Evaluating qigong as integrative support for COVID-19 and Long-COVID-19 rehabilitation: a systematic review.

Introduction: Amidst the ongoing global impact of COVID-19 on public health, there is an increasing focus on holistic strategies encompassing integrative therapies and rehabilitation techniques, particularly in addressing the challenges posed by Long-COVID-19. This review investigates the potential of Qigong, an ancient Chinese practice characterized by gentle movements, controlled breathing, and meditative elements, within the context of COVID-19. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar was conducted to identify pertinent clinical studies. Results: Following thorough database scrutiny, nine studies were identified as meeting the eligibility criteria. Across the spectrum of COVID-19 severity, individuals engaging in qigong practice exhibited notable enhancements in both physical and psychological wellbeing, evidenced by ameliorated respiratory symptoms, reduced anxiety levels, enhanced sleep quality, bolstered mental wellbeing, and augmented health-related quality of life. Moreover, qigong training, whether employed independently or in conjunction with other therapies, demonstrated beneficial effects on Long-COVID-19 symptoms, encompassing persistent respiratory issues, dizziness, sleep disturbances, and compromised health-related quality of life. Discussion: This review underscores the necessity for further investigation to quantify and standardize the contribution of Qigong to COVID-19 recovery and rehabilitation. Such endeavors aim to integrate this accessible and low-impact practice into public health strategies and comprehensive treatment regimens. Systematic review registration: The review protocol was registered in the Open Science Framework under the following doi: 10.17605/OSF.IO/7K5X6 (URL: https://osf.io/7k5x6).

Validation Study of the Spanish Version of the Measure of Happiness (MH) Questionnaire.

This study aims to validate the Spanish version of the Measure of Happiness (MH), a questionnaire that identifies the specific areas of an individual's life that are related to experienced happiness. The sample consisted of 458 Spanish native speakers (65.7% women, 34.3% men; mean age = 24.14, SD = 8.45) and was divided into two groups: Sample 1 (N = 226) underwent Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Sample 2 (N = 232) underwent Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). The convergent and discriminant validity of the Spanish version of the MH and its subscales was assessed by calculating Pearson correlations between the MH factors and the Subjective Happiness Scale, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the WHOQOL-BREF. The EFA and CFA confirmed the original five-factor structure of the MH questionnaire. The only difference in the Spanish version of the MH is that Item 4, which was originally assigned to Factor 2 "Financial Status", was reallocated to Factor 1 "Psychophysical Status". The reliability of the Spanish version of the MH questionnaire was also confirmed, and the factors correlated in the expected direction with the constructs of quality of life, happiness, anxiety, and depression. The MH questionnaire demonstrated excellent psychometric properties among Spanish respondents.

Seahorse-Tail-Inspired Soft Pneumatic Actuator: Development and Experimental Characterization.

The study of bio-inspired structures and their reproduction has always fascinated humans. The advent of soft robotics, thanks to soft materials, has enabled considerable progress in this field. Over the years, polyps, worms, cockroaches, jellyfish, and multiple anthropomorphic structures such as hands or limbs have been reproduced. These structures have often been used for gripping and handling delicate objects or those with complex unknown a priori shapes. Several studies have also been conducted on grippers inspired by the seahorse tail. In this paper, a novel biomimetic soft pneumatic actuator inspired by the tail of the seahorse Hippocampus reidi is presented. The actuator has been developed to make a leg to sustain a multi-legged robot. The prototyping of the actuator was possible by combining a 3D-printed reinforcement in thermoplastic polyurethane, mimicking the skeletal apparatus, within a silicone rubber structure, replicating the functions of the external epithelial tissue. The latter has an internal channel for pneumatic actuation that acts as the inner muscle. The study on the anatomy and kinematic behaviour of the seahorse tail suggested the mechanical design of the actuator. Through a test campaign, the actuator prototype was characterized by isotonic tests with an external null load, isometric tests, and activation/deactivation times. Specifically, the full actuator distension of 154.5 mm occurs at 1.8 bar, exerting a maximum force of 11.9 N, with an activation and deactivation time of 74.9 and 94.5 ms, respectively.

