Clinical trials

Insulin resistance is a crucial factor for the development of type 2 diabetes and a major health problem for older adults. It is the principal mechanism by which obesity is considered to increase the risk for type 2 diabetes and is a key feature of the metabolic syndrome. The elevated prevalence of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the older population has important consequences on the morbidity and mortality as well as on the economic burden on society. Controversy currently exists as to whether or not aging contributes to insulin resistance. Many potential factors confound the association between aging and insulin resistance, including obesity and physical inactivity. Ectopic lipid depositions, defined as an excess accumulation of triglycerides in non adipose tissues such as in the liver (intrahepatic lipids) and within the muscle fibers (intramyocellular lipids), are positively associated with obesity and insulin resistance. Furthermore, the accumulation of intracellular lipids is often cited as being a key determinant in the underlying mechanisms of insulin resistance. In addition of playing an important role in obesity and type 2 diabetes, these ectopic fat depositions are also observed in common conditions such as aging and physical inactivity. The intervention trial will test in skeletal muscle, liver and heart of sedentary obese volunteers, normal weight volunteers and masters athletes, the overall hypotheses that exercise improvement of fat oxidation capacity and/or decrease of damaging fat metabolites is a primary factor that predicts the improvement in insulin resistance.

Background: The CPTSD diagnosis presented in the ICD-11 is supposed to provide core and culturally invariant symptoms, which is supported by recent research. Yet, evidence also shows the necessity of integrating culture-specific symptoms in intervention and diagnostic tools to enhance the validity and efficacy of such diagnoses and therapeutic interventions. Along with cultural aspects, there are relevant structural aspects e.g., economic, and social inequalities, which impact mental health. These aspects remain understudied in low middle income countries like Egypt, where there are considerable rates of violence. Aims: The project aims to i) culturally adapt and pilot test the therapeutic manual ESTAIR/MPE in urban Egypt, and ii) to pilot test a cultural and structural module for the diagnostic assessment of CPTSD among the same target population. The objective is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and initial impact on clinical outcomes of both the manual and diagnostic modules. Methods: In earlier phases, the project gathered qualitative data from key informants on the cultural and structural dimensions of CPTSD in urban Egypt. Using the collected data, investigators culturally adapted this intervention and developed a diagnostic cultural module. Subsequently, the investigators will pilot-test it in four groups of five participants each, 20 participants in total. The project intends to collect both quantitative and qualitative measures to explore determined outcomes and analyze them accordingly.

In the present project, the investigators aim at proposing innovative ways of investigating spinal motoneuron hyperexcitability to counteract the associated impairments by using wide pulse high frequency neuromuscular electrical stimulation (WPHF NMES) in various populations. The investigators will use WPHF NMES contractions as a model to gain insights into the mechanisms underlying muscle cramps, restless legs syndrome or stroke-induced spasticity as there is evidence that they share common underlying mechanisms. The investigators will then use WPHF NMES as a training modality to improve plantar flexor neuromuscular function in stroke patients by taking advantage of their motoneuronal hyperexcitability.