Exploring predictors of dysphagia in survivors of head and neck cancer: A cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the prevalence of dysphagia in survivors of head and neck cancer (sHNC) and to identify the predictors contributing to the development of dysphagia. METHODS: We enrolled 62 sHNC in a cross-sectional study to check the prevalence of dysphagia in sHNC and to evaluate which factors were influencing the presence of this side effect. Besides dysphagia, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, oral symptoms, maximal mouth opening (MMO), sleep quality and physical condition were evaluated, and a linear regression analysis was performed to verify which of these outcomes impact dysphagia. RESULTS: Among all the sHNC, 85.5% presented dysphagia. The linear regression analysis confirmed that 44.9% of the variance in dysphagia was determined by coughing, MMO and sleep quality, being MMO the most powerful predictor, followed by coughing and sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Dysphagia affected the great majority of sHNC. Moreover, symptoms as coughing, reduced MMO and sleep disorders may act as predictors contributing to the development of dysphagia. Our results emphasize the importance of an early and proper identification of the symptoms as well as an adequate treatment strategy to address the cluster of symptoms that sHNC undergo.

Efficacy of photobiomodulation therapy combined with mobile health education in patients with head and neck cancer suffering from chronic xerostomia after radiotherapy: protocol for a three-arm, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study.

INTRODUCTION: The role of photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy for oral tissue damage induced by cancer treatment is currently unclear, and there is low-quality to moderate-quality evidence supporting the use of this approach for treating xerostomia and/or hyposalivation. Consequently, patients with head and neck cancer increasingly turn to basic oral hygiene to alleviate salivary gland dysfunction, and their adherence can be improved by mobile health (mHealth) education. The primary objective of this study will be to analyse the effects of different doses of PBM therapy (7.5 J/cm2 vs 3 J/cm2) plus mHealth education on quality of life (QoL), oral health, salivary secretion and salivary gland ultrasound assessment at postintervention and at the 6-month follow-up in patients with head and neck cancer after radiotherapy compared with those in control group. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A prospective, three-arm, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study will be conducted among patients with head and neck cancer suffering from chronic xerostomia. A total of 20 patients per arm will be included and randomly assigned to receive 7.5 J/cm2 of PBM, 3 J/cm2 of PBM or placebo therapy. PBM therapy will be applied during 24 sessions at 22 points extra and intraorally two times per week for 3 months, combined with a mobile application (https://www.laxer.es). The assessments will be recorded at the beginning of the study, at postintervention and at the 6-month follow-up. The primary outcomes will be QoL, oral health, salivary secretion and salivary gland ultrasound. The pain pressure threshold, functional performance, mood and sleep quality will be secondary indicators. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study received ethics approval from the Andalusian Biomedical Research Ethics Portal (2402-N-21 CEIM/CEI Provincial de Granada) according to the Declaration of Helsinki for Biomedical Research. The results of this study will be presented at national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05106608.

Is a telerehabilitation programme for older adults with hip fracture associated with burden of family caregivers who provide support?

Objective: @ctivehip is a home-based multidisciplinary telerehabilitation programme for older adults with hip fracture, conducted with the assistance of their family caregivers. This programme was useful in improving their functional recovery. Nevertheless, we were concerned about how the programme might have affected caregivers, whose assistance was essential for supporting older adults in using new technologies and ensuring their safety during the exercises and activities at home. The aim of the present study was to compare the burden, psychological factors and physical fitness of the family caregivers of older adults who opted the @ctivehip telerehabilitation programme versus those family caregivers of older adults who received the face-to-face rehabilitation provided by the Andalusian Public Healthcare System (in Spain). Methods: In this single-blinded, non-randomized clinical trial, participants were older adults with hip fracture and their family caregivers. The telerehabilitation group (n = 30) underwent a 12-week multidisciplinary telerehabilitation programme, and the comparative group (n = 32) received face-to-face rehabilitation. Caregivers outcomes measured were (i) the burden using the Zarit Burden Interview, (ii) the anxiety and depression with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and (iii) the Physical Fitness with the International Fitness Scale (IFIS). Results: There were not statistically significant differences on caregiver burden between family caregivers in the @ctivehip and the comparative group, although there was a trend towards lower values [[Mean (95%CI); 14.73 (9.09 to 20.37) vs 16.03 (10.63 to 21.43); p = 0.771] as well as for anxiety and depression [5.66 (3.21 to 8.78) vs 11.19 (8.52 to 13.86); p = 0.022]. Likewise achieved better, though not statistically significant, scores in physical fitness [19.37 (17.94 to 20.81) vs 17.15 (15.77 to 18.53); p = 0.055]. Conclusion: Caregiver burden is not associated with telerehabilitation. In addition, telerehabilitation is associated with lower anxiety and depression levels among family caregivers who opt for this programme. Physical fitness is not related with telerehabilitation.

