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Articles by Ana Pena
Healthcare Professionals' Perceptions of the Impact of Active and Receptive Music Therapy and Its Continued Use in Hospital Settings
1 Introduction On the one hand, music therapy (MT) in hospital settings positively impacts the health and wellbeing of everyone involved, including patients, families, and healthcare staff (Facchini and Ruini 2021; Rodríguez-Rodríguez et al. 2022; Stegemann et al. 2019; Tucquet and Leung 2014). On the other hand, hospitalisation and illness have negative cognitive and psychosocial repercussions on the quality of life of patients.
2 Kirkham Ave, East Haven, CT 06512, US
Operating Expenses Recurring costs required to maintain and manage a rental property, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, utilities (if paid by the owner), property management fees, and other day-to-day expenses. Calculation: Insurance + Property Taxes + Property Management + Repairs & Maintenance + Capital Expenditures + HOA Fees
13001 Pennybrook Dr Dr, Riverview, FL 33579, US
Operating Expenses Recurring costs required to maintain and manage a rental property, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs, utilities (if paid by the owner), property management fees, and other day-to-day expenses. Calculation: Insurance + Property Taxes + Property Management + Repairs & Maintenance + Capital Expenditures + HOA Fees
Celastrol has beneficial effects as preventive BPD-PH treatment in rat study
Celastrol, a herbal compound used in traditional Chinese medicine, may help prevent pulmonary hypertension associated with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD-PH) by reducing inflammation and protecting lung tissue from damage, a study in rats and lab-grown cells suggests. While these preclinical findings are promising, the compound is still experimental and more research is needed to test it in BPD, a common complication of preterm birth that results when a baby’s lungs aren’t fully developed.
Using acting beats to separate my day's tasks into workable units
As someone with Cushing’s disease, one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made is trying to have the same type of day that healthy people have, following the same schedules as my friends. Quotes along those lines, such as “We all have the same 24 hours in our day,” left me feeling inadequate about my accomplishments. I tried to work, clean, write, have a social life, take my medicine, keep up with my doctor appointments, exercise, and rest all within those 24 hours.
GI symptoms affect more than 80% of Rett patients: Study
Digestive problems, such as constipation and bloating, affect more than 80% of girls and women with Rett syndrome, a study reveals. The most frequent problems included constipation, difficulties with eating and swallowing, and gas and bloating. More than half of the patients showed irritability due to stomach or gut discomfort. Use of medications was associated with significantly better digestive health.
How my new BedJet device helps me avoid sweating at night
If you have SMA or care for someone with the disease, you’ll know what I mean when I say we get sweaty. At first I thought it was just me, but then I read that folks like me have sweaty palms. This moment was one of those that, in hindsight, transformed my understanding of SMA. I wasn’t alone anymore! Something I thought was a personal problem suddenly no longer was. Of course, the problem itself didn’t go away. I still had sweaty palms.
SUDEP risk in Dravet may be sex specific, with heart issues in males
In a mouse model study of Dravet syndrome, males were seen to be more vulnerable to abnormal heartbeats and heart deficits in energy-producing mitochondria than female mice. These findings suggest that male Dravet patients may be particularly vulnerable to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), a fatal seizure complication that is thought to be associated with several factors, including abnormal heartbeats, or arrhythmias.
Bacterial enzyme may be potent treatment for myasthenia gravis
A bacterial enzyme called CU43 potently mitigates the impact of the self-reactive antibodies that drive myasthenia gravis (MG) and other autoimmune diseases, according to data from a preclinical study.
TNF inhibitors help BMD in ankylosing spondylitis, but fractures remain a risk
Bone density increased significantly with long-term TNF inhibitor (TNFi) treatment for people with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), most of whom had ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a study suggests. Despite the improvement, which could mean bones are becoming stronger, some patients continued to have new or worsening fractures in the spine, which researchers believe emphasizes the importance of monitoring for fractures in this patient population.
