BACKGROUND Problematic Internet use(PIU)or Internet addiction has been recognized to be a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations,urges,or behaviors regarding computer use a...BACKGROUND Problematic Internet use(PIU)or Internet addiction has been recognized to be a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations,urges,or behaviors regarding computer use and Internet access that leads to impairment or distress resembling substance abuse.AIM To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of Internet use and abuse in a group of drug addicts from Southern Italy,by means of a specific questionnaire[“Questionario sull’Utilizzo delle Nuove Tecnologie”(QUNT)].METHODS All subjects(183)were heavy smokers,almost 50%of them used heroin and/or opioid compounds,30%alcohol,10%cannabis,8%cocaine,and 5%were polydrug users.Almost 10%of the individuals were also suffering from gambling disorder.RESULTS The time spent online was more than 4 hours a day in the total sample,with a slight prevalence in male subjects.Cocaine and cannabis users spent more than 6 hours online,significantly more than opioid and alcohol abusers.Distribution of the QUNT factors was not different in both sexes.Cocaine users showed higher scores at the“loss of control”,“pornography addiction”,and“addiction to social networks”factors,for the stimulant effect of this substance.Moreover,15 out of the total 17 cocaine users were pathological gamblers.Positive and statistically significant relationships were observed between some QUNT factors and body mass index.CONCLUSION These findings indicate that PIU is less severe in subjects taking sedative substances,such as heroin/opioids and alcohol,than in subjects taking stimulants.Alternatively,it may be used as a“stimulant”trigger in cocaine and cannabis users.Flattening effect of abuse drugs was noted on possible sex-related differences in QUNT items.We observed a sort of“protective”effect of a love relationship and/or living together with a partner,as those engaged subjects showed lower scores on different items than single subjects or those living alone.The relationship between time spent online(and related sedentary lifestyle)and body mass index would suggest that Internet use might be a contributing factor to increasing weight gain and obesity amongst adolescents and young adults worldwide.Our findings also highlighted the specific vulnerability of drug addicts who use stimulants,rather than sedative compounds,to other kinds of behavioral addictions,such as gambling disorder.展开更多
Objective:To determine the effect of rehabilitation education on pain,knee stiffness and performance difficulty in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.Methods:This randomized clinical trial study was performe...Objective:To determine the effect of rehabilitation education on pain,knee stiffness and performance difficulty in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.Methods:This randomized clinical trial study was performed on 96 patients undergoing knee replacement surgery,who were randomly divided into two groups:the control group and the intervention group,with 48 patients in each group.In the intervention group,the patients received educational intervention in four stages one day before surgery,24 h and 48 h later,upon discharge from the hospital.In the control group,only the routine of the hospital was performed.Questionnaires were completed before and 6 weeks after the intervention.Results:The mean scores of pain,knee stiffness and performance difficulty were significantly decreased in the intervention group(P=0.01).Compared to the control group,the intervention group had a better outcome of the illness,including pain,knee stiffness and performance difficulty(P=0.001).Conclusion:Rehabilitation education could be a suitable way to improve the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing total knee replacement.展开更多
We have always thought that patients with cardiac disease are depressed and anxious.The plan for cardiac rehab begins with exercise 3 times a week for 12 weeks.Patients are usually elderly.Typical patients are 60+year...We have always thought that patients with cardiac disease are depressed and anxious.The plan for cardiac rehab begins with exercise 3 times a week for 12 weeks.Patients are usually elderly.Typical patients are 60+years old,inactive but stable,smoke cigarettes,are stressed,hypertensive,and anxious.After several visits the staff for the program report that patients are confi dent with decreased anxiety and improved exercise ability.Challenges for a rehab program are parking,education and frailness.At present we have no data on outcome(mortality,morbidity)but most measurements are improved after rehab.Outcome data after discharge for rehab program must be obtained.展开更多
Every year, millions of people incur damage to sensory receptors that interact with the external environment. Two areas of concern are hearing loss (affecting around 430 million) and burns (affecting 11 million annual...Every year, millions of people incur damage to sensory receptors that interact with the external environment. Two areas of concern are hearing loss (affecting around 430 million) and burns (affecting 11 million annually). Current treatments for burns involve skin grafts, which are expensive and prone to rejection by the body. Current treatments for hearing loss involve implants and hearing aids, which have limited sensitivity, need batteries and charging, are expensive, and are prone to infection. Thus, there is a need for a self-powered, flexible, biocompatible, antibacterial, and inexpensive solution that can respond to stimuli at a rate comparable to tissue. Piezoelectric materials convert mechanical energy into electricity, thus replicating touch and hearing by simulating nerve signals. In this study, piezoelectric membranes with varying ratios of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were fabricated using electrospinning. These membranes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), stress-strain analysis, and piezoresponse testing. Results showed that increasing the amount of PVDF made the membrane more flexible but reduced its piezoelectric potential (decrease in PVDF β-phase). Increasing the amount of ZnO significantly increased piezoelectric potential (increase in PVDF β-phase) but degraded the flexibility and usability of the membrane. Therefore, a 1:1 w/w ratio of PVDF to ZnO is the optimum ratio for balancing both piezoelectric potential and flexibility. These results support the hypothesis that composites of PVDF and ZnO can help realize self-powered hearing rehab devices and wearable electronic skin.展开更多