Persistent pain management in an oncology population through pain neuroscience education, a multimodal program: PaiNEd randomized clinical trial protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Pain is one of the most persistent symptoms after cancer treatment. The central nervous system can erroneously stay in its alarm phase, altering the pain experience of patients who have cancer. Pain neuroscience education (PNE) with multimodal approaches may benefit these patients. OBJECTIVE: This protocol aims to determine the effectiveness of a PNE tool on pain, physical function and quality of life, as a supplement to a multimodal rehabilitation (MR) program in patients who had breast cancer (BC). METHODS: An 8-week double-blinded randomized controlled trial will be conducted, including 72 participants who had BC and who have persistent pain, randomized into three groups: PNE program + MR program, traditional biomedical information + MR program and control group. The PNE program will include educational content that participants will learn through a mobile app and the MR program will include a concurrent exercise program and manual therapy. The primary outcome will be the perceived pain assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale and secondary outcomes are others related to pain, physical function and quality of life. All outcomes will be evaluated at baseline, at the end of the intervention and 6 months after the end of intervention. DISCUSSION: The proposed study may help BC patients with persistent pain improve their pain experience, quality of life and provide for more adaptive pain-coping strategies. This protocol could propose an action guide to implement different integral approaches for the treatment of sequelae. This treatment option could be offered to this patient profile and it could be easily implemented in the healthcare systems due to its low costs. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04877860. (February18, 2022).

Effect of a Multimodal Supervised Therapeutic Exercise Program on Quality of Life, Pain, and Lumbopelvic Impairments in Women With Endometriosis Unresponsive to Conventional Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of "Physio-EndEA", a multimodal nine-week supervised exercise intervention, on quality of life, pain, and lumbopelvic impairments in women with endometriosis unresponsive to conventional therapy. DESIGN: Parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Outcomes were measured at baseline, post-intervention, and at 1 year. SETTING: Two Public University Hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: This trial included 31 women with endometriosis (N=31) randomly allocated to "Physio-EndEA" group (n=16) or control group (n=15). Four participants dropped out of the study for causes unrelated to the intervention. INTERVENTIONS: The "Physio-EndEA" program consisted of a 1-week lumbopelvic stabilization learning phase followed by an 8-week phase of stretching, aerobic, and resistance exercises focused on the lumbopelvic area. It was sequentially instructed and supervised by a trained physiotherapist (with volume and intensity progression) and adapted daily to the potential of each participant. Control group received the usual treatment stipulated by their gynecologist. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was quality of life. Secondary outcomes were pain intensity, pressure pain thresholds, pain-related catastrophic thoughts, abdominal and back strength, lumbopelvic stability, and muscle architecture. RESULTS: Adherence rate was 90.6% and mean (±standard deviation) satisfaction was 9.44±0.73 out of 10. No remarkable health problems were reported during the trial. In comparison with controls, the quality of life was improved post-intervention and at 1 year in the Physio-EndEA group with large effect sizes (d>0.80). This group also evidenced: a reduced intensity of dyspareunia, catastrophic thoughts; an increase in pelvic, lumbar, and distal pressure pain thresholds; increases in abdominal and back strength and lumbopelvic stability; and increased thickness of transversus abdominis (right side) and width of lumbar multifidus (left side). CONCLUSION: A 9-week program of multimodal supervised therapeutic exercise is a feasible and effective intervention to improve QoL in women with endometriosis. This program also offers benefits in terms of pain/sensitization and lumbopelvic impairments.

