scholarly journals Impaired Cognitive Empathy in Outpatients with Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: A Cross-Sectional Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Hang-Bin Zhang ◽  
Hang Ou ◽  
Dian-Huai Meng ◽  
Qian Lu ◽  
Lei Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cognitive Empathy ◽  
Task Completion ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Emotional Empathy ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Social Interventions

Background. In recent years, a growing number of researchers showed significant interest in psychological and social interventions to manage chronic musculoskeletal (MSK) pain. Cognitive and emotional empathy is an attractive and valuable sociopsychological factor that may provide protection and resilience against chronic MSK pain. However, its effect on outpatients remains underexplored. Objective. To compare the empathy ability between chronic MSK pain outpatients and healthy controls and explore the relationship between cognitive/emotional empathy and chronic pain. Methods. Patients with chronic MSK pain ( n = 22 ) and healthy controls ( n = 26 ) completed the pain assessment and empathy ability task, utilizing a multidimensional empathy assessment tool with satisfactory reliability and validity (i.e., the Chinese version of the Multifaceted Empathy Test (MET-C)). Results. The data indicated that the chronic MSK pain outpatients had impaired cognitive empathy (i.e., lower squared cognitive empathy accuracy: Student’s t = − 2.119 , P = 0.040 , and longer task completion time: Student’s t = 3.382 , P = 0.002 ) compared to healthy controls, and cognitive empathy was negatively correlated with pain intensity ( r = − 0.614 , P = 0.002 ). Further, the impaired cognitive empathy was present in identifying positive, but not negative emotions. Conclusion. These results indicate that chronic MSK pain is associated with impaired empathy ability. Our studies contribute to offering a potential direction for developing psychosocial interventions to treat chronic MSK pain.

scholarly journals Development and validation of the Health-Friendly Activity Index: an assessment tool to comprehensively measure health-friendly activities of corporations or organisations

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. e048768
Author(s):  
Young Ho Yun ◽  
Si Nae Oh ◽  
Jin-Ah Sim ◽  
Sujee Lee ◽  
Eun-Jung Sohn
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Reliability And Validity ◽  
Correlation Coefficients ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Corporate Managers ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Development And Validation

ObjectivesWe developed the Health-Friendly Activity Index (HFAI) to comprehensively measure the health-friendly activities of corporations or organisations. We validated the developed tool and reported on its use as an assessment tool to improve consumers’ health-related outcomes.DesignThis was a cross-sectional study.SettingDevelopment of the HFAI questionnaire followed a three-phase process: item generation, item construction and validation with field testing. Using relevance and feasibility criteria, we developed a 105-item questionnaire with six domains (Governance and Infrastructure, Needs Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Monitoring and Feedback, and Outcomes).ParticipantsTo assess the sensitivity and validity of the questionnaire, the HFAI and Contribution Assessment Tool for Consumer’s Health (CATCH) were administered to 302 participants (151 employers and 151 employees) from 151 Korean companies.Primary outcome measuresThe CATCH measured the contribution of each company to the physical, mental, social and spiritual health of its consumers. To estimate the reliability and validity of all six HFAI domains and their respective scales, Cronbach’s α coefficients and correlation coefficients were used.ResultsEach domain and scale of the HFAI exhibited a Cronbach’s α coefficient between 0.80 and 0.98 for the employers and employees. The overall HFAI and its six domains correlated significantly and positively with all health outcomes such as physical, mental, social and spiritual status scores evaluated using the CATCH (Spearman’s correlation range: 0.37–0.68).ConclusionThe HFAI, a unique assessment tool with acceptable psychometric properties, can help corporate managers assess their health-friendly activities.

scholarly journals Choroidal vascularity index in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasquale Loiudice ◽  
Marco Pellegrini ◽  
Michele Marinò ◽  
Barbara Mazzi ◽  
Ilaria Ionni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Activity Score ◽  
Enhanced Depth Imaging ◽  
Clinical Activity ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Clinical Activity Score ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Thyroid Associated Ophthalmopathy ◽  
Imagej Software

