Differential Target Multiplexed Spinal Cord Stimulation for the Treatment of Chronic Intractable Upper Limb Pain: 12-Month Results From a Prospective, Multicenter Study.

OBJECTIVES: This prospective, open-label, single-arm, multicenter study evaluated the use of differential target multiplexed (DTM) spinal cord stimulation (SCS) therapy for chronic upper limb pain (ULP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 58 candidates for SCS who had chronic ULP were enrolled at 11 sites in the USA. The safety and effectiveness of DTM SCS for treating chronic intractable ULP were evaluated over 12 months. The primary end point was the percentage of responders (≥50% ULP relief versus baseline) to treatment at three months after device activation. This study also evaluated the extent of disability, patient satisfaction, and patient global impression of change with DTM SCS therapy. RESULTS: The mean baseline pain score (10-cm visual analog scale [VAS-10]) for ULP was 7.2 cm, with a mean age of 56 years and mean ULP duration of ten years; 47 subjects were assessed at the primary end point. The percentage of ULP responders was 92% at three months, which was consistent at six (91%) and 12 months (86%). Significant ULP relief (81% reduction in VAS-10) was observed at the primary end point and sustained throughout the study duration. Significant improvements in disability in addition to high levels (>95%) of satisfaction and feelings of improvement were reported. Frequency of study-related anticipated adverse events was in line with expectations of SCS therapy. CONCLUSION: In this patient population with difficult-to-treat conditions with limited clinical evidence of the effectiveness of SCS, subjects reported significant reduction in chronic ULP in response to treatment with DTM SCS.

Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the cognitive functioning of patients institutionalized in nursing homes.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 disease affected the cognitive level of institutionalized patients in nursing homes, especially in the older subjects regardless of gender. This study aims to assess cognitive impairment using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) before and after COVID-19 infection, and to determine whether these changes varied based on gender. METHODS: A pre- and post-COVID-19 study was conducted, involving 68 geriatric patients (34 men and 34 women) from two nursing homes. Cognitive impairment was assessed using the MMSE. RESULTS: COVID-19 infection had a notable impact on the cognitive health of older adults residing in nursing homes, primarily attributed to the social isolation they experienced. This effect was more pronounced in older individuals. A comparison of the MMSE results by gender before and after contracting COVID-19 revealed significant differences in attention and calculation, with women obtaining the worst score before the virus. However, following their recovery from the virus, men demonstrated significantly lower scores in time and space orientation and evocation. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 has led to a decline in cognitive functioning, significantly worsening the mental state of older individuals, even after recovery from the virus. Consequently, it is crucial to implement proactive measures to prevent isolation and safeguard the cognitive well-being of this vulnerable population.

Effectiveness of simultaneous bilateral visual diaphragm biofeedback under low back pain: influence of age and sex.

Introduction: The aim of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of simultaneous bilateral visual diaphragm biofeedback (BFB) from ultrasonography in conjunction with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on diaphragmatic thickness during normal breathing and respiratory and clinical outcomes in patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) and determine the influence of age and sex. Methods: A single-blind randomized clinical trial was carried out (NCT04582812). A total sample of 96 patients with NSLBP was recruited and randomized by sex-based stratification into IMT (n = 48) and BFB + IMT (n = 48) interventions over 8 weeks. Bilateral diaphragmatic thickness at maximum inspiration (Tins) and expiration (Texp), respiratory pressures, lung function, pain intensity, bilateral pressure pain threshold (PPT), disability, and quality of life were measured at baseline and after 8 weeks. Results: The BFB + IMT group showed significant differences (p < 0.05) with increased left hemidiaphragm thickness at Tins and Tins-exp (d = 0.38-053), and right and left PPT (d = 0.71-0.74) versus the IMT group. The interaction with sex was statistically significant (p = 0.007; F(1,81) = 7.756; ηp 2 = 0.087) and higher left hemidiaphragm thickness at Tins was predicted by the BFB + IMT group (R 2 = 0.099; ß = 0.050; F(1,82) = 8.997; p = 0.004) and male sex (R 2 = 0.079; ß = 0.045; F(1,81) = 7.756;p = 0.007). Furthermore, greater left hemidiaphragm thickness at Tins-exp was predicted by younger age (R 2 = 0.052; ß = -0.001; F(1,82) = 4.540; p = 0.036). Discussion: The simultaneous bilateral visual diaphragm biofeedback by ultrasonography in conjunction with IMT was effective in both increasing the left diaphragmatic thickness during inspiration, which was positively influenced and predicted by male sex and younger age, and increasing the bilateral PPT of the paraspinal muscles in patients with NSLBP.

