597 research outputs found

    The physiological response of skin tissues to alternating support pressures in able-bodied subjects

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    Prolonged mechanical loading can lead to breakdown of skin and underlying tissues which can, in turn, develop into a pressure ulcer. The benefits of pressure relief and/or redistribution to minimise risk have been well documented and these strategies can be provided by employing support mattresses in which internal air pressures can be alternated to minimise the risk of pressure ulcers in patients during prolonged periods of bed-rest. The paper describes the performance of a prototype alternating pressure air mattress (APAM), in terms of its ability to maintain skin viability in a group of healthy volunteers lying in a supine position. In particular, the mattress includes a sacral section supported with alternating low pressure (ALP), with values adjusted to subject morphology, using an in-built pressure sensor. The mattress was supported at four different head of bed (HOB) angles ranging from 0 to 60°. Internal mattress pressures and transcutaneous gas (TcPO2/TcPCO2) tensions at the sacrum and a control site, the scapula, were monitored. Interface pressures were also measured. The sensor was found to be sensitive to the BMI values of the 12 healthy volunteers. In the majority of test conditions the internal support produced sacral TcPO2 values, which either remained similar to those at the scapula or fluctuated at levels providing adequate viability. However in a few cases, associated with a raised HOB angle (?45°), there was compromise to the skin viability at the sacrum, as reflected in depressed TcPO2 levels associated with an elevation of TcPCO2 levels above the normal range. In all cases, interface pressures at the sacrum rarely exceeded 60mmHg. Although such studies need to be extended to involve bed-bound individuals, the results offer the potential for the development of intelligent APAM systems, whose characteristics can be adjusted to an individual morphology. Such preventive strategies to maintain skin viability at loaded sites will be designed for subjects deemed to be at high risk of developing pressure ulcers

    Pressure signatures can influence tissue response for individuals supported on an alternating pressure mattress

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    Prolonged mechanical loading can lead to the breakdown of skin and underlying tissues which can, in turn, develop into a pressure ulcer. The benefits of pressure relief and/or redistribution to minimise risk have been well documented. Manufacturers have developed alternating air pressure mattresses (APAMs) to provide periodic relief for individuals on prolonged bed-rest. The present study describes the development of a control system, termed Pneumatic Manager which can vary the signature of an APAM, namely its pressure amplitude, cell profile and cycle period. An experimental array was designed to investigate the effects of varying these parameters, particularly with respect to its ability to maintain skin viability in a group of five healthy volunteers lying in a supine position. Transcutaneous gas (TcPO2/TcPCO2) tensions at the sacrum were monitored. In addition, pressures and microclimate parameters at the loaded support interface were also measured.In the majority of test conditions the alternating support produced sacral TcPO2 values, which either remained relatively high or fluctuated in concert with cycle period providing adequate viability. However, in 46% of cases at the extreme pressure amplitude of 100/0 mmHg, there was compromise to the skin viability at the sacrum, as reflected in depressed TcPO2 levels associated with an elevation of TcPCO2 levels above the normal range. In all cases, both the humidity and temperature levels increased during the test period. It is interesting to note that interface pressures at the sacrum rarely exceeded 60 mmHg. Although such studies need to be extended to involve bed-bound individuals, the results provide a design template for the optimum pressure signatures of APAM systems to ensure maintenance of skin viability during pronged loading

    Effectiveness of dry needling in patients with knee pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

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    Authors: Mr. Johnson C.Y. Pang, Professor Amy S.N. Fu, Dr. Ryan K.L. Lee, Dr. Allan C.L. Fu Corresponding author: Mr. Johnson C.Y. Pang and contact email: jpang@cihe,edu.hk Abstract Objectives To assess the effectiveness of various approaches of dry needling (DN) for patients with knee pain and dysfunction Search strategy Six electronic databases: CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and PsycINFO were searched in November 2020 (registration number: CRD42021221419). Screening Risk of bias assessment and qualitative analysis were conducted by two independent reviewers using the PEDro scale. Data management and reporting Eight of 14 articles that met the inclusion criteria were high-quality manuscripts based on the PEDro scale. DN demonstrated positive short-term effects (from immediately after DN to <3 months) in pain reduction for both knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) (overall standardized mean difference [SMD]=-1.549, P=0.002). Subgroup analysis, however, revealed only significant improvement in PFPS (SMD=-3.435, P<0.001). At three months post-intervention, DN induced significant pain reduction in both KOA and PFPS (overall SMD=-0.916, P=0.022). Moreover, DN resulted in significant short-term improvement in function (overall SMD=6.069, P<0.001) in both KOA and PFPS. However, only PFPS showed a significant functional improvement in the subgroup analysis (SMD=6.089, P<0.001). At three months post-intervention, DN-induced functional improvement was significant in both groups (overall SMD=5.840, P<0.001), although only PFPS showed a significant improvement in the sub-group analysis (SMD=5.694, P=0.002). The outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided DN on patients with knee pain are still unknown. Conclusion DN provides short-term benefits with respect to reducing pain and dysfunction for patients presenting with knee pain due to PFPS, but not KOA. Future research on US-guided DN for the treatment of knee pain is highly recommended

