Frequency Of Bathing Research Articles

A stochastic force model for the ballistic-diffusive transition of heat conduction

We theoretically study the heat conduction in a harmonic chain with a stochastic force field, in contact with two Langevin thermal baths at different temperatures. In particular, we investigate the interplay between the thermal baths properties and the size of the system. To this aim, we introduce a stochastic force field, which is simple enough to be energy-conserving for each particle of the chain, but sufficiently aleatory to induce the ballistic to diffusive transition in the conductive behavior of the chain. When this stochastic force field is absent, we observe a ballistic behavior strongly dependent on the characteristic collision frequency of the thermal baths for any size of the system. On the other hand, when the stochastic force field is activated, the diffusive behavior is established and the effect of the thermal baths is removed in the thermodynamic limit.

Heartbeat: bathing daily is associated with a lower cardiovascular risk

Lifestyle behaviours such as smoking, exercise and diet have received consideration attention as risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) with lifestyle modification now serving as the foundation for primary prevention....

Analysis of Risk Factors for Infant Diaper Dermatitis

Infants have skin that is easy to get irritated and infected by microorganisms. The use of diapers in infants often causes diaper dermatitis and disturbs the comfort. The diaper dermatitis incidence is quite high in infants aged 0-24 months. This study purposes to determine the factors that influence the infant diaper dermatitis and assess the relationship between these factors and the diaper dermatitis. The study design is an analytical observational with a cross sectional study design. Data retrieval using interview method on respondents use a structured questionnaire to obtain risk factors which are associated with the diaper dermatitis incidence. Bivariate analysis was used to examine the relationship between the diaper dermatitis incidence and contributing factors. The study result is 27 infants (36%) of 75 infants had diaper dermatitis. It was obtained p value ≤ 0.05 for solid food (fishes, p = 0,018) and diarrhea (p = 0,021). The value of p > 0.05 for the variables of age, sex, maternal education level, neighborhood, solid foods (cereals, eggs and fruits), frequency of diaper changes, frequency of bathing, and the use of protective skin cream. The conclusion is there is a correlation between diaper dermatitis and the solid food (fishes) and diarrhea.

Habitual tub bathing and risks of incident coronary heart disease and stroke

ObjectiveTub bathing is considered to have a preventive effect against cardiovascular disease (CVD) by improving haemodynamic function. However, no prospective studies have investigated the long-term effects of tub bathing with...

Skincare interventions in infants for preventing eczema and food allergy

Skincare interventions in infants for preventing eczema and food allergy

ДИНАМІКА КОЛИВАННЯ СИСТЕМИ "РІДКА ВАННА - ФУРМА" ПРИ ІНЖЕКЦІЙНІЙ ОБРОБЦІ РОЗПЛАВУ В КОВШІ

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of key waveform factors on the dynamics of the process during injection molding of cast iron with granular magnesium in ladles, their significance and relationship between them. Based on the theories of wave motion of liquid layers, a mathematical model has been developed that allows to investigate the oscillatory processes in the ladle during the processing of cast iron melt with granular magnesium. The model involved the processing of cast iron by injection of granular magnesium through the tuyeres of devices that are immersed in the melt. The oscillating system "Liquid bath - lance" is considered on the example of the bath of a heavy - duty filling bucket with its own frequency - 0.47 Hz. The influence of the most probable oscillation sources (natural frequency of the lance oscillation and the frequency of the conditional source) on the amplitude-frequency oscillations of the system elements is calculated. It is established that in addition to the natural frequencies of these elements, the system has two more natural oscillations. Given that the mass of the melt is much greater than the mass of the lance, it practically determines the behavior of the system during its excitation. That is, the system responds only to those excitations in which the frequency is close to the natural frequency of the liquid bath. In turn, it is shown that the natural frequency of the bath is largely determined by its diameter at the top. In practice, it is necessary to know the resonant frequencies of the liquid bath, the tuyere device, as well as all other sources of oscillations (gas jet decay, and oscillations of pop-up bubbles). Accordingly, it is necessary to try to dampen the amplitude with this dangerous resonant frequency. To reduce the oscillation amplitude of the bath surface when treating cast iron with granular magnesium, it is recommended to first estimate the natural resonant frequency of the liquid bath, and then select design solutions and processing parameters, avoiding dangerous frequencies close to the natural frequency of the bath. However, it should be noted that the spectrum of oscillation frequencies in the purl zone is quite wide and, of course, contains dangerous low frequencies.

