Whitney Test Research Articles

Avaliação Cintilográfica e Ecocardiográfica em Portadores de Variantes Patogênicas ou Provavelmente Patogênicas do Gene TTR sem Envolvimento Cardíaco Manifesto

Abstract Background: Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is an infiltrative disease caused by abnormal protein deposition mainly in the heart and peripheral nervous system. When it affects the heart, the disease presents as restrictive cardiomyopathy; when it affects the peripheral and autonomic nervous system, it manifests as polyneuropathy, and is called familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP). There are two ATTR subtypes: wild-type ATTR, where there is no mutation, and mutant ATTR (ATTRm), which is characterized by a mutation in the gene encoding the transthyretin protein (TTR). In both subtypes, cardiac involvement is the major marker of poor prognosis. Objectives: To assess the prevalence of subclinical cardiac involvement in a sample of patients with TTR gene mutation by using pyrophosphate scintigraphy and strain echocardiography; to compare scintigraphy and strain findings; to evaluate the association between neurological manifestations (FAP) and subclinical cardiac involvement; and to analyze whether there is an association between any specific mutation and cardiac involvement. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with carriers of the TTR gene mutation, without cardiovascular symptoms or changes in electrocardiographic or conventional echocardiographic parameters. All patients underwent pyrophosphate scintigraphy and strain echocardiography. Subclinical cardiac involvement was defined as a Perugini score ≥ 2, heart-to-contralateral lung (H/CL) ratio ≥ 1.5 at 1 h, H/CL ≥1.3 at 3 h, or global longitudinal strain (GLS) ≤ −17%. Descriptive and analytical analyses were performed and Fisher's exact test and Mann–Whitney test were applied. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The 23 patients evaluated had a median age of 51 years (IQR 37–57 years), 15 (65.2%) were female, 12 (52.2%) were Pardo, nine (39.1%) had systemic arterial hypertension, and nine (39.1%) had a previous diagnosis of FAP. Of the nine patients with FAP, 8 (34.8%) were on tafamidis. The associated mutations were Val142IIe, Val50Met, and IIe127Val. The median GLS in the sample was −19% (−16% to −20%). Of the 23 patients, nine (39.1%; 95% CI = 29–49%) met criteria for cardiac involvement, six (26%) by the GLS-based criteria only. There was no association between having FAP and being an asymptomatic carrier, as assessed by strain echocardiography and pyrophosphate scintigraphy (p = 0.19). The prevalence of systemic arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, smoking, and reduced GLS did not differ between groups. Septal e’ wave velocity was the only variable that significantly differed between individuals with and without reduced GLS, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.80 (95% CI = 0.61–0.98, p = 0.027). The best diagnostic accuracy was achieved with a septal e’ velocity ≤ 8.5 cm/s. There was no association between mutation type and preclinical cardiac involvement, nor between tafamidis use and lower degree of cardiac involvement (37.5% versus 40.0%, p = 0.90). Conclusion: Subclinical cardiac involvement was common in a sample of TTR mutation carriers without cardiac involvement. Reduced left ventricular GLS was the most frequent finding. There was no association between the presence of amyloid polyneuropathy and subclinical cardiac involvement. Type of mutation was not associated with early cardiac involvement. In this sample, the use of tafamidis 20 mg/day was not associated with a lower prevalence of subclinical cardiac involvement.

Effect of tobacco smoking on the periodontal health in Parsa, Nepal: A comparative cross-sectional study

Introduction: For ages, smoking tobacco has been a part of cultural practice in different parts of Nepal. For periodontal diseases, one of the important risk factors is tobacco smoking, mainly cigarette smoking. Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the relationship among tobacco smoking and periodontal disease by means of clinical attachment loss (CAL), plaque score, and gingival score in cigarette smoker patients in comparison with nonsmokers. Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional study was done among 300 patients who visited the Outpatient Department of Periodontics, M. B. Kedia Dental College, Parsa, Nepal. The patients were divided into two groups, cigarette smokers and nonsmokers. Oral cavity examination was done using plaque index, gingival index, and CAL. Mann–Whitney test was done to determine the relation between tobacco smoker and overall periodontal health. Results: The result shows that the overall median plaque score of the patients was 1.08, the gingival score of the patients was 1.22, and CAL was 2.04. Furthermore, there was statistical significance between periodontitis and cigarette smoking. Conclusion: The present study concluded that smoking has a negative effect on periodontium health. More duration of cigarette smoking habit had higher severity of symptoms when compared to nonsmokers.

