Exposure to excess manganese via drinking water raises concerns due to potential for adverse neurological impacts, particularly in children. Manganese is ubiquitous in US groundwaters above the SMCL = 0.05 mg/L. Manganese is an essential nutrient, but exposures to elevated manganese have neurotoxic effects. Chapter 2 focuses on human senses\' ability to detect manganese in drinking water. Findings indicate human senses cannot be relied upon to detect excess Mn(II) in drinking water. Mn(IV) is easily visually detected, but cannot be tasted at 10 times the SMCL. Chapter 3 is an assessment the ability of an ultrasonic humidifier to expel drinking water impurities in aerosols. The quality of the water used to charge the humidifier reservoir affects the composition of elements in the aerosols and condensate. Findings indicate condensed humidifier aerosols contain 85% of elements present in the reservoir water for a variety of water types if there is no precipitation. Waters with high concentration of hardness or iron formed precipitates that decreased the concentrations of these metals in the aerosols causing variable results for other elements that were initially present at < 1mg/L in the charge water. This indicates that humidifiers could be a source of inhalation exposure for source water contaminants. / Master of Science

Foot problems are not only the most common but in general also the most severe of the diabetic complications. The age group 15-50 yrs in this study was chosen because these patients were considered to be at their most active age and were felt to require optimal foot function. 380 patients (96 %) participated, 78 % with Type 1, 20 % Type 2 and 1 % with secondary diabetes mellitus (DM) and 100 healthy controls. Only six patients had signs of peripheral ischaemia but half of the patients had deformities such as fallen forefoot arches and hammer toes. With sensory thresholds and clinical signs it was demonstrated that age, duration of DM and tall stature are major risk factors for diabetic neuropathy. Gender differences depend on differences in height. Dorsiflexion of the toes against resistance was used to test the function and volume of m.extensor digitorum brevis. When compared with measurements of sensory thresholds for vibration, perception and pain, it was found to be a valuable test for screening of distal motor neuropathy. To prevent worsening of foot deformities 266 patients with Type 1 DM were followed for 3 years. Those with the most pronounced deformities were fitted with custom-made insoles and had repeated examinations. Improvement was more common in patients with insoles compared to patients without insoles. Bone mineral density (BMD) was measured in nine patients with osteopathy in their feet and 18 controls. BMD was lower in L2-L3, but not in the proximal femur, implying osteopenia being a possible risk factor for distal osteopathy. Plaster cast treatment was used in 33 diabetic patients with severe foot ulcers who were selected because previous conservative treatment had been unsuccessful and they had been judged unsuitable for vascular surgery. The lesions healed in 19 patients. In conclusion, the main findings demonstrate the need for an increased awareness of early preventive foot care in young and middle-aged diabetic patients. / <p>S. 1-46: sammanfattning, s. 47-120: 6 uppsatser</p> / digitalisering@umu

The effect of time on taste threshold was examined in 30 diabetics and 30 control subjects (ages 22-30) who had participated in a sensory study 14 years previously. Detection and recognition taste thresholds for sweet (sucrose), salty (sodium chloride), sour (citric acid), and bitter (quinine sulfate) were assessed using triangle testing. Food preferences related to concentration of the stimuli in model food systems were tested using a nine-point hedonic scale. Mashed potatoes were used as the carrier for different levels of salt. A beverage composed of water, sucrose, and citric acid was varied to measure preferences for sweet and sour tastes. Demographic, health status, and selected dietary and food consumption information were also obtained. In the initial study, the diabetic group had higher detection and recognition thresholds for sweet, salty, and bitter stimuli than the control group. Although the control group still had lower thresholds for most of the stimuli (except for recognition of sour and salty), the majority of the diabetics either remained at their same taste sensitivity or improved their ability to perceive the stimuli over the 14-year period. With the exception of recognition of bitter by diabetics, both groups improved in their ability to identify taste sensations with age. Overall, the diabetic group became better at detecting sweet, sour, and salty taste stimuli between 1977 and 1991. They also became more sensitive to recognizing sweet and salty taste stimuli. For each set of food samples, a significant relationship existed between rating and sample. Samples with moderate levels of sodium chloride, citric acid, or sucrose were the most preferred . There was not a significant difference between the diabetic and control groups in their rating of the samples. Diabetic and control groups did not rate the samples significantly different. Additionally, threshold was not related significantly with rating of mashed potato samples or beverage-sour solutions. However, sucrose recognition thresholds and preference for sucrose concentration in beverage-sweet solutions were significantly related. Subjects with higher threshold values tended to rate the samples with higher concentrations of sucrose higher. There were no noteworthy correlations between the reported levels of salt consumption and salt thresholds, between sugar consumption and sucrose thresholds, nor between liking sour foods and citric acid thresholds.

