by Jun Gu  , Zhenya Tang  , Hui Chen  , Steven Sfamenos  and Katherine B Geiersbach

Received: 02 March 2020;  Published: 13 May 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2002109

Quantitative image analysis of the status of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) by both immunohistochemistry staining and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) is important for the treatment of breast cancer. Guidelines of the American Society for Clinical Oncology and College of American Pathologists, for HER2 FISH, have evolved over time to improve test accuracy, and efforts have been made to better address the problems with the interpretation that are encountered with borderline-positive cases. S [...]

by Gerhard Litscher

Received: 03 May 2020;  Published: 07 May 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2002026

The present moment lacks any reliable vaccine or treatment for the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the resultant disease COVID-19 (Corona Virus Disease-2019). Laser medicine like photobiomodulation (PBM) or photodynamic therapy (PDT), and laser acupuncture may possess some potential to interact and relieve the symptoms of this disease. PubMed lists only two results for the search term ‘PBM or PDT and COVID-19’, indicating the paucity of validated scientific clinical studies on the subject. On the contrary, it does not mean th [...]

by Emma Wolverson  , Heather Birtles  , Esme Moniz-Cook  , Ian James  , Dawn Brooker  and Frances Duffy

Received: 08 September 2019;  Published: 11 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904080

Background: Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia and Challenging Behaviour in dementia are just two of a variety of terms for a complex paradigm that covers the most distressing and costly aspects of the condition. The terminology used to describe these aspects can influence what is measured as outcomes and what is considered as evidence of improvement. Unhelpful or outmoded narratives could be a barrier to developing innovative interventions or in determining what works for whom. This UK study explor [...]

by Andreea L. Seritan

Received: 31 July 2023;  Published: 24 October 2023;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2304254

Climate change is a major public health emergency. Natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, tsunamis, landslides, wildfires, and volcanic eruptions) have been increasing in frequency and severity and can cause lasting psychological sequelae. Older adults are highly vulnerable to the physical and mental health impacts of extreme weather and natural disasters. A narrative review was conducted to identify and summarize English-language articles focusing on the impact of climate change on older ad [...]

by Namita A. Goyal  and Tahseen Mozaffar

Received: 11 November 2020;  Published: 21 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2101154

Inclusion body myositis is one of the most common acquired myopathies seen in the aging population. The muscle weakness is of insidious onset, frequently starting in the legs, but over time gradually progresses to eventually involve all skeletal muscles of the limbs, face, swallowing and respiratory muscles, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Complications resulting from dysphagia are the leading cause of poor quality of life and mortality, while highly prevalent, are still underappreciated and underre [...]

by Koji Naruishi

Received: 06 September 2018;  Published: 26 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804016

In Japan, the amount of aged hospitalized patients has been steadily increasing. Elderly people are susceptible to poor health, and the rise of elderly patients increases medical care expenses, which can cause economic strain. Therefore, it is clinically and socially important to reduce the occurrence of geriatric diseases, such as aspiration pneumonia and cognitive impairment. The daily care by family members is considered to be effective for the prevention of geriatric diseases, however, early detection of the di [...]

by Dorothy S Greene

Received: 17 July 2021;  Published: 16 November 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2104047

Yoga is increasingly becoming a strategy for wellness in the United States. A 2016 survey found that nearly 37 million Americans practice yoga and an additional 12 million say they intend to try it in the coming year. Yoga is also being studied as an intervention for a number of physical and behavioral health disorders. This short report examines yoga’s utility as a treatment or adjunctive tool for addiction recovery. Because addiction is characterized as a biopsychosocial-spiritual disorder and yoga is a holistic [...]

by Elena Sala  , Donatella Conconi  , Francesca Crosti  , Nicoletta Villa  , Serena Redaelli  and Gaia Roversi

Received: 01 October 2018;  Published: 28 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1901063

Since its introduction around the end of the 1970s, interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) supports both classical and recent techniques for determining fetal karyotypes during prenatal diagnosis, quickly providing relevant information for the management of pregnancy. Interphase FISH plays an important role in the study of pregnancies with malformations, in mosaicism conditions, in confirming or excluding aneuploidy detected by non-invasive prenatal testing, and in the diagnosis of contiguous gene syn [...]

by Bas T Röttgering  and Karoly Szuhai

Received: 14 May 2019;  Published: 14 October 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1904096