Psychiatric Morbidity Among Convicted Prisoners: An Analysis of Personality Correlates

Abstract Context: Personality traits influence one’s behavior and are an important determinant of psychological well-being. Though personality traits influencing criminal behavior have been well researched, the influence of these personality traits on the mental health of prisoners still needs to be studied. Aims: The current study was undertaken with the aim to compare the personality traits of convicted prisoners with and without psychiatric morbidity. Settings and Design: Two hundred convicted prisoners were administered a semi-structured questionnaire assessing sociodemographic and criminological variables and their personality characteristics were assessed using the Hindi PEN inventory. Subjects and Methods: They were categorized into two groups, i.e., with and without psychiatric morbidity based on whether or not they had any psychiatric disorder when assessed using mini-international neuropsychiatric interview and their personality characteristics were compared. Statistical Analysis Used: Frequencies with percentages, mean, and standard deviations were calculated for descriptive statistics using SPSS Version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Mann–Whitney test was used for comparing two samples and Kruskal–Wallis one-way analysis of variance by ranks was used for comparing more than two samples. Spearman rank correlation was used for assessing the correlation between two variables. The level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Convicts with psychiatric disorders scored significantly higher on neuroticism (10.78 ± 3.51) and psychoticism (8.64 ± 2.93) dimensions of personality as compared to their counterparts without psychiatric morbidity who had significantly higher scores on Extraversion (12.35 ± 2.92) (P < 0.01). Male convicts had significantly higher scores on the extraversion dimension of personality (10.79 ± 3.77) compared to their female counterparts (9.27 ± 3.49; P < 0.01) There was a significant negative correlation between extraversion and neuroticism (=−0.509), extraversion and psychoticism (=−0.355) and a high positive relationship between neuroticism and psychoticism (=0.634). Conclusions: A baseline personality assessment of prisoners at the time of intake into jail is strongly recommended to identify those with high vulnerability to develop psychiatric problems so that effective and timely interventions can be planned.

Effect of High-intensity Interval Training in Perimenopausal Women on Sleep and Different Level of Psychological Health Problem: A Pilot Study

Introduction: Sleep related issues ranges from 40% to 50% in perimenopausal women. Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), longitudinal examination of 8 years’ worth of data from more than 3000 women revealed that the most prevalent issue was difficulty sleeping owing to frequent awakenings, which worsened as women enter menopause. A history of perimenopausal phase indicates the symptoms of sleep issues, Hot Flashes (HFs), depression, and stress, resulting from a differential susceptibility to hormonal changes in the body. Aim: To find out the effect of High-intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in premenopausal women on sleep difficulties and different levels of psychological health problems. Materials and Methods: The subjects were taken from SGT Hospital and were treated in the Physiotherapy Department of the Hospital. Total 20 subjects were randomly allocated in two groups, one was experimental i.e. group A and other was the control group B, the treatment session was 3 days in a week for 3 weeks. The patient underwent baseline measurement through Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Depression, Anxiety and Stress (DASS) scale. The Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH) test helps identify the stages of the shift and to more clearly understand how and when changes in the parameters of perimenopausal phase. Results: For all the variable (PSQI and DASS) between group analysis was done using Mann whitney test and within group analysis was done using Wilcoxon test, the Group A showed a significant change (p=0.005) when compared to Pre and post value, at p<0.05, the results were considered statistically significant. Conclusion: The study suggests that HIIT has a positive result in sleep problems and psychological mental health problems compared to the control group. HIIT will prove their effectiveness in improving sleep difficulties and associated mental health during the perimenopause phase and provide better therapeutic options to improve the quality of life

Оценка показателей секреции цитокинов и пролиферативной активности в культурах мононуклеарных клеток крови больных клещевыми инфекциями

