PTHrP regulates epidermal differentiation in adult mice

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A new gait training strategy for patients with stroke proposes to support a percentage of the patient's body weight while retraining gait on a treadmill. This research project intended to compare the effects of gait training with body weight support (BWS) and with no body weight support (no-BWS) on clinical outcome measures for patients with stroke. METHODS: One hundred subjects with stroke were randomized to receive one of two treatments while walking on a treadmill: 50 subjects were trained to walk with up to 40% of their body weight supported by a BWS system with overhead harness (BWS group), and the other 50 subjects were trained to walk bearing full weight on their lower extremities (no-BWS group). Treatment outcomes were assessed on the basis of functional balance, motor recovery, overground walking speed, and overground walking endurance. RESULTS: After a 6-week training period, the BWS group scored significantly higher than the no-BWS group for functional balance (P = 0.001), motor recovery (P = 0.001), overground walking speed (P = 0.029), and overground w alking endurance (P = 0.018). The follow-up evaluation, 3 months after training, revealed that the BWS group continues to have significantly higher scores for overground walking speed (P = 0.006) and motor recovery (P = 0.039). CONCLUSIONS: Retraining gait in patients with stroke while a percentage of their body weight was supported resulted in better walking abilities than gait training while the patients were bearing their full weight. This novel gait training strategy provides a dynamic and integrative approach for the treatment of gait dysfunction after stroke.     

EMG biofeedback training of Type A and Type B behavior pattern subjects.

Assessed the relative efficacy of EMG biofeedback training to reduce tension levels in Ss characterized either by the presence of the coronary-prone behavior pattern (Type A) or by its absence (Type B). 55 college students, classified as Type A or B on the basis of Jenkins Activity Survey (Form T) scores, were randomly assigned to either a biofeedback or a control group. Ss met for 6 training sessions, then returned for a 7th session to perform without biofeedback a series of easy (4-digit recall) and difficult (7-digit recall) tasks. Biofeedback Ss attained a greater degree of relaxation during training than did control Ss, regardless of A/B status. Also, biofeedback Ss maintained greater relaxation during task performance than did control Ss. Across groups, Type A's performed significantly better than Type B's on difficult tasks, and although Type A biofeedback Ss had EMG levels as high as Type B controls for the actual duration of performance tasks, they maintained significantly lower EMG levels than either group prior to, between, and after performance tasks. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Prevention of learned helplessness in humans.

Prevention of learned helplessness (LH) through the use of thermal biofeedback training and varied explanations of performance was explored. One group of Ss received biofeedback training directly prior to exposure to an experimentally produced LH situation. A 2nd group also received biofeedback training but were given false/negative feedback about their performance. A 3rd group received only the LH procedure, and a 4th group served as a no-treatment control. Only in the biofeedback group receiving accurate feedback was there any prevention of the subsequent development of LH behavior. (8 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

EMG biofeedback training versus systematic desensitization for test anxiety reduction.

Investigated EMG biofeedback training as a method to reduce test anxiety among 40 university students. A procedure combining EMG biofeedback training with systematic desensitization (SD) was compared to an automated SD program not using EMG feedback. The study also evaluated the effectiveness of EMG feedback relaxation training without SD. Ss were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 groups: (a) EMG biofeedback training with SD, (b) EMG biofeedback relaxation training, (c) automated SD, and (d) no-treatment control. At the end of the program, all participants were administered the Suinn Test Anxiety Behavior Scale, Sarason's Test Anxiety Scale, and an anagrams test, given under threat conditions. Results suggest that EMG biofeedback training is a useful technique for reducing test anxiety, but not necessarily more effective than SD. (22 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Vertical gastroplasty as a treatment method in morbid obesity

Pelvic floor rehabilitation is used to treat stress urinary incontinence, urge, and fecal incontinence as well as other pelvic floor musculature disorders. When treating patients, it is important to thoroughly assess the pelvic floor. In addition to evaluating the urinary system, sexual and bowel functions must also be considered. Treatment plans should be devised on an individual basis according to the evaluation findings. Rehabilitation goals should be established. The patient must understand the function of her urinary system and the role she must play in its control. Muscle retraining is achieved through a personalized exercise program. This program may be augmented by manual techniques, biofeedback or electrical stimulation. While the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) does endorse the use of behavioral modalities in treating urinary incontinence, the use of bladder retraining and pelvic floor rehabilitation is not always recommended when indicated, nor accessible for all patients who require it. More research is needed, in addition to ongoing public and professional education on behavioral interventions in order to underline the advantages of this form of treatment for incontinence.     