The purposes of this study were to (a) test the validity of a sensory reactivity measure adapted for parents of preschool-age children, (b) examine if different modalities of sensory reactivity (i.e. smell, touch, taste, etc.) emerge together or if differing thresholds of reactivity exist between sensory modalities, (c) see how parental ratings of preschoolers' sensory reactivity are related to children's behaviors in the classroom, and (d) see if sensory reactivity bears different relationships to children's social behaviors than do other aspects of temperament. A total of 260 parents (242 mothers, 18 fathers) and 10 teachers of 260 children (131 male, 129 female; M = 63 months; SD = 8.80; range = 39-81) participated. Parents completed the newly developed Children's Sensory Reactions Questionnaire and the Colorado Child Temperament Inventory. Teachers completed the Social Skills Questionnaire. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses extracted two factors from the CSRQ measure: sensory reactivity and perceptual awareness. Examination of the associations of sensory reactivity and perceptual awareness and children's behaviors with peers resulted in several significant relationships. Specifically, sensory reactive children appear to be less sociable (i. e. prosocial, friendly), more likely to engage in immature solitary pretend play, and more prone to utilize instrumental aggression in peer interactions. Perceptually aware children, on the other hand, tend to be more sociable (i.. e., prosocial, friendly, controls impulses), better able to appropriately and punctually comply with tasks given by teacher, less likely to engage in a number of solitary play behaviors (i. e., passive withdrawal and immature play), less likely to utilize instrumental or reactive aggressive strategies, and more likely to dodge negative peer interactions by avoiding bullies. Furthermore, the associations which sensory reactivity and perceptual awareness bear to children's sociable, non-social, and anti-social behaviors contrast those of other dimensions of temperament such as child activity level and emotionality. Therefore, the constructs extracted from the newly developed Children's Sensory Reactions Questionnaire appear to contribute to our overall understanding of child temperament as well as the associations between temperament and young children's social, nonsocial, and antisocial behaviors.

Background: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) which can be defined as chronic, relapsing visceral pain with bloating associated with change in bowel habit. It affects up to 10-15% of the adult population in the UK and is more common in females. The cost of IBS in terms of health care utilisation is substantial, exceeding £45.6 million per year in the UK alone, yet its pathophysiology is incompletely understood. Visceral pain is the main and most difficult symptom to manage in IBS and many IBS female sufferers compare it to labour pain in its severity. Modulating visceral pain in healthy volunteers and IBS patients is therefore an important research area. Non-invasive magnetic stimulation may play a crucial role in this respect. Aim:The aim of this study is to ascertain whether non-invasive repetitive magnetic stimulation applied to the motor cortex and/or lumbosacrum can modulate gastrointestinal pain originating from the anorectum. Methods:Participants: 16 healthy volunteers and 10 IBS patients aged 18 and above were included in the study.Questionnaires: Healthy volunteers and IBS patients were asked to complete anxiety and depression questionnaire and IBS patients were requested to fill in an IBS severity questionnaire.Motor measurements in healthy subjects: Single-pulse lumbosacral magnetic stimulation (LSMS) was applied to the lumbosacral area for the anal sphincter where the largest motor evoked potential (MEP) amplitude response was detected. Single-pulse transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was then performed at the pre-determined resting motor thresholds (RMT) for the anal sphincter and the hand.Sensory measurements in healthy subjects and IBS patients: Electrical stimulation was used to assess the changes in sensory and pain thresholds in the anorectal area. The subjects were asked to score the pain intensity using five-point categorical rating scales. In addition they were asked to describe the pain experienced using a shortened form of the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Intervention: Healthy volunteers received 6 paradigms of magnetic stimulation in a randomised order i.e. 3 repetitive LSMSs (1 Hz, 10 Hz and sham) and 3 repetitive TMSs (1 Hz, 10 Hz and sham) to investigate their modulatory effects on visceral sensitivity and to determine which of these interventions is most effective. The most effective active interventions (1 Hz rLSMS and 10 Hz rTMS) together with one sham were then trialled in a randomised fashion on IBS patients.Post intervention: Motor excitabilities were repeated at 30 min after each intervention. The assessment of sensory and pain thresholds at anal sphincter and rectum were done immediately, 30 and 60 min after each intervention. Results:Application of 1 Hz rLSMS led to alterations of anal sphincter motor excitabilities and resulted in a significant increase in the amplitude of lumbosacal-anal motor evoked potentials (MEPs) in healthy volunteers recorded at 30 min post intervention. In healthy volunteers, 1 Hz rLSMS and 10 Hz rTMS caused a significant increase in the rectal pain thresholds experienced immediately, 30 and 60 min after each intervention. 10 Hz rLSMS and 1 Hz rTMS only led to a significant rise in rectal pain thresholds immediately after their application. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in the rectal pain thresholds immediately, 30 and 60 min following 1 Hz rLSMS and 10 Hz rTMS in IBS patients. Conclusion:The application of magnetic stimulation to the cortical and lumbosacral areas to modulate visceral pain is a new concept, which reduced rectal sensitivity to painful stimuli and offers a much needed new approach in the management of abdominal pain in patients with IBS.

