Qigong for the Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of COVID-19 Infection in Older Adults.

The elderly are at high risk of contracting respiratory infectious diseases, including COVID-19 infection. The recent pandemic has the potential to cause significant physical and mental damage in older adults. Similarly to other mind-body exercises in Traditional Chinese medicine, Qigong features regulation of breath rhythm and pattern, body movement and posture, and meditation. Given these traits, Qigong has the potential to play a role in the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of respiratory infections, such as COVID-19. Potential mechanisms of action include stress reduction, emotion regulation, strengthening of respiratory muscles, reduction of inflammation, and enhanced immune function. Three forms of Qigong; abdominal breathing, Ba Duan Jin and Liu Zi Jue, all of which are gentle, smooth, and simple for the elderly to practice, are recommended in this context.

Associations of Hospital Discharge Services With Potentially Avoidable Readmissions Within 30 Days Among Older Adults After Rehabilitation in Acute Care Hospitals in Tokyo, Japan.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations of 3 major hospital discharge services covered under health insurance (discharge planning, rehabilitation discharge instruction, and coordination with community care) with potentially avoidable readmissions (PARs) within 30 days in older adults after rehabilitation in acute care hospitals in Tokyo, Japan. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study using a large-scale medical claims database of all Tokyo residents aged ≥75 years. SETTING: Acute care hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who underwent rehabilitation and were discharged to home (N=31,247; mean age in years ± SD, 84.1±5.7) between October 2013 and July 2014. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: 30-day PAR. RESULTS: Among the patients, 883 (2.9%) experienced 30-day PAR. A multivariable logistic generalized estimating equation model (with a logit link function and binominal sampling distribution) that adjusted for patient characteristics and clustering within hospitals showed that the discharge services were not significantly associated with 30-day PAR. The odds ratios were 0.962 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.805-1.151) for discharge planning, 1.060 (95% CI, 0.916-1.227) for rehabilitation discharge instruction, and 1.118 (95% CI, 0.817-1.529) for coordination with community care. In contrast, the odds of 30-day PAR among patients with home medical care services were 1.431 times higher than those of patients without these services (P<.001), and the odds of 30-day PAR among patients with a higher number (median or higher) of rehabilitation units were 2.031 times higher than those of patients with a lower number (below median) (P<.001). Also, the odds of 30-day PAR among patients with a higher Hospital Frailty Risk Score (median or higher) were 1.252 times higher than those of patients with a lower score (below median) (P=.001). CONCLUSIONS: The insurance-covered discharge services were not associated with 30-day PAR, and the development of comprehensive transitional care programs through the integration of existing discharge services may help to reduce such readmissions.

Therapeutic effect of a cleft lip teat on infants with respiratory and feeding disorders: Two case reports.

RATIONALE: Existing research into the effects of teat application has mainly focused on its negative and positive influence on the development of the oral cavity. Our work demonstrates that apart from changing the setting of the articulatory organs, the teat can also affect the quality of breathing, eating and sleeping. PATIENTS CONCERNS: We described the cases of 2 children: a 19-month-old girl and a 2.5-month-old boy, who had breathing disorders due to withdrawal of the tongue and impaired food intake. INTERVENTION: The babies were bottled fed with a special teat for cleft lip patients to observe the influence of the teat on the setting of the articulatory organs and breathing. DIAGNOSIS: We suspected that the specific construction of the teat-the wide outer part and the short internal part-would affect children's reflexes and articulatory organs so as to force the frontal position of the tongue, which was meant to facilitate breathing and eating. OUTCOMES: It was found that feeding with the cleft lip teat stimulates the gyro-linguistic muscle, which results in the proper position of the tongue and consequently better breathing and improved quality of sleep. LESSONS: A specialist bottle teat designed for babies with cleft lips can constitute an effective tool in the therapy of nonspecific respiratory disorders resulting from improper position of the tongue and other articulatory organs.

Effects of a respiratory physiotherapy session in patients with LRTI: a pre/post-test study.