Associations between the immune response and the severity of tick-borne infections are poorly understood. Objective. Assessment of the parameters of cytokines secretion, proliferative activity and cytogenetic instability in the mononuclear blood cell cultures of patients with tick-borne encephalitis febrile form and ixodid tick-borne borreliosis nonerythemal form at the onset of the disease. Patients and methods. We assessed 24 parameters in the phytohemagglutinin-stimulated mononuclear blood cell cultures from 25 patients with tick-borne encephalitis, 24 patients with ixodid tick-borne borreliosis, and from 14 healthy donors. Statistical analysis included the Mann–Whitney test, Pearson’s goodness-of-fit test, Spearman’s rank correlation, and ROC analysis. Results. The patients compared with the controls showed a suppression of the stimulated blast transformation, increases in the levels of the micronucleated T-lymphocytes and the secretion of not only pro-inflammatory cytokines – tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, but IL-10 and IL-4 as well. Pyrexia levels were negatively correlated with the blast transformation and positively correlated with the micronucleated T-cells levels and pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. The predictors for the diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis compared with borreliosis were decreases in the blank and/or stimulated levels of blast transformation and the production of TNF-α, IL-6, interferon-γ as well as increases in the micronucleated T-cell levels and the secretion of IL-8 and IL-10. Conclusion. The results represent the features of the immune response reactions and its association with the severity of the clinical picture. Key words: blast transformation, ixodid tick-borne borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, micronucleus assay, mononuclear blood cells, phytohemagglutinin, cytokines

The necessity and reasons for referrals to endodontists among general dentists in Mashhad: A cross-sectional study

Introduction: This study aimed to identify the necessity and reasons for patient referral to endodontists among general dentists in Mashhad, Iran, in 2021. Materials and Methods: This research employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Two hundred general dentists participated in the survey, answering a questionnaire with confirmed reliability and validity. The questions focused on their reasoning for deciding to perform or not perform root canal treatment, their rationale for referring or not referring patients to endodontists, and the factors influencing these decisions. Data were analyzed using the SPSS-19 software, using Chi-square and Mann–Whitney tests (α = 0.05). Results: Of the respondents, 68% performed root canal therapy routinely, while 8.5% reported never performing root treatment. Men were more likely to perform root canal therapy than women (P < 0.001). Among the dentists who performed root canal therapy, 76.5% considered endodontic referrals necessary, and the number of referrals was higher among female dentists than male dentists (P < 0.001). Overall, the main reasons for referral to endodontists include noncooperation of the patient, open apex, and mouth opening limitations. Fear of losing the patient and the high costs of specialized treatment were the reasons for nonreferral to endodontists. Conclusion: There is a need to eliminate the barriers to endodontic referral among general dentists in Mashhad. Economic issues played a substantial role in dentists’ unwillingness to perform root canal therapy and endodontic referral. The study provides insights into the reasons for referral, which can guide the development of strategies to improve endodontic care and patient outcomes.

The Assessment of Comprehensive Care for Autistic Children Provided by Polish Primary Healthcare Physicians in Parental View.

Objectives. Important factor in caring for ASD patients is the successful cooperation between the physician and the parent. Methods. The online survey has been conducted. For statistical analysis the t-student test and the U-Mann Whitney test were performed to compare 2 variables, then the Kruskal-Wallis test or ANOVA as well as The Pearson correlation and Sperman's rank correlation were performed. Results. 80.5% of respondent's PHPs did not notice the child's developmental difficulties. 22.02% of respondents can speak to their PHP about a child's difficulties. PHPs take different strategies to make patient contact with the healthcare system easier. We discovered statistically significant differences in the assessment of PHPs' abilities depending on the physicians' specialty, the children's age, the age at ASD diagnosis. Conclusion. The care for autistic patients provided by Polish PHPs is insufficient and the topic needs to be addressed immediately.

