Nazarbayev University Repository (NUR) is an institutional electronic archive designed for the long-term preservation, aggregation, and dissemination of scientific research outcomes and intellectual property produced by the Nazarbayev University community and affiliated organizations.
NU Research Portal - here you can find information about research projects, publications, and other activities of our 400+ researchers and faculty members.
Communities in NUR
Select a community to browse its collections.
Recent Submissions
EFFECT OF MULTI-DIRECTIONAL PERTURBATION TRAINING IN COMBINATION WITH RAGT ON HUMAN GAIT, BALANCE, AND PELVIC MUSCLE ACTIVATION IN CEREBRAL PALSY CHILDREN
(Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, 2024) Khawaja, Amna Riaz
Cerebralِ Palsyِ (CP)ِ isِ aِ neurologicalِ disorderِ characterizedِ byِ motorِ impairmentsِ
affectingِ gait,ِ balance,ِ andِ pelvicِ muscleِ activation.ِ Thisِ pilotِ studyِ aimsِ toِ investigateِ
theِ effectsِ ofِ multi-directionalِ perturbationِ trainingِ combinedِ withِ robotic-assistedِ gaitِ
trainingِ (RAGT)ِ onِ gaitِ parameters,ِ balanceِ control,ِ andِ pelvicِ muscleِ activationِ inِ
childrenِ withِ CP.ِ Aِ totalِ ofِ 3ِ subjectsِ diagnosedِ withِ twoِ differentِ typesِ ofِ CPِ includingِ
Spasticِ Diplegicِ andِ Spasticِ Dyskineticِ wereِ includedِ inِ thisِ study.ِ Theseِ participantsِ
areِ undergoingِ aِ comprehensiveِ interventionِ comprisingِ 2-3ِ sessionsِ overِ aِ 4-weekِ
period.ِ Eachِ sessionِ integratesِ multi-directionalِ perturbationِ trainingِ andِ RAGTِ
techniques.ِ Objectiveِ measuresِ andِ standardizedِ assessmentsِ areِ employedِ toِ
evaluateِ gaitِ parameters,ِ balanceِ controlِ andِ pelvicِ muscleِ activation.ِ Earlyِ findingsِ
suggestِ thatِ theseِ childrenِ haveِ gaitِ instabilityِ andِ lackِ ofِ equalِ activationِ ofِ musclesِ ofِ
pelvisِ andِ presentsِ withِ balanceِ problemsِ indicatedِ byِ lowِ scores.ِ Theِ interventionِ aimsِ
toِ addressِ theseِ problemsِ byِ targetingِ theseِ deficits.ِ However,ِ smallِ sampleِ sizeِ andِ
shortِ durationِ ofِ theِ studyِ willِ limitِ theِ generalizabilityِ ofِ theِ results.ِ Furtherِ research,ِ
withِ largerِ sampleِ sizeِ andِ longerِ follow-upِ periodsِ isِ warrantedِ toِ validateِ theseِ
findingsِ andِ elucidateِ theِ underlyingِ mechanismsِ ofِ improvement.ِ Overall,ِ thisِ pilotِ
studyِ willِ provideِ evidenceِ supportingِ theِ feasibilityِ andِ potentialِ ofِ incorporatingِ multi-
directionalِ perturbationِ trainingِ withِ RAGTِ intoِ rehabilitationِ programsِ forِ childrenِ withِ
CP.ِ Byِ targetingِ multipleِ aspectsِ ofِ motorِ functionِ simultaneously,ِ thisِ integratedِ
approachِ willِ haveِ potentialِ toِ improveِ gait,ِ balance,ِ andِ pelvicِ muscleِ activation,ِ
ultimatelyِ enhancingِ theِ functionalِ mobilityِ andِ qualityِ ofِ lifeِ ofِ childrenِ withِ CP.
LSP PROJECT REPORT DEVELOPMENT OF HEPG CELL LINE WITH HUMAN NTCP GENE
(Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, 2024) Irgaliyev, Abdyrakhman
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is one of the most common viral infections of the liver. There are 296 million people around the world with chronic hepatitis B and 1.5 million new cases emerge each year (WHO on Hepatitis B, 2021). Also, complications of hepatitis B virus such as liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were the cause of 820 000 deaths in 2019. It creates a significant economic and social burden, especially in developing countries. Until the 2010s the proper mechanism of viral internalization of hepatitis B virus was not properly understood. However, discovery of Na+-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) protein allowed better understanding of the process as well as new possibilities in treatment. Common anti-HBV treatment is usually antiretroviral utilizing its usage of reverse transcriptase. The discovery of a specific viral entry point may allow development of new treatment options. However, expression of NTCP is downregulated in in vitro hepatocytes. This poses an obstacle in creating a testing field for medication options. Sadly, during this research the results were not achieved due to shortage of time and difficulties with competent cells.
“EFFECT OF TAI-CHI ON MENTAL HEALTH INCLUDING: ANXIETY, DEPRESSION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING”- SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF META-ANALYSIS
(Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, 2024) Yelubay, Magzhan
Background: Tai Chi can improve mental health outcomes without the use of medications. This
systematic review investigates the effects of Tai Chi therapy on mental health by doing a
comprehensive search of meta-analyses published up to December 2023..
Methods: Using PRISMA criteria, we searched resources such as PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO,
and The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews for relevant meta-analyses. The inclusion
criteria were studies that examined the effects of Tai Chi therapy on various mental health
outcomes in different demographics.
Results: This systematic review included 24 meta-analyses from 405 studies, including
individual RCTs. The research discovered that Tai Chi therapies had a significant favorable
influence on mental health outcomes, such as decreased depressive symptoms and anxiety levels,
as well as increased overall mental well-being. Tai Chi has been proven to help a variety of
conditions and people, including fibromyalgia, Parkinson's disease, heart disease, and
sleeplessness. When paired with mental health therapies, Tai Chi has the potential to improve
quality of life and general well-being. To best integrate Tai Chi into mental health care, more
study is needed to characterize the practice's therapeutic mechanisms and eradicate
methodological errors.
Conclusion: Tai Chi exhibits potential as a comprehensive treatment approach to enhance
mental health outcomes across a range of demographics. Current evidence supports its use as a
supplemental therapy in mental health interventions, while more high-quality research is
necessary.
EFFECTS OF MINI-TRAMPOLINE TRAINING ON FOOT MOBILITY, PLANTAR PRESSURE, AND MUSCLE ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY IN INDIVIDUALS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS
(Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, 2024) Aldanova, Aigul
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the possible effects of mini-trampoline exercise on foot mobility, plantar pressure, and muscle electrical activity in persons diagnosed with diabetic neuropathy foot.
Methods: Within the study pre-intervention assessment stage, two people with diabetic neuropathy in their feet underwent a full variety of objective tests, such as electromyography (EMG), plantar pressure measurements with smart insoles, and gait analysis with inertial measurement unit (IMU) 3D sensors. The people took part in a set of exercises on both hard and soft surfaces to find out how their muscles were activated and how the heel pressure was distributed.
Results: The pre-intervention data showed that muscle activation patterns were very different when workouts were done on different surfaces. Individuals showed higher levels of muscle activity when exercising on the mini-trampoline compared to firm surfaces. This suggests that the unstable nature of the soft surface made the muscles work harder. However, it was hard to keep their balance and keep their muscles working on the mini-trampoline while doing single-leg balance exercises. This suggests that they might not have good proprioception or motor control.
Conclusion: This study gives some basic ideas about how mini-trampoline exercise might help people with diabetic neuropathy foot.
IMPACT OF MINI-TRAMPOLINE TRAINING COUPLED WITH DIETARY ADVICE ON INSULIN RESISTANCE OF TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS
(Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, 2024) Bolegenova, Balnur
Background
Mini-trampoline exercise coupled with dietary advice is an ideal combination for diabetes management, but due to absence of awareness and time insufficiency patients with diabetes are unable to engage.
Objective: Tо іnvеstіgаtе thе impact of mini-trampoline training coupled with dietary advice on insulin resistance among patients with type 2 diabetes
Methods: Two subjects who have had Diabetes Mellitus type 2 with foot neuropathy participated. Bio impedance Analysis was conducted at the beginning of the session and during each third session. Apart from this, hematological parameters like glycated hemoglobin, fasting plasma glucose would be measured at the initial and last sessions. Three questionnaires such as Michigan Neuropathy Screening instrument, Short Form 36 and General Physical Activity Questionnaires were filled by each participant. Dietary recommendations were given for each participant. For calculation of caloric food intake, an account on the Nutri steppe app was created.
Evaluation of dietary advice influence coupled with mini-trampoline training on insulin resistance were conducted. The impact on insulin resistance was measured by evaluating the dynamics of change in the levels of glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose.
Results: The influence of Mini-trampoline coupled withth dietary advice on fasting plasma glucose, body mass index and glycated hemoglobin were noted when compared with initial measurements.
Conclusion
Regular training on mini-trampoline coupled with dietary advice normalizes insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes patients with neuropathic foot.