Feasibility and efficacy of telerehabilitation in the management of patients with head and neck cancer during and after oncological treatment: A systematic review.

PURPOSE: The aim in this review was to evaluate recent advances in telerehabilitation for the management of patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) during and after their oncological treatment. METHODS: A systematic review was carried out in three databases (Medline, Web of Science and Scopus) in July 2022. The methodological quality of randomised clinical trials and quasi-experimental ones was assessed using the Cochrane tool (RoB 2.0) and the Critical Appraisal Checklists of the Joanna Briggs Institute, respectively. RESULTS: 14 out of 819 studies met the inclusion criteria: 6 studies were randomised clinical trials, 1 was a single-arm study with historical controls and 7 were feasibility studies. Most studies reported high participant satisfaction and efficacy of telerehabilitation used, in addition, no adverse effects were reported. None of the randomised clinical trials achieved a low overall risk of bias, whereas the methodological risk of bias of the quasi-experimental studies was low. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review demonstrates that telerehabilitation offers feasible and effective interventions for the patients with HNC follow-up, during and after their oncological treatment. It was observed that telerehabilitation interventions should be personalised according to the patient's characteristics and the stage of the disease. Further research on telerehabilitation to support caregivers as well as to carry out studies with a long-term follow-up of these patients are imperative.

Correction: Burgos-Mansilla et al. Effect of Physical Therapy Modalities on Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. J. Clin. Med. 2021, 10, 4696.

In the original publication [...].

Effect of mHealth plus occupational therapy on cognitive function, mood and physical function in people after cancer: Secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Medical and surgical treatments for breast cancer have various adverse effects. Both mobile health and supervised intervention strategies have been implemented to overcome these effects, but some gaps remain to be addressed. Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of occupational therapy in cancer is limited. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical effectiveness of the BENECA mHealth app used alone or combined with an integral supervised rehabilitation strategy that focused on cognitive performance, mood state, functional capacity, and cancer-related pain and fatigue in overweight women after breast cancer. METHODS: In this secondary analysis of an assessor-blinded randomized controlled clinical trial, 80 overweight women after breast cancer (stage I-IIIA) were randomly allocated to an integral approach group (IA; n=40) or a control group (CG; n=40). All participants participated in an 8-week intervention. Assessments were performed at baseline, 8 weeks, and 6 months and included cognitive performance (Trial Making Test and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale), psychological state (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale), pain (Brief Pain Inventory), fatigue (Piper Fatigue Scale), and physical function (6 min walk test). An intention-to-treat analysis was conducted with analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Selective attention (TMT) was significantly higher in the IA group, with a moderate to large effect size for TMT A (T2: d=1.1; T 3: d=1.2), working memory and processing speed (WAIS), anxiety and general HADS score (d=1.6), and functional capacity at 8 weeks and 6 months (d=1.5). Fatigue perception (mean difference, -0.6; 95% CI -1.4 to 0.04; p=0.009) and pain (intensity level p<0.001; interference level p=0.002) were also significantly more improved in the IA group. CONCLUSIONS: An integral strategy involving the BENECA mHealth app with a supervised, multimodal intervention improved cognitive, psychological, and functional performance in women after breast cancer more than mHealth alone. Occupational therapy has a role to play in breast cancer rehabilitation.

The effects of myofascial induction therapy in survivors of head and neck cancer: a randomized, controlled clinical trial.

PURPOSE: We aim to evaluate the effects of myofascial induction therapy (MIT) on the sequelae suffered by the survivors of HNC (sHNC). METHODS: We enrolled 46 sHNC in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), of whom 20 received a MIT protocol and 23 were placed on a waitlist while receiving the recommended treatment for 6 weeks. The MIT protocol included a total of 18 sessions, 3 days a week on alternate days for 6 weeks. Maximal mouth opening, the presence of temporomandibular dysfunction, cervical endurance, active range of motion (AROM), shoulder AROM, handgrip strength, and perceived physical fitness were assessed. RESULTS: Maximal mouth opening, temporomandibular dysfunction, cervical endurance, and AROM, affected shoulder abduction and unaffected shoulder flexion and external rotation significantly improved (p < .05) after an MIT protocol, but only cervical AROM and affected shoulder abduction changes were clinically meaningful. No statistically significant changes were observed in the other shoulder AROM, handgrip strength, or physical fitness perception (p > .05). CONCLUSION: A 6-week MIT protocol improves mouth opening, TMD, cervical function (endurance and AROM), affected shoulder abduction and unaffected shoulder flexion, and external rotation AROM in the sHNC. However, no changes were observed in most of the shoulder AROM, muscular strength, or perceived physical fitness. Future studies should perform longer follow-up designs, increase the sample size, and include multimodal treatments to address these sequelae in the sHNC.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Strength Recovery Measured by Isokinetic Dynamometer Technology after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Quadriceps Tendon Autografts vs. Hamstring Tendon Autografts or Patellar Tendon Autografts.

