Biological Research for Nursing

BACKGROUND: Stroke is one of the most widespread reasons for acquired adult disability. Recent experimental studies have reported the beneficial influence of Wii Fit-based feedback on improving overall balance and gait for stroke survivors. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of the literature using the following keywords to retrieve the data: feedback, biofeedback, stroke, visual, auditory, tactile, virtual reality, videogame rehabilitation, Nintendo Wii stroke, videogame stroke, exergame stroke, Nintendo Wii rehabilitation, balance, and gait...

Background: After transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma resection patients have reduced olfactory function and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of nasal irrigation on the nasal related quality of life in patients undergoing transsphenoidal pituitary adenoma resection. Methods: Patients undergoing transsphenoidal resection of pituitary adenomas in a tertiary hospital in China were included. The patients were randomly divided into a control group and nasal irrigation group according to the random sequence generated by the SPSS22...

BACKGROUND: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) control is a crucial goal in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), requiring lifelong commitment and family support. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of family-based diabetes management intervention on HbA1c among adults with T2DM. METHODS: From inception up to 2022, a comprehensive literature search was conducted across PubMed, ProQuest, Scopus, CORE, and the Cochrane Library. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal tools...

The electrocardiogram (ECG) can now be measured using mobile devices. Mobile ECG devices, which are defined as devices capable of recording and transmitting non-standard ECGs, offer numerous advantages such as cost-effectiveness and being user-friendly. Mobile ECG can also extend recording lengths (e.g., 2 days, 14 days), which is necessary to capture important intermittent events (e.g., cardiac arrhythmias) and evaluate prognostic risk markers (e.g., prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval). Some mobile ECG devices can even connect to broadband networks allowing patients to remotely transmit their ECG to a clinician...

BACKGROUND: An increased allostatic load (cumulative physiologic wear and tear of the body) can lead to adverse health outcomes. Symptom experiences are known to influence allostatic load. Yet, the relationships between postpartum symptom typologies and maternal allostatic load remain unknown. METHODS: We used Community Child Health Network data and included participants with allostatic load data at 6, 12, or 24 months postpartum. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to examine associations between postpartum symptom typologies and (a) overall allostatic load, (b) allostatic load subscales for body systems (neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory), and (c) individual biomarkers within the subscale...

PURPOSE: Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most common and disruptive symptom experienced by cancer survivors and because of its frequency and severity is especially worrisome in breast cancer survivors (BCS). Despite a great deal of research, the mechanisms underlying CRF have not been determined. The present study aims to describe associations between CRF in BCS and different blood biomarkers. METHODS: A descriptive and cross-sectional study was conducted. A set of biomarkers assessing inflammation were measured in BCS: C-reactive protein (CRP), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF); HPA axis dysfunction (cortisol), autonomic dysfunction (noradrenaline); oxidative stress (8-OH deoxyguanosine); insulin resistance markers (insulin, IGF-I, IGFBP3) and sexual hormones (estrogens, progesterone, testosterone)...

INTRODUCTION: Reminiscence therapy (RT), which engages individuals to evoke positive memories, has been shown to be effective in improving psychological well-being in older adults suffering from PTSD, depression, and anxiety. However, its impact on brain function has yet to be determined. This paper presents functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to describe changes in autobiographical memory networks (AMN) in community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: This pilot study used a within-subject design to measure changes in AMN activation in 11 older adults who underwent 6 weeks of RT...

Development of painful oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) is a major problem in people who receive oxaliplatin as part of cancer treatment. The pain experienced by those with OIPN can be seriously debilitating and lead to discontinuation of an otherwise successful treatment. Duloxetine is currently the only recommended treatment for established painful OIPN recommended by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, but its preventative ability is still not clear. This study examined the ability of duloxetine to prevent signs of chronic OIPN in female (n = 12) and male (n = 21) rats treated with the chemotherapeutic agent oxaliplatin...

OBJECTIVE: The HPA-axis is programmed during early infancy, but a lot is unknown about the programming of the HPA-axis in prematurely born or small for gestational age (SGA) children. Therefore, the aim of this preliminary study was to investigate the influence of prematurity and variables associated with birth on cortisol levels in young children. METHODS: Cortisol was measured in a cross-sectional design in 38 premature born participants (<37 weeks of gestation), aged between 3 - 9 years old...