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is a strong mitogenic peptide with an imprinted gene that is primarily involved in fetal development. It is highly expressed in the fetus where it is involved in fetal growth and tissue differentiation. However, postnatally, the expression of IGF2 decreases despite higher expression levels in the blood as compared with that of IGF1. In adults, the physiological function of IGF2 is poorly understood; however, the possibility of a metabolic function exists. Although the expression [...]

by Emma G. Norris  , Diane Dalecki  and Denise C. Hocking

Received: 22 March 2020;  Published: 21 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2003018

Ultrasound is emerging as a promising tool for both characterizing and fabricating engineered biomaterials. Ultrasound-based technologies offer a diverse toolbox with outstanding capacity for optimization and customization within a variety of therapeutic contexts, including improved extracellular matrix-based materials for regenerative medicine applications. Non-invasive ultrasound fabrication tools include the use of thermal and mechanical effects of acoustic waves to modify the structure and function of extracell [...]

by Preetam Datta  and Subhasis Roy

Received: 15 April 2023;  Published: 05 July 2023;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2303020

With increasing population levels and rapidly growing industries worldwide, the purification of water contaminated with different impurities is one of the biggest challenges we face in recent times. Photocatalysis holds great potential as an efficient mineralization process to remove the foreign matter present in wastewater. Rapid advancement in innovative materials development has made photocatalysis the frontrunner among different water treatment methods. Our main priority lies in different strategic approaches t [...]

by Dorit Shoval  , Nama Tal  and Orna Tzischinsky

Received: 21 July 2020;  Published: 08 March 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2101088

The present study was aimed to examine the relationship of sleep–smartphone hygiene, i.e., the habits of smartphone usage in the sleep environment, with the sleep quality among students and whether this relationship could be explained through psychological factors. A total of 467 Israeli college students were investigated using five questionnaires, namely, Sleep–Smartphone Hygiene Questionnaire (SSHQ), Fear of Missing Out Scale (FoMOs), Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and a [...]

by Jamie Zhen  and M. Ines Pinto-Sanchez

Received: 17 May 2020;  Published: 10 July 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2003065

Celiac disease (CeD) is an immune-mediated enteropathy triggered by gluten ingestion and affects nearly 1% of the population worldwide. CeD has typically been associated with gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain; however, its extra-intestinal manifestations are becoming widely recognized. In particular, CeD patients may present with various neurological manifestations and oftentimes, without evidence of gastrointestinal symptoms. The pathophysiology behind these manifestations is not well k [...]

by Naiwei Chi  , Shuyao Zheng  , Elwin Clutter  and Rong Wang

Received: 30 October 2019;  Published: 18 December 2019;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.1904007

Background:Diabetic patients suffer from chronic wounds partly due to altered function of fibroblasts. Fibroblasts of diabetic patients synthesize collagen I (COLI) at a much higher level than collagen III (COLIII), resulting in delayed tissue granulation and, consequently, a delay in the overall wound healing process. Methods:We aimed to revive the matrix protein productivity of diabetic fibroblasts by employing aligned, electrically conductive and biocompatible spider silk-CNT fibers as a cell culture matrix to m [...]

by Fariba Moradipour  , Andreas Markert  , Thomas Rudszuck  , Niklas Röttgen  , Gerald Dück  , Martin Finsterbusch  , Felix Gerbig  , Hermann Nirschl  and Gisela Guthausen

Received: 04 August 2023;  Published: 02 November 2023;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2304032

Charge transfer and mobility are essential for electrochemical processes in batteries, which need to be understood in detail for optimization, especially in the case of all-solid-state batteries. Wide line NMR is well-known in solid-state NMR and allows the quantification of ion mobility in ordered crystalline and amorphous structures. Temperature-dependent 23Na-NMR is sensitive to ion mobility via longitudinal relaxation, but also via line analysis and transverse relaxation. As 23Na is a spin 3/2 nucleus, 23Na-NMR [...]

by Randolph James  , Amy Lawson Moore  , Dick M Carpenter II  , Terissa Michele Miller  and Christina Ledbetter

Received: 29 April 2019;  Published: 06 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1903054

Background: The current study examined a multifaceted anti-neuroinflammatory intervention that included physical exercise, mental exercise, grain-free/sugar-free diet, anti-inflammatory nutritional supplements, sleep optimization, and stress management within the context of a functional medicine practice for five patients with varying levels of cognitive impairment. Methods: In a prospective chart review, we examined impact measures including assessment of (1) cognitive skills, (2) brain connectivity, and (3) daily [...]

by Lauren E. Guerriero  and Bruce F. O'Hara

Received: 12 February 2019;  Published: 24 May 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1902031