    Effectiveness of dry needling in patients with knee pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    No full text
    Authors: Mr. Johnson C.Y. Pang, Professor Amy S.N. Fu, Dr. Ryan K.L. Lee, Dr. Allan C.L. Fu Corresponding author: Mr. Johnson C.Y. Pang and contact email: jpang@cihe,edu.hk Abstract Objectives To assess the effectiveness of various approaches of dry needling (DN) for patients with knee pain and dysfunction Search strategy Six electronic databases: CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and PsycINFO were searched in November 2020 (registration number: CRD42021221419). Screening Risk of bias assessment and qualitative analysis were conducted by two independent reviewers using the PEDro scale. Data management and reporting Eight of 14 articles that met the inclusion criteria were high-quality manuscripts based on the PEDro scale. DN demonstrated positive short-term effects (from immediately after DN to <3 months) in pain reduction for both knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) (overall standardized mean difference [SMD]=-1.549, P=0.002). Subgroup analysis, however, revealed only significant improvement in PFPS (SMD=-3.435, P<0.001). At three months post-intervention, DN induced significant pain reduction in both KOA and PFPS (overall SMD=-0.916, P=0.022). Moreover, DN resulted in significant short-term improvement in function (overall SMD=6.069, P<0.001) in both KOA and PFPS. However, only PFPS showed a significant functional improvement in the subgroup analysis (SMD=6.089, P<0.001). At three months post-intervention, DN-induced functional improvement was significant in both groups (overall SMD=5.840, P<0.001), although only PFPS showed a significant improvement in the sub-group analysis (SMD=5.694, P=0.002). The outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided DN on patients with knee pain are still unknown. Conclusion DN provides short-term benefits with respect to reducing pain and dysfunction for patients presenting with knee pain due to PFPS, but not KOA. Future research on US-guided DN for the treatment of knee pain is highly recommended

    Effectiveness of dry needling in patients with knee pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis

    No full text
    Authors: Mr. Johnson C.Y. Pang, Professor Amy S.N. Fu, Dr. Ryan K.L. Lee, Dr. Allan C.L. Fu Corresponding author: Mr. Johnson C.Y. Pang and contact email: jpang@cihe,edu.hk Abstract Objectives To assess the effectiveness of various approaches of dry needling (DN) for patients with knee pain and dysfunction Search strategy Six electronic databases: CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Medline, PubMed, and PsycINFO were searched in November 2020 (registration number: CRD42021221419). Screening Risk of bias assessment and qualitative analysis were conducted by two independent reviewers using the PEDro scale. Data management and reporting Eight of 14 articles that met the inclusion criteria were high-quality manuscripts based on the PEDro scale. DN demonstrated positive short-term effects (from immediately after DN to <3 months) in pain reduction for both knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS) (overall standardized mean difference [SMD]=-1.549, P=0.002). Subgroup analysis, however, revealed only significant improvement in PFPS (SMD=-3.435, P<0.001). At three months post-intervention, DN induced significant pain reduction in both KOA and PFPS (overall SMD=-0.916, P=0.022). Moreover, DN resulted in significant short-term improvement in function (overall SMD=6.069, P<0.001) in both KOA and PFPS. However, only PFPS showed a significant functional improvement in the subgroup analysis (SMD=6.089, P<0.001). At three months post-intervention, DN-induced functional improvement was significant in both groups (overall SMD=5.840, P<0.001), although only PFPS showed a significant improvement in the sub-group analysis (SMD=5.694, P=0.002). The outcomes of ultrasound (US)-guided DN on patients with knee pain are still unknown. Conclusion DN provides short-term benefits with respect to reducing pain and dysfunction for patients presenting with knee pain due to PFPS, but not KOA. Future research on US-guided DN for the treatment of knee pain is highly recommended

    A Study on Ueda-akinari's Adapting Technique and Discriminatory Attitude Against Confucianism-Buddhism in Siramine

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    日本志怪小說的傑作《雨月物語》,為江戶文?巨擎上田秋成以「翻案」(仿作)中日古典文學的手法寫成。本論文是以《雨月物語》的首篇作品〈白峰〉為探討對象。 〈白峰〉的內容是描述被迫遜位的悲劇天子崇德上黃化為厲鬼出現於原本武士後來出家的西行法師面前,為了將自己生前發動的叛亂事件正當化,針對儒家的禪讓‧篡位思想,和西行法師在黑夜的深山裏進行辯論的故事。根據兩人辯論的內容,學者之間傾向於將本篇視為日本「國學者」上田秋成的排儒黜佛論。 本論文首先比較〈白峰〉及其典據,繼之闡述作品主題,探討了一般所謂的秋成的排儒黜佛論,並提示不同的觀點。This dissertation is to discuss the first chapter of Ugetsu-monogatari, one of Ueda-akinari’s outstanding collections of eweird and mysterious stories in japan. Ugetsu-monogatari consists of nine stories, and the first story is Siramine. It tells the tragic story of Sutokku- joko, an emperor forced to abdicate, whose malicious spirit argues with Saigyo-hosi about “usurping the thoughts of Confucianism, in order to legitimate the rebellion he arose when alive. According to the content of their debate, most scholars tend to regard this story as Ueda-akinari’s discriminatory attitude against Confucianism-Buddhism; the author will discuss this unfriendly criticism in this chapter. In this dissertation , the author first compares Siramine with its originals, discusses its main points, the so-called discriminatory attitude against Confucianism-Buddhism, and gives hints of opposite viewpoints
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