METHODS: Audio-guided DB with natural sounds to guide the DB was developed. Meanwhile, audio-based Go/No-Go paradigm with Arduino was built to measure the attention level. Thirty-two healthy young adults (n=32) were recruited. Psychological questionnaires (Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised (CAMS-R), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)), objective measurements with tidal volume and attention level with auditory Go/No-Go task were conducted before and after 5 min of DB.
RESULTS: Results showed a significant increment in tidal volume and task reaction time from baseline (p=0.003 and p=0.033, respectively). Significant correlations were acquired between (1) task accuracy with commission error (r=-0.905), (2) CAMS-R with task accuracy (r=-0.425), commission error (r=0.53), omission error (r=0.395) and PSS (r=-0.477), and (3) RSES with task reaction time (r=-0.47), task accuracy (r=-0.362), PSS (r=-0.552) and CAMS-R (r=0.591).
CONCLUSIONS: This pilot study suggests a link between it and young adults' wellbeing and proposes auditory Go/No-Go task for assessing attention across various groups while maintaining physical and mental wellness.
Aims: The aim of this study was to examine fatigue in a cohort of stroke survivors in the chronic phase of stroke, compared with matched controls, and to explore associations between the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive Protein and fatigue.
Methods: We performed an exploratory cross-sectional study of 70 people in the chronic phase of stroke recovery, and 70 age matched controls. Fatigue was assessed using the Fatigue Assessment Scale. Interleukin-6 was measured in serum using a commercially available enzyme immunoassay kit. Both outcome measures were assessed contemporaneously.
Results: Clinically significant fatigue, defined as a score ≥24 on the Fatigue Assessment Scale, was reported by 60% of stroke survivors, and 15.7% of controls. The odds of experiencing clinically significant fatigue was 8.04 times higher among stroke survivors compared to control participants (odds ratio 8.045; 95% CI: 3.608, 17.939; P