Meditation describes a large variety of traditions that are extremely variable, but all include the conscious focus or awareness of attention. By maintaining their attention, meditators experience both acute and long-term changes in physiology, anatomy, and cognitive performance. The literature shows that the type of performance benefits may depend on the specific type of mental training. During meditation practice there is a documented increase in neuronal coordination and slowing of neuronal firing across many re [...]

by Masahiro Sato  , Issei Saitoh  , Yuki kiyokawa  , Eri Akasaka  , Shingo Nakamura  , Satoshi Watanabe  and Emi Inada

Received: 21 January 2022;  Published: 11 April 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2202151

Adipose tissue is distributed throughout the body as fat depots. The amount of adipose tissue increases with age. In mice, epididymal fat depots in males and gonadal fat depots in females are associated with the reproductive system. Regarding fat depots in females, the adipose tissue under the skin can be easily exposed via surgery when the ovary, oviduct, and uterus are pulled out and exposed. As handling adipose tissue is relatively easy, adipocytes might be good targets for genetic manipulation (including gene d [...]

by Giuseppe De Benedittis

Received: 25 August 2020;  Published: 31 August 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2003039

by Julia Tourtelot  , Ann Bourgès  and Emmanuel Keita

Received: 09 March 2021;  Published: 26 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2103031

Currently, the largest among the earth excavation sites in Europe are located in the Paris region. The soils excavated from these sites are often considered waste and are not valorized. With an increasing focus on sustainable development, the demand for low-carbon building materials is rising. Although construction using raw earth is a vernacular technique, the diversity in the behavior of the raw earth building materials warrants better control of their mechanical properties. The construction techniques differ dep [...]

by Cenk Temizel  , Hakki Aydin  , F. Bahar Hosgor  , Cengiz Yegin  and C. Shah Kabir

Received: 25 September 2022;  Published: 28 January 2023;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2301004

In recent years, the oil and gas sector has been moving towards green production methods to achieve net-zero emission goals. Governments and corporations have started large-scale initiatives to deploy advanced technologies to reduce carbon footprints and prevent global warming. Herein, we have explored the emerging techniques and methods used in reducing the effects of gas emissions in the oil and gas industry. The transition process from hydrocarbons to renewable energy resources, including solar thermal applicati [...]

by Nikolai A. Zarkevich

Received: 30 September 2019;  Published: 06 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2001001

Most power plants produce electricity by converting a mechanical motion into alternating current (AC). Photovoltaic solar panels convert an electromagnetic flux of light into direct current (DC). In general, electric energy can be harvested from a flux in the environment or from a change of the environment itself. One can produce electricity from mechanical, chemical, thermal, electromagnetic (light), or another physical flux, or from a change of temperature, chemical composition, or a physical field: gravitationa [...]

by Amit Ahlawat  , Tarun Kumar Dhiman  , Pratima R. Solanki  and Pawan S. Rana

Received: 24 July 2022;  Published: 03 November 2022;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2204039

Organic compounds are one of the most severe pollutants occurring in the environment. Hence, it is important to remove these compounds from the environment through remediation processes such as photocatalysis. The present study investigated the photocatalytic degradation of p-nitrophenol (NP) and phenol red (PR) using a cerium oxide-titanium oxide nanocomposite (CeO2-TiO2nc) under UV light. CeO2-TiO2nc was synthesized using the co-precipitation method. An X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the phase purity [...]

by Leonard A. Jason

Received: 15 October 2024;  Published: 05 February 2025;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2501267

Following mental or physical exertion, patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) experience Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). Although self-report questions represent less expensive and invasive procedures to assess PEM, variability in the wording of the symptom can cause reliability and validity problems. If different PEM measures are used in studies, this could create difficulties in replicating findings, identifying biomarkers, and determining effective treatments for patients. The o [...]

by Zhong Hu  and Haiping Hong

Received: 21 March 2023;  Published: 16 August 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2303031

The chemically functionalized carbon nanotubes (f-CNTs) and hydrogen bonding modified polymer composites (CPCs) exhibit unique chemical, mechanical, electrical, and thermal properties and are emerging as promising materials to achieve extraordinarily high electrical and thermal conductivity, lightweight and anticorrosion, superior strength and stiffness for potential applications in the aerospace and automotive industries, energy conversion, and optical and electronic devices, therefore, attracting considerable res [...]

by David Smithard  , Signe Westmark  and Dorte Melgaard

Received: 15 September 2019;  Published: 15 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1904086

