Phenotypic characterisation of paroxysmal dyskinesia in Sphynx cats

2021 ◽  
pp. 1098612X2110321
Author(s):  
Matthew Green ◽  
Laurent Garosi ◽  
Claire Bessant ◽  
Mark Lowrie
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Spontaneous Remission ◽  
Classification Systems ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Paroxysmal Dyskinesia ◽  
Video Footage ◽  
Phenotypic Characterisation ◽  
Episode Frequency

Objectives The aim of this study was to identify the phenotypic features of a paroxysmal dyskinesia observed in Sphynx cats. Methods The owners of affected Sphynx cats were invited to provide video footage of abnormal episodes for review. Those that demonstrated episodes consistent with paroxysmal dyskinesia were then invited to complete an online questionnaire designed to allow further characterisation. Results Ten Sphynx cats were included in the study. All affected cats were <4 years of age at the onset of the episodes (range 0.5–4.0). The episodes had a duration of <5 mins in 9/10 cats (range 0.5–10), while episode frequency was variable between and within individual cats. The episodes were characterised by impaired ambulation due to muscle hypertonicity, most commonly affecting the hips and pelvic limbs (9/10) and shoulders and thoracic limbs (8/10). The head and neck (6/10), tail (5/10), and back and abdomen (3/10) were also involved in some cats. Sudden movement, excitement and stress were identified as possible triggers for the episodes in three cats. Therapeutic intervention was not attempted in 7/10 cases, although two cats were reported to become free of the episodes while receiving acetazolamide. The two cats that were followed beyond 2 years from onset entered spontaneous remission. None of the owners believed that the abnormal episodes had affected the quality of life of their cat. Conclusions and relevance The phenotype of paroxysmal dyskinesia in Sphynx cats presented in this study appears to share similarities with paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia described in human classification systems. Some cats appear to achieve episode freedom spontaneously. Subsequent research should focus on evaluating response to treatment and determining an underlying genetic cause.

scholarly journals Adherence to Therapy, Physical and Mental Quality of Life in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 672
Author(s):  
Alessandra Buja ◽  
Guendalina Graffigna ◽  
Simona F. Mafrici ◽  
Tatjana Baldovin ◽  
Carlo Pinato ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Behavioral Interventions ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Health Index ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adherence To Therapy

Ensuring multiple sclerosis (MS) patients’ adherence to therapy is often challenging, but it is crucial to their survival and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of the present study was to outline connections between adherence, physical and mental HRQoL, levels of psychological readiness to engage in a treatment, levels of social support, anthropometric, socio-demographic and clinical factors in patients suffering from MS. This cross-sectional study involved a sample of 237 Italian MS patients. A survey was conducted with a structured self-administered online questionnaire using validated measures of quality of life, adherence to therapy and anthropometric, socio-demographic, psychological and clinical variables. A path analysis was used to test the overall structure of the associations between the variables. The pathway indicates a positive association between mental health index and a stronger degree of engagement and being or having been in a long-term relationship. Physical health index was positively associated with age, having an occupation, and having a specific form of MS. Having had relapses in the previous year raised the odds of better adherence to therapy, while an increase in Body Mass Index (BMI) reduced them. Our findings could help in the management of MS patients, promoting behavioral interventions that take the psychological and socio-demographic peculiarities of each patient into account with a view to improving their adherence to therapy.

Associations Between Profiles of Communication About Aging and Quality of Life for Middle-Aged and Older American Adults

2017 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Gasiorek ◽  
John P. Barile
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Life Stress ◽  
Latent Profile Analysis ◽  
Satisfaction With Life ◽  
Profile Analysis ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Health Related

The association between how middle-aged and older adults talk about aging and their quality of life was examined using latent profile analysis and regression techniques. Two-hundred eight-six adults with an average age of 52.82 (range: 45–77) completed an online questionnaire, which assessed participants’ self-reported communication about aging, stress, health-related quality of life, and satisfaction with life. Controlling for social support and demographics, participants’ profile of communication about aging was found to predict satisfaction with life, stress, and mental health but not general or physical health.

