Middle East Journal of Rehabilitation and Health Studies
Volume:9 Issue: 1, Jan 2022

We have already found that post-ischemic intervention with recombinant human chemerin (rh-chemerin) can protect neurons against cerebral ischemic.

In this study, we tested whether pretreatment with rh-chemerin could reduce brain damage and spatial memory impairment in a model of stroke in mice.

A stroke model was produced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 60 minutes and 24 hours reperfusion in mice. In the present research, 23 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups, including the sham-operated group (surgery + no MCAO; n = 7), control group (MCAO + saline; n = 8), treatment group (MCAO + rh-chemerin; n = 8). Rh-chemerin (800 ng/mouse) was given intranasally for 7 consecutive days before MCAO. Infarct size and spatial learning and memory were assessed by the 2,3,5- triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining method and radial arm water maze (RAWM) device, respectively, at 24 hours after ischemia.

The blockade of MCA caused severe brain damage in the control group, which was associated with impairment in neurological and spatial memory functions. Pre-ischemic treatment with rh-chemerin significantly diminished infarct size and improved spatial memory and neurological performance (P < 0.001).

Our data indicated that rh-chemerin could help reduce brain damage if used as a pretreatment approach in a rodent model of stroke. This suggests that rh-chemerin may be potentially useful in patients at risk for stroke. However, the possibility of the application of rh-chemerin as a prophylaxis strategy in high-risk people needs to be clarified.

This study aimed to understand the infectivity period after symptom relief in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) patients using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). This would probably help prevent the disease spread by partially recovered patients to some extent.

A total of 10 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infected patients with mild to moderate illness, approved by RT-PCR, were followed daily. After 2 days of cessation of clinical symptoms, a nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal sample RT-PCR was taken. If the patients’ test had a negative result, a repeated RT-PCR was performed 24 hours later. Moreover, if two consecutive tests had negative results, the patient was considered definitively treated, and the follow-up was terminated. However, if RT-PCR was positive, the test was performed 3 days later. The infectivity period after symptom relief and total infectivity period were calculated. The SARS-CoV-2 immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies were measured 1 month after symptom relief. The SPSS Software (version 20) was used for data analysis.

A total of 10 patients met the inclusion criteria to enter the study. There were 6 (60%) male and 4 (40%) female patients. The mean age of patients was 37.40 ± 7.975 years (minimum: 28 years, maximum: 51 years). The mean days passed from the onset of symptoms at the time of referring to Kowsar Hospital in Semnan, Iran, was 3.2 ± 0.919 days (minimum: 2 days, maximum: 5 days). The mean infectivity period after symptom relief was 6.9 ± 5.152 days indicating that it took about 7 days after symptom relief that the patients were considered completely treated according to RT-PCR results. However, the mean period of total infectivity was 16.6 ± 5.73 days. Moreover, 70% of patients had an IgM negative/IgG positive result 1 month after symptom relief; nevertheless, 30% of patients showed a delayed antibody response.

The virus could be detected in nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal samples in the studied patients up to 7 days after symptom relief. This finding highlights the importance of isolation and distancing in patients after recovery and the adoption of hygiene measures.

White spot lesions (WSLs), as the initial form of dental caries, develop due to subsurface enamel demineralization. They have a relatively high prevalence in orthodontic patients. Several materials are used to prevent WSLs, and various studies have assessed their efficacy during orthodontic treatment.

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of fluoride varnish and MI Paste Plus for preventing WSLs during orthodontic treatment.

This clinical trial evaluated 60 patients in three groups of control, fluoride varnish, and MI Paste Plus for six months. The presence/absence of WSLs was clinically evaluated at baseline and two, four, and six months after the intervention using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System. The patients’ saliva pH was measured at baseline and six months after the intervention.

The difference in the WSLs score was significant between the MI Paste Plus and control groups (P < 0.05). However, despite the slightly lower frequency of WSLs in the varnish group, the difference between the varnish and control groups was not significant (P > 0.05). The MI Paste Plus group results were superior to those in the varnish group but not significantly. The saliva pH did not change significantly after the intervention compared to the baseline.

MI Paste Plus caused a significant WSLs reduction in orthodontic patients but had no significant effect on the saliva pH.

Stature and sex estimation according to surface anatomical landmarks is applicable for personal identification in forensic medicine.

The present study aimed to prepare a comprehensive reference of four main upper limb anthropometric dimensions in Iranian adults and make a formula for predicting sex and stature according to them.

