Worse Physical Condition Research Articles

The Relationship between Body Weight Change and Body Constitutions of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Patients with Schizophrenia.

Objective. To explore the relationship between body constitution (BC) types and weight change in patients with schizophrenia and who underwent second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) treatment. Method. Body weight and waist circumference of eighty-five participants were measured for 6 consecutive weeks. Constitutions of Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis were assessed using the Body Constitution Questionnaire (BCQ). Results. Participants with body constitutions Yin-Xu (50.6%), Yang-Xu (49.4%), or Stasis (38.8%) exhibited worse physical condition and unhealthy daily habits, particularly in Stasis constitution. Moreover, Stasis constitution was significantly associated with several factors, including BMI, body weight, waist circumference, perception of stress, perception of health, staying up late, and less physical exercise. However, perception of stress showed significant difference in Yin-Xu, Yang-Xu, and Stasis. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) analysis revealed that significant time effects in body weight increase in the imbalanced BC types and gentleness BC type. SGAs induced weight gain in imbalanced BC type as well as gentleness BC type, especially treated with olanzapine. Conclusions. This is the first study to explore the longitudinal relationship between BC and weight gain in schizophrenia patients undergoing SGAs treatment. Health care providers should focus on weight gain problems in schizophrenia patients who underwent SGAs treatment.

Promoting awareness, knowledge of and compliance with the National Children's Physical Activity Guidelines

Introduction: Engagement in exercise and sports has been recommended for adolescents to enhance physical fitness and healthy development. Especially, school-based extracurricular sports activities (SBECSA) are providing a major opportunity for adolescents to play sports. Additionally, SBECSA contribute to positive youth development. By contrast, it is challenge for teachers and coaches to manage SBECSA with active participation of students. Although there are some studies examined factors associated with motivation of adolescents to participate in some sports, no study focusing onmotivation to participate in SBECSA among them. Therefore, the purpose of the present studywas to examine the factors decreasing motivation of students to participate in SBECSA. Methods: Personal semi-structured interview was performed to 23 student members of 9 SBECSA that have external coach (men: n=11; age range: 12–17 years). They were recruited from 3 junior high schools and 3 high schools, 5 prefectures in Japan. To vary the characteristics of participants, purposeful sampling was conducted. The interview contained predetermined openended questions about factors decreasingmotivation to participate in SBECSA. Participants were asked to respond freely to the questions and all topics were explored until exhausted. For analysis, the KJ method—a qualitative type of analyses—was selected. Each recorded interview was transcribed verbatim. All transcribed data were divided into individual content. Then, nearly identical contents were grouped together and consisted of ‘sub-categories’, and ‘categories’. Definition of each category was given by three researchers. Results: Eight categories—uncomfortable climate of SBECSA (e.g. bad climate of SBECSA, and lack of unity among team members), undesirable coaching and indication (e.g. getting scorched, and inconsistency between self and coach’s assessment), bad physical condition (fatigue, feeling of unwellness, and injury), undesirable contents of practice (being not able to do desirable practice, and hard training), lack of skill (being not able to play well, and guiltiness to unskilled play), retirement of team members (retirement of older team members), problems in school life (a lot of homework), and bad weather (rainy)—were identified. Discussion: The present study showed novel factors decreasing motivation of students to participate in SBECSA, although a part of resultswere similarwithprevious study such asundesirable coaching and indication, and undesirable contents of practice. Teachers and coaches could increase motivation of students by making good climate of SBECSA and hearing students’ opinion for improve contents of practice.

The Impact of Body Mass Index on Hospital Stay and Complications After Spinal Fusion

