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Abstract Background We currently lack clear definitions for structural and symptomatic spinal osteoarthritis (OA). To define spinal OA and create diagnostic criteria for this condition, it is necessary to determine the relationship between clinical signs and symptoms of back pain and radiographic features of OA. Notably, recent studies suggest a defining sign of spinal OA could be a limited or painful spinal range of motion (ROM). Therefore, our objective was to assess the association between restricted or painful active spinal ROM, and multilevel structural features of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) (i.e., disc space narrowing, osteophytes) on radiographs. Methods We used the baseline data from the’Back Complaints in Older Adults’ (BACE) study. The association between a limited or painful active spinal ROM, and multilevel disc space narrowing or osteophytes was assessed using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, mean pain intensity in the previous week, sex, BMI, and the Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire score. Primary analyses were performed on imputed datasets. Results We included 675 patients with a mean age of 66.52 years (SD 7.69). Limited latero-flexion (fingertip that at best reached halfway up the upper leg) was associated with increased odds of having multilevel osteophytes (OR 1.85; 95% CI: 1.13 to 3.01). However, a limited or painful ROM in other directions (i.e., rotation, ante-flexion) was not associated with multilevel osteophytes, and a limited or painful active ROM in any direction was found to have no association with multilevel disc space narrowing. Conclusions Our study indicates that a restricted ROM in latero-flexion could potentially be a defining sign in future definitions of symptomatic spinal OA. However, since our results partially differ from previous studies, further research is needed to explore the association between active ROM and LDD.

Objective: To determine the association between patient-reported spinal morning stiffness and lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) and systemic inflammation, as measured by C-reactive protein (CRP), in older patients with non-specific back pain. The ultimate objective is to help shape a future definition of spinal osteoarthritis (OA). Design: Baseline data from the Dutch “Back Complaints in the Older Adults” (BACE) study was used. The relationship between the severity and duration of patient-reported spinal morning stiffness, LDD (i.e., multilevel disc space narrowing and multilevel osteophytes), and CRP was assessed. Regression models adjusted for confounding variables were performed. Results: Six hundred and seventy-five patients were included. The mean age was 66.52 years (SD 7.69), with a mean CRP of 3.20 ​mg/L (SD 7.61). The severity of spinal morning stiffness was associated with multilevel disc space narrowing: OR 2.89 (95 ​% CI: 1.24 to 6.74) for ‘mild’, OR 2.97 (95 ​% CI: 1.18 to 7.44) for ‘moderate’, OR 3.23 (95 ​% CI: 1.17 to 8.90) for ‘severe’, and OR 5.62 (95 ​% CI: 1.70 to 18.60) for ‘extreme’ morning stiffness severity. However, spinal morning stiffness severity was not associated with multilevel osteophytes, and both multilevel features of LDD showed no associations with the duration of spinal morning stiffness. No associations were found between spinal morning stiffness severity or duration, and CRP levels. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the severity of patient-reported spinal morning stiffness might be considered in future definitions of symptomatic spinal OA and that spinal morning stiffness is probably a symptom of a degenerative process in the spine rather than a symptom of systemic inflammation in patients with back pain.

Abstract Background Unplanned or unintended pregnancies form a major public health concern because they are associated with unfavorable birth outcomes as well as social adversity, stress and depression among parents-to-be. Several risk factors for unplanned pregnancies in women have previously been identified, but studies usually take a unidimensional approach by focusing on only one or few factors, disregarding the possibility that predictors might cluster. Furthermore, data on predictors in men are largely overlooked. The purpose of this study is to determine predictors of unplanned versus planned pregnancy, to determine predictors of ambivalent feelings regarding pregnancy, and to investigate how characteristics of men and women with an unplanned pregnancy cluster together. Methods This study was embedded in Generation R, a multiethnic population-based prospective cohort from fetal life onwards. Pregnancy intention was reported by 7702 women and 5367 partners. Information on demographic, mental, physical, social, and sexual characteristics was obtained. Logistic regression, multinomial regression and cluster analyses were performed to determine characteristics that were associated with an unplanned pregnancy, with ambivalent feelings regarding the unplanned pregnancy and the co-occurrence of characteristics in women and men with unplanned pregnancy. Results Twenty nine percent of the pregnancies were unplanned. Logistic regression analyses showed that 42 of 44 studied predictors were significantly associated with unplanned pregnancy. The most important predictors were young age, migration background, lower educational level, lower household income, financial difficulties, being single, lower cognitive ability, drug use prior to pregnancy, having multiple sexual partners in the year prior to the pregnancy, younger age of first sexual contact and a history of abortion. Multinomial regression analyses showed that a Turkish or Moroccan background, Islamic religion, little financial opportunities, being married, having ≥3 children, high educational level, more mental health and social problems and older age of first sexual contact were associated with prolonged ambivalent feelings regarding pregnancy. Different combinations of characteristics were observed in the four clusters of women and men with unplanned pregnancy. Conclusions Many predictors are related with unplanned pregnancies, ambivalent feelings toward the pregnancy, and we identified very heterogeneous groups of women and men with unplanned pregnancies. This calls for heterogeneous measures to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

