A new phosphinic-acid DOTA-like ligand, DO3AP(BP), containing a geminal bis(phosphonic acid) moiety as a highly effective bone-seeking group, was synthesized in high yield. Its crystal structure was determined by X-ray analysis. Complexation with lanthanide(iii) ions occurs under mild conditions (pH = 8-9, 25 degrees C, 2-3 h). (1)H, (31)P, and (17)O NMR spectroscopy show that DO3AP(BP) forms nine-coordinated lanthanide(iii) complexes with one water molecule in the first coordination sphere except for Ln = Er-Lu, which have in addition a species without lanthanide(iii)-bound water. Selective formation of only two diastereomers (out of four possible) suggests that the coordinated phosphinate phosphorus atom occurs exclusively in one of the enantiomeric forms. The ratio of the twisted square antiprism (TSA) and square antiprism (SA) diastereomers changes along the lanthanide series; the gadolinium(iii) complex has about 35% of the TSA species. The bis(phosphonate) moiety remains free for anchoring to osseous tissue. The (1)H longitudinal relaxivity of the Gd-DO3AP(BP) complex (r(1) = 7.4 s(-1) mM(-1), 20 MHz, 25 degrees C, pH = 7.5) is unexpectedly high compared to that of other monohydrated chelates of similar size thanks to a significant contribution from the second hydration sphere. The water residence time tau(M)(298) is 198 ns. Further increase in the relaxivity was observed in the presence of Zn(ii), Mg(ii) or Ca(ii) ions, due to formation of coordination polymers. Slowing down of the tumbling rate of the Gd-DO3AP(BP) complex upon adsorption on hydroxyapatite also leads to an increase of the relaxivity (r(1) = 17 s(-1) mM(-1), 20 MHz, 25 degrees C, pH = 7.5).

• MeSH
• Chelating Agents chemistry   MeSH
• Diagnostic Imaging methods   MeSH
• Financing, Organized MeSH
• Gadolinium chemistry   MeSH
• Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring chemistry   MeSH
• Durapatite MeSH
• Calcinosis pathology   radiography   radiotherapy   MeSH
• Contrast Media chemistry   MeSH
• Bone and Bones cytology   metabolism   MeSH
• Crystallography, X-Ray MeSH
• Lanthanoid Series Elements chemistry   MeSH
• Molecular Structure MeSH
• Organophosphonates chemistry   MeSH

Magnetic nanoparticles of ε-Fe1.76 Ga0.24 O3 with the volume-weighted mean size of 17 nm were prepared by thermal treatment of a mesoporous silica template impregnated with metal nitrates and were coated with silica shell of four different thicknesses in the range 6-24 nm. The bare particles exhibited higher magnetization than the undoped compound, 22.4 Am2 kg-1 at 300 K, and were characterized by blocked state with the coercivity of 1.2 T at 300 K, being thus the very opposite of superparamagnetic iron oxides. The relaxometric study of the silica-coated samples at 0.47 T revealed promising properties for MRI, specifically, transverse relaxivity of 89-168 s-1 mmol(f.u.)-1 L depending on the shell thickness was observed. We investigated the effects of the silica-coated nanoparticles on human A549 and MCF-7 cells. Cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle distribution, and the arrangement of actin cytoskeleton were assessed, as well as formation and maturation of focal adhesions. Our study revealed that high concentrations of silica-coated particles with larger shell thicknesses of 16-24 nm interfere with the actin cytoskeletal networks, inducing thus morphological changes. Consequently, the focal adhesion areas were significantly decreased, resulting in impaired cell adhesion.

