A descriptive study of physical function and performance in older black men with low back pain

The purpose of this paper is to describe physical function and performance scores and examine the relationships between measures of physical performance in older Black men with low back pain. The Mobility, Aging, Pain, and Disparities study used a cross-sectional, observational design to objectively measure physical performance on the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the Back Performance Scale (BPS), and the 400-meter Walk Test along with subjective ratings of pain intensity in the past 24 hours. Sixty community-based Black men aged 61-87 (x̄= 70 ± 6) years had an average BPS score of 7.0 ± 4 and total score on the SPPB 8.5 ± 2.1. Average 400-meter Walk time was 6.3 ± 3.1 minutes. Men's average pain intensity in the past 24 hours was 5.7 ± 2, indicating moderate pain. In conclusion, older Black men with low back pain demonstrated low physical function scores and a higher level of disability.

Avoidance-Endurance Model in Older Black Men with Low Back Pain: Exploring Relationships

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to investigate functional performance and pain intensity outcomes for associations with negative cognitive orientations, avoidance behaviors, and fear of pain in older Black men with low back pain (LBP).

METHODS

Sixty Black men aged 60 and older (70 years[Formula: see text]) with LBP completed the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), the 400-m walk test, and subjective measures of avoidance behaviors, back performance, pain intensity, and pain catastrophizing (i.e., rumination, magnification, and helplessness). Multiple regression models were used to examine associations.

RESULTS

Higher helplessness scores were associated with worse back performance (ß = 0.55, p = 0.02), slower walking speed (ß = 0.30, p = 0.02), and higher average pain intensity (ß = 0.22, [Formula: see text] p = 0.03). Higher rumination scores were associated with better back performance (ß =  - 0.36, p = 0.04). Avoidance behaviors, fear of pain, and magnification were not significantly associated with any of the variables included in the tested models.

CONCLUSION

Negative cognitive internalization is associated with limitations in functional performance in older Black men with LBP. Additional research is needed to further examine the cognitive orientations for understanding experienced pain and function in this population. Such research may inform the development of interventions for improving functional performance outcomes of older Black men with LBP.

Improvement Opportunities for PAINReportIt® Delivered on a Wireless Tablet: Rated by Black Older Men With Low Back Pain

Health care professionals and researchers can implement technology to improve older adults' acceptability of providing health information and to better include older adults in sharing information with health providers. However, older adults' engagement with technology remains low. This study focused on 60 Black older men (mean age = 70 years, SD = 6 years) with low back pain who completed the 13-item Computer Acceptability Scale after using the PAINReportIt® software on an Apple iPad®. On average, the sample found it acceptable to use PAINReportIt® software to share their pain or discomfort but that this was no replacement for oral dialogue with their health care provider. These findings contribute valuable information about the acceptability of using technology and indicate potential opportunities to improve PAINReportIt® software. Community interventions with acceptable tablet devices can offer new insight into collecting pain or discomfort data in populations with low presence in clinical research studies. [Research in Gerontological Nursing, 16(3), 108-114.].

Prevalence of violent advertisements in New York City subways

Background: Media advertisements displaying aggression and violence in public transit spaces represent a public health concern. The high visibility of ads likely contributes to increased levels of aggression among New York City (NYC) youths traveling across boroughs. Given the importance of the physical, psychological and social environment in shaping the lives of youth, additional attention is warranted regarding how media advertisements are promoted within public transit spaces across America. The aim of this study was to document quantity and placement of advertisements illustrating aggressive and violent content throughout the NYC public transit subway system. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a five-day period in June 2017. Direct observation was used to document all advertisements within every NYC Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) subway station (N = 472) in four NYC boroughs: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens. Static media advertisements with/without aggressive and violent content displayed on subway platform wall panels above and underground were counted, photographed and described with a mobile app. Results: Aggressive and violent ads in the MTA were pervasive. Subway platforms displayed advertising consisting of guns, individuals fighting and attacking, and words with aggressive language. Conclusion: Public transit spaces provide unregulated visual and verbal messages without citizen participation. Subway stations in NYC and across the country prohibition stance could be a model for violent content reduction. Given the pervasive and tragic effects of aggression and violence on youth and adults, transit agencies could inundate passengers with positive advertising content. Dialogue between citizens and transit agencies to remove noxious messages from public transit spaces warrants the same discussion given to banning alcohol advertisements.

Toward Understanding Movement-evoked Pain (MEP) and its Measurement: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

Individuals with chronic pain conditions often report movement as exacerbating pain. An increasing number of researchers and clinicians have recognized the importance of measuring and distinguishing between movement-evoked pain (MEP) and pain at rest as an outcome. This scoping review maps the literature and describes MEP measurement techniques.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The scoping review utilized 6 databases to identify original studies that targeted pain or movement-related outcomes. Our search returned 7322 articles that were screened by title and abstract by 2 reviewers. The inclusion criteria focused on the measurement of MEP before, during, and after movement tasks in adults with chronic pain. Studies of children below 18 years of age or with nonhuman animals, case studies, qualitative studies, book chapters, cancer-related pain, non-English language, and abstracts with no full publish text were excluded from the study.

RESULTS

Results from 38 studies revealed great variation in the measurement of MEP, while almost all of the studies did not provide an explicit conceptual or operational definition for MEP. In addition, studies collectively illuminated differences in MEP compared with rest pain, movement provocation methods, and pain intensity as the primary outcome.

DISCUSSION

These results have clinically significant and research implications. To advance the study of MEP, we offer that consistent terminology, standardized measurement (appropriate for pain type/population), and clear methodological processes be provided in research publications. On the basis of the findings, we have put forth a preliminary definition of MEP that may benefit from the continued scholarly dialog.

Enhanced central response to dehydration in mice lacking angiotensin AT(1a) receptors

The objective was to determine the central nervous system (CNS) responses to dehydration (c-Fos and vasopressin mRNA) in mice lacking the ANG AT(1a) receptor [ANG AT(1a) knockout (KO)]. Control and AT(1a) KO mice were dehydrated for 24 or 48 h. Baseline plasma vasopressin (VP) was not different between the groups; however, the response to dehydration was attenuated in AT(1a) KO (24 +/- 11 vs. 10.6 +/- 2.7 pg/ml). Dehydration produced similar increases in plasma osmolality and depletion of posterior pituitary VP content. Neuronal activation was observed as increases in c-Fos protein and VP mRNA. The supraoptic responses were not different between groups. In the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), c-Fos-positive neurons (57.4 +/- 10.7 vs. 98.4 +/- 7.4 c-Fos cells/PVN, control vs. AT(1a) KO) and VP mRNA levels (1.0 +/- 0.1 vs. 1.4 +/- 0.1 microCi, control vs. AT(1a) KO) were increased with greater responses in AT(1a) KO. A comparison of 1- to 2-day water deprivation showed that plasma VP, brain c-Fos, and VP mRNA returned toward control on day 2, although plasma osmolality remained high. Data demonstrate that AT(1a) KO mice show a dichotomous response to dehydration, reduced for plasma VP and enhanced for PVN c-Fos protein and VP mRNA. The results illustrate the importance of ANG AT(1a) receptors in the regulation of osmotic and endocrine balance.