Abstract Background Refractive errors are relatively common all around the world. In particular, early onset myopia is associated with a significant burden in later life. Little is known about refractive errors in preschool children. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of spectacle wear, visual acuity and refractive errors in young Dutch children. Methods We analyzed data of three prospective population-based studies: 99,660 3- to 5-year-olds undergoing vision screening at preventive child healthcare organizations, 6934 6-year-olds from the Generation R study, and 2974 7-year-olds from the RAMSES study. Visual acuity was measured with Landolt-C or LEA charts, spectacle wear was assessed, and refractive errors at age 6 and 7 were measured with cycloplegic refraction. Results The prevalence of spectacle wear ranged from 1.5 to 11.8% between 3 to 7 years with no significant gender differences. Among children with spectacle wear at 6 years (N = 583) and 7 years (N = 350) 29.8 and 34.6% had myopia respectively, of which 21.1 and 21.6% combined with astigmatism; 19.6 and 6.8% had hyperopia, 37.2 and 11.1% hyperopia and astigmatism, and 12.5 and 32.7% astigmatism only. Conclusions Spectacle wear in European children starts early in preschool and increases to a relatively frequent visual aid at school age. Advocating early detection and monitoring of refraction errors is warranted in order to prevent visual morbidities later in life.

Most professionalisation programmes to support teacher educators as research supervisors focus on the development of research skills. The methodology of practice-oriented research, in addition to a clear vision on the function, and purpose of student research often receives little attention. At the Amsterdam University of Applied Science, we developed such a vision and methodology and studied the development of 17 teacher educators as research supervisors during a programme that introduced this methodology. We questioned participants about affect, and understanding regarding their role as a student research supervisor, and their perception of their competences to perform that role. Results showed that teacher educators became more aware of their role, and became more critical about their own competencies. Growing awareness of the implications of their role as student research supervisors seemed to result in a lower self-efficacy regarding the performance of this role. Implications for the training of teacher educators are discussed.

Abstract Background Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are common in the healthcare sector due to exposure of physical demanding work tasks. Risk assessment is necessary to prevent injuries and promote a safety culture. The TilThermometer has proved to be useful in the Netherlands for assessing healthcare workers’ physical exposure to patient handling. The aim of this study was to translate the risk assessment instrument TilThermometer from Dutch to Swedish, perform cross-cultural adaptation, and evaluate its linguistic validity to a Swedish healthcare context. Methods Translation and validation process was performed according to following eight steps: 1) Translation (two translators), 2) Synthesis, 3) Back-translation (two back-translators), 4) Synthesis, 5) Linguistic review (one bilingual reviewer), 6) fifteen experts in a panel review according to Delphi-method, 7) Semi-structured interviewing eleven informants, analyzed using qualitative content analysis and step 8) discussion and input from creators of the instrument. Results A new Swedish version, the TilThermometer, was provided through the translation process (steps 1–5). The linguistic validity and usefulness were confirmed thru step 6 and 7. Consensus was reached in the expert review after two rounds, comments were analyzed and grouped into five groups. The qualitative content analyses of the interviews emerged in to three categories: 1) “User-friendly and understandable instrument”, 2) “Further development”, and 3) “Important part of the systematic work-environment management”. Conclusion In this study, the cross-cultural adaption and translation performed of the Swedish version of TilThermometer assured linguistic validity. This is this first phase before further testing the psychometrics aspects, inter-rater reliability and feasibility of TilThermometer. In the second phase TilThermometer will be implemented and evaluated together with other measures in the Swedish healthcare sector.