Abstract Background Hemodynamic changes have been observed in patients with Graves’ disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate choroidal vascular change using the choroidal vascularity index (CVI) in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Methods In this cross-sectional observational study, 40 patients affected by TAO were recruited. Forty healthy individuals, matched for age and sex, served as controls. Foveal enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography scans were obtained from all participants. Images were binarized using the ImageJ software and luminal area (LA) and total choroidal area (TCA) were measured. CVI was calculated as the proportion of LA to TCA. The relation between CVI or subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) and clinical activity score, exophthalmometric value, diplopia status, gender, and age was evaluated. Results CVI was significantly higher in patients with TAO (P = 0.004). No significant difference was observed in SFCT (P = 0.200) and TCA (P = 0.153) comparing TAO patients and healthy controls. LA was significantly higher in TAO group (P = 0.045). On multiple regression analysis, CVI was associated with TCA (P = 0.043). No association was found between SFCT or CVI and TCA, clinical activity score, exophthalmometric value, Inami value, diplopia status, gender or age (P > 0.05). Conclusions This is the first study that has demonstrated an increase in CVI in eyes with TAO compared with healthy controls and has assessed its association with clinical features.

scholarly journals Smartphone usage duration is not associated with increased pain or proprioception deficit in young adults with chronic mechanical low back pain: a cross-sectional study

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Magdy Wahba ◽  
Dina Othman Shokri Morsi Galal ◽  
Aliaa Rehan Youssef
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Task Completion ◽  
Smartphone Addiction ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Pain Scores ◽  
Smartphone Use ◽  
Continuous Use

Abstract Background Smartphone use has been associated with pain in the upper quadrant; however, the relationship between usage duration and low back pain is still unclear. This study investigated the association between continuous smartphone use up to 30-min and back pain severity and proprioception acuity in patients with chronic low back pain. Fifty-eight patients with chronic mechanical LBP played a game for 10- and 30-min. In each session, pain and back repositioning errors were measured at baseline and immediately after task completion. Results Pain significantly but slightly increased following smartphone use, regardless to the duration (after 10 min: mean increase = 0.75 ± 1.17, P value < 0.001, 95% CI 0.44–1.06; after 30 min: mean increase = 0.96 ± 1.93, P value < 0.001, 95% CI 0.44–1.46). However, changes in perceived pain scores were not significantly different between the two tested durations (P value = 0.42). Proprioception repositioning error was not significantly different within the same testing session (mean change = 0.08 ± 1.83, 0.13 ± 1.77, P value = 0.73, 0.58, 95% CI − 0.40–0.56, − 0.60–0.33, for the 10 and 30 min, respectively). The changes in proprioception were not significant between the two-tested durations (P value = 0.56). Further, smartphone addiction did not significantly affect changes in pain and proprioception after game playing, regardless of the duration (P > 0.05). Conclusions These findings show that smartphone use slightly increases back pain immediately after continuous use; with no effect on back proprioception within the duration tested in this study. Changes in pain and proprioception were not influenced by smartphone addiction.

Central neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis is associated with impaired innocuous thermal pathways and neuronal hyperexcitability

Pain Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Rivel ◽  
Anat Achiron ◽  
Mark Dolev ◽  
Yael Stern ◽  
Gaby Zeilig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Sensory Testing ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Central Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Body Regions ◽  
Thermal Grill Illusion