Background: With the increasing age of the world population, the number of old and frail people is increasing. Respiratory disease is a common reason for hospital admission for older people. Aspiration of saliva, which is probably infected, is the likely etiological agent. The incidence of an abnormal swallow is high in frail older people. Despite the high incidence of swallow problems among older people, many hospital services do not routinely screen older people for dysphagia. Methods: A survey, using Research El [...]

by Hironori Takagi  , Koichi Kakimoto  , Daishuke Mori  , Sou Taminato  , Yashuo Takeda  , osamu yamamoto  and Nobuyuki Imanishi

Received: 12 January 2021;  Published: 24 February 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2101010

The demand for high energy density rechargeable batteries beyond lithium-ion batteries has increased for electric vehicles. In the present study, a novel high energy density rechargeable aqueous lithium battery was proposed. The battery was composed of a lithium metal anode, a lithium-stable non-aqueous electrolyte, a water-stable lithium-ion conducting solid electrolyte of Li1.4Al0.4Ge0.2Ti1.4(PO4)3-epoxy-TiO2 separator, and a hydroquinone sulfonic acid (HQS)/benzoquinone sulfonic acid (BQS) redox couple in an aqu [...]

by Kenneth Lundstrom

Received: 01 October 2019;  Published: 28 November 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1904099

Epidemiological data and meta-analysis have confirmed that there exists a strong association between nutrition and disease risk. In the context of cancer, it has been demonstrated that unhealthy diets increase the risk of disease. On the other hand, major dietary interventions and lifestyle changes have been demonstrated to provide therapeutic efficacy in cancer patients. Genetic mechanisms have been reported to be associated with cancer development induced by environmental and nutritional factors. Genetics plays a [...]

by Michael Fossel

Received: 31 December 2018;  Published: 15 February 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901034

The consensus that cell senescence plays a role in age-related disease has prompted a number of potential clinical interventions, including attempts to reset cell senescence and attempts to remove senescent cells from aging tissues. The latter approach, senolytic therapy, has attracted considerable attention, but both theoretical considerations and published data suggest that the clinical benefits will be transient and that senolytic therapies will likely accelerate long-term degenerative disease. We review the ove [...]

by Danielle Gentile  , Danielle Boselli  , Matthew Flores  , Susan Yaguda  , Rebecca Greiner  , Paulomi Campbell  and Chasse Bailey-Dorton

Received: 31 October 2019;  Published: 21 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001008

Literature suggests Oncology Massage (OM) reduces anxiety. However, research is limited in large, diverse, nonexperimentally manipulated outpatient samples of cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to 1) describe OM visit patterns, 2) describe anxiety response to OM, and 3) determine if OM resulted in significantly reduced anxiety at first visit, across all visits, and longitudinally over time controlling for demographic factors. From January 2015-June 2019, a cohesive, consecutive, retrospective sample eva [...]

by Cynthia M.A. Geppert  and Ronald W. Pies

Received: 17 March 2020;  Published: 23 March 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001016

Cultural and religious competence is an essential component of palliative and end-of-life care. Because religious, ethnic and racial groups often differ in their values and preferences, including their attitudes toward palliative and end-of-life care, clinicians must maintain an open and respectful attitude toward these differences. Cultural and religious competence can improve palliative and end-of-life care, and strengthen the therapeutic alliance with patients and their families.

by K. Jason Crandall  , Matthew Shake  and Uta Ziegler

Received: 11 April 2019;  Published: 04 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1903041

Background: Older adults experience normative age-graded declines in physical and cognitive performance and many must manage one or more chronic conditions. Exercise programs can help to improve both their physical health and their knowledge, skill, and confidence in managing aspects of their own healthcare, yet a significant barrier is motivating them to adhere to such programs. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the impact of a game-centered mobile app (Bingocize®) on older adults' knowledge [...]

by Piyush Shrivastava  , Jharna Gupta  , Rushil Bhatt  and Aditi S. Vetal

Received: 18 September 2024;  Published: 08 January 2025;  doi: 10.21926/cr.2501002

This study aimed to synthesize nickel oxide (NiO) and cobalt oxide (Co3O4) based catalysts for synthesizing biodiesel from Citrullus colocynthis oil. Cobalt-nickel mixed oxide catalysts made by co-precipitation technique with different Cobalt to Nickel ratios and named Co:Ni (50:50), Co:Ni (67:33), and Co:Ni (33:67). The Characterization of these synthesized catalysts was performed by XRD and SEM analysis. The transesterification process checked the catalytic activity of these catalysts, and it was found that Co:Ni [...]

