Pressure biofeedback unit (PBU) is a widely used non-invasive device to assist core muscle training by providing pressure feedback. The aim this study was to compare the muscle activities of ...transverse abdominis (TA) and multifidus (MF) at different target pressures (50, 60 and 70 mmHg) of PBU between individuals with and without cLBP.
Twenty-two patients with chronic LBP (cLBP) and 24 age matched healthy individuals were recruited. Electromyography (EMG) signals were recorded from the TA and MF muscles while the TA and MF were contracted to achieve PBU pressure value of 50, 60 and 70 mmHg in random order. The average EMG amplitude (AEMG) of 3 replicate trials was used in the analysis after normalization to %MVIC. %MVIC is defined as the mean of the three AEMG divided by the AEMG of MVIC. Two-way ANOVA was performed to assess the effects of groups (healthy and cLBP) and the three different target pressures of PBU. Independent sample t-test was conducted to compare between the two groups. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed in the cLBP group to determine potential correlations between EMG activity, NPRS and ODI.
The %MVIC of the TA and MF in the cLBP group were higher than the control group at each pressure value (P<0.05). During maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of TA and MF, compared with healthy groups, cLBP subjects showed a decrease (TA mean = 47.61 μV; MF mean = 42.40 μV) in EMG amplitudes (P ≤ 0.001). The MVIC of MF was negatively correlated with Numerical Pain Rating Scale (r = - 0.48, P = 0.024) and Oswestry Disability Index (r = - 0.59, P = 0.004).
We measured the trunk muscles activities at different PBU pressure values, which allows the individual to estimate trunk muscle contraction via PBU. Clinicians may be able to confer the data obtained through EMG recordings to adjust the exercise intensity of PBU training accordingly.
BackgroundA J-curve association has been demonstrated for blood pressure (BP) and all-cause mortality, but data on longitudinal change of BP and mortality in Chinese population are limited.MethodsWe ...performed a retrospective cohort study to examine the association between BP (at baseline and longitudinal change) and risk of mortality in Yinzhou District, Ningbo, China, based on the Yinzhou Health Information System. At baseline, a total of 181 352 subjects aged over 18 years with at least one BP examination record were recruited through the Yinzhou Health Information System. The final analysis was restricted to 168 061 participants after exclusion of outliers of BP.ResultsA U-shaped association was observed for BP at baseline and risk of total and cardiovascular mortality. When compared with normotensive participants, patients with hypotension (HRs=1.51, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.88) and stage 3 hypertension (1.28, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.50) had an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Relative to stable BP of normotension, having a rise in BP from normotension to hypertension or from prehypertension to hypertension both conferred an increased risk of total and cardiovascular mortality (total: 1.39 (95% 1.10 to 1.75) and 1.40 (95% 1.15 to 1.69); cardiovascular: 2.22 (95% CI 1.35 to 3.65) and 1.89 (95% CI 1.20 to 2.96), respectively).ConclusionsOur findings emphasise that hypotension and stage 3 hypertension were associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality. Longitudinal change from normotensive or prehypertensive levels to 140/90 mm Hg or higher could increase the risk of total and cardiovascular mortality.
Although the effect of air pollution on respiratory health has been identified, few studies can be available to evaluate the association of air pollution with hospital visits for children’s pneumonia ...in China. To explore whether high concentrations of air pollutants (including PM
2.5
, PM
10
, NO
2
, and SO
2
) are related to hospital visits for pneumonia in children, we conducted a population-based time-series study in Ningbo, China, from January 1st, 2014 to November 1st, 2015. We used a generalized additive Poisson regression model to calculate risk ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the associations of air pollutants and hospital visits for pneumonia in children and found that these four pollutants were associated with the increased hospital visits for pneumonia in children (1.3% for PM2.5, 1.0% for PM10, 2.9% for NO
2
, 5.0% for SO
2
per 10-μg/m
3
increase in PM2.5, PM10, NO
2
, and SO
2
, respectively). Stronger associations were observed in the cold seasons and among children under 5 years.
Few studies were conducted to evaluate health effects of acute exposure to PM
2.5
and daily mortality in Asian countries due to lack of large-scale PM
2.5
monitoring data. We conducted a time-series ...study to examine the associations of short-term exposure to four common air pollutants (PM
2.5
, PM
10
, NO
2
, and SO
2
) and daily mortality in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. We used generalized addictive model (GAM) to estimate relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of these four air pollutants with daily mortality. The study included 9365 people in the 2-year study period from 2014 to 2015. SO
2
were significantly associated with risk of NAD, RD, and CD mortality with RRs of 1.034 (95% CI 1.004, 1.064), 1.067 (95% CI 1.010, 1.127), and 1.049 (95% CI 1.001, 1.098), respectively.PM
2.5
and PM
10
were significantly associated with risk of death from NAD mortality in warm season. Similar associations were observed for PM
10
(RR = 1.056, 95% CI 1.004, 1.111) and risk of CD mortality. The study provides further evidence that short-term exposure to PM
2.5
, PM
10
, NO
2
, and SO
2
are associated with increased risk of daily mortality.