BACKGROUND: This systematic review and meta-analysis compared the isokinetic strength of the muscular knee joint between quadriceps tendon autografts (QTAs) and hamstring tendon autografts (HTAs) or patellar tendon autografts (PTAs) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction by determining the isokinetic angular velocity and follow-up time points. The functional outcomes and knee stability at the same time points were also compared using isokinetic technology. METHODS: Two independent reviewers searched the Medline (via PubMed search engine), Scopus, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases to include full text comparative studies that assessed isokinetic strength test following ACL reconstruction. The DerSimonian and Laird method was used. RESULTS: In total, ten studies were included; seven compared studies QTAs vs. HTAs, and three compared QTAs vs. PTAs. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis. Isokinetic strength data were reported 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after ACL reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The QTAs showed better and significant results with knee flexion compared with HTAs, similar results to PTAs at 6 and 12 months. While HTAs showed better and significant results with knee extension at 6 months and similar results at 12 months compared to QTAs. Furthermore, a standardized isokinetic strength test must be followed to achieve a more specific conclusion and better clinical comparison among participants.

A Telehealth-Based Cognitive-Adaptive Training (e-OTCAT) to Prevent Cancer and Chemotherapy-Related Cognitive Impairment in Women with Breast Cancer: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Many women with breast cancer experience a great number of side effects, such as cognitive impairment, during and after chemotherapy that reduces their quality of life. Currently, research focusing on the use of non-pharmacological, and specifically telehealth interventions to prevent or mitigate them has been insufficient. METHODS: This protocol describes a randomized controlled trial aimed at studying the preventive effects of a videoconferenced cognitive-adaptive training (e-OTCAT) program (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04783402). A number of 98 eligible participants will be randomized to one of the following groups: (a) the experimental group receiving the e-OTCAT program during 12 consecutive weeks since the beginning of chemotherapy; and (b) the control group receiving and educational handbook and usual care. The primary outcome will be the cognitive function. Secondary measures will be psychological distress, fatigue, sleep disturbance, quality of life and occupational performance. The time-points for these measures will be placed at baseline, after 12 weeks and six months of post-randomization. CONCLUSION: This trial may support the inclusion of multidimensional interventions through a telehealth approach in a worldwide growing population suffering from breast cancer, emphasizing the prevention of cognitive impairment as one of the side effects of cancer and its treatments.

Can Physical Exercise Prevent Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients With Cancer? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review analyzed the effects of physical exercise programs in patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) prevention. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant studies published before December 2020. Additional references were identified by manual screening of the reference lists. STUDY SELECTION: Based on the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, and Study Designs strategy, randomized controlled trials in which physical exercise was applied before or during chemotherapy to prevent or ameliorate CIPN were included. DATA EXTRACTION: Two reviewers blinded and independent screened the articles, scored methodologic quality, and extracted data for analysis. The review was conducted and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Sensitivity and precision analysis databases was included. Risk of bias assessment and meta-analysis were conducted using the Cochrane tools. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of 229 potentially relevant studies, 8 randomized controlled trials were included and scored. They comprise a total of 618 patients with cancer. MEDLINE and Scopus databases recorded the highest sensitivity. None of the studies achieved a "low" overall risk of bias. Four studies were included in meta-analysis for quality of life, and a significance standardized mean difference was found between groups from baseline of 14.62; 95% CI, 6.03-3.20, with a large effect size g=0.83; 95% CI, 0.48-1.18) in favor of physical exercise program compared with usual care. CONCLUSIONS: Physical exercise at the onset of chemotherapy has shown promising effects on the prevention of CIPN, specially improving quality of life.

