Qur’an Recitation Therapy as Anxiety Treatment

Anxiety is an uncomfortable, pleasant, indistinct and pleasant feeling with autonomic symptoms. Many internal and external factors cause anxiety in a person. The human body tries to maintain homeostasis at all times. Anything that disrupts homeostasis is defined as a stressor by the body. To compensate for stressors and to restore homeostatic equilibrium, physiological adaptations occur in response to stress. This adaptation involves a hormonal cascade along the HPA axis, namely the release of corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) which stimulates the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and causes the release of stress hormones (glucocorticoids and epinephrine) from the adrenal cortex. Glucocorticoids will provide negative feedback (negative feedback) to the hypothalamus, thereby reducing the release of CRF. Non-pharmacological intervention anxiety that has lower side effects is safer and can be used for a more extended period compared to anti-anxiety drugs. The recitation of the Al-Qur'an generates alpha waves, which are waves that appear when someone is relaxing. Increased alpha waves can reduce symptoms of anxiety.

Brain–computer interface for electric wheelchair based on alpha waves of EEG signal

Objectives Helping patients suffering from serious neurological diseases that lead to hindering the independent movement is of high social importance and an interdisciplinary challenge for engineers. Brain–computer interface (BCI) interfaces based on the electroencephalography (EEG) signal are not easy to use as they require time consuming multiple electrodes montage. We aimed to contribute in bringing BCI systems outside the laboratories so that it could be more accessible to patients, by designing a wheelchair fully controlled by an algorithm using alpha waves and only a few electrodes. Methods The set of eight binary words are designed, that allow to move forward, backward, turn right and left, rotate 45° as well as to increase and decrease the speed of the wheelchair. Our project includes: development of a mobile application which is used as a graphical user interface, real-time signal processing of the EEG signal, development of electric wheelchair engines control system and mechanical construction. Results The average sensitivity, without training, was 79.58% and specificity 97.08%, on persons who had no previous contact with BCI. Conclusions The proposed system can be helpful for people suffering from incurable diseases that make them closed in their bodies and for whom communication with the surrounding world is almost impossible.

The Effect of Alteration of Vertical Dimension of Occlusion on Brain Activity in Complete Denture Wearers

BACKGROUND: The establishment of appropriate vertical dimension of occlusion (VDO) is paramount for successful and functioning complete dentures (CDs). AIM: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of alteration of VDO on the brain activity in CD wearers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ten completely edentulous patients participated in this study. Each patient received three sets of CDs: one control set and two duplicates’ CDs. The control CDs was designed with appropriate VDO (control - VDO), while the duplicate CDs were designated as followed: one with VDO lowered by –3 mm (low - VDO) the other one VDO was increased by +5 mm (high - VDO). The effect of alteration of VDO on brain activity was assessed by measuring alpha waves changes using electroencephalogram (EEG) before and after chewing gum. Statistical analysis was carried out using one-way ANOVA and dependent t-test. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the alpha waves mean values after chewing (p < 0.05) gum compared to before except for low - VDO CDs (p > 0.05). The control-VDO revealed a statistically significant higher mean values compared to the duplicate dentures. CDs with high - VDO showed higher mean value than low - VDO dentures, however, it was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Appropriate determination of VDO is not only important for the success of CDs but also for the functional augmentation of brain activity.

Combined markers for predicting cognitive deficit in patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Background Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most widely recognized type of dementia. It is associated with cell cycle abnormalities including genomic instability and increased micronuclei (MNi) which usually evolve many years before the appearance of the clinical manifestations. Digital electroencephalogram (EEG) has a role in perceiving brain changes in dementia and in early detection of cognitive decline. This study aimed to assess the competency of using neurophysiological markers including absolute power of alpha waves and a cytogenetic marker which comprises scoring of MNi as a step toward early and preclinical diagnosis of AD. The study was conducted on 27 subjects; they were 15 patients diagnosed as sporadic AD and a group of 12 age and sex-matched controls. All subjects were subjected to Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), conventional EEG, digital EEG, and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Results Conventional EEG showed a normal background activity with no abnormal epileptogenic discharges in both groups. Digital EEG showed significant reduction of the absolute power of alpha waves for AD patients as compared to the control group (P < 0.0001). Score of MNi showed statistical significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.0001). By linking scores of both cognitive state using MMSE and MNi among the group of patients, a significant negative correlation was detected (r = −0.6066). The correlations between cognitive state and the absolute power of alpha wave among the patients revealed a positive correlation (r = 0.2235). Conclusions The combination of both cytogenetic and neurophysiological markers can be beneficial for early detection of cognitive decline and may lead to preclinical identification of individuals at increased risk for AD, where at this stage treatment is constructive. The negative correlation between the scores of MNi and MMSE is suggestive for the impact of genomic instability on the cognitive state.