Effect of Thermal Aging and Chemical Disinfection on the Microhardness and Flexural Strength of Flexible Resins

This article examines the effects of thermal aging and chemical disinfection on the microhardness and flexural strength of flexible resins. The influence of the resin type on the mechanical properties was also investigated. Two flexible resins, Deflex Classic SR and Deflex Supra SF, produced by the injection method, and a thermopolymerizable acrylic resin—ProBase Hot, produced by the flasking method, were subjected to 1000 cycles of thermal aging and three chemical disinfection protocols (n = 8), with daily immersion and during a recommended time, in Corega Whitening, Corega Oxygen Bio-Active, 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, and distilled water (control). Knoop microhardness and three-point flexural strength were evaluated. Data were analyzed using Wilcoxon, Mann–Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests (α = 0.05). The results varied between 14.5 KHN and 80.1 MPa for ProBase Hot and 7.3 KHN for Deflex Classic SR and 52.5 MPa for Deflex Supra SF. Thermal aging reduced the microhardness of the flexible resins, but not their flexural strength. The microhardness of Deflex Classic SR was influenced by chemical disinfection with Corega Bio-active (p < 0.001). The flexural strength of Deflex Supra SF was influenced by chemical disinfection with Corega Whitening (p < 0.05). It can be concluded that chemical disinfection led to changes in the flexible resins and should be used with caution to maintain the mechanical properties of the resins. Flexible resins showed reduced resistance to physical and chemical environmental influences, which can affect their longevity.

Tooth morphology, internal fit, occlusion and proximal contacts of dental crowns designed by deep learning-based dental software: A comparative study

ObjectivesThis study compared the tooth morphology, internal fit, occlusion, and proximal contacts of dental crowns automatically generated via two deep learning (DL)-based dental software systems with those manually designed by an experienced dental technician using conventional software. MethodsThirty partial arch scans of prepared posterior teeth were used. The crowns were designed using two DL-based methods (AA and AD) and a technician-based method (NC). The crown design outcomes were three-dimensionally compared, focusing on tooth morphology, internal fit, occlusion, and proximal contacts, by calculating the geometric relationship. Statistical analysis utilized the independent t-test, Mann–Whitney test, one-way ANOVA, and Kruskal–Wallis test with post hoc pairwise comparisons (α = 0.05). ResultsThe AA and AD groups, with the NC group as a reference, exhibited no significant tooth morphology discrepancies across entire external or occlusal surfaces. The AD group exhibited higher root mean square and positive average values on the axial surface (P < .05). The AD and NC groups exhibited a better internal fit than the AA group (P < .001). The cusp angles were similar across all groups (P = .065). The NC group yielded more occlusal contact points than the AD group (P = .006). Occlusal and proximal contact intensities varied among the groups (both P < .001). ConclusionsCrowns designed by using both DL-based software programs exhibited similar morphologies on the occlusal and axial surfaces; however, they differed in internal fit, occlusion, and proximal contacts. Their overall performance was clinically comparable to that of the technician-based method in terms of the internal fit and number of occlusal contact points. Clinical significanceDL-based dental software for crown design can streamline the digital workflow in restorative dentistry, ensuring clinically-acceptable outcomes on tooth morphology, internal fit, occlusion, and proximal contacts. It can minimize the necessity of additional design optimization by dental technician.

Effectiveness of Kinesio Video and Pelvik Roxing Exercise Video on Reducing Back Pain of Third Trimester Pregnant Women

Background: Back pain in pregnant women is a common problem that is often experienced during pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. Back pain in pregnant women not only interferes with the mother's quality of life, but can also affect fetal well-being and the delivery process. In an effort to address the problem of back pain in pregnant women, various physical therapy methods have been developed. Two methods that have gained attention are Kinesio techniques and Pelvic Roxing Exercises.&#x0D; Method: This research is a quantitative research with a pre-experimental study that uses a one group pretest-posttest design with no control group. The sample of this study was third trimester pregnant women at PMB Latifah and PMB Zainab Jambi City as many as 60 pregnant women. The sampling technique used purposive sampling technique. This research instrument is a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using the mann whitney test.&#x0D; Results: The results showed that in the Kinesia Taping therapy group it was known that before being given Kinesio Taping treatment, the scale of back pain felt by respondents was 67% feeling moderate pain and 33% feeling severe pain controlled. After being given Kinesio Taping, the pain scale felt by respondents was 57% feeling mild pain and 43% feeling moderate pain. In the Pelvic Roxing Exercise therapy group, it is known that before being given Pelvic Roxing Exercise therapy, the scale of back pain felt by respondents is 9% feeling mild pain, 70% moderate pain and 21% severe pain controlled. After being given Pelvic Roxing Exercise therapy, the scale of back pain felt by respondents was 77% mild pain and 235 moderate pain. The results of the mann whitney test obtained p-value = 0.041, p-value &lt;0.05 so that there is a significant difference between the results after kinesio taping and pelvic roxing exercise interventions&#x0D; Conclusion: Based on the results of the study, it can be concluded that there are differences in the scale of back pain in third trimester pregnant women before being given kinesio taping therapy and pelvic roxing exercise with after being given kinesio taping therapy and pelvic roxing exercise.