Gemcitabine, chemotherapy for solid tumors, may cause PAH: Study
Gemcitabine, a chemotherapy given to treat solid cancers, may drive the onset of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in patients or worsen existing PAH, a recent study reports. Stopping treatment with gemcitabine, with or without a subsequent PAH-approved treatment, led to clinical improvement or disease stabilization for a majority of nine patients in France.
ATH434 may target toxic iron clusters that drive Friedreich's ataxia
An experimental compound called ATH434, currently being evaluated in clinical trials for a neurological disorder called multiple system atrophy, also may have the potential to treat Friedreich’s ataxia (FA). Data specifically indicate that ATH434 could help to reduce the toxic buildup of iron in cells that is characteristic of FA. The research was conducted by scientists at Alterity Therapeutics, the company developing ATH434, in collaboration with those at Wayne State University in Detroit.
PS128 probiotic found to ease leg muscle contractions in Rett study
The probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum PS128 was found to ease involuntary leg muscle contractions, known as dystonia, in Rett syndrome patients, according to a pilot study that tested the supplement’s impact on neurological outcomes. Noting that Rett syndrome “often involves gastrointestinal symptoms and gut microbiota imbalances,” the researchers had sought to assess the use of PS128 probiotic supplements in a clinical trial involving 36 patients with the rare disease.
Trikafta medication use linked to weight gain in CF-related diabetes
The use of the approved medication Trikafta (elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor) was shown to significantly increase weight in people with cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD) and a low body mass index, or BMI, a measure of body fat, in a new study. The researchers say the study’s findings, which also showed that non-insulin therapies may be safe and effective for cystic fibrosis (CF) patients who also have diabetes, could change the standard of care in CFRD.
Cushing's tied to buildup of fat around heart, inside arteries: Study
Individuals with Cushing’s syndrome have a greater buildup of fat around the heart and inside the coronary arteries — the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart — compared with people who don’t have the condition but who are at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a new study from China.
Smartphone app for monitoring Fabry disease found to be helpful: Study
A smartphone app, called Fabry App, for remotely assessing Fabry disease was found by patients to be helpful for tracking day-to-day fluctuations in symptoms, while their doctors found it easier to monitor them and identify needs for intervention, a small study conducted in the U.K. shows.
Phase 1 healthy volunteer trial of CF mRNA therapy RCT2100 begins
ReCode Therapeutics has launched a Phase 1 clinical trial to evaluate the safety of RCT2100, its investigational genetic medicine for cystic fibrosis (CF), in healthy volunteers and the first group of participants has been dosed. RCT2100 is being developed for CF patients with class I mutations in the CFTR gene, which don’t respond to CFTR modulator therapies. The company plans to seek clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a Phase 1 trial involving CF patients.
In ankylosing spondylitis, miRNA levels predict response to TNF inhibitors
High blood levels of two microRNAs, a type of small molecule involved in controlling which genes are turned on and off in cells, may predict a poor response to TNF inhibitors in people with ankylosing spondylitis, according to a study in China.
Risk of poor bone health, fractures in children with SMA described in report
The case of a 4.5-year-old girl with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) type 2 who had acute pain and swelling in her legs after physiotherapy due to multiple fractures was recently described in India. The child had poor bone health, but the fractures were considered linked to inadequate physiotherapy treatments.
More nerve damage before onset of MS tied to herpesvirus 6A
Infection with a herpes virus known as HHV-6A is associated with significantly higher levels of the nerve damage biomarker neurofilament light chain (NfL) in the years leading up to multiple sclerosis (MS), a study suggests. “In blood samples from individuals who later developed MS, we could see that antibodies against HHV-6A were linked to higher levels of NfL, a marker of brain damage.
AI tools to assess muscle function show promise as SMA biomarker
A newer assessment method known as dEMB, for decomposition electromyography — which uses artificial intelligence (AI) tools to measure nerve and muscle function — strongly correlated with measures of physical function and was able to distinguish people with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) who were able to walk from those who could not, a study reported.