Obesity is a dominant public health concern and risk factor for disability, with few studies examining its impact in spinal surgery. Patients with a higher body mass index (BMI) have lower functional status, increased pain, and worse physical condition than those with ideal weight. To determine associations between BMI categories on adverse patient outcomes after long-segment spinal fusions. Consecutive, open, elective fusions (interbody and/or posterolateral arthrodesis) of more than 5 levels from 2007 to 2010 were retrospectively analyzed with follow-up of more than 1 year. Bivariate analyses examined outcome variables based on BMI categories. Linear regression analysis evaluated BMI, hospital stay, and complications at 1 and 2 years, controlling for confounders. Mean and median follow-up lengths were 2.1 and 2.0 years, respectively. A total of 189 surgeries on 112 patients, with a mean age of 59.5 years and a mean BMI of 29.8 kg/m, were analyzed. Morbidly obese patients had longer hospitalizations, worse Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), and more complications at 1 and 2 years than ideal weight patients. Multivariate linear regression modeling revealed sex, cardiac medications, cerebrospinal fluid leak, and BMI category of ideal vs nonideal influenced hospitalization length. Multivariate analysis showed BMI greater than 30 kg/m, preoperative ODI, and pedicle subtraction osteotomy influenced all complications at 1 year. Mean complications at 2 years for the morbidly obese were 3 times more than those underweight and 8 times more than those with ideal weight. Controlling for age, sex, and length of stay, obese and morbidly obese patients had more complications at 2 years; morbidly obese patients had a worse 2-year ODI. BMI is an independent predictor of hospitalization length and all complications at 1 and 2 years in patients receiving long-segment fusions.

The Influence of Child Care on Maternal Health and Mother-Child Interaction

In Germany, formal child care coverage rates have increased markedly over the past few decades. The expansion in coverage is particularly pronounced for under 3 year-olds. The present paper is concerned with how mothers’ mental and physical health is affected by whether they place their child in formal day care or not. Furthermore, the effects of formal child care usage on mother-child interaction are examined. The analysis is based on data from the German Socio-Economic Panel for the years 2006 to 2010. This data is analysed by means of regression analyses, using local aggregate formal child care usage rates as an instrument for individual formal child care usage. The results indicate that mothers are in a worse physical condition if their children attend formal care, whereas no such effect is found with regard to mothers’ mental health. Overall, there is evidence that mothers placing their children in formal care interact with them more frequently.

Maternal Antibody Transmission in Relation to Mother Fluctuating Asymmetry in a Long-Lived Colonial Seabird: The Yellow-Legged Gull Larus michahellis

Female birds transfer antibodies to their offspring via the egg yolk, thus possibly providing passive immunity against infectious diseases to which hatchlings may be exposed, thereby affecting their fitness. It is nonetheless unclear whether the amount of maternal antibodies transmitted into egg yolks varies with female quality and egg laying order. In this paper, we investigated the transfer of maternal antibodies against type A influenza viruses (anti-AIV antibodies) by a long-lived colonial seabird, the yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), in relation to fluctuating asymmetry in females, i.e. the random deviation from perfect symmetry in bilaterally symmetric morphological and anatomical traits. In particular, we tested whether females with greater asymmetry transmitted fewer antibodies to their eggs, and whether within-clutch variation in yolk antibodies varied according to the maternal level of fluctuating asymmetry. We found that asymmetric females were in worse physical condition, produced fewer antibodies, and transmitted lower amounts of antibodies to their eggs. We also found that, within a given clutch, yolk antibody level decreased with egg laying order, but this laying order effect was more pronounced in clutches laid by the more asymmetric females. Overall, our results support the hypothesis that maternal quality interacts with egg laying order in determining the amount of maternal antibodies transmitted to the yolks. They also highlight the usefulness of fluctuating asymmetry as a sensitive indicator of female quality and immunocompetence in birds.

Historic Buildings at Chitpur in Kolkata: Problems and Prospects Through Urban Conservation and Planning

Kolkata (historically Calcutta) is a linear city that has grown along the eastern bank of the river Hugli (also spelled Hooghly, and traditionally called the Ganges, in the West Bengal State of India. It served as the capital city of British India from 1773–1910. The British developed colonial architecture mostly in the central business district and the residential area designated for them. In the Chitpur area of north Kolkata, the Indians constructed buildings following European styles, but modifying parts according to their own social customs, individual choices and dictation – thus introducing a new style which was termed “Bengal Baroque” by some and generally called the “indigenous style”. Other old buildings also follow certain architectural typology and bear the history of eminent personalities of the society, thus constituting an overall cultural setting. However, many old buildings are in bad physical condition and have legal litigation. Meanwhile, tremendous real estate development and uncontrolled traffic circulation within this historic district are destroying the buildings, the historic cultural patina and the essence of the place. An urban design and planning solution is to be sought which would encompass the conservation of historic and old buildings and elements of the area as well as control over development for cultural compatibility and environmental sustainability.

