Total Group Of Participants Research Articles

Resistance training's impact on blood biomarkers and cognitive function in older adults with low and high risk of mild cognitive impairment: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundThe aging brain exhibits a neuroinflammatory state, driven partly by peripheral pro-inflammatory stimuli, that accelerates cognitive deterioration. A growing body of evidence clearly indicates that physical exercise partly alleviates neuroinflammation and positively affects the aging process and cognition. In this randomized controlled trial, we aimed to observe the effect of 12 weeks of resistance training (RT) on peripheral biomarker levels, cognitive function changes and their interrelationship, and explore differences in those exercise-induced changes in older adults with high risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) compared to older adults with low risk of MCI.MethodsFifty-two participants (aged 60–85 years old, 28 female) were randomly allocated to a 12 week lower limb RT program consisting of two training sessions per week or waiting list control group. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was used to stratify participants screened as high (< 26/30) or low risk (≥ 26/30) of MCI. We assessed serum Interleukin 6 (IL-6), Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), and Kynurenine (KYN) levels. Cognitive measurement consisted of and four subtests of Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (ANAM), the two-choice reaction time, go/no-go, mathematical processing, and memory search test.ResultsTwelve weeks of RT improved Go/No-go test results in older adults with high MCI risk. RT did not significantly affect blood biomarkers. However, IGF-1 level increases were associated with improvements in response time on the mathematical processing test in the exercise group, and IL-6 level increases were associated with improvements in response time on the memory search test in the total group of participants. Finally, KYN levels significantly differed between older adults with low and high MCI risk but no significant associations with performance were found.ConclusionOur study results suggest a different effect of RT on inhibitory control between older adults with low compared to high MCI risk. IGF-1 may play a role in the mechanism behind the cognitive benefit of RT and KYN may be a surrogate biomarker for neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on the Cognitive Functions in Persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The main objective of the research was to compare the cognitive functioning of a sample of persons with IDD (Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities) before the pandemic (2019) and after the pandemic (2020 and 2021), and to analyse the impact according to age and level of IDD impairment. The participants were 92 persons with IDD, of whom 43 were female (46.7%). The mean age in 2019 was 47.07 years (SD = 6.78). All the participants were living with family members. The CAMCOG-DS test from CAMDEX was used to assess the cognitive functions. The results indicate a worsening in cognitive functions (attention-concentration, abstract thought, language, and praxis) after lockdown, in both the total group of participants and the mild-moderate impairment group, and in both age groups. In the severely affected group, we found an improvement in the cognitive functions assessed after lockdown. These results are similar to those found in people with dementia and in the general ageing population. Results were discussed in relation to the consequences of isolation in people with IDD, as well as providing guidelines for future pandemic situations.

Handgrip as a measure of muscle strength and its physiological dependence on therapeutic variables: A randomized case

Clinical and medical data findings have traditionally been more representative of male than female subjects, and when combined, have not clearly differentiated between the groups. In this study there were no research questions initially contemplated, as the data were obtained from an educational setting, where participants completed tasks as part of a pedagogical program of preparation. The nature of the post-hoc analysis renders the study as a hypothesis-generating type rather than a hypothesis-testing one. It began as a cross-sectional quantitative analysis of performance on a task to explore the relationship between hand grip and three independent physiological variables. The data collected from all subjects were randomized since the total group of participants contained a disproportionate number of females as compared to males, this being a result of a demographic predominance of female students in a program of teacher preparation. Graphical analysis with the slope taken as a measure of hand grip dependence on three independent variables, and the correlation value used as a measure of association between variables yielded discernible differences. The grip strength dependence on the hand size as well as the wrist thickness show consistently significant differences for females only, with t-test of significance (p < .001), and large effect size differences based on Cohen’s d values of 3.08 and 1.92, respectively. The significance of the finding that female grip strength depends the most on wrist thickness has implications for rehabilitative and therapeutic settings.

Cardiorespiratory responses of air filtration: A randomized crossover intervention trial in seniors living in Beijing: Beijing Indoor Air Purifier StudY, BIAPSY

