Adrian Low has completed his PsyD from California Southern University, USA. He is the President of Hong Kong Association of Psychology as well as the Research Director of Aditgo Ltd, a learning and research center in Hong Kong. He is also a Heartmath’s certified practitioner. He has also started the Mindfulness Psychology Coaching movement in Asia with the mission of bringing everybody to the present moment.

Research on workplace stress measurements varied without much accuracy and effectiveness. The objective of this study was to introduce a new quantitative assessment tool emWave Pro Plus (Institute of HeartMath) and to compare Heart Rate Variability (HRV) results with the Personal and Organizational Quality Assessment (POQA) and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Eighty-five full-time employees who were working at least 40 hours per week in a large corporation participated in this study. Firstly, significant negative correlations were found between Subjective Stress and HRV measures: Perceived Stress and 5 minute mean Inter-Beat-Interval (IBI), r=-0.217*, perceived stress and 5 min SDNN, r=-0.255* and perceived stress and Ln 5min RMSSD, r=-0.282**. Secondly, significant negative correlations were found between age and the HRV measures: 1-minute SDNN (r=-0.235, p<0.01), 5 minute SDNN (r=-0.290, p<0.01); 5-minute RMSSD (r=-0.395, p<0.01); total power (r=-0.272, p<0.05); very low frequency (r=-0.215, p<0.05) and high frequency (r=0.402, p<0.01). Thirdly, significant negative correlation was found between normalized coherence and relational tension (r=-0.222, p<0.05). Additionally, significant positive correlations were found between Emotional Stress and the Mean Heart Rate Range (MHRR), r=0.216* and between intention to quit and 5-minute Ln Very Low Frequency (VLF), r=-0.234*. The research shows promising results and future studies should continue to tap into HRV as an objective measure of mental health and workplace stress.

Stephenson W Nkinin is an Adjunct Professor of Microbiology at the university of Cincinnati Department of Biology. He is currently pursuing his MPH (Epidemiology) in the department of Environmental Health, University of Cincinnati. Prior to registering in the MPH program, He was a Research Associate Scientist at the Pathology/Clinical Mass Spectrometry Department at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Background: Infantile spasms or West Syndrome (WS) represents one of the most devastating seizure disorders of pediatric epilepsy and are more frequently associated with poor intellectual outcomes. Early diagnosis with prompt initiation of treatment is key to effective control of spasms and may improve patient outcomes. Although the onset of WS is known to typically happen between ages 4-8 months, very little is known about the precise neuromechanical triggers or biochemical disease markers that herald its onset or remission. Diagnosis of WS usually involves visual observation of spasms and confirmation of hypsarrhythmia (disorganized wave-pattern) with an Electroencephalogram (EEG). Studies have identified a pre-hypsarrhythmia window of 3-6 weeks characterized by slow spikes that increase in frequency as condition deteriorates. However, the cutoff point to initiate treatment and avert disease could not be concisely defined. Also, decreased levels of brain γ-Amino Butyric Acid (GABA) have been associated with seizures, but exploitation of this knowledge in disease management was limited by several challenges including the absence of a reliable method for measuring GABA.

 

Lakshmi Kalband has her expertise in Pediatric Neurology and Epileptology. She has special interest in Pediatric and Neonatal Electroencephalography. She worksin the team of Comprehensive Epilepsy Program. Her work focuses on Intractable Epilepsies and supporting families of children with epilepsy.

Statement of the problem: What if the food we eat is therapy? Dietary therapies have been attempted in a wide variety of neurological disorders including epilepsies, headache and other pains, autism, brain tumors, neuro-trauma,sleep disorders, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. The driving force for the development of dietary therapies is the lack of efficiency and/or the intolerable side effects of the drugs, coupled with the intrinsic appeal of seeking more natural treatments. The efficiency of dietary therapies is best exemplified by the proven efficiency of ketogenic diet in medically intractable epilepsies. The diet now has broader use in neurological disorders and is practiced widely in epilepsies.