Skincare Habits and Rosacea in 3,439 Chinese Adolescents: A University-based Cross-sectional Study.

The pathogenesis of rosacea remains unclear but has been reported to correlate with skin barrier function. The objective of this study was to elucidate the skin-care habits of Chinese adolescents and determine the relationship between skincare habits and rosacea. A university-based cross-sectional investigation included 310 rosacea cases and 3,129 healthy controls who underwent health examinations and completed a questionnaire about daily skincare habits. Fitzpatrick skin phototype IV is a protective factor against rosacea (adjusted adds ratio (aOR) 0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.22-0.72). Long bath duration (≥ 11 min, aOR 2.60; 95% CI 1.01-6.72) and frequent use of facial cleansers (≥ 2 times/day, aOR 1.70; 95% CI 1.17-2.36) were positively associated with rosacea, but bath frequency (p = 0.22), water temperature (p = 0.53), and sun protection (p = 0.65) were not associated with rosacea. Inappropriate skincare habits, including extended bath durations and frequent use of facial cleansers, significantly increase the risk of rosacea in Chinese adolescents.

Bathing Frequency and Onset of Functional Disability Among Japanese Older Adults: A Prospective 3-Year Cohort Study From the JAGES.

BackgroundWhile bathing styles vary among countries, most Japanese people prefer tub bathing to showers and saunas. However, few studies have examined the relationship between tub bathing and health outcomes. Accordingly, in this prospective cohort study, we investigated the association between tub bathing frequency and the onset of functional disability among older people in Japan.MethodsWe used data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). The baseline survey was conducted from August 2010 through January 2012 and enrolled 13,786 community-dwelling older people (6,482 men and 7,304 women) independent in activities of daily living. During a 3-year observation period, the onset of functional disability, identified by new certification for need of Long-Term Care Insurance, was recorded. Tub bathing frequencies in summer and winter at baseline were divided into three groups: low frequency (0–2 times/week), moderate frequency (3–6 times/week), and high frequency (≥7 times/week). We estimated the risks of functional disability in each group using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsFunctional disability was observed in a total of 1,203 cases (8.7%). Compared with the low-frequency group and after adjustment for 14 potential confounders, the hazard ratios of the moderate- and high-frequency groups were 0.91 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.75–1.10) and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.60–0.85) for summer and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.76–1.07) and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.60–0.84) for winter.ConclusionHigh tub bathing frequency is associated with lower onset of functional disability. Therefore, tub bathing might be beneficial for older people’s health.

Frequent Versus Infrequent Bathing in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Studies evaluating bathing frequency in pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD) are limited. Parents of children with AD often receive conflicting information, leading to frustration and confusion. To evaluate efficacy of twice-daily soaking baths, followed by immediate application of an occlusive moisturizer (ie, soak-and-seal [SS]), versus twice-weekly SS baths, in the acute management of pediatric AD. We conducted a randomized, single-blind, crossover-controlled trial comparing frequent versus infrequent SS baths, in children 6 months to 11 years of age with moderate-to-severe AD. Children were randomized 1:1 into 2 groups: group 1 underwent twice-weekly SS baths, for 10 minutes or less, over 2 weeks ("dry method" [DM]) followed by twice-daily SS baths, for 15 to 20 minutes, over 2 weeks ("wet method" [WM]). Group 2 did the inverse. Patients received the same moisturizer, cleanser, and low-potency topical corticosteroid (TCS). Primary outcome was AD severity evaluated using the SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD) index. Caregiver assessment of AD severity (Atopic Dermatitis Quickscore [ADQ]), quality of life, Staphylococcal aureus colonization, skin hydration, moisturizer, and TCS usage were assessed. Of the 63 children screened, 42 fulfilled inclusion criteria and were randomized. Forty (95%) completed the study. WM decreased SCORAD by 21.2 compared with DM (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.9-27.6; P < .0001). Secondary analysis showed a greater than 30% SCORAD improvement for WM versus DM (McNemar's χ2= 8.83, df= 1, P= .0030). SCORAD correlated with ADQ (r= 0.66), and ADQ also showed significant improvement with WM decreasing ADQ by 5.8 (95% CI, 1.8-9.7). No other secondary endpoints showed significance. As an acute treatment intervention, WM is superior to DM at improving disease severity in moderate-to-severe pediatric AD.