'Physio-EndEA' Study: A Randomized, Parallel-Group Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Effect of a Supervised and Adapted Therapeutic Exercise Program to Improve Quality of Life in Symptomatic Women Diagnosed with Endometriosis.

AIM: The 'Physio-EndEA' study aims to explore the potential benefits of a therapeutic exercise program (focused on lumbopelvic stabilization and tolerance to exertion) on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of symptomatic endometriosis women. DESIGN: The present study will use a parallel-group randomized controlled trial design. METHODS: A total of 22 symptomatic endometriosis women will be randomized 1:1 to the Physio-EndEA or usual care groups. The 'Physio-EndEA' program will consist of a one-week lumbopelvic stabilization learning phase followed by an eight-week phase of stretching, aerobic and resistance exercises focused on the lumbopelvic area that will be sequentially instructed and supervised by a trained physiotherapist (with volume and intensity progression) and adapted daily to the potential of each participant. The primary outcome measure is HRQoL. The secondary outcome measures included clinician-reported outcomes (pressure pain thresholds, muscle thickness and strength, flexibility, body balance and cardiorespiratory fitness) and patient-reported outcomes (pain intensity, physical fitness, chronic fatigue, sexual function, gastrointestinal function and sleep quality). DISCUSSION: Findings of this study will help to identify cost-effective non-pharmacological options (such as this exercise-based intervention) that may contribute to the improvement of HRQoL in symptomatic endometriosis women.

Prevention of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy With PRESIONA, a Therapeutic Exercise and Blood Flow Restriction Program: A Randomized Controlled Study Protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This trial will analyze the acute and cumulative effects of a tailored program called PRESIONA that combines therapeutic exercise and blood flow restriction to prevent chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) in individuals with early breast cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: PRESIONA will be a physical therapist-led multimodal exercise program that uses blood flow restriction during low-load aerobic and strength exercises. For the acute study, only 1 session will be performed 1 day before the first taxane cycle, in which 72 women will be assessed before intervention and 24 hours post intervention. For the cumulative study, PRESIONA will consist of 24 to 36 sessions for 12 weeks following an undulatory prescription. At least 80 women will be randomized to the experimental group or control group. Feasibility will be quantified based on the participant recruitment to acceptance ratio; dropout, retention, and adherence rates; participant satisfaction; tolerance; and program security. In the efficacy study, the main outcomes will be CIPN symptoms assessed with a participant-reported questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-CIPN20). In addition, to determine the impact on other participant-reported health and sensorimotor and physical outcomes, the proportion of completed scheduled chemotherapy sessions will be examined at baseline (t0), after anthracycline completion (t1), after intervention (t2), and at the 2-month (t3) and 1-year follow-ups (t4). CONCLUSION: The proposed innovative approach of this study could have a far-reaching impact on therapeutic options, and the physical therapist role could be essential in the oncology unit to improve quality of life in individuals with cancer and reduce side effects of cancer and its treatments. IMPACT: Physical therapists in the health care system could be essential to achieve the planned doses of chemotherapy to improve survival and decrease the side effects of individuals with breast cancer. The prevention of CIPN would have an impact on the quality of life in these individuals, and this protocol potentially could provide an action guide that could be implemented in any health care system.

