Intraday Variations in Skin Water Parameters.

INTRODUCTION: Three interrelated skin water assessments include stratum corneum hydration (SCH) via electrical measurements, skin water using tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). These are differentially used for skin physiology research, clinical assessments of dermatological conditions and to assess skin water in diabetes and lymphedema. Often volar forearm skin is used for assessments done at various times of day (TOD). The present goal was to assess the extent of intraday variability in SCH, TDC and TEWL. METHODS: Twelve medical students self-measured SCH, TDC and TEWL on their forearm every two hours from 0800 to 2400 hours on two consecutive days. All participants were well-trained and pre-certified in all procedures. Tests for parameter differences among TOD were via the nonparametric Friedman test. RESULTS: No significant differences in SCH or TEWL were found among TOD over the 16-hour interval for either day or combined. Contrastingly TDC decreased slightly but significantly from morning through evening. There was no evidence of a diurnal pattern. Interestingly, a significant nonlinear relationship between TEWL and SCH was detected. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate only minor intra-day variations with TOD trend except for TDC that decreases slightly from morning through evening. The clinical relevance relates to the confidence now gained associated with the parameter estimates when measured at different TOD during normal clinic hours or beyond. This should help in estimating the potential importance of small differences if measured at a different TOD. From a physiological viewpoint, the findings uncover and describe an interesting nonlinear relationship between TEWL and SCH which may serve to propel further investigations that might better characterize this process.

Spectral Power Distribution of Heart Rate Variability in Contiguous Short-Term Intervals.

INTRODUCTION: Heart rate variability (HRV) is determined by the variation of consecutive cardiac electrical excitations, usually from RR intervals of an EKG. The sequence of intervals is a time series that yields three HRV parameter categories: time domain, frequency domain, and nonlinear. Parameter estimates are based on widely different EKG sample times: short-term (~5-10 minutes), longer (24 hours), and ultra-short (<5 minutes). Five-minute intervals are useful to evaluate intervention effects that change HRV in a single session by comparing pre-to-post values. This approach relies on knowing the minimal detectible change (MDC) that indicates a real change in clinical and research studies. The specific aims of this pilot study were to (1) evaluate HRV power and its spectral distribution among contiguous five-minute intervals, (2) compare the power distribution in a five-minute interval with a full 45-minute assessment, and (3) provide data to aid estimation of the MDC between pre- and post-interventions during a single session.  Methods: Twelve self-reported healthy young adults participated after signing an approved consent. Participation required subjects who had no history of cardiovascular disease or were taking vasoactive substances. Persons with diabetes were not eligible. While subjects were supine, EKG leads were placed, and EKG was recorded for 45 minutes at 1000 samples/sec. The 45 minutes were divided into nine five-minute contiguous intervals, and the spectral density in each was determined. Total power and spectral percentages within each interval were assessed in the very low (VLF, 0.003-0.04 Hz), low (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz), and high (HF, 0.15-0.4 Hz) frequency bands. These were compared among intervals and to the full 45-minute sample. The MDC was determined by comparing powers in five-minute intervals separated by 10 minutes. The standard error of the measurement (SEME) for each pair was calculated from the square root of the mean square error (√MSE). MSE was based on a two-factor analysis of variance, and MDC was 2×√2×SEME. RESULTS: Differences in total power and spectral power distribution among intervals were not statistically significant. The total mean power±SD was 4561±1434 ms². The maximum difference in total power was 7.85%. The mean power for the VLF, LF, and HF bands was respectively 1713±1736 ms², 1574±1072 ms², and 1257±1016 ms². The maximum percentage difference in spectral power across all intervals for VLF, LF, and HF was respectively 3.75%, 8.5%, and 7.4%. The percentage of power in the VLF, LF, and HF bands was respectively 37.9%, 36.1%, and 25.9%. The ratios of spectral to total power for VLF, LF, and HF bands were respectively 0.80±0.07, 1.20±0.11, and 1.22±0.10. MDC percentage values were 21.0±4.9% for the HF band, 25.7±1.4% for the LF band, and 30.4±5.5% for the VLF band. CONCLUSION: Results offer initial estimates of variations in HRV power in the VLF, LF, and HF bands in contiguous five-minute intervals and estimates of the minimum detectible "real" changes between intervals separated by 10 minutes. The pattern of variation and data are useful in experimental planning in which HRV spectral power changes are assessed subsequent to a short-duration intervention during a single session. MDC values (21.0% in the HF band to 30.4% in the VLF band) provide initial estimates useful for estimating the number of participants needed to evaluate the impact of an intervention on spectral components of HRV.