基金Supported by A grant from “Regione Calabria”,Italy
文摘BACKGROUND Problematic Internet use(PIU)or Internet addiction has been recognized to be a behavioral addiction characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations,urges,or behaviors regarding computer use and Internet access that leads to impairment or distress resembling substance abuse.AIM To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of Internet use and abuse in a group of drug addicts from Southern Italy,by means of a specific questionnaire[“Questionario sull’Utilizzo delle Nuove Tecnologie”(QUNT)].METHODS All subjects(183)were heavy smokers,almost 50%of them used heroin and/or opioid compounds,30%alcohol,10%cannabis,8%cocaine,and 5%were polydrug users.Almost 10%of the individuals were also suffering from gambling disorder.RESULTS The time spent online was more than 4 hours a day in the total sample,with a slight prevalence in male subjects.Cocaine and cannabis users spent more than 6 hours online,significantly more than opioid and alcohol abusers.Distribution of the QUNT factors was not different in both sexes.Cocaine users showed higher scores at the“loss of control”,“pornography addiction”,and“addiction to social networks”factors,for the stimulant effect of this substance.Moreover,15 out of the total 17 cocaine users were pathological gamblers.Positive and statistically significant relationships were observed between some QUNT factors and body mass index.CONCLUSION These findings indicate that PIU is less severe in subjects taking sedative substances,such as heroin/opioids and alcohol,than in subjects taking stimulants.Alternatively,it may be used as a“stimulant”trigger in cocaine and cannabis users.Flattening effect of abuse drugs was noted on possible sex-related differences in QUNT items.We observed a sort of“protective”effect of a love relationship and/or living together with a partner,as those engaged subjects showed lower scores on different items than single subjects or those living alone.The relationship between time spent online(and related sedentary lifestyle)and body mass index would suggest that Internet use might be a contributing factor to increasing weight gain and obesity amongst adolescents and young adults worldwide.Our findings also highlighted the specific vulnerability of drug addicts who use stimulants,rather than sedative compounds,to other kinds of behavioral addictions,such as gambling disorder.
文摘Objective:To determine the effect of rehabilitation education on pain,knee stiffness and performance difficulty in patients undergoing knee replacement surgery.Methods:This randomized clinical trial study was performed on 96 patients undergoing knee replacement surgery,who were randomly divided into two groups:the control group and the intervention group,with 48 patients in each group.In the intervention group,the patients received educational intervention in four stages one day before surgery,24 h and 48 h later,upon discharge from the hospital.In the control group,only the routine of the hospital was performed.Questionnaires were completed before and 6 weeks after the intervention.Results:The mean scores of pain,knee stiffness and performance difficulty were significantly decreased in the intervention group(P=0.01).Compared to the control group,the intervention group had a better outcome of the illness,including pain,knee stiffness and performance difficulty(P=0.001).Conclusion:Rehabilitation education could be a suitable way to improve the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing total knee replacement.
文摘We have always thought that patients with cardiac disease are depressed and anxious.The plan for cardiac rehab begins with exercise 3 times a week for 12 weeks.Patients are usually elderly.Typical patients are 60+years old,inactive but stable,smoke cigarettes,are stressed,hypertensive,and anxious.After several visits the staff for the program report that patients are confi dent with decreased anxiety and improved exercise ability.Challenges for a rehab program are parking,education and frailness.At present we have no data on outcome(mortality,morbidity)but most measurements are improved after rehab.Outcome data after discharge for rehab program must be obtained.
文摘Every year, millions of people incur damage to sensory receptors that interact with the external environment. Two areas of concern are hearing loss (affecting around 430 million) and burns (affecting 11 million annually). Current treatments for burns involve skin grafts, which are expensive and prone to rejection by the body. Current treatments for hearing loss involve implants and hearing aids, which have limited sensitivity, need batteries and charging, are expensive, and are prone to infection. Thus, there is a need for a self-powered, flexible, biocompatible, antibacterial, and inexpensive solution that can respond to stimuli at a rate comparable to tissue. Piezoelectric materials convert mechanical energy into electricity, thus replicating touch and hearing by simulating nerve signals. In this study, piezoelectric membranes with varying ratios of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were fabricated using electrospinning. These membranes were characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), stress-strain analysis, and piezoresponse testing. Results showed that increasing the amount of PVDF made the membrane more flexible but reduced its piezoelectric potential (decrease in PVDF β-phase). Increasing the amount of ZnO significantly increased piezoelectric potential (increase in PVDF β-phase) but degraded the flexibility and usability of the membrane. Therefore, a 1:1 w/w ratio of PVDF to ZnO is the optimum ratio for balancing both piezoelectric potential and flexibility. These results support the hypothesis that composites of PVDF and ZnO can help realize self-powered hearing rehab devices and wearable electronic skin.