Handedness effects on motor imagery during kinesthetic and visual-motor conditions

Recent studies show that during a simple movement imagery task, the power of sensorimotor rhythms differs according to handedness. However, the effects of motor imagery perspectives on these differences have not been investigated yet. Our study aimed to check how handedness impacts the activity of alpha (8–13 Hz) and beta (15–30 Hz) oscillations during creating a kinesthetic (KMI) or visual-motor (VMI) representation of movement. Forty subjects (20 right-handed and 20 left-handed) who participated in the experiment were tasked with imagining sequential finger movement from a visual or kinesthetic perspective. Both the electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and behavioral correctness of the imagery task performance were measured. After the registration, we used independent component analysis (ICA) on EEG data to localize visual- and motor-related EEG sources of activity shared by both motor imagery conditions. Significant differences were obtained in the visual cortex (the occipital ICs cluster) and the right motor-related area (right parietal ICs cluster). In comparison to right-handers who, regardless of the task, demonstrated the same pattern in the visual area, left-handers obtained higher power in the alpha waves in the VMI task and better performance in this condition. On the other hand, only the right-handed showed different patterns in the alpha waves in the right motor cortex during the KMI condition. The results indicate that left-handers imagine movement differently than right-handers, focusing on visual experience. This provides new empirical evidence on the influence of movement preferences on imagery processes and has possible future implications for research in the area of neurorehabilitation and motor imagery-based brain–computer interfaces (MI-BCIs).

Scoping Review: Pengaruh Mendengarkan Murottal Al-Quran terhadap Tingkat Stres Orang Dewasa

Murottal adalah pembacaan Al-Quran yang sesuai dengan tajwidnya ditambah dengan tartil (perlahan, tidak tergesa-gesa dengan mahraj yang jelas dan benar) dan dilagukan berdasar atas ilmu nagham. Sama halnya dengan terapi musik, banyak penelitian sebelumnya yang membuktikan bahwa salah satu efek Murottal Al-Quran adalah dapat menurunkan tingkat stres. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah mengetahui pengaruh murottal Al-Quran terhadap tingkat stres orang dewasa. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode scoping review yang merupakan pencarian data melalui penelitian-penelitian sebelumnya dengan memfiltrasi penelitian-penelitian tersebut berdasar atas PICOS: Population, Intereention, Clontrol and Study. Pada penelitian ini, artikel-artikel yang di-review berasal dari jurnal nasional dan internasional yang berkaitan dengan pengaruh murottal Al-Quran terhadap stres. Berasal dari negara Malaysia dengan jumlah total artikel sebanyak 3 dan menggunakan dua database: Google Scholar dan Pubmed. Hasil scoping review ini menunjukkan bahwa mendengarkan murottal Al-Quran dapat menurunkan tingkat stres yang ditandai dengan penurunan hormon stres dan peningkatan gelombang alfa otak. Dapat ditarik kesimpulan bahwa terdapat pengaruh murottal Al-Quran terhadap tingkat stres. Scoping Review: the Effect of Listening to Murottal Al-Quran on the Stress Level of Adults Murottal is the recitation of the Quran according to its tajwid coupled with tartil (slowly, not in a hurry with clear and correct mahraj) and is chanted based on the study of nagham. The same with music therapy, many previous studies have shown that one of the effects of Murottal Al-Quran is reducing stress levels. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the murottal Al-Quran on the stress level of adults. This research was conducted using scoping review method, which is the search for data through previous studies by filtering these studies based on PICOS: Population, Intervention, Control and Study. In this study, the articles reviewed was chosen from national and international journals related to the influence of Murottal Al-Quran on stress. These articles are from Malaysia with a total of 4 articles, using two databases: Google Scholar and Pubmed. The results of this scoping review shown that listening to murottal Al-Quran reduces stress level characterized by the decrease in stress hormone and the increase in brain alpha waves. Therefore, it can be that there is influence of murottal Al-Quran on stress.

