scholarly journals A pilot study of positive mood induction in euthymic bipolar subjects compared with healthy controls

2006 ◽  
Vol 36 (9) ◽  
pp. 1213-1218 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANNE FARMER ◽  
DOMINIC LAM ◽  
BARBARA SAHAKIAN ◽  
JONATHON ROISER ◽  
AILBHE BURKE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Positive Affect ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Visual Analogue Scales ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Happy Mood ◽  
Analogue Scales

Background. Demonstrating differences between euthymic bipolar subjects and healthy controls in response to positive (happy) mood induction may help elucidate how mania evolves. This pilot study evaluates the Go task in a reward paradigm as a method for inducing a happy mood state and compares the response of euthymic bipolar subjects and healthy controls.Method. The Sense of Hyperpositive Self Scale, the Tellegen positive and negative adjectives, the Global-Local task and a visual analogue scale for measuring positive affect were administered to 15 euthymic bipolar subjects and 19 age-and-sex-matched healthy control subjects before and after they had performed the Go task in a reward paradigm.Results. Significant differences were found between subjects and controls on several measures at each time-point but there were no differences across the groups across time except for the visual analogue scales, where subjects had a more sustained duration in self-reported happiness compared with controls.Conclusions. This pilot study has shown that a positive affect can be induced in bipolar subjects and controls which can be demonstrated by changes in scores on several tasks. However, only the visual analogue scales showed a significant difference between cases and controls over time. Such tests may prove valuable in furthering understanding about the evolution of manic mood states.

Pilot Study to Assess the use of Visual Analogue Scales in the Assessment of Angina

1987 ◽  
Vol 72 (s16) ◽  
pp. 10P-10P ◽  
Author(s):  
N Hounslow ◽  
Thai Wiseman ◽  
J D Stephens ◽  
Christine Marks ◽  
M J Vandenburg
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Visual Analogue Scales ◽  
Analogue Scales

scholarly journals Intervenção para o controle do peso corporal de adolescentes, utilizando videogames ativos: um estudo piloto

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-55
Author(s):  
Catiana Leila Possamai Romanzini ◽  
Beatriz Lara Leile Pavanello ◽  
Kessi Cassiane Iarosz ◽  
Vinícius Zandonadi Pires
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Waist Circumference ◽  
Video Games ◽  
Anthropometric Measures ◽  
Significance Level ◽  
Active Video Games ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Active Video ◽  
Before And After

Estratégias de intervenção que utilizam exergames que visam o estímulo à prática de atividade física, bem como à redução do tempo em comportamento sedentário, parecem ser caminhos promissores para lidar com o aumento das taxas de obesidade. Este foi o intuito do Projeto de Extensão “Exergaming para a saúde: intervenção para o controle do peso corporal em adolescentes utilizando videogames ativos”, contemplado com fomento do MEC/PROEXT no ano de 2013. O objetivo do estudo foi verificar o efeito de uma intervenção de oito semanas com videogames ativos sobre variáveis relacionadas ao peso corporal de adolescentes. Foi realizado um estudo piloto de intervenção de oito semanas com duração de 60 minutos por sessão, com uso dos exergames. Participaram do estudo oito escolares, com média de idade de 11,5±0,5 anos. Medidas antropométricas antes e após a intervenção foram realizadas. Utilizou-se a estatística descritiva e o teste t pareado, no SPSS 20.0 com nível de significância de p0,05. Observou-se que houve diferença estatisticamente significativa somente na circunferência de cintura (cm) com redução de 2,8 cm (p = 0,028). As demais variáveis analisadas não foram diferentes. O estudo piloto de uma intervenção de oito semanas com videogames ativos demonstrou possibilidade de redução de medidas antropométricas, tais como a circunferência de cintura dos adolescentes. Sugere-se que novos estudos com exergames tenham enfoque neste desfecho em um período mais longo de intervenção e/ou com maior número de sessões durante a semana.ABSTRACT. Intervention for the control of body weight in adolescents using active video games: a pilot study. Intervention strategies that use exergames that aim to stimulate the practice of physical activity, as well as the reduction of the time in sedentary behavior, through promising ways to deal with the increase of obesity rates. This is the way of Extension Project “Exergaming for health: intervention for the control of body weight in adolescents using active video games”, with fomentation of MEC/PROEXT in 2013. The aim of this study was to verify the effect of an eight-week intervention with active video games on variables related to adolescent body weight. An eight-week intervention study with a duration of 60 minutes per session, with use of exergames was performed. Eight schoolchildren participated, with mean age of 11.5±0.5 years. Anthropometric measures before and after the intervention were performed. Descriptive statistics and the non-parametric equivalent of paired t-test were used in SPSS 20.0 with significance level of p0.05. It was observed that there was a significant difference only in waist circumference (cm) with a reduction of 2.8 cm (p = 0.028). The other variables analyzed were not different. The pilot study of an eight-week intervention with active videogames demonstrated the possibility of reducing anthropometric measures, such as the waist circumference of adolescents. We suggested that new studies with exergames focus on this outcome over a longer period of intervention and/or with a larger number of sessions during the week. 

