scholarly journals The Psychological and Biological Impact of “In-Person” vs. “Virtual” Choir Singing in Children and Adolescents: A Pilot Study Before and After the Acute Phase of the COVID-19 Outbreak in Austria

2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katarzyna Grebosz-Haring ◽  
Anna K. Schuchter-Wiegand ◽  
Anja C. Feneberg ◽  
Nadine Skoluda ◽  
Urs M. Nater ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Moderate Increase ◽  
Social Contacts ◽  
Choral Singing ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Children And Young Adolescents ◽  
Age Range

Psychobiological responses to music have been examined previously in various naturalistic settings in adults. Choir singing seems to be associated with positive psychobiological outcomes in adults. However, evidence on the effectiveness of singing in children and adolescents is sparse. The COVID-19 outbreak is significantly affecting society now and in the future, including how individuals engage with music. The COVID-19 pandemic is occurring at a time when virtual participation in musical experiences such as singing in a virtual choir has become more prevalent. However, it remains unclear whether virtual singing leads to different responses in comparison with in-person singing. We evaluated the psychobiological effects of in-person choral singing (7 weeks, from January to March 2020, before the COVID-19 outbreak) in comparison with the effects of virtual choral singing (7 weeks, from May to July 2020, after schools partly re-opened in Austria) in a naturalistic pilot within-subject study. A group of children and young adolescents (N = 5, age range 10–13, female = 2) from a school in Salzburg, Austria were recruited to take part in the study. Subjective measures (momentary mood, stress) were taken pre- and post-singing sessions once a week. Additionally, salivary biomarkers (cortisol and alpha-amylase) and quantity of social contacts were assessed pre- and post-singing sessions every second week. Psychological stability, self-esteem, emotional competences, and chronic stress levels were measured at the beginning of in-person singing as well as at the beginning and the end of the virtual singing. We observed a positive impact on mood after both in-person and virtual singing. Over time, in-person singing showed a pre-post decrease in salivary cortisol, while virtual singing showed a moderate increase. Moreover, a greater reduction in stress, positive change in calmness, and higher values of social contacts could be observed for the in-person setting compared to the virtual one. In addition, we observed positive changes in psychological stability, maladaptive emotional competences, chronic stress levels, hair cortisol, self-contingency and quality of life. Our preliminary findings suggest that group singing may provide benefits for children and adolescents. In-person singing in particular seems to have a stronger psychobiological effect.

scholarly journals The Impact of Maryam Exercise Towards the Stress Level and Cortisol Serum Level among Primiparous Pregnant Women

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
pp. 598-607
Author(s):  
Maya Erisna ◽  
Runjati Runjati ◽  
Apoina Kartini ◽  
Mahalul Azam ◽  
Donny Kristanto Mulyantoro
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Stress Levels ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Experimental Group

Women are more at risk to stress in pregnancy than during the puerperium. One method of coping with stress is through physical exercise. Maryam Exercise can be used as an alternative to the development of pregnancy exercises in Indonesia because it covers the holistic aspects and easy to do. It is a combination of basic pregnancy exercises, Islamic prayer (Salat) movements and dhikr.  The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of Maryam exercise on the stress levels and cortisol serum levels among primiparous pregnant women. This study used a quasi-experimental study design, pre-test and post-test with non-equivalent control group. In the third trimester of 40 primiparous women  were randomly assigned into two groups such the experimental group (n=20) and the control group (n=20). The experimental group received the Maryam exercise while the control group received the standard antenatal exercise. There was a significant difference in stress levels between the intervention group and the control group before and after receiving the intervention (p <0.05). The cortisol levels also showed the significance difference between the intervention group and the control group before and after receiving the intervention (p <0.05). The findings of this study suggest that Maryam Exercise has a positive impact on stress levels and cortisol serum levels of primiparous pregnant women.