A Current-Mode Analog Front-End for Capacitive Length Transducers in Pneumatic Muscle Actuators.

This paper reports on the design, implementation, and characterization of a current-mode analog-front-end circuit for capacitance-to-voltage conversion that can be used in connection with a large variety of sensors and actuators in industrial and rehabilitation medicine applications. The circuit is composed by: (i) an oscillator generating a square wave signal whose frequency and pulse width is a function of the value of input capacitance; (ii) a passive low-pass filter that extracts the DC average component of the square wave signal; (iii) a DC-DC amplifier with variable gain ranging from 1 to 1000. The circuit has been designed in the current-mode approach by employing the second-generation current conveyor circuit, and has been implemented by using commercial discrete components as the basic blocks. The circuit allows for gain and sensitivity tunability, offset compensation and regulation, and the capability to manage various ranges of variations of the input capacitance. For a circuit gain of 1000, the measured circuit sensitivity is equal to 167.34 mV/pF with a resolution in terms of capacitance of 5 fF. The implemented circuit has been employed to measure the variations of the capacitance of a McKibben pneumatic muscle associated with the variations of its length that linearly depend on the circuit output voltage. Under step-to-step conditions of movement of the pneumatic muscle, the overall system sensitivity is equal to 70 mV/mm with a standard deviation error of the muscle length variation of 0.008 mm.

Effects of Static Meditation Practice on Blood Lipid Levels: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

This review aims to delineate the potential impact of static meditation practice on cholesterol and triglyceride levels. PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were systematically screened up until December 2023 to identify pertinent studies. After searching the scientific literature, 16 clinical studies (11 trials and 5 observational experiments) met the criteria for inclusion, involving a total of 1147 participants. In general, Ayurvedic-based meditation techniques were predominantly associated with lower total cholesterol levels, mindfulness-based techniques demonstrated benefits in both total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and Eastern meditation techniques with spiritual origins were primarily linked to improved serum concentrations of HDL cholesterol. Study participants mostly engaged in meditation on a daily basis, often practicing it once or even twice a day, spanning a duration ranging from a few weeks to several months. The meta-analysis shows an association between meditation practice in healthy or sub-healthy adults and reduced cholesterol levels, with an average decrease of approximately -14 mg/dL (MD = -13.91 [-23.35; -4.47] mg/dL; p = 0.02), alongside favorable and even more pronounced impacts on triglyceride levels (MD = -32.56 [-48.44; -16.68] mg/dL; p < 0.01). In summary, regular engagement in static meditation practices can be associated with lower triglyceride and, to a lesser extent, cholesterol levels. Further studies on the topic are recommended to better investigate the relationship between meditation practice and physiological parameters.

Improved Cardiovascular Effects of a Novel Pomegranate Byproduct Extract Obtained through Hydrodynamic Cavitation.

The healthy properties of pomegranate fruit, a highly consumed food, have been known for a long time. However, the pomegranate supply chain is still rather inefficient, with the non-edible fraction, whose weight is roughly half the total and is endowed with plenty of valuable bioactive compounds, either disposed of or underutilized. A novel extract obtained from non-edible byproducts (called PPE), using hydrodynamic cavitation, a green, efficient, and scalable technique, was investigated for its cardiovascular effects in vivo. PPE showed efficacy in an acute phenylephrine (PE)-induced hypertensive rat model, similar to the extract of whole fruit (PFE) obtained using the same extractive technique, along with good intestinal bioaccessibility after oral administration. Finally, when chronically administered for 6 weeks to spontaneously hypertensive rats, PPE was shown to significantly contain the increase in systolic blood pressure, comparable to the reference drug Captopril, and at a dose remarkably lower than the reported effective dose of ellagic acid. The extract from the non-edible fraction of the pomegranate fruit also showed good anti-inflammation and anti-fibrotic effects. The findings of this study, along with the extraction technique, could contribute to enhancing the value of the pomegranate supply chain, relieve the related environmental burden, and potentially improve public health.