The role of EMG awareness in EMG biofeedback learning

Underlying most research on biofeedback learning is a theoretical model of the processes involved. The current study tested a prediction from the Awareness Model: High initial EMG awareness should facilitate response control during EMG biofeedback training. Seventy-two undergraduates were assessed for forehead EMG awareness by asking them to produce target responses from 1.0 to 5.0 microV every 15 s for 16 trials. Based on this assessment, two groups (high and low awareness) were trained for 64 trials to produce these target levels with either EMG biofeedback, practice (no feedback), or noncontingent EMG feedback. A transfer task was identical to the initial assessment. During training, the biofeedback group deviated less from target than the practice and noncontingent groups. The biofeedback group was the only group to improve from initial EMG awareness activity. During transfer, only the low awareness biofeedback group remained below initial EMG awareness level. These findings can be interpreted in terms of the Two-Process Model.     

On sustaining procedural skills over a prolonged retention interval.

Examined the relative costs and benefits of 3 alternative approaches for sustaining procedural skills over a prolonged retention interval and whether individuals can estimate in advance of retention testing how much refresher training they require to regain proficiency. 38 Army reservists were assigned to groups according to their past experience on the experimental task—disassembly/assembly of a machine gun. One group was trained to criterion and then received 100% initial overtraining. This group's 8-wk retention and retraining performance was compared against that of a group that received the same amount of additional training midway through the retention interval. The control group trained to criterion but received no additional training prior to retention testing and retraining. Refresher training estimates were collected immediately prior to retention testing. Cost and effectiveness considerations weighed heavily in favor of the overtraining group. Ss appeared to know how much refresher training they required to regain proficiency. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Persistence in children's reading behavior as a function of N length and attribution retraining.

In an investigation using 30 children (Grades 5-7) who were experiencing reading difficulties, procedures involving partial reinforcement and attribution retraining were assessed in terms of their relative effectiveness in developing reading persistence. Two levels of a partial reinforcement variable, termed N length (the number of successive failures prior to success), were factorially combined with the presence or absence of attribution retraining. A 5th condition received success-only training. These manipulations occurred in the context of a reading task presented on 3 successive days. A posttest measure of persistence revealed that the number of difficult sentences attempted by the Ss was increased jointly by both independent variables. However, Ss receiving success-only training or partial reinforcement with nonsuccessive failure (N lengths of 1), without the benefit of attribution retraining, did not show improvement from pretest to posttest. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Application of biofeedback for the regulation of pain: A critical review.

A review of the biofeedback literature for the regulation of pain indicates both conceptual and methodological problems. In particular, studies on the use of biofeedback for the treatment of tension and migraine headaches and chronic pain indicate that biofeedback was not found to be superior to less expensive, less instrument-oriented treatments such as relaxation and coping skills training. The relative absence of needed control comparisons is noted, and the need for caution in promoting biofeedback is stressed. Suggestions for future research are offered. (2 p ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Therapeutic effectiveness of voluntary heart rate control in reducing anxiety.

Demonstrates the therapeutic effectiveness of heart rate control training in the treatment of a phobia. The S was a male college student who experienced a high degree of anxiety in association with receiving injections. S received 14 1-hr sessions of biofeedback training over the course of 2 mo and was encouraged to practice heart rate control between sessions. A time-series analysis of pretreatment and posttreatment assessment indicated significant fear reduction due to the biofeedback intervention. Results serve to further illustrate that learned control of heart rate deceleration is an effective self-control skill for coping with anxiety. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Biofeedback/relaxation training and exercise interventions for fibromyalgia: a prospective trial

