Development and validation of an assessment tool for nursing workload in emergency departments.

Aims: To develop the Workload Assessment of Nurses on Emergency (WANE) tool and to test its validity and reliability to measure nursing workload in the emergency departments.

Background: Ensuring safe nursing staffing in emergency departments is a worldwide concern. There is no valid tool to measure emergency nursing workload in order to determine the needed nurse staffing in the emergency departments.

What are the main predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with infective endocarditis: a review.

Objectives: Infective endocarditis (IE) has a high 30-day mortality. Surgery is needed in many patients. The preoperative hemodynamic status (congestive heart failure, need for urgent/emergent surgery or mechanical support, NYHA class III/IV) could have an impact on postoperative outcome.

Varus thrust in women with early medial knee osteoarthritis and its relation with the external knee adduction moment.

Background: Varus thrust, defined as an abrupt increase of the knee varus angle during weight-bearing in gait, has been shown to be present in patients with moderate to severe knee osteoarthritis and is considered to be one of the risk factors for progression of symptomatic medial knee osteoarthritis. We evaluated the presence and magnitude of varus thrust and its relation with the Knee Adduction Moment in women with early medial knee osteoarthritis, and compared it to that in a group of controls and in a group of subjects with established medial knee osteoarthritis.

Methods: Twenty-seven women with early medial knee osteoarthritis, 20 women with established medial knee osteoarthritis and 24 asymptomatic controls were evaluated.

Outcome Indicators on Interprofessional Collaboration Interventions for Elderly.

Background: Geriatric care increasingly needs more multidisciplinary health care services to deliver the necessary complex and continuous care. The aim of this study is to summarize indicators of effective interprofessional outcomes for this population.

Method: A systematic review is performed in the Cochrane Library, Pubmed (Medline), Embase, Cinahl and Psychinfo with a search until June 2014.

Changes in proprioceptive weighting during quiet standing in women with early and established knee osteoarthritis compared to healthy controls.

Objectives: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is highly prevalent in people above the age of 60, and is typically associated with pain, stiffness, muscle weakness and proprioceptive deficits. Muscle-tendon vibration has been used to assess the spatial reweighting of proprioceptive input during standing. The current study aimed to investigate whether weighting of proprioceptive input is altered in patients with early and established knee OA compared to asymptomatic controls.

Participant evaluation of an education module on interprofessional collaboration for students in healthcare studies.

Background: Interprofessional collaboration is considered a key-factor to deliver the highest quality of care. Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) assumes a model of working together, in particular with awareness of the process of interprofessional collaboration, to develop an integrated and cohesive answer to the needs of the client/family/population. Educational modules are developed in response to a perceived need to improve interprofessional collaboration for the benefit of patientcare.

Poststroke depression and its multifactorial nature: results from a prospective longitudinal study.

Objective: Poststroke depression (PSD) is commonly observed in stroke patients and has a negative impact on functional outcome and quality of life. Therefore, a prospective, longitudinal epidemiological study was conducted aiming to determine prevalence and risk factors for PSD at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months poststroke.

Methods: A total of 222 patients were included in the study and 201 patients entered data analysis.

Trunk kinematics during walking in persons with multiple sclerosis: the influence of body weight support.

Background: Although body weight supported (BWS) treadmill training (TT) leads to some improvements in walking ability, it has not been proven that it is more effective than other walking therapies in persons with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). One possible explanation could be that BWSTT focuses on the cyclic movement of the lower extremities while the trunk is passively suspended in the harness.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the 3 dimensional trunk and pelvis movements during BWS treadmill walking.

Adherence to phosphate binders in hemodialysis patients: prevalence and determinants.

Background: Phosphate control is a crucial treatment goal in end-stage renal disease, but poor patient adherence to phosphate binder therapy remains a challenge. This study aimed to estimate the extent of phosphate binder adherence in hemodialysis patients and to identify potential determinants.

Methods: Phosphate binder adherence was measured blindly in 135 hemodialysis patients for 2 months using the medication event monitoring system.

Prediction of upper limb recovery, general disability, and rehabilitation status by activity measurements assessed by accelerometers or the Fugl-Meyer score in acute stroke.

Objective: This study investigated the clinical predictive value of the Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) arm score and the upper limb activity assessed by accelerometers in patients with hemiparesis after acute stroke.

Design: The prospective cohort (n = 129) was recruited from a general hospital; activity variables and FMA score at intake were related to the FMA, the modified Rankin Scale, and rehabilitation status after 3 mos of follow-up. The prediction model was based on binary logistic regression.

Physical activity monitoring in stroke: SenseWear Pro2 activity accelerometer versus Yamax Digi-Walker SW-200 pedometer.

Purpose: Determine validity and reliability of SenseWear Pro2 Armband (SWP2A) and Yamax Digi-Walker SW-200 Pedometer (YDWP) in stroke and healthy adults.

Methods: Fifteen stroke patients and 15 healthy participants wore SWP2A on upper arm and YDWP at hip/knee. Different activities were performed: treadmill walking, walking up/down a step, cycling and walking on an even surface.

An unusual case of aortic valve obstruction.