Obesity is highly prevalent in breast cancer (BC) survivors. Adipose tissue promotes inflammation, affecting recurrence, morbidity, and quality of life. This study aimed to determine the relationship of body composition parameters with the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in female BC survivors. Additionally, we evaluated the association of log-transformed serum concentrations of CRP and IL-6 with the appendicular skeletal lean mass index (ASMI). The results showed that CRP was positively associated with body fat percentage (BFP; β adjusted = ...

BACKGROUND: Alterations in the naturally occurring bacteria of the gut, known as the gastrointestinal (GI) microbiome, may influence GI symptoms in women with breast cancer. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to describe GI symptom occurrence, duration, severity, and distress and measures of the GI microbiome among women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy compared to age- and sex-matched healthy controls. INTERVENTIONS/METHODS: 22 women with breast cancer receiving chemotherapy and 17 healthy control women provided stool specimens and GI symptom data using the modified Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale (MSAS)...

Introduction:  Sleep disturbances are common among older adults and can have detrimental effects on their overall well-being. Tai Chi exercise has shown promise in improving sleep quality, quality of life (QoL), and psychological well-being in various populations.  Objective:  To investigate the effect of a home-based simplified Tai Chi exercise program on sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, QoL, and psychological well-being in Egyptian older adults.  Methods:  A quasi-experimental design was employed, with 152 participants aged 60 years and above assigned to either an experimental group ( n  = 87) or a control group ( n  = 65)...

BACKGROUND: Fatigue is prevalent in subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) survivors. Biological mechanisms underlying fatigue post-SAH are not clear. Inflammation may contribute to the development of fatigue. This study aimed to examine the associations between inflammatory markers and fatigue during the first 6 months post-SAH. Specific biomarkers examined included both early and concurrent expression of Toll-Like Receptor 4 (TLR4) messenger RNA (mRNA) and plasma concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokines, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin (IL)1β, and IL6...

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that metabolic diseases are risk factors for thyroid disease; most studies are cross-sectional design. We aimed to evaluate the causal relationship between thyroid and metabolic diseases in a cohort of Chinese nurses. METHODS: We conducted an ambispective cohort study of the National Nurses' Health Study. Thyroid disease data based on ultrasonography from 2017 to 2021 were collected. We described thyroid disease incidence and the risk factors associated with a cluster of metabolic factors...

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia (PE) is a multifunctional and multisystem disorder. Several factors favor the development of PE, including obesity. Cytokines are also expressed in the placenta, predisposing to local alterations that favor the development of distinct pathological processes, including PE. This study aimed to evaluate the apelin and visfatin mRNA expression in the placental tissue of women with preeclampsia and overweight/obesity and correlates with maternal and fetal variables...

Objectives: To explore whether tai chi can improve lung function, exercise capacity, and health-related outcomes in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: The PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang, and China Science and Technology Journal Database (VIP) databases were searched from inception to January 5, 2023. The methodological quality of the included studies was evaluated according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions criteria...

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of different types of physiotherapy interventions in people with Parkinson's disease (PD). DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). METHODS: Five databases (PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL and Web of Science Core Collection) were searched for relevant RCTs published from database inception to July 14, 2022. Reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted data, and assessed the literature quality according to the Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool and PEDro Scale...

Background: Children are increasingly exposed to stressors that can affect their immune function. Given the possible negative effects of stress and inflammation on health, researchers need to use appropriate biomarkers to measure both the effects of stress and subsequent inflammatory responses. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to briefly review stress and inflammatory pathways, identify biomarkers used to measure chronic stress and chronic inflammation particularly in children in clinical and community settings, and to discuss methodological considerations when measuring stress and inflammation in children...

The study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of fatigue and the moderating effect of sleep quality on stress and depressive symptoms among people with visual impairments. A total of 155 participants completed the online survey. The Perceived Stress Scale, the Fatigue Symptom Inventory, the Centre for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Inventory (CES-D), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used. Descriptive analysis, correlations, and moderated mediation modelling were conducted using R software...

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the effect of lullabies and classical music on preterm neonates' cerebral oxygenation, vital signs, and comfort during orogastric (OG) tube feeding. METHODS: This was a parallel-group pretest-posttest randomized controlled study. The research was conducted between December 2020 and May 2022. The sample consisted of 51 preterm neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of Selçuk University Faculty of Medicine Hospital in Konya, Türkiye...