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of biofeedback/relaxation, exercise, and a combined program for the treatment of fibromyalgia. METHODS: Subjects (n = 119) were randomly assigned to one of 4 groups: 1) biofeedback/relaxation training, 2) exercise training, 3) a combination treatment, or 4) an educational/attention control program. RESULTS: All 3 treatment groups produced improvements in self-efficacy for function relative to the control condition. In addition, all treatment groups were significantly different from the control group on tender point index scores, reflecting a modest deterioration by the attention control group rather than improvements by the treatment groups. The exercise and combination groups also resulted in modest improvements on a physical activity measure. The combination group best maintained benefits across the 2-year period. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that these 3 treatment interventions result in improved self-efficacy for physical function which was best maintained by the combination group.     

Randomised controlled trial of a general practice programme of home based exercise to prevent falls in elderly women

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a home exercise programme of strength and balance retraining exercises in reducing falls and injuries in elderly women. DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial of an individually tailored programme of physical therapy in the home (exercise group, n = 116) compared with the usual care and an equal number of social visits (control group, n = 117). SETTING: 17 general practices in Dunedin, New Zealand. SUBJECTS: Women aged 80 years and older living in the community and registered with a general practice in Dunedin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number of falls and injuries related to falls and time between falls during one year of follow up; changes in muscle strength and balance measures after six months. RESULTS: After one year there were 152 falls in the control group and 88 falls in the exercise group. The mean (SD) rate of falls was lower in the exercise than the control group (0.87 (1.29) v 1.34 (1.93) falls per year respectively; difference 0.47; 95% confidence interval 0.04 to 0.90). The relative hazard for the first four falls in the exercise group compared with the control group was 0.68 (0.52 to 0.90). The relative hazard for a first fall with injury in the exercise group compared with the control group was 0.61 (0.39 to 0.97). After six months, balance had improved in the exercise group (difference between groups in change in balance score 0.43 (0.21 to 0.65). CONCLUSIONS: An individual programme of strength and balance retraining exercises improved physical function and was effective in reducing falls and injuries in women 80 years and older.     

Long-term habituation (LTH) in the crab Chasmagnathus: a model for behavioral and mechanistic studies of memory

A decade of studies on long-term habituation (LTH) in the crab Chasmagnathus is reviewed. Upon sudden presentation of a passing object overhead, the crab reacts with an escape response that habituates promptly and for at least five days. LTH proved to be an instance of associative memory and showed context, stimulus frequency and circadian phase specificity. A strong training protocol (STP) (> or = 15 trials, intertrial interval (ITI) of 171 s) invariably yielded LTH, while a weak training protocol (WTP) (< or = 10 trials, ITI = 171 s) invariably failed. STP was used with a presumably amnestic agent and WTP with a presumably hypermnestic agent. Remarkably, systemic administration of low doses was effective, which is likely to be due to the lack of an endothelial blood-brain barrier. LTH was blocked by inhibitors of protein and RNA synthesis, enhanced by protein kinase A (PKA) activators and reduced by PKA inhibitors, facilitated by angiotensin II and IV and disrupted by saralasin. The presence of angiotensins and related compounds in the crab brain was demonstrated. Diverse results suggest that LTH includes two components: an initial memory produced by spaced training and mainly expressed at an initial phase of testing, and a retraining memory produced by massed training and expressed at a later phase of testing (retraining). The initial memory would be associative, context specific and sensitive to cycloheximide, while the retraining memory would be nonassociative, context independent and insensitive to cycloheximide.     

Instrumental conditioning of human heart rate during free and controlled respiration

The effect of respiratory constraint on heart rate control was assessed in a biofeedback situation with feedback consisting of changes in both illumination level and intensity of pre-recorded baby's cry. Subjects were reinforced for alternately increasing and decreasing heart rate on each of seven days during which respiration was unconstrained (Phase 1). This phase was followed by eight days when respiration was constrained during training sessions with a control respirator (Phase 2). Seven additional days of training followed in the unconstrained situation (Phase 3). Results indicate that the control of heart rate in biofeedback situations is very closely related to respiratory and other somatic activity. The implication of these findings for the field of visceral control is discussed.     