Study the Relationship Between Estrogen Hormone and Calcium in Normal Females Before and After Menopause in Baghdad / Iraq

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sameerah Mustafa ◽  
Asal Tawfeeq ◽  
Hadeel Hasan
Keyword(s):  
Oral Contraceptive ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Oral Contraceptive Pills ◽  
Contraceptive Pills ◽  
Menopausal Women ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B ◽  
Age Range

This study involved the collection of (90) samples of women serum which included (30) serum samples collected from women before menopause (reproductive women) in the age range of (22-43) years and were considered as (group A- control). While, (group B) included (30) serum samples collected from women using oral contraceptive pills between the ages of (22-43) years old. Whereas, another (30) serum samples were collected from women after menopause between the ages of (43-54) years and were considered as (group C). All of the collected serum samples were subjected to a number of serological and chemical tests for the measurement of (E2, HDL, LDL and Ca). Then, the obtained data were statistical analyzed and results showed a significant decrease (p˂ 0.05) in (E2 ,Ca and HDL) levels in menopausal women compared to that of the normal healthy controls. While, there were non-significant decrease (p> 0.05) in (E2, Ca and HDL) levels in women taking oral contraceptive when compared to the normal healthy controls. On the other hand, a significant increase (p˂ 0.05) was recorded in LDL level in menopausal women compared to that of the normal healthy controls whereas, no-significant increase (p˃ 0.05) in the LDL level in women taking oral contraceptives when compared to the control women.

Strategic Role of Zakat in Multidimensional Quality of Life in Sijunjung, Indonesia

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-72
Author(s):  
Herlin Hamimi ◽  
Abdul Ghafar Ismail ◽  
Muhammad Hasbi Zaenal
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Wealth Distribution ◽  
Absolute Poverty ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Status ◽  
Being There ◽  
The Impact

Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam which has a function of faith, social and economic functions. Muslims who can pay zakat are required to give at least 2.5 per cent of their wealth. The problem of poverty prevalent in disadvantaged regions because of the difficulty of access to information and communication led to a gap that is so high in wealth and resources. The instrument of zakat provides a paradigm in the achievement of equitable wealth distribution and healthy circulation. Zakat potentially offers a better life and improves the quality of human being. There is a human quality improvement not only in economic terms but also in spiritual terms such as improving religiousity. This study aims to examine the role of zakat to alleviate humanitarian issues in disadvantaged regions such as Sijunjung, one of zakat beneficiaries and impoverished areas in Indonesia. The researcher attempted a Cibest method to capture the impact of zakat beneficiaries before and after becoming a member of Zakat Community Development (ZCD) Program in material and spiritual value. The overall analysis shows that zakat has a positive impact on disadvantaged regions development and enhance the quality of life of the community. There is an improvement in the average of mustahik household incomes after becoming a member of ZCD Program. Cibest model demonstrates that material, spiritual, and absolute poverty index decreased by 10, 5, and 6 per cent. Meanwhile, the welfare index is increased by 21 per cent. These findings have significant implications for developing the quality of life in disadvantaged regions in Sijunjung. Therefore, zakat is one of the instruments to change the status of disadvantaged areas to be equivalent to other areas.

BESTIMMUNG DER INSULINAKTIVITÄT IM MENSCHLICHEM SERUM NACH GLUKOSEBELASTUNG ALS PRÜFUNG DER FUNKTIONSFÄHIGKEIT DES PANKREAS

1963 ◽  
Vol 42 (3) ◽  
pp. 437-452 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Daweke
Keyword(s):  
Blood Sugar ◽  
Pancreatic Insufficiency ◽  
Normal Subjects ◽  
Insulin Binding ◽  
Epididymal Adipose Tissue ◽  
Moderate Increase ◽  
Glucose Loading ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Oral Hypoglycaemic Drugs ◽  
Severity Of The Disease