Abstract Objective About a third of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer from chronic and excruciating central neuropathic pain (CNP). The mechanism underlying CNP in MS is not clear, since previous studies are scarce and their results are inconsistent. Our aim was to determine whether CNP in MS is associated with impairment of the spinothalamic-thalamocortical pathways (STTCs) and/or increased excitability of the pain system. Design Cross sectional study Setting General hospital Subjects 47 MS patients with CNP, 42 MS patients without CNP, and 32 healthy controls. Methods Sensory testing included the measurement of temperature, pain, and touch thresholds and the thermal grill illusion (TGI) for evaluating STTCs function, and hyperpathia and allodynia as indicators of hyperexcitability. CNP was characterized using interviews and questionnaires. Results The CNP group had higher cold and warm thresholds (p &lt; 0.01), as well as higher TGI perception thresholds (p &lt; 0.05), especially in painful body regions compared to controls, whereas touch and pain thresholds values were normal. The CNP group also had a significantly greater prevalence of hyperpathia and allodynia. Regression analysis revealed that whereas presence of CNP was associated with a higher cold threshold, CNP intensity, and the number of painful body regions were associated with allodynia and hyperpathia, respectively. Conclusions CNP in MS is characterized by a specific impairment of STTC function; the innocuous thermal pathways, and by pain hyperexcitability. Whereas CNP presence is associated with STTC impairment, its severity and extent are associated with pain hyperexcitability. Interventions that reduce excitability level may therefore mitigate CNP severity.

scholarly journals Sensorimotor and body perception assessments of nonspecific chronic low back pain: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Meier ◽  
C. Emch ◽  
C. Gross-Wolf ◽  
F. Pfeiffer ◽  
A. Meichtry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sensorimotor System ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Clinical Tests ◽  
Body Perception ◽  
Cross Sectional

Abstract Background Low back pain (LBP) is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, causing significant personal and social burden. Current research is focused on the processes of the central nervous system (particularly the sensorimotor system) and body perception, with a view to developing new and more efficient ways to treat chronic low back pain (CLBP). Several clinical tests have been suggested that might have the ability to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system. These include back-photo assessment (BPA), two-point discrimination (TPD), and the movement control tests (MCT). The aim of this study was to determine whether the simple clinical tests of BPA, TPD or MCT are able to discriminate between nonspecific CLBP subjects with altered body perception and healthy controls. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted. At one point in time, 30 subjects with CLBP and 30 healthy controls were investigated through using BPA, TPD and MCT on the lower back. Correlations among the main covariates and odds ratios for group differences were calculated. Results MCT showed an odds ratio for the presence of CLBP of 1.92, with a statistically significant p-value (0.049) and 95%CI. The TPD and BPA tests were unable to determine significant differences between the groups. Conclusions Of the three tests investigated, MCT was found to be the only suitable assessment to discriminate between nonspecific CLBP subjects and healthy controls. The MCT can be recommended as a simple clinical tool to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system of nonspecific CLBP subjects. This could facilitate the development of tailored management strategies for this challenging LBP subgroup. However, further research is necessary to elucidate the potential of all the tests to detect alterations in the sensorimotor system of CLBP subjects. Trial registration No trial registration was needed as the study contains no intervention. The study was approved by the Swiss Ethics Commission of Northwest and Central Switzerland (EKNZ) reference number 2015–243.

scholarly journals Leakage of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles in stress-induced exhaustion disorder: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Wallensten ◽  
Anna Nager ◽  
Marie Åsberg ◽  
Kristian Borg ◽  
Aniella Beser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Cd40 Ligand ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Major Depressive ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Ligand Expression ◽  
Minor Traumatic Brain Injury ◽  
Exhaustion Disorder

AbstractPatients with stress-induced exhaustion disorder (SED) demonstrate cognitive dysfunction similar to patients with minor traumatic brain injury (TBI). We have previously detected elevated concentrations of astrocyte-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in patients with TBI. As such, we hypothesized that astrocyte-derived EVs could be higher in patients with SED than in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy controls. Patients with SED (n = 31), MDD (n = 31), and healthy matched controls (n = 61) were included. Astrocyte-derived EVs (previously known as microparticles) were measured in plasma with flow cytometry and labeled against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and aquaporin 4 (AQP4). In addition, platelet EVs and their CD40 ligand expression were measured. Patients with SED had significantly higher concentrations of AQP4 and GFAP-positive EVs and EVs co-expressing AQP4/GFAP than patients with MDD and healthy controls. Patients with MDD had significantly higher concentrations of GFAP-positive EVs and EVs co-expressing AQP4/GFAP than healthy controls. Platelet EVs did not differ between groups. CD40 ligand expression was significantly higher in patients with SED and MDD than in controls. In conclusion, the present study suggests that patients with SED, and to some extent, patients with MDD, have increased leakage of astrocyte-derived EVs through the blood–brain barrier.

