METHODS: To measure caregiver burden and functional disability of the care recipient, we employ the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and the Barthel Index, respectively. Then we utilized the ordinary least squares (OLS) methodology and estimated four regression models. Models 1, 2, and 3 examined the impact of the variables of the caregiver burden, responsibility and love, and the quality of the caregiver-caregiver recipient relationship, respectively, on family caregivers' willingness to care. Model 4 was the full model. To testify whether the caregiver burden is likely to act as a mediator, path analysis was used, and the path was adjusted and verified.
RESULTS: According to the survey, in Shanghai, only half of the caregivers had a very high care willingness to care for disabled older relatives, while nearly one-tenth of the caregivers had a low willingness. It was the caregiver burden rather than the functional disability of older adults that harms family caregivers' willingness to care. Responsibility and caring out of love were positively related to care willingness. Relationship quality was the most important influencing factor, explaining 10.2% of the variance in care willingness. Path analysis demonstrated that responsibility, caring out of love, and relationship quality directly and through the mediation of caregiver burden indirectly affected care willingness.
CONCLUSION: Our results revealed that reciprocal altruism presented by the quality of the caregiver-care recipient relationship had a significantly positive impact on family caregivers' willingness to care. In addition, the caregiver burden was found not only directly affected care willingness, but also acted as a mediator. To promote the perfection of laws and policies, comprehensive samples of different types of cities should be included and the measurement of key variables could be further improved in future studies.
METHODS: A discrete choice experiment was developed to include 7 attributes valued in cancer management: physical, psychological and social functioning, pain control, survival, place of death, and cost. Patients were recruited via convenience sampling from 2 Malaysian public hospitals. The survey questionnaire was administered to patients within 6 months of their cancer diagnosis with a follow-up 3 months later. Conditional logit regression was used to estimate the preference weight, relative attribute importance, and willingness to pay.
RESULTS: One hundred valid responses were collected at baseline and 45 at follow-up. Respondents placed higher values on QoL improvements from severe to moderate or mild levels and to achieve home death over survival extension from 6 to 18 months. However, additional improvements (from moderate to mild) in some of the QoL outcomes were not valued as highly as life extension from 12 to 18 months, showing that it was vital for patients to avoid being in "severe" health dysfunction. Improving physical dysfunction from severe to mild yielded 3 times as much value as additional 1-year survival. After 3 months, the respondents' preferences changed significantly, with increased relative attribute importance of physical functioning, pain control, and cost.
CONCLUSIONS: As QoL outcomes are valued more than survival, palliative care should be introduced as early as possible to alleviate suffering related to advanced cancer.
METHODS: A systematic review was conducted across four databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Medline), focusing on studies involving more than four weeks of dance interventions. MeSH terms [dance or dance intervention or dance rehabilitation or dance movement] and [motor function or functional capacity or postural control or functional mobility or mobility or postural balance or balance or flexibility or gait] and [well-being or quality of life or life satisfaction] were utilized in the search. This review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023422857). Included studies were assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias.
RESULTS: The search revealed 885 studies, and 16 met the inclusion criteria. The effects of various dance genres on physical functions and quality of life were compared. Most studies showed that dance intervention improved physical function, balance, postural control and quality of life. Dance intervention showed a high level of adherence compared to physiotherapy, self-care, conventional therapy, and aerobic and resistance exercise.
CONCLUSION: In terms of improving physical function and quality of life, structured dance is a safe and relatively effective alternative to exercise. Note the effect of movement selection and intensity in the dance interventions. Dance with music may increase participants' interest, encouraging more physical activity among middle-aged and older adults.
Materials: This is an interventional study that involved 57 eyes of 45 patients with symptomatic floaters for more than 3 months. Patients underwent one to three sessions of vitreolysis via Neodymiun-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG) laser. We examined the CSF using the computer programs Freiburg Acuity and Contrast Test (FrACT) and VRQoL survey using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI VFQ-25) before, and 1 month after, vitreolysis.
Results: Twelve patients had both eyes lasered and 33 patients had one eye lasered. The mean CSF improved from 3.20 ± 0.85%W to 2.64 ± 0.63%W 1 month after vitreolysis. Each use of the laser showed a significant mean difference in CSF (%W) as analyzed by paired t-test before and after the first laser (0.29 ± 0.49%W [P ≤ 0.001]); after the first and second laser (0.35 ± 0.53%W [P = 0.01]); and after second and third laser (0.21 ± 0.31%W [P = 0.02]). There was improvement in the median of four subscales in NEI VFQ-25 scores post treatment: general vision (z = -3.30, P = 0.001), near activity (z = 3.396, P = 0.001, distance activity (z = -2.788, P = 0.005), and mental health (z = -2.219, P = 0.026). The mean scores increased to 79.55 ± 9.45 from the baseline 75.06 ± 9.69 (P ≤ 0.001). No adverse events were recorded 1 month after the laser treatments.
