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Virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a valid addition to conventional therapy in rehabilitation and sports medicine. This has enabled the development of novel and affordable rehabilitation strategies. However, before VR devices can be used in these situations, they must accurately capture the range of motion of the body-segment where they are mounted. This study aims to state the accuracy of the Oculus Touch v2 controller when used to measure the elbow's motion in the sagittal plane. The controller is benchmarked against an inertial sensor (ENLAZA TM ), which has already been validated as a reliable measurement device. We have developed a virtual environment that matches both the Oculus Touch v2 and the inertial sensor orientations using a digital goniometer. We have also collected the orientation measurements given by each system for a set of 17 static angles that cover the full range of normal elbow flexion and hyperextension motion, in 10° intervals from − 10° (hyperextension) to 150° (flexion). We have applied the intra-rater reliability test to assess the level of agreement between the measurements of these devices, obtaining a value of 0.999, with a 95% confidence interval ranged from 0.996 to 1.000. By analyzing the angle measurement outcomes, we have found that the accuracy degrades at flexion values between 70° and 110°, peaking at 90°. The accuracy of Oculus Touch v2 when used to capture the elbow's flexion motion is good enough for the development of VR rehabilitation applications based on it. However, the flaws in the accuracy that have been revealed in this experimental study must be considered when designing such applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilean papaya is grown in Central Chile and is considered to be an important source of fiber, sugars, and antioxidants. The effect of different vacuum drying temperatures (40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 °C) on the composition of papaya pulp was evaluated. The inhibitory effect of papaya extracts on α-glucosidase activity, as a regulator of blood sugar, was also evaluated. Drying reduced water activity of the pulp to less than 0.6, thereby, assuring the product stability, while maintaining simple sugars, vitamin C, and total flavonoids. Total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity by DPPH assay increased with respect to the fresh pulp by 1.5 and 2.6 times, respectively. The inhibitory effect of papaya extracts on α-glucosidase was evaluated by determining the IC50 for each sample and the acarbose equivalents. The results indicate the suitability of the dried extract of Chilean papaya as a regulator of glucose metabolism in Type II diabetes patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyses of healthcare expenditures and adequacy are needed to identify cost-effective policies and practices that improve mental healthcare quality. Data are from 2010 to 2012 electronic health records from three hospital psychiatry departments in Madrid (n = 29,944 person-years) and three in Boston (n = 14,109 person-years). Two-part multivariate generalized linear regression and logistic regression models were estimated to identify site differences in mental healthcare expenditures and quality of care. Annual total average treatment expenditures were $4442.14 in Boston and $2277.48 in Madrid. Boston patients used inpatient services more frequently and had higher 30-day re-admission rates (23.7 vs. 8.7%) despite higher rates of minimally adequate care (49.5 vs. 34.8%). Patients in Madrid were more likely to receive psychotropic medication, had fewer inpatient stays and readmissions, and had lower expenditures, but had lower rates of minimally adequate care. Differences in insurance and healthcare system policies and mental health professional roles may explain these dissimilarities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We identify the prevalence and correlates of posttraumatic stress (PTSD) symptoms and their relationship to alcohol and substance use disorders (AUD/SUD) among Latino immigrants in two countries. A screening battery assessing PTSD symptoms (PCL-C), alcohol use (AUDIT), drug abuse (DAST), and psychological measures was administered to 562 Latino immigrants recruited in clinics. We used logistical regression analyses to evaluate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and AUD/SUD. Prevalence of elevated PTSD symptoms was high (53.7 % in Boston, 47.9 % in Madrid and, 43.8 % in Barcelona). Screening positive for psychological measures was significantly correlated to screening positive on the PCL-C (p < 0.001). Significant gender differences in risk of AUD/SUD were moderated by PTSD symptoms. Presence of any PTSD symptoms predicted problems with benzodiazepine misuse. Given the high rates of co-morbidity between PTSD symptoms and AUD/SUD, we recommend early interventions for dual pathology for Latino immigrants with trauma history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]