No description available.

This work is trying to identify possible non-stimulatory effects and distant effects of muscle electrostimulation musculus quadriceps femoris based on a literature search. Furthermore evaluates the influence of High Tone Electrical Stimulation (HTEMS) muscles of lower limbs on the activity of the autonomic nervous system, expressed by heart rate variability, a spectral power in the individual frequency bands. Randomized crossover study involved 20 healthy subjects (12 men and 8 women), average age 24.6 ± 5.6 years. Heart rate variability was evaluated before application of HTEMS and immediately after. Measurements were performed with electrostimulator HiToP 191. The results did not show statistically significant increase in spectral power in the individual frequency bands. The study also deals with the reproducibility of measurements of sensitive and motor threshold for electrostimulation HTEMS method, which was confirmed. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

This work is trying to identify possible non-stimulatory effects and distant effects of muscle electrostimulation musculus quadriceps femoris based on a literature search. Furthermore evaluates the influence of High Tone Electrical Stimulation (HTEMS) muscles of lower limbs on the activity of the autonomic nervous system, expressed by heart rate variability, a spectral power in the individual frequency bands. Randomized crossover study involved 15 healthy subjects (7 men and 8 women), average age 24.4 ± 2,5 years. Heart rate variability was evaluated in two situations: the situation without the application HTEMS and the situation with the aplication of HTEMS. Electrostimulation was done with HITOP 191. The results did not show statistically significant differences in all monitored components. The study also dealt with the reproducibility of measurements of perception and motor threshold for HTEMS.

