The influence of physiological acclimatization and psychological adaptation on thermal perception is well documented and has revealed the importance of thermal experience and expectation in the ...evaluation of environmental stimuli. Seasonal patterns of thermal perception have been studied, and calibrated thermal indices’ scales have been proposed to obtain meaningful interpretations of thermal sensation indices in different climate regions. The current work attempts to quantify the contribution of climate to the long-term thermal adaptation by examining the relationship between climate normal annual air temperature (1971–2000) and such climate-calibrated thermal indices’ assessment scales. The thermal sensation ranges of two thermal indices, the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) and the Physiological Equivalent Temperature Index (PET), were calibrated for three warm temperate climate contexts (Cfa, Cfb, Csa), against the subjective evaluation of the thermal environment indicated by interviewees during field surveys conducted at seven European cities: Athens (GR), Thessaloniki (GR), Milan (IT), Fribourg (CH), Kassel (DE), Cambridge (UK), and Sheffield (UK), under the same research protocol. Then, calibrated scales for other climate contexts were added from the literature, and the relationship between the respective scales’ thresholds and climate normal annual air temperature was examined. To maintain the maximum possible comparability, three methods were applied for the calibration, namely linear, ordinal, and probit regression. The results indicated that the calibrated UTCI and PET thresholds increase with the climate normal annual air temperature of the survey city. To investigate further climates, we also included in the analysis results of previous studies presenting only thresholds for neutral thermal sensation. The average increase of the respective thresholds in the case of neutral thermal sensation was about 0.6 °C for each 1 °C increase of the normal annual air temperature for both indices, statistically significant only for PET though.
Resumen Objetivo: General: Clasificar en niveles de riesgo a los pacientes según las escalas Norton, EMINA y Braden originales y las escalas Braden y EMINA modificadas para pacientes de atención ...domiciliaria incluidos en programa de inmovilizados. Específicos: a) analizar la concordancia entre las escalas y su nivel de significación; b) determinar la incidencia de lesiones por presión en los pacientes valorados con las escalas Braden y EMINA modificadas para pacientes inmovilizados incluidos en programa de atención domiciliaria. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo longitudinal del total de los pacientes incluidos dentro del programa de atención domiciliaria, inmovilizados, de un cupo de enfermería. Muestra conceptual de 45 pacientes. El estudio se desarrolló en la Unidad de Gestión Clínica de Algarrobo, perteneciente al Área de Gestión Sanitaria Este de Málaga-Axarquía, desde enero 2021 hasta julio 2021. Resultados: Al comparar las escalas originales con la escala Braden modificada para pacientes inmovilizados en atención domiciliaria, se obtuvo un valor de kappa de 0,0727 con la escala Norton, de 0,404 con la escala Braden original y de 0,286 con la escala EMINA original. Los valores de kappa para la comparación entre la escala EMINA modificada para pacientes inmovilizados en atención domiciliaria y las originales arrojaron un resultado de 0,345 con Norton, de 0,503 con Braden original y de 0,5 con EMINA original. Al terminar el estudio se registraron 5 pacientes que habían padecido úlceras por presión, 4 fuera del ámbito de la atención domiciliaria y 1 con úlceras de Kennedy. Conclusiones: Las escalas Norton, Braden y EMINA originales catalogan como de alto riesgo a más pacientes que las escalas Braden y EMINA modificadas para pacientes inmovilizados en atención domiciliaria. La concordancia entre las escalas originales y las modificadas para pacientes inmovilizados en atención domiciliaria es leve o moderada, con altos niveles de significación, debido a los cambios en los puntos de corte de las escalas modificadas para atención domiciliaria. No hay estudios que hagan referencia con las escalas modificadas para atención domiciliaria. Se siguen aplicando escalas no validadas para el entorno de la atención domiciliaria.
Aim. This paper reports a systematic review conducted to determine the effectiveness of the use of risk assessment scales for pressure ulcer prevention in clinical practice, degree of validation of ...risk assessment scales, and effectiveness of risk assessment scales as indicators of risk of developing a pressure ulcer.
Background. Pressure ulcers are an important health problem. The best strategy to avoid them is prevention. There are several risk assessment scales for pressure ulcer prevention which complement nurses’ clinical judgement. However, some of these have not undergone proper validation.
Method. A systematic bibliographical review was conducted, based on a search of 14 databases in four languages using the keywords pressure ulcer or pressure sore or decubitus ulcer and risk assessment. Reports of clinical trials or prospective studies of validation were included in the review.
