Eyeblink startle responses in spider phobies before and after treatment: A pilot study

1991 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 213-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter J. de Jong ◽  
Harald Merckelbach ◽  
Arnoud Arntz
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Eyeblink Startle

A pilot study on the effect of ulipristal acetate on myoma angiogenesis, measured by 2D ultrasound and VEGF serum levels

2020 ◽  
pp. 19-29
Author(s):  
Patricia Diaz Ortega ◽  
Manuel García Manero
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Power Doppler ◽  
Uterine Fibroids ◽  
Premenopausal Women ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Ulipristal Acetate ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Angiogenesis Process ◽  
2D Ultrasound ◽  
Average Size

Introduction: Symptomatic uterine fibroids can cause symptoms that can be disabling. There are many treatments, including ulipristal acetate, whose role in reducing symptoms and decreasing the size of the fibroid is well known. With this preliminary study, we also try to evaluate the correlation between myoma vascularization measured by ultrasound (Power Doppler 2D) and serum VEGF levels, before and after treatment with ulipristal acetate; in patients diagnosed with symptomatic uterine fibroids. Materials and Methods: A preliminary, prospective observational pilot study was designed. Twenty-four premenopausal women, diagnosed with symptomatic uterine fibroids, were included and all of them completed the study. Four cycles of ulipristal acetate were administered according to the dose and indications specified in the data sheet. In order to assess the influence of this treatment on the angiogenesis process of the fibroids, measurements of VEGF serum levels were made and their vascularization was assessed by means of 2D power doppler ultrasound; at the beginning and the end of treatment. In addition, several determinations of the same parameters were made throughout the successive visits. Endpoints were defined as the decrease in VEGF levels from previous levels, the decrease in myoma vascularization on ultrasound, and the reduction in myoma size. Result: 24 patients who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled (n=24). The average size of myomas was reduced from 45,08 ? 24,02mm to 29?16,96mm after treatment. The average VEGF serum level significantly decreased after the first treatment cycle (from 147,17 ? 153,51 pg/ml to 102,04 ? 186,08pg/ml). Vascularization of myomas after treatment with ulipristal acetate was analyzed, and a significantly decrease was achieved in 83,3% of cases. Conclusion: There is a correlation between myoma vascularization and treatment with Ulipristal acetate. SPRMs may provide effective treatment for women with symptomatic fibroids by two ways: supports selective progesterone receptor modulators and reduced angiogenesis. Keywords: Angiogenesis; Ulipristal Acetate; Uterine fibroids; VEGF

scholarly journals THU0642-HPR EVOLUTION OF THE PERCEPTIONS OF RA PATIENTS AFTER EDUCATION PATIENT SESSION TEACHING METHOTREXATE SELF-INJECTION A PROSPECTIVE PILOT STUDY

2020 ◽  
Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 566.1-566
Author(s):  
S. Afilal ◽  
H. Rkain ◽  
B. Berchane ◽  
J. Moulay Berkchi ◽  
S. Fellous ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Median Duration ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Education Session ◽  
Prospective Pilot Study ◽  
Mean Delay ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Before And After