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 Chenchang Li  , Jianqiang Hu  , Jie Yu  , Jieci Xue  , Runze Yang  , Yijie Fu  and Bo Sun

Received: 23 April 2021;  Published: 15 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2103033

Due to the uncertainty and volatility of wind speed, its natural output power also exhibits strong volatility. In order to avoid the negative effects of the excessive fluctuation of the output power of wind turbines in the wind farm and the power grid, it is very important to accurately predict and reasonably plan and control the output power of the wind farm. Model predictive control (MPC) is a type of advanced control method that can deal with a multi-input multi-output nonlinear system. Compared to the tradition [...]

by Stephen Ames

Received: 08 April 2019;  Published: 13 August 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903068

Thirty years ago, Tom Kitwood proposed a change in the care of people with dementia, from ‘warehousing’ to ‘person-centred care’. The change had noticeable benefits for those with dementia. Kitwood set out his presuppositions for this change. For example, Kitwood understood personhood as the standing or status bestowed on one human being by others in the context of relationships and social being and held that respect for the absolute value of each person is a key theme in Western ethical discourse. He was clear thi [...]

by Kazuki Mochizuki  , Chihiro Imai  , Noriko Sato  and Takeo Kubota

Received: 20 June 2017;  Published: 19 October 2017;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1704008

A number of epidemiological studies have suggested that environmental stresses, such as malnutrition during the fetal period, can induce development of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension, and and even psychiatric disorders in later life. This theory model is known as the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) theory, in which postulates that “epigenetic memories”, involving DNA methylation, histone modifications and microRNA expression, are induced by environmental [...]

by Ju dong Lee  , Jinho Kim  and Seungjoo Lee

Received: 29 September 2022;  Published: 16 January 2023;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2301007

Most spent coffee grounds (SCGs), a byproduct of brewing coffee, are buried in landfill sites, and their decomposition produces significant greenhouse gases. As the recent warming of the Earth’s climate has made it imperative that industries reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the present study investigates the viability of recycling SCGs for use as a partial replacement of aggregates in concrete materials. Cement mortar samples with a fixed cement-to-water ratio and varying amounts of SCGs were fabricated and tested. [...]

by Maxwell Blazon  , Brianna LaCarubba  , Alexandra Bunda  , Natalie Czepiel  , Shayna Mallat  , Laura Londrigan  and Arturo Andrade

Received: 13 September 2020;  Published: 12 January 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2101083

N-type (Cav2.2) calcium channels are key for action potential-evoked transmitter release in the peripheral and central nervous system. Previous studies have highlighted the functional relevance of N-type calcium channels at both the peripheral and central level. In the periphery, N-type calcium channels regulate nociceptive and sympathetic responses. At the central level, N-type calcium channels have been linked to aggression, hyperlocomotion, and anxiety. Among the areas of the brain that are involved in anxiety a [...]

by Chenggong Han  , Hancong Tang  , Shuyuan Lou  , Yuan Gao  , Min Ho Cho  and Shili Lin

Received: 23 May 2018;  Published: 14 October 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804041

Whole genome profiling of differential DNA methylation between diseased and normal samples has significant implications in research to understand the role of epigenetic regulations of cells. In recent years, the development of bisulfite sequencing (BS-seq)-based molecular technology has enabled the measurement of DNA methylation at a nucleotide resolution throughout the genome. Given the availability of this new type of DNA methylation data, certain features challenge traditional analytical methods such as the Fish [...]

by Abdol Aziz Shahraki

Received: 18 September 2021;  Published: 17 December 2021;  doi: 10.21926/aeer.2104035

This research suggests optimal planning and designing techniques for tourism complexes in urban master planning. Firstly, it explains the importance of the tourism industry through the theories of scholars and experts. It also emphasizes the connection between the development of urban economies and the tourism industry. This helps integrate the tourism industry and comprehensive regional/urban planning. It starts with planning and designing the tourism complexes in the early stages of the municipality’s master plan [...]

by Damien Bouvier  and Yves Giguère

Received: 01 July 2019;  Published: 06 September 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1903093

Newborn screening (NBS) for inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) was introduced more than 50 years ago with the testing of phenylketonuria (PKU) using blood spots deposited on a filter paper after heel prick. NBS aims to identify early after birth inherited disorders for which clinical management and pre-symptomatic treatment will significantly decrease morbidity and mortality. While NBS for a few other disorders was implemented in some specific jurisdictions over the following decades, it is with the introduction of [...]