Findings. Thirty‐three studies were included in the review, three on clinical effectiveness and the rest on scale validation. There is no decrease in pressure ulcer incidence was found which might be attributed to use of an assessment scale. However, the use of scales increases the intensity and effectiveness of prevention interventions. The Braden Scale shows optimal validation and the best sensitivity/specificity balance (57·1%/67·5%, respectively); its score is a good pressure ulcer risk predictor (odds ratio = 4·08, CI 95% = 2·56–6·48). The Norton Scale has reasonable scores for sensitivity (46·8%), specificity (61·8%) and risk prediction (OR = 2·16, CI 95% = 1·03–4·54). The Waterlow Scale offers a high sensitivity score (82·4%), but low specificity (27·4%); with a good risk prediction score (OR = 2·05, CI 95% = 1·11–3·76). Nurses’ clinical judgement (only considered in three studies) gives moderate scores for sensitivity (50·6%) and specificity (60·1%), but is not a good pressure ulcer risk predictor (OR = 1·69, CI 95% = 0·76–3·75).
Conclusion. There is no evidence that the use of risk assessment scales decreases pressure ulcer incidence. The Braden Scale offers the best balance between sensitivity and specificity and the best risk estimate. Both the Braden and Norton Scales are more accurate than nurses’ clinical judgement in predicting pressure ulcer risk.
Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) monkeys are a resource for biomedical research and their use is predicted to increase due to the suitability of this species for transgenic approaches. ...Identification of abnormal neurodevelopment due to genetic modification relies upon the comparison with validated patterns of normal behavior defined by unbiased methods. As scientists unfamiliar with nonhuman primate development are interested to apply genomic editing techniques in marmosets, it would be beneficial to the field that the investigators use validated methods of postnatal evaluation that are age and species appropriate. This review aims to analyze current available data on marmoset physical and behavioral postnatal development, describe the methods used and discuss next steps to better understand and evaluate marmoset normal and abnormal postnatal neurodevelopment.
Disability (both temporary and transitory, or definitive) might occur for the first time in a given patient after an acute clinical event. It is essential, whenever indicated, to undergo a Physical ...Medicine and Rehabilitation assessment to detect disability and any need for rehabilitation early. Although access to rehabilitation services varies from country to country, it should always be governed by a PRM prescription.
The aim of the present observational retrospective study is to describe consultancy activity performed by PRM specialists in a university hospital in terms of requests' typology, clinical questions, and rehabilitation setting assignment.
Multiple parameters were analyzed (clinical condition, patient's socio-family background, and rehabilitation assessment scale scores) and a correlation analysis was performed between the analyzed characteristics and both the different clinical conditions and the assigned rehabilitation setting.
PRM evaluations of 583 patients from 1 May 2021 to 30 June 2022 were examined. Almost half of the total sample (47%) presented disability due to musculoskeletal conditions with a mean age of 76 years. The most frequently prescribed settings were home rehabilitation care, followed by intensive rehabilitation and long-term care rehabilitation.
Our results suggest the high public health impact of musculoskeletal disorders, followed by neurological disorders. This is, however, without forgetting the importance of early rehabilitation to prevent other types of clinical conditions such as cardiovascular, respiratory, or internal diseases from leading to motor disability and increasing costs.
Acute-onset dysphagia after stroke is frequently associated with an increased risk of aspiration pneumonia. Because most screening tools are complex and biased toward fluid swallowing, we developed a ...simple, stepwise bedside screen that allows a graded rating with separate evaluations for nonfluid and fluid nutrition starting with nonfluid textures. The Gugging Swallowing Screen (GUSS) aims at reducing the risk of aspiration during the test to a minimum; it assesses the severity of aspiration risk and recommends a special diet accordingly.
Fifty acute-stroke patients were assessed prospectively. The validity of the GUSS was established by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing. For interrater reliability, 2 independent therapists evaluated 20 patients within a 2-hour period. For external validity, another group of 30 patients was tested by stroke nurses. For content validity, the liquid score of the fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing was compared with the semisolid score.
Interrater reliability yielded excellent agreement between both raters (kappa=0.835, P<0.001). In both groups, GUSS predicted aspiration risk well (area under the curve=0.77; 95% CI, 0.53 to 1.02 in the 20-patient sample; area under the curve=0.933; 95% CI, 0.833 to 1.033 in the 30-patient sample). The cutoff value of 14 points resulted in 100% sensitivity, 50% specificity, and a negative predictive value of 100% in the 20-patient sample and of 100%, 69%, and 100%, respectively, in the 30-patient sample. Content validity showed a significantly higher aspiration risk with liquids compared with semisolid textures (P=0.001), therefore confirming the subtest sequence of GUSS.
