Effects of Different Inspiratory Muscle Training Protocols on Exercise Capacity, Respiratory Muscle Strength, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients with Hypertension.

Aim: This study aimed to explore how varying inspiratory muscle training workloads affect exercise capacity, health-related quality of life (HrQoL), depression, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, dyspnea, fatigue, and physical activity levels in hypertension (HT) patients. Methods: A randomized, controlled three-arm study. Forty-five patients (58.37 ± 8.53 y, 7F/38M) with HT received IMT (7 days/8 weeks) by POWERbreathe® Classic LR device and were randomized to control group (CG, 10% maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), n: 15), low-load group (LLG, 30% MIP), and high-load group (HLG, %50 MIP). Exercise capacity, HrQoL, depression, peripheral and respiratory muscle strength, pulmonary function, fatigue, physical activity level, dyspnea, and sleep quality were evaluated before and after the training. Results: Exercise capacity, physical functioning, peripheral muscle strength, and resting dyspnea were statistically significantly improved in HLG and LLG after the training compared to CG (p < 0.05). Similar improvements in perception of depression, fatigue, and sleep quality were seen within and between the groups (p > 0.05). Statistically significant differences were found within all the groups in terms of MIP and PEF values of respiratory functions (p < 0.05). The superior improvement in the physical activity level was found in the HLG (p < 0.05). Discussion. High-load IMT was particularly effective in increasing physical activity level, peripheral muscle strength, exercise capacity, and improved HrQoL. Low-load IMT was effective in reducing dyspnea and improving respiratory function. Device-guided breathing exercises decreased blood pressure, improved sleep quality, and strengthened respiratory muscles. IMT, an efficient method, is suggested for inclusion in rehabilitation programs due to its capacity to increase physical activity, exercise capacity, and peripheral muscle strength, enhance HrQoL and respiratory function, and alleviate dyspnea. Also, the efficacy of IMT should be investigated with different training protocols such as endurance IMT or functional IMT in HT patients.

Cardiovascular Screening before Sports Participation: Results of 11487 Children.

AIM: In this study, it is aimed to analyze the data of children who were referred to our clinic for pre-participation sports screening. METHODS: Data, between September 2017 and December 2021, had been analyzed. All these subjects had been questioned for their personal and family medical stories and examined for cardiovascular system findings. Electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography were applied to all of them. RESULTS: 11487 children were consulted to the cardiology clinic for pre-sports participation screening. The mean age was 12.7±4,57 (7-18 years). 34/11487(0,29%) subjects weren't allowed to participate in sports activities at first. In 23 of 34 subjects, cardiac arrhythmias were established. 15 had Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, 3 subjects had ventricular extrasystole, and also ventricular tachycardia in one of them. Four subjects had long QT syndrome and one had ST elevation with the pre-diagnosis of coronary artery disease. ECG screening alone aided in identifying asymptomatic (0.05%) that could have been potentially at risk for sudden cardiac death. CONCLUSION: Positive ECG and echocardiography findings involve a very little ratio.But ECG involves an important tool for screening lethal cardiac arrhythmias in asymptomatic patients.If ECG or echocardiography couldn't be taken, further evaluation should be necessary with symptoms and/or family history.

Differences in sleep quality and body mass index in asthmatic children and healthy control group.

INTRODUCTION: Childhood asthma has become a serious public health problem. Obesity has been determined to be one of the risk factors of asthma. AIM: We aimed to determine the difference in body mass index (BMI) and sleep quality in pediatric asthmatic individuals compared to their peers. METHOD: Thirty children aged 8-17 years were followed up in the Pediatric Outpatient Clinic for asthma along with 30 healthy children. The BMI percentile values of the children were recorded. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess sleep quality. RESULTS: Each group in our study had 10 girls and 20 boys. The mean age was found to be 11.76 ± 2.69 years in asthma group and 11.33 ± 2.29 years in the healthy group. The asthma group were found to be more obese than the healthy group (P = 0.033). There was a significant difference between groups interested in a sport (P = 0.028) and sleep quality (P = 0.007). CONCLUSION: It was observed that the asthma group had more obesity and poorer sleep quality than the healthy group. Further, it was determined that in the asthma group, the level of interest in any sport was less than that in the healthy group. We think that high obesity in the asthma group reduces the effect of corticosteroids, and the continuity of nighttime cough symptoms causes deterioration in sleep quality. We conclude that participation in sports activities should be encouraged to reduce the level of obesity in asthmatic children.

Patients With Neuropathic Pain Have Poor Sleep Quality.

ABSTRACT: Although sleep disorders have been studied many times in neuropathic pain (NP), the effect of pain level, depression, and quality of life (QOL) on sleep quality in NP has been rarely investigated. In the present study, we aimed to investigate associations between possible quality of sleep (QOS) impairment and pain level, depression, and QOL. Average daily pain intensity, QOL, QOS, and depression status of the patients were evaluated using a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS), the RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. In 83.1% of patients QOS was found to be poor. We found that there was a significant difference between good and poor QOS in BDI, VAS, and RAND 36-Item Health Survey 1.0 scale's parameters, and patients with NP have poor sleep quality. Depression status is the main predictor for QOS, so pain level and QOL affect the QOS in NP. Physicians who aim healthy QOS must evaluate all characteristics of pain, depression status, and QOL in patients with NP.

Effects of sensory deficits on balance, functional status and trunk control in patients diagnosed with guillain-barre syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of sensory deficits on balance, functional status and trunk control in patients diagnosed with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS). METHODS: Twenty patients who were diagnosed with GBS and who were in the neurology department of Mustafa Kemal University in 2017, participated in this descriptive study. There were 11 males and 9 females, and the average age was 41.55+/-18.49 years. The trunk control of the GBS patients was assessed using the trunk impairment scale (TIS), reaching function was assessed using the functional reaching test (FRT) in the sitting position and body balance assessed using the Berg balance scale (BBS). Light touch was assessed using Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, proprioception was assessed using the distal proprioception test and disability status was assessed using the Guillain-Barre syndrome disability scale (GBSDS). RESULTS: We found a moderate, positive and significant correlation between proprioception scores and the BBS and between proprioception scores and the TIS. The correlation between proprioception and FRT in the sitting position and between proprioception and the GBSDS was not significant. We found a moderate and negative correlation between light touch and the FRT in the sitting position, TIS, BBS, but a moderate and positive correlation between light touch and the GBSDS. CONCLUSION: Neurologists and physiotherapists should both take sensory and motor function into consideration in the assessment and rehabilitation program of patients diagnosed with GBS.