scholarly journals Functional Living Skills: A Non-Immersive Virtual Reality Training for Individuals with Major Neurocognitive Disorders

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 5751
Author(s):  
Simonetta Panerai ◽  
Donatella Gelardi ◽  
Valentina Catania ◽  
Francesco Rundo ◽  
Domenica Tasca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Essential Feature ◽  
Neurocognitive Disorders ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
Virtual Reality Training ◽  
In Vivo Tests ◽  
Living Skills ◽  
Functional Living Skills

The loss of functional living skills (FLS) is an essential feature of major neurocognitive disorders (M-NCD); virtual reality training (VRT) offers many possibilities for improving FLS in people with M-NCD. The aim of our study was to verify the effectiveness of a non-immersive VRT on FLS for patients with M-NCD. VRT was carried out for 10 to 20 sessions, by means of four 3D apps developed in our institute and installed on a large touch screen. The experimental group (EG) and the control group (CG) included 24 and 18 patients with M-NCD, respectively. They were administered the in vivo test (in specific hospital places reproducing the natural environments) at T1 (pre-training) and T3 (post-training); at T2, only EG was administered VRT. Statistically significant differences between EG and CG in all the in vivo tests were found in the number of correct responses; during VRT, the number of correct responses increased, while the execution times and the number of clues decreased. The improvement in the in vivo tests appeared to be related to the specific VRT applied. The satisfaction of participants with the VRT was moderate to high.

What About the Role of Virtual Reality in Parkinson Disease’s Cognitive Rehabilitation? Preliminary Findings From a Randomized Clinical Trial

2018 ◽  
Vol 31 (6) ◽  
pp. 312-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Grazia Maggio ◽  
Maria Cristina De Cola ◽  
Desirèe Latella ◽  
Giuseppa Maresca ◽  
Chiara Finocchiaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Cognitive Training ◽  
Cognitive Rehabilitation ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Virtual Reality Training ◽  
Behavioral Recovery ◽  
Visuospatial Abilities ◽  
And Control ◽  
Experimental Group

Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of a virtual reality training with BTS Nirvana (BTS-N) system in the cognitive and behavioral recovery in patients with Parkinson disease (PD). The BTS-N is a semi-immersive therapy system used for motor and cognitive rehabilitation of patients with neurological diseases, by creating virtual scenarios with which the patient may interact. Methods: We enrolled 20 patients with PD undergoing neurorehabilitation. All the patients were randomized into 2 groups: experimental group performing semi-immersive virtual reality training with BTS-N and control group undergoing traditional cognitive training. Each participant was evaluated before and immediately after the end of the training. Each cognitive training consisted of 3 sessions a week, each lasting 60 minutes, for 8 weeks, for a total of 24 sessions in each group. Results: Experimental group showed a greater improvement in cognitive functioning, with regard to executive and visuospatial abilities, as compared with the control group. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that rehabilitation through a new virtual reality instrument could be a valuable tool in improving cognitive and behavioral outcomes of patients with PD.

scholarly journals AN-VR-BE. A Randomized Controlled Trial for Reducing Fear of Gaining Weight and Other Eating Disorder Symptoms in Anorexia Nervosa through Virtual Reality-Based Body Exposure

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 682
Author(s):  
Bruno Porras-Garcia ◽  
Marta Ferrer-Garcia ◽  
Eduardo Serrano-Troncoso ◽  
Marta Carulla-Roig ◽  
Pau Soto-Usera ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Image ◽  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Exposure Therapy ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Significant Group ◽  
Treatment As Usual ◽  
Experimental Group

In vivo body exposure therapy is considered an effective and suitable intervention to help patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) reduce their body image disturbances (BIDs). However, these interventions have notable limitations and cannot effectively reproduce certain fears usually found in AN, such as the fear of gaining weight (FGW). The latest developments in virtual reality (VR) technology and embodiment-based procedures could overcome these limitations and allow AN patients to confront their FGW and BIDs. This study aimed to provide further evidence of the efficacy of an enhanced (by means of embodiment) VR-based body exposure therapy for the treatment of AN. Thirty-five AN patients (16 in the experimental group, 19 in the control group) participated in the study. FGW, BIDs, and other body-related and ED measures were assessed before and after the intervention and three months later. The experimental group received treatment as usual (TAU) and five additional sessions of VR-based body exposure therapy, while the control group received only TAU. After the intervention, ED symptoms were clearly reduced in both groups, with most of the changes being more noticeable in the experimental group. Specifically, after the intervention and at follow-up, significant group differences were found in the FGW and BIDs, with the experimental group showing significantly lower values than the control group. The current study provides new insights and encouraging findings in the field of exposure-based therapies in AN. VR technology might improve research and clinical practice in AN by providing new tools to help patients confront their core fears (i.e., food- or weight-related cues) and improve their emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to their body image.