Using the method of glucose-1-14C oxydation to 14CO2 on the rat epididymal adipose tissue, the insulin-like activities (ILA) in the serum have been compared before and after oral loading with glucose in normal subjects, in maturity-onset diabetics and in insulin-requiring diabetics. In maturity-onset diabetics mean fasting values were found to be 30% below normal while in insulin-requiring diabetics they were 85% above normal. In normal subjects there was observed, 30 minutes after glucose loading, a moderate increase in blood sugar together with an increase of ILA of 222% above the starting value; in maturity-onset diabetics the increase in ILA was only 106% while the blood sugar was markedly increased. After glucose loading in maturity-onset diabetics, the total amount of insulin detected during the period of the experiment was, on the average, only 45% of that found in normal subjects. In insulin requiring diabetics there was no increase but, on the contrary, a steady decrease of the ILA values, while the blood sugar excessively increased. In general ILA values were higher than those in maturity-onset diabetics. No difference in response was found between maturity-onset diabetics treated with diet alone and those treated with diet and oral hypoglycaemic drugs. In contrast to the absolute ILA values, the index of insulin reserve, is of value in assessing the functional capacity of the pancreas. This index decreases progressively with the severity of the disease and reaches a maximum of 54% of the normal in maturity-onset diabetics, which can satisfactorily be explained by pancreas insufficiency. Only in some cases of insulin-requiring diabetics was an insulin reserve still detectable. The biological inactivity of the insulin circulating in the blood can be deduced from the increased ILA-values, as compared with those found in maturity-onset diabetics. Obviously some of this insulin can be released by the addition of glucose. It is likely that, in addition to pancreatic insufficiency, insulin-binding or insulin-inactivating antibodies play a part in the pathogenesis of insulin-requiring diabetes.

scholarly journals One Song, Many Voices: Dementia and The Power of Music

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 775-775
Author(s):  
Debra Sheets ◽  
Stuart MacDonald ◽  
Andre Smith
Keyword(s):  
High School Students ◽  
Social Inclusion ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Social Connections ◽  
Social Connection ◽  
School Students ◽  
Choral Singing ◽  
Novel Approach ◽  
Care Partners

Abstract Choral singing is a novel approach to reduce dementia stigma and social isolation while offering participants a sense of purpose, joy and social connection. The pervasiveness of stigma surrounding dementia remains one of the biggest barriers to living life with dignity following a diagnosis (Alzheimer Society of Canada, 2018). This paper examines how a social inclusion model of dementia care involving an intergenerational choir for people living with dementia, their care partners and high school students can reduce stigma and foster social connections. Multiple methodologies are used to investigate the effects of choir participation on cognition, stress levels, social connections, stigma, and quality of life. Results demonstrate the positive impact of choir participation and indicate that this socially inclusive intervention offers an effective, non-pharmacological alternative for older adults living with dementia in the community. Discussion focuses on the importance of instituting meaningful and engaging dementia-friendly activities at the community level.

scholarly journals Socioeconomic Differences in Walking Time of Children and Adolescents to Public Green Spaces in Urban Areas—Results of the German Environmental Survey (2014–2017)

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2326
Author(s):  
Julia Rehling ◽  
Christiane Bunge ◽  
Julia Waldhauer ◽  
André Conrad
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Green Spaces ◽  
Environmental Survey ◽  
Urban Green Spaces ◽  
Public Green Space ◽  
Walking Time

Public green spaces have a high potential for a positive impact on people’s health and wellbeing, especially in urban areas. Studies on environmental justice indicate socially unequal access possibilities to urban green spaces. This article presents results on associations between individual socioeconomic position (SEP) and walking time from home to public green spaces in young people living in urban areas with more than 20,000 inhabitants in Germany. Data were derived from the German Environmental Survey for Children and Adolescents 2014–2017 (GerES V), the environmental module of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS Wave 2). The sample comprises 1149 participants aged 3 to 17 years. A total of 51.5% of the participants reach a public green space on foot within five and 72.8% within ten minutes from home. The lower the participant’s SEP, the longer the walking time. Logistic regression models controlling for age group, sex, migration background, and region of residence show that participants with a low SEP have a significantly higher risk (odds ratio = 1.98; 95% confidence interval: 1.31–2.99) of needing more than ten minutes to walk from home to a public green space than participants with a high SEP. GerES V data indicate that young people living in urban areas in Germany do not equally benefit from the health-promoting potential of green spaces, which is an important aspect of environmental health inequalities.

