Usefulness of postural sway spectral analysis in the diagnostic route and clinical integration of cervicogenic and vestibular sources of dizziness: A cross-sectional preliminary study

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Alessandro Micarelli ◽  
Andrea Viziano ◽  
Beatrice Micarelli ◽  
Di Fulvio Giulia ◽  
Marco Alessandrini
Keyword(s):  
Postural Sway ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Power Spectra ◽  
Head Impulse Test ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Cervicogenic Dizziness

BACKGROUND: Posturography power spectra (PS) implementation has been proven to discriminate between sensory inputs detriment of vestibular and proprioceptive origin. OBJECTIVE: To deepen the role of posturography testing in the diagnostic route of dizzy conditions, by comparing two groups of patients –93 affected by cervicogenic dizziness (CGD) and 72 by unilateral vestibular hypofunction (UVH) –with a group of 98 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects, serving as control group (CON). METHODS: All participants underwent otoneurological testing including video head impulse test (vHIT) and posturography testing with PS analysis. They also filled in Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI), Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires. RESULTS: UVH and CGD patients were found to have significant increase in vestibular- and proprioceptive-related PS values when compared with CON. Receiver operating characteristic curves found PS values to reliably discriminate both groups from CON. Positive and negative correlations were respectively found between vestibular-/proprioceptive-related PS domain and DHI in both groups and between PS and vHIT scores in UVH patients. CONCLUSIONS: PS analysis demonstrated to be useful in differentiating CGD and UVH patients each other and when compared to CON, to objectively represent perceived symptoms filled along the DHI scale and to corroborate the rate of vestibular deficit in UVH patients.

scholarly journals Arousability, Personality, and Decision-Making Ability in Dissociative Disorder

2021 ◽  
pp. 025371762098155
Author(s):  
Doyel Ghosh ◽  
Pritha Mukhopadhyay ◽  
Ishani Chatterjee ◽  
Prasanta Kumar Roy
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Iowa Gambling Task ◽  
Psychiatric Patients ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Reaction Time Task ◽  
Conversion Disorder ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Personality Disposition

Background: There is a gap in understanding the pathogenesis of dissociative conversion disorder (DCD), despite the disorder having a strong historical root. The role of personality and neurocognitive factors are now highlighted; however, inconsistencies are reported. This study explores the personality disposition, arousability, and decision-making ability of patients with DCD, in reference to a healthy control group (HCG). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the sample comprised ten adult psychiatric patients with DCD. Ten participants of the HCG were matched according to age, gender, education, economic status, domicile, religious background, and handedness. The study assessed personality disposition with Temperament and Character Inventory, arousability with reaction time task, and decision-making ability with the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT PEBL version). Results: The DCD group differed significantly on personality disposition related to both temperament and character. There was also evidence of easy arousability and frustration along with deficit in executive function related to decision-making ability. Conclusion: This study highlights the presence of both temperamental and characterological factors associated with DCD. Moreover, this study identifies the role of cognitive arousability and decision-making or feedback utilization ability in the psychopathology of DCD.

scholarly journals The effects of COVID-19 fear and anxiety on symptom severity, sleep quality, and mood in patients with fibromyalgia: a pilot study

2021 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Damla Cankurtaran ◽  
Nihal Tezel ◽  
Buse Ercan ◽  
Sadik Yigit Yildiz ◽  
Ece Unlu Akyuz
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Psychological Stress ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fear And Anxiety

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals faced psychological stress caused by fear and anxiety due to the high transmission and mortality rate of the disease, the social isolation, economic problems, and difficulties in reaching health services. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic centralized pain sensitivity disorder. Psychological, physical and/or autoimmune stressors were found to increase FM symptoms. This pilot study aimed to evaluate the COVID-19 fear and anxiety level, and to examine their effect on disease severity, sleep quality, and mood in FM patients compared to control group. Methods This pilot study conducted as a cross-sectional study, and included 62 participants. Participants were divided into two groups: FM patient group (n = 31) and control group (n = 31). Symptom severity, sleep quality, and mood were determined using the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), Pitsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), respectively. In order to evaluate the level of COVID-19 fear and anxiety, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) and Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were used compared to control group. Results FIQR, PSQI, HAD-A, HAD-D, FCV-19S and CAS scores were significantly higher in the FM group (p = 0.01). A positive significant correlation was found between FCV-19S and CAS results and FIQR, PSQI, and HAD-anx results in FM patients (p < 0.05). Conclusion This pilot study showed that, the individuals with FM can be more affected by psychological stress, and this situation negatively affects the symptom severity, sleep quality, and mood in FM patients, so these patients should be closely monitored in terms of psychological stressors and their effects during pandemics. More studies with more participants are necessary to describe the challenges lived by fibromyalgia population.

scholarly journals The Role of Demographic Characteristics and Spiritual Dimensions in Predicting Empathy: A Study in Muslim Pre-Service Teachers

