Systematic review of correlates and determinants of physical activity in persons with multiple sclerosis

Publication date: Available online 2 January 2016
Source:Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Author(s): René Streber, Stefan Peters, Klaus Pfeifer
ObjectiveTo review the current evidence regarding correlates and determinants of physical activity (PA) in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS).Data SourcesPubmed and Scopus (1980 to January 2015) and reference lists of eligible studies.Study SelectionEligible studies (i) include adults with MS, (ii) have a cross-sectional or prospective observational design or (iii) examine the effect of a theory-based intervention trial on PA including a mediation analysis, (iv) apply a quantitative assessment of PA and correlates or proposed mediators and (v) are published in English or German.Data ExtractionTwo reviewers independently evaluated the risk of bias, extracted data and categorized variables according to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF).Data SynthesisConsistency and the direction of associations were evaluated with a semi-quantitative approach. Fifty-six publications with data from observational studies and two interventional studies provided evidence for 86 different variables. Consistent correlates of PA were the disability level, walking limitations in particular, PA-related self-efficacy and self-regulation constructs as well as employment status and educational level. One interventional study provided evidence for a causal relationship between self-regulation and PA. However, 59 of 86 of all investigated variables in observational studies are based on one or two study findings, and the majority of results stem from cross-sectional designs.ConclusionsBeside the importance of the general disability level and walking limitations, the results highlight the importance of personal factors, such as PA-related self-efficacy, self-regulatory constructs and sociodemographic factors. Limitations and implications of the current review are discussed. Research that is more rigorous is needed to better understand what affects PA in pwMS.



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Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Salvia fruticosa: An HPLC Determination of Phenolic Contents

Objectives. Salvia fruticosa Mill. (S. fruticosa) is widely used in folk medicine. Accordingly, the present study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of S. fruticosa, and to determine the phenolic constituents of its extracts. Methods. The antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl assay. Total phenolic contents were estimated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and high-performance liquid chromatography was performed to identify phenolic constituents. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema was determined plethysmographically. Key Findings. Different plant extracts demonstrated strong radical scavenging activity, where the ethyl acetate extract had the highest value in the roots and the lowest in the aerial parts. This antioxidant activity was correlated to the total phenolic content of different extracts, where rutin and luteolin were the most abundant constituents. Interestingly, both the roots and aerial parts revealed a significant anti-inflammatory activity comparable to diclofenac. Conclusions. This study is the first to demonstrate pharmacologic evidence of the potential anti-inflammatory activity of S. fruticosa. This activity may partly be due to the radical scavenging effects of its polyphenolic contents. These findings warrant the popular use of the East Mediterranean sage and highlight the potential of its active constituents in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.

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Ethnomedical Knowledge of Plants Used for the Treatment of Tuberculosis in Johor, Malaysia

This study documented ethnomedical knowledge of plants used for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and its related symptoms as practiced by the Jakun community of Kampung Peta, situated in Endau Rompin Johor National Park, Johor, Malaysia. Eight key informants were selected by snowball sampling technique and data about medicinal plants were collected by semistructured interviews, participatory observations, and focus group. Qualitative analysis was undertaken using thematic analysis. There were 23 species of plants (22 genera, 20 families) documented and herbarium specimens were deposited at the UTHM Herbarium. Dipterocarpus sublamellatus was recorded for the first time with ethnomedical uses while other species were previously reported. The qualitative approach employed in this study demonstrates the emic perspective in terms of perceptions on traditional herbal medicine, transfer of knowledge, significant taboos related with medicinal plants, and their conservation efforts. Local and biomedical terminology in treatment of TB showed substantial correspondence. The outcomes obtained in the study are worth being further investigated for conservation strategies and are worthy of verifying their ethnomedical claims scientifically.