INTRODUCTION: The role of respiratory physiotherapy (RP) in lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) has been questioned. However, studies have focused on hospitalised patients, and the presence/absence of an underlying disease has been neglected. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of a RP session in community patients with LRTI and to explore the differences between patients with pneumonia (restrictive disease - AR) and those with exacerbations of an obstructive disease (AO). METHODS: A pre/post-test study was conducted. A RP session was applied to patients with LRTI and crackles, wheezes, dyspnoea, perception of sputum and oxygen saturation were collected pre/post session. Comparisons were performed using paired t-tests or Wilcoxon tests. RESULTS: Thirty patients (14 males, 55.23 ± 17.78 years) with pneumonia (AR, n = 12), exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute bronchitis and asthma (AO, n = 18) were enrolled. After treatment, the total sample presented lower wheeze rates at trachea (P = 0.02; r = -0.54) and less sputum (P = 0.01; r = -0.47). AR patients presented a decrease in the number of crackles (P < 0.05; 0.30 < dz < 0.26) and number and rate of wheezes at chest locations (P < 0.05; -0.56 < r < -0.48). AO patients showed an increase in the number of crackles (P < 0.05; 0.20

[The health promotion programs for the children based at health promotion institutions]. / Programmy ozdorovleniya detei v uchrezhdeniyakh ozdorovitel'nogo tipa.

The research carried out in the framework of the health promotion programs for the children made it possible to obtain characteristics of the patients admitted to health promotion facilities, identify the risk factors for the development of acute respiratory diseases, and substantiate the principles of the differentiated approach to the rehabilitation of such patients based at the institutions of this type taking into consideration the health group to which a concrete patient is referred and the risk factors of acute respiratory diseases. The feasibility and effectiveness of the addition of aromatherapy and treatment with the use of polarized light into the health promotion programs for the children presenting with acute respiratory diseases that they develop during the period of adaptation based at health promotion institutions are discussed.

Exploratory mixed methods study of respiratory physiotherapy for patients with lower respiratory tract infections.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the outcomes of respiratory physiotherapy for patients with lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). DESIGN: Parallel group mixed-methods study. SETTING: Patients were recruited from a general hospital. Respiratory physiotherapy took place in a community setting. PARTICIPANTS: Fifty-four patients aged ≥18 years and diagnosed with LRTI completed the study. Twenty-seven patients were allocated to the control group {CG: 10 male, mean age 53.3 [standard deviation (SD) 17.4] years} and 27 patients were allocated to the experimental group [EG: 10 male, mean age 58.6 (SD 17.2) years]. INTERVENTION: The CG received conventional medical treatment and the EG received conventional medical treatment plus respiratory physiotherapy for 3 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients in both groups undertook the 6-minute walk test (6MWT), modified Borg scale (MBS), modified Medical Research Council questionnaire (mMRC), and Breathlessness, Cough and Sputum scale (BCSS) before and after the intervention. A telephone follow-up survey was performed 3 months after the first hospital visit. Interviews were conducted immediately after the intervention in the EG. RESULTS: In the EG, the distance walked in the 6MWT increased by more than the minimally important difference (P=0.001), and significantly more than the CG {EG: mean change 76m [standard deviation (SD) 63], 95% confidence interval (CI) 51 to 101; CG: mean change 27m (SD 56), 95% CI 5 to 49; mean difference between groups: 49m 95% CI 16 to 82; partial η(2)=0.15}. No differences in the MBS, mMRC and BCSS were found between the two groups. The EG reported high levels of satisfaction with the intervention (27/27; 100%) and with the physiotherapist (20/27; 74%). The intervention improved patients' symptoms (19/27; 70%) and their self-management skills to control/prevent future LRTI (19/27; 70%). Health service use was significantly less in the EG (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory physiotherapy appears to be effective for the management of patients with LRTI. CLINICALTRIAL. GOV REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT02053870.