During a dissection class for anatomy, a white lipoid mass was found in the ascending aorta, which was partly attached to the wall and filled the sinuses ofValsalva and almost fitting as a cast. This mass prevented full opening of the mobile aortic valve leaflets, thereby causing an obstruction. Microscopic analysis revealed fibres and presence of polymorphonuclear white blood cells.

The assessment of cervical sensory motor control: a systematic review focusing on measuring methods and their clinimetric characteristics.

Background: Cervical sensorimotor control (CSMC) becomes increasingly important in the assessment and treatment of patients with neck pain. This review aims to compare commonly used CSMC measuring methods in terms of required tasks, measuring device and clinimetric properties.

Search Methods: A systematic review of two databases, followed by methodological quality assessment (CBO guidelines).

Acute effects of intrapulmonary percussive ventilation in COPD patients assessed by using conventional outcome parameters and a novel computational fluid dynamics technique.

Objective: Chest physiotherapy enhances sputum evacuation in COPD patients. It can be applied as a single technique or as a combination of techniques including intrapulmonary percussive ventilation (IPV). Recently developed assessment techniques may provide new insights into the effect of airway clearance techniques.

Increased mechanical cost of walking in children with diplegia: the role of the passenger unit cannot be neglected.

Gait efficiency in children with cerebral palsy is decreased. To date, most research did not include the upper body as a separate functional unit when exploring these changes in gait efficiency. Since children with spastic diplegia often experience problems with trunk control, they could benefit from separate evaluation of the so-called 'passenger unit'.

Influence of sensory loss on the perception of verticality in stroke patients.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between somatosensory loss and perception of verticality in stroke patients suffering single-hemisphere lesions.

Method: Somatosensory loss was measured using the Rivermead Assessment for Somatosensory Performance (RASP). Perception of verticality was assessed with the Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) and the Subjective Postural Vertical (SPV) tests.

Prediction of surgical outcome after aortic valve replacement.

Background: Aortic valve replacement has some major adverse outcomes. For these, the predictors need identification.

Methods: This was a retrospective file study of 1000 consecutive patients who underwent AVR for degenerative aortic valve disease.

Mechanical energy estimation during walking: validity and sensitivity in typical gait and in children with cerebral palsy.

Gait efficiency in children with cerebral palsy is usually quantified by metabolic energy expenditure. Mechanical energy estimations, however, can be a valuable supplement as they can be assessed during gait analysis and plotted over the gait cycle, thus revealing information on timing and sources of increases in energy expenditure. Unfortunately, little information on validity and sensitivity exists.

Airway clearance in COPD: need for a breath of fresh air? A systematic review.

Background: Airway clearance is a key component of respiratory physiotherapy management for patients with excess secretions, including patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this review is to give an overview of the available evidence for the use of different airway clearance techniques (ACT) and their effects in patients with COPD.

Methods: A systematic literature search was performed on CEBAM, PUBMED, Cochrane CT, Science Direct and Biomed central data bases.

Is activity loss predictive for development of upper limb oedema after stroke?

Objective: To investigate the disuse hypothesis as an explanation for upper limb oedema in patients with stroke.

Design: Longitudinal observational study.

Patients: Patients with acute hemiparetic stroke were recruited from 2006 to 2009 (n=139).

Incidence of upper limb oedema in patients with acute hemiparetic stroke.

Purpose:  Assessment of the incidence of upper limb oedema in an acute care setting by means of clinical and volumetric evaluation.

Methods:  Patients with acute hemiparetic stroke were recruited from 2006 until 2009 (n = 125). Baseline measurements consisted of the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, Fugl-Meyer Assessment Arm Section and demographic characteristics.

Evaluation and economic impact analysis of different treatment options for ankle distortions in occupational accidents.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: Appropriate use of diagnostic and treatment modalities are essential for rational use of resources. The aim of this study is to evaluate the use of diagnostic modalities and different treatment options and their economic impacts following an acute ankle distortion resulting from an occupational accident. We evaluated the type-of-treatment impact on the victims' course of recovery as well as its impact on the associated accident costs.

Effect of long-term whole body vibration training on visceral adipose tissue: a preliminary report.

Aim: To determine the effect of whole body vibration (WBV), combined with caloric restriction, on weight, body composition and metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults.

Methods: A randomized, controlled study with a 6-month intervention period and a 6-month 'no intervention' follow-up. 61 of the 79 participants completed the study.

Age-related changes in mechanical and metabolic energy during typical gait.

The purpose of the study was to investigate and report age-related changes in walking energy expenditure using different methods of energy estimation. For 81 children and 16 adults (3-35 years) energy expenditure was investigated by using the following methods: analysis of energy changes of the centre of body mass (external and internal mechanical work), sum of segmental energies, sum of net joint work and gross and net metabolic cost, as well as net non-dimensional oxygen cost. Different methods of energy estimation not only show different outcome results but also different age-related changes.

Monitoring of physical activity after stroke: a systematic review of accelerometry-based measures.

Objective: To assess the clinimetric properties and clinical applicability of different accelerometry-based measurement techniques in persons with stroke.

Data Sources: A systematic search of literature was performed using a specific search strategy by means of different electronic databases until October 2008 (PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library of Clinical Trials).

Study Selection: A first selection was made by means of title and abstract.