Conclusion: Vitreolysis by Nd:YAG laser improved the CFS and VRQoL in symptomatic PVD patients.
METHODS: This prospective observational study assessed 100 patients who were admitted to the general wards at the National Heart Institute. We measured handgrip strength, body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and recorded the length of stay (LOS), unplanned readmission and incidence of infection within 90 days after discharge. Logistic regression analysis at a significant level p
METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The Delphi consensus technique was conducted online to review and evaluate the framework module. A panel of experts, including rehabilitation medicine physicians, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists in Malaysia, was invited to participate in this study. For each round, the expert consensus was defined as more than 90% of the expert panel agreeing or strongly agreeing with the proposed items.
RESULTS: A total of 33 practitioners completed the three Delphi rounds. 72.7% of the expert panel have been practising in their relevant clinical fields for more than six years (M = 10.67, SD = 5.68). In Round 1, 23% of the experts suggested that the framework module for attention training required further improvements, specifically in the language (M = 1.97, SD = 0.75) and instructions (M = 2.03, SD = 0.71) provided. In Round 2, 15% of the experts recommended additional changes in the instruction (M = 2.15, SD = 0.67) for attention training. Amendments made to the framework module in line with the recommendations provided by the experts resulted in a higher level of consensus, as 94% to 100% of the experts in Round 3 concluded the framework module was suitable and comprehensive for our breast cancer survivors. Following the key results, the objectives were practical, and the proposed approaches, strategies, and techniques for attention and memory training were feasible. The clarity of the instructions, procedures, verbatim transcripts, and timeframe further enhanced the efficacy and utility of the framework module.
CONCLUSIONS: This study found out that the cognitive intervention framework module for breast cancer survivors with cognitive impairment following chemotherapy can be successfully developed and feasible to be implemented using Delphi technique.
OBJECTIVE: This Cochrane Review aimed to determine the effects of alternating pressure (active) air beds, overlays or mattresses compared with any support surface in preventing pressure ulcers.
METHODS: The population addressed was people at risk of and with existing pressure ulcers. Studies comparing alternating pressure (active) air surfaces with any beds, overlays or mattresses were included. The outcomes studied were pressure ulcer incidence, patient support-surface-associated comfort, adverse events, health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness.
RESULTS: There were 32 studies with a total of 9058 participants. There is low certainty evidence that alternating pressure (active) air surfaces compared with foam surfaces may reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. It is uncertain whether there is a difference in the proportion of people developing new pressure ulcers between alternating pressure (active) air surfaces and reactive water-filled, fibre, air, gel or standard hospital surfaces.
CONCLUSION: The use of alternating pressure (active) air surfaces may reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers compared to foam surfaces. However, it is uncertain if it is superior to reactive air surfaces, water surfaces and fiber surfaces in preventing pressure ulcers.
METHODS: HELIOS-A was a phase 3, global, open-label study comparing the efficacy and safety of vutrisiran with an external placebo group (APOLLO study). Patients were randomized 3:1 to subcutaneous vutrisiran 25 mg every 3 months (Q3M) or intravenous patisiran 0.3 mg/kg every 3 weeks (Q3W) for 18 months.
RESULTS: HELIOS-A enrolled 164 patients (vutrisiran, n = 122; patisiran reference group, n = 42); external placebo, n = 77. Vutrisiran met the primary endpoint of change from baseline in modified Neuropathy Impairment Score +7 (mNIS+7) at 9 months (p = 3.54 × 10-12), and all secondary efficacy endpoints; significant improvements versus external placebo were observed in Norfolk Quality of Life-Diabetic Neuropathy, 10-meter walk test (both at 9 and 18 months), mNIS+7, modified body-mass index, and Rasch-built Overall Disability Scale (all at 18 months). TTR reduction with vutrisiran Q3M was non-inferior to within-study patisiran Q3W. Most adverse events were mild or moderate in severity, and consistent with ATTRv amyloidosis natural history. There were no drug-related discontinuations or deaths.
CONCLUSIONS: Vutrisiran significantly improved multiple disease-relevant outcomes for ATTRv amyloidosis versus external placebo, with an acceptable safety profile.
CLINICALTRIALS.GOV: NCT03759379.
METHODS: In light of the current trend of regenerative medicine, the present review aims to pool data relating to the incorporation of IGF-1 in regenerative medicine and provide input on the current research gaps and concerns arising on translating this approach from benchwork into clinical settings.
RESULTS: Using the keywords IGF-1 'OR' Insulin Growth Factor 1 'AND' Mesenchymal Stem Cells 'AND' Tissue Healing from 2009 to 2020, we identified 160 and 52 from Medline and PubMed, screening out 202 articles due to non-fulfilment of the inclusion criteria.
CONCLUSION: Incorporating IGF-1 into regenerative and personalized medicine may be promising for treating CVD; however, the concerns include the role of IGF-1 in inducing cancer growth and its ability to migrate to the specific site of injury, especially for those who present with multiple pathologies should be addressed prior to its translation from bench work into clinical settings.