scholarly journals Cyberchondria severity and quality of life among Lebanese adults: the mediating role of fear of COVID-19, depression, anxiety, stress and obsessive–compulsive behavior—a structural equation model approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clara Rahme ◽  
Marwan Akel ◽  
Sahar Obeid ◽  
Souheil Hallit
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Equation Model ◽  
Mediating Effect ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Obsessive Compulsive ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Compulsive Disorder

Abstract Background This study highlights the significant association between cyberchondria and quality of life among the Lebanese population in the time of COVID-19. The aim was to assess the association between cyberchondria and quality of life (QOL) of Lebanese community during the COVID-19 pandemic and assess the mediating effect of fear of COVID-19, depression, anxiety, stress and Yale-Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale in this association. Methods This cross-sectional study was carried out between December 2020 and January 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. A total of 449 persons participated in this study by filling the online questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to examine the structural relationship between cyberchondria severity, the mediator (anxiety, stress, depression, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) and fear of COVID-19) and physical/mental QOL. Results Having a university level of education and older age were significantly associated with higher physical QOL scores, whereas higher obsession-compulsion disorder, higher stress and higher anxiety were significantly associated with lower physical QOL scores. Higher anxiety was significantly associated with lower mental QOL scores. The results of the SEM showed that stress, fear of COVID-19 and to a lesser limit OCD, mediated the association between cyberchondria severity and physical QOL, whereas anxiety, stress and fear of COVID-19 mediated the association between cyberchondria severity and mental QOL. Conclusion This research reported interesting results encouraging more exploration of cyberchondria and its association with quality of life during this unique period of the pandemic. However, this virus has altered the lives of individuals all across the world, and the consequences will last for a long time. Along with all of the steps done to stop the development of COVID-19 and improve physical outcomes, mental health requires immediate care. More research is needed to determine the coping techniques people are employing to deal with the pandemic.

scholarly journals Association between sexuality and quality of life in older adults

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edison Vitório de Souza Júnior ◽  
Diego Pires Cruz ◽  
Cristiane dos Santos Silva ◽  
Randson Souza Rosa ◽  
Gabriele da Silva Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Training Development ◽  
Regression Tests

ABSTRACT Objective: To analyze the association between the experiences of sexuality and quality of life in older adults. Method: Cross-sectional study developed with a total of 300 older adults living in northeastern Brazil. Data collection was carried out entirely online between August and October 2020. Participants completed the online questionnaire containing three instruments for assessing bio sociodemographic data, sexuality and quality of life. Data analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney, Kruskal-Wallis, Spearman correlation and multivariate linear regression tests, adopting a 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05). Results: Older adults experience better affective relationships and have better quality of life in sensory abilities and intimacy. In the regression analysis, only affective relationships (β = 0.510; [95% CI: 0.340–0.682]; p < 0.001) and physical and social adversities (β = −0.180; [95% CI:−1.443–0.434]; p < 0.001) remained associated with the general quality of life of older adults. Conclusion: Health professionals must invest in training, development of individual and group educational interventions, in addition to promoting the strengthening of bonds between older adults so that they feel free and comfort in expressing their intimate needs.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Quality of Life of 231 Children With Primary Nephrotic Syndrome and Assessing Parental Awareness of the Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Na Li ◽  
Jia Hao ◽  
Tong Fu ◽  
Yue Du
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Integrated Management ◽  
Psychological Wellbeing ◽  
Average Score ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Primary Nephrotic Syndrome ◽  
Making Friends