Sexual dysfunction in a cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis. Influence of dupilumab treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis is a systemic and immune-mediated dermatological disease that comprises a wide group of physiological and psychological comorbidities. Within the latter, the evaluation of anxiety and depression has been the subject of numerous studies, but sexual dysfunction (SD) is a fact that is rarely addressed in the literature. The objective of the present study is to assess the prevalence of SD in a cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD) and to establish the possible impact of dupilumab therapy on it. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. Recruited patients had been diagnosed with moderate-to-severe AD at the Dermatology Unit of the Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain, from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. They were followed up for a 6-month period during which the impact of dupilumab treatment was measured. The main variable under study, sexual dysfunction, was evaluated differently according to gender. Regarding the male patients, the International Index Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was applied, whereas for female patients, the questionnaire "Female Sexual Function Index" was used. RESULTS: Our study included 31 patients, 18 men and 13 women. Men's mean age was 35 +/- 14.55 years, while that of women was 33 +/- 10.46 years. Seventy-nine percent of patients in our series (n = 22) had SD compared to 29% (n = 9) who did not. A total of 66.9% of males and 76.9% (n = 10) of females sampled, suffered from SD. Six months after initiation of treatment, none of the patient had stopped it due to efficacy or safety issues. All severity indices (SCORAD, EASI, VAS pruritus, and DLQI) had significantly improved by more than 50% from baseline. The improvement in the sexual dysfunction index had improved by four points, both in the male and female patients. DISCUSSION: Many large population studies on SD in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic AD only focus on male gender and clinical diagnoses, rather than specific and validated questionnaires. Dupilumab treatment in patients with moderate-to-severe AD has shown a positive impact on the levels of SD in both male and female populations. Further studies focused on populations with mild atopic AD and with larger sample sizes are required to corroborate these preliminary results.

Sexual Dysfunction and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the skin whose main symptom is pruritus and may affect all age ranges. Regarding the prevalence, it has been estimated at around 10% of the world population. Many concomitant diseases have been associated with AD, but the causal relationship between AD and psychological impairment has not been clearly established. Scientific literature studying the probable association between male or female sexual dysfunction and dermatological pathology is limited, even more so in AD. This systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines and the Cochrane Collaboration methodology for systematic reviews. All relevant articles in English were identified through a search from inception to 10 December 2020, including the following databases: Medline (via PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, and SciELO. The results of the search were compiled using the COVIDENCE software for systematic reviews. The methodological quality of the included studies was done using the "Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies" and the "Quality Assessment of Case-Control Studies" developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health (NIH). Our search yielded potentially relevant studies. Five studies that evaluated the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in atopic dermatitis were retrieved after applying the selection criteria. The present systematic review achieved data from 8088 patients with atopic dermatitis from four articles. Sample sizes for atopic dermatitis patients ranged from 266 to 3997. We identified one cohort study with four years of follow-up, three studies with a cross-sectional design, and one case-control study. Three studies reported data disaggregated by the severity of atopic dermatitis. Two studies included healthy controls with a total sample size of 1,747,755 subjects. Two studies compared data with other dermatological conditions such as psoriasis. In conclusion, we can establish that unlike other psychological comorbidities such as anxiety and depression, sexual dysfunction is a field scarcely explored in the literature. This sexual dysfunction focuses on the male sex in large population studies and in clinical diagnoses without exploring it through specific and validated questionnaires in this regard. Further studies focused on both genders are needed. It is important to correlate this sexual dysfunction with the severity of the disease, previous treatments, and cardiovascular comorbidities.

Therapeutic Benefits of Balneotherapy on Quality of Life of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most common inflammatory rheumatic disease. RA symptoms make the disease disabling and strongly impact the quality of life of patients. Among the available forms of treatment, balneotherapy seems to be one of the most common forms of nonpharmacological treatment for rheumatic disease. The aim was to explore the effectiveness of balneotherapy for improving the quality of life of patients with RA. METHODS: Pubmed, Scopus, Web of Science and The Cochrane library were searched for randomized or clinical controlled trials published in English or Spanish until May 2021. Risk of bias of included articles were assessed using the Cochrane tool. A total 535 records were retrieved, and seven met the inclusion criteria. All the included studies showed statistically significant improvements in the quality of life of patients who received balneotherapy treatment despite differences in treatment administration. Sessions should be approximately 20 min long and use natural mineral waters enriched with elements, or mud, at a water temperature between 35-38 °C. CONCLUSIONS: Balneotherapy benefits the quality of life of people with RA. The obtained results show positive effects for both mineral bathing and immersion in sand or mud on the quality of life of people who suffer from RA.

Limitations in Activities of Daily Living Among Spanish Women Diagnosed With Endometriosis.

