Evaluation of the autonomic nervous system by analysis of heart rate variability in the preterm infants.

Background: Premature infants may present with damage to the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which may be related to poorer neurological development. Among the techniques used to evaluate the ANS, heart rate variability (HRV) emerged as a simple, non-invasive, and easy to apply tool. The aim of the present study was to analyze and compare HRV in preterm infants at different times of hospitalization in order to verify the possible environmental relationships or clinical evolution with HRV.

Music Therapy Reduces Radiotherapy-Induced Fatigue in Patients With Breast or Gynecological Cancer: A Randomized Trial.

Purpose: To investigate the influence of music therapy on the reduction of fatigue in women with breast or gynecological malignant neoplasia during radiotherapy, since it is one of the most frequent side effects of this type of treatment, and may interfere with self-esteem, social activities, and quality of life.

Experimental Design: Randomized controlled trial (control group [CG] and music therapy group [MTG]) to assess fatigue, quality of life, and symptoms of depression in women undergoing radiotherapy using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy: Fatigue (FACT-F) version 4, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G) version 4, and Beck Depression Inventory in 3 separate times, namely, during the first week of radiotherapy, on the week of the intermediary phase, and during the last week of radiotherapy. Individual 30- to 40-minute sessions of music therapy with the presence of a trained music therapist were offered to participants.