Objective: This study aims to investigate the quality of life of children with primary nephrotic syndrome (PNS), assess their parents' disease awareness, and provide a basis for the comprehensive management of children with PNS.Methods: A total of 231 children with PNS who were hospitalized in the Department of Pediatric Renal Rheumatology and Immunology in the ShengJing Hospital of the China Medical University from March 2019 to October 2020 were selected as the study subjects. The subjects and their parents were surveyed via a disease education and communication WeChat group and online questionnaire to investigate the children's quality of life, the needs of the parents, and their knowledge related to the disease.Results: In 93.51% of cases, the child's quality of life was affected, with mild to moderate effects being the most frequent (90.47%). The lowest overall quality of life scores were recorded for children who had been diagnosed 1–3 year prior to inclusion in the study, and the scores plateaued thereafter. On the physical functioning scale, the longer the illness, the greater the physical impact, with children typically experiencing pain and fatigue. The children generally scored low on the emotional functioning scale, exhibiting sleep disturbances for up to 5 years and worrying about accidents. The children's average score on the social functioning scale was high, with males achieving significantly higher scores (69.61 ± 25.42) than females (62.30 ± 27.51), and more than one-third of the children experiencing problems getting along with other teenagers and making friends. The primary problems expressed by parents were anxiety (59%), sadness (44%), fear (43%), and depression (40%), and several parents indicated that they struggled with issues of self-blame.Conclusion: PNS impacts the physical and psychological wellbeing of children suffering from the condition, significantly reduces their quality of life, and negatively impacts the psychological wellbeing of their parents. Therefore, children with PNS and their families need integrated management by doctors, nurses, dieticians, psychotherapists, educational institutions, and social stakeholders to improve their quality of life.

DICE: Study Protocol for a Randomised Trial Investigating a Novel Therapy Called TAK228 in Ovarian Cancer Resistant to Standard Treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Webber ◽  
Francesca Fiorentino ◽  
Jonathan Krell ◽  
Consuelo Nohpal de la Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Adverse Events ◽  
Standard Treatment ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Weekly Paclitaxel ◽  
Novel Therapy ◽  
Platinum Based Chemotherapy

Abstract Background:The standard initial treatment for ovarian cancer is surgery and platinum-based chemotherapy and potentially maintenance therapy with avastin or inhibitors of poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP). While a proportion of women are cured by this approach, the vast majority will relapse and become resistant to platinum chemotherapy either initially or on subsequent treatment. There is an unmet need to improve response to treatment and quality of life in these women. TAK228 is a novel therapy that can be added to standard treatment in the participant population and the aim of the DICE trial is to assess its effectiveness. Laboratory and clinical research has shown that these ovarian cancers may respond to the molecular target of a drug such as TAK228, and there have been studies using it in other advanced solid tumours including endometrial cancer. Methods: 124 eligible women will be recruited from participating research sites in the United Kingdom (UK) and Germany. Randomised participants will receive either weekly paclitaxel alone (standard treatment, n=62) or TAK228 plus weekly paclitaxel (n=62) until the cancer significantly worsens, there are significant adverse events or any other protocol-defined stopping criteria. Participants will be monitored for response to treatment (using radiological imaging), adverse events and quality of life during both randomised treatment and subsequent follow up.Discussion:The primary objective/endpoint of the study is to compare the two treatments in terms of progression free survival, or the length of time that each participant is alive without the cancer significantly worsening according to defined assessment criteria. If the addition of TAK228 to weekly paclitaxel chemotherapy is shown to significantly improve this statistically, and adverse events and quality of life are not significantly worse than standard treatment, then TAK228 plus weekly paclitaxel could potentially be taken forward within the context of a larger phase III trial.Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03648489. Registered 27th August 2018.https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03648489

Phase II Study of Vinorelbine in Patients With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma

2000 ◽  
Vol 18 (23) ◽  
pp. 3912-3917 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy P. C. Steele ◽  
Jonathan Shamash ◽  
Marie T. Evans ◽  
Nicole H. Gower ◽  
Marc D. Tischkowitz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Stage Iv ◽  
Staging System ◽  
Median Number ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Pleural Mesothelioma ◽  
Stage Iv Disease ◽  
New Guidelines