Funções vitais importantes são desempenhadas pelo sistema estomatognático e alterações no equilíbrio que ultrapassem a tolerância fisiológica do sujeito podem gerar um colapso, levando a um distúrbio funcional, conhecido como Desordem Temporomandibular (DTM). A principal característica e o principal motivo pela busca ao tratamento e o sintoma doloroso que afeta negativamente a qualidade de vida do sujeito. O Laser de Baixa Intensidade (LBI) consiste em uma modalidade terapêutica conservadora na redução da dor, porem protocolos eficazes e seus efeitos ainda são controversos na literatura. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito do LBI na redução da intensidade e sensibilidade a dor entre as sessões de LBI e durante teste funcional especifico, e avaliar o comportamento eletromiográfico antes e após tratamento. Para tal, 30 mulheres sem sinais e sintomas de DTM foram selecionadas para compor o grupo controle e 59 mulheres diagnosticadas com DTM dolorosa, por meio do Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), passaram por processo de randomização baseado na severidade da DTM que foi obtida através do Índice Temporomandibular, foram designadas aos grupos laser ativo (n=30) e placebo (n=29). Todas as voluntarias passaram inicialmente por um protocolo de avaliação de eletromiografia (EMG), eletrovibratografia (EVG), avaliação de limiar de dor a pressão (LDP) e intensidade de dor (EVA) durante teste funcional especifico, alem da mensuração de abertura bucal. Para os grupos de tratamento, essas analises foram repetidas após o termino do tratamento e com 30 dias de proservação. O tratamento foi realizado com equipamento contendo uma ponta de laser ativo e uma placebo (GaAlAs 780nm) sob protocolos diferentes para ATM (60mW/50segundos 75J/cm2) e para Masseter e Temporal (60mW/20segundos 30J/cm2). Em 8 sessões (2 por semana). Os resultados foram submetidos a analise de variância, posteriormente foi empregado o teste de comparação múltipla de Tukey (nível de significância adotado 5%). Para as analises foi utilizado o procedimento General Linear Models (GLM) do programa computacional lSAS (SAS 9.1, SAS Institute, Cary. NC, USA). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o LBI ativo e placebo foram capazes de gerar alterações apenas nas variáveis relacionadas diretamente a dor, como a intensidade de dor avaliada entre as sessões, na qual, ambos os grupos apresentaram melhora significante a partir da segunda sessão de tratamento. Alem disso, houve melhora da sensibilidade a dor e da intensidade durante o exercício funcional da mastigação após o tratamento para os dois grupos, porem o grupo laser apresentou maior efetividade na redução destas variáveis. Pode-se concluir que o tratamento com LBI e eficaz para melhora da dor e a diferença entre o tratamento laser ativo e placebo ocorreu apenas nas variáveis de dor mensuradas durante um exercício funcional. / Important vital functions are performed by the stomatognathic system and changes in balance that exceed the physiological tolerance of the subject can lead to a collapse, leading to a functional disorder known as Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). The main characteristic and the main reason for the search for treatment is the painful symptom that negatively affects the quality of life of the subject. The Low-lever Laser Therapy (LLLT) consists of a conservative therapeutic modality in the reduction of pain, but effective protocols and their effects are still controversial in the literature. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of LLLT in reducing the intensity and pain sensitivity between sessions of LLLT and during specific functional test, and evaluate the electromyographic behavior before and after treatment. To this end, 30 women with no signs and symptoms of TMD were selected to the control group and 59 women diagnosed with painful TMD, through the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC / TMD) underwent randomization process based on severity DTM was obtained by temporomandibular index were assigned to the active laser groups (n = 30) and placebo (n = 29). All volunteers initially underwent electromyography (EMG), electrovibratography (EVG), pressure pain threshold (LDP) and pain intensity (VAS) evaluation during specific functional tests, in addition to the measurement of mouth opening. For treatment groups, these analyzes were repeated after the end of treatment and 30 days of follow up. The treatment was performed with equipment containing an active laser tip and a placebo (GaAlAs - 780nm) under different protocols for ATM (60mW / 50 seconds - 75J / cm2) and for Masseter and Temporal (60mW / 20 seconds - 30J / cm2). In 8 sessions (2 per week). The results were submitted to analysis of variance was later used the multiple comparison test of Tukey (significance level - 5%). For the analysis, the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure of the SAS software (SAS 9.1, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA) was used. The results showed that the active LLLT and placebo were able to generate only changes in the variables directly related to pain, such as pain intensity measured between sessions, in which both groups showed significant improvement from the second treatment session. In addition, there was improvement in pain sensitivity and intensity during the functional mastication exercise after treatment for both groups, but the laser group showed greater effectiveness in reducing these variables. It can be concluded that treatment with LLLT is effective for improving pain and the difference between active laser treatment and placebo occurred only in pain variables measured for a functional exercise.