In this cross-sectional study, four main anthropometric dimensions of the upper limb, including arm length, forearm length, hand length, and hand width of 280 Iranian adults aged 20 - 24 years, were measured according to surface anatomical landmarks. To determine sex differences, we divided the collected measures into two groups: (1) study (120 males and 120 females); and (2) test (20 males and 20 females) groups. Sexual dimorphism indicator and discriminant functions were conducted on the study group and were validated according to the test group. The relativity of stature with measured dimensions was done by a simple linear regression test in the male and female groups.

All upper limb measurements were potent to determine gender, but forearm length displayed the highest accuracy of 94.2 - 95% and 95 - 100% for the study and test groups, respectively. Regression analysis revealed that arm length had the highest correlation with stature (22.2% for males and 18.41% for females).

We prepared a sex and stature estimation formula based on four upper limb anthropometric dimensions in Iranian adults that can be used in the forensic and clinical fields.

The development of dental caries around orthodontic brackets is a common complication of orthodontic treatment.

This study aimed to compare the antibacterial efficacy of stainless steel (SS) brackets coated with copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs), titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs), and hydroxyapatite silver nanoparticles (HA-SNPs) against Streptococcus mutans.

In this in vitro, experimental study, 20 orthodontic brackets were assigned to four groups (n = 5, each group). One group served as the no-intervention control group, and the brackets in the remaining three groups underwent dip coating with CuO-NPs, TiO2-NPs, and HA-SNPs < 100 nm. The number of S. mutans colonies was counted after 24 h, one week, and one and three months. Data were analyzed using the Shapiro Wilk test, repeated measures ANOVA, and Bonferroni multiple comparisons test.

All three experimental groups exhibited similar antibacterial properties after 90 days of trial (P > 0.05). Moreover, CuO-NPs had a greater inhibitory effect than TiO2-NPs on S. mutans after 24 h (P = 0.007). However, the inhibitory effect of HA-SNPs was not significantly different from that of TiO2-NPs (P = 0.259) or CuO-NPs (P = 0.224).

Considering the similar antibacterial properties of all three coatings in the long term, all three types of nanoparticles can be used to coat orthodontic brackets to prevent caries. However, due to the high cost and difficult preparation of HA-SNPs and the slightly higher efficacy of CuO-NPs in the short-term, the latter may be preferred for this purpose.

Diabetes mellitus, if is not well taken care and treated, may exacerbate complications such as ulcers, infections, and amputations. Accordingly, preventive measures and timely treatment are of paramount importance.

This study sought to collect profound experiences about diabetic ulcer care management with an emphasis on community-based care.

The study was carried out using the qualitative content analysis method during 2017 - 2018 in Semnan Province, Iran. The study encompassed 14 participants, including six caregivers, two family members, one nurse, one nursing supervisor, one manager of counseling and nursing care service centers (CNCSCs), one head nurse, and two physicians, who were selected using the purposive sampling method. The analysis process was performed based on Graneheim and Lundma’s approach.

Two main categories were as follows: (1) "Dispersion in preventive measures," with subcategories of ‘vague perception of disease symptoms’, ‘inability in self-management’ and ‘low-efficient preventive care’, and (2) "Gradual access to outpatient services" with subcategories of ‘gradual expansion of outpatient ulcer care’, ‘complexity of financial transactions’, ‘improving inter-sectoral cooperation’ and ‘ambiguous professional boundaries’.

Care facilities offering services to diabetic foot ulcers, especially community-based nursing care centers, are gradually expanding, and new wound care methods are being adopted. However, lack of self-care management, insufficient support, treatment-oriented approaches, and all clients’ insufficient access to these services are some of the problems that still exist in the care management of diabetic ulcers.

Given the worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, this study sought to understand how people with spinal cord injury (SCI) perceive the post-pandemic context.

We aimed to understand the perceptions of people with SCI in Brazil regarding the world in the post-pandemic context.

This qualitative study was conducted on SCI Brazilians using a form published on SurveyMonkey® with questions regarding their perspectives on the post-pandemic world. The responses were analyzed considering Bardin, Axel Honneth, and Ernst Bloch.

The results demonstrated that the lives of SCI people in Brazil did not change during the pandemic, as they were already isolated due to the lack of accessibility.

Imagining future scenarios following the pandemic is highly complex; however, the present can be understood as a moment to reflect on how humanity has developed thus far, especially concerning impaired accessibility and the pervasive lack of empathy and solidarity.

