19683 research outputs found
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A gene therapy targeting medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) did not protect against diabetes-induced cardiac pathology
No full textAbstract: Diabetic cardiomyopathy describes heart disease in patients with diabetes who have no other cardiac conditions but have a higher risk of developing heart failure. Specific therapies to treat the diabetic heart are limited. A key mechanism involved in the progression of diabetic cardiomyopathy is dysregulation of cardiac energy metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine if increasing the expression of medium-chain acyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (MCAD; encoded by Acadm), a key regulator of fatty acid oxidation, could improve the function of the diabetic heart. Male mice were administered streptozotocin to induce diabetes, which led to diastolic dysfunction 8 weeks post-injection. Mice then received cardiac-selective adeno-associated viral vectors encoding MCAD (rAAV6:MCAD) or control AAV and were followed for 8 weeks. In the non-diabetic heart, rAAV6:MCAD increased MCAD expression (mRNA and protein) and increased Acadl and Acadvl, but an increase in MCAD enzyme activity was not detectable. rAAV6:MCAD delivery in the diabetic heart increased MCAD mRNA expression but did not significantly increase protein, activity, or improve diabetes-induced cardiac pathology or molecular metabolic and lipid markers. The uptake of AAV viral vectors was reduced in the diabetic versus non-diabetic heart, which may have implications for the translation of AAV therapies into the clinic. Key messages: The effects of increasing MCAD in the diabetic heart are unknown.Delivery of rAAV6:MCAD increased MCAD mRNA and protein, but not enzyme activity, in the non-diabetic heart.Independent of MCAD enzyme activity, rAAV6:MCAD increased Acadl and Acadvl in the non-diabetic heart.Increasing MCAD cardiac gene expression alone was not sufficient to protect against diabetes-induced cardiac pathology.AAV transduction efficiency was reduced in the diabetic heart, which has clinical implications
Two sides of the same fence: A model of the origins and consequences of meat-related conflict in omnivores and veg*ans
No full textNo description supplied</p
Associations of early life and childhood risk factors with obstructive sleep apnoea in middle-age
No full textBackground and Objective: Early-life risk factors for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are poorly described, yet this knowledge may be critical to inform preventive strategies. We conducted the first study to investigate the association between early-life risk factors and OSA in middle-aged adults. Methods: Data were from population-based Tasmanian Longitudinal Health Study cohort (n = 3550) followed from 1st to 6th decades of life. Potentially relevant childhood exposures were available from a parent-completed survey at age 7-years, along with previously characterized risk factor profiles. Information on the primary outcome, probable OSA (based on a STOP-Bang questionnaire cut-off ≥5), were collected when participants were 53 years old. Associations were examined using logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders. Analyses were repeated using the Berlin questionnaire. Results: Maternal asthma (OR = 1.5; 95% CI 1.1–2.0), maternal smoking (OR = 1.2; 1.05, 1.5), childhood pleurisy/pneumonia (OR = 1.3; 1.04, 1.7) and frequent bronchitis (OR = 1.2; 1.01, 1.5) were associated with probable OSA. The risk-factor profiles of ‘parental smoking’ and ‘frequent asthma and bronchitis’ were also associated with probable OSA (OR = 1.3; 1.01, 1.6 and OR = 1.3; 1.01–1.9, respectively). Similar associations were found for Berlin questionnaire-defined OSA. Conclusions: We found novel temporal associations of maternal asthma, parental smoking and frequent lower respiratory tract infections before the age of 7 years with adult OSA. While determination of their pathophysiological and any causal pathways require further research, these may be useful to flag the risk of OSA within clinical practice and create awareness and vigilance among at-risk groups
Evaluating the reliability of the athlete sleep behavior questionnaire (ASBQ): a meta-analysis of Cronbach’s alpha and intraclass correlation coefficient
No full textAbstract:- Background: The Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ) was designed to identify maladaptive sleep practices among athletes. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the internal consistency and the test-retest reliability coefficients of the ASBQ. Methods: A systematic search across 10 databases from inception of the ASBQ to August 2023 was performed. Publications that reported estimates of internal consistency and/or test-retest reliability of the ASBQ were included. A random-effects model was employed to estimate the overall reliability measures of the ASBQ. Results: Meta-analytic results demonstrated a good level of internal consistency within the ASBQ, evidenced by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.73 (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.80). This suggests a modest correlation among the questionnaire items, supporting its reliability as an effective measure of sleep behavior. In terms of test-retest reliability, our meta-analysis revealed a very good degree of consistency (ICC = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.87 to 0.89), suggesting that the ASBQ can serve as an instrument for monitoring and evaluating changes in athletes’ sleep behavior over time. No evidence of publication bias was identified. Conclusion: While the ASBQ demonstrates a moderate level of internal consistency, its test-retest reliability suggests that it can serve as an instrument for longitudinal assessments of athletes’ sleep behavior. Future studies focusing on refining the ASBQ to optimize its internal consistency and validate its applicability across diverse athletic populations are warranted.</p
A systematic review of interventions targeting modifiable factors that impact dietary intake in athletes