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Erratum to “Need for Scientific Rigor in the Evaluation of Minimally Invasive Alternative Procedures”

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The Effect of External Apple Vinegar Application on Varicosity Symptoms, Pain, and Social Appearance Anxiety: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Aim. We aimed to determine the effect of external apple vinegar application on the symptoms and social appearance anxiety of varicosity patients who were suggested conservative treatment. Method. The study was planned as an experimental, randomized, and controlled study. 120 patients were randomly selected and then were randomly allocated to either experimental or control group by simple blind random sampling method. In the collection of research data, a questionnaire questioning sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, and the Social Appearance Anxiety Scale (SAAS) were used. The patients in the study group were suggested to apply apple vinegar to the area of the leg with varicosity alongside the treatment suggested by the doctor. The patients in the control group received no intervention during the study. Results. The sociodemographic and clinic characteristics of both groups were found to be similar (). The patients were evaluated with regard to cramps, pain, leg fatigue perception, edema, itching, pigmentation, and weight feelings in the leg, VAS, and SAAS averages in the second evaluation; the control group had a decrease in such symptoms () although the decrease in the application group was higher and statistically meaningful (). Conclusion. We determined that the external application of apple vinegar on varicosity patients, which is a very easy application, increased the positive effects of conservative treatment.

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A case of treatable hypertension: fibromuscular dysplasia of renal arteries

Renovascular hypertension accounts for 51–52 % of all cases of hypertension in the general population, but plays a major role in treatable causes for hypertension in the young. This entity consists of renal va...

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Comparison of Physiological Responses to Affect Eliciting Pictures and Music

Publication date: Available online 2 January 2016
Source:International Journal of Psychophysiology
Author(s): Jongwan Kim, Douglas H. Wedell
Recent investigations of the neural correlates of affect elicited from different modalities has found both modality-general and modality-specific representations (Chikazoe et al., 2014). The implications for how physiological responses to affect differ across stimulus modalities has not been fully investigated. This study examined similarities and differences between physiological signatures of affect derived from two different modes of presentation: visual pictures and auditory music sampled from an affective space defined by valence and arousal. Electromyography recordings for the zygomaticus major (EMGZ) and corrugator supercilii (EMGC) were measured along with heart rate and skin conductance level (SCL). Multidimensional scaling was used to visualize relationships from physiological and behavioral responses, and the observed relationships were statistically evaluated using multivariate and univariate analyses. Results for physiological measures demonstrated that valence was represented in the same general way across modalities, primarily reflected in EMGC responses. Arousal, however, was represented in a modality-specific manner, with SCL and EMGZ sensitive to music-based arousal but not picture-based arousal. Stimulus modality itself was predicted from EMGC. Thus, physiological responses to valence were similar across modalities but physiological responses to arousal differed across modalities. These results support the utility of testing for affective markers across modalities within the same experimental setting to reveal how physiological responses are linked to either affect, stimulus modality or both.



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The relationship between platelet–lymphocyte ratio and severity of erectile dysfunction

Publication date: Available online 28 December 2015
Source:The Kaohsiung Journal of Medical Sciences
Author(s): Alpaslan Akbas, Murat Tolga Gulpınar, Eyüp Burak Sancak, Mustafa Gunes, Murat Ucar, Muammer Altok, Mehmet Umul
The prognostic importance of platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR) is already known for various artery diseases. In this study, the relationship between PLR and severity of erectile dysfunction (ED) is examined in patients with impotence. The data from patients suffering from erection problems was screened retrospectively. Detailed medical history, age, International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) scores, fasting blood glucose, lipid, whole blood count, and hormone profile values were examined. Patients with no ED were selected as the control group. All men answered the IIEF-5 questions and were then classified according to their scores. Patients were determined to have severe ED (scores 5–7), moderate ED (scores 8–16), or mild ED (scores 17–21). An IIEF-5 score greater than 21 was accepted for the control group. The PLR values from both patient and control groups were evaluated. Demographic data were similar in both groups. Mean PLR value was 104 in control and 118 in the patient group (p < 0.001). PLR value increased depending on the severity of ED. Mean PLR values were 108 in mild, 116 in moderate, and 130 in severe ED groups. Compared with the control group, this value was statistically significant for patients with moderate and severe ED (p = 0.04 and p < 0.001). PLR showed weak negative but significant correlation with IIEF-5 scores (r = −0.27 and p < 0.001). The PLR value was found to be higher in patients with ED. PLR value may be related to ED and its severity in patients with impotence.



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