Insights into the pathophysiology and response of persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 to spinal cord stimulation: a human genome-wide association study.

BACKGROUND: Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) provides pain relief for some patients with persistent spinal pain syndrome type 2 (PSPS 2), but the precise mechanisms of action and prognostic factors for a favorable pain response remain obscure. This in vivo human genome-wide association study provides some pathophysiological clues. METHODS: We performed a high-density oligonucleotide microarray analysis of serum obtained from both PSPS 2 cases and pain-free controls who had undergone lower back spinal surgery at the study site. Using multivariate discriminant analysis, we tried to identify different expressions between mRNA transcripts from PSPS 2 patients relative to controls, SCS responders to non-responders, or SCS responders to themselves before starting SCS. Gene ontology enrichment analysis was used to identify the biological processes that best discriminate between the groups of clinical interest. RESULTS: Thirty PSPS 2 patients, of whom 23 responded to SCS, were evaluated together with 15 pain-free controls. We identified 11 significantly downregulated genes in serum of PSPS 2 patients compared with pain-free controls and two significantly downregulated genes once the SCS response became apparent. All were suggestive of enhanced inflammation, tissue repair mechanisms and proliferative responses among the former. We could not identify any gene differentiating patients who responded to SCS from those who did not respond. CONCLUSIONS: This study points out various biological processes that may underlie PSPS 2 pain and SCS therapeutic effects, including the modulation of neuroimmune response, inflammation and restorative processes.

Impact of Lymphedema on Foot-Health-Related Quality of Life: A Case-Control Investigation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the foot-health-related quality of life in individuals with versus without lower-limb lymphedema. METHODS: A case-control study was carried out in an academic clinic in Lisbon, Portugal. Eighty participants (40 controls and 40 with lymphedema) were included in the study. The researchers examined sociodemographic and clinical data and foot-health-related quality of life in both groups. In the group with lymphedema, lower-limb lymphedema was also characterized. RESULTS: Individuals with lower-limb lymphedema had significantly lower scores on all dimensions of the Foot Health Status Questionnaire in comparison with the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals with lower-limb lymphedema appear to have a poorer foot-health-related quality of life than the general population.

Moral Distress Healthcare Providers in Spain: Observational Study.

Objective: To evaluate the moral distress (MD)in health professionals of pediatric and adult units to show how the complexity of care in the pediatric field causes the professionals who carry out their activity in these units to present a higher level of moral distress and a worse climate ethical. Design: Observational study with health professionals who currently work in Spanish Hospitals. Methods: A 58-item questionnaire was electronically distributed which included sociodemographic and employment characteristics, the Spanish version of the Measure of Moral Unrest for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP-SPA) and the Hospital Ethical Climate Survey (HECS). Results: A total of 169 health professionals completed the questionnaire. The moral distress was significantly higher among nurses than among physicians and nursing assistant care technicians. Focusing on the type of unit, moral distress it was only significantly higher for those physicians treating adult patients compared to those treating pediatric patients. Regarding the total score of the HECS survey, the medical group shows higher scores compared to the nursing group. Conclusion: Statistically significant differences have been found only in the medical group that treats adult patients, presenting a higher level of moral unrests than the pediatrician group. The MMD-HP-SPA questionnaire is a valid and useful instrument to detect MD in our hospital units in order to be able to implement strategies/interventions that improve the ethical climate and other factors that can mitigate and prevent this MD.

European randomized controlled trial evaluating differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation and conventional medical management in subjects with persistent back pain ineligible for spine surgery: 24-month results.

