Autonomic function and inflammation in pregnant women participating in a randomized controlled study of Mindfulness Based Childbirth and Parenting.

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy and childbirth are significant events in many women's lives, and the prevalence of depressive symptoms increases during this vulnerable period. Apart from well documented cognitive, affective, and somatic symptoms, stress and depression are associated with physiological changes, such as reduced heart-rate variability (HRV) and activation of the inflammatory response system. Mindfulness Based Interventions may potentially have an effect on both HRV, inflammatory biomarkers, and self-assessed mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effects of a Mindfulness Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) intervention on HRV, serum inflammatory marker levels, through an RCT study design with an active control group. METHODS: This study is a sub-study of a larger RCT, where significant intervention effects were found on perinatal depression (PND) and perceived stress. Participants were recruited through eight maternity health clinics in Stockholm, Sweden. In this sub-study, we included altogether 80 women with increased risk for PND, and blood samples and HRV measures were available from 60 of the participants (26 in the intervention and 34 in the control group). RESULTS: Participants who received MBCP reported a significantly larger reduction in perceived stress and a significantly larger increase in mindfulness, compared to participants who received the active control treatment. However, in this sub-study, the intervention had no significant effect on PND, inflammatory serum markers or measures of HRV. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found regarding changes in HRV measures and biomarkers of inflammation, larger studies may be needed in the future. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov ID:  NCT02441595 . Registered 12 May 2015 - Retrospectively registered.

The EXPANd trial: effects of exercise and exploring neuroplastic changes in people with Parkinson's disease: a study protocol for a double-blinded randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Parkinson's disease (PD) affects many physiological systems essential for balance control. Recent studies suggest that intensive and cognitively demanding physical exercise programs are capable of inducing plastic brain changes in PD. We have developed a highly challenging balance training (the HiBalance) program that emphasizes critical aspects of balance control through progressively introducing more challenging exercises which incorporates dual-tasking. Earlier studies have shown it to be effective in improving balance, gait and dual-tasking. The study design has thereafter been adjusted to link intervention-induced behavioral changes to brain morphology and function. Specifically, in this randomized controlled trial, we will determine the effects of the HiBalance program on balance, gait and cognition and relate this to task-evoked functional MRI (fMRI), as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in participants with mild-moderate PD. METHODS: One hundred participants with idiopathic PD, Hoehn & Yahr stage 2 or 3, ≥ 60 years of age, ≥ 21 on Montreal Cognitive Assessment will be recruited in successive waves and randomized into either the HiBalance program or to an active control group (the HiCommunication program, targeting speech and communication). Both interventions will be performed in small groups, twice a week with 1 h sessions for 10 weeks. In addition, a 1 h, once a week, home exercise program will also be performed. A double-blinded design will be used. At the pre- and post-assessments, participants will be assessed on balance (main outcome), gait, cognitive functions, physical activity, voice/speech function, BDNF in serum and fMRI (3 T Philips) during performance of motor-cognitive tasks. DISCUSSION: Since there is currently no cure for PD, findings of neuroplastic brain changes in response to exercise would revolutionize the way we treat PD, and, in turn, provide new hope to patients for a life with better health, greater independence and improved quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClincalTrials.gov: NCT03213873, first posted July 11, 2017.

Long-term effects of highly challenging balance training in Parkinson's disease-a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES:: To determine long-term effects of a highly challenging training program in people with Parkinson's disease, as well as describe how initially observed improvements of the program deteriorated over time. DESIGN:: Long-term follow-up of previously reported outcomes at 10 weeks of a randomized controlled trial. SETTING:: University hospital setting. PARTICIPANTS:: One-hundred elderly with mild-to-moderate (Hoehn and Yahr 2-3) Parkinson's disease. INTERVENTIONS:: Participants in the training group ( n = 51) received 10 weeks (three times/week) of balance and gait exercises, incorporating dual-tasks, while the control group ( n = 49) received care as usual. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:: Balance control (Mini-Balance Evaluation System Test (Mini-BESTest)) and gait velocity. Mixed-design analyses of variance were used to determine potential training effects at 6- and 12-month follow-up, and piecewise regression models predicted the rate of deterioration. RESULTS:: Seventy-six participants were included at final follow-up. No significant ( P > .05) between-group differences remained at either 6 or 12 months following the intervention. The mean Mini-BESTest scores of the training and control group were 19.9 (SD 4.4) and 18.6 (SD 4.3), respectively, at the 12-month follow-up. Gait speed was 1.2 (SD 0.2) m/s in both groups at 12 months. The training group showed a larger deterioration rate per month in balance performance (0.21 point) and gait velocity (0.65 cm/s) than controls ( P < .05). CONCLUSION:: These results suggest that training effects diminish within 6 months after balance training, implying that the program may need to be repeated regularly.

Comparison of pedometer and accelerometer derived steps in older individuals with Parkinson's disease or osteoporosis under free-living conditions.

AIM: To compare self-reported pedometer steps with accelerometer steps under free-living conditions in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) or osteoporosis (OP). METHODS: Seventy-three individuals with PD and 71 individuals with OP wore a pedometer (Yamax LS2000) and an accelerometer (ActiGraph GT1M/GT3X+) simultaneously for one week. RESULTS: Fifty-one individuals with PD (72.6 ± 5.3 years) and 61 with OP (75.6 ± 5.3 years) provided simultaneously recorded data for 3-7 consecutive days. Pedometer steps were significantly lower than accelerometer steps in the PD group (p = .002) but not in the OP group (p = .956). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated wide limits of agreement between the instruments in both PD (range = 6,911 steps) and OP (range = 6,794 steps). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the ActiGraph GT1M/GT3X+ should be preferred over the Yamax LS2000 for the assessment of steps in both research and clinical evaluations, particularly in individuals with PD or altered gait.

