Cross-cutting effect of type 2 diabetes on the sensorimotor control of balance.

Type 2 Diabetes is a highly prevalent chronic disorder that affects multiple systems through microvascular complications. Complications such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic vestibular dysfunction (vestibulopathy) all directly interfere with the sensory components of balance and postural stability. The resulting impairments cause increased falls risk and instability, making it difficult to perform daily task or exercise.

The Milan Score Predicts Objective Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Patients With Type 2 Esophagogastric Junction.

Introduction: High-resolution manometry (HRM) allows assessment of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) disruption. While type 3 EGJ predicts definitive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), type 2 EGJ is less clearly implicated in GERD pathogenesis. This study aimed to characterize physiologic findings in type 2 EGJ to determine if the HRM-based Milan Score can define GERD within type 2 EGJ.

Standing balance impairment in persons with type 2 diabetes is predicted by peripheral neuropathy and vestibulopathy.

Introduction: The three main sensory complications of Type 2 Diabetes are diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and diabetic vestibulopathy (DV). Current screening for these has been found to be insufficient, and balance testing may be a way to improve screening practices. This study aims to assess if the presence of sensory complications can be used to predict balance scores.

Binge Drinking Status as a Moderator in Narrative Versus Non-Narrative Pictorial Warning Labels: Roles of Cognitive Elaboration and Retrospective Reflection.

This study examined the potential role of binge drinking status in moderating the persuasive effects of narrative versus non-narrative pictorial warning labels (PWLs). In an online longitudinal experiment involving moderate and heavy drinkers, we found that the interaction between binge drinking status and PWL type was significant for intentions to reduce and stop drinking upon immediate PWL exposure ( = 649) and at two-week follow-up ( = 598). Among non-binge drinkers, narrative (vs.

Effects of narrative versus non-narrative pictorial warning labels on visual attention and alcohol-related cancer risk perceptions: An eye-tracking study.

Background: Alcohol use is a preventable risk factor for cancer, but public awareness remains low. A promising approach to raising awareness is to include pictorial warning labels (PWLs) on alcohol-containing products, but the typical graphic images used in such warnings can cause inattention. This study investigated whether narrative PWLs (depicting the lived experiences) could lead to greater attention and higher risk perceptions than graphic, non-narrative PWLs (showing graphic health effects).

Developmental normative data for the Balance Tracking System modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance protocol.

A growing number of practitioners are implementing the Balance Tracking System (BTrackS) modified Clinical Test of Sensory Integration and Balance (mCTSIB) to evaluate the sensory sources of balance feedback used to maintain upright standing. The aim of the current study was to expand existing BTrackS mCTSIB normative databases on adults to include reference values from developmental age groups. Participants included children (age range = 5-8 years; n = 212), adolescents (age range = 9-12 years; n = 103), teenagers (age range = 13-17 years; n = 152), and young adults (age range = 18-29 years; n = 779).

Uncertainty-aware probabilistic graph neural networks for road-level traffic crash prediction.

Traffic crashes present substantial challenges to human safety and socio-economic development in urban areas. Developing a reliable and responsible traffic crash prediction model is crucial to address growing public safety concerns and improve the safety of urban mobility systems. Traditional methods face limitations at fine spatiotemporal scales due to the sporadic nature of high-risk crashes and the predominance of non-crash characteristics.

Movement pattern definitions for resistance training behavior measurement in diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can result in debilitating vascular complications, and resistance training (RT) is an effective therapy for improving cardiovascular outcomes. However, only 10-30% of adults meet the public health guidance for RT. While current RT guidelines focus on targeting major muscle groups, guidance specific to simplified movement categorization may augment understanding of RT programming and improve uptake and outcomes.

Perceptions of undertaking a higher degree alongside dental specialty training: A cross-sectional survey of UK dental specialty trainees.

Introduction: The curricula for UK dental specialty training have recently been under review and until 2024, completion of a research component during training in Dental Public Health, Oral Microbiology and Orthodontics has been mandatory (with an alternative route for Orthodontics involving the submission of two scientific papers for those trainees not wishing to undertake a higher degree). Anecdotally, some trainees in other dental specialties choose to undertake higher degrees alongside specialty training.

Aims: The aims were to investigate how many dental specialty registrars study for higher degrees alongside specialty training, and whether undertaking a higher degree alongside specialty training has an impact on completion of training, research skills, research experience, patient care and career opportunities.

A pilot exploration of staff and service-user perceptions of a novel digital health technology (Virtual Engagement Rehabilitation Assistant) in complex inpatient rehabilitation.

Purpose: Digital health technologies have the potential to advance rehabilitation. The Virtual Engagement Rehabilitation Assistant (VERA) is a digital technology, co-designed to increase service-user engagement and promote self-management. This qualitative study explored staff and service-user perceptions of implementing VERA on a UK complex inpatient rehabilitation ward.

Acute Knee Crutch Use Provokes Changes to Postural Strategy.

Single-leg knee crutches are a relatively new, hands-free mobility assistive device with benefits over standard axillary crutches. Our main goal in this study was to evaluate balance ability in a healthy population upon first exposure to the knee crutch device. We had 20 healthy individuals ( age = 21.

The prevalence of rumination syndrome and rumination disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Rumination is characterized by the repeated regurgitation of food. Rumination syndrome is a disorder of gut-brain interaction diagnosed by Rome criteria, whereas rumination disorder is a feeding and eating disorder diagnosed by DSM-5 criteria. We aimed to determine the global prevalence of rumination according to these criteria across all age groups.