[Prevalence of artificial sweeteners in multivitamin supplements registered in Italy.] / Prevalenza dei dolcificanti artificiali negli integratori multivitaminici registrati in Italia.

This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of artificial sweeteners in multivitamin supplements registered in Italy. The National Registry of Dietary Supplements was examined in December 2023 to extract data relating to supplements identified as "multivitamins". Then, for each supplement the specific composition was searched online. 179 multivitamin products were identified, and for 96 of them it was possible to access the complete list of their ingredients online. Among these, 47 supplements (49%) do not contain added sugars, while the remaining 49 (51%) have one or more sweeteners in their composition (29 of which have at least two among the ingredients). Among the 49 supplements in the second group, the greatest prevalence of artificial sweeteners is found in effervescent tablets (100%), soluble powders (100%) and gummies or chewing tablets (63%), while the lowest prevalence was detected in capsules/tablets to be swallowed (19%). In relative terms, aspartame and sucralose are mostly found in effervescent tablets and diluted powders, but other formulations are not always free of these substances. In conclusion, the significant presence of artificial sweeteners in multivitamin supplements requires attention, especially considering the long-term health impact. Consumer awareness and medical evaluation are crucial for an informed choice and the protection of health.

Silence and its effects on the autonomic nervous system: A systematic review.

This systematic review explores the influence of silence on the autonomic nervous system. The Polyvagal Theory has been used as a reference model to describe the autonomic nervous system by explaining its role in emotional regulation, social engagement, and adaptive physiological responses. PubMed, Scopus, PsycInfo, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were systematically searched up until July 2023 for relevant studies. The literature search yielded 511 results, and 37 studies were eventually included in this review. Silence affects the autonomic nervous system differently based on whether it is inner or outer silence. Inner silence enhances activity of the ventral vagus, favoring social engagement, and reducing sympathetic nervous system activity and physiological stress. Outer silence, conversely, can induce a heightened state of alertness, potentially triggering vagal brake removal and sympathetic nervous system activation, though with training, it can foster inner silence, preventing such activation. The autonomic nervous system response to silence can also be influenced by other factors such as context, familiarity with silence, presence and quality of outer noise, and empathy.

Happiness and Socio-Demographic Factors in an Italian Sample: A Propensity-Matched Study.

Happiness is receiving more and more interest both as a determinant of health and a measure of outcome in biomedical and psychological sciences. The main objective of this study was to assess how the levels of happiness vary in a large sample of Italian adults and to identify the socio-demographic conditions which impair happiness domains the most. The participants of this survey consisted of 1695 Italian adults (85.9% women; 14.1% men) who completed the Measure of Happiness (MH) questionnaire online. In this study, the differences between groups in total and single domain (life perspective, psychophysical status, socio-relational sphere, relational private sphere, and financial status) happiness levels were examined through a propensity score matching analysis with respect to socio-demographic conditions, including gender, age, annual income, relationship status, having children, and education level. The results show that low income has a negative impact on happiness levels, whereas being in a relationship has a positive effect. Having children appears to have a negative impact on male happiness. Males appear to be happier than females, especially with regard to the psychophysics status. This evidence emphasizes the urgency for Italian policymakers to take actions on removing obstacles to people's happiness, especially with regard to financial distress, parenthood, and gender gaps.

Demographic, Psychosocial, and Lifestyle-Related Characteristics of Forest Therapy Participants in Italy: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Survey.