Epidermal and dermal hydration in relation to skin color parameters.

BACKGROUND: Our goal was to investigate linkages between skin color parameters and skin hydration. Since most prior studies focused on stratum corneum hydration, we focused on epidermal and dermal hydration in relation to skin color parameters in both sexes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty adults (16 female) with an age ± SD of 24.3 ± 0.6 years participated. Three sites on both volar forearms were evaluated for melanin index (MI), erythema index (EI), Individual Typology Angle (ITA), tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values to depths of 0.5 mm (TDC0.5) and 2.5 mm (TDC2.5), and Fitzpatrick skin type (FST). RESULTS: MI and EI were highly correlated (r = 0.800, p < 0.001) with maximum differences in MI and ITA along the arm of 3% and 6.3% with no difference between arms. Male MI was greater than females (p < 0.01). Male TDC2.5 was 36.1 ± 5.4 and correlated with EI (r = 0.231, p = 0.035). Contrastingly, female TDC25 was 28.5 ± 3.6 with no correlation with EI but was correlated with MI (r = -0.301, p = 0.003). These differential patterns held true for TDC0.5. For both sexes, FST and ITA were highly correlated (r = -0.756, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed several correlations between skin color parameters and hydration that differed between males in females in some cases. The observed correlations may indicate that melanin may differentially impact water-holding capacity between sexes and provides a future research target. Further, these initial findings also may hold significance for dermatological assessments and the customization of skincare treatments tailored to individual skin types and demographics.

Intra-day variations in volar forearm skin hydration.

BACKGROUND: Skin hydration (SKH) measurements are used for multiple purposes: to study skin physiology, to clinically investigate dermatological issues, and to assess localized skin water in pathologies like diabetes and lymphedema. Often the volar forearm is measured at various times of day (TOD). This report aims to characterize intra-day variations in volar forearm SKH to provide guidance on expected TOD dependence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty medical students (20 male) self-measured tissue dielectric constant (TDC) on their non-dominant forearm in triplicate as an index of local skin tissue water every 2 h starting at 0800 and ending at 2400 h. All were trained and pre-certified in the procedure and had whole-body fat (FAT%) and water (H2O%) measured. Day average TDC (TDCAVG) was determined as the average of all time points expressed as mean ± SD. RESULTS: Males versus females had similar ages (25.1 ± 2.2 years vs. 25.1 ± 1.5 years), higher H2O% (56.6 ± 5.0 vs. 51.8 ± 5.7, p = 0.002), and higher TDCAVG (32.7 ± 4.1 vs. 28.5 ± 5.1, p = 0.008). TDC values were not significantly impacted by H2O% or FAT%. Female TDC exhibited a significant decreasing trend from morning to night (p = 0.004); male TDC showed no trend. CONCLUSION: Skin water assessed by TDC shows some intra-day variations for females and males but with quite different temporal patterns. Clinical relevance relates to the confidence level associated with skin hydration estimates when measured at different times of day during normal clinic hours which, based on the present data, is expected to be around 5% for both males and females.

Assessment of Intraday Variations in Skin Indentation Resistance.