One of the spine deformities is scoliosis, and Cobb angle is generally used to assess it.

In this study, a computer-aided measurement system (CAMS) was presented as a new repeatable and reproducible approach to assess the Cobb angle in idiopathic scoliosis patients.

Python libraries, including OpenCV and Numpy were used for image processing and design of the software. To assess the repeatability and reproducibility of the CAMS, a series of 98 anterior-posterior radiographs from patients with idiopathic scoliosis were used. Assessments were done by five independent observers. Each radiograph was assessed by each observer three times with a minimum break of two weeks among assessment. The single measure intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the mean absolute difference (MAD), and the standard error measurement (SEM) values were used for intra- and inter-observer reliability.

The inter-observer analysis indicated that the ICCs ranged from 0.94 - 0.99, and the MAD between manual and CAMS were less than 3°. For intra-observer measurements, the combined SEM between all observers for the manual and CAMS was 1.79° and 1.27°, respectively. An ICC value of 0.97 with 95% confidence interval (CI) was excellent in CAMS for inter-observer reliability. The MAD of CAMS was 2.18 ± 2.01 degrees.

The CAMS is an effective and reliable approach for assessing scoliotic curvature in the standing radiographs of thoraco-lumbar. Moreover, CAMS can accelerate clinical visits, and its calculation results are reliable.

The singing voice handicap index (SVHI) was developed to assess voice-related handicaps in singers.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of a Persian translation of the SVHI (P-SVHI) for traditional Persian singers.

A cross-sectional study was performed to translate and validate the P-SVHI using a "forward-backward" procedure. The questionnaire was administered to 275 traditional Persian singers (168 with a normal voice and 107 with dysphonia) ranging from 16 to 83 years. Content, construct, discriminant, convergent, and face validity, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and floor and ceiling effects were assessed.

The 36-item SVHI, translated from the original English by two translators, was completed by 21 traditional Persian singers. After the face validity was approved, construct validity assessment using factor analysis identified four factors in the P-SVHI with the exclusion of seven items. The mean score of the 29-item P-SVHI on a 0 - 100 scale was 16.9 for healthy subjects and 40.9 for dysphonic subjects. Discriminant validity confirmed that P-SVHI scores were significantly different between normal and dysphonic singers, using an independent sample t-test (P < 0.001). Convergent validity was proven by strong correlations between P-SVHI scores and the Iowa Patient’s Voice Index (IPVI1, IPVI2, and "IPVI effort" scores of r = 0.58, 0.69, and 0.42, respectively, P < 0.001). Internal consistency and test-retest reliability were also excellent (Cronbach α = 0.95, average inter-item correlation = 0.40, and intra-class correlation coefficients using two-way random model with absolute agreement, ICCtwo-way random, absolute agreement = 0.69 - 0.95). No floor or ceiling effects were observed.

The revised 29-item P-SVHI is a valid and reliable tool in differentiating normal and dysphonic Persian traditional singers.

Therapists are faced with some challenges of convincing individuals with knee osteoarthritis (OA) to do therapeutic exercises.

This study aimed to design and evaluate the effectiveness of a tool in tracking therapeutic exercise patterns.

In this pilot study, the designed tool was an invention (registration no.: A61B 5/00) consisting of four movement patterns designed on a map for tracking movement patterns by users through laser light. A total of 16 subjects with knee OA participated in this pilot study, including a control group (n = 8) and an intervention (n = 8) group. The exercises for both groups were static stretching and straight-leg-raise exercises. The control and the intervention groups did therapeutic exercises in traditionalmethods with the designed tool for 4 weeks, respectively. Pain intensity, range of motion (ROM), and satisfaction are measured before and after the intervention.

After the intervention, median ROM and pain intensity during rest and activities significantly decreased in both groups. Intergroup comparison showed that median knee flexion in the intervention group was more significantly increased, compared to that of the control group. Furthermore, pain intensity during rest and activities in the intervention group was more significantly decreased than in the control group. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in knee extension. Additionally, the participants in the intervention group expressed significantly higher treatment satisfaction than the control group.

For tracking therapeutic exercise patterns, a tracking therapeutic exercise pattern tool could result in increasing the flexion range of the knee joint and reducing more pain in patients with OA, compared to conventional exercises. Participants are more interested in using the pattern tracking method for doing exercises than the usual method.