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MS@Work: the development of a MS Toolkit for a stable employment
No full textIntroduction: With over 12,000 Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients in Belgium, the decline in workforce participation from 60-90% at diagnosis to 30% after ten years is a pressing concern. High unemployment rates are influenced by the complex interplay of health status, work environment, job requirements, and personal factors. Stable, long-term employment positively impacts MS patients' well-being, disease management, and overall quality of life. In contrast, job loss or an uncertain professional future adversely affects health. This highlights the need for targeted interventions. Therefore, in the first place, we aim to investigate the opportunities and bottlenecks on the work floor for persons with MS in Flanders. In the second place, based on these results, we want to develop a MS Toolkit with several aids for persons with MS and their network to help them gain a sustainable employment
Accidental arks: conserving monopisthocotylan parasite species through European weatherfish captive breeding
No full textMost ex-situ conservation programs ignore parasites or entail their active removal from host individuals. This can cause the decline or even the extinction of parasite species. However, alternative scenarios are possible. We present a case study in which three potentially endangered parasite species may be conserved as a byproduct of the host ex-situ conservation program.
The European weatherfish (Misgurnus fossilis, Cobitidae) is a freshwater fish critically endangered in Belgium, threatened by habitat loss, pollution and invasion by two Asian congeners. Regional conservation actions of this species in Belgium include a captive breeding and re-introduction program. We assessed infection of these captive weatherfish and characterized (both morphologically and genetically) their ectoparasites.
Three species of Monopisthocotyla were found: Actinocleidus cruciatus (Dactylogyridea) and Gyrodactylus misgurni (Gyrodactylidea) on the gills, G. fossilis (Gyrodactylidea) on the skin. Two of these parasites were also observed in historical weatherfish specimens originally collected in Belgium between 1932-1973, before the invasion of exotic weatherfishes, indicating that these parasites are native to the country. All three monopisthocotylan species were previously suggested to be threatened by extinction in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Wild historical and captive fish had similar infection abundances, but they differed in their infection parameters. DNA barcoding of these parasites provided new markers, until now lacking, that can be used for detecting these conservation-relevant parasites in nature.
The ex-situ breeding conditions of captive breeding stock of European weatherfish offers the possibility to sustain both the host population and populations of at least two parasite species, at abundance levels that are not harmful for the host. Thus, the captive breeding program of the European weatherfish is also relevant for preserving its parasites, without allocating additional resources.
Discussion among stakeholders about a policy with regard to parasite conservation is needed. We advocate for conservation efforts going beyond hosts and integrating native host-parasite combinations (as a package entity) in ex-situ breeding and re-introductions in nature
Co-creation with Consumers in Retail Design
No full textRetail design literature suggests a passive, limited role for consumers in which they are part of the analytical phase in the beginning of the retail design process (Paik and Lee, 2021, Servais et al., 2021). Among all stakeholders, retail designers pay least attention to consumers and their influence diminishes during the process (Münster and Haug, 2017). These findings contrast with the broader design and marketing literature, which portrays consumers as active and connected participants (Prahalad and Ramaswamy, 2004, Sanders and Stappers, 2008)
The impact of atrial fibrillation on oxygen uptake and haemodynamics in patients with heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis
No full textAims Atrial fibrillation (AF) may exacerbate exercise intolerance and haemodynamic limitations in individuals with heart failure (HF). Therefore, we performed a systematic search and meta-analysis to quantify the impact of AF on exercise tolerance (peak oxygen uptake, VO2peak; primary outcome) and exercise haemodynamics (secondary outcomes) in patients with HF.Methods and results PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for articles from inception to June 2024. Studies were included if they: (i) examined participants with HF; (ii) compared participants with AF to those not in AF (i.e. sinus rhythm); (iii) measured VO2peak from expired gas analysis. A fixed effects meta-analysis was performed, with groups compared using the weighted average effect size, represented as the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Of 573 identified studies, 16 met the full inclusion comparing VO2peak in HF-patients in AF [HF-AF; n = 1,271, 68% male, 67 years, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 41%], and HF in sinus rhythm (HF-SR; n = 4910; 62% male, 62 years, LVEF: 41%). VO2peak was significantly lower in HF-AF (WMD: -1.55mL/kg/min, 95%-CI: -1.81 to -1.28, n = 6471). This coincided with a slightly lower peak heart rate (WMD: -2.94 b/min, 95%-CI: -4.76 to -1.13 b/min, n = 5115), decreased O2pulse (WMD: -1.58 mL/beat, 95% CI: -1.90 to -1.26, n = 3049), and lower systolic blood pressure (WMD: -11.11 mmHg, 95% CI: -14.01 to -8.21, n = 2409).Conclusion In patients with HF, AF is associated with greater VO2peak impairment, potentially due to reduced stroke volume and/or arterio-venous oxygen difference. This highlights the importance of combined strategies to identify and manage AF in individuals with HF.M.J.H. is funded by an endowed research chair in ageing and quality of life in the Faculty of Nursing at University of Alberta, 3-045 Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Ave NW, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 1C9 Canad
Verifying the feasibility of wastewater-based epidemiological monitoring for the small catchment and sewage networks with significant pretreatment
No full textWastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has emerged as a valuable tool for COVID-19 monitoring, especially as the frequency of clinical testing diminishes. Beyond COronaVIrus Disease 19 (COVID-19), the tool's versatility extends to addressing various public health concerns, including antibiotic resistance and drug consumption. However, the complexity of sewage systems introduces noise when measuring chemical tracer concentrations, potentially compromising their applicability for modeling. In our study, we detail the approach adopted to determine the concentration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) ribonucleiec acid (RNA) in wastewater from the Ponte a Niccheri wastewater treatment plant in Tuscany (Italy), with a sample size of N = 13,935 inhabitants. The unique characteristics of this wastewater system, including mandatory pretreatment in septic tanks with extended retention times, the presence of a hospital for COVID-19 patients, and mixed sewage networks, posed additional challenges. Nevertheless, our results highlight a robust and significant correlation between our measurements and the number of infections within the wastewater treatment plant's catchment area at the time of sampling. A simple linear model also shows promising results in estimating the number of infected people within the area
Enhancing postural control, pain and disability through proprioceptive training in individuals with low back pain: a proof-of-concept.