BACKGROUND: Differential target multiplexed spinal cord stimulation (DTM SCS) was shown to be superior to conventional SCS for treating chronic low back pain (CLBP) in subjects with persistent spinal pain syndrome with previous spinal surgery (PSPS-T2) or ineligible for it (PSPS-T1). This study reports 24-month efficacy and safety of DTM SCS vs. conventional medical management (CMM) in PSPS-T1 subjects across four European countries. METHODS: This is a prospective, multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled trial with optional crossover. Subjects randomized 1:1 to DTM SCS or CMM. Primary endpoint was responder rate (% subjects reporting ≥50% CLBP relief) at 6 months. A superiority test compared responder rates between treatments. CLBP and leg pain levels, functional disability, quality of life (QoL), patient satisfaction and global impression of change were evaluated for 24 months. A Composite Responder Index (CRI) was obtained using CLBP relief, disability and QoL. Incidence of study-related adverse events evaluated safety. RESULTS: A total of 55 and 57 subjects were randomized to DTM SCS and CMM respectively. DTM SCS was superior, with CLBP responder rates ≥80% and CLBP relief >5.6 cm (>70% reduction) through the 24-month follow-up. Improvements with DTM SCS in other outcomes were sustained. The CRI was >80% for DTM SCS through 24 months. Opioid medication intake decreased in subjects treated with DTM SCS. Most patients treated with DTM SCS felt satisfied and improved at the end of the study. Safety was congruent with other studies. CONCLUSION: DTM SCS is efficacious and safe during 24 months for the treatment of CLBP and leg pain in PSPS-T1 patients ineligible for spine surgery. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This randomized controlled trial shows that Differential Target Multiplexed SCS (DTM SCS) is an effective and safe long-term treatment for PSPS type 1 patients suffering from axial low back pain with or without leg pain and who are ineligible for spinal surgery. Currently, CMM treatments are their only option and provide limited benefits. Besides superior pain relief, DTM SCS provides significant improvements in functional disability, quality of life, high levels of satisfaction and perceived impression of change.

A Secondary Analysis of Gender Respiratory Features for Ultrasonography Bilateral Diaphragm Thickness, Respiratory Pressures, and Pulmonary Function in Low Back Pain.

The aim of the present study was to determine the gender respiratory differences of bilateral diaphragm thickness, respiratory pressures, and pulmonary function in patients with low back pain (LBP). A sample of 90 participants with nonspecific LBP was recruited and matched paired by sex (45 women and 45 men). Respiratory outcomes included bilateral diaphragm thickness by ultrasonography, respiratory muscle strength by maximum inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressures, and pulmonary function by forced expiratory volume during 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV1/FVC spirometry parameters. The comparison of respiratory outcomes presented significant differences (p < 0.001), with a large effect size (d = 1.26-1.58) showing means differences (95% CI) for MIP of -32.26 (-42.99, -21.53) cm H2O, MEP of -50.66 (-64.08, -37.25) cm H2O, FEV1 of -0.92 (-1.18, -0.65) L, and FVC of -1.00 (-1.32, -0.69) L, with lower values for females versus males. Gender-based respiratory differences were presented for maximum respiratory pressures and pulmonary function in patients with nonspecific LBP. Women presented greater inspiratory and expiratory muscle weakness as well as worse lung function, although these differences were not linked to diaphragm thickness during normal breathing.

Impact of ankylosing spondylitis on foot health and quality of life: an observational case-control study.

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory, and autoimmune disease. This condition primarily affects the axial skeleton and presents direct foot involvement, such as Achilles enthesitis or plantar fascia involvement. Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of foot health on the quality of life of individuals with AS compared to a control group without AS. Materials and methods: A sample of 112 subjects was recruited, with a mean age of 46.80 ± 10.49 years, divided into two groups: 56 individuals with AS (cases) and 56 individuals without AS (controls). Demographic data were collected, and the scores obtained in the Foot Health Status Questionnaire domains were recorded. Results: Of the participants, 27.79% (N = 30) were men and 73.21% (N = 82) were women. The mean age in the group was 46.80 ± 10.49. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in the domains of foot function, foot pain, footwear, overall foot health, general health-related physical activity, and social capacity between the AS group and the control group. Conclusion: Individuals with AS exhibited a decreased quality of life, as indicated by their Foot Health Status Questionnaire scores.