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fifi Khoirul Fitriyah ◽  
Nur Hidayah ◽  
Muslihati Muslihati ◽  
Im Hambali ◽  
Mursyidul Ibad
Keyword(s):  
Formal Education ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Reactivity Index ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Data Collection Technique ◽  
Spirituality Assessment ◽  
The Relationship

Although many studies have examined the relationship between spirituality and empathy, very few studies have focused on demographic and spiritual dimensions in influencing empathy for pre-service teachers. This study analyzes the effect of gender, age, and years of formal education on spirituality and empathy and analyzes the influence of the spiritual dimensions on empathy. This research is a cross-sectional study, with 319 Muslim pre-service teachers as respondents. The data collection technique used an online questionnaire adapted from the Spirituality Assessment Scale (SAS) and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). The results show that age affects spirituality, while empathy is influenced by age and gender. One unanticipated finding was that years of formal education had no effect on either spirituality or empathy. The most important finding of this study is the higher the level of innerness, the more likely it is to have high empathy. This study's findings are useful as an assessment material and creating counseling designs to increase empathy for pre-service teachers. This is a part of forming the ideal profile of counselors in schools later. Integrating Islamic values ​​is also an essential alternative in counseling for Muslims.

scholarly journals MO055THE IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON MOOD STATUS AND TREATMENT ADHERENCE IN PATIENTS WITH FABRY DISEASE

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mevlut Tamer Dincer ◽  
Cebrail Karaca ◽  
Betul Sarac ◽  
Saffa Ahmadzada ◽  
Alev Bakir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fabry Disease ◽  
Access To Health Care ◽  
Patient Adherence ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infusion Therapy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Enzyme Replacement ◽  
Home Based

Abstract Background and Aims Fabry disease is a rare metabolic disorder, lifelong enzyme replacement therapy with recombinant human alpha-galactosidase A (agalsidase) constituted the cornerstone of disease-specific therapy. COVID-19 pandemic and epidemic control measures including lockdowns impaired access to health care services. We examined the effect of COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on mood status and management of Fabry disease patients. Method We conducted a cross-sectional study between October 2020 and December 2020. We used the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) to evaluate the mood statuses of FD patients and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-4) to assess patient adherence. We also examined age and sex-matched control group to compare mood status. Results A total of 68 (Male 48.5 %, mean age 37.0) FD patients were under regular follow-up in our institution, 59 of those patients were taking ERT every other week. Two of our patients had reported having a COVID-19 infection, and both of them recovered. 25 patients reported to miss an ERT for a median of one dose, 16 of these 25 patients have reported that they did not come to the hospital because of infection fear. Half of the patients had adopted home-based infusion; they arranged a nurse for home-based infusion therapy by their own means. According to MMAS-4 FD patients had good adherence to their therapy (Median score 0, range 0-2).  Mood status of FD patients and controls are shown in Table 1. Both HADS depression and anxiety scores were higher in the control group compared to FD patients. Additionally, abnormal scores were more prevalent for HADS depression scores in controls (Figure 1). Conclusion We found that the mood status of FD patients was better than the control group. Traumatic growth may be an important factor to explain this finding. Their adherence to therapy was good. Home-based therapy was the preferred method by the patients. Government-supported home therapy programs might be beneficial for FD patients to increase adherence to the therapy.

scholarly journals Nutritional role of amniotic fluid: clues from infants with congenital obstruction of the digestive tract

2018 ◽  
Vol 104 (2) ◽  
pp. F199-F201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nigel J Hall ◽  
Melanie Drewett ◽  
David Burge
Keyword(s):  
Amniotic Fluid ◽  
Digestive Tract ◽  
Gestational Age ◽  
Significant Negative Correlation ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Z Score ◽  
Term Infants ◽  
Z Scores ◽  
And Gender

AimsTo investigate the role played by amniotic fluid in late fetal nutrition by analysis of infants born with digestive tract atresia.MethodsBirth weight (BW), gestational age and gender of infants born with oesophageal (OA), duodenal (DA), jejunal (JA) and ileal atresia (IA) were recorded and BW Z-scores compared. Infants with incomplete obstruction (stenosis), chromosomal or syndromic conditions and multiple congenital malformations were excluded. Term infants admitted with suspected postnatal intestinal obstruction in whom no congenital malformation was found were used as a control group.ResultsA total of 584 infants were identified comprising 148 OA, 60 DA, 26 JA and 57 IA with 293 in the control group. Infants with OA and DA had statistically significantly lower BW Z-score than controls. However, BW Z-score for infants with more distal atresia (JA and IA) was similar to controls. When compared with infants with OA, BW Z-score for infants with more distal atresia was higher than that for OA. BW Z-score in infants with OA was significantly lower in those born at term compared with those born preterm (mean±SD −0.92±1.0 vs −0.48±0.87; p=0.01) with a significant negative correlation between BW Z-score and increasing gestational age (R2=0.12; p<0.0001). This effect of gestational age was not seen in other atresias.ConclusionThese observations support the concept that reduced enteral absorption of amniotic fluid due to high digestive tract obstruction in utero reduces fetal growth. The effect is greater when the obstruction is more proximal and with advancing gestation.