563. Association Between Chlorhexidine Gluconate Concentrations and Resistant Bacterial Bioburden on Skin

BackgroundLittle research exists to guide optimal Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing practices. We examined the association between CHG concentrations and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) on the skin. Also, we studied whether bioburden is affected by bathing method (2% CHG cloth vs. 4% liquid CHG soap) and time since last CHG bath.MethodsPatients with MRSA, CRE and VRE at 4 US hospitals were enrolled. Skin swabs (arm, chest) were collected to quantify bioburden and CHG concentrations. Information on bathing method and time since last CHG bath was collected. χ 2 test, Spearman’s correlation, and linear regression were performed.Results253 patients were enrolled. On arm skin, MRSA was detected in 17 (19%), CRE on 16 (12%), and VRE on 12 (21%) patients. Detectable CHG levels were observed in 82 (93%) MRSA, 81 (79%) CRE, and 44 (79%) VRE patients. A negative correlation was observed between bioburden and CHG concentration for MRSA (rs = −0.11, P = 0.28) and CRE (rs = −0.02, P = 0.82) while a positive correlation was observed for VRE (rs = 0.15, P = 0.28). On chest skin, MRSA was detected in 25 (28%), CRE on 18 (12%), and VRE on 7 (13%) patients. Detectable CHG levels were observed in 83 (95.4%) MRSA, 78 (72%) CRE, and 43 (77%) VRE patients. MRSA bioburden was negatively correlated with CHG concentration (rs = −0.16, P = 0.12), while a positive correlation was noted for CRE (rs = 0.18, P = 0.06) and VRE (rs =0.24, P = 0.06). There was no significant difference in bacterial bioburden between CHG concentrations (>20 ppm vs. ≤20 ppm) at both skin sites (Table 1). The bioburden did not differ by method of CHG bath. The mean estimates of bacterial bioburden on both skin sites did not show a significant decrease with increase in CHG concentrations and were not affected by time since last bath (Table 2).ConclusionDetection of MRSA, CRE and VRE was infrequent irrespective of CHG bathing method and time since last bath. We found inconsistent associations between increasing CHG concentrations and bacterial bioburden. CHG bathing frequency may be optimized for individual patient populations to augment the reduction of bacteria. Additional research to understand the association of CHG skin concentrations and resistant bacterial burden is required. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Selecting behaviour change priorities for trachoma 'F' and 'E' interventions: Aformative research study in Oromia, Ethiopia.

BackgroundTrachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness. However, little is known about the behavioural and environmental determinants of transmission of the causative organism, Chlamydia trachomatis. We conducted formative research in a trachoma hyper-endemic area of Ethiopia to explore the behaviours which are likely to contribute to trachoma transmission and map their determinants.Methodology/Principal findingsData on water use, hygiene, defecation, and sleeping arrangements were collected from five communities during the dry and rainy seasons in 2016. Data collection involved direct observation in households (n = 20), interviews with caregivers (n = 20) and focus group discussions (n = 11). Although several behaviours that likely contribute to trachoma transmission were identified, no single behaviour stood out as the dominant contributor. Hygiene practices reflected high levels of poverty and water scarcity. Face washing and soap use varied within and between households, and were associated with other factors such as school attendance. Children’s faces were rarely wiped to remove nasal or ocular discharge, which was not perceived to be socially undesirable. Bathing and laundry were performed infrequently due to the amount of time and water required. Open defecation was a normative practice, particularly for young children. Latrines, when present, were poorly constructed, maintained and used. Young children and parents slept closely together and shared bedding that was infrequently washed.Conclusions/SignificanceExisting norms and enabling factors in this context favour the development of interventions to improve facial cleanliness as more feasible than those that reduce unsafe faeces disposal. Interventions to increase the frequency of bathing and laundry may also be infeasible unless water availability within the home is improved.