Reliability and validity of the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) test for post-traumatic stress disorder in mental health nurses in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Here we report the reliability and test/re-test validity of a Castillan version of the PCL-5 (PCL5-C) in mental health nurses. METHODS: A sample of 52 consecutive nurses was recruited from two psychiatric hospitals and four psychiatrists units of general hospitals in Madrid, Spain. RESULTS: We detected high internal consistency for the study questionnaire at the test assessment (n = 52) and at retest 0.929 and 0.935, respectively, by total Cronbach's α. All of the items at test and re-test correlated with the total score. CONCLUSIONS: Reproducibility analysis showed excellent test/re-test reliability for the total score and each item. Based on our findings, we conclude that the PCL5-C is a valid and reliable questionnaire when applied among Spanish mental health nurses population.

Alcohol-Based Chlorhexidine and Potassium Sorbate Rub Strengthens the Effectiveness of Traditional Hand Scrubbing and Improves Long-Lasting Effectiveness-Evaluation of Hand Preparation Protocols According to EN 12791.

Despite the advantages of surgical handrub in terms of the ease of application and effectiveness, chlorhexidine (CHG)-based hand scrubbing remains the preferred method for surgical hand preparation. However, it does not systematically meet the non-inferiority requirement of the European norm (EN) 12791 with respect to n-propanol (the reference product) and does not provide the sustained efficacy expected for these long-lasting agents. Commercially available alcohol-based products have also failed to demonstrate sustained efficacy according to EN 12791. Multi-step protocols enhance the efficacy of hand scrubbing, yet their extended disinfection duration might diminish their allure for healthcare professionals. In this study, we show that hand scrubbing with CHG 4% followed by a 1 min rubbing with the novel formulation of ethanol (Et) 70%/CHG 3% plus 0.3% potassium sorbate food additive (PS) meets the non-inferiority requirement and demonstrates sustained efficacy when tested according to EN 12791. The immediate and 3 h effect of this protocol was significantly higher than that of n-propanol and the homologous disinfection protocol without PS (CHG 4% hand scrub plus Et 70%/CHG 3% rub), demonstrating that the inclusion of PS confers a notable residual effect. We speculate that this non-volatile ingredient acts synergistically with CHG. This promising combination represents an alternative method for the development of new disinfection strategies.

Targeted Nerve Root Stimulation Alleviates Intractable Chronic Limb Pain Associated with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome - A Prospective Multi-Center Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited therapeutic options to treat complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Spinal cord stimulation and dorsal root ganglion stimulation are proven therapies for treating chronic low limb pain in CRPS patients. There is limited evidence that stimulation of dorsal nerve roots can also provide relief of lower limb pain in these patients. OBJECTIVES: To demonstrate that electrical stimulation of dorsal nerve roots via epidural lead placement provides relief of chronic lower limb pain in patients suffering from CRPS. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, open label, single arm, multi-center study. SETTING: The study was performed at the Center for Interventional Pain and Spine (Exton, PA), Millennium Pain Center (Bloomington, IL), and the Carolinas Pain Center (Huntersville, NC). It was approved by the Western Institutional Review Board-Copernicus Group Institutional Review Board and is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03954080). METHODS: Sixteen patients with intractable chronic severe lower limb pain associated with CRPS were enrolled in the study. A standard trial period to evaluate a patients' response to stimulation of the dorsal nerve roots was conducted over 3 to 10-days. Patients that obtained 50% or greater pain relief during the trial period underwent permanent implantation of a neurostimulation system. The primary outcome was the evaluated pain level after 3 months of device activation, based on NRS pain score relative to baseline. Patients were followed up for 6 months after activation of the permanently implanted system. RESULTS: At the primary endpoint, patients reported a significant (P = 0.0006) reduction in pain of 3.3 points, improvement in quality of life, improved neuropathic pain characteristics, improved satisfaction, and an overall perception of improvement with the therapy. Improvements were sustained throughout the duration of the study up to the final 6-month visit. LIMITATIONS: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic occurring during patient enrollment, only 16 patients were enrolled and trialed, with 12 being permanently implanted. Nine were able to complete the end of study evaluation at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this short feasibility study confirm the functionality, effectiveness, and safety of intraspinal stimulation of dorsal nerve roots in patients with intractable chronic lower limb pain due to CRPS using commercially approved systems and conventional parameters.