by Alberto Dionigi

Received: 16 February 2018;  Published: 31 May 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1802009

Clowning has a varied tradition and a long history. Recently, clowns have been adopted in the medical setting with the aim of decreasing the negative emotions that can be experienced during hospitalization and medical procedures, as well as inducing positive feelings in patients, their relatives, and the hospital staff. Due to an increase in the number of clowns working in hospitals and the large amount of interest shown in utilizing this approach, an increasing number of studies have focused on testing the efficac [...]

by Cristina Bagacean  , Anne Bordron  , Tempescul Adrian  , Jean Christophe Ianotto  , Gaelle Guillerm  , Wesley H Brooks  , Marie-Anne Couturier  , Mihnea Zdrenghea  , Christian Berthou  and Yves Renaudineau

Received: 05 June 2018;  Published: 14 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804054

Epigenetic dysregulation is present in both myeloid and lymphoid disorders, with important differences reported between myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML), on one hand, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), on the other. Qualitative differences are reported in MDS/AML with gene fusions (e.g. TET1/LCX) and somatic mutations in epigenetic regulators (e.g. DNMT3A, TET2, IDH1/2), while differences in CLL are predominantly quantitative (e.g. DNMT3A, TET2). Indeed, and as supported by studies [...]

by Allison Ast  , Margaret Meyer  , R. Elyse Heidelberg  , Jennifer M. Allen  , Amy Ly  and Holly Spraker-Perlman

Received: 02 December 2020;  Published: 08 February 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2101005

Children with cancer can experience intense suffering. Currently, despite our best efforts, symptoms associated with both cancer and its treatment result in physical, psychological, and emotional discomfort that can be difficult to manage with traditional Western medicine alone. Developing integrative services within a pediatric hematology-oncology program may help improve cancer-related symptoms by combining different modalities targeting overall health with traditional oncology care. This study details the initia [...]

by Karen Harrison Dening  and Zena Aldridge

Received: 26 February 2019;  Published: 10 May 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1902053

There has been a strong thrust to identify the needs of people with dementia against a background of person-centred care, however, people with dementia do not exist in isolation; they live within relational contexts with family members. Case management is a model of care that has its origins in supporting patients with a long term disease, however, a very practical approach to case management that can support the care needs of both the person with dementia and the family carers is emerging in the UK. Admiral Nursin [...]

by Tracy Harwood  , John Maltby  and Elizabeta B. Mukaetova-Ladinska

Received: 28 March 2019;  Published: 15 July 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1903062

Background: Art enhances both physical and mental health wellbeing. The health benefits include reduction in blood pressure, heart rate, pain perception and briefer inpatient stays, as well as improvement of communication skills and self-esteem. In addition to these, people living with dementia benefit from reduction of their non-cognitive, behavioural changes, enhancement of their cognitive capacities and being socially active. Methods: The current study represents a narrative general literature review on availabl [...]

by XinRan Quan  and Marica Bakovic

Received: 21 December 2020;  Published: 21 July 2021;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2103176

Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are a diverse group of neuropathological diseases that are currently incurable due to the irreversible neuronal loss. At the present rate of the world population growth, it is projected that the number of ND cases will double by the year of 2050. With treatments only available for symptom management and relief, disease prevention may yield significant benefits. Recently, there had been association drawn between the disruption of phospholipid (PL) homeostasis and the progression of N [...]

by Gabriel Moss  , Gi-Ming Wang  , Bethanny Bristol  , Hasina Momotaz  , Ming Li  and Richard T. Lee

Received: 05 May 2022;  Published: 04 August 2022;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2203033

Reiki is a form of energy healing that has gained popularity in the United States, but there remains skepticism about its scientific validity. This study examines the ability of Reiki practitioners (RP) to detect human energy fields (HEF). Volunteer RP were asked to identify the location of a human hand under blinded conditions for a total of 20 trials. Four potential options existed for subjects (right, left, both, or neither); thus, random chance would predict a success rate of 25%. A success rate of >40% was [...]

by Anya Ahmed  , Paula Ormandy  and Maaike L. Seekles

Received: 15 November 2018;  Published: 24 January 2019;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1901030

Background: Promoting a good quality of life for the oldest members of society has become a top priority as evidenced in UK policy. The ‘household’ model is a departure from traditional approaches to care provision since it offers person-centred support - combing health and social care - to older people in specially-designed, small, homelike environments. Having gained increasing popularity in care homes across developed countries, the impact of this model of service delivery on residents’ quality of life and its c [...]