Application of electromyographic biofeedback to the relaxation training of schizophrenic, neurotic, and tension headache patients.

Examined the effects of EMG biofeedback on tension reduction by schizophrenic, neurotic, and tension headache patients. 14 patients (mean age 39 yrs) participated voluntarily in at least 10 weekly EMG biofeedback sessions at a public outpatient clinic. All had complained of chronic tension. Ss showed significant decreases in their muscle tension levels with successive biofeedback training sessions. No significant differences were found between the schizophrenic, neurotic, and tension headache groups. A further contribution is the finding that patients with diverse socioeconomic and educational levels benefited similarly from EMG biofeedback training. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Enhancing academic achievement in college students through attributional retraining and instruction.

Attributional retraining is a therapeutic method for reinstating psychological control that may be useful for improving students' achievement in the college classroom. After attributional retraining or no training, internal- and external-locus students observed a videotaped lecture presented by either a low- or a high-expressive instructor in a simulated college classroom. One week later they wrote a test on the lecture and on a homework assignment. Attributional retraining improved external, but not internal, students' performance on both the lecture and homework tests. Expressive instruction also enhanced lecture- and homework-related achievement in external students but not in internal students. These results suggest that cognitive factors influencing students' perceived control (e.g., internal/external locus) must be taken into consideration when remedial interventions for academic achievement are developed. The results are interpreted within a social cognition framework. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparative effectiveness of voluntary heart rate control and muscular relaxation as active coping skills for reducing speech anxiety.

Investigated whether heart rate biofeedback training is as effective as muscular relaxation training in reducing speech anxiety. A combined muscle relaxation/biofeedback treatment group was also included in this study. All treatment groups were compared to a false-biofeedback placebo control group. This investigation also assessed whether the degree of autonomic nervous system awareness significantly influences the treatment process. 10 speech-anxious undergraduate Ss, high and low scorers on the Autonomic Perception Questionnaire, were assigned to each group. Results indicate that all 4 groups demonstrated a decrease in self-reported anxiety. Assessment of physiological measures (heart rate and skin conductance) indicated that the 3 treatment groups were associated with less physiological responding during the posttreatment assessment of anxiety, relative to the false-biofeedback group. Moreover, among the 3 treatment groups, the combined relaxation/biofeedback group demonstrated the lowest level of responding. The degree of autonomic awareness was not related to therapeutic improvement. (12 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The role of balance dynamics in the active perception of orientation.

The T. A. Stoffregen and G. E. Riccio (1988) hypothesis that perceived orientation is determined primarily by balance dynamics was tested. Perception of orientation was evaluated in the context of a task that required Ss to control the roll orientation of a device in which they were seated. The device's direction of balance was manipulated across trials and thus was independent of gravity. 18 Ss participated in the investigation. After each trial, Ss estimated their mean tilt with respect to upright. Correlations of perceived tilt with tilt from balance were consistently higher than the correlations with gravity tilt. The dominance of balance over gravity depended on the magnitude of tilt from balance. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emotionally triggered asthma: a review of research literature and some hypotheses for self-regulation therapies

Asthma is a common disease whose morbidity and mortality are rapidly increasing. Panic disorder is common in asthma. Panic, other negative emotions, and a passive coping orientation may affect asthma by producing hyperventilation, increased general autonomic lability, a specific pattern of autonomic arousal that may cause bronchoconstriction, and/or detrimental effects on health care behaviors. Generalized panic is a risk factor for increased asthma morbidity. A repressive coping style also appears to be a risk factor for asthma morbidity because it is accompanied by an impaired ability to perceive symptoms, a necessary prerequisite for taking appropriate remediation. Several self-regulation strategies are hypothesized to be useful adjuncts to asthma treatment. Preliminary research has been done on relaxation therapy, EMG biofeedback, biofeedback for improved sensitivity in perceiving respiratory sensations, and biofeedback training for increasing respiratory sinus arrhythmia. It is hypothesized that finger temperature biofeedback also may be a promising treatment method, and that relaxation-oriented methods will have their greatest effect among asthmatics who experience panic symptoms, while improved perceptual sensitivity will be helpful both for patients who panic and those with repressive coping styles.