This research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the key demographic, psychosocial, and lifestyle-related characteristics of forest therapy participants in Italy. A survey was conducted among 1070 adults who had engaged in standardized forest therapy experiences between June 2021 and October 2022. The findings indicate that most forest therapy participants in Italy share certain distinctive traits. They are primarily female, aged between 45 and 54 years, employed, and unmarried. Moreover, they possess a high level of education, predominantly reside in urban areas, demonstrate a strong environmental awareness, maintain a nature-oriented attitude, and typically exhibit moderate levels of trait anxiety. Additionally, they tend to be nonsmokers, possess a healthy BMI within the normal range, and consume an adequate quantity of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. However, it should be noted that their male counterparts tend to be overweight and exhibit poorer dietary habits. Irrespective of gender, approximately 40% of forest therapy participants in Italy live with a chronic disease that requires daily medicinal treatment. Subsequent research should investigate whether these characteristics hold true in different countries. Furthermore, exploring the potential effectiveness of health-promoting interventions integrated with forest therapy sessions could prove beneficial in addressing these specific issues among forest therapy participants. By doing so, such interventions have the potential to contribute significantly to public health promotion and overall community well-being.

Effects of Multidisciplinary Rehabilitation Enhanced with Neuropsychological Treatment on Post-Acute SARS-CoV-2 Cognitive Impairment (Brain Fog): An Observational Study.

Concentration and memory impairment (named "brain fog") represents a frequent and disabling neuropsychological sequela in post-acute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) patients. The aim of this study was to assess whether neurocognitive function could improve after a multidisciplinary rehabilitation program enhanced with individualized neuropsychological treatment. A prospective monocentric registry of PACS patients consecutively admitted to our Rehabilitation Unit was created. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to assess cognitive impairment at admission and discharge. A total of sixty-four (64) PACS patients, fifty-six (56) of them with brain fog, were treated with a day-by-day individualized psychological intervention of cognitive stimulation (45 min) on top of a standard in-hospital rehabilitation program. The mean duration of the acute-phase hospitalization was 55.8 ± 25.8 days and the mean in-hospital rehabilitation duration was 30 ± 10 days. The mean age of the patients was 67.3 ± 10.4 years, 66% of them were male, none had a previous diagnosis of dementia, and 66% of the entire sample had experienced severe COVID-19. At admission, only 12% of the patients had normal cognitive function, while 57% showed mild, 28% moderate, and 3% severe cognitive impairment. After psychological treatment, a significant improvement in the MoCA score was found (20.4 ± 5 vs. 24.7 ± 3.7; p < 0.0001) as a result of significant amelioration in the following domains: attention task (p = 0.014), abstract reasoning (p = 0.003), language repetition (p = 0.002), memory recall (p < 0.0001), orientation (p < 0.0001), and visuospatial abilities (p < 0.0001). Moreover, the improvement remained significant after multivariate analysis adjusted for several confounding factors. Finally, at discharge, 43% of the patients with cognitive impairment normalized their cognitive function, while 4.7% were discharged with residual moderate cognitive impairment. In conclusion, our study provides evidence of the effects of multidisciplinary rehabilitation enhanced with neuropsychological treatment on improvement in the cognitive function of post-acute COVID-19 patients.

Olfactory training with essential oils for patients with post-COVID-19 smell dysfunction: A case series.

Introduction: It is estimated that up to one third of COVID-19 patients can develop long-lasting smell dysfunction. Viral infections, especially COVID-19, can cause anosmia through different pathomechanisms, and different strategies have been proposed for effectively managing post-COVID-19 olfactory dysfunction in clinical practice, with olfactory training being recommended as a first-line treatment option. Methods: This report describes a non-consecutive series of clinical cases. After COVID-19, eight cases (5 females, 3 males) of adult patients with long-lasting (3+ months) post-viral smell dysfunction followed a 30-day olfactory training protocol with a set of plant-derived essential oils. At baseline and at the end of the treatment, the patients were administered the Assessment of Self-reported Olfactory Functioning (ASOF) questionnaire, an inventory used to measure olfactory dysfunction and health-related quality of life. Results: For any of the outcomes assessed with the ASOF scale, a significant improvement from baseline was reported, even though mean value ameliorations were more pronounced for olfactory function per se (Subjective Olfactory Capability: from 3.6 to 5.6 out of 10; Self-Reported capability of Perceiving specific odors: from 1.8 to 3.0 out of 5), rather than for health-related quality of life (Olfactory-Related Quality of life: from 2.9 to 3.9 out of 6). Conclusions: It was observed that patients with long-lasting COVID-19-related smell dysfunction improved after a 30-day olfactory training protocol. Further controlled clinical studies would be useful to better investigate the role of olfactory training in patients with postviral smell dysfunction.