The GUSS offers a quick and reliable method to identify stroke patients with dysphagia and aspiration risk. Such a graded assessment considers the pathophysiology of voluntary swallowing in a more differentiated fashion and provides less discomfort for those patients who can continue with their oral feeding routine for semisolid food while refraining from drinking fluids.
Stroke has a high incidence and disability rate, and rehabilitation is an effective means to reduce the disability rate of patients. To systematize rehabilitation assessment, which is the foundation ...for rehabilitation therapy, we summarize the assessment methods commonly used in research and clinical applications, including the various types of stroke rehabilitation scales and their applicability, and related biomedical detection technologies, including surface electromyography (sEMG), motion analysis systems, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and combinations of different techniques. We also introduce some assessment techniques that are still in the experimental phase, such as the prospective application of artificial intelligence (AI) with optical correlation tomography (OCT) in stroke rehabilitation. This review provides a useful bibliography for the assessment of not only the severity of stroke injury, but also the therapeutic effects of stroke rehabilitation, and establishes a solid base for the future development of stroke rehabilitation skills.
Major depressive disorder is prevalent in the adolescent psychiatric clinical setting and often comorbid with other primary psychiatric diagnoses such as ADHD or social anxiety disorder. Systematic ...manual-based diagnostic procedures are recommended to identify such comorbidity but they are time-consuming and often not fully implemented in clinical practice. Screening for depressive symptoms in the child psychiatric context using brief, user-friendly and easily managed self-assessment scales may be of clinical value and utility. The aim of the study is to test the psychometric validity of two such scales, which may be used in a two-step screening procedure, the WHO-Five Well-being Index (WHO-5) and the six-item version of Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-6).
66 adolescent psychiatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD), 60 girls and 6 boys, aged 14-18 years, mean age 16.8 years, completed the WHO-5 scale as well as the BDI-6. Statistical validity was tested by Mokken and Rasch analyses.
The correlation between WHO-5 and BDI-6 was -0.49 (p=0.0001). Mokken analyses showed a coefficient of homogeneity for the WHO-5 of 0.52 and for the BDI-6 of 0.46. Rasch analysis also accepted unidimensionality when testing males versus females (p > 0.05).
The WHO-5 is psychometrically valid in an adolescent psychiatric context including both genders to assess the wellness dimension and applicable as a first step in screening for MDD. The BDI-6 may be recommended as a second step in the screening procedure, since it is statistically valid and has the ability to unidimensionally capture the severity of depressed mood.
Patients with prolonged disorders of consciousness (PDOC) stemming from acquired brain injury present one of the most challenging clinical populations in neurological rehabilitation. Because of the ...complex clinical presentation of PDOC patients, treatment teams are confronted with many medicolegal, ethical, philosophical, moral, and religious issues in day‐to‐day care. Accurate diagnosis is of central concern, relying on creative approaches from skilled clinical professionals using combined behavioral and neurophysiological measures. This paper presents the latest evidence for using music as a diagnostic tool with PDOC, including recent developments in music therapy interventions and measurement. We outline standardized clinical protocols and behavioral measures to produce diagnostic outcomes and examine recent research illustrating a range of benefits of music‐based methods at behavioral, cardiorespiratory, and cortical levels using video, electrocardiography, and electroencephalography methods. These latest developments are discussed in the context of evidence‐based practice in rehabilitation with clinical populations.
In the absence of "hard" neurophysiologic markers, the burden of proof for establishing conscious awareness in individuals who sustain severe brain injury lies in behavioral assessment. Because ...behavior represents indirect evidence of consciousness, reliance on behavioral markers presents significant challenges and may lead to misdiagnosis. Detection of conscious awareness is confounded by numerous factors including fluctuations in arousal level, difficulty differentiating reflexive or involuntary movement from intentional behavior, underlying sensory and motor impairments, and medication side effects. When an ambiguous behavior is observed, the onus falls to the clinician to determine where along the continuum of unconsciousness to consciousness, it lies. This paper (1) summarizes the current diagnostic criteria for coma, the vegetative state, and the minimally conscious state, (2) describes current behavioral assessment methods, (3) discusses the limitations of behavioral assessment techniques, (4) reviews recent applications of functional neuroimaging in the assessment of patients with disorders of consciousness, and (5) concludes with a case study that illustrates the disparity between behavioral and functional neuroimaging findings that may be encountered in this population.
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