Introduction Chronic musculoskeletal pain is a highly prevalent, complex and distressing condition that may negatively affect all domains of life. In view of an active inference framework, and resting on the concept of allostasis, human movement per se becomes a prerequisite for health and well-being while chronic pain becomes a sign of a system unable to attenuate an allostatic load. Previous studies on different subgroups of chronic pain conditions have demonstrated alterations in gait kinematics and muscle activity, indicating shared disturbances in the motor system from long-term allostatic load. We hypothesise that such alterations exist in heterogenous populations with chronic musculoskeletal pain, and that exposure to acute and controlled exercise may attenuate these alterations. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to investigate the acute effects of exercise on gait kinematics and activity of the back and neck muscles during diverse walking conditions in patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain compared with a reference sample consisting of healthy participants.Methods and analysis This two-sample two-armed parallel randomised controlled laboratory trial will include 40 participants with chronic musculoskeletal pain (>3 months) and 40 healthy participants. Participants will be randomly allocated to either 30 min of aerobic exercise or rest. Primary outcomes are gait kinematics (walking speed, step frequency, stride length, lumbar rotation, gait stability) and muscular activity (spatial and temporal) of the back and neck during diverse walking conditions. Secondary outcomes are variability of gait kinematics and muscle activity and subjective pain ratings assessed regularly during the trial.Ethics and dissemination The study has been approved by the Regional Ethics Review Board in Uppsala, Sweden (#2018/307). Findings will be disseminated via conference presentations, publications in peer-reviewed journals and engagement with patient support groups and clinicians.Trial registration number NCT03882333.

BackgroundImpaired cognitive insight and increased self-stigma have been consistently reported in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, but little is known about its presence in individuals at ultra-high risk of developing a psychosis, although self-stigma is associated with transition.to psychosis. The current study examined whether self-stigma is already present in individuals at ultra-high risk of psychosis, and whether this is associated with impaired cognitive insight.Methods184 participants were recruited divided over three groups, namely individuals diagnosed with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder (SSD; n = 92, 34% females), individuals at ultra-high risk for psychosis (UHR; n = 43, 59% females) and general population controls (GPC; n = 49, 27% females). All participants completed assessments on demographic information (gender, age, education), and cognitive insight. In addition, participants with SSD and individuals at UHR completed a questionnaire on self-stigma.ResultsThe level of self-stigma did not differ between individuals at UHR and individuals diagnosed with SSD. Cognitive insight also did not differ significantly between the three groups, but the subscale self-reflection differed between the three groups [F(2,184) = 4.20, p = 0.02], with the UHR and SSD groups showing more self-reflection. Pearson’s correlation analyses showed that in individuals at UHR total cognitive insight and its self-reflection subscale were significantly associated with the alienation subscale of self-stigma, and in individuals with SSD self-certainty subscale of cognitive insight was significantly associated with stereotype endorsement.ConclusionFindings show that self-stigma was already present in the UHR phase, to a similar degree as in individuals with a diagnosis of a SSD, and is thus not dependent of previous experience of having a label of SSD. Cognitive insight in individuals at UHR of psychosis appears to be intact, but individuals at UHR showed more self-reflectiveness, and individuals at risk with high cognitive insight also experience high levels of self-stigma. Overall findings from our study suggest that pre-emptive interventions targeting self-stigma, while considering cognitive insight, are needed early on in manifestation of psychotic illness, preferably already in the UHR phase.

Introduction Healthcare workers with physically demanding work tasks, such as patient handling and movement (PHM), are at high risk of musculoskeletal disorders. To facilitate safe PHM and prevent musculoskeletal disorders, a combination of workplace interventions, including risk assessments, is needed. The aim of this study is to implement and evaluate a multifactorial intervention strategy for safe PHM and compare it with a single intervention strategy.Methods and analysis This cluster randomised controlled trial will compare a multifactorial intervention strategy with a single intervention strategy for safe PHM in workplaces in the Swedish regional and municipal healthcare systems. At least twelve healthcare units will be recruited. Care units belonging to arm A will receive: (1) guidelines for PHM, (2) training modules, (3) risk assessment with TilThermometer, (4) risk assessment with Downtown Fall Risk Index and (5) work environment mapping. Care units belonging to Arm B will receive interventions (1) and (5). The two strategies will be evaluated with regards to (1) the primary outcome of the applied strategies’ intervention effectiveness (safety climate in relation to aspects of PHM) and (2) the primary implementation outcome (acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility). This study will also explore the implementation process and intervention fidelity, examine the influence of contextual factors and investigate participants’ experiences of working with strategies for safe PHM. A mix of quantitative and qualitative methods will be used. The data collection is based on questionnaires, interviews and field notes of contextual factors.Ethics and dissemination The study is approved by the Swedish national ethical board (Dnr 2021–00578). Study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and distributed on social media. A lay summary and dissemination strategy will be codesigned with a reference group and participating healthcare units.Trial registration number NCT05276180.