Role of diffusion tensor imaging in the evaluation of ulnar nerve involvement in leprosy

2021 ◽  
pp. 20210290
Author(s):  
Ankita Aggarwal ◽  
Chandan Jyoti Das ◽  
Neena Khanna ◽  
Raju Sharma ◽  
Deep Narayan Srivastava ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Tensor Imaging ◽  
Peripheral Neuropathy ◽  
Ulnar Nerve ◽  
Diffusion Tensor ◽  
Cross Sectional Area ◽  
Ulnar Neuropathy ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Sectional Area ◽  
Cross Sectional

Objective: Early detection of peripheral neuropathy is extremely important as leprosy is one of the treatable causes of peripheral neuropathy. The study was undertaken to assess the role of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in ulnar neuropathy in leprosy patients. Methods: This was a case–control study including 38 patients (72 nerves) and 5 controls (10 nerves) done between January 2017 and June 2019. Skin biopsy proven cases of leprosy, having symptoms of ulnar neuropathy (proven on nerve conduction study) were included. MRI was performed on a 3 T MR system. Mean cross-sectional area, fractional anisotropy (FA) and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values of ulnar nerve at cubital tunnel were calculated. Additional ancillary findings and appearance of base sequences were evaluated. Results: Ulnar nerve showed thickening with altered T2W signal in all the affected nerves, having an average cross-sectional area of 0.26 cm2. Low FA with mean of 0.397 ± 0.19 and high ADC with mean of 1.28 ± 0.427 x 10 −3 mm2/s of ulnar nerve in retrocondylar groove was obtained. In the control group, mean cross-sectional area was 0.71cm2 with mean FA and ADC of 0.53 ± 0.088 and 1.03 ± 0.24 x 10 −3 mm2/s respectively. Statistically no significant difference was seen in diseased and control group. Cut-off to detect neuropathy for FA and ADC is 0.4835 and 1.1020 × 10 −3 mm2/s respectively. Conclusion: DTI though is challenging in peripheral nerves, however, is proving to be a powerful complementary tool for assessment of peripheral neuropathy. Our study validates its utility in infective neuropathies. Advances in knowledge: 1. DTI is a potential complementary tool for detection of peripheral neuropathies and can be incorporated in standard MR neurography protocol. 2. In leprosy-related ulnar neuropathy, altered signal intensity with thickening or abscess of the nerve is appreciated along with locoregional nodes and secondary denervation changes along with reduction of FA and rise in ADC value. 3. Best cut-offs obtained in our study for FA and ADC are 0.4835 and 1.1020 × 10 −3 mm2/s respectively.

Predictive value of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-neutrophil ratio, and neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio in lupus nephritis

Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (9) ◽  
pp. 1031-1039
Author(s):  
Peng Liu ◽  
Peiyuan Li ◽  
Zhong Peng ◽  
Yazhou Xiang ◽  
Chenqi Xia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lupus Nephritis ◽  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Area Under The Curve ◽  
Neutrophil To Lymphocyte Ratio ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves ◽  
Lymphocyte Ratio ◽  
And Control ◽  
First Time

Objective To evaluate the role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (PNR), platelet-to-monocyte ratio (PMR), and neutrophil-to-monocyte ratio (NMR) as predictors for lupus nephritis (LN) patients without infection or as biomarkers for distinguishing between infection or flare with LN patients. Methods LN patients were divided into three groups: LN without infection, LN with infection, and LN with flare. A total of 57 healthy subjects were enrolled as controls. The differentiation was analyzed between LN without infection and control group, and LN with infection and LN with flare. Correlations among variables were assessed in the LN group without infection. Receiver operating characteristic curves were constructed in two comparable groups. Results NLR, PLR, and MLR were increased significantly in the LN group without infection as compared with those in healthy controls. NLR (area under the curve (AUC): 0.75) and MLR (AUC: 0.79) were useful for distinguishing between LN patients without infection and healthy subjects. In differentiating LN patients without infection from the controls, optimal cutoffs of NLR and MLR were 3.43 (sensitivity: 45.6%, specificity: 96.5%, and overall accuracy: 68.8%) and 0.24 (sensitivity: 75.0%, specificity: 73.7%, and overall accuracy: 73.6%), respectively. In addition, NLR ( r = 0.322, p = 0.011) and PLR ( r = 0.283, p = 0.026) were positively correlated with CRP. Importantly, NLR and NMR were increased while PNR was decreased in the LN group with infection in comparison with those in the LN group with flare. NLR (AUC: 0.80), NMR (AUC: 0.78), and PNR (AUC: 0.74) were useful in differentiating LN patients with infection and flare, and their optimal cutoffs were 4.02 (sensitivity: 82.6%, specificity: 69.6%, and overall accuracy: 75.5%), 12.19 (sensitivity: 80.4%, specificity: 73.9%, and overall accuracy: 77.5%), and 28.26 (sensitivity: 65.2%, specificity: 76.8%, and overall accuracy: 71.6%), respectively. Conclusions We demonstrated, for the first time, that MLR or NMR had the best accuracy in differentiating LN patients without infection from healthy subjects, or differentiating infection from flare in LN patients, respectively. Our results implied that NLR, MLR, PNR, and NMR may be useful biomarkers in predicting LN.