Background:Methotrexate is a gold standard for treatment of RA. In our context, RA patients prefer to be injected by paramedics rather than self-injecting. This can be explained by patients’ bad perceptions of self-injection or lack of information. Appropriate self-injection education can therefore be an important element in overcoming these obstacles and improving disease self-management.Objectives:Compare the RA patients’ perceptions on methotrexate self-injection before and after a patient education session.Methods:Prospective pilot study that included 27 consecutive patients (81.5% female, mean age 44.4 years, illiteracy rate 40.7%) with RA (median duration of progression of 4 years, mean delay in referral for specialist of 6 months, median duration of methotrexate use of 1 year). The patients benefited from an individual patient education session to learn how to self-inject with methotrexate subcutaneously. The patient education session was supervised by a nurse and a rheumatologist with a control a week later. Perceptions of the reluctance to self-inject and the difficulties encountered by patients were assessed before the patient education session, after the 1st and 2nd self-injection of methotrexate using a 10 mm visual analog scale. Patients also reported their level of satisfaction (10 mm VAS) after the 1st and 2nd self-injection.Results:The mean duration of patient education session is 13 min.Table I compares the evolution of the degrees of reluctance to self-injection, the difficulties encountered, and the satisfaction experienced by the patients.Table 1.Evolution of RA patients’ perceptions on the methotrexate self-injection. (N = 27)BeforeAfter the 1stself-injectionAfter the 2end self-injectionpVAS reluctance (0-10mm)6,5 ± 3,62,2 ± 2,91,0 ± 2,3<0,0001VAS difficulty (0-10mm)7,5 ± 2,62,5 ± 2,71,0 ± 1,9<0,0001VAS satisfaction (0-10mm)-8,9 ± 1,89,5 ± 1,50,002Conclusion:This study suggests the effectiveness of a methotrexate self-injection patient education session in RA patients. It also highlights the value of patient education in rheumatologic care. A large-scale study is necessary to better interpret and complete these preliminary results from this pilot study.Disclosure of Interests:None declared

scholarly journals Plasma Exosomal miRNA Levels after Radiotherapy Are Associated with Early Progression and Metastasis of Cervical Cancer: A Pilot Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 2110
Author(s):  
Oyeon Cho ◽  
Do-Wan Kim ◽  
Jae-Youn Cheong
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Exosomal Mirnas ◽  
Early Progression ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Microenvironmental Factors ◽  
Exosomal Mirna

Plasma exosomal miRNAs are key regulators of cell-cell interactions associated with several biological functions in patients with cancer. This pilot study aimed to investigate the log2 fold change (log2FC) of the expression of exosomal miRNAs and related mRNAs in the blood of patients with cervical cancer to identify prognostic markers better than those currently available. We sequenced plasma exosomal RNA from 56 blood samples collected from 28 patients with cervical cancer, who had been treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Changes in the expression of miRNAs and mRNAs before and after CCRT were represented as log2FC. Their biological functions were studied by miRNA-mRNA network analysis, using ingenuity pathway analysis, after the selection of two groups of miRNAs, each associated with early progression (EP) and metastasis, also described as initial stage. Seven patients experienced EP, three of whom died within four months after progression. Reduced levels of miR-1228-5p, miR-33a-5p, miR-3200-3p, and miR-6815-5p and increased levels of miR-146a-3p in patients with EP revealed unresolved inflammation, with accompanying increased expression of PCK1 and decreased expression of FCGR1A. Increased levels of miR-605-5p, miR-6791-5p, miR-6780a-5p, and miR-6826-5p and decreased levels of miR-16-1-3p (or 15a-3p) were associated with the degree of metastasis and led to the systemic activation of myeloid, endothelial, and epithelial cells, as well as neurons, phagocytes, and platelets. Log2FCs in the expression of miRNAs and mRNAs from plasma exosomes after CCRT are associated with EP and metastasis, reflecting unresolved inflammation and systemic microenvironmental factors, respectively. However, this study, supported by preliminary data insufficient to reach clear conclusions, should be verified in larger prospective cohorts.

scholarly journals Gamma entrainment frequency affects mood, memory and cognition: an exploratory pilot study

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan L. S. Sharpe ◽  
Mufti Mahmud ◽  
M. Shamim Kaiser ◽  
Jianhui Chen
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Correlation Analysis ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Assessment Scores ◽  
Frequency Group ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Mood Score ◽  
40 Hz

AbstractHere we provide evidence with an exploratory pilot study that through the use of a Gamma 40 Hz entrainment frequency, mood, memory and cognition can be improved with respect to a 9-participant cohort. Participants constituted towards three binaural entrainment frequency groups: the 40 Hz, 25 Hz and 100 Hz. Participants attended a total of eight entrainment frequency sessions twice over the duration of a 4-week period. Additionally, participants were assessed based on their cognitive abilities, mood as well as memory, where the cognitive and memory assessments occurred before and after a 5-min binaural beat stimulation. The mood assessment scores were collected from sessions 1, 4 and 8, respectively. With respect to the Gamma 40 Hz entrainment frequency population, we observed a mean improvement in cognitive scores, elevating from 75% average to 85% average upon conclusion of the experimentation at weak statistical significance ($$\alpha$$ α = 0.10, p = 0.076). Similarly, memory score improvements at a greater significance ($$\alpha$$ α = 0.05, p = 0.0027) were noted, elevating from an average of 87% to 95%. In pertinence to the mood scores, a negative correlation across all populations were noted, inferring an overall increase in mood due to lower scores correlating with elevated mood. Finally, correlation analysis revealed a stronger R$$^2$$ 2 value (0.9838) within the 40 Hz group between sessions as well as mood score when compared across the entire frequency group cohort.