scholarly journals Pilot study on serum C-reactive protein in pet rabbits: clinical usefulness

2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. e000272
Author(s):  
Eiji Oohashi ◽  
Yuki Kimura ◽  
Kotaro Matsumoto
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Mortality Rate ◽  
Gastrointestinal Disease ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Dermatological Disease ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Wbc Count

ObjectivesThe present study was performed to evaluate the usefulness of serum C-reactive protein (CRP) as an acute phase reactive protein in pet rabbits in clinical practice.MethodsThe CRP level using a rabbit CRP ELISA and white blood cell (WBC) count in pet rabbits (30 healthy controls and 62 with various diseases) were measured in the clinical practice setting. The CRP level and WBC count were measured before and after ovariohysterectomy of a healthy rabbit and a rabbit with uterine adenocarcinoma. The association between the CRP level and mortality in rabbits with various diseases was assessed.ResultsThe CRP level in healthy controls was 0.52±0.82 mg/dl (mean±SD). No age and sex-related differences in neither the CRP level nor WBC count were observed in the healthy control rabbits. The CRP levels in rabbits with gastrointestinal disease (n=22, 11.74±22.89 mg/dl), reproductive and urinary system disease (n=20, 21.19±49.68 mg/dl), dental disease (n=6, 4.87±5.47 mg/dl) and musculoskeletal disease (n=4, 85.66±107.28 mg/dl) were significantly higher than those in healthy controls. The CRP levels in rabbits with neurological disease (n=7, 2.55±1.79 mg/dl) and dermatological disease (n=3, 8.84±7.71 mg/dl) were higher than those in healthy controls, but no significant difference was observed. The WBC counts were not significantly different between rabbits with diseases and healthy controls. Serum samples were collected from two rabbits before and after ovariohysterectomy. In both rabbits, the CRP peaked on postoperative day 1, but no obvious WBC peak was observed. The mortality rate increased as the CRP level increased; the mortality rate was significantly higher in rabbits with a CRP level of ≥100 mg/dl than of <10 mg/dl.ConclusionsThis study indicates that the serum CRP level is useful to determine the disease status, monitor the treatment course and evaluate the prognosis in pet rabbits in clinical practice.

scholarly journals Acupuncture and Lifestyle Myopia in Primary School Children—Results from a Transcontinental Pilot Study Performed in Comparison to Moxibustion

Medicines ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaojuan Shang ◽  
Luquan Chen ◽  
Gerhard Litscher ◽  
Yanxia Sun ◽  
Chuxiong Pan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Computer Work ◽  
Primary School Children ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Complementary Methods ◽  
Acupuncture And Moxibustion ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After

Background: Lifestyle risks for myopia are well known and the disease has become a major global public health issue worldwide. There is a relation between reading, writing, and computer work and the development of myopia. Methods: Within this prospective pilot study in 44 patients aged between 6 and 12 years with myopia we compared possible treatment effects of acupuncture or moxibustion. The diopters of the right and left eye were evaluated before and after the two treatment methods. Results: Myopia was improved in 14 eyes of 13 patients (15.9%) within both complementary methods. Using acupuncture an improvement was observed in seven eyes from six patients out of 22 patients and a similar result (improvement in seven eyes from seven patients out of 22 patients) was noticed in the moxibustion group. The extent of improvement was better in the acupuncture group (p = 0.008 s., comparison before and after treatment); however, group analysis between acupuncture and moxibustion revealed no significant difference. Conclusions: Possible therapeutic aspects with the help of evidence-based complementary methods like acupuncture or moxibustion have not yet been investigated adequately in myopic patients. Our study showed that both acupuncture and moxibustion can improve myopia of young patients. Acupuncture seems to be more effective than moxibustion in treating myopia, however group analysis did not prove this trend. Therefore, further Big data studies are necessary to confirm or refute the preliminary results.

scholarly journals Cognitive processing in bipolar disorder conceptualized using the Interactive Cognitive Subsystems (ICS) model

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 773-783 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Lomax ◽  
P. J. Barnard ◽  
D. Lam
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
Affective Processing ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Affective States ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Abstract Level