scholarly journals Subtle changes of the crystalline lens after cycloplegia: a retrospective study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Dai ◽  
Meng Liu ◽  
Xiaodong Lv ◽  
Binzhong Li
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Population Change ◽  
Anterior Segment ◽  
Anterior Chamber Depth ◽  
Crystalline Lens ◽  
Equivalent Diameter ◽  
Crystalline Morphology ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shape of the crystalline lens in terms of biometry and diopters before and after cycloplegia using the CASIA2 swept-source (SS) optical coherence tomography (OCT) system on the anterior segment. Methods This was a retrospective study. Children and adolescents (26 males and 29 females, aged 4–21 years) with simple ametropia were selected for optometry and CASIA2 imaging at 2 separate visits before and after cycloplegia. Diopter values were derived from the spherical power (S) obtained by optometry. Biometric parameters of the crystalline lens, including the anterior chamber depth (ACD), anterior and posterior curvature of the lens (ACL and PCL), lens thickness (LTH), lens decentration (LD), lens tilt (LT), and equivalent diameter of the lens (LED), were measured by the CASIA2 system. The differences in these parameters after compared with before cycloplegia were determined, and their relationships were analyzed. Results Fifty-five participants (106 eyes) were initially enrolled. There was a significant difference (P < 0.05) in the S (t=-7.026, P < 0.001), ACD (t=-8.796, P < 0.001), ACL (t=-13.263, P < 0.001) and LTH (t = 7.363, P < 0.001) after compared with before cycloplegia. The change in the PCL (t = 1.557, P = 0.122), LD (t = 0.876, P = 0.383), LT (t = 0.440, P = 0.661) and LED (t=-0.351, P = 0.726) was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was a significant (P < 0.05) correlation of the change in the S with that in the ACL (r = 0.466, P < 0.001), LTH (r=-0.592, P < 0.001), and LED (r = 0.223, P = 0.021) but not the PCL (r = 0.19, P = 0.051), LD (r=-0.048, P = 0.0628) or LT (r=-0.022, P = 0.822). Furthermore, the change in the ACD was closely related to the change in crystalline morphology. However, in children and adolescents, we found that the change in crystalline morphology was unrelated to age. Conclusions Changes in lens morphology after compared with before cycloplegia are mainly related to the ACL and LTH, but there is no difference in the PCL, LD, LT, or LED. In the adolescent population, change in the S is related to change in the ACL, LED and LTH. However, age is unrelated to the shape and tendency of the crystalline lens. Further research is required to determine whether the same conclusion applies to different age groups and different refractive states (myopia, hyperopia, emmetropia) .

scholarly journals Caregiver Burden: Caregiving Workshops Have a Positive Impact on Those Caring for Individuals With Dementia in Arkansas

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110180
Author(s):  
Robin E. McAtee ◽  
Laura Spradley ◽  
Leah Tobey ◽  
Whitney Thomasson ◽  
Gohar Azhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caregiver Burden ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Educational Programs ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Complex Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Dementia Caregivers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Burden Scale

Millions of Americans live with dementia. Caregivers of this population provide countless hours of multifaceted, complex care that frequently cause unrelenting stress which can result in immense burden. However, it is not fully understood what efforts can be made to reduce the stress among caregivers of persons with dementia (PWD). Therefore, the aim of this pretest–posttest designed study was to evaluate changes in caregiver burden after providing an educational intervention to those caring for PWD in Arkansas. Forty-one participants completed the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale before and after attending a 4-hour dementia-focused caregiving workshop. The analysis of the means, standard deviations, and paired t tests showed that there was an increase in the confidence and competence in caring for PWD 30 to 45 days after attending the workshop. Health care providers need to understand both the vital role caregivers provide in managing a PWD and the importance of the caregiver receiving education about their role as a caregiver. Utilizing caregiver educational programs is a first step.