Factors influencing intention to invest in Shariah-compliant social impact bonds in Malaysia

Purpose The purpose of the paper is twofold. Firstly, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing stakeholders’ intention to invest in Shariah-compliant social impact bonds (SC SIBs) in Malaysia. Secondly, this study compares the differences in the perception of different stakeholders on the importance of the factors. Design/methodology/approach Using the extended theory of planned behaviour, the study undertakes a questionnaire survey on licensed capital market investors and individuals involved in the development of the financial market (developers). A total of 260 complete and valid responses were obtained from the survey. Multiple regression and Mann–Whitney tests were carried out to achieve the two objectives, respectively. Findings The results reveal that attitude (β = 0.447, p &lt; 0.01), subjective norm (SN) (β = 0.255, p &lt; 0.01) and moral norm (MN) (β = 0.163, p &lt; 0.01) are significantly positive predictors of intention to invest in SC SIBs. In terms of the differences in the perceptions of the two parties, the results show that the factors have more effect towards developers than investors. Originality/value The empirical evidence from this study on the factors that influence stakeholders’ participation in SC SIBs is useful to the policymakers and interested parties in taking the next steps to develop, implement and promote SC SIBs to stakeholders in Malaysia. Fund managers can use the study’s insights to promote positive attitudes, SNs and MNs towards SC SIBs, especially targeting developers who are more influenced by these factors. More importantly, the results indicate a need for different strategies to influence the stakeholder investment behaviour of SC SIB in Malaysia to ensure that it is sustainable and viable in the long run.

Effect of Teleconnection Patterns on the Formation of Potential Ecological Flow Variables in Lowland Rivers

Climate is probably the most important factor affecting river discharge and flow dynamics. Low flows in rivers during the warm period cause stress to aquatic ecosystems and pose a challenge to sustainable water management. Previous research has shown that the average minimum discharge of the 30 driest continuous days, known as Q30, is a suitable measure for ecological flow estimation in Lithuania. This study aims to examine whether large-scale atmospheric processes, so-called teleconnections, can have an impact on Q30 during the warm period. Hydrological data for 1961–2020 from 25 water gauging stations were used to search for hydrological response signals with five selected climate indices (NAO, SCA, POL, EA/WR, and EA). Pearson correlation and Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test approaches were applied. The results suggested that the EA/WR and NAO had the strongest influence on Q30 in the studied region during the warm period. The positive phases of the indices tended to cause a greater decrease in Q30 values due to the prevailing easterly edge of the anticyclonic circulation over the studied region determined by the EA/WR and NAO indices, while the negative phases of the mentioned indices caused an increase and greater dispersion of Q30.

A heuristic-based approach for assessing usability in electric powered wheelchairs: A preliminary investigation

ObjectiveAn important issue related to electric powered wheelchair (EPW) is usability. Recent studies did not use heuristic evaluation and did not consider users’ and developers’ participation in the usability evaluation process of the EPW, especially when it has to be driven using alternative commands. Thus, this study investigates the use of heuristics to evaluate the usability of EPW driven by alternative commands, considering the opinion of users and assistive technology (AT) development professionals. MethodsThe study was carried out with 54 participants: 28 EPW users (Group I) and 26 AT developers (Group II). We built a set of 25 heuristics that affects EPW usability. Participants rated each of the 25 heuristics according to their importance for the usability of EPW using the five-point Likert scale. We used the R Software to perform the Wilcoxon Mann–Whitney test as a statistical comparisons test between Group I and II. ResultsThe results showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between Group I and II in the evaluation of 16 heuristics. We identified an important set of heuristics that could help evaluate and improve the usability of EPW. ConclusionThe findings highlighted the importance of considering users’ and developers’ points of view in developing an EPW and its evaluation criteria. It could help the design of the device match the user's needs and expectations. The set of heuristics in this study can be adapted to evaluate other devices’ usability using the heuristic evaluation approach.