Finnish sauna bathing does not increase or decrease the risk of cancer in men: A prospective cohort study

IntroductionEvidence suggests that heat therapy can be used to prevent and treat cancer; anecdotal reports suggest passive heat therapies may increase cancer risk. Finnish sauna bathing has been linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, but its association with cancer risk is unknown. We aimed to assess the prospective association between frequency of sauna bathing and the risk of all-cause and site-specific cancers using the Kuopio Ischemic Heart Disease prospective cohort. MethodsBaseline sauna bathing habits were assessed in 2173 men aged 42–61 years with no history of cancer. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer were calculated using Cox proportional hazard models. We corrected for within-person variability in sauna bathing habits using data from repeat assessments taken 11 years apart. ResultsDuring a median follow-up of 24.3 years, 588 (27.1%) all-cause cancer cases were recorded. The age-adjusted regression dilution ratio of sauna bathing frequency was 0.69 (0.62–0.76). In multivariable-adjusted analyses, the HRs (95% CIs) of all-cause cancer were 0.92 (0.76–1.11) and 0.92 (0.66–1.27) for men who had 2-3 and ≥4 sauna sessions per week, respectively, compared with men who had ≤1 sauna session per week. The non-significant findings were consistent for prostate, gastrointestinal and lung cancers on multivariate adjustment. ConclusionFrequent Finnish sauna bathing is not associated with the risk of cancer in a middle-aged male Caucasian population. Further studies are required to confirm or refute these findings, particularly in women and other age groups.

Thermodynamic uncertainty relation in thermal transport.

We use the fundamental nonequilibrium steady-state fluctuation symmetry and derive a condition on the validity of the thermodynamic uncertainty relation (TUR) in thermal transport problems, classical and quantum alike. We test this condition and study the breakdown of the TUR in different thermal transport junctions of bosonic and electronic degrees of freedom. We prove that the TUR is valid in harmonic oscillator junctions. In contrast, in the nonequilibrium spin-boson model, which realizes many-body effects, it is satisfied in the Markovian limit, but violations arise as we tune (reduce) the cutoff frequency of the thermal baths, thus observing non-Markovian dynamics. We consider heat transport by noninteracting electrons in a tight-binding chain model. We show that the TUR is feasibly violated by tuning, e.g., the hybridization energy of the chain to the metal leads. These results manifest that the validity of the TUR relies on the statistics of the participating carriers, their interaction, and the nature of their couplings to the macroscopic contacts (metal electrodes and phonon baths).

Study on the changes of ultrasonic parameters over supercritical Ni-Co electroplating process

This work discusses the influence of changes to ultrasound (US) parameters over the nickel cobalt (Ni-Co) metal thin film properties produced by supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) electroplating. Additionally, Ni-Co films were produced by conventional electroplating and silent SC-CO2 and compared against each other. The discussion on metal thin film properties revolves around variations to the bath type ultrasonic power (15 W and 20 W) and frequency (42 k Hz and 72 kHz) during experiments. The properties provided by the three electroplating processes and analyzed include: grain sizes, film elemental content analyses, surface microstructures, film hardness, corrosion resistance, surface roughness, crystalline structure and preferential growth, etc. From the results it was clear that quality of films produced by US-SC-CO2 was improved compared to that of films produced by silent SC-CO2, which itself was better than those produced by conventional electroplating. However, when US power was varied we observed a decline in the mechanical properties of the produced films. The combination of ultrasonic agitation with SC-CO2 allows for improved mechanical properties such as: lower surface roughness, finer grain size and surface morphologies, increased corrosion resistance and film hardness. The ultrasound agitation applied to SC-CO2 electroplating enhanced the formation of alloyed metal as ultrasonic agitation increased the electrolyte flowability during electroplating process resulting in increased mass transfer while at the same time achieving a surface cleaning effect which removed metal ions with poor adhesion and other unwanted particles. Moreover, application of ultrasonic agitation avoids the use of surfactants so only changes to the physical phenomena and no changes to the chemical composition of the deposited thin films were observed, meaning less pollution to the electrolyte and higher purity of the deposited films. The US-SC-CO2 electroplating method described in this work effectively enhanced the mechanical properties of the deposited thin films compared to those produced by both silent SC-CO2 and conventional electroplating processes.