Hiperinsuflação pulmonar com ventilador mecânico como manobra de higiene brônquica / Hyperinflation with mechanical ventilation as a bronchial hygiene maneuver

Introdução: Um dos objetivos da ventilação mecânica (VM) é a aplicação de terapêuticas específicas na higiene brônquica, como a hiperinsuflação mecânica com o ventilador, que visa promover a expansão das unidades atelectasiadas através dos canais colaterais, favorecendo o deslocamento da secreção pulmonar das vias aéreas periféricas para as centrais. Objetivos: Comparar a segurança e eficácia da técnica de hiperinsuflação com ventilador mecânico em relação à quantidade de secreção pulmonar aspirada com a técnica de aspiração isolada. Para isso, será realizada uma avaliação dos parâmetros ventilatórios e hemodinâmicos e da quantidade de secreção pulmonar aspirada antes e após as manobras e uma comparação entre os resultados obtidos por elas. Métodos: Ensaio clínico randomizado cruzado desenvolvido no centro de terapia intensiva (CTI) do Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. A amostra constituiu-se de 23 pacientes em VM. Resultados: Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as manobras quanto à quantidade de secreção aspirada e aos valores hemodinâmicos e ventilatórios. A pressão arterial média (PAM) teve um aumento significativo após a manobra de aspiração, mas sem relevância clínica (AU)

Introduction: One of the objectives of mechanical ventilation (MV) is the application of specific therapies in bronchial hygiene, such as mechanical ventilator hyperinflation, which aims to promote the expansion of atelectatic units through the collateral channels, favoring the displacement of the pulmonary secretion from the peripheral airways to the central ones. Objectives: To compare the safety and efficacy of the mechanical ventilator hyperinflation technique in the amount of secretion aspirated with the technique of isolated aspiration. This was done by. evaluating the ventilatory and hemodynamic parameters and the amount of pulmonary secretion aspirated before and after the maneuvers and by comparing the results found in both of them. Methods: A randomized crossover clinical trial developed at the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre. The sample consisted of 23 patients on MV. Results: There were no significant differences between the maneuvers regarding the amount of aspirated secretion and hemodynamic and ventilatory values. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) had a significant increase after the aspiration maneuver, but without clinical relevance. Conclusion: Hyperinflation with the mechanical ventilator is a safe technique and as effective as isolated aspiration as a bronchial hygiene technique (AU)

[The rehabilitative treatment of the frequently ill children presenting with chronic infectious foci in the nasopharynx].

AIM: The objective of the present study was to elucidate the influence of the combined physiotherapeutic remedial treatment on the effectiveness of rehabilitation of the frequently ill children (FIC) and children presenting with chronic infectious foci inthe nasopharynx taking into consideration their microelemental and immunological status. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 80 frequently ill children and children presenting with chronic infectious foci inthe nasopharynx were available for the observation with special reference to dynamics of clinical conditions, immunological processes, and microelement composition. CONCLUSION: The combined treatment including the intake of "Asonovklyuch" mineral water enhanced the resistance of the children to the causative factors of respiratory infections and increased selenium content in their body. It is concluded that the treatment of the children presenting with chronic infectious foci inthe nasopharynx with the use of the specialized dietary product "Clinutren Junior" produces an anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effect and thereby promotes the correction of disorders of microelement nutrition.

[The efficacy of health improvement measures for sickly children in a children's health promotion facility].

The results of the present study confirm the efficacy of combined health improvement measures applied in the children's health promotion facility for the treatment of frequently ill children. These measures included climatic therapy, rational day regimen, full-rate balanced diet, therapeutic physical exercises, and aromatherapy with the use of natural essential oils, e.g. clary sage oil. Children presenting with the symptoms of an acute respiratory infection were additionally treated with polarized light having the anti-inflammatory, immunocorrective, and antioxidative properties and thereby improved adaptive capacity of the organism.

Hyperinflation using pressure support ventilation improves secretion clearance and respiratory mechanics in ventilated patients with pulmonary infection: a randomised crossover trial.

QUESTION: Is ventilator-induced hyperinflation in sidelying more effective than sidelying alone in removing secretions and improving respiratory mechanics in ventilated patients with pulmonary infection? DESIGN: Randomised crossover trial with concealed allocation and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS: 30 mechanically ventilated patients with pulmonary infection in an adult intensive care unit. INTERVENTION: The experimental intervention was 30 minutes of ventilator-induced hyperinflation using pressure support ventilation in sidelying; the control intervention was 30 minutes of sidelying. Participants received both interventions on the same day, with a five-hour washout period between them. OUTCOME MEASURES: Secretion clearance was measured as sputum volume retrieved during the intervention. Respiratory mechanics were measured as static compliance and total resistance of the respiratory system before and after the intervention. RESULTS: The experimental intervention cleared 1.3 ml (95% CI 0.5 to 2.2) more secretions than the control. After ventilator-induced hyperinflation in sidelying, respiratory compliance had increased 4.7 ml/cmH(2)O (95% CI 2.6 to 6.8) more than in sidelying alone. There was no difference in total resistance of the respiratory system between the interventions (mean difference 0.3 cmH(2)O/l/s, 95% CI -0.8 to 1.3). CONCLUSION: The application of hyperinflation using pressure support ventilation in mechanically ventilated patients with pulmonary infection improves secretion clearance and increases static compliance of the respiratory system.