Univariate and multivariate sex differences and similarities in gray matter volume within essential language-processing areas

BackgroundSex differences in language-related abilities have been reported. It is generally assumed that these differences stem from a different organization of language in the brains of females and males. However, research in this area has been relatively scarce, methodologically heterogeneous and has yielded conflicting results.MethodsUnivariate and multivariate sex differences and similarities in gray matter volume (GMVOL) within 18 essential language-processing brain areas were assessed in a sex-balanced sample (N = 588) of right-handed young adults. Univariate analyses involved location, spread, and shape comparisons of the females’ and males’ distributions and were conducted with several robust statistical methods able to quantify the size of sex differences and similarities in a complementary way. Multivariate sex differences and similarities were estimated by the same methods in the continuous scores provided by two distinct multivariate procedures (logistic regression and a multivariate analog of the Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney test). Additional analyses were addressed to compare the outcomes of these two multivariate analytical strategies and described their structure (that is, the relative contribution of each brain area to the multivariate effects).ResultsWhen not adjusted for total intracranial volume (TIV) variation, “large” univariate sex differences (males > females) were found in all 18 brain areas considered. In contrast, “small” differences (females > males) in just two of these brain areas were found when controlling for TIV. The two multivariate methods tested provided very similar results. Multivariate sex differences surpassed univariate differences, yielding "large" differences indicative of larger volumes in males when calculated from raw GMVOL estimates. Conversely, when calculated from TIV-adjusted GMVOL, multivariate differences were "medium" and indicative of larger volumes in females. Despite their distinct size and direction, multivariate sex differences in raw and TIV-adjusted GMVOL shared a similar structure and allowed us to identify the components of the SENT_CORE network which more likely contribute to the observed effects.ConclusionsOur results confirm and extend previous findings about univariate sex differences in language-processing areas, offering unprecedented evidence at the multivariate level. We also observed that the size and direction of these differences vary quite substantially depending on whether they are estimated from raw or TIV-adjusted GMVOL measurements.

The Disease Model of Addiction: The Impact of Genetic Variability in the Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Pathways on Alcohol Dependance and Comorbid Psychosymptomatology.

Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are involved in the pathogenesis of alcohol addiction. However, little is known regarding the effect of genetic, behavioral, psychological, and environmental sources of origin on the inflammation and oxidative stress pathways of patients with alcohol addiction. Our study aimed to evaluate the impact of selected common functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms in inflammation and oxidative stress genes on alcohol addiction, and common comorbid psychosymptomatology. Our study included 89 hospitalized alcohol-addicted patients and 93 healthy individuals, all Slovenian males. Their DNA was isolated from peripheral blood and patients were genotyped for PON1 rs705379, rs705381, rs854560, and rs662, SOD2 rs4880, GPX1 rs1050450, IL1B rs1143623, rs16944, and rs1071676, IL6 rs1800795, IL6R rs2228145, and miR146a rs2910164. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used for the additive and dominant genetic models, respectively. Our findings suggested the involvement of IL6 rs1800795 in alcohol addiction. Moreover, our data indicated that the genetic variability of SOD2 and PON1, as well as IL1B and IL6R, may be related to comorbid psychosymptomatology, revealing a potential indirect means of association of both the oxidative stress and inflammation pathways.