In this Beijing Indoor Air Purifier StudY (BIAPSY), we conducted a randomized crossover intervention trial in a panel of 35 non-smoking senior participants with free-living, with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Portable air filtration units were randomly allocated to active-(filter in) for 2weeks and sham-mode (filter out) for 2weeks in the households. We examined the differences in indoor air pollutant concentrations in 20 study homes and a suite of cardio-respiratory biomarker levels in study participants between filtration modes, with and without adjustment for potential confounders. Following active filtration, we observed significant reductions from 60±45 to 24±15μg/m3 in ten-day averages of indoor PM2.5 and reductions from 3.87±1.65 to 1.81±1.19m−1.10−5 in ten-day averages of indoor BC, compared to sham-mode filtration. The major components of indoor PM2.5, including water soluble organics, NO3−, SO42−, Zn2+, Pb2+ and K+, were also reduced significantly by 42% to 63%. However, following active filtration, we only observed significant reductions on systemic inflammation measured as of IL-8 at 58.59% (95% CI: −76.31, −27.64) in the total group of participants and 70.04% (95% CI: −83.05, −47.05) in the subset of COPD patients, with adjustments. We were not able to detect improvements on lung function, blood pressure, and heart rate variability, following short-term intervention of two-week active air filtration. In conclusion, our results showed that indoor air filtration produced clear improvement on indoor air quality, but no demonstrable changes in the cardio-respiratory outcomes of study interest observed in the seniors living with real-world air pollution exposures.

ANÁLISE DA NOTIFICAÇÃO DE EVENTOS ADVERSOS EM HOSPITAIS ACREDITADOS

Objetivou-se analisar a notificação de eventos adversos em hospitais acreditados do interior de São Paulo, sob a perspectiva da equipe de enfermagem. Estudo descritivo, tipo survey, transversal, com abordagem quantitativa, realizado em três hospitais acreditados do interior do estado de São Paulo, com amostra de 61 enfermeiros e 250 técnicos e auxiliares de enfermagem. A coleta de dados ocorreu entre novembro de 2014 e abril de 2015. Demonstrou-se que 126 (75,4%) participantes possuíam conhecimento para realizar notificação de eventos adversos, mas apenas 109 (65,3%) relataram ter autorização para realizá-las, sendo os enfermeiros apontados pelos participantes como responsáveis por esta ação. Do total de participantes, 76 (45,5%) afirmaram que a notificação dos eventos gera medidas punitivas para os profissionais envolvidos. Apesar disso, 62 (37,1%) não destacaram medo de punição como fator dificultador. A instituição deve priorizar o aprendizado e a cultura de segurança, focada na melhoria da qualidade do atendimento.

Personality traits predict job stress, depression and anxiety among junior physicians

BackgroundHigh levels of stress and deteriorating mental health among medical students are commonly reported. In Bergen, Norway, we explored the impact of personality traits measured early in their curriculum on stress reactions and levels of depression and anxiety symptoms as junior physicians following graduation.MethodsMedical students (n = 201) from two classes participated in a study on personality traits and mental health early in the curriculum. A questionnaire measuring personality traits (Basic Character Inventory (BCI)) was used during their third undergraduate year. BCI assesses four personality traits: neuroticism, extroversion, conscientiousness and reality weakness. Questionnaires measuring mental health (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Symptom Checklist 25 (SCL-25)), and stress (Perceived Medical School Stress (PMSS)) were used during their third and sixth undergraduate year. During postgraduate internship, Cooper’s Job Stress Questionnaire (CJSQ) was used to measure perceived job stress, while mental health and stress reactions were reassessed using HADS and SCL-25.ResultsExtroversion had the highest mean value (5.11) among the total group of participants, while reality weakness had the lowest (1.51). Neuroticism and reality weakness were related to high levels of perceived job stress (neuroticism r = .19, reality weakness r = .17) as well as higher levels of anxiety symptoms (neuroticism r = .23, reality weakness r = .33) and symptoms of depression (neuroticism r = .21, reality weakness r = .36) during internship. Neuroticism indirectly predicted stress reactions and levels of depression and anxiety symptoms. These relations were mediated by perceived job stress, while reality weakness predicted these mental health measures directly. Extroversion, on the other hand, protected against symptoms of depression (r = −.20). Furthermore, females reported higher levels of job stress than males (difference = 7.52).ConclusionsCertain personality traits measured early in the course of medical school relates to mental health status as junior physicians during postgraduate internship training. This relation is mediated by high levels of perceived job stress.

The prevalence and correlates of meeting the current physical activity for health guidelines in older people: A cross-sectional study in Brazilian women

This study aimed to identify the prevalence and correlates of meeting the current physical activity for health (PAfH) guidelines, proposed by the World Health Organization in 2010, in community-dwelling older women from Brazil. A cross-sectional study was performed with 1806 women (aged 60.0–92.7 years) who were randomly selected from eighteen care centers. The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to determine the weekly time spent in physical activities, and this variable was categorized into three categories (0<150min/wk; 1: 150–299.9min/wk; 2: ≥300min/wk). Age, race/ethnicity, economic class, education level, occupational and marital status, body mass index and blood pressure status, medical conditions, use of medications, and self-rated health status were the potential correlates. The ordinal logistic regression was used as a measure of association. From the total group of participants, 49.9% followed the current recommendations related to basic health benefits (150–299min/wk), and 35.9% met the guidelines for additional health effects (300 or more min/wk). Women with secondary complete education (OR=1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–1.74), positive self-rated health (OR=5.25, 95% CI: 2.10–13.09), and high blood pressure (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 1.09–1.62) were more likely to meet the current PAfH guidelines than their peers with primary incomplete education, negative self-rated health, and normal blood pressure. Increasing age was inversely associated with meeting the PAfH guidelines (odds ranging: 0.77–0.48). These results highlighted the elderly population subgroups, in a developing country, that needspecific guidelinesfor inclusion inhealth programs andmotivation toparticipate in physical activities.