Flocculation between inorganic sediment, salt ions and microscopic organic matter present in the marine environment might play an important role in the dynamics of turbidity currents. The ability to predict, understand, and potentially leverage the effect of flocculation on turbidity currents will help to minimize the impact of human interventions such as dredging, trenching, and deep-sea mining. To better characterize the effect of flocculation on the benthic turbidity currents generated by these activities, a series of laboratory experiments were performed. Turbidity currents were created by means of lock exchange experiments. The present work focuses on the flocculation of clays that are representative for abyssal regions where deep-sea mining is performed, but most of the conclusions of this work are generic and can be applied to other types of benthic flows, occuring in harbours and channels. The effect of salt and organic material as flocculant agent was investigated. Various concentrations of clay and organic flocculant were tested. Video analysis was used to determine the head velocity of the plume. Samples at different run-out lengths were collected at the end of the lock exchange experiments for particle size and settling velocity measurements. The velocities of the turbidity currents in fresh and saline water (when no organic matter was present) were found to be similar, which was expected considering the timescales of salt-induced flocculation (about 30 min or more compared to the duration of lock exchange experiment

Changes in the maternal metabolome, and specifically the maternal lipidome, that occur during pregnancy are relatively unknown. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of pregnancy on sphingolipid levels using metabolomics analysis followed by confirmational, targeted quantitative analysis. We focused on three subclasses of sphingolipids: ceramides, sphingomyelins, and sphingosines. Forty-seven pregnant women aged 18 to 50 years old participated in this study. Blood samples were collected on two study days for metabolomics analysis. The pregnancy samples were collected between 25 and 28 weeks of gestation and the postpartum study day samples were collected ≥3 months postpartum. Each participant served as their own control. These samples were analyzed using a Ultra-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy/mass spectroscopy (UPLC/MS/MS) assay that yielded semi-quantitative peak area values that were used to compare sphingolipid levels between pregnancy and postpartum. Following this lipidomic analysis, quantitative LC/MS/MS targeted/confirmatory analysis was performed on the same study samples. In the metabolomic analysis, 43 sphingolipid metabolites were identified and their levels were assessed using relative peak area values. These profiled sphingolipids fell into three categories: ceramides, sphingomyelins, and sphingosines. Of the 43 analytes measured, 35 were significantly different during pregnancy (p < 0.05) (including seven ceramides, 26 sphingomyelins, and two sphingosines) and 32 were significantly higher during pregnancy compared to postpartum. Following metabolomics, a separate quantitative analysis was performed and yielded quantified concentration values for 23 different sphingolipids, four of which were also detected in the metabolomics study. Quantitative analysis supported the metabolomics results with 17 of the 23 analytes measured found to be significantly different during pregnancy including 11 ceramides, four sphingomyelins, and two sphingosines. Fourteen of these were significantly higher during pregnancy. Our data suggest an overall increase in plasma sphingolipid concentrations with possible implications in endothelial function, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and fetal development. This study provides evidence for alterations in maternal sphingolipid metabolism during pregnancy.

