by Myriam Rudaz  , Thomas Ledermann  , Michael P. Twohig  and Michael E. Levin

Received: 24 May 2019;  Published: 10 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1904059

Background: There is robust evidence that mindfulness trainings enhance mindfulness as operationalized in Western psychology, but evidence about their effect on aspects of heartfulness is sparse. The present study, therefore, sought to evaluate whether a brief mindfulness training enhances heart qualities, including self-compassion, gratitude, and the generation of feelings of happiness. Methods: Eighteen students enrolled in a mindfulness training that was offered as part of an interdisciplinary class. The trainin [...]

by Claire Sanderson  and Paul D. Loprinzi

Received: 15 July 2019;  Published: 09 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1904043

Objective: Reversal learning requires an individual to alter their behavior when previously learned reward-based contingencies are reversed. Reversal learning is heavily influenced by cognitive flexibility, which has been shown to be enhanced with acute exercise. However, minimal work has directly evaluated the effects of acute exercise on reversal learning, which was the purpose of this experiment. Methods: A between-subject randomized controlled intervention was employed. Participants (N=60) were randomized into [...]

by Sylvia Kirchengast

Received: 23 June 2019;  Published: 08 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904077

Background: All over the world we are confronted with an absolute and relative increase in the proportion of older people. In order to develop strategies to keep older people healthy and independent as long as possible, analyses of factors influencing health related quality of life (HRQL) during old age are necessary. The aim of this review is to present the results of three projects carried out in Austria by the author focusing on the impact of social contact and physical activity on HRQL. Methods: The standardize [...]

by Sarah Fogarty  and Phillipa Hay

Received: 06 August 2019;  Published: 08 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1904058

Background: Death is a universal human experience. The experience of grief is unique for each person experiencing it. There is emerging research on modalities that provide support for bereaved individuals including bereavement massage. There is limited information in the literature about the specific role that massage can play in supporting bereaved individuals. The aim of this scoping review is to explore the literature that reports on the use and outcomes of bereavement massage so that massage therapists, consume [...]

by Susanna Lam  , Jerome M Laurence  and Deborah J Verran

Received: 01 July 2019;  Published: 08 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1904087

A range of corrective surgical procedures may be required in adult renal transplant recipients who sustain loss of integrity of the abdominal wall in the first month postoperatively. Where this involves the fascia, such as in acute fascial dehiscence or in renal allograft compartment syndrome, more sophisticated reconstructive procedures may also be required, particularly in the setting of surgical site infection. There is limited data on the use of prosthetic or biologic mesh for this type of scenario, where urgen [...]

by Herbert Van Kruiningen

Received: 05 April 2019;  Published: 30 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903036

by Laura Alonso Canal  , María José Quiles Blanco  , David Jiménez Leiva  and María José González Iglesias

Received: 26 June 2019;  Published: 30 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.hg.1903037

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin. It has been proposed that it is a multifactorial disease with genetic, immunological, infectious, circulatory, and psychogenic factors being involved in its etiopathogenesis. Its association with other autoimmune diseases is frequent. The infection of Helicobacter pylori has been linked to multiple immuno-mediated extradigestive conditions including alopecia areata. There is scientific evidence of the usefulness of naltrexone in low doses (an opioid antago [...]

by Lindy A. Kilik

Received: 30 July 2019;  Published: 29 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903076

The current paper introduces the “Priming/Timing/Miming” Model of Behavioural Care Planning for persons with Dementia. This simple heuristic provides a quick, easy and systematic way to select from the vast number of behavioural strategies offered in the BPSD literature and to organize these in a way that can be incorporated into an individualized Behaviour Care Plan to deliver personal care to persons with dementia and also to develop a larger plan of care. An entire care plan is captured on one double-sided sheet [...]

by Alan J Pearce

Received: 05 July 2019;  Published: 27 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1903042

Background: Sport-related concussion is a growing public health concern. Defined as a injury that disturbs neurological functions, concussion is characterised by a constellation of signs and symptoms. However, clinical imaging methods do not reveal any structural damage. Recently, neurophysiological techniques such as single and paired-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) are being applied to quantify neurophysiological changes (specifically corticospinal and intracortical excitation and intracortical inhi [...]

by Niamh Flynn

Received: 01 July 2019;  Published: 26 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1903057

Hypnosis interventions consistently produce significant decreases in pain associated with a variety of chronic-pain problems (Elkins, Jensen & Patterson 2007) while neurophysiological studies have shown that specific hypnotic suggestions have clear effects on the brain and spinal cord functioning (Jensen & Patterson 2014; Flynn, 2019). Thus, it isuseful for clinicians who practise hypnotherapy to understand pain paradigms.