No full textAppropriate dietary intake has been found to positively impact athletes' performance, body composition, and recovery from exercise. Strategies to optimise dietary intake often involve targeting one or more of the many factors that are known to influence dietary intake. This review aims to investigate the types and effectiveness of interventions used to impact modifiable factors of dietary intake in athletes. MEDLINE, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science were searched from inception to May 2022 for intervention studies that measured dietary intake with a quantitative tool and explored at least one factor thought to influence the dietary intake of adult athletes. Study quality was assessed using the ADA Quality Criteria Checklist: Primary Research. Twenty-four studies were included. The most common interventions focused on nutrition education (n=10), macronutrient adjustment (n=7), and physical activity (n=5). The three most common factors thought to influence dietary intake addressed were nutrition knowledge (n=12), hunger and appetite (n=8), and body composition (n=4). Significant changes in dietary intake were found in 16 studies, with nutrition education interventions returning significant results in the largest proportion of studies (n=8). Study quality within this review was mostly average (n=4 80%). As studies included were published between 1992 and 2021, interventions and factors explored in older studies may require up-to-date research to investigate possible differences in results due to time-related confounders.</p
Understanding farmers’ barriers to health and mental health-related help-seeking: The development, factor structure, and reliability of the Farmer Help-Seeking Scale
No full textPurpose: The aim of this research was to develop a contextually and culturally appropriate scale to assess farmers’ barriers to health-related help-seeking. Methods: An initial pool of items was developed from the academic literature and input from an expert panel of farmers, rural academics, and rural clinicians. A draft 32-item questionnaire was then developed and sent to farmers registered with FARMbase, which is an Australian national farmer database. Findings: Two hundred and seventy-four farmers completed the draft questionnaire (93.7% male, 73.7% aged 56-75 years). An exploratory factor analysis identified 6 factors; “Health Issues are a Low Priority,” “Concerns about Stigma,” “Structural Health System Barriers,” “Minimization and Normalization,” “Communication Barriers,” and “Continuity of Care.”. Test-retest reliability was examined with a further 10 farmers (90% male, Mean age = 57, SD = 5.91), who completed the questionnaire twice (at 2- to 3-week intervals). Results indicated moderate-good test-retest reliability. Conclusions: The resulting 24-item Farmer Help-Seeking Scale provides a measure of help-seeking that is specifically designed to capture the unique context, culture, and attitudes that can interfere with farmers’ help-seeking, and inform the development of strategies to increase health-service utilization in this at-risk group
Nonlinear dynamic response of FG-GPLRC beams induced by two successive moving loads
No full textIn this study, the nonlinear dynamic analysis of functionally graded graphene nanoplatelet reinforced composite (FG-GPLRC) beams is examined. The material properties can be estimated by using the modified Halpin-Tsai model and rule of mixture. Based on the third-order shear deformation theory and the von Kármán assumption, the equations of motion is derived and solved by using Jacobi-Ritz method incorporating with iteration procedure. Several effects such as number of layers, weight fraction of graphene nanoplatelets, material distributions, beam geometry, velocity of moving loads, distance between the loads are considered. For nonlinear forced vibration, the results indicate a considerable dissimilarity in the nonlinear dynamic deflection of the beams under moving loads when compared to linear analysis. The incorporation of additional GPLs into the beams yields a significant improvement in the strength of the beam, resulting in lower deflection. The new findings on nonlinear response of the beams excited by one and two moving loads are presented.</p
Transcriptional and hormonal control of adipose Treg heterogeneity and function
No full textAdipose tissue stores excess energy and produces a broad range of factors that regulate multiple physiological processes including systemic energy homeostasis. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) plays a particularly important role in glucose metabolism as its endocrine function underpins food uptake and energy expenditure. Caloric excess triggers VAT inflammation which can impair insulin sensitivity and cause metabolic deregulation. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) that reside in the VAT suppress inflammation and protect from metabolic disease. The cellular components of VAT and its secretory products play a vital role in fostering the differentiation and maintenance of VAT Tregs. Critically, the physiology and inflammatory tone of VAT exhibit sex-specific disparities, resulting in substantial VAT Treg heterogeneity. Indeed, cytokines and sex hormones promote the differentiation of distinct populations of mature VAT Tregs, each characterized by unique phenotypes, homeostatic requirements, and functions. This review focuses on key findings that have significantly advanced our understanding of VAT Treg biology and the current state of the field, while also discussing open questions that require further exploration.</p
Configuration of a telerehabilitation system to deliver a comprehensive aphasia therapy program via telerehabilitation (TeleCHAT): A human-centred design approach
No full textThe delivery of Intensive Comprehensive Aphasia Programs (ICAPs) via telerehabilitation is a potential solution to the ongoing geographical, transport, and mobility barriers that people with aphasia (PWA) face in accessing this service model. To ensure the ICAP retains its evidence-based elements, configuration of the telerehabilitation system requires consideration of user and therapy task requirements. The human-centred design (HCD) process incorporates user and task considerations when developing technological systems. Therefore, the aim of this study was to use the HCD process to translate the Comprehensive High-dose Aphasia Therapy (CHAT) program for delivery via telerehabilitation (TeleCHAT).</p