Serum testosterone and testicular hemodynamics before and after infection with SARS-COV-2 (pilot study)

Urologiia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5_2021 ◽  
pp. 5-9
Author(s):  
Kh.S. Ibishev Ibishev ◽  
E.A. Mamedov Mamedov ◽  
Z.R. Gusova Gusova ◽  
A.I. Palenyy Palenyy ◽  
Y.O. Prokop Prokop ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Serum Testosterone ◽  
Before And After

scholarly journals Sleep Quality and Levodopa Intestinal Gel Infusion in Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Oriol De Fabregues ◽  
Alex Ferré ◽  
Odile Romero ◽  
Manuel Quintana ◽  
José Álvarez-Sabin
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Rem Sleep ◽  
Rating Scale ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Periodic Leg Movements ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale

Background. Sleep problems in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease (PD) have a deleterious impact on quality of life. Objective. To assess the effect of levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) infusion on sleep quality in advanced PD patients. Methods. Seven patients participated in a prospective pilot study. Before and after 6 months of LCIG infusion, an overnight polysomnography was performed and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, fatigue scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale were administered. Results. PSG showed low sleep efficiency. REM sleep without atony was found in 5 patients. After 6 months of LCIG infusion, the percentage of REM sleep decreased as well as the number of arousals especially due to reduction of spontaneous arousals and periodic leg movements during REM sleep, but differences were not statistically significant. Also, scores of all study questionnaires showed a tendency to improve. Conclusion. The results show a trend toward an improvement of sleep quality after 6 months of LCIG infusion, although differences as compared to pretreatment values were not statistically significant. The sleep architecture was not modified by LCIG. Further studies with larger study samples are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.

A Pilot Study of the Mechanism of Action of Desipramine

1981 ◽  
Vol 138 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-251 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Checkley ◽  
A. P. Slade ◽  
E. Shur ◽  
S. Dawling
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mechanism Of Action ◽  
Depressed Patients ◽  
Sedative Effects ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Hormone Responses

SummaryTo test the hypothesis that desipramine alters α adrenoceptor function in depressed patients, the effects of clonidine upon growth hormone sedation and blood pressure have been measured in depressed patients before and after treatment with desipramine. After three weeks of treatment the hypotensive and sedative effects of clonidine were inhibited in all patients even though plasma desipramine concentrations at this time varied from 42 to 560 μg/l. Growth hormone responses to clonidine were enhanced in five of the six patients but this effect was not statistically significant. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that in these patients desipramine altered α adrenoceptor function: other explanations are discussed.

scholarly journals Pilot Study Efektifitas Media Video Animasi Terhadap Tingkat Depresi Pasien Kanker Serviks Diagnosa Awal

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwi Fitriyanti ◽  
Mardiyono Mardiyono ◽  
Yuriz Bakhtiar
Keyword(s):  
Cervical Cancer ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Initial Diagnosis ◽  
Rank Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
The World ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Wilcoxon Sign Rank ◽  
Depression Level

