Blast overpressure has become an increasing cause of brain injuries in both military and civilian populations. Though blast＇s direct effects on the cochlea and vestibular organs are active areas of study, little atte...Blast overpressure has become an increasing cause of brain injuries in both military and civilian populations. Though blast＇s direct effects on the cochlea and vestibular organs are active areas of study, little attention has been given to the ear＇s contribution to the overall spectrum of blast injury. Acute auto- nomic responses to blast exposure, including bradycardia and hypotension, can cause hypoxia and contribute to blast-induced neurotrauma. Existing literature suggests that these autonomic responses are elicited through blast impacting the thorax and lungs. We hypothesize that the unprotected ear also provides a vulnerable locus for blast to cause autonomic responses. We designed a blast generator that delivers controlled overpressure waves into the ear canal without impacting surrounding tissues in order to study the ear＇s specific contribution to blast injury. Anesthetized adult rats＇ left ears were exposed to a single blast wave ranging from 0 to 110 PSI （0-758 kPa）. Blast exposed rats exhibited decreased heart rates and blood pressures with increased blast intensity, similar to results gathered using shock tubes and whole-body exposure in the literature. While rats exposed to blasts below 50 PSI （345 kPa） exhibited increased respiratory rate with increased blast intensity, some rats exposed to blasts higher than 50 PSI （345 kPa） stopped breathing immediately and ultimately died. These autonomic responses were significantly reduced in vagally denervated rats, again similar to whole-body exposure literature. These results support the hypothesis that the unprotected ear contributes to the autonomic responses to blast.展开更多
On April 23rd,China Association for NGO Cooperation(CANGO)sent representatives to attend the International Symposium on Humanism for the Future:Ontopsychology and Education for the Formation of Responsible and Autonom...On April 23rd,China Association for NGO Cooperation(CANGO)sent representatives to attend the International Symposium on Humanism for the Future:Ontopsychology and Education for the Formation of Responsible and Autonomous Individuals held at the headquarters of UNEsCO in Paris,and celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Antonio Meneghetti Foundation.展开更多
Background: Harvesting activities have proven effective in reducing stress in patients with dementia. At a psychiatric hospital, occupational therapists (OT) made patients with dementia perform vegetable harvesting ac...Background: Harvesting activities have proven effective in reducing stress in patients with dementia. At a psychiatric hospital, occupational therapists (OT) made patients with dementia perform vegetable harvesting activities as a part of their treatment. The patients became calmer and began to smile not only after but also before and during harvesting activity. Therefore, this study aimed to measure autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses over time in a female patient in her 80s with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who had experience in farming when performing harvesting activities. Additionally, this study aimed to consider factors associated with changes in ANS responses over time and to verify the physiological therapeutic effects of harvesting activities. Methods: An OT with more than 10 years of experience and a good relationship with the patient conducted one-on-one sessions with the patient. Harvesting activity was performed in a courtyard with trees. The patient harvested lettuce (three lettuce plants) grown in a planter while sitting on a chair. Additionally, the planter was set up on a desk. ANS responses were measured over time from before to after the activity for different events at six time periods. Changes in the patient’s ANS responses were assessed during each period. Results: With the involvement of environmental factors and OT during harvesting activities, parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity significantly increased. This may lead to improved mental stability. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that implementing harvesting activities may have a positive effect on the PNS in patients with AD with long-term agricultural experience. However, further studies with a larger sample size and multidimensional evaluations are needed.展开更多
Background: In actual clinical settings, an occupational therapist (OT) encounters a patient with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) walking with an anxious expression on the ward. The OT walks with the patient and en...Background: In actual clinical settings, an occupational therapist (OT) encounters a patient with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) walking with an anxious expression on the ward. The OT walks with the patient and encourages them to look at the symbol tree in the center of the ward. Additionally, when the patient talks to the OT, the OT empathizes with them and responds appropriately. As a result, many patients feel less anxious and become calmer. Therefore, in this study, the OT walked with an elderly female patient in her 80s with moderate AD and measured the patient’s autonomic nervous system responses. The study aimed to verify to what extent the results matched the OT’s clinical observational perspective. Methods: An OT with over 10 years of experience and a good relationship with the patient conducted one-on-one walking sessions with the patient. We divided the sessions into five-time periods: when the patient and OT were sitting on a sofa, and when they were walking. We implemented the same approach to the patient as usual. Therefore, we prompted the patient to look at the symbol tree during the walking session. Additionally, when the patient talked to the OT, the OT empathized and gave appropriate responses. We checked the changes in the patient’s autonomic nervous system responses in each time period. Results: This study showed that when walking with an OT, patient with moderate AD had a significant increase in parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity. Therefore, it is suggested that the involvement of professionals such as the environment and the OT during walking training for Alzheimer’s patients may lead to improved mental stability. Conclusion: This study suggests that walking together with an OT may have a positive effect on the PNS of female patient with AD. The study also suggests that there is a potential agreement between clinical observation by the OT and evaluation results based on autonomous nervous system reactions. However, due to the limited number of patients, further studies involving a larger number of patients and multidimensional evaluations are needed.展开更多