[Case of severely disabled child with refractive respiratory infection due to gastroesophageal reflux successfully controlled by using a button-shaped double lumen transgastric jejunal feeding tube].

A 12-year-old severely disabled woman child had been suffering from the refractive respiratory infection due to gastroesophageal reflux (GER) in years. However two transnasal catheters inserted to control GER, one was for feeding to the jejunum and the other was for decompression of the stomach, they were not effective against respiratory infection. Then, to resolve the problems, a button-shaped double lumen transgastric jejunal catheter was inserted into her jejunum via PEG in two-stage. After the procedure, the refractive respiratory infection due to GER could be successfully controlled. Additionally, by using the button-shaped catheter, any position came to be acceptable in daily life, for example in rehabilitation, sleeping and so on. Her ADL (activity of daily life) was well preserved.

Respiratory viruses in hospitalized children with acute lower respiratory tract infections, Mazandaran Province, Iran.

We conducted this study to determine the contribution of respiratory viruses in 202 hospitalized children (1 mo-5 yr) with clinical evidence of acute lower respiratory tract illness (ALRI). Nasopharyngeal specimens were assayed for viruses detection by indirect immunoflourescent method. Viral agents were identified from 109 (54%) cases (9 cases had dual infection). The most commonly detected virus was parainfluenza virus 3 in 32 (15.8%) cases followed by respiratory syncytial virus 26 (12.9%) parainfluenza 1 and parainfluenza 2 each 13 (6.4%) influenza A 16 (7.4%), influenza B; 7(3.5%), and adenovirus 12 (5.9%). There were no demographic, clinical, radiologic or laboratory parameters except for recurrent wheeze (OR: 4.47; (95% CI: 1.98-10.73) and fever (OR: 3.27; (95% CI: 1.73-6.20), which could differentiate between patients with or without viral etiology.

Comparación de la efectividad de cuatro protocolos de kinesiterapia respiratoria en niños hospitalizados por infección respiratoria aguda / Comparison of the effectiveness of four protocols of chest physical therapy in hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection

Objetivo: Comparar los efectos de las técnicas Kinésicas Respiratorias agrupadas en cuatro protocolos de tratamiento (K1, K2, K3 Y PVA) en lactantes y preescolares hospitalizados con afecciones respiratorias, usando un diseño cuasiexperimental, longitudinal prospectivo. Método: Se evaluó a 80 niños, edad promedio de 14.3 meses (SD 12.3) con diagnóstico de Síndrome Bronquial Obstructivo (SBO) y Bronconeumonía (BNM) entre el primer y tercer día de hospitalización. El efecto de la Kinesiterapia Respiratoria (KTR) fue medido en cada paciente a través del Índice Kinésico de Carga de Trabajo Ventilatorio (IKCTV), ejecutado por un único evaluador (KA) al inicio y al final de un turno de 12 horas. Cada protocolo fue definido tanto en la metodología de las técnicas como en el número de atenciones. Cada uno de los protocolos fue seleccionado al azar y aplicado por otro kinesiólogo (KB). Resultados: No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas al comparar las variables biomédicas de los pacientes evaluados. Los resultados muestran un descenso, una mantención y un incremento en el puntaje final del IKCTV en el 57.5%, 27.5% y un 15% de los pacientes, respectivamente. Tampoco existieron diferencias estadísticamente significativas al comparar la efectividad de los protocolos de tratamiento entre sí. Conclusión: No existió asociación directa entre cantidad de atenciones de KTR, el Protocolo de tratamiento y la disminución en el 1 KCTV.