scholarly journals Improvement of Early Recognition of Attacks in Karate Kumite Due to Training in Virtual Reality

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 294-308 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Petri ◽  
Nicole Bandow ◽  
Steffen Masik ◽  
Kerstin Witte
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Reaction Time ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Group Intervention ◽  
Early Recognition ◽  
Intervention Group ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Virtual Reality Training ◽  
Karate Athletes

In a Virtual Reality training, young karate athletes divided in two groups (intervention vs. control group) responded to attacks of a virtual opponent. For the analysis, the first reaction of the responding karate athletes was detected. From that point three reaction times were subtracted to analyze the attack of the virtual opponent at the time of the recognition of the real athlete. The attacks were divided into four movement stages. Analysis of Variance (ANOVAs) with repeated measures and estimation of effect sizes as well as Bonferroni post-hoc tests were applied to calculate interactions between time (PRE to POST), group (intervention vs. control) and reaction time (150 ms vs. 255 ms vs. 370 ms). We found significant effects for time and time x group interactions for the attacks Gyaku-Zuki and Kizami-Zuki as well as an effect for time x reaction time in Gyaku-Zuki (all p < 0.001), but no significant effects for time x group x reaction time in both attacks (p > 0.05). Paired t-tests showed significant improvements in attack recognition from PRE to POST for the intervention group, but not for the control group. At the pretest all athletes responded to late movement stages (extension of the pushing arm) while the intervention group responded to early movement stages (preparing steps and reduction of distance before the attack) at the posttest due to the Virtual Reality training. Early steps for the preparation of the attack and the reduction of distance seem to be important signals for attack recognition.

Facilitated migration of cells from a transected peripheral nerve over collagen fibers: in vivo observations

1989 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
pp. 888-889
Author(s):  
Arthur J. Wasserman ◽  
Azam Rizvi ◽  
George Zazanis ◽  
Frederick H. Silver
Keyword(s):  
Sciatic Nerve ◽  
Peripheral Nerve ◽  
Collagen Gel ◽  
Collagen Fibers ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Guide Tube ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Silicone Tube ◽  
Thin Sections

In cases of peripheral nerve damage the gap between proximal and distal stumps can be closed by suturing the ends together, using a nerve graft, or by nerve tubulization. Suturing allows regeneration but does not prevent formation of painful neuromas which adhere to adjacent tissues. Autografts are not reported to be as good as tubulization and require a second surgical site with additional risks and complications. Tubulization involves implanting a nerve guide tube that will provide a stable environment for axon proliferation while simultaneously preventing formation of fibrous scar tissue. Supplementing tubes with a collagen gel or collagen plus extracellular matrix factors is reported to increase axon proliferation when compared to controls. But there is no information regarding the use of collagen fibers to guide nerve cell migration through a tube. This communication reports ultrastructural observations on rat sciatic nerve regeneration through a silicone nerve stent containing crosslinked collagen fibers.Collagen fibers were prepared as described previously. The fibers were threaded through a silicone tube to form a central plug. One cm segments of sciatic nerve were excised from Sprague Dawley rats. A control group of rats received a silicone tube implant without collagen while an experimental group received the silicone tube containing a collagen fiber plug. At 4 and 6 weeks postoperatively, the implants were removed and fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde buffered by 0.1 M cacodylate containing 1.5 mM CaCl2 and balanced by 0.1 M sucrose. The explants were post-fixed in 1% OSO4, block stained in 1% uranyl acetate, dehydrated and embedded in Epon. Axons were counted on montages prepared at a total magnification of 1700x. Montages were viewed through a dissecting microscope. Thin sections were sampled from the proximal, middle and distal regions of regenerating sciatic plugs.