Effects of posture on heart rate variability in non-frail and prefrail individuals: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundFrailty is an aging-related syndrome leading to high mortality in older adults. Without effective assessment and prevention of frailty, the incidence of frailty and relevant adverse outcomes will increase by 2050 as worldwide populations age. Although evidence suggested heart rate variability (HRV) is a potential measure of frailty, the role of HRV in frailty assessment remains unclear because of controversial findings. This study examined the effects of posture on HRV parameters in non-frail and prefrail individuals to understand the role of HRV in assessing frailty.MethodsForty-six participants aged ≥ 50 years were recruited between April and August 2022. Frailty was defined using Fried’s criteria. HRV was measured in standing, sitting, and lying postures, respectively, using a Polar Watch, and analyzed using Kubios HRV Standard 3.5.0 (Kubios). The five most commonly used parameters were examined, including standard deviations of all normal-to-normal intervals (SDNN), root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD), low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and LF/HF. Independent t-tests and Mann–Whitney tests were used for inter-group comparisons. Friedman tests were used for intra-group comparisons across postures.ResultsThe non-frail group showed significant differences in HRV parameters across postures (all p < 0.05), whereas the prefrail group did not demonstrate any difference (all p > 0.05). The differences in the non-frail group included higher RMSSD and HF in the lying posture compared to those in the standing posture (29.54 vs 21.99 p = 0.003, 210.34 vs 96.34 p = 0.001, respectively), and higher LF and LF/HF in the sitting posture compared to those in the lying posture (248.40 vs 136.29 P = 0.024, 1.26 vs 0.77 p = 0.011, respectively).ConclusionsThe effects of posture on HRV were blunted in the prefrail group, which suggests an impaired cardiac autonomic functioning. Measuring the effects of posture on HRV parameters may contribute to frailty assessment. However, further evidence from larger cohorts and including additional HRV parameters is needed.

Specimen Shape and Elution Time Affect the Mineralization and Differentiation Potential of Dental Pulp Stem Cells to Biodentine.

The liquid extract method is commonly used to evaluate the cytotoxicity and bioactivity of materials. Although ISO has recommended guidelines for test methods, variations in elution period, and shape of samples can influence the biological outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of material form and elution period of Biodentine on dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs)' proliferation and mineralization. Biodentine (0.2 g) discs or powder were immersed in culture media (10 mL) for 1, 3 or 7 days (D1, D3 and D7). The eluents were filtered and used to treat DPSC. The calcium release profile and pH were determined. Cell proliferation was evaluated by MTS for 3 days, and mineralization and differentiation were assessed by alizarin red S staining (Ca2+/ng of DNA) and qRT-PCR (MEPE, DSPP, DMP-1, RUNX2, COL-I and OCN) for 14 days. Statistical analysis was performed with a one or two-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey's test (pH, calcium release and proliferation) or Mann-Whitney test (α = 0.05). pH and calcium ion release of powdered eluents were significantly higher than disc eluents. Powdered eluent promoted extensive cell death, while the disc form was cytocompatible. All disc eluents significantly increased the gene expression and mineralization after 14 days compared to the untreated control. D7 induced less mineralization and differentiation compared to D1 and D3. Thus, the materials' form and elution time are critical aspects to be considered when evaluating the bioactivity of materials, since this binomial can affect positively and negatively the biological outcomes.

SNACK BAR TINGGI SERAT DAN ANTIOKSIDAN BERBAHAN DASAR UBI JALAR UNGU DAN BERAS HITAM SEBAGAI ALTERNATIF SELINGAN PENDERITA DIABETES MELITUS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia due to decreased insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells that requires dietary regulation to control blood glucose levels. Snack bars based on purple sweet potato flour and black rice flour which have high fiber and antioxidant content can be used as an alternative snack food for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The purpose of the study was to determine the nutritional content, dietary fiber content, antioxidants content and organoleptic properties of snack bars. This research was experimental with a completely randomized design (CRD) with three comparisons of formulation purple sweet potato flour: black rice flour and 3 repetitions. The results of the nutritional content were analyzed with the Anova test and continued with the Duncan test. While the organoleptic properties were analyzed by Kruskal Wallis test and continued by Man Whitney test. The selection of the selected formulation for snack bar products using the ratio (50%: 50%) from the results of the nutritional content test and organoleptic test. The results of the study show that F3 (70%:30%) snack bar is the selected formulation with nutritional content 100 g, namely energy 425 kcal, protein 13.80 g, fat 21.38 g, carbohydrates 44.23 g, dietary fiber 11.81 g and antioxidants 52.28% with less favorable organoleptic acceptance. The selected snack bar can be claimed as high dietary fiber and antioxidants food.