The relationship of kinesiophobia in patients with lymphedema: a case-control investigation.

Introduction: Kinesiophobia and lymphedema appear to be related conditions, and it is important to understand this relationship, as many of the symptoms and comorbidities presented by individuals with lower limb lymphedema are prevented and treated through movement, thus constituting kinesiophobia as a barrier to intervention. The objective of this study is, therefore, to evaluate and analyze the kinesiophobic beliefs reported by individuals with and without lower limb lymphedema, regarding the agreement, severity and differences found, and to establish levels of kinesiophobia. Methods: A case-control study with a total sample of 80 participants (40 with lower limb lymphedema and 40 without) was performed. Both groups (with and without lymphedema) were characterized anthropologically, sociodemographically, and clinically. In the case group, lymphedema was evaluated. Participants in both groups completed the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia - 13 items (TSK-13). Results: Individuals with lower limb lymphedema had higher TSK-13 scores than their matched group without lymphedema. The items belonging to the activity avoidance subscale had the highest agreement and score in both groups. Differences between groups were mainly established for items belonging to the somatic focus subscale, showing that individuals with lower limb lymphedema have kinesiophobic beliefs related to the perceived severity of their lymphedema. The prevalence of kinesiophobia was increased in both groups, but the severity was mild. Conclusions: Considering the apparent tendency of people with lower limb lymphedema to present kinesiophobia and movement-limiting beliefs regarding the condition, greater attention should be paid to its assessment, prevention and treatment from a multidisciplinary and multimodal perspective, which takes into account the multiplicity of factors inherent to kinesiophobia and lymphedema and thus reduce their impact on the management of lymphedema.

Influence of quality of life related to perceived foot health between in a rural an urban population: A case-control research.

Foot problems are very common in the community. Studies indicate that between 18% and 63% of people have foot pain or stiffness and that foot problems have a large impact on people's functional decline and a significant detrimental impact on measures of quality of life related to health. The general objective of this research was to compare foot health in people from the rural population compared to people from the urban population and its relationship with quality of life. A case-control descriptive study was developed with a sample of 304 patients, 152 patients from the rural population and 152 patients from the urban population. Quality of life was measured through the SF-36 Health Questionnaire in its Spanish version. The rural population group had a mean age of 46.67 ± 13.69 and the urban population group 49.02 ± 18.29. Regarding the score of the lowest levels of quality of life related to foot problems, the rural population group compared to the urban population group showed: for body pain (52.21 ± 30.71 vs. 67.80 ± 25.28, p < 0.001); and for mental health (69.58 ± 18.98 vs. 64.60 ± 14.88, p < 0.006). Differences between groups were analysed using Student's t-test for independent samples, which showed statistical significance (p < 0.05). This research offers evidence that the rural population presents better levels of mental health and lower levels of bodily pain in the domains of the SF-36 Health Questionnaire comparing with the urban population.

Strengthening the relationship between intractable plantar keratosis and human papillomavirus.

The aim of the study was to determine the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) in patients with intractable plantar keratosis (IPK) by comparing the histopathological findings of biopsies. A prospective, observational, and concordance study was carried out. Three different specimens were taken from each IPK. A first punch was sent for histopathological examination, and a second punch and a superficial skin scraping were both sent for HPV  polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and type determination. A total of 51 patients were included. From the histopathological examination, it was determined that 35 (68.6%) samples were diagnosed as warts and 16 (31.3%) as keratosis. However, the presence of HPV was confirmed by PCR in 49 (96.1%) and in 42 (82.4%) samples obtained by punch and superficial scraping, respectively. In the 49 PCR-positive samples, the most common HPV types were HPV1, HPV2, HPV27, HPV57, and HPV65, accounting for 81.6% of the samples. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that HPV infection and IPK lesions are very closely related. Although we cannot confirm that HPV is the cause of the development of IPK, the high prevalence of HPV observed in these lesions calls for a change to the procedures for managing IPK.