The Milan score: A novel manometric tool for a more efficient diagnosis of gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Objective: A definitive diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) depends on endoscopic and/or pH-study criteria. However, high resolution manometry (HRM) can identify factors predicting GERD, such as ineffective esophageal motility (IEM), esophago-gastric junction contractile integral (EGJ-CI), evaluating esophagogastric junction (EGJ) type and straight leg raise (SLR) maneuver response. We aimed to build and externally validate a manometric score (Milan Score) to stratify the risk and severity of the disease in patients undergoing HRM for suspected GERD.

Immunogenicity phase II study evaluating booster capacity of nonadjuvanted AKS-452 SARS-Cov-2 RBD Fc vaccine.

AKS-452, a subunit vaccine comprising an Fc fusion of the ancestral wild-type (WT) SARS-CoV-2 virus spike protein receptor binding domain (SP/RBD), was evaluated without adjuvant in a single cohort, non-randomized, open-labelled phase II study (NCT05124483) at a single site in The Netherlands for safety and immunogenicity. A single 90 µg subcutaneous booster dose of AKS-452 was administered to 71 adults previously primed with a registered mRNA- or adenovirus-based vaccine and evaluated for 273 days. All AEs were mild and no SAEs were attributable to AKS-452.

Verbal Encouragement Provokes Significant Increases in Maximal Volitional Dynamic Postural Sway.

Limits of Stability protocols are typically target-oriented, leaving volitional aspects of control unobservable. A novel unconstrained protocol, volitional Limits of Stability (vLOS), shows high test-retest-reliability. We tested if verbal encouragement impacts this protocol.

An insight into the functional alterations in the gut microbiome of healthy adults in response to a multi-strain probiotic intake: a single arm open label trial.

Background: Probiotic supplements, by definition, provide a benefit to the host, but few studies have investigated the effect of probiotic supplements in healthy adult populations.

Purpose: The present, single arm, open label clinical trial, evaluated compositional and functional changes in the fecal microbiome of healthy adults after supplementation with a 14-strain probiotic.

Methods: We analysed the effect of a 14-strain probiotic blend ( NCIMB 30223, NCIMB 30179, NCIMB 30180, NCIMB 30181, NCIMB 30182, NCIMB 30184, subsp.

An initial set of reference values for the Balance Tracking System (BTrackS) Limits of Stability protocol.

Background: The Balance Tracking System (BTrackS) Limits of Stability (LOS) protocol is a relatively new means of evaluating unconstrained dynamic postural control ability. While the reliability of this protocol has previously been established, reference data is currently unavailable to assist in the interpretation of results.

Research Question: What are typical reference values for the BTrackS LOS protocol with respect to sex, height, and BMI?

Methods: A cross= -section of 800 healthy, young adults (aged 18-29 years; 368 men, 432 women) were administered the BTrackS LOS protocol.

Six Weeks of at Home BTrackS Target Tracking Training Induces Sustained Dynamic Balance Improvement in Healthy Young Adults.

Purpose: The Balance Tracking System's Target Tracking Training protocol requires an individual to keep an onscreen dot within a moving target circle via leaning movements that are sensed by a Balance Tracking System's balance plate. The present study sought to determine for the first time if short duration at-home training using Balance Tracking System's Target Tracking Training could improve dynamic balance.

Methods: Fifteen healthy young adults (mean age = 22.

A randomized phase I/II safety and immunogenicity study of the Montanide-adjuvanted SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-RBD-Fc vaccine, AKS-452.

Background: Previous interim data from a phase I study of AKS-452, a subunit vaccine comprising an Fc fusion of the respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein receptor binding domain (SP/RBD) emulsified in the water-in-oil adjuvant, Montanide™ ISA 720, suggested a good safety and immunogenicity profile in healthy adults. This phase I study was completed and two dosing regimens were further evaluated in this phase II study.

Methods: This phase II randomized, open-labelled, parallel group study was conducted at a single site in The Netherlands with 52 healthy adults (18 - 72 years) receiving AKS-452 subcutaneously at one 90 µg dose (cohort 1, 26 subjects) or two 45 µg doses 28 days apart (cohort 2, 26 subjects).

Lower Limb Asymmetry Evaluation Using the Balance Tracking System (BTrackS) Single Leg Stance Protocol.

Single Leg Stance (SLS) balance testing is a common means of determining lower limb asymmetries in motor behavior. The Balance Tracking System (BTrackS) Balance Plate is a low-cost, portable force plate for objectively obtaining balance measurements. The present study provides the first known balance results for the BTrackS SLS protocol.

The influence of flexion distraction spinal manipulation on patients with lumbar spinal stenosis: A prospective, open-label, single-arm, pilot study.

Objective: Evaluate chiropractic care including flexion distraction spinal manipulation for improving function, symptoms and performance-based mobility in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) using a pretest-posttest design.

Methods: Data were collected at baseline, midpoint and final visits prior to care on each visit. Objective data included Timed Up and Go, Five Times Sit to Stand, and balance (force plate).

Performance and Interpretation of Hydrogen and Methane Breath Testing Impact of North American Consensus Guidelines.

Background: Hydrogen and methane breath tests (HMBT) are widely used clinical investigations but lack standardization. To address this, the North American Consensus (NAC) group published evidence-based recommendations for HMBT.

Aims: To evaluate results obtained using NAC recommendations for HMBT, compared to retrospective data that utilized guidelines previously recommended.