Homelessness, Personal Hygiene, and MRSA Nasal Colonization among Persons Who Inject Drugs.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is a leading cause of hospitalization and medical visits among individuals experiencing homelessness and also among persons who inject drugs (PWID), populations with significant overlap in urban centers in the USA. While injection drug use is a risk factor for MRSA skin infections, MRSA is also known to transmit easily in crowded, public locations in which individuals have reduced personal hygiene. Individuals in urban centers who experience homelessness or drug addiction may spend significant amounts of time in environments where MRSA can be easily transmitted, and may also experience reduced access to facilities to maintain personal hygiene. We assessed the relationship between homelessness, personal hygiene, and MRSA nasal colonization, a proxy for MRSA infection risk, in a study of PWID in Boston, MA (n = 78). Sleeping in a homeless shelter for at least one night in the last 3months was significantly associated with MRSA nasal colonization (OR 3.0; p = 0.02; 95% CI 1.2, 7.6). Sleeping at more than one place during the last week (considered a metric of elevated housing instability) was also associated with a threefold increase in odds of MRSA nasal colonization (OR 3.1; p = 0.01; 95% CI 1.3, 7.6). MRSA nasal colonization was strongly associated with use of public showers (OR 13.7; p = 0.02; 95% CI 1.4, 132.8), although few people in this study (4 of 78) reported using these public facilities. Sharing bedding with other people was also associated with increased risk of MRSA colonization (OR 2.2; p = 0.05; 95% CI 1.0-4.7). No associations between hand hygiene, frequency of bathing or clothes laundering, or street sleeping were observed. Use of public facilities supporting persons experiencing homelessness and housing instability, including shelters and public showers, is associated with an increased risk of MRSA nasal colonization in this study. Personal hygiene behaviors appear less associated with MRSA nasal colonization. Environmental assessments of MRSA contamination in homeless shelters and public sanitation facilities are warranted so as to inform appropriate intervention activities.

Pseudo-Scalar $$\mathbf{q}\bar{\mathbf{q}}$$ q q ¯ Bound States at Finite Temperatures Within a Dyson-Schwinger–Bethe-Salpeter Approach

The combined Dyson-Schwinger--Bethe-Salpeter equations are employed at non-zero temperature. The truncations refer to a rainbow-ladder approximation augmented with an interaction kernel which facilitates a special temperature dependence. At low temperatures, $T \to 0$, we recover a quark propagator from the Dyson-Schwinger (gap) equation which delivers, e.g. mass functions $B$, quark renormalization wave function $A$, and two-quark condensate $\la q \bar q \ra$ smoothly interpolating to the $T = 0$ results, despite the broken O(4) symmetry in the heat bath and discrete Matsubara frequencies. Besides the Matsubara frequency difference entering the interaction kernel, often a Debye screening mass term is introduced when extending the $T = 0$ kernel to non-zero temperatures. At larger temperatures, however, we are forced to drop this Debye mass in the infra-red part of the longitudinal interaction kernel to keep the melting of the two-quark condensate in a range consistent with lattice QCD results. Utilizing that quark propagator for the first few hundred fermion Matsubara frequencies we evaluate the Bethe-Salpeter vertex function in the pseudo-scalar $ q \bar q$ channel for the lowest boson Matsubara frequencies and find a competition of $ q \bar q$ bound states and quasi-free two-quark states at $T = {\cal O}$ (100 MeV). This indication of pseudo-scalar meson dissociation below the anticipated QCD deconfinement temperature calls for an improvement of the approach, which is based on an interaction adjusted to the meson spectrum at $T = 0$.

Relationship of daily hot water bathing at home and hot water spa bathing with underlying diseases in middle-aged and elderly ambulatory patients: A Japanese multicenter cross-sectional study

The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship of daily hot water bathing at home (DHW) and hot water spa bathing (HSPA) with the number of underlying diseases in middle-aged and elderly ambulatory patients.We defined the number of underlying diseases as the main outcome and dependent (criterion) variable. The frequency and time of DHW and the frequency of HSPA were set as explanatory variables. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for each frequency and time, adjusted age and sex. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were calculated.Among the 1261 patients who participated, there was no significant difference in age between males (n = 508, 72.8 ± 6.8 years) and females (n = 753, 73.5 ± 6.9 years). There was also no significant age difference between males (number of diseases: 2.7 ± 2.0 pts.) and females (number of diseases: 2.7 ± 2.1 pts.) in the occurrence of underlying diseases. Frequency and time of DHW were not associated with the occurrence of underlying diseases. However, compared with participants who utilized hot water spa at least once a week, the occurrence of underlying diseases was significantly associated with bathing frequency: one to three times per month (OR 2.72, 95% CI 1.63–4.52); twice or five times a year (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.25–2.94).In conclusion, lower frequency of HSPA was significantly associated with increased risk of the occurrence of underlying diseases in middle-aged and elderly ambulatory patients. However, the relationship between proactive use of hot water spa and patients’ mental and physical support should be clarified by well-designed cohort studies.The present study was registered as UMIN000033018 by the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR) in Japan (refer: https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000037643).

