Effectiveness of mirror therapy on upper limb function, activities of daily living, and depression in post-stroke depression patients

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the effects of mirror therapy (MT) on upper limb function, activities of daily living (ADLs), and depression in post-stroke depression patients. Patients and methods: Between November 2018 and December 2019, a total of 60 post-stroke patients (33 males, 27 females; mean age: 58.45±11.13 years; range, 35 to 88 years) were included. The patients were randomly divided into either the cosntrol group (n=30) or the MT group (n=30). Regular occupational therapy was provided for the control group (two times per day for 30 min per session, five times per week over four weeks). Occupational therapy and MT were used to treat patients in the mirror group (one 30 min session once per day, five times per week over four weeks). Motor function (Fugl-Meyer Assessment of the Upper Extremity, FMA-UE), ADL (Modified Barthel Index, MBI) and depression (17-item Hamilton Depression Scale, HAMD-17) were used to evaluate the treatment outcomes. Results: Before treatment, the mean HAMD-17, FMA-UE, and MBI scores showed no significant difference between the two groups (p>0.05). After treatment, the mirror group exhibited more significant improvements than the control group in terms of the mean HAMD-17, FM-UE, and MBI (p<0.05). After four weeks, the mean FMA-UE and MBI scores revealed more significant improvements than the baseline scores in the control group (p<0.01). The mean HAMD-17, FMA-UE, and MBI scores showed more significant improvements than the baseline scores in the MT group (p<0.001). Conclusion: Based on these results, MT can effectively improve motor function, ADLs, and depression in post-stroke depression patients. The curative effectiveness of MT seems to be more prominent than the regular occupational therapy.

Campbell v Mirror Group News Limited [2004] UKHL 22, House of Lords

Essential Cases: Public Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Campbell v Mirror Group News Limited [2004] UKHL 22, before the House of Lords. MGN Ltd had published newspaper articles regarding Naomi Campbell’s recovery from drug addiction. Campbell alleged this was a breach of her Article 8 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). MGN Ltd argued that restricting its ability to publish such articles would be a breach of its Article 10 rights. The case provides an example of discussion regarding the concept of ‘indirect’ horizontal effect of the ECHR under the Human Rights Act 1998. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Thomas Webb.

Mirror Therapy Rehabilitation for Lower Limb of Acute Stroke Patients

This paper aims to study the effectiveness of mirror therapy (MT) having treated to acute stroke patients. The subjects of 20 acute stroke patients, who possessed the ability to respond to verbal instructions were randomly blinded and allocated to a control group (n = 10, 59.2 ± 2.28 years) and a mirror group (n = 10, 53.8 ± 6.14 years). Both groups were treated by intervention of traditional rehabilitation therapy comparing with mirror therapy. Intervention of mirror therapy was taken 60 minutes per day, 5 days per week for 12 weeks. Measures of intervention effectiveness were taken before treatment and after treatment by therapist using Brunnstrom stages, Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) lower extremity score and Brunnel Balance Assessment (BBA) balance. Data were analyzed using independent sample t-test. The results revealed that, after 12 weeks of treatment, subjects of both groups gained statistically significant improvements in all variables measure (p < 0.05). Having compared with the control group, the participants of the MT group had greater improvement on the FMA score (31.0 ± 1.20 versus 28.7 ± 0.58). MT is inexpensive and easily applicable in conjunction with traditional physiotherapy for home care program. Consequently, MT proves to be an effective approach for rehabilitation of patients with post-acute stroke.

Incidence Angle Effects on the Fabrication of Microstructures Using Six-Beam Laser Interference Lithography

This paper presents a theoretical demonstration of diverse microstructure fabrication by changing the angle of incidence of a six-beam laser interference lithography system. Different combinations are formed with transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) polarizations and various microstructures are simulated by controlling the high-reflectivity mirror group to adjust the incidence angle. This study indicates that the incidence angle has a considerable influence on the shape and period of the lattice, thereby contributing to the fabrication of microstructures with different arrangements. These structures include donut, circle, D-type, rectangular, triangular, U-type, and honeycomb lattices. The six-beam laser interference lithography technique is expected to benefit microstructure fabrication because of its simple operation, large writing area, and low cost, thereby promoting the development of micro-optics.

Campbell v Mirror Group News Limited [2004] UKHL 22, House of Lords

Essential Cases: Public Law provides a bridge between course textbooks and key case judgments. This case document summarizes the facts and decision in Campbell v Mirror Group News Limited [2004] UKHL 22, before the House of Lords. MGN Ltd had published newspaper articles regarding Noami Campbell’s recovery from drug addiction. Campbell alleged this was a breach of her Article 8 rights under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). MGN Ltd argued that restricting its ability to publish such articles would be a breach of its Article 10 rights. The case provides an example of discussion regarding the concept of ‘indirect’ horizontal effect of the ECHR under the Human Rights Act 1998. The document also includes supporting commentary from author Thomas Webb.

Workshop: Transferring innovation in health systems: The role of national mirror groups

To-Reach has the aim to build and push forward a strategic agenda at European level for health services and policy research into practice in order to help decision makers in identifying and understanding the value of a given innovation in the field, the potential for joint development of innovation and facilitating implementation to fit the regional/local contexts. Given the diversity of health systems in Europe and the element of subsidiarity within the European Treaty, in order, to achieve this aim the commitment of all categories of stakeholders (funding bodies, researchers, policy makers, systems managers...) at national level is as essential prerequisite for success. France has created a mirror group to consult these stakeholders to ensure that national priorities will be reflected at European level and respectively that national priorities and funding direction are influenced by the European strategic agenda. The objectives of this workshop will be to learn from the French experience and to discuss how similar experiences in other countries could be shared and promoted. Their role going forward in the project and their contribution to the expected outcomes will be the focus of this workshop. Stakeholders from a number of European countries will be invited to present and discuss their perspective on this issue. Key messages Joint development of health services research at European level is necessary to overcome key system challenges. National stakeholders are key to the development of a European health services research progarmme.

Mirrors Improve Rabbit Natural Behavior in a Free-Range Breeding System

The aim of this research was to evaluate the possible usefulness of mirrors in improving rabbit behavior in a free-range breeding system. Three groups (each consisting of nine replicates of three animals) were compared: isolated, isolated with mirrors and separated by a wire mesh (possible visual and olfactory contacts). Rabbits allowed to have a visual and olfactory contact showed a significantly higher expression of important natural behaviors (olfactory investigation, gnawing, alertness, stretching, locomotion) compared to the isolated rabbits (with or without mirrors); while rabbits in the mirror group showed higher allo-grooming activity than those isolated and no different locomotion activity than those separated by wire mesh. Thus, mirrors seemed to be able to modify the behavioral repertoire of isolated rabbits by acting on social perception in rabbits reared in small groups in a free-range system. Nevertheless, despite it being advisable to use a combination of different indicators in order to assess the stress level of an animal, the accuracy of serum cortisol, as well as of some secondary stress markers assay, appeared to be limited in this type of breeding.