Tai chi for enhanced inpatient mobilization: A feasibility study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether utilizing beginner, video-guided tai chi and qigong classes as an adjunct to physical therapy to enhance mobilization among hospitalized patients is feasible and acceptable. DESIGN: Single-arm feasibility study over a 15½-week period. SETTING: Three medical-surgical units at one hospital. INTERVENTIONS: Small-group video-guided beginner-level tai chi and qigong classes supervised by physical therapists occurred three times a week. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was weekly class attendance. Secondary outcomes included patient and staff satisfaction, collected by surveys and semi-structured interviews. Process measures included class duration. Balancing measures included falls. RESULTS: One-hundred and fifty-seven patients were referred for recruitment, 45 gave informed consent, and 38 patients attended at least one class. The number of weekly class attendees increased during the study period. Based on first-class experience, 68% (26/38) of patients reported enjoying the class "quite a bit" or "extremely," 66% (25/38) of patients reported feeling "more mobile" afterward, and 76% (29/38) of patients agreed that the class made them more comfortable going home. Average class duration was 29 minutes. Zero falls occurred during or immediately following class. CONCLUSIONS: Video-guided tai chi and qigong classes are feasible and well-received at our hospital. Future studies of the impact on preserving mobility and function or reducing length of stay are of interest.

Measurement of apoptosis of intact human islets by confocal optical sectioning and stereologic analysis of YO-PRO-1-stained islets.

Apoptosis is an established pathway for islet cell demise. Current protocols for assessment of islet cell apoptosis are time-consuming (as with terminal deoxynucleotide transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling reaction) and involve disruption of the islet architecture (as with flow cytometry) or destruction of cell integrity (as with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The membranes of apoptotic cells, but not those of live cells, are permeant to the DNA-intercalant dye YO-PRO-1. We report a novel methodology for the rapid quantification of apoptosis of human islets: confocal laser optical sectioning and stereologic analysis of intact human islets stained with YO-PRO-1 and Hoechst 33342. The advantages include (1) rapid quantification of apoptosis without disrupting islet architecture and (2) identification of significant heterogeneity in the extent of apoptosis among islets from the same isolate. Confocal laser scanning microscopy microscopic imaging of YO-PRO-1-stained islets may advance investigation of islet cell apoptosis and help develop islet parameters predictive of posttransplant function.