Evaluation of the effectiveness of home based or hospital based calisthenic exercises in patients with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of calisthenic exercises on balance, walking speed, fatigue, quality of life, and psychological status in patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty patients diagnosed with MS were randomized into two exercise groups (group 1 = hospital-based, group 2 = home-based). Outcome measures including the MS International Quality of Life Scale, 10-meter walking test, Berg Balance Scale, Fatigue Severity Scale and the Hospital Anxiety Depression Inventory were assessed at the baseline and at 12-weeks. RESULTS: Thirty-six participants completed the exercise programme (hospital based = 16, home based = 20). The mean age was 32.83 ± 3.64 years. The mean duration of disease was 6.97 ± 3.15 years. Hospital-based and home-based exercise groups had significant improvements in the balance, 10-meter walking test, anxiety, and the quality of life after the 12-week exercise programme. There was a significant improvement in the hospital-based patients in terms of the depression scores. No significant improvement was observed in terms of fatigue in any of the groups. When both groups were compared, the improvement in the balance and depression scores of the hospital-based patients was significantly higher than the home-based patients. CONCLUSIONS: Calisthenic exercises can be easily performed both at home and in hospital setting. In patients with MS, calisthenic exercises performed at home or at the hospital may improve the balance, quality of life, and the functional and psychological status, while no significant effect has been observed on fatigue.

Assessment of ischaemia-modified albumin level in patients with psoriasis.

BACKGROUND: Ischaemia-modified albumin (IMA) is increased in diseases associated with oxidative stress, as detected using the albumin cobalt-binding test. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of psoriasis. AIM: To investigate circulating IMA levels in patients with psoriasis and its association with the disease characteristics. METHODS: Serum IMA and albumin concentrations were evaluated in 26 patients with psoriasis and 26 healthy controls matched for age, gender and body mass index. Levels of albumin, IMA and adjusted IMA were compared between the groups. RESULTS: IMA and adjusted IMA were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis [0.55 ± 0.04 and 0.54 ± 0.05 absorbance units (ABSU), respectively] than in healthy controls (0.38 ± 0.04 and 0.38 ± 0.05 ABSU, respectively). The two groups had similar albumin levels, but there was a negative correlation between IMA and albumin levels in patients with psoriasis. IMA did not correlate with any disease characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: IMA levels are higher in patients with psoriasis than in healthy controls. IMA might be produced through an adaptive response to chronic hypoxia and oxidative stress, which might play a role in the systemic inflammation seen in psoriasis.

Hand and nickel-titanium root canal instrumentation performed by dental students: a micro-computed tomographic study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate root canals instrumented by dental students using the modified double-flared technique, nickel-titanium (NiTi) rotary System GT files and NiTi rotary ProTaper files by micro-computed tomography (MCT). A total of 36 root canals from 18 mesial roots of mandibular molar teeth were prepared; 12 canals were prepared with the modified double-flared technique, using K-flexofiles and Gates-Glidden burs; 12 canals were prepared using System GT and 12 using ProTaper rotary files. Each root was scanned using MCT preoperatively and postoperatively. At the coronal and mid-root sections, System GT and ProTaper files produced significantly less enlarged canal cross-sectional area, volume and perimeter than the modified double-flared technique (P < 0.05). In the mid-root sections there was significantly less thinning of the root structure towards the furcation with System GT and ProTaper (P < 0.05). The rotary techniques were both three times faster than the modified double-flared technique (P < 0.05). Qualitative evaluation of the preparations showed that both ProTaper and System GT were able to prepare root canals with little or no procedural error compared with the modified double-flared technique. Under the conditions of this study, inexperienced dental students were able to prepare curved root canals with rotary files with greater preservation of tooth structure, low risk of procedural errors and much quicker than with hand instruments.