Possibilities and limitations of the Polar RS800 in measuring heart rate variability at rest.

A growing trend among clinical studies is the use of heart rate monitors (HRMs) for assessment of heart rate variability (HRV). These instruments offer a convenient alternative to traditional electrocardiographs (ECGs) for recording and processing of R-R data. Reports on the validity of such systems are, however, conflicting. This study aimed to assess the validity of a commercial HRM on a large study sample, with emphasis on gender and age. Simultaneous recordings of R-R intervals were conducted with the Polar RS800 HRM and a 3-lead ECG on 341 individuals. Data editing was performed with individually designated software for each instrument. Agreement on SDNN, RMSSD, and HF- and LF power was assessed with intraclass correlations (ICCs), standard errors of measurement (SEMs) and Bland and Altman plots. The HRM was not able to identify 18 observations with non-sinus beats. For men, agreement between instruments ranged from good to excellent (ICC ≥ 0.8) on all HRV measures, and SEMs were generally small. For women the results were weaker, with unacceptable agreement between instruments on SDNN. Women over 60 years did not reach a critical ICC value of 0.75 on any of the HRV measures. Bland and Altman plots demonstrated that the RS800 generally overestimated HRV, and that uncertainty increased with higher values. Since the Polar system did not identify errors satisfactorily, or return valid values of HRV for certain groups, it is concluded that, whenever possible, traditional ECGs should be used for both gathering and editing of HRV data.

The correlation between the hyperacusis questionnaire and uncomfortable loudness levels is dependent on emotional exhaustion.

OBJECTIVE: To validate the hyperacusis questionnaire (HQ) in different strata of emotional exhaustion (EE). DESIGN: HQ-scores and uncomfortable loudness levels (ULLs) were assessed in 348 individuals (140 men and 208 women) with low, intermediate, and high EE-levels. RESULTS: Four individuals (1.1%) met the critical value for hyperacusis according to the HQ. An exploratory factor analysis extracted three factors from the HQ accounting for 57.6% of the variance. Internal consistency was acceptable for all subscales and for the total score, with Crohnbach's alpha ranging from 0.65 to 0.86. When controlling for hearing loss, significant correlations between the HQ and ULLs were found on both ears in those with intermediate (right: -0.328; left: -0.320) and high EE (right: -0.349; left: -0.393), but not with low EE (right: -0.204; left: -0.196). All correlations were negative, indicating that higher HQ-scores are correlated with lower ULLs. The strongest correlations were found for the social dimension, indicating that social aspects may correspond best to audiological parameters (ULLs) of hyperacusis. CONCLUSIONS: The results emphasize the need to take other factors, such as emotional exhaustion (long-term stress), into consideration when assessing hyperacusis with a questionnaire.

Stress and prevalence of hearing problems in the Swedish working population.

BACKGROUND: Current human and experimental studies are indicating an association between stress and hearing problems; however potential risk factors have not been established. Hearing problems are projected to become among the top ten disabilities according to the WHO in the near future. Therefore a better understanding of the relationships between stress and hearing is warranted. Here we describe the prevalence of two common hearing problems, i.e. hearing complaints and tinnitus, in relation to different work-and health-related stressors. METHODS: A total of 18,734 individuals were invited to participate in the study, out of which 9,756 (52%) enrolled. RESULTS: The results demonstrate a clear and mostly linear relationship between higher prevalence of hearing problems (tinnitus or hearing loss or both) and different stressors, e.g. occupational, poorer self-rated health, long-term illness, poorer sleep quality, and higher burnout scores. CONCLUSIONS: The present study unambiguously demonstrates associations between hearing problems and various stressors that have not been previously described for the auditory system. These findings will open new avenues for future investigations.

Comparison of two accelerometer filter settings in individuals with Parkinson's disease.

This study compared common free-living physical activity (PA) outcomes, assessed with the Actigraph GT3X+ accelerometer and processed with two different filter settings, in a sample of elderly individuals with Parkinson´s disease (PD). Sixty-six individuals (73.1 ± 5.8 years) with mild to moderate idiopathic PD carried an accelerometer for 7 d. Data were processed with the default filter setting and a low frequency extension filter (LFE). Significantly larger values were obtained with the LFE for mean counts and steps per day, and for minutes per day in low intensity- and lifestyle activities at moderate intensity, but not for moderate-to vigorous intensity ambulatory activities. The largest difference was observed for mean ± SD steps per day (default = 4730 ± 3210; LFE = 11 117 ± 4553). Intraclass correlation confidence intervals and limits of agreement were generally wide, indicating poor agreement. A sub-study, in which 15 individuals with PD performed a self-paced 3 min walk, demonstrated that neither filter setting differed from video-recorded steps (p ≥ 0.05). This suggests that the LFE might overestimate PA-outcomes in free-living conditions. Until new evidence supporting an extension of the lower filter-band is presented, it is recommended that the default filter setting be used when assessing PA in elderly individuals with PD.