PURPOSE: To evaluate the response rate and impact on quality of life of vinorelbine given as cycles of 30 mg/m2 weekly for 6 weeks to patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-nine patients with histologically proven malignant pleural mesothelioma were enrolled (26 male patients and three female patients; median age, 58 years [range, 29 to 77 years]). Seventeen patients had epithelioid tumors, two had sarcomatoid tumors, and 10 had biphasic tumors. The International Mesothelioma Interest Group staging system was used: one patient had stage Ib disease, 10 had stage II disease, eight had stage III disease, and 10 had stage IV disease. Patients were treated with weekly injections of vinorelbine 30 mg/m2. A cycle consisted of six weekly injections. The new guidelines to evaluate the response to treatment in solid tumors were used. Responses were measured by spiral computed tomography scan. RESULTS: All twenty-nine patients had measurable disease and were assessed for response. There were seven partial responses (24% [95% confidence interval, 10% to 44%]), 16 patients had stable disease (55%), and six patients had disease progression on therapy (21%). The median number of vinorelbine injections was 12 (range, 2 to 30). Quality-of-life analyses showed a benefit for vinorelbine therapy. CONCLUSION: Vinorelbine shows promise in the palliation of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The relatively low toxicity of the drug suggests that trials of vinorelbine in combination with other agents should be feasible.

scholarly journals Women’s Quality of Life at 6 Weeks Postpartum: Influence of the Discomfort Present in the Puerperium

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Martínez-Galiano ◽  
Antonio Hernández-Martínez ◽  
Julián Rodríguez-Almagro ◽  
Miguel Delgado-Rodríguez ◽  
Ana Rubio-Alvarez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Postnatal Period ◽  
Study Data ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Postpartum Woman ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional

Background: Discomfort during the puerperium period is very frequent in the lives of women but the influence of this discomfort on the women’s quality of life has been little studied. The objective of this study is to establish the association between discomfort and frequent problems of women in the puerperium and their quality of life score. Methods: A cross-sectional study on postpartum Spanish women was performed. Women older than 18 years and who had had a live birth were included. Less than 1% of women refused to participate in the study. Data were collected on socio-demographic, obstetric and newborn variables, on maternal problems/ discomfort in the postnatal period and on parameters that are quality of life indicators. An ad hoc online questionnaire which included the SF-36 Health Survey was used. Crude mean difference (cMD) and adjusted mean difference (aMD) were calculated through multiple linear regression. Results: 2990 women participated in the study. The greater problems causing quality of life loss were depressive symptoms (aMD = −12.40, CI 95%: −10.79, −14.01), lactation problems (aMD = −4.30, CI 95%: −2.97, −5.63), problems for sexual intercourse after childbirth (aMD = −6.34, CI 95%: −5.07, −7.60) and urinary incontinence (aMD = −4.97, CI 95%: −6.30, −3.65), among others. These have been detected as risk factors that affect the quality of life of the postpartum woman. Conclusions: The discomfort and problems manifested in the 6 weeks after childbirth have an influence that deeply affects the quality of life of postpartum women.

What factors influence feeling competent as a parent with multiple sclerosis?

2019 ◽  
pp. 174239531989531
Author(s):  
Michele Messmer Uccelli ◽  
Michela Ponzio ◽  
Silvia Traversa
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Multiple Sclerosis ◽  
Parenting Competence ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Sense Of Competence ◽  
Disease Information ◽  
Parenting Sense Of Competence ◽  
Related Quality ◽  
Media Channels

Objective To identify factors that influence the perception parents with multiple sclerosis have of their competence in parenting. Method/design Subjects were parents of a child with a maximum of 18 years of age recruited through a national multiple sclerosis organization’s social media channels. Data on demographic and disease information, mood, coping, quality of life and perceived social support were collected using an anonymous online questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess associations between these variables and subjects’ perception of parenting sense of competence. Results The sample consisted of 285 parents with multiple sclerosis, with a mean age of 41 years and a mean disease duration of 10.4 years. In the multivariate analysis, independent determinants of lower parenting sense of competence were anxiety ( p =  0.012), depression ( p =  0.001) and dysfunctional coping ( p =  0.005). Problem-focused coping ( p =  0.029) and higher physical and mental scores on the SF-12 ( p =  0.006, p <  0.001, respectively) were related to a higher parenting sense of competence. Higher parent age correlated with a lower sense of parenting competence ( p =  0.002). Conclusions The perception parents with multiple sclerosis have of their parenting competence was most strongly correlated with mood, coping strategies and health-related quality of life, factors that are potentially modifiable.

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