Hydrogels,traditionally valued for their biocompatibility and soft-wet properties,are now being engineered as multifunctional advanced materials to address complex challenges in biomedicine,robotics,food engineering,e...Hydrogels,traditionally valued for their biocompatibility and soft-wet properties,are now being engineered as multifunctional advanced materials to address complex challenges in biomedicine,robotics,food engineering,energy,and environmental science.Recent advances have focused on improving their mechanical properties(e.g.,strength,elasticity,toughness,fatigue resistance,and autonomous repair),responsiveness(e.g.,responsive to pH,temperature,light,glucose,and enzymes),biocompatibility(e.g.,eco-friendly hydrogels derived from natural polymers),and diverse applications.展开更多
基金supported by the United States National Institutes of Health[grant numbers:NIDCD R01DC014930(WZ),NIDCD R01DC012060(HZ)]
文摘Blast overpressure has become an increasing cause of brain injuries in both military and civilian populations. Though blast＇s direct effects on the cochlea and vestibular organs are active areas of study, little attention has been given to the ear＇s contribution to the overall spectrum of blast injury. Acute auto- nomic responses to blast exposure, including bradycardia and hypotension, can cause hypoxia and contribute to blast-induced neurotrauma. Existing literature suggests that these autonomic responses are elicited through blast impacting the thorax and lungs. We hypothesize that the unprotected ear also provides a vulnerable locus for blast to cause autonomic responses. We designed a blast generator that delivers controlled overpressure waves into the ear canal without impacting surrounding tissues in order to study the ear＇s specific contribution to blast injury. Anesthetized adult rats＇ left ears were exposed to a single blast wave ranging from 0 to 110 PSI （0-758 kPa）. Blast exposed rats exhibited decreased heart rates and blood pressures with increased blast intensity, similar to results gathered using shock tubes and whole-body exposure in the literature. While rats exposed to blasts below 50 PSI （345 kPa） exhibited increased respiratory rate with increased blast intensity, some rats exposed to blasts higher than 50 PSI （345 kPa） stopped breathing immediately and ultimately died. These autonomic responses were significantly reduced in vagally denervated rats, again similar to whole-body exposure literature. These results support the hypothesis that the unprotected ear contributes to the autonomic responses to blast.
文摘On April 23rd,China Association for NGO Cooperation(CANGO)sent representatives to attend the International Symposium on Humanism for the Future:Ontopsychology and Education for the Formation of Responsible and Autonomous Individuals held at the headquarters of UNEsCO in Paris,and celebrated the 15th Anniversary of the Antonio Meneghetti Foundation.
文摘Background: Harvesting activities have proven effective in reducing stress in patients with dementia. At a psychiatric hospital, occupational therapists (OT) made patients with dementia perform vegetable harvesting activities as a part of their treatment. The patients became calmer and began to smile not only after but also before and during harvesting activity. Therefore, this study aimed to measure autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses over time in a female patient in her 80s with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) who had experience in farming when performing harvesting activities. Additionally, this study aimed to consider factors associated with changes in ANS responses over time and to verify the physiological therapeutic effects of harvesting activities. Methods: An OT with more than 10 years of experience and a good relationship with the patient conducted one-on-one sessions with the patient. Harvesting activity was performed in a courtyard with trees. The patient harvested lettuce (three lettuce plants) grown in a planter while sitting on a chair. Additionally, the planter was set up on a desk. ANS responses were measured over time from before to after the activity for different events at six time periods. Changes in the patient’s ANS responses were assessed during each period. Results: With the involvement of environmental factors and OT during harvesting activities, parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity significantly increased. This may lead to improved mental stability. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that implementing harvesting activities may have a positive effect on the PNS in patients with AD with long-term agricultural experience. However, further studies with a larger sample size and multidimensional evaluations are needed.
文摘Background: In actual clinical settings, an occupational therapist (OT) encounters a patient with moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD) walking with an anxious expression on the ward. The OT walks with the patient and encourages them to look at the symbol tree in the center of the ward. Additionally, when the patient talks to the OT, the OT empathizes with them and responds appropriately. As a result, many patients feel less anxious and become calmer. Therefore, in this study, the OT walked with an elderly female patient in her 80s with moderate AD and measured the patient’s autonomic nervous system responses. The study aimed to verify to what extent the results matched the OT’s clinical observational perspective. Methods: An OT with over 10 years of experience and a good relationship with the patient conducted one-on-one walking sessions with the patient. We divided the sessions into five-time periods: when the patient and OT were sitting on a sofa, and when they were walking. We implemented the same approach to the patient as usual. Therefore, we prompted the patient to look at the symbol tree during the walking session. Additionally, when the patient talked to the OT, the OT empathized and gave appropriate responses. We checked the changes in the patient’s autonomic nervous system responses in each time period. Results: This study showed that when walking with an OT, patient with moderate AD had a significant increase in parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity. Therefore, it is suggested that the involvement of professionals such as the environment and the OT during walking training for Alzheimer’s patients may lead to improved mental stability. Conclusion: This study suggests that walking together with an OT may have a positive effect on the PNS of female patient with AD. The study also suggests that there is a potential agreement between clinical observation by the OT and evaluation results based on autonomous nervous system reactions. However, due to the limited number of patients, further studies involving a larger number of patients and multidimensional evaluations are needed.
基金supported by the 111 Project (Grant No. B21034)the Specialized Research Projects of Huanjiang Laboratory+1 种基金ZhujiZhejiang Province
文摘Hydrogels,traditionally valued for their biocompatibility and soft-wet properties,are now being engineered as multifunctional advanced materials to address complex challenges in biomedicine,robotics,food engineering,energy,and environmental science.Recent advances have focused on improving their mechanical properties(e.g.,strength,elasticity,toughness,fatigue resistance,and autonomous repair),responsiveness(e.g.,responsive to pH,temperature,light,glucose,and enzymes),biocompatibility(e.g.,eco-friendly hydrogels derived from natural polymers),and diverse applications.
