Scientific reports
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effects of Kinect-based exergaming on frailty status and physical performance in prefrail and frail elderly: A randomized controlled trial.
Frailty status can be improved by intervention. Both exergaming and combined exercise have been proposed for improving physical performance in community-dwelling elderly. However, whether frailty status can be improved by exergaming is unclear. ⋯ Furthermore, compared with the CE group, the EXER group showed greater improvement in dynamic balance control, as indicated by the forward reaching test (p = 0.0013, effect size = 0.40) and single leg stance test (p = 0.049, effect size = 0.42). Thus, Kinect-based exergaming exerted effects that were at least as beneficial as those of combined exercise in improving frailty status and the frailty phenotype. We recommend the use of exergaming aided by Kinect in the prefrail and frail elderly.
-
While cerebellar alterations may play a crucial role in the development of core autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms, their pathophysiology on the function of cerebrocerebellar circuit loops is largely unknown. We combined multimodal MRI (9.4 T) brain assessment of the prenatal rat valproate (VPA) model and correlated immunohistological analysis of the cerebellar Purkinje cell number to address this question. We hypothesized that a suitable functional MRI (fMRI) paradigm might show some altered activity related to disrupted cerebrocerebellar information processing. ⋯ Increased cortical BOLD responses to whisker stimulation were detected in both VPA groups, but it was more pronounced and extended to cerebellar regions in the 400 mg/kg VPA group. Immunohistological analysis revealed a decreased number of Purkinje cells in both VPA groups. In a detailed analysis, we revealed that the Purkinje cell number interacts with the cerebral BOLD response distinctively in the two VPA groups that highlights atypical function of the cerebrocerebellar circuit loops with potential translational value as an ASD biomarker.
-
The weighted Phase Lag Index (wPLI) and the weighted Symbolic Mutual Information (wSMI) represent two robust and widely used methods for MEG/EEG functional connectivity estimation. Interestingly, both methods have been shown to detect relative alterations of brain functional connectivity in conditions associated with changes in the level of consciousness, such as following severe brain injury or under anaesthesia. Despite these promising findings, it was unclear whether wPLI and wSMI may account for distinct or similar types of functional interactions. ⋯ Moreover, we evaluated the potential impact of these differences on real experimental data by computing wPLI and wSMI connectivity in hd-EEG recordings of 12 healthy adults during wakefulness and deep (N3-)sleep, characterised by different levels of consciousness. In line with the simulation-based findings, this analysis revealed that both methods have different sensitivity for changes in brain connectivity across the two vigilance states. Our results indicate that the conjoint use of wPLI and wSMI may represent a powerful tool to study the functional bases of consciousness in physiological and pathological conditions.
-
To analyze the relationship of the central venous-to-arterial carbon dioxide difference (p(cv-a)CO2) and cardiac index (CI) in patients with septic shock, an observational study was conducted in intensive care unit (ICU). 66 consecutive patients with septic shock and central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) ≥ 70% were included after early fluid resuscitation. Measurements were taken at a 6 h interval (T0, T6, T12, T18, T24) during first 24 h after their admission into ICU, including heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), p(cv-a)CO2, cardiac index(CI, L/(min•m2)) and ScvO2. Patients were divided into low p(cv-a)CO2 group (n = 35) and high p(cv-a)CO2 group (n = 31) according to a threshold of 6 mmHg for p(cv-a)CO2 at T0. ⋯ Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis confirmed the correlation of p(cv-a)CO2 with CI (AUC: 0.782;p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval: 0.710-0.853). The cut-off value for the best predictive value of CI ≥ 2.2 L/(min·m2) was p(cv-a)CO2 of 5.55 mmHg or lower with a sensitivity of 85.7% and specificity of 66.8%. Hence CI measured with USCOM is inversely correlated with p(cv-a)CO2 values in guiding the resuscitation of patients with septic shock.
-
To investigate the characteristics of pesticide poisoning in Jiangsu province and provide a scientific basis for measures for the prevention of pesticide poisoning. Information from pesticide poisoning report cards from 2007 to 2016 was derived from the Occupational Disease and Occupational Health Information Monitoring System, and the characteristics of pesticide poisoning patients were assessed via descriptive analysis. A total of 30,789 pesticide poisoning cases were reported in Jiangsu Province. ⋯ The fatality rate of intentional pesticide poisoning was the lowest among the age group of 0 to 14 years, while the highest was noted among people over 61 years. Therefore, pesticide poisoning is a major problem in Jiangsu Province. We need to strengthen the management of highly toxic pesticides and implement effective health education on the use of pesticides.