Introduction: The BetterBack model of care (MoC), a best practice physiotherapy MoC for low back pain (LBP), was implemented in Swedish primary care to improve management of patients with LBP and provide patients with support tools to better self-manage episodes of LBP. Purpose: The objective was to describe how physiotherapists in primary care experienced the implementation of the BetterBack MoC for LBP. Methods: Focus group interviews were conducted with physiotherapists in 2018–2019, 14–18 months after the introduction of the BetterBack MoC. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Five focus group interviews with 23 (15 female and 8 male) physiotherapists, age range 24–61 years were analyzed. A supportive organization and adaptation to the local culture, combined with health care professionals' attitudes and collaboration between physiotherapists emerged as important factors for a successful implementation and for long-term sustainability of the MoC. Physiotherapists had differing opinions if the implementation led to change in clinical practice. Improved confidence in how to manage patients with LBP was expressed by physiotherapists. Conclusions: Several barriers and facilitators influence the implementation of a best practice physiotherapy MoC for LBP in primary care, which need to be considered in future implementation and sustainability processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We currently lack clear definitions for structural and symptomatic spinal osteoarthritis (OA). To define spinal OA and create diagnostic criteria for this condition, it is necessary to determine the relationship between clinical signs and symptoms of back pain and radiographic features of OA. Notably, recent studies suggest a defining sign of spinal OA could be a limited or painful spinal range of motion (ROM). Therefore, our objective was to assess the association between restricted or painful active spinal ROM, and multilevel structural features of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) (i.e., disc space narrowing, osteophytes) on radiographs. Methods: We used the baseline data from the'Back Complaints in Older Adults' (BACE) study. The association between a limited or painful active spinal ROM, and multilevel disc space narrowing or osteophytes was assessed using multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age, mean pain intensity in the previous week, sex, BMI, and the Fear Avoidance Belief Questionnaire score. Primary analyses were performed on imputed datasets. Results: We included 675 patients with a mean age of 66.52 years (SD 7.69). Limited latero-flexion (fingertip that at best reached halfway up the upper leg) was associated with increased odds of having multilevel osteophytes (OR 1.85; 95% CI: 1.13 to 3.01). However, a limited or painful ROM in other directions (i.e., rotation, ante-flexion) was not associated with multilevel osteophytes, and a limited or painful active ROM in any direction was found to have no association with multilevel disc space narrowing. Conclusions: Our study indicates that a restricted ROM in latero-flexion could potentially be a defining sign in future definitions of symptomatic spinal OA. However, since our results partially differ from previous studies, further research is needed to explore the association between active ROM and LDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Hemodynamic responses to exercise in the acute phase after moderate to severe stroke have remained poorly investigated. The aim of this randomized controlled study, in which 52 (32 women) patients with moderate to severe stroke were randomized to three weeks of 20 minutes in‐bed cycle exercise 5 days per week or to usual care, was to explore the systolic blood pressure (SBP) response to exercise and to evaluate the impact of the intervention on the resting and post‐test systolic and diastolic blood pressures and heart rate, and on the systolic blood pressure response to exercise. We found that resting SBP decreased from baseline to post‐intervention in both the intervention group (147.7 ± 18.1 mmHg to 125.3 ± 17.1 mmHg, P

Abstract Background Currently, there are no outcome measures assessing the ability of people with non-specific low back pain to self-manage their illness. Inspired by the ‘Patient Enablement Instrument’, we developed the Patient Enablement Instrument for Back Pain (PEI-BP). The aim of this study was to describe the development of the Patient Enablement Instrument for Back Pain (PEI-BP) and investigate content validity, construct validity, internal consistency, test–retest reliability, measurement error, responsiveness and floor and ceiling effects. Methods The PEI-BP consists of 6 items that are rated on a 0–10 Numeric Rating Scale. Measurement properties were evaluated using the COSMIN taxonomy and were based on three cohorts from primary care with low back pain: The content validity cohort (N = 14) which participated in semi-structured interviews, the GLA:D® Back cohort (N = 272) and the test–retest cohort (N = 37) which both completed self-reported questionnaires. For construct validity and responsiveness, enablement was compared to disability (Oswestry Disability Index), back pain beliefs (Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire), fear avoidance (Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire—physical activity), mental health (SF-36), educational level and number of previous episodes of low back pain. Results The PEI-BP was found to have acceptable content validity, construct validity, reliability (internal consistency, test–retest reliability and measurement error) and responsiveness. The Smallest Detectable Change was 10.1 points illustrating that a patient would have to change more than 1/6 of the scale range for it to be a true change. A skewed distribution towards the high scores were found at baseline indicating a potentially problematic ceiling effect in the current population. Conclusions The PEI-BP can be considered a valid and reliable tool to measure enablement on people seeking care for non-specific LBP. Further testing of the PEI-BP in populations with more severe LBP is recommended. Trial registration: Not applicable.