Funções vitais importantes são desempenhadas pelo sistema estomatognático e alterações no equilíbrio que ultrapassem a tolerância fisiológica do sujeito podem gerar um colapso, levando a um distúrbio funcional, conhecido como Desordem Temporomandibular (DTM). A principal característica e o principal motivo pela busca ao tratamento e o sintoma doloroso que afeta negativamente a qualidade de vida do sujeito. O Laser de Baixa Intensidade (LBI) consiste em uma modalidade terapêutica conservadora na redução da dor, porem protocolos eficazes e seus efeitos ainda são controversos na literatura. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar o efeito do LBI na redução da intensidade e sensibilidade a dor entre as sessões de LBI e durante teste funcional especifico, e avaliar o comportamento eletromiográfico antes e após tratamento. Para tal, 30 mulheres sem sinais e sintomas de DTM foram selecionadas para compor o grupo controle e 59 mulheres diagnosticadas com DTM dolorosa, por meio do Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD), passaram por processo de randomização baseado na severidade da DTM que foi obtida através do Índice Temporomandibular, foram designadas aos grupos laser ativo (n=30) e placebo (n=29). Todas as voluntarias passaram inicialmente por um protocolo de avaliação de eletromiografia (EMG), eletrovibratografia (EVG), avaliação de limiar de dor a pressão (LDP) e intensidade de dor (EVA) durante teste funcional especifico, alem da mensuração de abertura bucal. Para os grupos de tratamento, essas analises foram repetidas após o termino do tratamento e com 30 dias de proservação. O tratamento foi realizado com equipamento contendo uma ponta de laser ativo e uma placebo (GaAlAs 780nm) sob protocolos diferentes para ATM (60mW/50segundos 75J/cm2) e para Masseter e Temporal (60mW/20segundos 30J/cm2). Em 8 sessões (2 por semana). Os resultados foram submetidos a analise de variância, posteriormente foi empregado o teste de comparação múltipla de Tukey (nível de significância adotado 5%). Para as analises foi utilizado o procedimento General Linear Models (GLM) do programa computacional lSAS (SAS 9.1, SAS Institute, Cary. NC, USA). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o LBI ativo e placebo foram capazes de gerar alterações apenas nas variáveis relacionadas diretamente a dor, como a intensidade de dor avaliada entre as sessões, na qual, ambos os grupos apresentaram melhora significante a partir da segunda sessão de tratamento. Alem disso, houve melhora da sensibilidade a dor e da intensidade durante o exercício funcional da mastigação após o tratamento para os dois grupos, porem o grupo laser apresentou maior efetividade na redução destas variáveis. Pode-se concluir que o tratamento com LBI e eficaz para melhora da dor e a diferença entre o tratamento laser ativo e placebo ocorreu apenas nas variáveis de dor mensuradas durante um exercício funcional. / Important vital functions are performed by the stomatognathic system and changes in balance that exceed the physiological tolerance of the subject can lead to a collapse, leading to a functional disorder known as Temporomandibular Disorder (TMD). The main characteristic and the main reason for the search for treatment is the painful symptom that negatively affects the quality of life of the subject. The Low-lever Laser Therapy (LLLT) consists of a conservative therapeutic modality in the reduction of pain, but effective protocols and their effects are still controversial in the literature. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of LLLT in reducing the intensity and pain sensitivity between sessions of LLLT and during specific functional test, and evaluate the electromyographic behavior before and after treatment. To this end, 30 women with no signs and symptoms of TMD were selected to the control group and 59 women diagnosed with painful TMD, through the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC / TMD) underwent randomization process based on severity DTM was obtained by temporomandibular index were assigned to the active laser groups (n = 30) and placebo (n = 29). All volunteers initially underwent electromyography (EMG), electrovibratography (EVG), pressure pain threshold (LDP) and pain intensity (VAS) evaluation during specific functional tests, in addition to the measurement of mouth opening. For treatment groups, these analyzes were repeated after the end of treatment and 30 days of follow up. The treatment was performed with equipment containing an active laser tip and a placebo (GaAlAs - 780nm) under different protocols for ATM (60mW / 50 seconds - 75J / cm2) and for Masseter and Temporal (60mW / 20 seconds - 30J / cm2). In 8 sessions (2 per week). The results were submitted to analysis of variance was later used the multiple comparison test of Tukey (significance level - 5%). For the analysis, the General Linear Models (GLM) procedure of the SAS software (SAS 9.1, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA) was used. The results showed that the active LLLT and placebo were able to generate only changes in the variables directly related to pain, such as pain intensity measured between sessions, in which both groups showed significant improvement from the second treatment session. In addition, there was improvement in pain sensitivity and intensity during the functional mastication exercise after treatment for both groups, but the laser group showed greater effectiveness in reducing these variables. It can be concluded that treatment with LLLT is effective for improving pain and the difference between active laser treatment and placebo occurred only in pain variables measured for a functional exercise.