DIAGNOSIS OF LIVER ENCEPHALOPATHY IN PATIENTS WITH LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Summary. Aim. Comparison of methods for diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy in patients with cirrhosis. Matherials and Methods. We observed 95 patients with LC who were hospitalized from 2018 to 2020 in the Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Surgical and Gastroenterological Departments of the Transcarpathian Regional Clinical Hospital. Andriy Novak (Uzhhorod). Neurological status, state of mental and cognitive functions in patients with LC were assessed before and after the course of therapy with psychometric testing, as well as electroencephalographic (EEG) study. The severity of LE was determined by West-Haven criteria. Results. Signs of LE were not diagnosed in 8.4 % of patients with LC. In 13.8 % of patients found a latent form of LE. This was most often observed in the III century. (in 25.2 % of patients), LE II. diagnosed in 22.1 % of patients with LE and Art. — in 17.9 % of examined patients, and in 12.6 % of examined — LE IV. In patients with LC, alpha waves on the EEG are most often registered in the latent form of LE, and with the increase of clinical signs of LE there is a decrease in the frequency of alpha waves, instead of pathological delta and theta waves. Conclusions. According to the MMSE scale, the highest scores are observed in patients of group I (29.9 ± 3.4). The most pronounced disorders of intelligence were determined in patients with LC of group III from the IV century. LE (15.1 ± 3.3). The level of personal anxiety in patients with LC was higher than normal in patients with LE II-IV centuries. surveyed groups with maximum values in group III (55.5 ± 8.2). At patients with LC the expressed cognitive frustration are observed. Signs of LE were not diagnosed in 8.4 % of patients with LC. In 13.8 % of patients found a latent form of LE. This is most often observed in the III century. (in 25.2 % of patients), LE II. diagnosed in 22.1 % of patients with LE and Art. — in 17.9 % of examined patients, and in 12.6 % of examined — LE IV.

Handedness Effects on Movement Imagery During Kinesthetic and Visual-Motor Conditions. An EEG Study

Recent studies show that during a simple movement imagery task, the power of sensorimotor rhythms differs according to handedness. However, the effects of motor imagery perspectives on these differences have not been investigated yet. Our study aimed to check how handedness impacts the activity of alpha (8 - 13 Hz) and beta (15 - 30 Hz) oscillations during creating a kinesthetic (KMI) or visual-motor (VMI) representation of movement. Forty subjects (20 right-handed and 20 left-handed) who participated in the experiment were tasked with imagining sequential finger movement from a visual or kinesthetic perspective. Both the electroencephalographic (EEG) activity and behavioral correctness of the imagery task performance were measured. After the registration, we used independent component analysis (ICA) on EEG data to localize visual- and motor-related EEG sources of activity shared by both motor imagery conditions. Significant differences were obtained in the visual cortex (the occipital ICs cluster) and the right motor-related area (right parietal ICs cluster). In comparison to right-handers who, regardless of the task, demonstrated the same pattern in the visual area, left-handers obtained higher power in the alpha waves in the VMI task and better performance in this condition. On the other hand, only the right-handed showed different patterns in the alpha waves in the right motor cortex during the KMI condition.The results indicate that left-handers imagine movement differently than right-handers, focusing on visual experience. This provides new empirical evidence on the influence of movement preferences on imagery processes and has possible future implications for research in the area of neurorehabilitation and motor imagery-based brain-computer interfaces (MI-BCIs).

3D Printable Dry EEG Electrodes with Coiled-Spring Prongs

Various dry electroencephalography (EEG) electrodes have been developed. Dry EEG electrodes need to be pressed onto the scalp; therefore, there is a tradeoff between keeping the contact impedance low and maintaining comfort. We propose an approach to solve this tradeoff through the printing of complex-shaped electrodes by using a stereolithography 3D printer. To show the feasibility of our approach, we fabricated electrodes that have flexible fingers (prongs) with springs. Although dry electrodes with flexible prongs have been proposed, a suitable spring constant has not been obtained. In this study, the spring constant of our electrodes was determined from a contact model between the electrodes and the scalp. The mechanical properties and reproductivity of the electrodes were found to be sufficient. Finally, we measured the alpha waves when a participant opened/closed his eyes by using our electrodes.

HOLY QUR'AN RECITATION TO OVERCOME ANXIETY

ABSTRACT Anxiety is an uncomfortable, pleasant, indistinct and pleasant feeling with autonomic symptoms. Many internal and external factors cause anxiety in a person. Non-pharmacological intervention anxiety that has lower side effects is safer and can be used for a more extended period compared to anti-anxiety drugs. The recitation of the Al-Qur'an generates alpha waves, which are waves that appear when someone is relaxing. Increased alpha waves can reduce symptoms of anxiety.