YKL-40 levels are independently associated with albuminuria in type 2 diabetes

Objective and designYKL-40 is involved in inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, and is increased in patients with type 1 diabetes, with an independent association between increasing YKL-40 levels and increasing levels of albuminuria. YKL-40 is associated with atherosclerosis and an increased cardiovascular mortality in the general population. In the present study YKL-40 levels were examined in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) with increasing levels of albuminuria, known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.Materials and methodsOne-hundred-five patients with T2D were examined: 49 with normoalbuminuria (N, U-albumin/creatinine < 2.5 mg/mmol), 35 with persistent microalbuminuria (MA, 2.5-25 mg/mmol) and 21 with persistent macroalbuminuria/diabetic nephropathy (DN, > 25 mg/mmol). The control group consisted of 20 healthy individuals (C). Groups were matched according to age, gender and known duration of diabetes.ResultsMedian levels (interquartile range) of serum YKL-40 were significantly higher in N and MA vs. C (86 (55-137) ng/ml and 84 (71-147) ng/ml, respectively vs. 41 (33-55) ng/ml, p < 0.01) and even higher in patients with DN (120 (83-220) ng/ml, p < 0.001 for all comparisons). YKL-40 levels correlated with urinary albumin/creatinine-ratio in the total group of participants (r = 0.41, p < 0.001). Significant intercorrelations of YKL-40 were found with age, duration of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, lipid levels, HbA1c and HOMA-IR. After adjustment for significant covariates, albuminuria was significantly associated with YKL-40 levels (r = 0.32, p = 0.006).ConclusionsYKL-40 levels are elevated in patients with T2D with an independent association between increasing YKL-40 levels and increasing levels of albuminuria. The study suggests a role of YKL-40 in the progressing vascular complications in patients with T2D.

Effect of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation on semen profile and enzymatic anti-oxidant capacity of seminal plasma in infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomised study

Effective medical treatments of infertile men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermia (OAT) have yet to be determined. This study considered two major aims: (i) to measure the changes in semen parameters, omega-3 fatty acids (FA) compositions and anti-oxidant activity; (ii) to determine if the administration of omega-3 FA affect semen quality in infertile men with OAT. Two hundred thirty-eight infertile men with idiopathic OAT were randomised to eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA), 1.84 g per day (EPAX 5500TG; Lysaker, Norway), or placebo for 32 weeks. The semen parameters were assessed according to WHO criteria, and the EPA and DHA concentrations were determined in red blood cells (RBCs), seminal plasma and sperm cells at baseline and 32-week treatment period. Of randomised subjects, 211 (88.7%) completed the full 32-week randomisation period. The anti-oxidant status of seminal plasma was also evaluated by measuring the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase-like activity. In the total group of participants, all EPA and DHA levels in RBC, and seminal plasma, were statistically significantly correlated with those in spermatozoa (both P = 0.001). A significant improvement of sperm cell total count (from 38.7 ± 8.7 ' 10⁶ to 61.7 ± 11.2 ' 10⁶, P = 0.001) and sperm cell concentration (from 15.6 ± 4.1 ' 10⁶ per ml to 28.7 ± 4.4 ' 10⁶ per ml, P = 0.001) was observed in the omega-3 group. A significant positive correlation was found between the EPA and DHA in seminal plasma and the semen parameters. Seminal plasma EPA and DHA concentrations were positively correlated with seminal plasma SOD-like and catalase-like activity (both P = 0.001). In seminal plasma, both SOD-like and catalase-like activity were positively correlated with sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. Oligoasthenoteratospermic men with low levels of EPA and DHA may benefit from omega-3 FA supplementation. Further studies are warranted to shed more light on this important issue.