Examining the Use of Autonomous Systems for Home Health Support Using a Smart Mirror
4.2. The Addition of Smart Mirrors to Support Physical and Mental Health A major point that emerged was that each patient has a unique journey through their health diagnosis, and individual experiences during each stage of a medical condition need to be considered in the design of ASs. These ASs must be flexible and inclusive to adapt to users’ unique and changing abilities, which are associated with the presentation of their condition and its management.
Elderly MG patients at high risk of treatment side effects |...
Elderly people with myasthenia gravis (MG) are at higher risk of experiencing side effects related to disease treatments, which can be fatal for patients in some cases, a new study found. In fact, treatment-related adverse effects were seen among more than 40% of patients in the study — all of whom had MG onset after age 70. In 14% of cases, such side effects were severe, and included “fatal immunosuppressant-related infections,” according to researchers.
Combined therapy better than plasma exchange in severe MG | Better...
A new therapy that combines plasmapheresis, or plasma exchange, with the removal of certain immune cells from a person’s blood was seen to result in better outcomes among people with severe myasthenia gravis (MG) than were found when using just plasmapheresis, according to a new study. The benefits of the new therapy, called lymphoplasmapheresis, or LPE for short, were observed even with fewer treatment rounds, further supporting its therapeutic potential for severe MG, the researchers noted.
3-tiered newborn screening works well on large scale: Study in Brazil
Incorporating a three-tiered approach to newborn screening (NBS) makes it highly feasible for large-scale programs, according to a recent study conducted in Brazil. This comprehensive method — involving enzyme analysis, biomarker examination, and genetic testing — can ensure timely intervention and optimal care for newborns. Using this approach, researchers in Brazil identified two cases of Fabry disease among five other lysosomal storage disorders.
Target for CMT treatment seen in impaired nerve-muscle signals |...
The transmission of signals between the nerves and muscles is impaired in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) type 1 or 2, and the severity of this impairment appears to be related to the disease’s. That’s according to findings from ESTABLISH (NCT04980807), an observational study launched by NMD Pharma in 2021 to learn how CMT manifests at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the point of contact between nerves and muscles.
Team approach to lupus care being launched at Duke Health | Lupus...
A new project incubating at Duke Advanced Practice Provider Leadership Institute (APPLI) seeks to foster a team approach to lupus care at Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina. The project is being led by Keisha-Gaye O’Garo, a clinical psychologist, and Karen McCain, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, both from Duke University School of Medicine. Both recognized the need to address barriers faced by lupus patients and provide equitable healthcare.
Hospitalizations found to drive healthcare costs in CF in new study
People with cystic fibrosis (CF) who frequently use healthcare resources accounted for almost one-half of total healthcare costs, according to a new Canadian study. Becoming a frequent high-cost CF healthcare user was linked to severe lung impairment, lung transplant, and liver cirrhosis (a chronic liver disease) with high blood pressure.
MG patients get advice on how to navigate US healthcare |...
For people with rare health conditions like myasthenia gravis (MG), navigating the U.S. health insurance system can be difficult, but there are many resources that can support patients. Challenges with accessing healthcare and advice about overcoming them were the main topics of the “Navigating Insurance Coverage” panel discussion at the MG Foundation of America (MGFA) National Patient Conference, March 26-28, in New Orleans.
Advancing lupus treatments aim of new Lupus ABC consortium | Lupus...
The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) has convened a public-private consortium to bring together the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and key stakeholders to overcome scientific hurdles in lupus and advance new personalized treatments. The patient-focused Lupus Accelerating Breakthroughs Consortium (Lupus ABC) will also be made up of other federal agencies, as well as industry representatives, medical societies, scientists, and academic clinical researchers.
Expert Voices: Managing Sex and Intimacy Issues With Parkinson’s –...
In this installment of our “Expert Voices” series, Parkinson’s News Today asked sex therapist Amy Raad to answer some of your questions about dealing with sex and intimacy issues caused by Parkinson’s disease. Raad is a clinical social worker and American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT)-certified sex therapist at the University of Michigan center for sexual health.
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