352 Feasibility of Hypnosis as Adjunctive Treatment for Subjective Sleep Disturbance: A Pilot Study and Proof of Concept

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A140-A141
Author(s):  
Emma Zhao ◽  
Afik Faerman ◽  
David Spiegel
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Disturbances ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Adjunctive Treatment ◽  
Current Evidence ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Sleep Complaints ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Before And After

Abstract Introduction Hypnosis-based interventions have been shown to have a positive impact on several dimensions of sleep health. However, current evidence is limited as only a paucity of studies included populations with sleep complaints. Here we present a pilot data set to demonstrate the feasibility of developing a hypnosis-based adjunctive treatment for subjective sleep complaints. Methods Eleven adults (42% female; mean age 45±16.87 years) who sought treatment at the Stanford Sleep Medicine Center or Center for Integrative Medicine for subjective sleep complaints received hypnosis as adjunctive treatment. Self-report questionnaires were used to assess the weekly frequency of subjective sleep disturbances experienced before and after treatment, as well as 5-point Likert scale ratings of perceived qualitative improvement in symptom severity and overall sleep quality. Results Five participants (45%) reported a reduction in symptom frequency and severity after hypnosis treatment. All five participants attributed at least some of the improvement to hypnosis treatment. Most participants (63%) observed post-treatment improvements in their overall sleep quality. No participants reported adverse effects of hypnosis. Conclusion Results suggest hypnosis-based adjunctive treatment may be effective for alleviating subjective sleep disturbances. The findings serve as preliminary support for further randomly controlled trials in larger samples. Support (if any):

Changes of Periodontal Tissues Because of Orthodontic Treatment: A Retrospective Study

2021 ◽  
pp. 232020682110034
Author(s):  
Hamad Alzoman ◽  
Khalid Alamoud ◽  
Waad K. Alomran ◽  
Abdullazez Almudhi ◽  
Naif A. Bindayel
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Orthodontic Treatment ◽  
Tooth Movement ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Gingival Recession ◽  
Confounding Factors ◽  
Crown Height ◽  
Periodontal Tissues ◽  
Before And After

Aim: To evaluate the periodontal status before and after orthodontic treatment and to analyze the confounding factors associated with it. Materials and Methods: The present retrospective study analyzed pre- and posttreatment records of a total of 60 patients. Intraoral digital photographs before and after the orthodontic treatment were used to measure the following three periodontal variables: (a) width of the keratinized gingiva, (b) gingival recession, and (c) the status of interdental papilla. The ImageJ 46 software imaging program was used to perform the required measurements. The clinical data were then analyzed in an association with the participants’ demographic data, the type of orthodontic tooth movement, and other confounding factors. The data obtained were manually entered into the statistical package and analyzed using a significance level set at P < .05. Descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and Pearson’s correlation analysis were used to identify differences among the studied variables. Results: Among the 60 patients, the majority (66.7%) were females. Most cases of the treated malocclusion were Class II, and most patients underwent intrusion and retrusion movements. The width of keratinized gingiva increased for most sites of upper teeth. In contrast, the lower teeth showed a mix of improvement and compromised width of keratinized gingiva. As a measure of gingival recession, the difference of clinical crown height revealed the tendency toward a reduced clinical crown height for most sites. Upper left lateral incisors and canines showed significant values with regard to keratinized gingival width measurements and tooth movements such as extrusion and intrusion movements. Likewise, with regard to the clinical crown height, upper right central incisors showed significant differences when correlated with the interincisal angle, lower incisors to the mandibular plane, and upper incisors to the NA line. The upper lateral incisors also showed significant correlations to certain cephalometric measurements. Conclusions: The orthodontic treatment was found to exert a significantly positive impact on the surrounding periodontium, particularly in the upper canine areas. Likewise, various types of tooth movement were found to positively affect the periodontium.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document