OBJECTIVES: Chronic back pain is the most common cause of incapacity for work. The purpose of the study was to determine the effectiveness for activating the function of the deep stabilization system (DSS) in patients with chronic low back pain. METHODS: The effectiveness of three different methods was compared: Pilates method (PM), dynamic neuromuscular stabilization and balance aids on deep stabilization system function and pain perception in the lumbar spine. The group consisted of 75 patients. RESULTS: The results show differences in the effectiveness of the methods depending on the observed characteristics. The least significant differences were observed when comparing the Pilates method to balance aids. No statistically significant difference was observed in four out of five areas. The only area where a statistically significant effect of the exercise method got recorded was the intra-abdominal pressure test (p < 0.05). The lowest change was recorded in the measured values using the intra-abdominal pressure test at PM, and the highest change was recorded in Thomayer's values at dynamic neuromuscular stabilization. CONCLUSION: By comparing the three methods it was noted that each of them has its own positive reaction to the pain and the muscular apparatus. The most appropriate method to affect DSS function appears the dynamic neuromuscular stabilization (DNS) concept, where was the most significant improvement in DSS activation and the most significant reduction in chronic low back pain.
- MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Low Back Pain * therapy rehabilitation physiopathology MeSH
- Pain Measurement MeSH
- Exercise Movement Techniques * methods MeSH
- Exercise Therapy * methods MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in higher education is reshaping how students engage with their academic and personal lives. However, the impact of AI on students' well-being remains underexplored. This mini-review synthesizes current literature to assess how AI affects student well-being, focusing on mental health, social interactions, and academic experiences. While AI offers benefits such as personalized learning, mental health support, and improved communication efficiency, it also raises concerns regarding digital fatigue, loneliness, technostress, and reduced face-to-face interactions. Over-reliance on AI may diminish interpersonal skills and emotional intelligence, leading to social isolation and anxiety. Furthermore, issues such as data privacy and job displacement emerge as AI technologies permeate educational environments. The review highlights the need for balanced AI integration that supports both academic success and student well-being, advocating for further empirical studies to comprehensively understand these dynamics. As AI becomes more embedded in education, it is crucial to develop strategies that mitigate its negative effects while promoting holistic well-being among students.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
Detecting transitions in bipolar disorder (BD) is essential for implementing early interventions. Our aim was to identify the earliest indicator(s) of the onset of a hypomanic episode in BD. We hypothesized that objective changes in sleep would be the earliest indicator of a new hypomanic or manic episode. In this prospective, observational, contactless study, participants used wearable technology continuously to monitor their daily activity and sleep parameters. They also completed weekly self-ratings using the Altman Self-Rating Mania Scale (ASRM). Using time-frequency spectral derivative spike detection, we assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and balanced accuracy of wearable data to identify a hypomanic episode, defined as at least one or more weeks with consecutive ASRM scores ≥10. Of 164 participants followed for a median (IQR) of 495.0 (410.0) days, 50 experienced one or more hypomanic episodes. Within-night variability in sleep stages was the earliest indicator identifying the onset of a hypomanic episode (mean ± SD): sensitivity: 0.94 ± 0.19; specificity: 0.80 ± 0.19; balanced accuracy: 0.87 ± 0.13; followed by within-day variability in activity levels: sensitivity: 0.93 ± 0.18; specificity: 0.84 ± 0.13; balanced accuracy: 0.89 ± 0.11. Limitations of our study includes a small sample size. Strengths include the use of densely sampled data in a well-characterized cohort followed for over a year, as well as the use of a novel approach using time-frequency analysis to dynamically assess behavioral features at a granular level. Detecting and predicting the onset of hypomanic (or manic) episodes in BD is paramount to implement individualized early interventions.
- MeSH
- Bipolar Disorder * diagnosis MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Mania * diagnosis MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Wearable Electronic Devices MeSH
- Prospective Studies MeSH
- Psychiatric Status Rating Scales MeSH
- Sensitivity and Specificity MeSH
- Sleep physiology MeSH
- Sleep Stages physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Young Adult MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Observational Study MeSH
An excessive increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels is one of the main causes of mitochondrial dysfunction. However, when ROS levels are maintained in balance with antioxidant mechanisms, ROS fulfill the role of signaling molecules and modulate various physiological processes. Recent advances in mitochondrial bioenergetics research have revealed a significant interplay between mitochondrial peroxiredoxins (PRDXs) and monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) in regulating ROS levels. Both proteins are associated with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), MAO-A as a producer and PRDXs as the primary antioxidant scavengers of H2O2. This review focuses on the currently available knowledge on the function of these proteins and their interaction, highlighting their importance in regulating oxidative damage, apoptosis, and metabolic adaptation in the heart. PRDXs not only scavenge excess H2O2, but also act as regulatory proteins, play an active role in redox signaling, and maintain mitochondrial membrane integrity. Overexpression of MAO-A is associated with increased oxidative damage, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), including ischemia/reperfusion injury and heart failure. Considering the central role of oxidative damage in the pathogenesis of many CVD, targeting PRDXs activation and MAO-A inhibition may offer new therapeutic strategies aimed at improving cardiac function under conditions of pathological load related to oxidative damage. Keywords: Mitochondria, Peroxiredoxin, Monoamine oxidase-A, Reactive oxygen species, Cardioprotective signaling.
- MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Monoamine Oxidase * metabolism MeSH
- Oxidative Stress MeSH
- Peroxiredoxins * metabolism MeSH
- Reactive Oxygen Species * metabolism MeSH
- Signal Transduction * MeSH
- Mitochondria, Heart metabolism enzymology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
BACKGROUND: Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a progressive disease characterized by disproportionate ventricular enlargement at brain imaging with gait disturbance and an increased risk of falling. Gait assessment is a key feature in the diagnosis of iNPH and characterization of post-surgical outcomes. RESEARCH QUESTION: How do gait parameters change 24 h after CSF tap test (CSFTT) and after ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery? METHODS: The PRISMA guidelines were used to perform the systematic review. We conducted a search of the following electronic databases: PubMed, Medline, Web of Science and EBSCO. We included studies focusing on gait changes occurring 24 h after a CSFTT or after ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery in patients with iNPH. All articles were assessed for methodological quality using an adapted version of The Standard Quality Assessment Criteria for Evaluating Primary Research Papers checklist. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies were included in the systematic review. Studies were highly heterogeneous due to lack of standardization of CSFTT or shunt surgery methodology, with varying amounts of CSF removed during the tap test (20-50 ml) and varying time of outcome assessment after shunt surgery. Dynamic equilibrium measurements are generally used to assess preoperative levels of cardinal symptoms and postoperative outcomes in iNPH. The most sensitive spatio-temporal parameter assessed 24 h after CSFTT was self-selected walking speed followed by stride length, which increased significantly. Cadence is hence not suitable to consider in the evaluation of effect of CSFTT and shunt surgery. Changes in balance-related gait parameters after CSFTT and shunt surgery are still a controversial area of research. CONCLUSION: Gait assessment is a key feature in the diagnosis of iNPH and characterization of post-surgical outcomes. Dynamic equilibrium measurements are generally used to assess preoperative levels of cardinal symptoms and postoperative outcomes in iNPH, but quantitative and standardized gait analysis procedures are missing. Changes in balance-related gait parameters after CSFTT might be useful in deciding whether to perform shunt surgery in iNPH patients who hope for improvement in gait ability. The dual-task paradigm after CSFTT could improve the clinical evaluation of higher level frontal gait disturbances in patients with suspected iNPH before shunting.
- MeSH
- Gait * physiology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Hydrocephalus, Normal Pressure * surgery physiopathology cerebrospinal fluid diagnosis MeSH
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts MeSH
- Spinal Puncture methods MeSH
- Ventriculoperitoneal Shunt MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
- Systematic Review MeSH
During hypoxia, tissues are subjected to an inadequate oxygen supply, disrupting the balance needed to maintain normal function. This deficiency can occur due to reduced oxygen delivery caused by impaired blood flow or a decline in the blood's ability to carry oxygen. In tumors, hypoxia and vascularization play crucial roles, shaping their microenvironments and influencing cancer progression, response to treatment and metastatic potential. This chapter provides guidance on the use of non-invasive imaging methods including Positron Emission Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging to study tumor oxygenation in pre-clinical settings. These imaging techniques offer valuable insights into tumor vascularity and oxygen levels, aiding in understanding tumor behavior and treatment effects. For example, PET imaging uses tracers such as [18F]-fluoromisonidazole (FMISO) to visualize hypoxic areas within tumors, while MRI complements this with anatomical and functional images. Although directly assessing tumor hypoxia with MRI remains challenging, techniques like Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) and Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) provide valuable information. BOLD can track changes in oxygen levels during oxygen challenges, while DCE-MRI offers real-time access to perfusion and vessel permeability data. Integrating data from these imaging modalities can help assess oxygen supply, refine treatment strategies, enhance therapeutic effectiveness, and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
- MeSH
- Hypoxia diagnostic imaging MeSH
- Oxygen metabolism MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging * methods MeSH
- Misonidazole analogs & derivatives MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Tumor Hypoxia MeSH
- Neoplasms diagnostic imaging blood supply pathology MeSH
- Neovascularization, Pathologic diagnostic imaging pathology MeSH
- Positron-Emission Tomography * methods MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