IMPORTANCE: Understanding the impact of endometriosis symptoms on patients' activities of daily living (ADLs) is a priority to establish effective and personalized intervention programs. OBJECTIVE: To explore limitations in ADLs and instrumental ADLs (IADLs) and their association with pelvic pain (PP), chronic fatigue, and pain-catastrophizing thoughts among women with endometriosis. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Spain. PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred thirty women with endometriosis. Outcomes and Measures: Information regarding performance of ADLs (Barthel Index) and IADLs (Lawton-Brody questionnaire), PP intensity (Numeric Rating Scale), chronic fatigue (Piper Fatigue Scale), and pain-catastrophizing thoughts (Pain Catastrophizing Scale) was gathered. Multivariate regression analyses were created, and mediating effects of fatigue and pain-catastrophizing thoughts on the association between PP and ADL and IADL limitations were assessed. RESULTS: The prevalence of limitations in at least one ADL and one IADL was 22.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] [17.2, 28.1]) and 39.1% (95% CI [32.8, 45.5]), respectively. Limitations in bowel continence, housework, shopping, and meal preparation were reported most frequently. Women reporting severe PP showed higher risk for ADL (odds ratio [OR] = 3.33, 95% CI [1.10, 10.10]) and IADL (OR = 7.99, 95% CI [2.86, 22.34]) limitations. Chronic fatigue and pain-catastrophizing thoughts were also positively related to ADL-IADL limitations, showing a mediating effect on the association between PP and ADL-IADL limitations. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study reveals the widespread presence of difficulties in ADL-IADL performance among women with endometriosis, with some symptoms underlying these difficulties in occupational performance. This study points to the need for cost-effective occupational therapy interventions for affected women. What This Article Adds: This research shows that the occupational performance of women with endometriosis is frequently impaired; therefore, the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions should be addressed in the near future.

Effect of Physical Therapy Modalities on Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis.

The objective was to describe the effectiveness of different physical therapy modalities to improve Quality of Life (QoL) in Head and Neck Cancer (HNC) survivors. PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were searched for randomized clinical controlled trials published until 30 April 2020. Risk of bias assessment and meta-analysis were conducted using the Cochrane tools. A total of 251 records were retrieved, and 10 met the inclusion criteria. Interventions whose parameters focus on a 12-week exercise programs of aerobic activity (walking) or Progressive Resistance Training (PRT) for the whole body are effective and safe modalities improving QoL in HNC survivors. Electrophysical agents did not show significant results between groups. As for the assessment of methodological quality, 4 of the 10 articles included had a high risk of overall bias. Only five articles provided sufficient information to conduct a meta-analysis for exercise program intervention on QoL, showing a tendency in favor of intervention group, even when the global results did not show statistically significant improvements (pooled Cohen's d 0.15; 95% CI: -0.25 to 0.54; I2 45.87%; p heterogeneity = 0.10). The present review and meta-analysis identified meaningful benefits of exercise on QoL of HNC survivors; this has been confirmed in a meta-analysis. This review adds evidence supporting exercise interventions on Head and Neck Cancer population whose opportunities for successful recovery after medical treatment are more limited.

Calcipotriol/Betamethasone Dipropionate Aerosol Foam for Plaque Psoriasis: A Prospective, Observational, Non-Interventional, Single-Center Study of Patient Adherence and Satisfaction in Daily Use.

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that has a negative impact on patients' quality of life. Patients with mild-moderate psoriasis can be treated with topical medications, such as the combination drug calcipotriol/betamethasone dipropionate (Cal/BD). OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the adherence of psoriasis patients to therapy with Cal/BD aerosol foam, as well as their satisfaction with the treatment's efficacy, safety, and effect on their quality of life. METHODS: Patients with mild-moderate plaque psoriasis were eligible to participate in this open-label, non-placebo controlled, prospective single-center study. Adherence to treatment was assessed using the Morisky-Green scale 4 and 12 weeks after the start of treatment. Satisfaction with the treatment was assessed using the abbreviated Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9). The severity of psoriasis was assessed on the mIGA and PGA scales, and the impact on quality of life was assessed using the PDI and DLQI scales. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients entered the study. Adherence to treatment was good, with 73.8% of patients showing high adherence at 12 weeks. Satisfaction was also good, with 46 patients (70.8%) being completely satisfied. CONCLUSIONS: Over a 4-week period, patients treated with Cal/BD aerosol foam had significant improvement in disease severity that was directly related to treatment adherence.