• MeSH
• Cell Cycle drug effects   MeSH
• A549 Cells MeSH
• Cytoskeleton drug effects   metabolism   MeSH
• Gallium chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles chemistry   MeSH
• MCF-7 Cells MeSH
• Silicon Dioxide chemistry   pharmacology   MeSH
• Cell Survival drug effects   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Gadobenate dimeglumine (MultiHance) has higher r1 relaxivity than gadoterate meglumine (Dotarem) which may permit the use of lower doses for MR imaging applications. Our aim was to compare 0.1- and 0.05-mmol/kg body weight gadobenate with 0.1-mmol/kg body weight gadoterate for MR imaging assessment of brain tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed crossover, intraindividual comparison of 0.1-mmol/kg gadobenate with 0.1-mmol/kg gadoterate (Arm 1) and 0.05-mmol/kg gadobenate with 0.1-mmol/kg gadoterate (Arm 2). Adult patients with suspected or known brain tumors were randomized to Arm 1 (70 patients) or Arm 2 (107 patients) and underwent 2 identical examinations at 1.5 T. The agents were injected in randomized-sequence order, and the 2 examinations were separated by 2-14 days. MR imaging scanners, imaging sequences (T1-weighted spin-echo and T1-weighted high-resolution gradient-echo), and acquisition timing were identical for the 2 examinations. Three blinded readers evaluated images for diagnostic information (degree of definition of lesion extent, lesion border delineation, visualization of lesion internal morphology, contrast enhancement) and quantitatively for percentage lesion enhancement and lesion-to-background ratio. Safety assessments were performed. RESULTS: In Arm 1, a highly significant superiority (P < .002) of 0.1-mmol/kg gadobenate was demonstrated by all readers for all end points. In Arm 2, no significant differences (P > .1) were observed for any reader and any end point, with the exception of percentage enhancement for reader 2 (P < .05) in favor of 0.05-mmol/kg gadobenate. Study agent-related adverse events were reported by 2/169 (1.2%) patients after gadobenate and by 5/175 (2.9%) patients after gadoterate. CONCLUSIONS: Significantly superior morphologic information and contrast enhancement are demonstrated on brain MR imaging with 0.1-mmol/kg gadobenate compared with 0.1-mmol/kg gadoterate. No meaningful differences were recorded between 0.05-mmol/kg gadobenate and 0.1-mmol/kg gadoterate.

• MeSH
• Adult MeSH
• Cross-Over Studies MeSH
• Contrast Media MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging methods   MeSH
• Meglumine analogs & derivatives   MeSH
• Brain Neoplasms pathology   MeSH
• Organometallic Compounds MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Check Tag
• Adult MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Randomized Controlled Trial MeSH

Floating je doposud poměrně málo známou relaxační technikou. Ačkoli byla vynalezena již v 2. polovině 20. století, ještě se nestačila dostat do širšího povědomí jak veřejnosti, tak odborníků. Principem této techniky je pobyt v ničím nerušeném prostředí vodní nádrže ve tvaru vajíčka, naplněné hustým solným roztokem, umožňujícím se jako by vznášet. Odtud také název samotné techniky. Podmínky této techniky, omezující vnější rušivé stimuly, umožňují zažít hlubší pocit relaxace než u běžně dostupných relaxačních metod. Tento příspěvek se zaměřuje na připomenutí techniky floating a zmapování dosavadních poznatků o jejím relaxačním účinku. V textu je věnován prostor dostatečnému popisu této techniky, způsobu jejího využití jakožto relaxačního nástroje, dále je část textu věnována i historickému kontextu vývoje floatingu. V závěru se potom můžeme dočíst o pravidlech využívání této techniky a případných rizicích s ní spojených.

Floating is still a relatively little known relaxation technique. Although it was already invented in the second half of the 20th century, it still does not reach wider awareness of both the public and professionals. The principle of this technique is to stay in an undisturbed environment of a water tank in the shape of an egg, filled with a dense saline solution allowing „floating“. Hence the name of the technique itself. The conditions of this technique, restricting intrusive external stimuli, allow the experience of deeper relaxation than commercially available relaxation methods. This paper focuses on reminding and mapping existing knowledge of the relaxing effect of floating. In the text, sufficient space is dedicated to the description of this technique, to the method of its use as a relaxation tool and also to the historical context of the development of floating. A final part treats the rules for the use of this technique and potential risks associated with it.

• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Relaxation * psychology   MeSH
• Relaxation Therapy * methods   trends   MeSH
• Water * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH

• Keywords
• prevence, léčba,
• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Primary Prevention MeSH
• Relaxation Therapy methods   utilization   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH

Cíl: Cílem této studie bylo prozkoumat účinek polykacího cvičení v kombinaci s Bensonovou relaxací na polykací schopnost u pacientů s cévní mozkovou příhodou. Design: Kvazi-experimentální studie. Metodika: K měření účinku polykacího cvičení v kombinaci s Bensonovou relaxací na polykací schopnost u pacientů s cévní mozkovou příhodou byla použita analyticko-kvantitativní a kvazi-experimentální metoda (předtestový a posttestový design). Skupina respondentů byla vybrána technikou postupného odběru vzorků. Na základě vzorce Lemeshow bylo do této studie zapojeno celkem 20 respondentů, kteří splnili kritéria pro zařazení. Schopnost polykání byla měřena pomocí Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS). Data byla zpracována pomocí programu SPSS 24.0 a analyzována pomocí t-testu párového statistického vzorce. Studie byla provedena ve všeobecné nemocnici Dr. Soekardjo Tasikmalaya mezi 3. srpnem a 10. prosincem 2021. Výsledky: Byl signifikantní rozdíl v polykací schopnosti před a po intervenci, od průměrného ± SD skóre 8,60 ± 4,21 do 15,70 ± 4,00. Hladina významnosti je potvrzena p-hodnotou = 0,0005. Závěr: Tato studie ukazuje, že kombinace polykacího cvičení a Bensonovy relaxace má silný vliv na zlepšení polykací schopnosti u pacientů s cévní mozkovou příhodou. Výzkum prokázal, že sestry potřebují provádět komplexní ošetřovatelské intervence kombinováním polykacích cvičení a Bensonovy relaxace u pacientů po cévní mozkové příhodě, a to jak v nemocnici, tak u pacienta doma se zapojením rodiny.

Aim: This study aimed to examine the effect of swallowing exercise in combination with Benson relaxation on swallowing ability in stroke patients. Design: Quasi-Experimental Study. Methods: Analytic quantitative with quasi-experimental (pre-test and post-test design) was used to measure the effect of swallowing exercise in combination with Benson relaxation on swallowing ability among stroke patients. The sampling method was carried out by consecutive sampling technique. Based on the Lemeshow sample formula, a total of 20 respondents who met the inclusion criteria were involved in this study. Swallowing ability was measured by the Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS). The data collected were processed with SPSS version 24.0, and analyzed by the statistical formula paired t-test. The study was conducted at the general hospital of Dr. Soekardjo Tasikmalaya between August 3rd and December 10th 2021. Results: There was a significant difference in swallowing ability before and after the intervention, from the mean ± SD score 8.60 ± 4.21 to 15.70 ± 4.00. The significance level is confirmed with a p-value = 0.0005. Conclusions: This study shows that the combination of swallowing exercise and Benson relaxation has a strong effect on improving the swallowing ability of stroke patients. This study indicates that nurses need to conduct comprehensive nursing interventions by combining swallowing exercise and Benson relaxation among stroke patients, both in the hospital and at the patient's home by involving the family.

• MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Patients MeSH
• Deglutition MeSH
• Deglutition Disorders * rehabilitation   MeSH
• Stroke Rehabilitation * methods   MeSH
• Muscle Relaxation MeSH
• Relaxation Therapy methods   MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Evaluation Study MeSH

• MeSH
• Stress, Psychological MeSH
• Muscle Relaxation MeSH
• Relaxation MeSH
• Relaxation Therapy MeSH