BackgroundThere are few theoretical proposals that attempt to account for the variation in affective processing across different affective states of bipolar disorder (BD). The Interacting Cognitive Subsystems (ICS) framework has been recently extended to account for manic states. Within the framework, positive mood state is hypothesized to tap into an implicational level of processing, which is proposed to be more extreme in states of mania.MethodThirty individuals with BD and 30 individuals with no history of affective disorder were tested in euthymic mood state and then in induced positive mood state using the Question–Answer task to examine the mode of processing of schemas. The task was designed to test whether individuals would detect discrepancies within the prevailing schemas of the sentences.ResultsAlthough the present study did not support the hypothesis that the groups differ in their ability to detect discrepancies within schemas, we did find that the BD group was significantly more likely than the control group to answer questions that were consistent with the prevailing schemas, both before and after mood induction.ConclusionsThese results may reflect a general cognitive bias, that individuals with BD have a tendency to operate at a more abstract level of representation. This may leave an individual prone to affective disturbance, although further research is required to replicate this finding.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Leptin Levels among Fibromyalgia Patients before and after Three Months of Treatment, in Comparison with Healthy Controls

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacob N Ablin ◽  
Natalia Aronov ◽  
Ilan Shimon ◽  
Hannah Kanety ◽  
Clara Pariente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Evaluation ◽  
Weight Control ◽  
Pain Perception ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Significant Information ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
Body Weight Control ◽  
Plasma Leptin

BACKGROUND: Leptin, an adipocyte-produced cytokine, interacts with various hormones, including those of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by widespread pain accompanied by tenderness. The pathogenesis involves a disturbance in pain processing and transmission by the central nervous system, leading to a general increase in pain perception.OBJECTIVES: To analyze potential changes in leptin levels among female fibromyalgia patients compared with healthy controls, and to evaluate the changes in leptin levels during treatment.METHODS: Sixteen female fibromyalgia patients were recruited. Patients underwent clinical evaluation, physical examination, including manual dolorimetry, and were evaluated regarding quality of life, pain, fatigue, anxiety and depression. Plasma leptin levels were determined by ELISA. Patients were offered standard treatment for fibromyalgia. Clinical evaluation and leptin determination were repeated after three months.RESULTS: No significant difference was observed between leptin levels among fibromyalgia patients and controls; no significant correlation was observed between leptin levels and clinical parameters reflecting fibromyalgia severity; and no significant change was observed in leptin levels over three months of treatment. These results did not change after adjustment of leptin levels for body mass index values.CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study do not support the existence of a significant relationship between leptin and fibromyalgia pathogenesis. Increasing the sample size or examining the interaction between leptin and additional hormones/mediators of metabolism and body weight control may yet uncover significant information in this field.

Comparison of Co-phenylcaine Spray or Lidocaine/Epinephrine Nasal Packing for Flexible Laryngoscopy

2010 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. CMENT.S4533 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.P. De Freitas ◽  
B.C. Hanna ◽  
S.J. Hall
Keyword(s):  
Case Series ◽  
Nasal Packing ◽  
Flexible Laryngoscopy ◽  
Visual Analogue Scales ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Prospective Case Series ◽  
Analogue Scales

Background Nasal preparation prior to flexible laryngoscopy is a common ENT practice. Co-phenylcaine is increasingly used because it is safe and has both anaesthetic and vasoconstrictive properties. Lidocaine 4% and epinephrine 1:1000 nasal packing is another method used in our department. Methods A prospective case series was performed on eighty-one patients requiring flexible laryngoscopy. Patients were enrolled into either a co-phenylcaine or a lidocaine/epinephrine packing group. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were used to record unpleasantness of nasal preparation and flexible laryngoscopy. Decongestion and ease of endoscope passage were recorded by the doctors. Results Bad taste was statistically significantly worse when using cophenylcaine for nasal preparation ( P = 0.001). However, there was no statistically significant difference in overall unpleasantness from nasal preparation or from subsequent flexible laryngoscopy between the two groups. There was no statistically significant difference in degree of decongestion or ease of endoscope passage between the two groups. Conclusion There is no statistically significant advantage of using cophenylcaine spray over non-proprietary lidocaine 4% and epinephrine 1:1000 nasal packing. However cost and bad taste is less with nasal packing.

scholarly journals Increased Circulating Th17 Cells, Serum IL-17A, and IL-23 in Takayasu Arteritis

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Durga Prasanna Misra ◽  
Smriti Chaurasia ◽  
Ramnath Misra
Keyword(s):  
Disease Activity ◽  
Takayasu Arteritis ◽  
Peripheral Blood ◽  
Th17 Cells ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Nonparametric Tests ◽  
Symptom Duration ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After