Acute upper and lower respiratory infections are main causes of mortality and morbidity in children. Air pollution has been recognized as an important contributor to development and exacerbation of ...respiratory infections. However, few studies are available in China. In this study, we investigated the short-term effect of air pollution on hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections among children under 15 years in Ningbo, China. Poisson generalized models were used to estimate the associations between air pollution and hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections adjusted for temporal, seasonal, and meteorological effects. We found that four pollutants (PM
2.5
, PM
10
, NO
2
, and SO
2
) were significantly associated with hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections. The effect estimates for acute upper respiratory infections tended to be higher (PM
2.5
ER = 3.46, 95% CI 2.18, 4.76; PM
10
ER = 2.81, 95% CI 1.93, 3.69; NO
2
ER = 11.27, 95% CI 8.70, 13.89; SO
2
ER = 15.17, 95% CI 11.29, 19.19). Significant associations for gaseous pollutants (NO
2
and SO
2
) were observed after adjustment for particular matter. Stronger associations were observed among older children and in the cold period. Our study suggested that short-term exposure to outdoor air pollution was associated with hospital visits for acute upper and lower respiratory infections in Ningbo.
Although a growing number of epidemiological studies have been conducted on size-specific health effects of particulate matter in China, results remain inconsistent. In this study, we investigated ...acute effect of fine and coarse particular matter on cardiovascular hospital visits in Ningbo, China. We used generalized additive models to examine short-term effects of PM
2.5
and PM
10–2.5
on cardiovascular hospital visits by adjustment for temporal, seasonal, and meteorological effects. Subgroup analyses were conducted by age, sex, and season. We also examined the stability of their effects in multi-pollutant models. We found that PM
2.5
were associated with cardiovascular hospital visits (RR = 1.006; 95% CI 1.000, 1.011) and results remained similar after adjustment for PM
10–2.5
(RR = 1.005; 95% CI 0.998, 1.013). There was a borderline association between PM
10–2.5
and cardiovascular hospital visits (RR = 1.007; 95% CI 0.997, 1.016), which disappeared after controlling for PM
2.5
(RR = 1.000; 95% CI 0.988, 1.013). The associations appeared to be stronger in the cold season and among the elderly (≥ 75 years). The findings of this study suggested significant adverse effects of PM
2.5
, but no independent effects of PM
10–2.5
on cardiovascular hospital visits. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Introduction. The supine and prone sling exercise may facilitate activation of the local trunk muscles. Does the side-lying sling exercise activate trunk muscles more easily than the supine and prone ...training with sling settings? Clinical work has shown that the side-lying sling exercise could reduce pain in patients with unilateral low back pain (LBP), but the mechanism behind it is unclear. The fundamental purpose of this preliminary study was to examine the electromyography (EMG) characteristics of trunk muscles during different sling lumbar settings on sixteen healthy adults. Methods. Amplitude and mean power frequency (MPF) of EMG signals were recorded from the transversus abdominis (TA), rectus abdominis (RA), multifidus (MF), erector spinae (ES), gluteus maximus (Gmax), and gluteus medius (Gmed) muscles while the subjects performed the supine lumbar setting (SLS), prone lumbar setting (PLS), left side-lying lumbar setting (LSLS), and right side-lying lumbar setting (RSLS). Results. During SLS and PLS, TA and MF showed significantly higher activity than RA and ES on the same side, respectively. The EMG activities of ES, TA, MF, Gmax, and Gmed had significant differences between the different sides during LSLS and RSLS, and the dominant-side muscles showed higher activity than the other side. There was no significant difference in core trunk muscles between different sling lumbar settings—only that the SLS of the MF/ES ratio was significantly higher than LSLS and RSLS. Conclusions. Sling exercises can be an effective measure to enhance MF and TA EMG activity, and the side-lying position can increase dominant-side Gmax and Gmed activity. Side-lying sling training does not activate more core muscles than the supine and prone training. Supine and prone exercise should be preferred over SLT to stabilize the lumbar region because of its high local/global muscle ratio.
A novel method has been developed for the manufacture of a three-dimensional multi-electrode array (3D MEA), particularly, the shape of micro-tips can be varied by MEMS technology to construct ...different multi-electrode array. It improved the disadvantage of single electrode, which meant that it was available for multi-recording and analysis of a series of signals. Overcoming the difficulty of making interconnection line on 3D MEA chips via innovative fabrication process design. Using local isolation and removal of oxide films to forming electrodes and interconnections with oxide isolation covers. A 10
×
10 3D MEA with a distance of 100
μm between each other for further bio-neural signals was demonstrated, and a test on rabbit retina was also available. Besides, integrating pre-amplifier and built-in resistors with 3D MEA was brought out to hopefully increase the efficiency of sensing.
A novel method has been developed for the manufacture of a three dimensional multi-electrode array (3D MEA), particularly, the shape of micro-tips can be varied by MEMS technology to construct ...different multi-electrode array. It improved the disadvantage of single electrode, which meant that it was available for multi recording and analysis of a series of signals. Overcome the difficulty of making interconnection line on 3D MEA chips via innovative fabrication process design. Use local isolation and removal of oxide films to forming electrodes and interconnections with oxide isolation covers. A 10/spl times/10 3D MEA with a distance of 100 /spl mu/m between each other for further bio-neural signals was demonstrated, and a test on rabbit retina was also available. Besides, integrating pre-amplifier and built-in resistors with 3D MEA was brought out to hopefully increase the efficiency of sensing.
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