INTRODUCTION: Information about the mechanical properties of skin and their changes with age and other conditions is important to help characterize skin physiology and pathological changes. One method to obtain this information is to measure the force required to indent the skin to a specified indentation depth (FORCE). This process measures the tissue's resistance to indentation or its compressibility and is related to the tissue's elastic modulus. Since such measurements are made in clinical and other settings at various times of day (TOD), it is useful to estimate the extent of intraday variations in FORCE that may be expected. This report focuses on this issue. METHOD: FORCE was self-measured on the volar forearm, 5 cm distal to the antecubital fossa, every two hours from 08:00 to 24:00 hours on two consecutive days by 12 medical students (six females and six males) who were trained in the measurement process using an indentation device (SkinFibroMeter). Variability in FORCE versus TOD was analyzed using the nonparametric Friedman test and differences between genders by the nonparametric Wilcoxon test. Differences between the first day (day 1) and the second day (day 2) were tested at each TOD. The whole-body fat percentage (FAT%) and water percentage (H2O%) were determined for each participant via bioimpedance measurements at 50 KHz. RESULTS: The age and BMI of the combined group (mean ± SD) were 24.5 ± 1.5 years and 23.2 ± 3.3 kg/m2. The overall average FORCE (mean ± SD) for the day over the 16 hours was 84.1 ± 22.7 mN and for day 2, it was 83.4 ± 28.5 mN with no significant difference between day 1 and day 2. For females, the overall two-day average FORCE (mean ± SD) over the 16 hours was 81.8 ± 20.3 mN and for males, it was 85.7 ± 30.1 mN with no significant difference between them (p = 0.271). Overall, there was no statistically significant difference in FORCE among TOD (p = 0.568). FORCE was not correlated with either FAT%, HTO%, or BMI. CONCLUSION: The findings indicate no statistically significant variation in indentation force in females, males, or combined concerning the TOD of the measurement or differences between consecutive days at corresponding times. This suggests that whether such measurements are done in a research setting or within a clinic, they can be done at various TOD with minimal expected variation for a given subject. However, an extension of these findings to persons with skin conditions or ages not herein evaluated must await further study.

Breast Cancer-Related Lymphedema Assessed via Tissue Dielectric Constant Measurements.

This review describes the use of tissue dielectric constant (TDC) measurements mainly in the assessment of breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL). PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were initially searched using criteria that included the terms "dielectric" and "lymphedema." The initial search yielded a total of 131 titles. After removing studies not focused on upper extremity lymphedema, 56 articles remained. These articles, together with relevant articles from their bibliographies, formed the basis of the review. The findings show the potential utility and applications of TDC measurements to help detect and track BCRL, whether present in limbs, breasts, or trunks. It is reported as a non-invasive, simple-to-use method, with each measurement requiring less than 10 seconds, suggesting its practicality and useability as an in-office or in-clinic screening and tracking method. Although there are various ways to quantitatively evaluate lymphedema, most, if not all, are restricted to measurements on limbs. Thus, one significant advantage of the TDC approach is that almost any local region of interest can be effectively measured and tracked, which, for BCRL, could include specific regions of arms or hands, breasts, and truncal areas.

Medical Implications of Restricting Abortions on Women Diagnosed With Fetal Anomalies Following the Overturn of Roe v. Wade: A Scoping Review.

This scoping review addresses the potential maternal health outcomes of abortion restrictions in the U.S. by studying and analyzing the reported effects of abortion bans or limitations globally. The goal was to examine the medical implications for pregnant women who are unable to abort fetuses that have severe medical anomalies due to imposed restrictions. EMBASE, Medline, and CINAHL databases were searched for studies published in English concerning the medical implications of abortion restrictions in any country prior to the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022. For the search criteria using Boolean operators, keywords included the terms "fetal anomaly," "abortion ban," and "implications." Inclusion criteria incorporated studies published between 1980 and 2021, and controlled experimental research studies aimed to evaluate interventions were excluded. This resulted in 469 records initially found. Duplicate records were removed, and two separate tier reviews were conducted. Eleven reviewers independently screened abstracts and titles of 332 records to ascertain eligibility. Eligibility included pregnant women diagnosed with fetal anomalies, women denied access to safe abortions, and the maternal and fetal medical impacts of this. Three reviewers in the second screening independently read 36 full articles to further assess eligibility, resulting in 14 articles in the final review. Findings from this study showed that abortion bans in countries around the world have led to health complications in women seeking illegal abortion services, a decline in maternal mental health, including stress and depression, various medical complications such as obstructed labor, and an increase in high-risk fetuses born with severe deficits. The findings of this review portend similar negative consequences to be experienced by women who are subject to stricter abortion laws in the U.S.

Assessment Modalities for Lower Extremity Edema, Lymphedema, and Lipedema: A Scoping Review.

