Prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), including di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and bisphenol A (BPA), has been associated with alt

This study examined the validity, test-retest reliability, and clinical feasibility of the 1-minute sit-to-stand test (1MSTS) as a practical alternative to the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) for assessing functional exercise capacity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Seventy-eight children aged 5-18 years with spastic hemiplegic CP (Gross Motor Function Classification System I-II) completed the 1MSTS and 6MWT in random order on the same day. Test-retest reliability of the 1MSTS was evaluated using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), standard error of measurement (SEM), and minimal detectable change (MDC). Construct validity was assessed using correlation and linear regression analyses. The 1MSTS demonstrated good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.78), with an SEM of 1.49 repetitions and an MDC₉₅ of 4.12 repetitions. A very strong association was observed between 1MSTS and 6MWT performances (ρ = 0.886, p < .001). Linear regression analysis further demonstrated that 6MWT distance explained approximately 80% of the variance in 1MSTS repetitions (R² = 0.799). These findings indicate that the 1MSTS captures functional exercise capacity assessed by the 6MWT. The 1MSTS is a valid, reliable, and clinically feasible alternative to the 6MWT for evaluating functional exercise capacity in children with spastic hemiplegic CP. ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT07136129).

Aims: To examine the association between thyroid dysfunction and bleeding severity, anemia burden, and management outcomes in perimenopausal women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 742 perimenopausal women aged 40-55 years with AUB were evaluated between January 2014 and December 2024. Thyroid status was categorized as euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroidism, overt hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism, or overt hyperthyroidism based on serum thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine levels. Severe AUB, anemia, and management outcomes (iron therapy, blood transfusion, and procedural interventions) were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for demographic and metabolic covariates. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to explore the standalone discriminatory performance of thyroid-stimulating hormone for severe AUB and moderate-to-severe anemia.Results: Thyroid dysfunction was identified in 29.4% of participants. Severe AUB and moderate-to-severe anemia were more frequent among women with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism. Thyroid dysfunction was independently associated with severe AUB (aOR 2.21; 95% CI 1.54-3.18), anemia (aOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.33-2.68), and escalation of care (aOR 1.97; 95% CI 1.28-3.02), as well as increased likelihood of iron therapy and blood transfusion. A thyroid-stimulating hormone threshold near 4.0 mIU/L showed moderate discrimination for severe AUB and anemia and should be interpreted as an exploratory risk-enrichment value rather than a definitive diagnostic or treatment cut-off.Conclusion: Thyroid dysfunction, particularly subclinical hypothyroidism, was independently associated with increased bleeding severity, anemia burden, and greater healthcare utilization in perimenopausal AUB. However, given the retrospective observational design, these findings do not establish causality.

Background and Objectives: Migraine is a common neurological condition that significantly impacts quality of life, especially in women during their reproductive years. Pregnancy poses unique challenges for migraine management due to hormonal changes and the limited use of pharmacological treatments. Non-pharmacological interventions, such as physiotherapy, exercise, and relaxation techniques, offer promising alternatives for managing migraines during this critical period. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of physiotherapy, structured exercise, and relaxation techniques in reducing migraine frequency, severity, and duration while improving psychosocial outcomes such as quality of life, stress levels, and sleep quality in pregnant women. Materials and Methods: Sixty pregnant women diagnosed with acute migraine were randomly assigned into three intervention groups: physiotherapy, structured exercise, and relaxation techniques. Each intervention lasted 8 weeks. The primary outcomes included migraine frequency, severity (measured by VAS), and duration. The secondary outcomes included quality of life (SF-36), stress (PSS), and sleep quality (PSQI). Statistical analyses were conducted using one-way ANOVA and paired t-tests. Results: All interventions significantly reduced migraine frequency, severity, and duration (p < 0.05). Physiotherapy demonstrated the greatest reduction in migraine frequency (45%) and severity (36%), while exercise yielded the most significant improvement in duration (42%). Relaxation techniques were particularly effective in reducing stress and anxiety levels. Quality of life and sleep quality improved across all groups, with unique benefits observed for each intervention. Conclusions: Physiotherapy, structured exercise, and relaxation techniques are effective, safe, and non-invasive interventions for managing acute migraines during pregnancy. These findings provide evidence-based alternatives to pharmacological treatments, highlighting the importance of holistic approaches to migraine management during pregnancy. Further research is needed to confirm long-term efficacy and explore combined interventions.

Background & Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a crippling disease characterized by joint pains and joint stiffness. Kinesiotaping (KT) has been advocated to reduce local pressure and increase circulation, resulting in decreased pain in various conditions. We aimed to evaluate the acute effect of KT on pain, function, range of motion (ROM) and grip strength parameters in patients with rheumatoid hand. Methodology: A total of 34 patients, 27 women and 7 men, diagnosed with RA were included in our study. All patients were divided into two groups; Kinesiotape group (Group KT) and control group (Group C), each consisting of 17 patients. Subjective pain intensity by Visual Analog Scale (VAS), ROM by goniometer, functional evaluation with the Grip Skill Test, hand grip strength by dynamometer, and finger grip strength by pinchmeter were evaluated. The patients in the Group KT were taped with the mechanical correction method and the patients in the Group C were taped with tensionless I tape. Applications were made on both dominant and non-dominant hands. Results: The mean age of the patients was 54 ± 20 y. VAS score changes at the time of grasping were significant in both groups (P < 0.05), but Group KT was more effective for reducing pain and increasing grip strength. An increase was observed in the wrist and thumb metacarpophalangeal joint ROM in the Group KT (P < 0.05). No change was observed in the groups in hand grip strength and finger grip strength (P > 0.05). In the Grip Skill test, there was a significant difference after the application in both groups (P < 0.05), but there was no difference in between the groups (P > 0.05). Conclusion: Kinesiotaping applied in rheumatoid hand patients was found to be effective in increasing functionality and joint range of motion, as well as reducing pain during gripping. Abbreviations: KT – Kinesiotaping; RA – Rheumatoid arthritis; MCP – Metacarpophalangeal joint; ROM - Range of Motion; VAS - Visual Analog Scale Key words: Hand function; Hand deformities; Kinesiotape; Kinesiotaping; Rheumatoid arthritis; Range of Motion, Articular; Visual Analog Scale Citation: Çopuroğlu OB, Narin S, Bayraktar D, Özgül S, Vedat Inal V. Acute effect of kinesiotaping applied to the first finger of the patients with rheumatoid hand. Anaesth. pain intensive care 2022;26(6):236−242. DOI: 10.35975/apic.v27i2.2042 Received: Sep 06, 2022; Reviewed: Oct 09, 2022; Accepted: Oct 21, 2022