No full textLow back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of global disability. Individuals with LBP often exhibit impaired proprioceptive postural control, which may contribute to the persistence of their condition. The effectiveness of targeted proprioceptive training in addressing these deficits and alleviating pain and disability remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of proprioceptive training on (1) proprioceptive postural control and (2) associated pain and disability in individuals with LBP.
Twenty-five individuals with recurrent LBP (14 men, 11 women; mean age 47 ± 10 years; BMI 24.1 ± 2.3) participated in an 8-week proprioceptive training program focusing on sensing, differentiating, and localizing lumbar postures, movements, and muscle activation. Participants integrated these exercises into their daily routines.
Postural control assessments were performed on stable and unstable surfaces with visual input occluded. Muscle vibration stimulated ankle and back muscle spindles to induce center of pressure (COP) displacements, measured using a force plate. A ratio of COP displacement in response to ankle versus back muscle vibration was calculated. Clinical outcomes were assessed with the Modified Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire (MDQ) and self-reported percentage improvements in pain and disability (0–100%). Non-parametric statistical methods were used.
Proprioceptive training led to increased COP displacement in response to back muscle vibration on stable (p = 0.036) and unstable surfaces (p = 0.043). The ratio of ankle-to-back muscle vibration indicated greater reliance on lumbar proprioception under unstable conditions (p = 0.034). Clinically, MDQ scores improved significantly (pre-training: 27 ± 10; post-training: 14 ± 10, p < 0.001), alongside substantial reductions in disability (51%) and pain (49%).
Proprioceptive training improved lumbar proprioception and postural control, likely through enhanced muscle spindle sensitivity and segmental control. Participants shifted from rigid ankle strategies to adaptive lumbar proprioceptive reliance, improving adaptability to unstable conditions. These benefits were accompanied by significant reductions in pain and disability, underscoring the clinical value of proprioceptive training for individuals with LBP.Research Foundation Flanders - FWO (grant 11B6522N, grant G072122N
Neural and behavioral entrainment to auditory rhythmic perturbations in persons with cerebellar impairment
No full textThe cerebellum plays a key role in temporal processing, as demonstrated by sensorimotor synchronization paradigms. This study extends findings by investigating behavioral and neural adaptation to unpredictable auditory perturbations. Sixteen persons with cerebellar impairment and sixteen healthy controls performed a listening (60 seconds) and a finger-tapping task (465 seconds) to a metronome set at 1.67 Hz: the first 60 seconds were without perturbations, followed by 40 perturbations (+/- 10% period changes). Event-related frequency adjustments (ERFA) were derived from finger-tapping and electroencephalography recordings, yielding 3 event-related frequency adjustments: one behavioral and two neural (perceptual and sensorimotor components). Mean behavioral adaptation to the perturbations was similar in both groups (P < 0.001). Neural tracking was evident in the sensorimotor component but not in the perceptual component in both groups, for both positive (P = 0.005) and negative (P = 0.003) directions. Neural tracking was significantly reduced in persons with cerebellar impairment compared to healthy controls, particularly in response to negative perturbation in the sensorimotor component (P = 0.02). Persons with cerebellar impairment demonstrates spared yet dissociative adaptation with intact behavioral yet hindered neural dynamics. The results suggest parallel yet distinct mechanisms for processing covert and overt responses underlying sensorimotor adaptation. Findings indicate a potential use of spared behavioral adaptation mechanisms in the rehabilitation of persons with cerebellar impairment through rhythm-based interventions.This work was supported by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (FWO) (grant numbers 1295923N, G082021N) awarded to dr. Lousin Moumdjian, and Prof. Peter Feys, respectively.
We thank Ivan Schepers (IPEM, UGent) for his technical support in the development of the tapping pad equipment, Nele Vanbilsen’s assistance and support with parts of data collection and all study participants for their voluntary participation in the stud
Physiotherapy management of benign non-traumatic pediatric headache: A scoping review
No full textSM is supported by the Leuven University (PDMt1/22/016). The sponsor has no role in composing the study design, collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of data, writing of the report, or the decision to submit the report for publication