Public and media interest in bed bugs-Europe 2023.

In late summer of 2023 bed bug () infestations received much media attention especially from Paris Fashion Week (2023-09-25/2023-10-03). Concern in France has grown in recent years and the public may have been sensitised from the recent release of the report from the Agence Nationale de Sécurité Sanitaire. Additionally, families returning from summer travel for the start of the school year (2023-09-04) may have brought spp.

Burden of Cardiovascular Risk in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury and Its Association With Rehabilitation Outcomes: Results From the Swiss Spinal Cord Injury Cohort.

Objectives: The aims of the study are to determine the cardiovascular risk burden rehabilitation discharge and to explore the association between recovery during rehabilitation and cardiovascular disease risk profile.

Methods: We included adults without cardiovascular disease admitted for rehabilitation. We evaluated rehabilitation outcomes on admission and discharge.

Safety and Feasibility of Noninvasive Electromagnetic Stimulation of the Phrenic Nerves.

Background: Mechanical ventilation is widely used in ICU patients as a lifesaving intervention. Diaphragmatic atrophy and thinning occur from lack of contractions of the diaphragm during mechanical ventilation. It may prolong weaning and increase the risk of respiratory complications.

Needs and Research Priorities for Young People with Spinal Cord Lesion or Spina Bifida and Their Caregivers: A National Survey in Switzerland within the PEPSCI Collaboration.

The aim of this study was to describe the needs and research priorities of Swiss children/adolescents and young adults (from here, "young people") with spinal cord injury/disorder (SCI/D) or spina bifida (SB) and their parents in the health and life domains as part of the international Pan-European Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury (PEPSCI) collaboration. Surveys included queries about the satisfaction, importance, research priorities, quality of life (QoL), and characteristics of the young people. Fifty-three surveys with corresponding parent-proxy reports were collected between April and November 2019.

Management of sleep-disordered breathing in three spinal cord injury rehabilitation centres around the world: a mixed-methods study.

Study Design: Mixed-methods observational study.

Objective: To describe the sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) management models of three spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation centres that are screening, diagnosing and treating uncomplicated SDB, and to determine their common elements.

Setting: Three specialist SCI rehabilitation centres.

Systematic Review of Incidence Studies of Pneumonia in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury.

Pneumonia continues to complicate the course of spinal cord injury (SCI). Currently, clinicians and policy-makers are faced with only limited numbers of pneumonia incidence in the literature. A systematic review of the literature was undertaken to provide an objective synthesis of the evidence about the incidence of pneumonia in persons with SCI.

Respiratory function and respiratory complications in spinal cord injury: protocol for a prospective, multicentre cohort study in high-income countries.

Introduction: Pneumonia is one of the leading complications and causes of death after a spinal cord injury (SCI). After a cervical or thoracic lesion, impairment of the respiratory muscles decreases respiratory function, which increases the risk of respiratory complications. Pneumonia substantially reduces patient's quality of life, may prolong inpatient rehabilitation time, increase healthcare costs or at worse, lead to early death.

Examinations and assessments in patients with a newly acquired spinal cord injury - retrospective chart analysis as part of a quality improvement project.

Aims Of The Study: Examinations and assessments can be used to ensure good quality rehabilitation. Within the framework of a quality improvement project, the aims of the current analysis were: first, to analyse the time points of selected examinations and assessments in the rehabilitation process of patients with a newly acquired spinal cord injury. Second, to identify differences between the subgroups with different aetiologies, levels and completeness of spinal cord injuries.

Development and validation of models to predict respiratory function in persons with long-term spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Multicenter, cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To validate previously developed respiratory function prediction models for persons with long-term spinal cord injury (SCI) and if necessary develop and validate new models.

Setting: Ten SCI rehabilitation centers.

Respiratory muscle training in individuals with spinal cord injury: effect of training intensity and -volume on improvements in respiratory muscle strength.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of training intensity and -volume on improvements in respiratory muscle strength in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: SCI rehabilitation center in Switzerland.

