Efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture treatment in the prevention of negative moods in healthy young men after 30 h of total sleep deprivation: study protocol for a single-center, single-blind, parallel-arm, randomized clinical trial

Background Sleep deprivation (SD) among young adults is a major public health concern. In humans, it has adverse effects on mood and results in serious health problems. Faced with SD, persons may take precautionary measures to try and reduce their risk. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) for the prevention of negative moods after SD. In addition, we will do a comparison of the effects of EA on mood after SD at different time points. Methods This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine in China. The Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture 2010 will be strictly adhered to. Forty-two healthy male volunteers will be distributed into acupoints electroacupuncture (AE) group, non-acupoints electroacupuncture (NAE) control group, or blank control group. This trial will comprise 1-week baseline (baseline sleep), 1-week preventative treatment, 30-h total sleep deprivation (TSD), and 24-h after waking follow-up period. Participants in the AE group and the NAE control group during the preventative treatment period will be administered with EA treatment once daily for 1 week. Participants in the blank control group will not be administered with any treatment. The primary outcome will be the Profile of Mood States (POMS) Scale. Secondary outcome measures will include changes in the Noldus FaceReader (a tool for automatic analysis of facial expressions) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Scale. Total sleep deprivation will be 30 h. During the 30-h TSD period, participants will be subjected to 11 sessions of assessment. Adverse events will be recorded. Discussion This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA for the prevention of negative moods after SD. The results of this trial will allow us to compare the effects of EA on mood after SD at different time points. Moreover, the findings from this trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals. Trial registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry Chi2000039713. Registered on 06 November 2020

Using a Foreign Language Changes Medical Judgments of Preventative Care

Every day, multilinguals around the world make important healthcare decisions while using a foreign language. The present study examined how the use of a native vs. non-native language shapes evaluations and decisions about preventative care. Bilinguals were randomly assigned to evaluate a series of medical scenarios in either their native or non-native language. Each scenario described potential adverse effects of a medical condition and a preventative treatment, as well as the population risk of disease- or treatment-related complications. Participants judged the perceived negativity and likelihood of experiencing adverse effects and indicated how willing they would be to accept the preventative treatment. We found that bilinguals using a foreign language perceived disease symptoms and treatment side effects to be less negative than those using their native tongue. Foreign language users were also more likely to account for the objective risks associated with medical conditions and treatments when making decisions about preventative care. We conclude that the use of a native vs. foreign language changes how people evaluate the consequences of accepting and declining preventative treatment, with potential implications for millions of providers and patients who routinely make medical choices in their non-native tongue.

Efficacy And Safety of Electroacupuncture Treatment In The Prevention of Negative Moods In Health Young Men After 30 Hours of Total Sleep Deprivation: Study Protocol For A Single-Center, Single-Blind, Parallel-Arm, Randomized Clinical Trial

•Background:Sleep deprivation (SD) among young adults is a major public health concern. In humans, it has adverse effects on mood and results in serious health problems. Faced with SD, persons may take precautionary measures to try and reduce their risk. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of electroacupuncture (EA) for the prevention of negative moods after SD. In addition, we will do a comparison of the effects of EA on mood after SD at different time points.•Methods:This randomized controlled trial (RCT) will be performed at the First Affiliated Hospital of Changchun University of Chinese Medicine in China. The Standards for Reporting Interventions in Clinical Trials of Acupuncture, 2010 will be strictly adhered to. Forty-two healthy male volunteers will be distributed into acupoints electroacupuncture (AE) group, non-acupoints electroacupuncture (NAE) control group, or blank control group. This trial will comprise 1-week baseline (baseline sleep), 1-week preventative treatment, 30-hours total sleep deprivation (TSD), and 24-hours after waking follow-up period. Participants in the AE group and the NAE control group during the preventative treatment period will be administered with EA treatment once daily for 1 week. Participants in the blank control group will not be administered with any treatment. The primary outcome will be the Profile of Mood States (POMS) Scale. Secondary outcome measures will include changes in the Noldus FaceReader (a tool for automatic analysis of facial expressions) and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) Scale. Total sleep deprivation will be 30 hours. During the 30-hours TSD period, participants will be subjected to 11 sessions of assessment. Adverse events will be recorded.•Discussion:This study is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of EA for the prevention of negative moods after SD. The results of this trial will allow us to compare the effects of EA on mood after SD at different time points. Moreover, the findings from this trial will be published in peer-reviewed journals.•Trial registration:Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, Chi2000039713, registered on 06 November, 2020.