Objective: Compare the effects of the different techniques dealing with chest physical therapy (CPT) grouped in four treatment protocols (K1, K2, K3, PVA) in infants and preschool children that were hospitalized with respiratory infection, using a prospective longitudinal experimental design. Method: 80 children were assessed, with an average age of 13.8 months (SD 11.8) with a diagnosis of obstructive bronchial syndrome and pneumonia between the first and third day of hospitalization. The effects of CPT measured through the Physical Therapy Index of Ventilatory Work Load (PTIVWL), performed by a single therapist (KA) before and after the therapy in a 12-hour shift. The treatment was grouped in form of protocols; they differed in the methodology of the techniques and number of applications of the therapy. The protocol, chosen randomly, was applied by a different therapist (KB) who didn't know the previous evaluations. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the biomedical variables of the assessed patients. The results show a decrease of the PTIVWL final score in the 57.5% of patients, maintenance in the 27.5% and increase in the 15% in the PTIVWL. Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference between the four protocols of treatment. Conclusion: There was no relationship between the number of CPT.

[Neonatal hospitalization through a hospital emergency service in Uruguay]. / Hospitalización neonatal desde el servicio de urgencias en un centro hospitalario de Uruguay.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of neonatal admissions through a pediatric emergency department (PED), and to evaluate the characteristics of patients who present vital risk on arrival. METHODS: We performed a descriptive, retrospective review of neonates aged 2-28 days arriving from home who presented to the pediatric emergency department between 01/01/03 and 31/12/03. RESULTS: Of a total of 943 neonatal consultations, 277 (29.3 %) required admission. The most common diseases were respiratory (42.6 %) and fever without source (17 %). Among the 943 patients attended, 42 (4,5 %) showed vital risk, and in this group, 81 % were full term neonates, with a P50 of age of 19 days, and a P50 of weight of 3200 g. Among these, there was a predominance of infectious diseases (74 %), especially respiratory tract infections (50 %). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was identified in 14 of the 42 patients. Thirty-six percent required mechanical ventilation and 71.5 % were transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit. Sixty percent of the critically-ill neonates were admitted in the 3 winter months (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A high percentage of the neonates arriving from home required admission, and vital risk was more frequent in this age group than in other ages (p < 0.001). This does not correspond to risk related to perinatal pathology, or to nutritional reasons, but to community-acquired infections, particularly those of the respiratory tract, the most frequent cause of which is RSV.

[Estimation the effectiveness of cefuroxime therapy in pediatric otolaryngology]. / Ocena skutecznosci i bezpieczenstwa terapii sekwencyjnej cefuroksymem w zakazeniach otolaryngologicznych u dzieci.

The authors present results of retrospective clinical analysis of usefulness the cefuroxime therapy of acute ENT diseases in children. The study group consist of 886 patients, aged 4 m. to 17 year, hospitalized at the Department of Paediatric Otolaryngology between 1997-2002. The efficacy of therapy was estimated on the ground of 4 degree scale. Particular attention was paid on measuring an average time of intravenous and oral administration of drug and on side effects of treatment. The results of the study shown that cefuroxime therapy is safe and effective. Beneficial therapeutic effect was obtained in 98.9% of patients.

The effect of labeling on perceived ability to recover from acute illnesses and injuries.

BACKGROUND: The process of giving a patient a diagnosis may cause harm. The adverse effects of labeling, best documented for the diagnosis of hypertension, include increased absenteeism from work and lower earnings, increased depressive symptoms, and reduced quality of life. We tried to determine whether the diagnosis of hypertension affects perceptions about the time required to recover from common acute medical problems. METHODS: In an academic family practice clinic, equal numbers of patients with and without hypertension were asked to estimate how long it would take them to recover from an upper respiratory tract infection (URI), a urinary tract infection (UTI), and an ankle sprain now and 5 years ago (before the diagnosis of hypertension). RESULTS: Compared with patients who did not have hypertension, patients with hypertension estimated that it would take them twice as long, on average, to recover from a URI now (11.7 vs 6.0 days, P=.002) and in the past (10 vs 5.5 days, P=.02). These differences persisted after controlling for age, sex, race, and education. No significant differences were found for estimated recovery times for UTI or ankle sprain. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of hypertension may affect patients' perceptions of their ability to recover from unrelated acute illnesses. This may have implications for the way physicians choose to present information to patients.