The Influence of Salak Skin Ethanol Extract on the Lipid Profile, Il-6 and MDA Serum (Experimental Study on Male Rats of Wistar Strains Induced by High-Fat Diet)

Dyslipidemia is characterized by an increase in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and a decrease in HDL. One of the consequences of endothelial dysfunction as a precursor to cardiovascular disease is induced by oxidative stress and inflammation, so this condition must be controlled. Dyslipidemia causes an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines which play a role in oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of administering snake fruit ethanol extract on serum lipid profile, IL-6 and MDA levels in Wistar rats induced by a high-fat diet. The type of research is experimental with a Post Test Only Control Group Design research design. The research subjects used 36 Wistar rats, divided into 6 treatment groups, namely healthy control group (KS), negative control (K-), positive control with simvastatin (K+), 60 mg dose EEKS group (P1), 120 mg dose EEKS group (P2), and EEKS group dose 240 mg (P3). Examination on day 36 used blood serum ELISA method to analyze levels of lipid profile, IL-6 and MDA. There was a significant difference using the t test (p0.05) in the average decrease in total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride levels and increase in HDL levels. The results of IL-6 levels showed significant differences between groups using the one way anova test (p0.05), the 120 mg dose had the lowest results but was not significantly different when compared to the K+ group using the post hoc LSD test (p0, 05), while the results of MDA levels were significantly different using the Kruskal Wallis test (p0.05), showing that the 240 mg dose had the same results as the simvastatin group using the Mann- Whitney test (p0.05). Snake bark ethanol extract (EEKS) at a dose of 240 mg has the same effect as simvastatin by reducing total cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride levels and increasing HDL. EEKS reduces IL-6 and MDA levels in dyslipidemia conditions.

Post-stress expression of genes involved in neuroplasticity in the hippocampus and blood of rats with different level of nervous system excitability

The causes and mechanisms of most mental disorders remain unclear. While stress is known to trigger depressive and anxiety disorders, the role of genetically determined individual differences in forming vulnerability to post-stress neurochemical disorders, including those that affect neuroplasticity, remains unresolved. Early studies suggest that acute and chronic stress lead to elevated glucocorticoid levels in the bloodstream and alter the expression of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors. Additionally, both forms of stress can decrease the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a role in neuronal growth, development, and synapse building [1]. However, current studies insufficiently explain the complete mechanism of the stress response as they only explore variations in post-stress alteration of gene expression for proteins related to differing nervous system functional characteristics. The strains of rats from the Biocollection of the Pavlov Institute of Physiology, RAS, are a convenient model for studying the impact of genetically determined nervous system features on stress reactivity. The strains, selected based on the threshold of nervous system excitability [2], include HT (high threshold of excitability, low excitability) and LT (low threshold of excitability, high excitability) strains. These strains display contrasting responses to extended emotional and painful stress and exhibit unique changes in brain structures implicated in emotional regulation and stress reactivity at the molecular, cellular, and epigenetic levels [2]. The aim of this study is to examine the mRNA levels of genes encoding glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors (NR3C1, NR3C2) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus and blood of rat strains that exhibit contrasting nervous system excitability. The study investigates interstrain variations in animals under non-stressful conditions and changes in response to prolonged exposure to emotional and painful stimuli. The experiment utilized 96 animals, with 6 animals in both the control and experimental groups at each time point. The stress model utilized was long-term emotional and painful stress as per K. Gecht [2]. The study assessed the expression of genes for glucocorticoid receptors and neurotrophic factor by isolating RNA from the hippocampus and blood of rats of two strains decapitated at 1, 7, 24, and 60 days post-stress. Gene expression analysis was conducted through real-time PCR and underwent further data processing using the ΔΔCt method. The statistical tests employed included the Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests. The analysis of the expression of the observed genes in intact animals demonstrates that highly excitable LT rats have a significantly lower level of expression of the nr3c2 gene, which encodes the mineralocorticoid receptor in the hippocampus, when compared to the low excitable HT strain. When studying the short-term and long-term effects of stress on the expression of the observed genes (nr3c1, nr3c2, bdnf), a decline was observed in the level of bdnf mRNA in the hippocampus of the LT strain 60 days after stress. The study suggests that the genetically determined characteristics of highly excitable animals affect the weakened adaptive abilities of their nervous system. One of the markers of this weakening is the reduced level of mRNA for the nr3c2 gene in the hippocampus under normal conditions, as well as a decrease in the expression of the bdnf gene in response to stress.