Lower extremity swelling may be broadly characterized as due to edema, lymphedema, or lipedema. Differentiation between these three conditions is important for providing appropriate treatment. This review analyzes and compares different clinical diagnostic modalities for these conditions, with the aim of assisting in the process of choosing the most appropriate diagnostic modality by highlighting the advantages and limitations of each. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for a systematic search of peer-reviewed literature, the following diagnostic methods for lower extremity swelling were investigated: (1) ultrasound (US), (2) lymphoscintigraphy (LSG), (3) computed tomography (CT), (4) bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS), (5) tissue dielectric constant (TDC), and (6) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including magnetic resonance lymphangiography (MRL). The databases used in the search were PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL Complete, Web of Science, Embase, and Biomedical Reference Collection. After retrieving 115 studies based on predetermined inclusion criteria, a total of 31 studies were critically evaluated. The main results indicate the following: duplex US is the modality of choice to initially identify lower extremity edema such as deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and venous reflux due to its high sensitivity and specificity. CT venography of the lower extremity appears to bethe preferred option for gynecologic cancer patients with lower extremity swelling post-treatment, as it measures subcutaneous tissue volumes to look for DVTs, lymphoceles, and cancer recurrence. TDC is a recommended modality for a variety of conditions, including edema and lymphedema, in part, due to its noninvasive localized assessment capabilities and ease of use. LSG emerges as an effective imaging modality for lymphedema characterization with minimal invasiveness and high sensitivity and specificity. BIS is widely used to identify and monitor lower extremity lymphedema but has been reported to have low sensitivity and lacks the ability to account for changes in tissue composition such as fibrosis. US and MRL are favored for lipedema diagnosis, with MRL providing comprehensive anatomical and functional insights, albeit with cost and accessibility limitations compared to US. While CT, MRI, US, and TDC are all useful for differentiating lymphedema from lipedema, MRI is the preferred modality due to its anatomical and functional diagnostic capabilities. However, US is a pragmatic alternative for use with obese patients or when MRI is not an option.

Assessing Current Interest, Knowledge, and Inquiries About Vasectomies in Urology Patients and Medical Students.

Background and objective Since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, there has been an increased interest in vasectomy procedures. This study aims to analyze interest, knowledge, and inquiries about the vasectomy procedure among urology patients and osteopathic medical students since this overturn. It also seeks to determine if this data varies between the ages and sexes of participants. It is hoped that the findings will aid in the development of a standardized educational plan that might be provided to urologists for future use with patients and their partners. Methods Surveys consisting of 10 questions regarding interests, knowledge, and inquiries about vasectomy procedures and the changes in interest following the Roe v. Wade decision were distributed to urology patients and osteopathic medical students. Results Female students had an increased interest in their current or future male partner obtaining a vasectomy procedure compared to a year ago, whereas older urology patients and male students did not. Based on the responses to the posed queries, the most important information to include in a standardized educational plan for patients is the overall risks and their likelihood, the likelihood of reversal, and the procedure's recovery time and surgical details. Conclusion Female students' increased interest in the vasectomy procedure may be due to the recent overturn of Roe v. Wade. Therefore, physicians must counsel their male patients' female partners or interested females appropriately regarding vasectomies, as more may now be interested. Additionally, an educational plan based on this study's data may be utilized with future urology patients. Placing emphasis on what patients want to know may help ease patient's associated anxiety with their future procedure and strengthen the relationship between the patient and physician.

Topical Iron Chelator Therapy: Current Status and Future Prospects.

Systemic iron chelation therapy has long been used for iron overload, providing a role in returning iron levels to proper homeostatic concentrations. Recently, topical iron chelation therapy has emerged as a potential strategy for treating skin damage. This narrative review explores the current status and future prospects of topical iron chelation therapy for treating ultraviolet (UV) and non-UV skin damage, as well as its potential application in wound healing. The review was conducted through a literature search across PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases, spanning publications from 1990 to 2023. The selection of articles was focused on primary research studies, either experimental or clinical, that explored the implications and formulations of topical iron chelators used alone or in conjunction with another therapeutic agent. The search strategy employed a combination of terms, including "topical iron chelation", "topical deferoxamine", "UV", "wound healing", "skin inflammation", "radiation-induced fibrosis", and "skin cancer". Relevant studies, including methods, intervention strategies, measured outcomes, and findings, are summarized. The review also considered the potential challenges in translating research findings into clinical practice. Results indicate that topical iron chelators, such as deferoxamine, are effective in mitigating UV-induced skin damage, reducing tumorigenesis, and decreasing oxidative damage. In addition, the use of these agents in radiation-induced fibrosis has been shown to significantly increase skin elasticity and reduce dermal fibrosis. Several studies also highlight the use of topical iron chelators in difficult-to-treat chronic wounds, such as diabetic neuropathic ulcers and sickle cell ulcers. In conclusion, topical iron chelation therapy represents a novel and promising approach for skin protection and wound healing. Its potential makes it a promising area of future research.