Cervical cancer is the cancer that most often attacks women after breastcancer throughout the world. Around the world every two minutes or everyhour a woman dies from cervical cancer. Every patient newly diagnosed withcervical cancer needs to know information about cervical cancer that canaffect the patient's psychological changes in the form of depression. Thepurpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of education withanimation media to reduce the depression level of cervical cancer patientswith early diagnosis. The method of this research is a pilot study(preliminary study) or testing the feasibility of animation video media on thelevel of depression. Respondent samples in the animated video media trialincluded 10 intervention samples and 10 control samples. The results of theanimation video media research are feasible to be used in subsequent studiesin cervical cancer patients with an initial diagnosis of depression. Dataanalysis using the Wilcoxon Sign Rank Test showed that there was asignificant difference in the level of depression before and after being giveneducation using the animation video media in the intervention group with avalue of p = 0.005 while in the control group with a value p = 0.102. Theconclusion of this study is that the animation video media is feasible to beused in subsequent studies and can effectively be given to cervical cancerpatients with an initial diagnosis of depression.

scholarly journals Efficacy of “Oil Pulling” on Gingival Health and Biofilm Accumulation in a Group of Young Adults: A Pilot Study

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 113-117
Author(s):  
Sara Rayner ◽  
Trislyn Herrick ◽  
Christina Chiesa
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Oral Hygiene ◽  
Dental Students ◽  
Sesame Oil ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Gingival Bleeding ◽  
Gingival Health ◽  
Before And After

ABSTRACT Aims The aim of this pilot study was to assess changes in gingival bleeding and biofilm accumulation in young adults undergoing oil-pulling treatment together with standardized oral hygiene practices, compared to a control group of patients that did not undergo oil pulling but maintained the standard oral hygiene practices outlined in the study. Materials and methods The experiment was designed as a randomized, two-way, single-blind, crossover with a 2-month washout period between two, 10-day experimental periods. A total of 28, randomly selected dental students who met the inclusion criteria were assessed for gingival bleeding and biofilm on six teeth before and after rinsing with sesame oil for 10 minutes per day, for a period of 10 days. The mean difference between the test and control group's reduction in scores was analyzed using the paired t-test. The level of significance was set at ? (alpha) = 0.05. Results There were no statistically significant differences on plaque biofilm accumulation and bleeding when compared with the control group. There was a higher reduction in gingival bleeding scores (albeit not statistically significant) among those who used sesame oil compared to those who did not. Conclusion Based on the current study, it appears that oil pulling for 10 minutes and for a period of 10 days using sesame oil has no significant benefit over brushing and flossing alone, on a sample of 28 dental students. How to cite this article Rayner S, Herrick T, Chiesa C, Hoover J, Karunanayake C. Efficacy of “Oil Pulling” on Gingival Health and Biofilm Accumulation in a Group of Young Adults: A Pilot Study. Int J Experiment Dent Sci 2016;5(2):113-117.

scholarly journals A Pilot Study on Efficacy of Vishakalpa (Shwetra lepa) in Shwetra (Vitiligo)

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 747-753
Author(s):  
Akhilesh Deshmukh ◽  
Nilima Wadnerwar ◽  
Apurva Gaikwad
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Social Stigma ◽  
The Body ◽  
Local Application ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Marital Problems ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Potent Drug ◽  
Minimal Reduction ◽  
Shape And Size

Shwetra (Vitiligo) is a skin disease which takes longer time to cure. It affects the external beauty of the body causing social stigma, shyness, loss of confidence, fear of comments marital problems, etc. The disease needs repeated shodhana and regular internal and external shaman chikitsa for longer duration. Objectives: To study the efficacy of Vishakalpa (Shwetra lepa) alone in the management of Shwetra and to provide a potent drug for sure and quick relief from Shwetra (vitiligo), this pilot study was carried out. Material and methods: Shwetra lepa was prepared and used as local application in 15 patients having newly diagnosed patches of vitiligo. The changes in shape, size and number of patches and VETI score was assessed before and after treatment. The data was analyzed with the help of parametric and non parametric tests. Results: Though there was no significant change in VETI score, minimal reduction in shape and size of patches, daha and kandu was observed with Shwetra lepa vati. Conclusion: One month study duration for local application of Shwetra lepa vati and sample size was found to be insufficient to prove the efficacy of Shwetra lepa. Hence it is recommended that Shwetra lepa should be used alone for longer period up to 6 to 9 months or it can be used along with repeated shodhana and continuous shamana chikitsa for 2 to 6 months for effective results.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document