Experiences of peer counselling during inpatient rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injuries.

Study Design: Qualitative study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate peer counselling during inpatient rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord injuries (SCI). This article describes the experience with peer counselling from the perspective of patients with SCI as well as from the perspective of the peer counsellors.

Evaluation of a clinical implementation of a respiratory muscle training group during spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical implementation of a respiratory muscle training group during rehabilitation of individuals with spinal cord injury.

Setting: Spinal cord injury rehabilitation center.

Biophysical skin properties of grade 1 pressure ulcers and unaffected skin in spinal cord injured and able-bodied persons in the unloaded sacral region.

Aim Of The Study: To examine biophysical skin properties in the sacral region in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients suffering from a grade 1 pressure ulcer (PU) defined as non-blanchable erythema (SCI/PU), SCI patients in the post-acute phase (SCI/PA) and able-bodied participants (CON). Also, for SCI/PU patients, both the affected skin and healthy skin close to the PU were examined.

Study Design: An experimental controlled study with a convenience sample.

Maximum Inspiratory Pressure is a Discriminator of Pneumonia in Individuals With Spinal-Cord Injury.

Background: Respiratory complications remain a major cause of mortality among individuals with spinal-cord injury (SCI). The present study investigated whether respiratory function is a discriminator of pneumonia in individuals with SCI and is aimed to determine the best predictive parameter.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Challenges to measure hydration, redness, elasticity and perfusion in the unloaded sacral region of healthy persons after supine position.

Aim Of The Study: To combine measurement methods of biophysical skin properties in a clinical setting and to measure baseline values in the unloaded sacral region of healthy persons after lying 30 min in supine position.

Methods: Hydration (Corneometer® CM 825), redness (Mexameter® MX 18), elasticity (Cutometer® MPA 580) and perfusion (PeriFlux System 5000) of the skin in the sacral region of 10 healthy participants (median age: 26.9 years) were measured consecutively in the laying position by two trained examiners.

Laboratory evaluation of four different devices for secretion mobilization: Acapella choice, green and blue versus water bottle.

Background: Secretion removal is a key issue in patients with respiratory diseases, and is known to be most effective at vibration frequencies of ∼ 13 Hz and with the greatest amplitudes possible. The Acapella devices and the water bottle are used for secretion removal in daily clinical practice but without detailed knowledge on optimal settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 3 different Acapella devices and the water bottle at various settings and flows to determine the optimal devices and settings for effective secretion removal.

Comparison of respiratory muscle training methods in individuals with motor complete tetraplegia.

Objective: To compare the effects of inspiratory resistance training (IRT) and isocapnic hyperpnea (IH) versus incentive spirometry (placebo) on respiratory function, voice, and quality of life in individuals with motor complete tetraplegia.

Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 24 individuals with traumatic, motor complete (AIS A) tetraplegia (C5-C8), 6 to 8 months post injury, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups. They completed either 90 repetitions of IRT, 10 minutes of IH, or 16 repetitions of placebo training in 32 supervised training sessions over 8 weeks.

Comparison of respiratory muscle training methods in individuals with motor and sensory complete tetraplegia: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare the effects of inspiratory resistance training and isocapnic hyperpnoea vs incentive spirometry (placebo) on respiratory function, voice, thorax mobility and quality of life in individuals with tetraplegia.

Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Patients/methods: A total of 24 individuals with traumatic, complete tetraplegia (C5-C8, American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale; AIS A) were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups.

Prediction models and development of an easy to use open-access tool for measuring lung function of individuals with motor complete spinal cord injury.

Objective: To develop statistical models to predict lung function and respiratory muscle strength from personal and lesion characteristics of individuals with motor complete spinal cord injury.

Design: Cross-sectional, multi-centre cohort study.

Subjects: A total of 440 individuals with traumatic, motor complete spinal cord injury, time post-injury ≥ 6 months, lesion level C4-T12, underwent measurements of lung function and respiratory muscle strength.