Sleep and light education (SLE) combined with relaxation is a potential method of addressing sleep and affective problems in older people. 47 participants took part in a four-week sleep education program. SLE was conducted once a week for 60-90 minutes. Participants were instructed on sleep and light hygiene, sleep processes, and practiced relaxation techniques. Participants were wearing actigraphs for 6 weeks, completed daily sleep diaries, and wore blue light-blocking glasses 120 minutes before bedtime. Measures included scores of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and actigraphy measurements of sleep latency, sleep efficiency, and sleep fragmentation. Sleep quality increased after SLE based on the subjective assessment and in the objective measurement with actigraphy. PSQI scores were statistically reduced indicating better sleep. Scores after the intervention significantly decreased in ESS and ISS. Sleep latency significantly decreased, whereas sleep efficiency and fragmentation index (%), did not improve. Mood significantly improved after SLE, with lower scores on the BDI-II and STAI. SLE combined with relaxation proved to be an effective method to reduce sleep problems and the incidence of depressive and anxiety symptoms.

• MeSH
• Affect * physiology   MeSH
• Actigraphy MeSH
• Circadian Rhythm physiology   MeSH
• Depression MeSH
• Sleep Quality MeSH
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Relaxation physiology   MeSH
• Relaxation Therapy methods   MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Sleep * physiology   MeSH
• Light MeSH
• Anxiety MeSH
• Check Tag
• Middle Aged MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Male MeSH
• Aged, 80 and over MeSH
• Aged MeSH
• Female MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH

Introduction: Canistherapy (dog as a means of treatment) includes various activities, the goal of which is to support the psychological and somatic functions of a patient to rehabilitate and treat them. Foreign studies have proven that dogs have a positive influence on fine motor skills, gross motor skills, movement, and motivation for therapies, anxiety, depression, socialization and cognitive functions. Dogs are usually used as cotherapists or canistherapists’ associates in AAT (Animal Assisted Therapy) and AAA (Animal Assisted Activity). Patient contact and communication with animals (giving them treats and walking them) help to stimulate and activate patients with various diseases and impairments. Direct contact with a dog provides relaxation and a feeling of peace. It also evokes the feeling of sharing and offers the opportunity to change from difficult to light conversation topics. Goal: The goal of the research was to verify the effect of contact with dogs on blood pressure and how this evokes relaxation in twelve healthy adults. Materials and methods: Twelve adults (five men and seven women) underwent a thirty-minute intervention, which consisted of patients lying on their back for twenty minutes. The patients’ upper body was in direct contact with a dog. This was followed by a ten-minute monitoring without the dog. Ten people showed a decrease in blood pressure, and nine showed a decrease in pulse frequency. Conclusion: It is possible to say that the monitored individuals became relaxed due to the contact with a dog. In all cases, the therapy can be assessed as positive, because most clients showed a decrease in the monitored parameters. A systolic pressure decrease was observed in ten out of twelve clients. A diastolic pressure decrease was observed in ten clients, while one client showed unchanged values. Pulse frequency was decreased in nine out of twelve cases, and pressure decrease was observed in 83.3%. Decreased pulse frequency was 75% successful. All the monitored clients said that the therapy was pleasant, calming and that they would happily repeat it. A positive attitude toward animals, in this case dogs, is the basis for successful results of this alternative method.

• MeSH
• Blood Pressure MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Relaxation Therapy methods   MeSH
• Heart Rate MeSH
• Animal Assisted Therapy * MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique on sleep quality in patients with total hip arthroplasty. Design: A non-randomized quasi-experimental model was used in this study. Methods: Data were collected using a Personal Information Form and the Turkish translation of the Visual Analog Sleep Scale (VAS Scale). The data was analyzed using percentages and t-test. Results: In comparison with the mean VAS Scale scores between the experimental and the control groups, no significant difference was found between the mean VAS Scale scores of the patients before the surgery and on the night of surgery (p > 0.05). However, a statistically significant difference was found between the mean VAS Scale scores in the first and second postoperative days between groups (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The study found that progressive relaxation exercises improve the quality of sleep. The routine use of progressive relaxation exercises is recommended for patient care plans.

• MeSH
• Sleep Quality * MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip MeSH
• Relaxation Therapy * methods   MeSH
• Models, Theoretical MeSH
• Self Report MeSH
• Check Tag
• Humans MeSH
• Publication type
• Evaluation Study MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH