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An exploratory study on the impact of daily activities on the pleasure and physical activity of older adults
No full textAbstract
Background
Pleasure is one determinant of intrinsic motivation and yet a dimension often forgotten when promoting physical activity among the older population. In this study we investigate the relation between daily activities and physical activity, experience of pleasure, and the interaction between pleasure and physical activity in the daily lives of community-dwelling older adults.
Methods
Participants carried a hip-worn accelerometer during 30 consecutive days resulting in a total of 320\ua0days of data collection. Current activity, location, companion and experience of pleasure during each activity were assessed through experience sampling on a smartphone every 1\u20132 h. Between- and within-individual differences were analysed with multi-level models and 10xN\u2009=\u20091 regression analysis.
Results
Outdoor activities were associated with higher physical activity than indoor activities ( p \u2009<\u20090.001). Performing leisure activities, outdoors and not alone significantly predicted pleasure in daily life (all p\u2019s\u2009<\u20090.05). Being more active while performing leisure activities resulted in higher experiences of pleasure ( p \u2009<\u20090.001). However, when performing basic activities of daily living (e.g. commuting or households) this relation was inverted. Results provide meaningful indication for individual variance. The 30\ua0days of data collected from each participant allow for identification of individual differences.
Conclusions
Daily activities and their contexts do influence the experience of pleasure and physical activity of older adults in daily life of older adults, although similar research with larger population is recommended. Results are in accordance with the literature, indicating that the method adopted (accelerometry combined with experience sampling) provides reliable representation of daily life. Identification of individual differences can eventually be automatically performed through data mining techniques. Further research could look at innovative approaches to promote Active Ageing using mobile technology in the daily life, by promoting physical activity through recommendation of pleasurable activities, and thus likely to increase the intrinsic motivation to become physically active
Casticin induces apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in gallbladder cancer cells
No full textAbstract
Background
Casticin, the flavonoid extracted from Vitex rotundifolia L, exerts various biological effects, including anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects and mechanisms of casticin in human gallbladder cancer cells.
Methods
Human NOZ and SGC996 cells were used to perform the experiments. CCK-8 assay and colony formation assay were performed to evaluate cell viability. Cell cycle analyses and annexin V/PI staining assay for apoptosis were measured using flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the changes in protein expression, and the effect of casticin treatment in vivo was experimented with xenografted tumors.
Results
In this study, we found that casticin significantly inhibited gallbladder cancer cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Casticin also induced G0/G1 arrest and mitochondrial-related apoptosis by upregulating Bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9 and cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase expression, and by downregulating Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, casticin induced cycle arrest and apoptosis by upregulating p27 and downregulating cyclinD1/cyclin-dependent kinase4 and phosphorylated protein kinase B. In vivo, casticin inhibited tumor growth.
Conclusion
Casticin induces G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis in gallbladder cancer, suggesting that casticin might represent a novel and effective agent against gallbladder cancer
Intragenerational social mobility and functional somatic symptoms in a northern Swedish context: analyses of diagonal reference models
No full textAbstract
Background
Research indicate that social class mobility could be potentially important for health, but whether this is due to the movement itself or a result of people having been integrated in different class contexts is, to date, difficult to infer. In addition, although several theories suggest that transitions between classes in the social hierarchy can be stressful experiences, few studies have empirically examined whether such movements may have health effects, over and above the implications of \u201cbeing\u201d in these classes. In an attempt to investigate whether intragenerational social mobility is associated with functional somatic symptoms in mid-adulthood, the current study tests three partially contrasting theories.
Method
The dissociative theory suggests that mobility in general and upward mobility in particular may be linked to psychological distress, while the falling from grace theory indicates that downward mobility is especially stressful. In contrast, the acculturation theory holds that the health implications of social mobility is not due to the movement itself but attributed to the class contexts in which people find themselves. Diagonal Reference Models were used on a sample of 924 individuals who in 1981 graduated from 9
th
grade in the municipality of Lule\ue5, Sweden. Social mobility was operationalized as change in occupational class between age 30 and 42 (measured in 1995 and 2007). The health outcome was functional somatic symptoms at age 42, defined as a clustering self-reported physical symptoms, palpitation and sleeping difficulties during the last 12\ua0months.
Results
Overall mobility was not associated with higher levels of functional somatic symptoms compared to being immobile ( p \u2009=\u20090.653). After controlling for prior and current class, sex, parental social position, general health, civil status, education and unemployment, the association between downward mobility was borderline significant ( p \u2009=\u20090.055) while upward mobility was associated with lower levels of functional somatic symptoms ( p \u2009=\u20090.03).
Conclusion
The current study did not find unanimous support for any of the theories. Nevertheless, it sheds light on the possibility that upward mobility may be beneficial to reduce stress-related health problems in mid-life over and above the exposure to prior and current class, while downward mobility can be of less importance for middle-age health complaints
Cytotoxic effects of nanosilver are highly dependent on the chloride concentration and the presence of organic compounds in the cell culture media
No full textAbstract
Background
Nanosilver shows great promise for use in industrial, consumer or medical products because of its antimicrobial properties. However, the underlying mechanisms of the effects of silver nanoparticles on human cells are still controversial. Therefore, in the present study the influence of the chloride concentration and different serum content of culture media on the cytotoxic effects of nanosilver was systematically evaluated.
Results
Our results show that nanosilver toxicity was strongly affected by the composition of the culture media. The chloride concentration, as well as the carbon content affected the silver agglomeration and the complex formation. But also the dissolution of nanosilver and the availability of free silver ions (Ag
+
) were severely affected by the compositions of the culture media. Cells, only exposed to silver particles in suspension and dissolved silver complexes, did not show any effects under all conditions. Nanosilver agglomerates and silver complexes were not very soluble. Thus, cells growing on the bottom of the culture dishes were exposed to sedimented nanosilver agglomerates and precipitated silver complexes. Locally, the concentration of silver on the cell surface was very high, much higher compared the silver concentration in the bulk solution. The cytotoxic effects of nanosilver are therefore a combination of precipitated silver complexes and organic silver compounds rather than free silver ions.
Conclusions
Silver coatings are used in health care products due to their bacteriostatic or antibacterial properties. The assessment of the toxicity of a certain compound is mostly done using in vitro assays. Therefore, cytotoxicity studies of nanosilver using human cell cultures have to be undertaken under well controlled and understood cultivations conditions in order to improve the compatibility of different studies. Especially when eukaryotic versus prokaryotic systems are compared for the evaluation of the use of nanosilver as antibacterial coatings for implants in order to prevent bacterial colonization
Prediction of anti-inflammatory proteins/peptides: an insilico approach
No full textAbstract
Background
The current therapy for inflammatory and autoimmune disorders involves the use of nonspecific anti-inflammatory drugs and other immunosuppressant, which are often accompanied with potential side effects. As an alternative therapy, anti-inflammatory peptides are recently being exploited as anti-inflammatory agents for treatment of various inflammatory diseases such as Alzheimer\u2019s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. Thus, understanding the correlation between amino acid sequence and its potential anti-inflammatory property is of great importance for the discovery of novel and efficient anti-inflammatory peptide-based therapeutics.
Methods
In this study, we have developed a prediction tool for the classification of peptides as anti-inflammatory epitopes or non anti-inflammatory epitopes. The training was performed using experimentally validated epitopes obtained from Immune epitope database and analysis resource database. Different sequence-based features and their hybrids with motif information were employed for development of support vector machine-based machine learning models. Similarly, machine learning models were also constructed using random forest.
Results
The composition and terminal residue conservation analysis of peptides revealed the dominance of leucine, serine, tyrosine and arginine residues in anti-inflammatory epitopes as compared to non anti-inflammatory epitopes. Similarly, the anti-inflammatory epitopes specific motifs were found to be rich in hydrophobic and polar residues. The hybrid of tripeptide composition-based support vector machine model and motif yielded the best performance on 10-fold cross validation with an accuracy of 78.1% and MCC of 0.58. The same displayed an accuracy of 72% and MCC of 0.45 on validation dataset, rejecting any possibility of over-fitting. The tripeptide composition-based random forest model displayed an accuracy of 0.8 and MCC of 0.59 on 10-fold cross validation, however, the accuracy (0.68) and MCC (0.31) was lower as compared to support vector machine model on validation dataset. Thus, the support vector machine model is implemented as the default model and an additional option of using the random forest model is provided.
Conclusion
The prediction models along with tools for epitope mapping and similarity search have been provided as a web server which is freely accessible at http://metagenomics.iiserb.ac.in/antiinflam/
Incidence of pulp sensibility loss of anterior teeth after paramedian insertion of orthodontic mini-implants in the anterior maxilla
No full textAbstract
Background
The aim of this retrospective investigation was to evaluate the incidence of loss to pulp sensibility testing (PST) of maxillary front teeth after paramedian (3 to 5 mm away from the suture) orthodontic mini-implant (OMI) insertion in the anterior palate.
Methods
A total of 284 patients (102 males, 182 females; mean age was 14.4 years (\ub18.8) years at time of OMI-Insertion) with a total of 568 OMIs (1.7 mm diameter, length 8 mm) were retrospectively investigated. A binomial regression analysis was performed to explore covariates, such as age, gender, inclination of upper central incisors, dentition status and insertion position of OMIs that could have contributed to loss of sensibility. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.
Results
Loss of response to PST was encountered during retention in 3 out of 284 patients and the respective OMIs had been placed at height of the second rugae (R-2). Affected teeth were a right canine, a left lateral and a left central incisor. Subsequent root canal treatment was successful. Results of the binomial regression analysis revealed that the covariate insertion position (R-2) of OMIs ( p = 0.008) had statistically significant influence on loss of response to PST.
Conclusions
(1) Although there was no radiographic evidence for direct root injury, the proximity of the implants to the anterior teeth was nevertheless statistically related to loss of PST. (2) In all cases of PST loss OMIs were inserted at the second rugae. Therefore OMIs should be placed either more posteriorly, at the third rugae or in the median plane. (3). Loss of PST was not increased for patients with palatal OMI (0.18%) compared to samples without OMI (0.25%)
Breastfeeding motivation in Pomerania: Survey of neonates in Pomerania (SNiP-Study)
No full textAbstract
Background
The Nationale Stillkommission was founded in Germany in 1994 to increase the acceptance of breastfeeding as the primary means of infant nutrition. Scientific studies like \u201cStillen und S\ue4uglingsern\ue4hrung (SuSe-Studie)\u201d, and regional studies in Bavaria, Freiburg, Hamburg, and Berlin demonstrated breastfeeding initiation rates of 90 to 95%, but the total breastfeeding rate decreased to 25\u201361% after infants were 6\ua0months old. One predictor of breastfeeding duration may be maternal motivation. The present study aimed to describe breastfeeding motivation.
Methods
We analysed data collected in 2004\u20132008, during a previous study, the Survey of Neonates in Pomerania (SNiP). We retrieved data regarding maternal breastfeeding motivation, family environment, and socioeconomic factors. We constructed a quantitative breastfeeding-motivation score to identify factors involved in maternal breastfeeding.
Results
Ninety five percent of mothers who gave birth in the study period and area provided information in the survey. The breastfeeding initiation rate was 88.4%. Mothers\u2019 intentions to provide exclusive breastfeeding (only breast milk, no other liquids or infant formula) increased linearly from 71.9% in 2005 to 76.8% in 2008. Women motivated to provide exclusive breastfeeding were, on average, older, primiparous, and able to deliver spontaneously more often than women with less breastfeeding motivation. Furthermore, women with no motivation to provide exclusive breastfeeding and women that intended to provide breastfeeding combined with a complementary nutrition source had visited prenatal classes less frequently, had lower levels education, had lower average incomes, had a German nationality more often, and used tobacco more often than women motivated to provide exclusive breastfeeding.
Conclusions
Breastfeeding intentions increased during the SNiP Study. This study identified several factors that might serve for targeted breastfeeding promotion in mothers younger than 25\ua0years, mothers with low education, and multiparous mothers or women who have received a caesarean section. Furthermore, breastfeeding motivation might be enhanced during pregnancy and/or after delivery by providing prenatal classes
Reducing the risk of impaired bone apposition to titanium screws with the use of fibroblast growth factor-2\u2212apatite composite layer coating
No full textAbstract
Background
Loosening of screws is a common problem in orthopedic and maxillofacial surgery. Modifying the implant surface to improve the mechanical strength of screws has been tried and reported. We developed screws coated with fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2)\u2212apatite composite layers. We then showed, in a percutaneous external fixation model, that this composite layer had the ability to hold and release FGF-2 slowly, thereby reducing the risk of pin tract infection of the percutaneous external fixation. The objective of the current study was to clarify the effect of FGF-2\u2212apatite composite layers on titanium screws on bone formation around the screw.
Methods
We analyzed samples of previously performed animal experiments. The screws were coated with FGF-2\u2212apatite composite layers by immersing them in supersaturated calcium phosphate solutions containing FGF-2. Then, the uncoated, apatite-coated, and FGF-2\u2212apatite composite layer-coated screws were implanted percutaneously in rabbits. Finally, using inflammation-free histological sections, we histomorphometrically assessed them for the presence of bone formation. Weibull plot analysis was then applied to the data.
Results
On average, screws coated with FGF-2\u2212apatite composite layers showed a significantly higher bone apposition rate than the uncoated or apatite-coated screws. Although the difference in the average bone apposition rate was small, the FGF-2\u2212apatite composite layers produced a significant, marked reduction in the incidence of impaired bone formation around the screw compared with the incidence in the absence of FGF-2 (uncoated and apatite-coated screws). The probability of resulting in a bone apposition rate equal to or less than 63.75%, for example, is 3.5\u2009\ud7\u200910
-4
for screws coated with the FGF-2\u2212apatite composite layers versus 0.05 for screws in the absence of FGF-2.
Conclusions
FGF-2-apatite composite layer coating significantly reduced the risk of impaired bone apposition to the screw. Thus, it is feasible to use titanium screws coated with FGF-2\u2212apatite composite layers as internal fixation screws to decrease the risk of loosening
Computed tomography-guided biopsies in children: accuracy, efficiency and dose usage
No full textAbstract
Background
Computed-tomography-guided interventions are attractive for tissue sampling of paediatric tumor lesions; however, it comes with exposure to ionizing radiation. The aim of this study was to analyse the radiation dose, accuracy and speed of CT-guided interventions in paediatric patient cohort.
Methods
We retrospectively reviewed CT-guided interventions over a 10 -year period in 65 children. The intervention site consisted of bones in 38, chest (lung) in 15 and abdomen (liver, lymph nodes) in 12 cases. Radiation dose and duration of the procedures were analysed. The statistical analysis was performed using dedicated statistical software (BiAS 8.3.6 software, Epsilon Verlag, North Hasted).
Results
All interventions were performed successfully. Mean target access path to lesion within the patients was 6.0\ua0cm (min 3.5\ua0cm, max 11.2\ua0cm). Time duration to complete intervention was 25:15\ua0min (min 17:03\ua0min, max 43:00\ua0min). The dose-length product (DLP) of intervention scan was 29.5\ua0mGy\u2009\ub7\u2009cm (min 6\ua0mGy\u2009\ub7\u2009cm, max 85\ua0mGy\u2009\ub7\u2009cm) with the lowest dose for biopsies in the region of the chest ( p \u2009=\u20090.04).
Conclusions
With justified indications, CT-guided paediatric interventions are safe, effective and can be performed both, with short intervention times and low radiation exposure
Role of vasopressin and terlipressin in refractory shock compared to conventional therapy in the neonatal and pediatric population: a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis
No full textAbstract
Background
Vasopressin (AVP) and terlipressin (TP) have been used as last-line therapy in refractory shock in children. However, the efficacy and safety profiles of AVP and TP have not been determined in pediatric refractory shock of different origins. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of the addition of AVP/TP therapy in pediatric refractory shock of all causes compared to conventional therapy with fluid resuscitation and vasopressor and inotropic therapy.
Methods
We conducted a systematic review, meta-analysis, and trial sequential analysis (TSA) comparing AVP and TP to conventional therapy. MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched up to February 2016. The systematic review included all reports of AVP/TP use in the pediatric population. Reports of clinical trials were pooled using random-effects models and TSA. Main outcomes were mortality and tissue ischemia.
Results
Three randomized controlled trials and five \u201cbefore-and-after clinical\u201d trials (without comparator) met the inclusion criteria. Among 224 neonates and children (aged 0 to 18\ua0years) with refractory shock, 152 received therapy with AVP or TP. Pooled analyses showed no association between AVP/TP treatment and mortality (relative risk (RR),1.19; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.71\u20132.00), length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) (mean difference (MD), \u20133.58\ua0days; 95% CI, \u20139.05 to 1.83), and tissue ischemia (RR, 1.48; 95% CI, 0.47\u20134.62). In TSA, no significant effect on mortality and risk for developing tissue ischemia was observed with AVP/TP therapy.
Conclusion
Our results emphasize the lack of observed benefit for AVP/TP in terms of mortality and length of stay in the PICU, and suggest an increased risk for ischemic events. Our TSA suggests that further large studies are necessary to demonstrate and establish benefits of AVP/TP in children.
PROSPERO registry: CRD4201603587