scholarly journals Serum Analysis in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Controlled Cross-Sectional Study in Norway

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Kordian Staniszewski ◽  
Henning Lygre ◽  
Trond Berge ◽  
Annika Rosén
Keyword(s):  
Temporomandibular Disorder ◽  
Systemic Disease ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Individual Subject ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Inflammatory Conditions ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Severe Systemic Disease ◽  
Masticatory Apparatus

Temporomandibular disorder (TMD) is characterized by pain and dysfunction in the temporomandibular join (TMJ) and the masticatory apparatus. Associations with autoimmune diseases, inflammatory conditions, and nutrition deficiencies have been reported in previous studies of TMD patients. To evaluate essential proteins, hormones, electrolytes, and vitamins in serum from TMD patients, a standard blood sample analysis was performed in 60 TMD patients and 60 healthy controls matched for age and gender, retrieving 19 different analyses. We found that TMD patients had significantly higher values of hemoglobin (p=0.036), cobalamin (p=0.023), albumin (p=0.005), parathyroid hormone (PTH) (p=0.038), and vitamin D (p=0.005), and significantly lower values of creatinine (p=0.006) and potassium (p=0.011), compared to controls. In the TMD group, most of the determinants had a wider range, and several subjects, compared to the control group, had values outside the normal reference area. However, most of the TMD patients and controls had values within normal biological range. Our findings could not associate any severe systemic disease, malnutrition, or systemic inflammation with the TMD. Results from our study suggest that serum analyses should neither be used as a biomarker of TMD nor a diagnostic tool for an individual subject with TMD.

scholarly journals Anatomy of Teaching Anatomy: Do Prosected Cross Sections Improve Students Understanding of Spatial and Radiological Anatomy?

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. Samarakoon ◽  
S. Vithoosan ◽  
S. Kokulan ◽  
M. M. Dissanayake ◽  
D. J. Anthony ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sections ◽  
Test Group ◽  
Control Group ◽  
First Year ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
First Year Students ◽  
Radiological Anatomy ◽  
Teaching Anatomy ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Identical Series

Introduction. Cadaveric dissections and prosections have traditionally been part of undergraduate medical teaching. Materials and Methods. Hundred and fifty-nine first-year students in the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, were invited to participate in the above study. Students were randomly allocated to two age and gender matched groups. Both groups were exposed to identical series of lectures regarding anatomy of the abdomen and conventional cadaveric prosections of the abdomen. The test group (n=77, 48.4%) was also exposed to cadaveric cross-sectional slices of the abdomen to which the control group (n=82, 51.6%) was blinded. At the end of the teaching session both groups were assessed by using their performance in a timed multiple choice question paper as well as ability to identify structures in abdominal CT films. Results. Scores for spatial and radiological anatomy were significantly higher among the test group when compared with the control group (P<0.05, CI 95%). Majority of the students in both control and test groups agreed that cadaveric cross section may be useful for them to understand spatial and radiological anatomy. Conclusion. Introduction of cadaveric cross-sectional prosections may help students to understand spatial and radiological anatomy better.

Disability Onset among Aging Canadians: Evidence from Panel Data

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
Derek Hum ◽  
Wayne Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Panel Data ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Unique Contribution ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Income Dynamics ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Disability Status ◽  
Before And After ◽  
And Gender

ABSTRACTPast studies of aging and disability have been restricted to and by cross-sectional data. When cross-sectional surveys measure income, disability status and age at a common point in time, it is impossible to discern the process, and consequences, of a disability onset. In other words, it is not possible to examine the circumstances of the same individuals before, and after, the disability onset; nor whether effects differ according to the age at which the disability occurs. The present study uses a new panel data set, the Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID), to examine the prevalence of disability with respect to age, gender, and other socio-economic characteristics; however, its unique contribution is its investigation of disability onset, and the rates of entry into, and exit from, disability status by age group and gender. Further, we assess the financial circumstances of those who become disabled vis-à-vis a “control group”.

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