Skin Bioimpedance Analysis to Determine Cellular Integrity by Phase Angle in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Oxidative stress has been proposed as a significant part of the pathogenesis of fibromyalgia, and the phase angle in bioelectrical impedance analysis has been explored as a potential technique to screen oxidative abnormalities. This study recruited 35 women with fibromyalgia and 35 healthy women, who underwent bioelectrical impedance analysis and maximum isometric handgrip strength tests. Women with fibromyalgia showed lower bilateral handgrip strength (right hand: 16.39 ± 5.87 vs. 27.53 ± 4.09, p < 0.001; left hand: 16.31 ± 5.51 vs. 27.61 ± 4.14, p < 0.001), as well as higher body fat mass (27.14 ± 10.21 vs. 19.94 ± 7.25, p = 0.002), body fat percentage (37.80 ± 8.32 vs. 30.63 ± 7.77, p < 0.001), and visceral fat area (136.76 ± 55.31 vs. 91.65 ± 42.04, p < 0.01) compared with healthy women. There was no statistically significant difference in muscle mass between groups, but women with fibromyalgia showed lower phase angles in all body regions when compared with healthy control women (right arm: 4.42 ± 0.51 vs. 4.97 ± 0.48, p < 0.01; left arm: 4.23 ± 0.48 vs. 4.78 ± 0.50, p < 0.001; trunk: 5.62 ± 0.77 vs. 6.78 ± 0.84, p < 0.001; right leg: 5.28 ± 0.56 vs. 5.81 ± 0.60, p < 0.001; left leg: 5.07 ± 0.51 vs. 5.69 ± 0.58, p < 0.001; whole body: 4.81 ± 0.47 vs. 5.39 ± 0.49, p < 0.001). Moreover, whole-body phase-angle reduction was only predicted by the presence of fibromyalgia (R2 = 0.264; ß = 0.639; F(1,68) = 24.411; p < 0.001). Our study revealed significantly lower phase angle values, lower handgrip strength, and higher fat levels in women with fibromyalgia compared to healthy controls, which are data of clinical relevance when dealing with such patients.

Ultrasonographic reliability and repeatability of simultaneous bilateral assessment of diaphragm muscle thickness during normal breathing.

Background: The diaphragm is considered the main muscle involved in breathing and also linked to trunk stabilization functions. Up to date, rehabilitative ultrasound imaging (RUSI) has been the most used technique to evaluate unilaterally the transcostal diaphragm thickness. Nevertheless, the inspiratory activity of both hemi-diaphragms is bilaterally performed at the same time, and its simultaneous evaluation with a thoracic orthosis could improve its assessment as well as its re-education with visual biofeedback of both hemi-diaphragms at the same time. The purpose was to evaluate the reliability and repeatability of simultaneous thickness measurements of both hemi-diaphragms bilaterally during normal breathing using a thoracic orthosis that allowed bilateral fixation of both right and left ultrasound probes. Methods: The study was conducted in 46 healthy subjects, whose diaphragm thickness was measured bilaterally and simultaneously in the anterior axillary line during relaxed breathing with a designed thoracic orthosis and 2 ultrasound tools. Intra-examiner (same examiner), inter-examiner (2 examiners), intra-session (1 hour) and inter-session (1 week) reliability and repeatability between each pair of measurements of diaphragm muscle thickness were analyzed during normal breathing. Results: Reliability and repeatability for intra-session evaluations using the thoracic orthosis were excellent to evaluate simultaneous thickness of both hemi-diaphragms by bilateral probes fixation (intraclass correlation coefficient =0.919-0.997; standard error of measurement =0.002-0.007 cm; minimum detectable change =0.006-0.020 cm), without systematic errors (P>0.05) between each pair of measurements. Nevertheless, inter-session evaluations varied from good to excellent using the bilateral probes fixation (intraclass correlation coefficient =0.614-0.984; standard error of measurement =0.006-0.028 cm; minimum detectable change =0.017-0.079 cm), although some systematic errors were presented (P<0.05). Conclusions: Good to excellent reliability and repeatability was shown for simultaneous thickness measurements of both hemi-diaphragms bilaterally during normal breathing. Despite systematic errors were presented for some inter-examiner assessments, the use of the thoracic orthosis that allowed bilateral fixation of ultrasound probes could be recommended for simultaneous hemi-diaphragms breathing re-education by visual biofeedback.