Survey of motivation for use of voluntary counseling and testing services for HIV in a high risk area of Shenyang, China

BackgroundHIV voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is considered an effective prevention method of HIV infection. In order to understand the VCT environment and enhance the effective delivery of VCT services in a country, an accurate assessment of the current status of VCT services is very important.MethodsFrom July 2006 to June 2007, we conducted a cross-sectional survey using a face to face interview among 2676 VCT clients from a high risk area in Shenyang city, China.ResultsThe major demographic characteristics among 2,676 VCT clients were: 41.1% were in the age range 20 to 30 years; 73.1% were males; and 67.1% had attained the level of junior high school education. The primary information source for VCT services was mass media like television (TV) and newspaper in 88.9%. 34.3% were afraid of the result of infection which was the main barrier to accept VCT services among 540 participants answering the question. 75.2% were motivated by recently acquired knowledge about HIV. 47.9% had 3 or more male sex partners, 62.3% had used condoms sometimes, and 14.5% had been infected with a STD. 2.8% of the participants identified themselves as men who have sex with men (MSM). The main demographic characteristics of MSM did not differ from the total group of participants except with respect to age: 63.5% reported having one male sex partner in the preceding 12 months, 44.6% reported never using condoms in the preceding 12 months, and only 2.7% reported a history of sexually transmitted disease.ConclusionPublic education offered by health workers in hospitals, private clinics and other medical institutions needs to be strengthened. Given the results from this study, we recommend: (1) making VCT a routine part of health services, especially in areas where many high-risk individuals live; (2) improving the information sources and increasing the understanding of HIV and HIV-infected individuals; (3) enhancing international collaboration in strategic planning, technical assistance, and protocols to translate policy into effective action; (4) supporting Chinese non-government organizations (NGOs) in playing a significant role in the battle against AIDS.

YKL-40, a Marker of Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction, Is Elevated in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes and Increases With Levels of Albuminuria

OBJECTIVE—The inflammation marker YKL-40 is elevated in patients with type 2 diabetes and is associated with atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular mortality. In the present study, YKL-40 levels were examined in patients with type 1 diabetes with increasing levels of albuminuria, known to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—A total of 149 patients with type 1 diabetes attending Steno Diabetes Center were examined: 58 had normoalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate <30 mg/24 h), 46 had persistent microalbuminuria (urinary albumin excretion rate 30–300 mg/24 h), and 45 had persistent macroalbuminuria/diabetic nephropathy (urinary albumin excretion rate >300 mg/24 h). The control group consisted of 55 healthy individuals. Groups were matched according to sex and duration of diabetes (>30 years).RESULTS—Median levels [interquartile range] of serum YKL-40 were significantly higher in normoalbuminuria versus control (37 [29–52] vs. 53 [32–105] ng/ml, P < 0.01) and were increasing with increasing levels of albuminuria (microalbuminuria 74 [45–160] ng/ml and diabetic nephropathy 117 [68–215] ng/ml; P < 0.001 for all comparisons). YKL-40 levels correlated with the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio in the total group of participants (r2 = 0.25, P < 0.001). Significant but weak intercorrelations of YKL-40 were found with age, diastolic blood pressure, A1C, and serum creatinine. After adjustment for significant covariates, albuminuria was significantly associated with YKL-40 levels (P < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS—YKL-40 levels are elevated in patients with type 1 diabetes with an independent association between increasing YKL-40 levels and increasing levels of albuminuria. The present study is the first to suggest a role of YKL-40 in the gradually progressing vascular complications in patients with type 1 diabetes.

Increased insulin‐stimulated glucose uptake in athletes: the importance of GLUT4 mRNA, GLUT4 protein and fibre type composition of skeletal muscle

In the present study the expression of GLUT4 and fibre type composition were examined in biopsies from skeletal muscle in seven male athletes and eight male sedentary subjects. Estimated maximal oxygen uptake was increased in the trained group when compared with the sedentary group (74.0 +/- 3.9 vs. 42.9 +/- 5.1 ml kg-1 min-1; P < 0.01). A biopsy of vastus lateralis muscle was taken in the fasting state, 36 h after the last bout of exercise. A second muscle biopsy was obtained following 4 h of a hyperinsulinaemic (2 mU kg-1 min-1), euglycaemic clamp. The rate of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was increased in the trained subjects (17.34 +/- 0.53 vs. 13.53 +/- 0.79 mg kg-1 min-1, P < 0.01). In parallel, the steady state levels of GLUT4 protein and mRNA per DNA were higher in muscle biopsies obtained in the basal state from athletes than in sedentary controls, 21 and 71% respectively (P < 0.05). In the total group of participants, GLUT4 protein per DNA in the basal state and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake rate correlated positively, (r = 0.51, P = 0.05). In the insulin-stimulated state we did not find any significant correlation between GLUT4 protein per DNA and glucose uptake rate (r = 0.13, n.s.). No significant relationships between GLUT4 protein abundance per DNA and muscle fibre type distribution were observed. A significantly negative correlation was found between type 2B fibre area and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (r = -0.63, P < 0.05). In conclusion, the abundance of GLUT4 protein and mRNA, respectively, is increased in skeletal muscle from endurance trained subjects compared to sedentary subjects. However, factors other than GLUT4 immunoreactive protein abundance seem to be determinant for the increased insulin-stimulated whole body glucose uptake in endurance trained subjects.