Effects of Plant-Emitted Monoterpenes on Anxiety Symptoms: A Propensity-Matched Observational Cohort Study.

Immersive experiences in green areas, particularly in forests, have long been known to produce beneficial effects for human health. However, the exact determinants and mechanisms leading to healthy outcomes remain to be elucidated. The purpose of this observational cohort study was to investigate whether inhaling plant-emitted biogenic volatile compounds, namely monoterpenes (MTs), can produce specific effects on anxiety symptoms. Data from 505 subjects participating in 39 structured forest therapy sessions at different Italian sites were collected. The air concentration of monoterpenes was measured at each site. STAI state questionnaires were administered before and after the sessions as a measure of anxiety. A propensity score matching analysis was then performed, considering an above-average exposure to inhalable air MTs as the treatment. The estimated effect was -1.28 STAI-S points (95% C.I. -2.51 to -0.06, p = 0.04), indicating that the average effect of exposure to high MT air concentrations during forest therapy sessions was to decrease anxiety symptoms.

Treatment of Achilles tendon partial injuries with injection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNCs): a case series.

Three patients with Achilles tendon partial injury were treated with local injection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PB-MNCs). All subjects were evaluated both clinically (American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society - AOFAS scale) and radiologically (MRI examination) at 2 months, and a clinical reassessment with the AOFAS scale was performed at 6 months. Functional and radiological signs of tendon healing processes were detected as early as 2 months after the procedure and the AOFAS scale rose from an initial average value of 37.0 to 82.7. Even though this study only involved a limited number of participants, our preliminary results indicate that regenerative therapies with PB-MNCs may be a valid alternative to surgical options for Achilles tendon partial injuries, especially in patients with contraindications to surgery, when other conservative approaches (exercises, physical therapies, sclerosing treatment) have failed. Further investigations on the subject seem rationally supported and advisable.

Are You Happy? A Validation Study of a Tool Measuring Happiness.

This study aims at evaluating the psychometric properties of a new scale to measure experienced happiness-the Measure of Happiness (MH)-in a nonclinical sample composed of Italian adults from the general population. The MH was developed not only to provide a global measure of happiness, but also and more importantly to identify the specific areas of the individual's life that are related to the experienced happiness. A total of 787 adults filled the MH and other self-report questionnaires, in order to assess the factor structure, reliability and external validity of the measure. The factorial analysis identified the following five dimensions: Psychophysics Status, Financial Status, Relational Private Sphere, Socio-Relational Sphere, and Life Perspective. The scale so defined was administered to a second independent group of 421 participants for the (multigroup) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). A multigroup factor analysis based on gender confirmed the MH structure. The convergent validity of the MH was assessed by comparing the MH scores with a previously validated test of happiness and quality of life, as well as with dispositional constructs with which happiness is known to be negatively correlated, namely, anxiety and depression. The MH showed satisfactory psychometric properties and a strong significant positive relationship between the two measures of happiness, and a substantial negative association with the measures of anxiety and depression, supporting the validity of the MH to assess the construct of experienced happiness. The implications and possible applications of the MH are then discussed.

Correction: Meneguzzo et al. Short-Term Effects of Forest Therapy on Mood States: A Pilot Study. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 9509.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...].

Defining a new perspective in Environmental Health: the healing environment.