INTRODUCTION: Dynamic indices of fluid responsiveness (FR) such as pulse pressure variation (PPV) and stroke volume variation (SVV) differ among hemodynamic monitors, which use proprietary algorithms, and vary even over a short period of time. We aimed to compare the baseline values, fluctuation and predictive value for FR of PPV and SVV measured by three minimally invasive monitors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients undergoing high-risk abdominal surgery were included and 45 fluid challenges were analysed. The patients were simultaneously monitored using Carescape B650, LiDCO Rapid and FloTrac/Vigileo system. Cardiac output (CO), PPV and SVV were recorded before and after the fluid challenge of 500 ml of balanced crystalloid solution. An increase in CO ≥ 15 % defined fluid responders. Concurrently recorded arterial waveform was used for offline calculation of PPV. RESULTS: Mean baseline values of the indices ranged between 8.6 % and 13.4 %. LiDCO showed higher fluctuation of indices compared to the other monitors. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) ranged from 0.71 to 0.76 with optimal cut-off value between 7.5 % and 13.9 %. AUROC increased for all indices when FR was defined as an increase in stroke volume. Furthermore, a decrease in PPV or SVV after fluid challenge (ΔPPV, ΔSVV) proved a better marker of FR (AUROC 0.82-0.93) than baseline values with a uniform threshold of approximately -3%. CONCLUSIONS: Although a significant range of baselines variations and optimal cut-off values was observed, the predictive value of PPV and SVV from all the monitors was only moderate and comparable. Nevertheless, ΔPPV and ΔSVV appear to be a reliable and device-independent markers of FR.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Most studies on balance training in individuals with Parkinson ́s disease (PD) reported ambiguous effects. Therefore the study aimed to investigate the effect of an attentional focus and severity of PD on dynamic balance. In the study, 31 patients with idiopathic PD in stage I-III, aged 69.6 ± 6.6 years, performed the five times sit-to-stand (FTSS) task two times in each of three conditions: control, i.e., with no attentional focus instruction, the external focus of attention (IFA) induced by the instruction: „concentrate on quick movement of shoulders up and down“, and external focus of attention (EFA) induced by the instruction: „ concentrate on quick movement of the tape markers up and down“ (the markers glued on one ́s shoulders). As a result, the FTSS time was shorter and the number of symptoms of imbalance manifested during performing of the task was lower in the EFA condition as compared to control and IFA conditions. No significant interaction between the focus of attention and severity of PD operationalized as the Hoehn and Yahr ́s PD stage and the risk of falls suggested the generalizability of the effect of focus of attention on dynamic balance across the PD stages I-III and regardless of whether moderate risk of falls or no risk in PD patients. This study also provided evidence that these individuals with PD can adopt task-specific instructions to perform movement skills.
The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of differences in the level of change in linear speed and velocity in the modified change of direction test (COD) and to determine the relationship between speed deficits resulting from changes of direction and functional performance between groups of Polish U19 Volleyball National Team and Polish Women's Basketball 3 × 3 National Team. A total of 23 athletes: 12 volleyball players (age: 18 ± 0 years; body height: 183 ± 7 cm; body weight: 70 ± 8 kg) and 11 basketball players (age: 26 ± 4 years; body height: 180 ± 6 cm; body weight: 73 ± 10 kg) participated in the study. Athletes were tested for the following measures: Functional Movement Screen test (FMS), dynamic balance test Y-Balance, joints range of motion measurements, maximal sprint test (14 m), modified COD test (14 m) and change of direction deficit (CODD). A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. There was no significant correlation between sprint and CODD results in basketball team. In volleyball team there was a positive and significant correlation between COD, sprint and CODD. There was a negative and significant correlation between Y-Balance scores and sprint test results in the basketball team. Basketball team had a positive significant correlation between hip rotations and COD results. There was a negative significant correlation between shoulder movements and COD and CODD results in volleyball team.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
There is increasing pharmaceutical interest in deep eutectic solvents not only as a green alternative to organic solvents in drug manufacturing, but also as liquid formulation for drug delivery. The present work introduces a hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent (HDES) to the field of lipid-based formulations (LBF). Phase behavior of a mixture with 2:1 M ratio of decanoic- to dodecanoic acid was studied experimentally and described by thermodynamic modelling. Venetoclax was selected as a hydrophobic model drug and studied by atomistic molecular dynamics simulations of the mixtures. As a result, valuable molecular insights were gained into the interaction networks between the different components. Moreover, experimentally the HDES showed greatly enhanced drug solubilization compared to conventional glyceride-based vehicles, but aqueous dispersion behavior was limited. Hence surfactants were studied for their ability to improve aqueous dispersion and addition of Tween 80 resulted in lowest droplet sizes and high in vitro drug release. In conclusion, the combination of HDES with surfactant(s) provides a novel LBF with high pharmaceutical potential. However, the components must be finely balanced to keep the integrity of the solubilizing HDES, while enabling sufficient dispersion and drug release.
- MeSH
- Chemistry, Pharmaceutical methods MeSH
- Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions * MeSH
- Lauric Acids chemistry MeSH
- Lipids * chemistry MeSH
- Oils chemistry MeSH
- Polysorbates chemistry MeSH
- Surface-Active Agents * chemistry MeSH
- Drug Compounding * methods MeSH
- Solvents * chemistry MeSH
- Solubility * MeSH
- Molecular Dynamics Simulation * MeSH
- Sulfonamides chemistry administration & dosage MeSH
- Drug Liberation * MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