Linkages Between Geomagnetic Activity and Blood Pressure.

This review aims to critically examine and present evidence for and against potential linkages between geomagnetic activity and its effects on blood pressure (BP). Four databases were searched for peer-reviewed papers written in English: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Biomedical Reference Collection. Retrieved titles were first screened for potential relevance followed by an abstract review for further clarifications if warranted. The preponderance of the reported evidence is consistent with the concept that space weather and related events that cause sufficiently large changes in the geomagnetic field (GMF) can impact BP. The associated BP change in most but not all cases is one in which both systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure increase, with SBP appearing to be more consistently involved. The magnitude of the reported BP increase ranges from about 3 to 8 mmHg depending on the intensity of the geomagnetic activity. The initiation of these BP changes has been variably reported to occur shortly before the GMF change or in synchrony with the abrupt change in the GMF. Such GMF-linked BP changes are not present in all persons and there appears to be increased sensitivity in women and in persons with co-existing hypertension. The utility of these findings in assessing or treating persons with known or suspected hypertension remains to be determined via future research. Further, research directed at determining the factors that determine responders from non-responders to GMF changes is warranted.

Opioid Impacts on Cardiovascular Health.

The prevalence of opioid use in the current opioid epidemic era has led to a public health emergency due to the ties to mortality and morbidity. Studies have investigated opioids' impacts on different aspects of cardiovascular health, although there seems to be a lack of a current concise review. Therefore, the aim of this literature review is to provide a summary of the most recent studies from the past decade that postulate a connection between opioids and their impact on cardiovascular health while highlighting conflicting areas among published research. For this literature review, three databases, PubMed (NLM), EMBASE, and Web of Science (Core Collection), were searched for full peer-reviewed articles written in English about human subjects and published between 2013 and 2023 inclusive. The following initial approach was to search for terms in the title of articles: "opioid AND ("vascular" OR "artery" OR "vein" OR "heart rate" OR "infarct" OR "stroke" OR "aortic" OR "cardiovascular disease"). After assessing for duplicate articles from the three databases, the remaining articles were assessed for inclusion eligibility. In the present review, a brief description of the overall role of opioid receptors is provided followed by the literature findings. These findings indicate potentially important negative impacts of opioid use on cardiovascular health in a number of areas. These include opioid-associated increases in the following: (1) vascular aging based on demonstrated increases in arterial stiffness, (2) opioid-related reductions in heart rate variability (HRV) and its implications on morbidity and mortality, (3) opioid's impacts on coronary artery and coronary heart disease (CHD), (4) opioids as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF) and (5) opioid use as a risk factor for vascular occlusion processes. In addition to these broad cardiovascular effects, other aspects of concern are related to the potential impacts of withdrawal from opioid use, which, when done rapidly, are associated with increases in blood pressure and a decrease in HRV.

Impacts of Skin Color and Hypoxemia on Noninvasive Assessment of Peripheral Blood Oxygen Saturation: A Scoping Review.

Standard pulse oximeters estimate arterial blood saturation (SaO2) non-invasively by emitting and detecting light of a specific wavelength through a cutaneous vascular bed, such as a digit or the ear lobe. The quantity measured at these peripheral sites is designated as oxygen saturation (SpO2). Most reliable pulse oximeters are calibrated from measurements of healthy volunteers using some form of oxygen desaturation method. As the degree of inducible hypoxemia is limited, the calibration below achievable desaturation levels is usually extrapolated, leading to potential measurement error at low SaO2 values, especially in highly pigmented skin. Such skin color-related errors (SCRE) are the topic of this scoping review. Specifically, this study aimed to identify the combined impact of skin color and reduced SaO2 on the non-invasive assessment of SpO2 and report the consequences of potential inaccuracies. Three databases were searched (Cumulated Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, and Web of Science) for peer-reviewed prospective and retrospective studies published in English between 2000 and 2022 involving human patients with hypoxemia that included a measure of skin color (Fitzpatrick scale or race/ethnicity). Ten studies met the criteria and were included in the final review. Eight of these studies reported statistically significant higher pulse oximeter readings in darker-skinned patients with hypoxia compared to their arterial blood gas measurements. Occult hypoxia was more prevalent in Black and Hispanic patients than in White patients. Minority patients overall (Black, Asian, and American Indian) were more likely to have a SaO2 < 88% that was not detected by pulse oximetry (occult hypoxemia) during hospitalization. With greater levels of hypoxemia, the differences between SpO2 and SaO2 were greater. If SaO2 was < 90%, then SpO2 was overestimated in all ethnicities but worse in minorities. In conclusion, the bias found in pulse oximeter readings in the skin of color broadly impacts patients with hypoxemia. The failure of SpO2 measuring devices to detect occult hypoxemia can delay the delivery of life-saving treatment to critically ill patients requiring respiratory rehabilitation and supplemental oxygen therapy. This may lead to adverse health outcomes, increased in-hospital mortality, and complications such as organ dysfunction. An improvement in pulse oximeter detection mechanisms that would include all skin pigmentations is therefore much desired to optimize individual healthcare status and minimize disparities in treatment.

