http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7613 663 - 907 2026-04-08T22:54:04Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7648 Title: Upper crossed syndrome in secondary school students: A mixed-method study Authors: de-la-Iglesia, Llanos; Bravo, Cristina; Rubı´-Carnacea, Francesc Abstract: Objective: The study objectives were to identify the prevalence of upper crossed syndrome (UCS) and its associated factors in a population of Spanish adolescents, and to explore these associations through focus groups. Methods: The study used a sequential explanatory mixed method design. The quantitative phase consisted of a crosssectional study in which 45 students underwent photogrammetry measurements and evaluations with the Kiddo- KINDL and VISA-TEEN questionnaires. Subsequently, several focus groups were conducted to discuss the quantitative results. Results: The results indicated a 37.8% prevalence of UCS, a 48.9% prevalence of forward head posture (FHP) and an 80% prevalence of forward shoulder posture (FSP). A positive FSP was indicated by an angle represented by the intersection of the line between the midpoint of the humerus and the spinous process of C7 of <52 . FSP was significantly higher in boys (mean [M] ¼ 43.59, standard deviation [SD] ¼ 6.9) than in girls (M ¼ 47.98, SD ¼ 6.33; p < 0.05). Boys showed significant moderate associations of FSP with body mass index (BMI) (r ¼ 0.48, p < 0.05) and hygiene habits (r ¼ 0.46, p < 0.05), and of FHP with worse use of technology (r ¼ 0.53, p < 0.05). Those with UCS showed significant differences in school performance (M ¼ 47.22, SD ¼ 8.33, p < 0.05). Analysis of the qualitative results led to the identification of 33 codes and five categories. Conclusions: UCSwas associated with factors suchasBMI, school performance, use of technology and physical activity. Correcting posture in adolescence was generally believed to be necessary. Physical exercise and postural health were considered highly important among adolescents. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7647 Title: Drawing is an important tool to learn context-based histology in an integrated undergraduate medical curriculum Authors: Rafi, Aisha; Anwar, Muhammad I.; Manzoor, Shamaila; Anwar, Saba Abstract: Objectives: Todetermine if learning histology by drawing is superior to learning by looking through a microscope only. Methods: Second year MBBS students were divided by simple random sampling into Groups A and B. Each group comprised 50 students. This mixed-methods study was conducted in an 8-week module. For the first 4 weeks, students in Group A learned histology by drawing, whereas Group B learned by seeing the text andmicroscopic images. For the last 4 weeks, groups were swapped by crossover design. The impact of learning by drawing was assessed by multiple choice question (MCQ) test I and test II at the end of 4 and 8weeks, respectively. Statistical analyses of the data were conducted with SPSS version 23. The scores obtained in test I and test IIwere analyzed by the independent samples t-test. The paired samples t-test was applied to scores obtained by the same subject when they learned with drawing and no drawing strategies. To assess the impact of drawing on learning histology, a focus group study was conducted in six participants selected by purposive sampling. Responses to the semi-structured interview questions were analyzed by qualitative research techniques of coding, categorizing, and generation of themes. Results: The independent samples t-test showed that there was no statistically significant difference in the mean scores obtained by Groups A and B in test I and test II. However, there was a statistically significant difference when the subject learned histology by drawing compared to no drawing, as shown by the paired samples t-test. The results from the focus group study revealed that drawing had a positive impact on knowledge retention and understanding the basic concepts of histology for its application in the clinical context. Conclusion: Drawing-based learning in histology helps with the application of basic knowledge in the clinical context. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7645 Title: Health system support among patients with ME/CFS in Switzerland Authors: Tschopp, Rea; Konig, Rahel S.; Rejmer, Protazy; Paris, Daniel H. Abstract: Objectives: Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a complex chronic and debilitating multifactorial disease. Adequate patient care is challenged by poor knowledge among health care professionals and the historical misconception that the disease is psychological in nature. This study assessed the health-related challenges faced by patients with ME/ CFS in Switzerland and examined whether they receive adequate health care. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire between June and September of 2021, among 169 patients with ME/CFS in Switzerland. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 38.8 years. Only one-third of ME/CFS affected children and youth were correctly diagnosed before their 18th birthday. The mean time from disease onset to diagnosis was 6.7 years, and patients had an average of 11.1 different appointments and 2.6 misdiagnoses. A poor diagnosis rate and insufficient disease knowledge among health professionals in Switzerland led 13.5% of the patients to travel abroad to seek a diagnosis. Most patients (90.5%) were told at least once that their symptoms were psychosomatic. Swiss patients expressed high dissatisfaction with the health system and indicated that physicians lacked knowledge regarding ME/CFS. Therapies prescribed by physicians or tried by patients, as well as their perceived efficacy, were described. Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) was perceived as harmful by patients, whereas pacing, complementary/ alternative medicine, and dietary supplements and medications to alleviate symptoms were reported to be helpful to varying degrees. Conclusion: This study highlights that poor disease knowledge among health care providers in Switzerland has led to high patient dissatisfaction, and delays in ME/CFS diagnoses and prescription of inappropriate therapies, thus adding to patient distress and disease burden. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z http://localhost:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/7644 Title: Assessment of baroreflex sensitivity during isometric handgrip exercise and oscillatory lower body negative pressure Authors: Banodhe, Gagan K.; Badhwar, Smriti; Sharma, Hanjabam B.; Deepak, Kishore K. Abstract: Objectives: Baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is an estimate of autonomic control of cardiovascular system via the baroreflex arc. It has been suggested that exercise pressure reflex and muscle metaboreflex override baroreflex during exercise to decrease baroreflex gain, which facilitates the simultaneous rise in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate during the exercise. This study investigated the effects of isometric handgrip exercise (IHE) on baroreflex gain and frequency dependence of baroreflex sensitivity while fluctuations in arterial BP were generated. Methods: Thirteen healthy men performed IHE at 20% and 30% of their maximum voluntary contraction (MVC), while oscillatory lower body negative pressure (OLBNP) of 40 mmHg was applied in 0.1 and 0.25 Hz frequencies. Results: Compared to the OLBNP at 0.25 Hz frequency alone, the baroreflex gain for diastolic BP (DBP) was significantly reduced with the addition of IHE at 20% and 30% of MVC in the high frequency band. At rest (without IHE and OLBNP) the baroreflex gain was significantly more in the high frequency band for DBP, but the baroreflex gain for DBP was not significantly different when IHE þ OLBNP were applied at 20% and 30% of MVC in both frequencies. Conclusions: The significant reduction of DBP baroreflex gain with the addition of graded IHE might indicate that exercise pressure reflex and muscle metaboreflex override baroreflex during exercise to decrease baroreflex gain at a high frequency band (0.25 Hz). The frequency-dependent phenomenon of BRS was altered when IHE and OLBNP were applied, meaning that the frequency dependence of BRS was nullified during IHE. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z