scholarly journals Beijing Friendship Hospital Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Elderly Male (BFH-OSTM) vs Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX) for identifying painful new osteoporotic vertebral fractures in older Chinese men: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ning An ◽  
Ji Sheng Lin ◽  
Qi Fei
Keyword(s):  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Roc Curves ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Fracture Group ◽  
Friendship Hospital ◽  
Fracture Risk Assessment Tool ◽  
Older Chinese ◽  
Sensitivity Specificity

Abstract Background To compare the validation of four tools for identifying painful new osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (PNOVCFs) in older Chinese men: bone mineral density (BMD), Asian osteoporosis self-assessment tool (OSTA), World Health Organization fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX) (without BMD) and Beijing Friendship Hospital Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (BFH-OSTM). Methods A cross sectional study was conducted from 2013 to 2019. A total of 846 men aged ≥50 were included and were divided into two groups: Fracture Group (patients with PNOVCFs underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty surgery) and Non-Fracture Group (community dwelled subjects for healthy examination). All subjects accepted a dual-energy X-ray BMD test and a structured questionnaire. The results of BMD, OSTA, FRAX and BFH-OSTM scores were assessed and receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were generated to compare the validity of four tools for identifying PNOVCFs. Optimal cutoff points, sensitivity, specificity, and areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were determined. Results There were significant differences including BMD T score (femoral neck, total hip and L1-L4), OSTA, FRAX and BFH-OSTM scores between Fracture group and Non-fracture group. Compared to BMD and OSTA, BFH-OSTM and FRAX had better predictive value, the sensitivity, specificity and AUC value are 0.841, 81.29%, 70.67% and 0.796, 74.85%, 78.52%, respectively. Compared with FRAX, the BFH-OSTM has a better AUC value. Conclusions Both BFH-OSTM and FRAX can be used to identify POVCFs, However, BFH-OSTM model may be a more simple and effective tool to identify the risk of POVCFs in Chinese elderly men.

scholarly journals The importance of dysphagia screening and nutritional assessment in hospitalized patients

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Amaro Andrade ◽  
Carolina Araújo dos Santos ◽  
Heloísa Helena Firmino ◽  
Carla de Oliveira Barbosa Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Global Assessment ◽  
Assessment Tool ◽  
Nutritional Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Hospitalized Patients ◽  
The Body ◽  
Subjective Global Assessment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Knee Height

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine frequency of dysphagia risk and associated factors in hospitalized patients as well as to evaluate nutritional status by using different methods and correlate the status with scores of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10). Methods: This was a cross-sectional study including 909 inpatients of a philanthropic hospital. For the diagnosis of dysphagia we used an adapted and validated Brazilian version of the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10). The nutritional status was evaluated through the subjective global assessment, and anthropometric measurements included weight, calf and arm circumference, and knee height. The Mann-Whitney test, associations using the Pearson’s χ2 and Spearman’s correlation were used to verify differences between the groups. Results: The prevalence of dysphagia risk was 10.5%, and aging was the associated factor with this condition. Patients at risk presented lower values of arm and calf circumference, variables that correlated inversely with the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) score. Malnutrition was observed in 13.2% of patients based on the subjective global assessment and in 15.2% based on the Body Mass Index. Conclusion: Screening for dysphagia and malnutrition should be introduced in hospitals routine to avoid or minimize damages caused by dysphagia or malnutrition, especially among older people.

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