Coping Mechanisms for Lymphedema: An Analysis of Patient Experiences.

Background and objective Lymphedema is a condition caused by impaired lymphatic function. Acquired lymphedema is often due to neoplasia, infection, trauma, or radiation damage. Most patients rely on advice from fellow patients and personal research to manage their symptoms. We believe coping mechanisms for lymphedema can be more streamlined and made easily accessible if the most common effective strategies are determined and collected in a single repository for reference. To that end, we aimed to assess the experiences of lymphedema patients and the coping mechanisms they employed. Methods Feedback from lymphedema patients was obtained using a 19-item questionnaire-based survey distributed to multiple online lymphedema support groups. It focused on the type of lymphedema and its effect on the respondents and sought data to characterize coping mechanisms that individuals with lymphedema use and their effectiveness. Results The respondents (n=400) had a median age of 55 years (range: 18-83 years). The overall mean BMI was 35.8 kg/m2, with respondents with lower extremity (LE) lymphedema having a greater mean BMI (38.4 vs. 31.0, p<0.05). Most of the respondents were female (n=382, 95.5%). LE lymphedema was more common (n=280, 70%) than the upper extremity (UE) variant (n=120, 30%). Within the LE group, 99 were unilateral (35.4%) and 181 were bilateral (64.6%). Moderate restriction was the most reported level with 44% in the unilateral group and 64% in the bilateral group. Stretching, low-impact exercise, manual lymphatic drainage (MLD), and compression bandages were the most commonly used coping methods and most of the respondents rated them as somewhat effective. Of note, 30% of respondents in either group rated increased water intake as either slightly, moderately, or very helpful; 25% of respondents also rated decreased alcohol intake as very helpful. The use of a therapist and family and doctor support was rated as extremely helpful. Within the UE group, 105 were unilateral (87.5%) and 15 were bilateral (12.5%). The most common cause of UE lymphedema was breast cancer-related (98/120, 81.7%) followed by melanoma treatment. Mild restriction was the most reported level (n=48, 45.7%). The UE group had similar results as the LE group in terms of coping mechanisms, dietary changes, and psychosocial support. Conclusion Based on the experiences of the lymphedema patients surveyed, the management of the condition is multifactorial and hence not compatible with a one-size-fits-all strategy. LE lymphedema was more common than the UE variant; but both groups reported engaging in stretching, low-impact exercise, manual lymphatic drainage, and compression bandages with similar rates of satisfaction reported in both groups. Dietary changes were not commonly employed. Therapy, doctor, and family support were the most commonly used support mechanisms, with high satisfaction among both groups. The overall coping mechanisms and their ratings in terms of efficacy between UE and LE groups were similar although the impact of quality of life was greater for bilateral conditions. We believe our findings represent the first steps to providing information potentially useful to aid future and current lymphedema patients in finding the coping methods that work best for them.

Shift Work as a Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor: A Narrative Review.

Shift work has emerged as a significant health concern in recent years, and research has revealed a link to circadian rhythm dysregulation and atherosclerosis, both of which can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Currently, there is a lack of updated reviews regarding the impact of shiftwork on CVD. Thus, the present narrative review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest research on the relationship between shift work and CVD, identify potential gaps in the current knowledge, and highlight areas for future research. Database searches for peer-reviewed articles published between January 2013 to January 2023 on shift work associated CVD revealed many studies that found shift work is linked with increased prevalence of carotid artery plaque, increased arterial stiffness, and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) all suggestive of a progression of atherosclerosis attributable to shift work. Hypertension, diabetes, and a sedentary lifestyle are known risks for CVD, and the results of the present study suggest that shift work should be added to that list. The elevation of inflammatory markers and DNA damage in shift workers may be linked to their increased progression of atherosclerosis and the positive association of shift work with coronary artery disease. There are minimal studies on mitigating approaches for shift work-related CVD, such as diet modification or exercise, emphasizing the need for further directed research in this area.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency With Emphasis on the Geriatric Population.