Virtual Reality and In Vivo Exposure for Fear of Flying: A Phase II Replication Study

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Graap ◽  
Barbara O. Rothbaum ◽  
Page Anderson ◽  
Elana Zimand ◽  
Larry Hodges ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Reality ◽  
Phase Ii ◽  
Replication Study ◽  
Fear Of Flying

In-vitro- und In-vivo-Wirkung von Schilddrüsenhormon auf das Wachstum von Neuroblastomzellen

1990 ◽  
Vol 29 (03) ◽  
pp. 120-124
Author(s):  
R. P. Baum ◽  
E. Rohrbach ◽  
G. Hör ◽  
B. Kornhuber ◽  
E. Busse
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Neuroblastoma Cells ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Initial Value ◽  
Initial Rise ◽  
Biphasic Effect ◽  
Contrast Microscopy ◽  
Morphological Sign

The effect of triiodothyronine (T3) on the differentiation of cultured neuroblastoma (NB) cells was studied after 9 days of treatment with a dose of 10-4 M/106 cells per day. Using phase contrast microscopy, 30-50% of NB cells showed formation of neurites as a morphological sign of cellular differentiation. The initial rise of the mitosis rate was followed by a plateau. Changes in cyclic nucleotide content, in the triphosphates and in the activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) were assessed in 2 human and 2 murine cell lines to serve as biochemical parameters of the cell differentiation induced by T3. Whereas the cAMP level increased significantly (3 to 7 fold compared with its initial value), the cGMP value dropped to 30 to 50% of that of the control group. ATP and GTP increased about 200%, the ODC showed a decrease of about 50%. The present studies show a biphasic effect of T3 on neuroblastoma cells: the initial rise of mitotic activity is followed by increased cell differentiation starting from day 4 of the treatment.

Platelet Aggregation in Diabetes Mellitus and the Effect of Insulin in Vivo on Aggregation

1972 ◽  
Vol 27 (01) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. A Hassanein ◽  
Th. A El-Garf ◽  
Z El-Baz
Keyword(s):  
Platelet Aggregation ◽  
Rapid Onset ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Fasting State ◽  
Clotting Time ◽  
Cholesterol Levels ◽  
Platelet Disaggregation ◽  
Aggregation And Disaggregation

SummaryADP-induced platelet aggregation and calcium-induced platelet aggregation tests were studied in 14 diabetic patients in the fasting state and half an hour after an intravenous injection of 0.1 unit insulin/kg body weight. Platelet disaggregation was significantly diminished as compared to a normal control group, and their results were negatively correlated with the corresponding serum cholesterol levels. Insulin caused significant diminution in the ADP-induced platelet aggregation as a result of rapid onset of aggregation and disaggregation. There was also a significant increase in platelet disaggregation. In the calcium-induced platelet aggregation test, there was a significant shortening of the aggregation time, its duration, and the clotting time. The optical density fall due to platelet aggregation showed a significant increase. Insulin may have a role in correcting platelet disaggregation possibly through improvement in the intracellular enzymatic activity.

Consumption of Hageman Factor Activity in the Generalized Shwartzman Reaction Induced by Liquoid

1970 ◽  
Vol 23 (02) ◽  
pp. 386-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Müller-Berghaus ◽  
H. G Lasch
Keyword(s):  
Partial Thromboplastin Time ◽  
Lethal Dose ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Factor V ◽  
Consumption Coagulopathy ◽  
Factor Activity ◽  
Hageman Factor ◽  
Intravascular Coagulation ◽  
Shwartzman Reaction

SummaryThe role of Hageman factor in triggering intravascular coagulation has been studied in rabbits injected intravenously with Liquoid. Besides changes of coagulation parameters characteristic of consumption coagulopathy (e.g. decrease in platelet counts, fibrinogen levels, factor V activity), a pronounced drop in Hageman factor activity was observed after injection of Liquoid. Likewise, the partial thromboplastin time became prolonged.The activation of Hageman factor in vivo could be prevented by intravenous infusion of lysozyme. Twenty min after starting the lysozyme infusion, the partial thromboplastin time became prolonged from a mean of 29 sec to 108 sec. Animals infused with lysozyme and injected with a lethal dose of Liquoid did not develop a consumption coagulopathy. In the same manner, none of 10 animals treated with lysozyme developed the generalized Shwartzman reaction, whereas in the control group 19 out of 20 animals showed fibrin thrombi in the glomerular capillaries.From the present study it may be concluded that the intravascular coagulation process after intravenous injection of Liquoid is triggered by Hageman factor activation.

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