Benefits of chest wall mobilization on respiratory efficiency and functional exercise capacity in people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Coexistence of chest wall hypomobility and lung hyperinflation compromises respiratory muscle function and respiratory efficiency in people with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study aimed to investigate the effect of chest wall mobilization on functional exercise capacity, respiratory muscle activity and respiratory muscle tissue oxygen saturation for people with severe COPD.

Methods: Thirty male adults (age: 75 ± 6) diagnosed with severe COPD completed a 6-week programme (twice/week) according to intervention randomization (chest wall mobilization group, CWMG, n = 15; control group, CG, n = 15).

Comparison of macular thickness in diabetic patients acquired from optical coherence tomography mode and optical coherence tomography angiography mode in Cirrus HD-OCT 5000.

Purpose: To compare macular thickness obtained using two different modes of image acquisitions with Cirrus HD-OCT 5000.

Methods: Patients with diabetes were recruited and macular thickness were obtained using optical coherence tomography (OCT) mode and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) mode. The OCT mode involved a Macular Cube (512×128 pixels) centred on the fovea covering a 6 × 6 mm macular region.

Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Chinese Version of the Knee Osteoarthritis Fears and Beliefs Questionnaire.

This study aimed to adapt and validate the Knee Osteoarthritis Fears and Beliefs Questionnaire (KOFBeQ) for Chinese patients, thereby advancing the understanding of fear-avoidance behaviors. Adopting a cross-sectional design, data were collected for 241 subjects (78.8% women; mean age 68.

Role of exosomes and exosomal microRNA in muscle-Kidney crosstalk in chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a progressive damage of kidneys that can no longer serve the blood-filtering function, and is a life-threatening condition. Skeletal muscle wasting is a common complication of CKD. Yet the relationship between kidney and skeletal muscle in CKD remains unclear.

Indentation Stiffness Measurement by an Optical Coherence Tomography-Based Air-Jet Indentation System Can Reflect Type I Collagen Abundance and Organisation in Diabetic Wounds.

There is a lack of quantitative and non-invasive clinical biomechanical assessment tools for diabetic foot ulcers. Our previous study reported that the indentation stiffness measured by an optical coherence tomography-based air-jet indentation system in a non-contact and non-invasive manner may reflect the tensile properties of diabetic wounds. As the tensile properties are known to be contributed by type I collagen, this study was aimed to establish the correlations between the indentation stiffness, and type I collagen abundance and organisation, in order to further justify and characterise the indentation stiffness measurement in diabetic wounds.

Effect of EMG-biofeedback robotic-assisted body weight supported treadmill training on walking ability and cardiopulmonary function on people with subacute spinal cord injuries - a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Body weight supported treadmill training (BWSTT) is a frequently used approach for restoring the ability to walk after spinal cord injury (SCI). However, the duration of BWSTT is usually limited by fatigue of the therapists and patients. Robotic-assisted body weight supported treadmill training (RABWSTT) was developed to tackle the aforesaid limitation.

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on learning and memory abilities of STZ-induced dementia rats.

Introduction: Recent studies have shown that pulsed electromagnetic field (EMF) has therapeutic potential for dementia, but the associated neurobiological effects are unclear. This study aimed to determine the effects of pulsed EMF on Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced dementia rats.

Methods: Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated to one of the four groups: (i) control, (ii) normal saline injection (sham group), (iii) STZ injection (STZ group) and (iv) STZ injection with pulsed EMF exposure (PEMF, 10 mT at 20 Hz) (STZ + MF group).

Efficacy of Biophysical Energies on Healing of Diabetic Skin Wounds in Cell Studies and Animal Experimental Models: A Systematic Review.

We have systematically assessed published cell studies and animal experimental reports on the efficacy of selected biophysical energies (BPEs) in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. These BPEs include electrical stimulation (ES), pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF), extracorporeal shockwave (ECSW), photo energies and ultrasound (US). Databases searched included CINAHL, MEDLINE and PubMed from 1966 to 2018.

A Tailor-Made Exercise Program for Improving Balance and Mobility in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes.

Effectiveness of an exercise program designed for improving postural control and mobility in older adults with type 2 diabetes was investigated. Ninety-three adults 65 or older diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and able to walk unaided were recruited. The intervention group received exercise training focused on ankle strengthening and mobility twice per week for 10 weeks.

Effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields on peripheral blood circulation in people with diabetes: A randomized controlled trial.

Cutaneous blood flow provides nourishment that plays an essential role in maintaining skin health. We examined the effects of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) on cutaneous circulation of dorsal feet. Twenty-two patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and 21 healthy control subjects were randomly allocated to receive either PEMFs or sham PEMFs (0.

Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) promotes collagen fibre deposition associated with increased myofibroblast population in the early healing phase of diabetic wound.

The present study evaluated the effects of PEMF on collagen fibre deposition, collagen fibril alignment and collagen fibre orientation. The potential relationships between collagen fibre deposition and myofibroblast population in diabetic wound healing were also examined. Forty young male streptozotocin-induced diabetic Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to PEMF group or control group.

Pulsed electromagnetic field therapy promotes healing and microcirculation of chronic diabetic foot ulcers: a pilot study.

Objective: To examine the effects of pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy on promoting the healing and microcirculation of chronic diabetic foot ulcers.

Design: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on a homogenous subset of chronic diabetic foot ulcers.

Setting: Hospital and university.

An innovative ultrasound foot scanner system for measuring the change in biomechanical properties of plantar tissue from sitting to standing.

The present study investigated the reliability of an innovative ultrasound foot scanner system in assessing the thickness and stiffness of plantar soft tissue and the comparison of stiffness and thickness in sitting and standing. Fifteen young healthy individuals were examined. The target sites on the foot sole for investigation included the heel pad, the fifth metatarsal head, the second metatarsal head, the first metatarsal head, and the pulp of the hallux.

The association between physical characteristics of the ankle joint and the mobility performance in elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Previous studies showed that older adults with diabetes have a worse mobility performance as compared with those without diabetes. Studies also demonstrated that older adults with diabetes have weakened ankle muscle strength, reduced joint range in ankle dorsiflexion and worsened ankle joint proprioception as compared with control population. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between the physical characteristics of the ankle joint and the mobility performance in older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) promote early wound healing and myofibroblast proliferation in diabetic rats.

Reduced collagen deposition possibly leads to slow recovery of tensile strength in the healing process of diabetic cutaneous wounds. Myofibroblasts are transiently present during wound healing and play a key role in wound closure and collagen synthesis. Pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) have been shown to enhance the tensile strength of diabetic wounds.

The potential influence of diabetic history on peripheral blood flow in superficial skin.

Vascular complication occurrence increases with the duration of diabetes. The present study compared the peripheral blood flow in superficial skin among subjects with a short or long history of diabetes as compared to a healthy control group. Thirty-two subjects with type 2 diabetes were recruited and stratified into a group of those with a short history of diabetes (i.

A multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic low back pain: a prospective study.

Purpose: To examine the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme for patients with chronic low back pain in Hong Kong, and to identify factors associated with work resumption.

Methods: 57 men and 8 women aged 20 to 56 (mean, 39) years who had a more than 3-month history of low back pain and were unresponsive to more than 6 months of conventional treatment participated in a 14-week multidisciplinary rehabilitation programme involving physical conditioning, work conditioning, and work readiness. Training protocols entailed flexibility and endurance training, hydrotherapy, weight lifting, and work stimulation.

The effect of aging on the biomechanical properties of plantar soft tissues.

Background: Foot problems are common in elderly people and stiffened plantar soft tissues may lead to ulceration in people with Diabetes Mellitus. It is unclear how the biomechanical properties of plantar soft tissues change with advancing age. Therefore, this study examined the age-related differences in the biomechanical properties of plantar soft tissues.

The use of auricular examination for screening hepatic disorders.

Researches on auricular acupuncture (AA) have examined mainly its treatment effects. This study aimed to investigate the accuracy and precision of using auricular examination (AE) as a complementary diagnostic tool for screening hepatic disorders. Twenty patients suffering from liver dysfunction and 25 controls aged 18-60 years were recruited from an acute hospital.

Effects of 904-nm low-level laser therapy in the management of lateral epicondylitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of 904-nm low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in the management of lateral epicondylitis.

Background Data: Lateral epicondylitis is characterized by pain and tenderness over the lateral elbow, which may also result in reduction in grip strength and impairment in physical function. LLLT has been shown effective in its therapeutic effects in tissue healing and pain control.