The underpinning of Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI) is valvular dysfunction, which manifests on a spectrum depending on the severity of insufficiency and duration of the disease. The mainstay of treatment relies on compression therapy of a proper type and intensity. In older adults, special consideration must be taken during the patient encounter to account for age-related factors. This review discusses the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and mimicking of CVI, focusing mainly on older adults. The epidemiology, risk factors, disease burden, and grave complications -- such as thrombosis and ulceration, are reviewed. The physiological impacts of CVI are described, providing the background for treatment strategies, including non-invasive, medical, and surgical therapies. The findings show advanced age to be an important risk factor contributing to CVI and that other age-related factors add to the risk of severe complications. Clinical assessments combined with objective measurements that assess localized skin water using tissue dielectric constant values or whole limb assessments may aid in the differential diagnosis. Furthermore, understanding the mechanism of action of compression therapy, the mainstay of CVI treatment, and its physiological impacts, allows for its informed use in geriatric patients with increased risks of potential compression-related side effects.

Variation in Leg Tissue Dielectric Constant Values of Healthy Young Adult Females With and Without Compression Bandaging.

Background The clinical efficacy of a compression application has been often limited to the assessment of the change in limb volume, change in clinical symptoms (i.e., wound size, pain, range of motion, incidence of cellulitis), or vascular hemodynamics of the whole limb. Assessing compression-related biophysical changes of a localized area, such as around a wound, or in an area outside of an extremity cannot be objectively assessed by these measurements. Tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values, which provide a measure of the local tissue water (LTW) content, offer an alternative method to document variation in the LTW content of the skin in a specific location. The goals of the present research were (1) to characterize TDC values, expressed as percentage tissue water, from multiple areas along the medial aspect of the lower leg of healthy volunteers and (2) to explore the potential utilization of the TDC values to assess change in tissue water content in a localized area following compression applications. Methods TDC was measured at 10, 20, 30, and 40 cm proximal to the medial malleolus on the medial aspect of the right leg of 18 young adult healthy women with an age range of 18-23 years and a body mass index of 18.7 to 30.7kg/m2.. TDC was measured at baseline and after 10 minutes of exercise with compression in place on three separate days during which three different compression applications were assessed: a longitudinal elastic stockinette, a two-layer cohesive compression kit, and a combination of the two. Leg circumferences and compression-related interface pressures were also measured. Results Test-Retest Reliability of circumferential measurements and TDC values evaluated using Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC 3,1) revealed excellent and moderate-to-good reliability, respectively. Analysis of TDC values along the length of the limb using Friedman's test, revealed a small but statistically significant overall difference among baseline TDC values attributable to a smaller value at 40 cm. The largest difference in cumulative average was 7.7% which occurred between 20 and 40 cm, with all other differences between locations less than 1%. No significant differences between the compression applications were observed. Conclusion  The present findings demonstrate the utility of TDC measurements as a modality to assess compression-related changes in the legs of healthy women as a foundation for their potential use in assessing outcomes of compression treatments for persons with lower extremity edema or lymphedema. The absence of a significant change in TDC values in these healthy non-edematous conditions and the demonstrated reliability of the TDC measurements on three different days provides further support for the utility of such applications of TDC measurements. The extension to patients with lower extremity edema or lymphedema needs to be evaluated.

Venous, Arterial, and Neuropathic Leg Ulcers With Emphasis on the Geriatric Population.

Leg ulcers are a common and often serious problem in older adults. Underlying conditions that increase risk include age-related increases in chronic venous insufficiency, peripheral artery disease, connective tissue and autoimmune conditions, reduced mobility, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Geriatric patients have a higher risk of multiple wound-related complications including infection, cellulitis, ischemia, and gangrene, any of which may lead to further complications including amputation. The very presence of these lower extremity ulcers in the elderly negatively impacts their quality of life and ability to function. Understanding and early identification of the underlying conditions and wound features are important for effective ulcer healing and complication mitigation. This targeted review focuses on the three most common types of lower extremity ulcers: venous, arterial, and neuropathic. The goal of this paper is to characterize and discuss the general and specific aspects of these lower extremity ulcers and their relevancy and impact on the geriatric population. The top five main results of this study can be summarized as follows. (1) Venous ulcers, caused by inflammatory processes secondary to venous reflux and hypertension, are the most common chronic leg ulcer in the geriatric population. (2) Arterial-ischemic ulcers are mainly due to lower extremity vascular disease, which itself tends to increase with increasing age setting the stage for an age-related increase in leg ulcers. (3) Persons with DM are at increased risk of developing foot ulcers mainly due to neuropathy and localized ischemia, both of which tend to increase with advancing age. (4) In geriatric patients with leg ulcers, it is important to rule out vasculitis or malignancy as causes. (5) Treatment is best made on a case-by-case basis, considering the patient's underlying condition, comorbidities, overall health status, and life expectancy.

Myocardial Infarction Signs and Symptoms: Females vs. Males.

Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of females in the United States today, and myocardial infarction (MI) plays a role in many of these deaths. Females also present with more "atypical" symptoms than males and appear to have differences in pathophysiology underlying their MIs. Despite both differences in symptomology and pathophysiology being present in females versus males, a possible link between the two has not been studied extensively. In this systematic review, we analyzed studies examining differences in symptoms and pathophysiology of MI in females and males and evaluated possible links between the two. A search was performed for sex differences in MI in the databases PubMed, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) Complete, Biomedical Reference Collection: Comprehensive, Jisc Library Hub Discover, and Web of Science. Seventy-four articles were ultimately included in this systematic review. Typical symptoms for both ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI (NSTEMI) such as chest, arm, or jaw pain were more common in both sexes, but females presented on average with more atypical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and shortness of breath. Females with MI also presented with more prodromal symptoms such as fatigue in days leading up to MI, had longer delays in presentation to the hospital after symptom onset, and were older with more comorbidities than males. Males on the other hand were more likely to have a silent or unrecognized MI, which concurs with their overall higher rate of MI. As they age, females have a decrease in antioxidative metabolites and worsened cardiac autonomic function than male. In addition, at all ages, females have less atherosclerotic burden than mles, have higher rates of MI not related to plaque rupture or erosion, and have increased microvasculature resistance when they have an MI. It has been proposed that this physiological difference is etiologic for the male-female difference in symptoms, but this has not been studied directly and is a promising area of future research. It is also possible that differences in pain tolerance between males and females may play a role in differing symptom recognition, but this has only been studied one time where females with higher pain thresholds were more likely to have unrecognized MI. Again, this is a promising area for future study for the early detection of MI. Finally, differences in symptoms for patients with different atherosclerotic burden and for patients with MI due to a cause other than plaque rupture or erosion has not been studied and are both promising avenues to improve detection and patient care in the future.

Tissue Dielectric Constant and Skin Stiffness Relationships in Lower Extremity Lymphedema.

Background: Lower extremity lymphedema or edema (LELE) may progressively transition from a state of excess tissue fluid to increased fat accumulation and collagen deposition, with tissue fibrosis and hardening. Such changes may lead to altered tissue water holding and thereby impact tissue dielectric constant (TDC). This study seeks to evaluate the relationship between TDC and tissue indentation force (TIF) in patients with LELE and assess the utility of the leg/arm TDC ratio (LAR) as an indicator of LELE. Methods and Results: Thirty females (49-91 years) with previously diagnosed LELE were evaluated during a scheduled session. TDC and TIF were measured 8 cm proximal to the medial malleolus on the medial and lateral aspects of both legs and on one forearm 8 cm distal to the antecubital fossa. The TDC-TIC relationship and the LAR were subsequently determined. Main results showed an absence of a significant correlation between TDC and TIF on medial or lateral leg sites but a positive correlation on the normal forearm site. Further, LAR values exceeded the published proposed threshold of 1.35 for 29/30 patients when using medial-side TDC values and 28/30 patients when using lateral-side TDC values. Conclusions: Findings suggest that for patients with LELE, TDC values are significantly elevated on medial and lateral standardized sites. The LAR determined using either medial or lateral sites that are similar to each other and have values consistent with a lymphedema threshold of 1.35. In edematous legs of the type evaluated herein, there is no apparent relationship between TDC values and indentation force.