Effect of heat stress on crossbred dairy cattle in tropical Nepal: Impact on blood parameters

Chitwan district of Nepal has been known as the dairy kingdom of the country considering its strategic location andpotential to easily provision inputs and produce as well as market quality milk across the country. However, theclimate especially during summer has been a challenge to farmers that potentially compromise the daily milk yieldof cows. Therefore, sixteen crossbred dairy cattle were placed in a RCBD fashion to assess the impacts of cold waterbathing in ameliorating effect of heat stress on their performance and body physiology. Routine assessment of themicroclimate within the experimental shed and blood parameters was made. The results from the experimentinferred that frequency of bathing (none, once, twice or thrice a day) did not have any significant impact onHaemoglobin, Haematocrit, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride and Bicarbonate levels in the blood plasma(p&gt;0.05). Inaddition, the animals did not exhibit any signs of physiological distress clinically either. A detailed study scopingtemperature humidity index and over a number of other milk and blood parameters are to be tested across a numberof other available breeds too in order for the researchers to come to a meaningful strategy to beat the heat stress.

Sauna bathing is associated with reduced cardiovascular mortality and improves risk prediction in men and women: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundPrevious evidence indicates that sauna bathing is related to a reduced risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in men. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sauna habits and CVD mortality in men and women, and whether adding information on sauna habits to conventional cardiovascular risk factors is associated with improvement in prediction of CVD mortality risk.MethodsSauna bathing habits were assessed at baseline in a sample of 1688 participants (mean age 63; range 53–74 years), of whom 51.4% were women. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated to investigate the relationships of frequency and duration of sauna use with CVD mortality.ResultsA total of 181 fatal CVD events occurred during a median follow-up of 15.0 years (interquartile range, 14.1–15.9). The risk of CVD mortality decreased linearly with increasing sauna sessions per week with no threshold effect. In age- and sex-adjusted analysis, compared with participants who had one sauna bathing session per week, HRs (95% CIs) for CVD mortality were 0.71 (0.52 to 0.98) and 0.30 (0.14 to 0.64) for participants with two to three and four to seven sauna sessions per week, respectively. After adjustment for established CVD risk factors, potential confounders including physical activity, socioeconomic status, and incident coronary heart disease, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) were 0.75 (0.52 to 1.08) and 0.23 (0.08 to 0.65), respectively. The duration of sauna use (minutes per week) was inversely associated with CVD mortality in a continuous manner. Addition of information on sauna bathing frequency to a CVD mortality risk prediction model containing established risk factors was associated with a C-index change (0.0091; P = 0.010), difference in − 2 log likelihood (P = 0.019), and categorical net reclassification improvement (4.14%; P = 0.004).ConclusionsHigher frequency and duration of sauna bathing are each strongly, inversely, and independently associated with fatal CVD events in middle-aged to elderly males and females. The frequency of sauna bathing improves the prediction of the long-term risk for CVD mortality.

Magnetically-propelled hydrogel particle motors produced by ultrasound assisted hydrodynamic electrospray ionization jetting.

One of the most promising future applications of hydrogels is drug delivery. The hydrogels act as a biomedical cargo model to reach the target and release drugs to cure diseases. This application requires no side effects of the hydrogel and the ability to pass through porous media (e.g. membranes, interstitial tissue etc.) with nanoscaled channels. At the same time, the hydrogel must be mass-producible in an economic way. In this work, we show that hydrodynamic electrospray ionization jetting combined with ultrasound can fulfill these high requirements. This method can produce mucoadhesive micro-/nano-particles, which are small enough to pass through the gastrointestinal epithelium. The average size of the produced particles is exactly predictable by controlling the spraying distance, spraying mode, alginate concentration, ultrasound bath frequency and counter electrode shape. These micro-/nano-particles are loaded with biocompatible magnetite nanoparticles, and propelled by a rotating magnetic field between 5 to 20 m T and a frequency from 1 Hz to 100 Hz. These rotating micro-/nano-particle motors perform directional motion in solution, offering a promising possibility for magnetically controlled drug delivery.