Introduction.Th17,γδT, NK, and NKT cells in peripheral blood and serum IL-17 and IL-23 in Takayasu arteritis (TA) were measured and correlated with disease activity.Methods.Th17 (anti-CD3APC, CD4PECy7, and IL-17PE), NKT, NK (anti-CD3APC, CD56FITC), andγδT (anti-CD3FITC andγδTCRAPC) cells were enumerated by flow cytometry in peripheral blood of 30 patients with TA (ACR1990 criteria) and 20 healthy controls, serum IL-17 and IL-23 measured by ELISA. Relation with disease activity (NIH criteria, ITAS2010) was analyzed (using nonparametric tests, median with interquartile range).Results.Mean age of patients was33.47±11.78years (25 females); mean symptom duration was7.1±5.3years. 13 were not on immunosuppressants; 12 were active (ITAS2010 ≥ 4). The percentage of Th17 cells was significantly expanded in TA (patients 2.1 (1.5–3.2) versus controls 0.75 (0.32–1.2);p<0.0001) with no differences in other cell populations. Serum IL-17 and IL-23 (pg/mL) in patients (6.2 (4.6–8.5) and 15 (14.9–26.5), resp.) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than controls (3.9 (3.9–7.3) and undetectable median value, resp.). Subgroup analysis revealed no correlation of Th17 cells, serum IL-17, and IL-23 with disease activity or medications, nor any significant difference before and after medication.Conclusions.There is significant expansion of Th17 cells and elevated serum IL-17 and IL-23 levels in TA patients compared to healthy controls.

Emotional vulnerability and cognitive control in patients with bipolar disorder and their healthy siblings: a pilot study

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 54-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathrin Houshmand ◽  
Peter Bräunig ◽  
Siegfried Gauggel ◽  
Katrin Kliesow ◽  
Rahul Sarkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Disorder ◽  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cognitive Control ◽  
Response Inhibition ◽  
Emotional Regulation ◽  
Mood State ◽  
Emotional Arousal ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Healthy Siblings ◽  
Emotional Vulnerability

Scheuch K, Bräunig P, Gauggel S, Kliesow K, Sarkar R, Krüger S. Emotional vulnerability and cognitive control in patients with bipolar disorder and their healthy siblings: a pilot study.Objective:There is evidence that, even in remission, patients with bipolar disorder (BD) have deficits in cognitive function and emotional regulation. Siblings of patients with BD are also reported to exhibit minor dysfunction in neuropsychological domains. In this study, we examined the interference of acute mood state with reaction time (RT) and response inhibition in euthymic patients with BD, in their healthy siblings and in healthy controls.Methods:A total of 34 patients with bipolar I disorder, 22 healthy siblings and 33 healthy controls performed a stop-signal paradigm after induction of a transient intense sadness and a relaxed mood state. The differences in RT and the response inhibition were compared between the groups.Results:Euthymic patients with BD displayed a higher emotional reactivity compared with their siblings and with controls. Compared with controls, patients with BD showed longer RTs in a relaxed mood state and a delay in response inhibition during emotional activation.Conclusions:The present study provides evidence for the clinical observation that patients with BD have shorter RTs when in a state of emotional arousal rather than in a relaxed state. Inhibitory deficits in these patients may be because of a too strong emotional arousal. The results show that in patients with BD, relaxation and emotional arousal are inversely associated with performance in a neuropsychological task. This is in contrast to findings in healthy individuals suggesting a dysbalance in emotional regulation in these patients.

scholarly journals Alteration of Serum Levels of Cytokines in Schizophrenic Patients before and after Treatment with Risperidone

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Esfandiar Azizi ◽  
Ahmad Zavaran Hosseini ◽  
Sara Soudi ◽  
Ahmad Ali Noorbala
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Subjects ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Syndrome Scale ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Schizophrenic Patients ◽  
Ifn Γ

A growing body of evidence suggests the existence of abnormalities in the immune system of schizophrenic patients. The current study examined serum levels of interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6, IL-2,interferon(IFN) -γ, and tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α in schizophrenic patients before and after treatment with risperidone and correlated levels of these cytokines with symptomatology. The study group consisted of 24 schizophrenic patients as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 4th edition (DSM-IV) criteria and 24 healthy controls. Serum cytokine levels were examined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Schizophrenic symptomatology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) questionnaire. The serum levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly higher in participants before treatment compared with the healthy controls and after treatment (p<0.001). IFN-γ and IL-2 levels were significantly lower in participants after treatment compared with before treatment and the healthy controls (p<0.001). Except for IL-6 (p<0.05), there was no significant difference in the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β between the patients receiving treatment and the healthy subjects. Moreover, there was no significant difference in levels of IFN-γ and IL-2 between patients before treatment and the healthy subjects. There were no significant correlations between the concentration of cytokines studied and the PANSS. Positive intercorrelations between the production of IFN-γ and IL-2 were detected for sums of all groups(r=0.33, p=0.005). Clinical improvement of treated patients was associated with a reduction in the studied cytokines. It seems that changes in the cytokines level may play a significant role in the psychopathology of these patients.

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