Differences in forearm strength, endurance, and hemodynamic kinetics between male boulderers and lead rock climbers.

This study examined differences in the oxygenation kinetics and strength and endurance characteristics of boulderers and lead sport climbers. Using near infrared spectroscopy, 13-boulderers, 10-lead climbers, and 10-controls completed assessments of oxidative capacity index and muscle oxygen consumption (m⩒O2) in the flexor digitorum profundus (FDP), and extensor digitorum communis (EDC). Additionally, forearm strength (maximal volitional contraction MVC), endurance (force-time integral FTI at 40% MVC), and forearm volume (FAV and ΔFAV) was assessed. MVC was significantly greater in boulderers compared to lead climbers (mean difference = 9.6, 95% CI 5.2-14 kg). FDP and EDC oxidative capacity indexes were significantly greater (p = .041 and .013, respectively) in lead climbers and boulderers compared to controls (mean difference = -1.166, 95% CI (-3.264 to 0.931 s) and mean difference = -1.120, 95% CI (-3.316 to 1.075 s), respectively) with no differences between climbing disciplines. Climbers had a significantly greater FTI compared to controls (mean difference = 2205, 95% CI= 1114-3296 and mean difference = 1716, 95% CI = 553-2880, respectively) but not between disciplines. There were no significant group differences in ΔFAV or m⩒O2. The greater MVC in boulderers may be due to neural adaptation and not hypertrophy. A greater oxidative capacity index in both climbing groups suggests that irrespective of climbing discipline, trainers, coaches, and practitioners should consider forearm specific aerobic training to aid performance.

Injury-related fear-avoidance and symptoms of posttraumatic stress in parents of children with burns.

Parents of children with burns experience a range of psychological reactions and symptoms, and parents' health is known to impact children's health. So far, there is little research into potential mechanisms that maintain parents' symptoms. The aim was to investigate parental injury-related fear-avoidance, and its associations with injury severity and health measures. Parents (n=107) of children aged 0.4-18 years that sustained burns 0.1-9.0 years previously completed questionnaires on fear-avoidance, posttraumatic stress, and health of the child. Analyses showed that the average level of fear-avoidance was low and positively associated with measures of injury severity and parents' symptoms of posttraumatic stress, and negatively associated with parents' ratings of their child's health. In two separate multiple regressions with parents' symptoms of PTSD and the child's health as dependent variables, fear-avoidance made the largest contribution in both models while injury severity was non-significant. Results were not related to comorbid conditions of the child, scarring, or parent-related socio-demographic variables. In summary, injury-related fear-avoidance is more likely among parents whose children sustain more severe burns. In turn, fear-avoidance contributes significantly to parents' symptoms of PTSD and to poorer health ratings regarding the child, irrespective of injury severity or child comorbidity.

Perceived support in parents of children with burns.

OBJECTIVE: Children sustaining burns that require treatment in a burn center have a need for multiprofessional aftercare services over a prolonged time. So far, there is little research into satisfaction with care and support after pediatric burns. The aim was to investigate parents' perception of support after pediatric burn and associations with parent, child and injury characteristics. METHOD: Parents (n=101) of children aged 0.4-17.8 years completed questionnaires on support, parent's psychological symptoms and health of the child. Time since injury was 0.1-9.0 years. RESULTS: Perceived lack of psychosocial, medical, societal or family support was reported by 21% of the parents. Lack of support was not associated with injury or sociodemographic characteristics, but it was significantly associated with parents' symptoms of general anxiety, depression and injury-related fear avoidance, as well as parents' ratings of their child's general health and heat sensitivity. CONCLUSION: Perceived support did not differ on account of burn severity or sociodemographic status. However, care providers should be more attentive to and supportive of parents signaling poorer general health in their child and cognitive beliefs that the child is at risk for harm when active and parents who themselves show signs of psychological symptoms.

Is sexuality a problem? A follow-up of patients with severe burns 6 months to 7 years after injury.

PURPOSE AND AIMS: This is the first study investigating sexuality from 6 months up to 7 years after burn. The aim was to examine sexuality in females and males by using the BSHS-B sexuality subscale and to examine possible contributing factors with regard to sociodemographics, burn characteristics, personality traits, and previous psychiatric disorders. METHODS: A cohort of 107 patients consecutively admitted to a Swedish national burn center was followed up at 6, 12, and 24 months after burn, and 67 individuals were followed up at 2-7 years after burn. The present study utilized the BSHS-B sexuality subscale, and multiple regression analyses were used to examine possible contributing factors. RESULTS: Women were less satisfied than men, and sexuality mean scores improved over time, even up to 7 years after-burn, in both men and women. The strongest contributing factors for worse outcome regarding sexuality were a history of psychiatric morbidity, neuroticism and burn severity. CONCLUSIONS: As some patients experience sexual problems after burns, even many years later, it is important to identify these individuals. The BSHS-B sexuality subscale may be used as a screening tool, but more in-depth assessment might be needed to address all aspects of sexuality.

Health-related quality of life in Swedish pediatric burn patients and associations with burn and family characteristics.

Although many children with burns recover well and have a satisfying quality of life after the burn, some children do not adjust as well. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) focuses on the impact health status has on quality of life. The aim of this study was to assess HRQoL with the American Burn Association/Shriners Hospitals for Children Burn Outcomes Questionnaire (BOQ) in a nationwide Swedish sample of children with burns 0.3-9.0 years after injury. Participants were parents (n=109) of children aged up to 18 years at the time of investigation who were treated at the Linköping or Uppsala Burn Center between 2000 and 2008. The majority of children did not have limitations in physical function and they did not seem to experience much pain. However, there were indications of psychosocial problems. Parents of preschool children reported most problems with the children's behavior and family disruption, whereas parents of children aged 5-18 years reported most problems with appearance and emotional health. There were mainly burn-related variables associated with suboptimal HRQoL in children aged 5-18 years, while family-related variables did not contribute as much.

Dye coupling of rabbit ciliary epithelial cells in vitro.

PURPOSE: To examine the in vitro properties of gap junctions on the isolated rabbit ciliary epithelium. METHODS: Intracellular potential was measured and lucifer yellow (5% in 1 M LiCl) was iontophoretically injected into a ciliary epithelial cell. Fixated tissue was examined with a laser confocal microscope. RESULTS: Dye spread was observed throughout both layers (horizontally and vertically) of the ciliary epithelium adjacent to the injected cell that was more intensely labeled. Dye reflux did not occur at the site of microimpalement. Microiontophoretic dye injection in a bathing solution with a high Ca2+ (10 mM) or an acidic pH (6.3) completely inhibited cell-cell dye coupling in the rabbit ciliary epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Laser confocal microscopy of intracellularly injected lucifer yellow dye demonstrates the physiologic presence of gap junctions between both ciliary epithelial layers. Extracellular acidosis and high concentration of extracellular Ca2+ cause loss of cell-cell coupling in the rabbit ciliary epithelium.