Articles: ninos.
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Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) may hinder embryonic development and growth, increasing the risk of spontaneous miscarriage, and is considered an important factor affecting male infertility (MI). Traditional Chinese herbal medicine is considered effective in the treatment of MI due to SDF by nourishing kidney essence or promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis. The objective of this systematic review protocol is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese herbal medicine on the treatment of MI associated with SDF. ⋯ CRD42020221053.
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The authors review the rationale behind and approaches to testing for COVID-19, the quality of currently available tests, the role of data analytics in strategizing testing, and using the electronic medical record and other programs designed to steward COVID-19 testing and follow-up of patients.
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An increasing number of studies focus on the effectiveness of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC)-based blended learning, whereas none have yet studied using it for teaching fundamental nursing skills at an undergraduate level. To evaluate the effectiveness of MOOC-based blended learning versus face-to-face classroom teaching techniques within the fundamental nursing course at the Faculty of Nursing, University of Xiang Nan, China. This cluster randomized controlled trial enrolled 181 students and assigned them into either an MOOC-based blended or a face-to-face classroom teaching group, both involving the Fundamental Nursing course for undergraduate nursing students. ⋯ Moreover, the mean change in the participants' critical thinking ability items between groups were, mostly, statistically significant. The items focusing on the feedback from the students demonstrated significant differences between the groups in terms of their satisfaction with the teaching they received (P < .001) and the overall learning effects (P = .030). This study confirmed that receiving MOOC-based blended learning was superior when compared against face-to-face classroom teaching techniques for learning within the Fundamental Nursing course.
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Although the mutual relationship between ambulation and physical activity (PA) in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) has been described in several studies, there is still a lack of detailed information about the way in which specific aspects of the gait cycle are associated with amount and intensity of PA. This study aimed to verify the existence of possible relationships among PA parameters and the spatio-temporal parameters of gait when both are instrumentally assessed. Thirty-one pwMS (17F, 14 M, mean age 52.5, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score 3.1) were requested to wear a tri-axial accelerometer 24 hours/day for 7 consecutive days and underwent an instrumental gait analysis, performed using an inertial sensor located on the low back, immediately before the PA assessment period. ⋯ Small to moderate significant correlations were observed between PA intensity and duration of stance, swing and double support phases. The data obtained suggest that the most relevant determinants associated with higher and more intense levels of PA in free-living conditions are gait speed and stride length. The simultaneous quantitative assessment of gait parameters and PA levels might represent a useful support for physical therapists in tailoring optimized rehabilitative and training interventions.
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The aims of this study were to use a simple screening tool to explore related factors with osteoporosis in the elderly in the community of southern Taiwan. This was an observational cross-sectional study using Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Asia (OSTA), Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool for Taiwanese (OSTAi), and the basic demographic information to identify osteoporosis in the participants. This study collected data from 200 participants aged 65 and above and living in southern Taiwan. ⋯ The results of this study can be used a simple tool of OSTA and OSTAi self-examination to screen potential high-risk groups for osteoporosis in the community. OSTA and OSTAi can screen for possible high-risk groups early and without invasive examinations and self-examination tools in a hospital. Low BMI poses higher risks of osteoporosis for the elderly, so increasing functional ability, improving muscle strength, maintaining exercise habits and keeping proper weight could prevent osteoporosis in the seniors.