transmission coefficient are discussed. The reconstructed Bessel beam is amplified by two-wave mixing in a photorefractive crystal. Thus the efficient conversion of a relatively large beam with a constant (or Gaussian) intensity distribution into a nondiffracting beam is achieved entirely by direct physical interference. We show that diffraction-free beams reproduced and amplified in this way can be applied to the measurement of the velocity of small objects by the use of the laser Doppler technique. In addition, the advantages of Bessel beams, especially in measuring the velocity of solids, are discussed.

Residual aberration corrections in far field in-line holography using an auxiliary off-axis hologram.

To obtain a diffraction-limited resolution with a lens assisted Fraunhofer hologram reconstructed by a reverse reference beam, residual aberrations have been corrected by using an auxiliary off-axis hologram.

High gain coherent amplification in thermally stabilized InP:Fe crystals under dc fields.

After recalling the principal results of the theory of two-wave mixing gain enhancement in photorefractive InP:Fe crystals under a dc field, we report on experiments performed with several samples manufactured at CNET. For the first time, we believe, a maximum gain of 11.4 cm(-1) has been obtained under an applied dc field of 10 kV/cm in a thermally stablized crystal (T = 290 K) at lambda = 1.06 microm. In spite of a decrease in the factor n(3)r(eff)/lambda high gains (Gamma >/= 5 cm(-1)) have been achieved at lambda = 1.32microm in thick crystals. These experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions.

Model for resonant intensity dependence of photorefractive two-wave mixing in InP:Fe.

We present a new model, which incorporates both temperature and electron-hole effects, for two-beam coupling in photorefractive semiconductors under an external dc field E(0). We show that the exponential gain ? exhibits an intensity-dependent resonance. The application of this model to InP:Fe allows us to predict a value of ? near 20 cm(-1) for a thin sample at 1.06 microm with E(0) = 10 kV/cm.

Nonlinearities of an aperture-limited in-line far-field hologram.

In several papers, effects of film nonlinearity have been studied considering the off-axis holography. In this analysis, the case of the in-line far-field holography is considered. It is shown that the finite aperture effects influence both the number of extrema in the intensity distribution of an image and the edge smear of this image, while the nonlinearity produces a decrease of the contrast.