Orthopaedic Simulation of a Morton's Extension to Test the Effect on Plantar Pressures of Each Metatarsal Head in Patients without Deformity: A Pre-Post-Test Study.

BACKGROUND: the area beneath the metatarsal heads is a common location of foot pain, which is often associated with high plantar pressures. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the application of a Morton's extension on the pressure in the metatarsal bones of the foot using a pressure platform. METHODS: twenty-five subjects without musculoskeletal pathology were selected for this study, and an experiment was conducted with them as the subjects, before and after application of a Morton's extension. The foot regions were divided into the forefoot (transversely subdivided into six areas corresponding to the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth metatarsal heads, and the hallux), midfoot, and rearfoot, and then the maximum and average pressures exerted at each region were measured before and after placing a Morton's extension. MAIN FINDINGS: we found a pressure reduction, with a p-value less than (p < 0.05), in the head of the second and third metatarsals in statics and dynamics. CONCLUSIONS: we can conclude that the Morton's extension produces a variation in plantar pressures on the lesser metatarsals. The application of a Morton's extension may be beneficial for the management of forefoot pathology. This study will help clinicians consider various tools to treat forefoot disorders. NCT05879094 (ClinicalTrial.gov (accessed on 18 May 2023)).

Comparison between virtual and hybrid education for psychological factors and academic stress in freshman nursing students: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has prompted several changes in the learning methods of students. The purpose of this study was to establish whether a relationship between levels of resilience, self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and academic stress in both hybrid and virtual learning education exist. METHODS: A descriptive and observational case-control study was carried out in universities that offer nursing designation. A total sample of 140 freshman nursing students was recruited. Concretely, 70 participants were recruited from an university receiving hybrid education and 70 participants were recruited from another university receiving virtual learning education. Nursing students self-reported the following questionnaires: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem scale, the 10 CD-Risk Connor-Davidson Risk Resilience Scale, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory and the Academic Stress Coping Scale. RESULTS: Significant differences (P = 0.001) showed higher depression levels for students who received virtual education versus received hybrid education. Differences in Rosenberg test for self-esteem and Beck Anxiety Inventory for anxiety (P > 0.05) were not found. CONCLUSION: Students who received online education presented higher depression levels which could be due to they had not face-to-face relationships with teachers or classmates, whereas the hybrid education group received a different type of direct interaction with teachers and peers.

Experiences of Patient Bigotry Among Doctor of Audiology Graduate Clinicians: A Review and Recommendations.

PURPOSE: Students in audiology clinical doctorate programs in the United States are required to participate in direct patient care under the supervision of a licensed precepting audiologist during their schooling. Audiology student clinicians commonly rotate through a variety of clinical settings with their own organizational structure, policies, and precepting clinicians. Systemic prejudice and stigma cause many of these student clinicians to experience bigotry from the patients they work with. METHOD: This review discusses the populations of audiology students at highest risk of patient bigotry and discusses the intersectionality of students with several historically marginalized identities. RESULTS: Little scholarship exists in the field of audiology on the bigotry that graduate student clinicians experience. The effects of bigotry are reviewed, and practical guidance on preparing for and responding to bigotry from patients is provided. CONCLUSIONS: As health care workers, these students are essential workers contributing to the health and health care of the population, making their well-being a critical public health concern. Bigotry from others has been shown to contribute to mental illness, burnout, and poorer physical health among the people experiencing it.