With pollution-related health problems on the rise, the focus of modern Environmental Health (EH) has mostly been placed on toxicology and exposure science. Despite the importance of toxicological aspects, the environment should be studied not only to identify pollution-related hazards, but also to investigate potentially therapeutic and health-enhancing effects of its elements. Generally speaking, it is possible to benefit from a natural environment with a full-immersion experience or with a single-element interaction. Recently, scientific evidence is accumulating on the beneficial effects of natural settings for well-being promotion and psycho-physical health, especially for stress reduction and prevention of stress-related conditions. In light of these considerations, the paradigm of EH can change: the environment we live in should be considered not only as a precious resource to be protected against pollution (thus preventing the consequent health hazards), but, in a proactive vision, also as a potential source of elements capable of actively maintaining and promoting health and well-being.

Effects of forest bathing (shinrin-yoku) on individual well-being: an umbrella review.

The aim of this review was to outline the most relevant benefits of forest bathing for well-being promotion. This study was designed as an umbrella literature review. Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL and the DOAJ were systematically searched for relevant reviews up to February 2021. After article selection, 16 systematic reviews met inclusion criteria. Overall, the best available evidence supports the use of forest bathing as a complementary practice for the promotion of psychophysical well-being, whereas evidence for its use as a therapeutic practice for the improvement of organic diseases needs to grow before clear and specific clinical indications can be formulated. The positive impact of forest bathing on individual quality of life, along with its favorable cost-effectiveness profile, may justify its possible adoption for public health strategies of well-being promotion. Further investigations on the topic are advised.

Short-Term Effects of Forest Therapy on Mood States: A Pilot Study.

Immersion in forest environments was shown to produce beneficial effects to human health, in particular psychophysical relaxation, leading to its growing recognition as a form of integrative medicine. However, limited evidence exists about the statistical significance of the effects and their association with external and environmental variables and personal characteristics. This experimental study aimed to substantiate the very concept of forest therapy by means of the analysis of the significance of its effects on the mood states of anxiety, depression, anger and confusion. Seven forest therapy sessions were performed in remote areas and a control one in an urban park, with participants allowed to attend only one session, resulting in 162 psychological self-assessment questionnaires administered before and after each session. Meteorological comfort, the concentration of volatile organic compounds in the forest atmosphere and environmental coherence were identified as likely important external and environmental variables. Under certain conditions, forest therapy sessions performed in remote sites were shown to outperform the control session, at least for anxiety, anger and confusion. A quantitative analysis of the association of the outcomes with personal sociodemographic characteristics revealed that only sporting habits and age were significantly associated with the outcomes for certain psychological domains.

Appropriate use of essential oils and their components in the management of upper respiratory tract symptoms in patients with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: The involvement of the upper respiratory tract is common in COVID-19, and the majority of patients are treated at home with a mild-to-moderate form of the disease. Many approaches based on essential oils have been proposed for the symptomatic treatment of COVID-19. This work aims to outline the potential and safe evidence-based uses of essential oils and their major components for the clinical management of mild respiratory symptoms caused by uncomplicated coronavirus infections, including SARS-CoV-2. Due to their wide use, a focus on the constituents eucalyptol and menthol has been provided. METHODS: An overview of the scientific literature with a critical discussion of retrieved evidence and clinical recommendations. RESULTS: In general, eucalyptol and essential oils or blends whose content is rich in it, may be used as an integrative remedy for the symptomatic improvement of patients with mild and uncomplicated infections caused by coronaviruses. Menthol is not recommended in patients with COVID-19, due to a potential reduction of the self-perception of dyspnea, which can lead infected patients to underestimate the actual disease severity and to delay medical attention. DISCUSSION: Based on available evidence, symptomatic remedies for COVID-19, such as essential oils and their isolated compounds, can be useful, but are not an alternative to standard medical therapy and do not exempt patients from following precautionary measures issued by health authorities. Clinical recommendations on the appropriate use of essential oils for the management of upper airway symptoms of COVID-19 are provided. Further studies on the topic are advised.