The Effect of Connected “Smart” Inhalers on Medication Adherence

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are highly prevalent worldwide, and major sources of morbidity. Key barriers to reduce the harm from these conditions are the widespread and related issues of low use of prescribed inhaled therapy, use of medicines differently from that prescribed, suboptimal inhaler technique, and lack of adherence are the action plans. Connected smart inhalers show great potential to improve these issues, and thus outcomes from airways disease. In this mini-review, we considered the published evidence that the use of smart inhalers leads to more doses of preventative treatment being taken on time and with appropriate techniques. We found multiple trials across a variety of settings and age groups where smart inhalers were used with audio-visual reminders and healthcare professional feedback, which substantially improved the number of doses of preventative treatment taken. Trial evidence also supports the use of feedback from smart inhalers in improving true concordance (doses taken correctly and on time), though only for a single type of smart device. The relative lack of study is in contrast with the potential impact of smart inhalers. Major research questions remain unresolved, as who might fund future large-scale studies, how guideline committees may consider them, and how to implement effective solutions.

A Narrative Review on the Unexplored Potential of Colostrum as a Preventative Treatment and Therapy for Diarrhea in Neonatal Dairy Calves

Diarrhea is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in pre-weaned dairy calves and, as such, represents a significant animal health and welfare concern. Furthermore, digestive disease early in life is associated with several long-term consequences such as reduced growth rate and decreased milk yield during the first lactation, thus generating severe economic losses. The majority of diarrheic cases in young calves are treated with antimicrobials; however, it is necessary to develop alternative treatments, as excessive antimicrobial usage can lead to antimicrobial resistance and can negatively impact the gut microflora of a calf. Bovine colostrum is abundant in immune and bioactive factors that improve immune function and development. This rich and natural combination of immunoglobulins, natural antimicrobial factors, growth factors, anti-inflammatories and nutrients may be an attractive alternative to antimicrobials in the treatment of diarrhea in young dairy calves. There is evidence that supports the use of colostrum as an early treatment for diarrhea in young calves. Future research should investigate its therapeutic and economic effectiveness.

Cervical Cancer Screening Cascade for women living with HIV: a cohort study from Zimbabwe

Background. We defined a cascade of cervical screening to evaluate the number of women living with HIV (WLHIV) achieving each cascade stage at an HIV care and treatment clinic in Zimbabwe. Methods. We included women aged ≥18 years enrolled at the Newlands Clinic in Harare from June 2012 to June 2017 and followed them until June 2018. The cascade consists of screening and preventative treatment arms based on initial screening results. We report percentages, the median time to reach cascade stages, and cumulative incidence at two years with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results. A total of 1624 women were included in the study. In the screening arm, the cumulative incidence of cervical screening was 85.4% (95% CI 83.5-87.1) at two years. In the preventative treatment arm, the cumulative incidence of treatment after a positive screening test was 79.5% (95% CI 75.1-83.2) at two years. Half of the treated women received cryotherapy (152/316, 48.1%, median time to treatment=0 days, interquartile range 0-15). The cumulative incidence of testing negative at re-screening after treatment was 36.1% (95% CI 31.2-40.7) at two years. Cervical cancer was diagnosed in 15 women; all were referred for further treatment. Conclusions. Analyzing outcomes along the proposed Cervical Cancer Screening Cascade can identify areas for improvement. Interventions are needed to improve linkage to treatment for screen-positive women who do not qualify for same-day cryotherapy. Many women continued to screen-positive after treatment. Further studies are needed to understand the significance and potential consequences of these positive tests among WLHIV.

Nurse parasite clinics and the benefits of routine testing

Cats and dogs are infected with a wide range of parasites, many of which are capable of causing or contributing to disease. Veterinary nurses play a vital role in helping to formulate parasite control plans for pets. Routine diagnostic testing alongside risk-based appropriate preventative treatment is important for efficacy of treatment to be monitored, screening for sub-clinical parasitic infections and drug resistance and to demonstrate that current parasite control recommendations are adequate. A wide range of diagnostic tools are available to veterinary practices and this article considers some of the diagnostic techniques available for routine parasite diagnosis and how they might be used in parasite prevention plans for cats and dogs.

OnabotulinumtoxinA in Migraine: A Review of the Literature and Factors Associated with Efficacy

The efficacy of onabotulinumtoxinA (OnaB-A) as a preventative treatment for chronic migraine, emerging fortuitously from clinical observation is now supported by class one evidence and over two decades of real-world clinical data. There is still limited ability to predict a clinically meaningful response to OnaB-A for individual patients, however. This review summarises briefly the proposed mechanism of OnaB-A in chronic migraine, the literature of predictors of clinical response, and recent developments in the field.