 

The study reports an atypical localization of trichobezoar in jejunum of 76 cm causing intestinal obstruction without a primary in stomach in 7-year girl who was managed surgically. A 7-year old girl presented to the emergency department with the complaints of abdominal mass, bilious vomiting, pain abdomen since 2 days. There was a significant history of trichophagia, anorexia and weight loss since 6 months. On general physical examination, she was pale. Per abdominal examination revealed a hard mass in the right iliac fossa and right lumbar region with upper abdominal distension and tenderness. Ultrasonography (USG) abdomen revealed abnormal thick mass in the bowel extending from the left iliac fossa to supra-pubic region with dilation of  proximal bowel loops. Subsequently she underwent Contrast Enhanced Computer Tomography (CECT) of abdomen which revealed well defined multi-layered heterogeneous, solid non-enhancing mass of concentric whorls of mixed density with pockets of air enmeshed within it,the massextends fromproximal jejunum distally, it was separated from bowel wall. Rest of the abdominal organs was normal. On laparotomy, we found solid mass extending from proximal jejunum (15cm from Treitz angle) to distal jejunum with  proximal bowel dilatation. Trichobezoar mass was removed by longitudinal enterotomy. Post-operative period was uneventful. She was discharged on seventh post-operative day after psychiatry consultation to prevent the recurrence of condition. Presently patient is doing well and has started to gain weight, during her subsequent follow up. Trichobezoars should be considered as a differential diagnosis if there is typical clinical picture of a girl with anemia, weight loss and abdominal pain with long standing abdominal mass. After removal of bezoar parental counseling, appropriate psychiatric treatment, follow up and behavioral therapy is mandatory to prevent recurrence. Bezoars are rare in children. They are commonly found in stomach. Rarely, bezoars can be located in small bowel, which are most often located in the ileum. Intestinal obstruction due to trichobezoar is extremely rare.

Hannah Lois G Tarroja has been interested in brain and behavior of the human person. She has obtained her Medical degree at the UERM Medical Center, Inc. and pursued her interest by training in General Psychiatry at the same institution.

Quality of life is frequently associated with one’s personal health. Amputation is a disease state that affects the quality of life of an individual and is often associated with depression, isolation, and anxiety resulting in changes in social functioning.It results in a remarkable change of an individual’s life and  function. Thus, this study aims to determine the quality of life of amputees after prosthetic rehabilitation. Results of the study may contribute to the limited studies done on quality of life after prosthetic rehabilitation and aid in the holistic management of the amputees. This was a longitudinal study that compared the quality of life of amputees before and after prosthetic rehabilitation. The study was conducted at the UERM Philippine School of Prosthetics and Orthotics in Quezon City from November 2016 to November 2017. Questionnaires administered included Short Form-36 version 2 Philippines (Tagalog) and UERM Out-Patient Satisfaction Survey. 12 participants were included in the study. Majority of the participants were male adults between the ages 22 and 69 years and all of the participants were unemployed. The changes in physical and mental component scores before and after prosthetic rehabilitation yielded no significant results. Stratification analysis revealed significant changes in scores in bodily pain and general health scales for females while males and participants with multiple co morbidities had significant changes in vitality scores. Factors affecting these results may be explored and looked into by structured interviews.

Adrian Low has completed his PsyD from California Southern University, USA. He is the President of Hong Kong Association of Psychology as well as the Research Director of Aditgo Ltd, a learning and research center in Hong Kong. He is also a Heartmath’s certified practitioner. He has also started the Mindfulness Psychology Coaching movement in Asia with the mission of bringing everybody to the present moment.

Emotions are strong feelings that affect the mind, behavior and even relationships. When emotions are strong, they can be detected in the changing pattern of our heart rhythms. On the heart rate variability biofeedback, emotions such as frustration, scared, worried, angry or upset cause uneven, irregular heart rhythms and they look like jagged mountain peaks on the computer screen. On the other hand, emotions of confidence, secure, being cared for, appreciative cause smooth and sine-like heart rhythms on the computer screen. The heart and brain are therefore connected and that smooth and sine-like heart rhythm prevents a person to suffer from brain fogs while he or she can make better decisions. Research has shown that positive emotions trigger improved performance and achievement, improved memory, improved immunity to disease, improved hormonal balance and a longer life span. This paper discusses the inside job on emotions, how emotional memories affect behavior, how emotions and nervous systems are related, how different parts of our brain function and work together and how our heart and braincommunicate with each other.