Cardiovascular disease risk factors in homeless people

Background. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which is highest in Eastern Europe including Estonia. Accumulating evidence suggests that life-style is associated with the development of CVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the informative power of common CVD-related markers under unhealthy conditions.Subjects. Subjects (n = 51; mean age 45 years; 90% men) were recruited from a shelter for homeless people in Tallinn, Estonia, and consisted of persons who constantly used alcohol or surrogates, smoked, and were in a bad physical condition (amputated toes, necrotic ulcers, etc.).Methods. Blood pressure, pulse rate, and waist circumference were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The following markers were measured in blood serum: total cholesterol (TChol), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Chol), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-Chol), plasma triglycerides (TG), apolipoproteins A-l (ApoA1) and B (ApoB), lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glucose (Gluc), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), serum carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Except smoking, the anamnestic information considering eating habits, declared alcohol consumption and medication intake were not included in the analysis due to the low credibility of self-reported data.Results. More than half of the investigated patients had values of measured markers (hsCRP, TChol, LDL-Chol, TG, HbA1c, ApoA1, ApoB, Lp(a), Gluc) within normal range. Surprisingly, 100% of subjects had HDL-Chol within endemic norm.Conclusion. This study demonstrates that traditional markers, commonly used for prediction and diagnosis and treatment of CVD, are not always applicable to homeless people, apparently due to their aberrant life-style.

Psychological and behavioral problems in young children caused by physical reasons

Study 1, kinder garden teachers (n = 66) indicated behavioral and physical problems of young children in their classes, and significant characteristics of these problems were identified. Results indicated that the physical problems included, “getting tired easily”, “idleness” and “decreased strength”, and certain behavioral problems had features similar to those of slightly disabled children. Study 2, factor analysis was conducted on the problems recognized in Study 1, which identified two factors related to physical problems; “Bad physical condition” and “Problems in physical control”, as well as four factors related to behavioral problems; “Selfishness”, “Lack of motivation”, “Compulsive tendencies” and “the Issue of food”. The causes and implications of these findings are discussed.

Determining Variables of Plyometric Training for Improving Vertical Jump Height Performance: A Meta-Analysis

Plyometric training improves vertical jump height (VJH). However, the effectiveness of plyometric training depends on various factors. A meta-analysis of 56 studies with a total of 225 effect sizes (ESs) was carried out to analyze the role of various factors on the effects of plyometrics on VJH performance. The inclusion criteria for the analysis were a) studies using plyometric programs for lower-limb muscles, b) studies employing true experimental designs and valid and reliable measurements, and c) studies including enough data to calculate ESs. Subjects with more experience in sport obtained greater enhancements in VJH performance (p < 0.01). Subjects in either good or bad physical condition benefit equally from plyometric work (p < 0.05), although men tend to obtain better power results than women after plyometric training (p < 0.05). With relation to the variables of performance, training volumes of more than 10 weeks and more than 20 sessions, using high-intensity programs (with more than 50 jumps per session), were the strategies that seemed to maximize the probability of obtaining significantly greater improvements in performance (p < 0.05). To optimize jumping enhancement, the combination of different types of plyometrics (squat jump + countermovement jump + drop jump) is recommended rather than using only 1 form (p < 0.05). However, no extra benefits were found to be gained from doing plyometrics with added weight. The responses identified in this analysis are essential and should be considered by strength and conditioning professionals with regard to the most appropriate dose-response trends for optimizing plyometric-induced gains.

知的障害者の親における身体活動・運動実施の阻害要因と促進要因

The present study was aimed at exploring the barriers and facilitators of physical activity and exercise among the parents of children with intellectual disabilities. A qualitative study related to barriers and facilitators was conducted on 42 parents of children with intellectual disabilities through an open-ended questionnaire. Content analysis was performed by the KJ method (Kawakita, 1970), i.e., the barriers and facilitators of physical activity and exercise, by eight members. Consequently, 58 responses as barriers and 46 responses as facilitators were reported. Through the KJ method, nine items were categorized as barriers, and 10 as facilitators. In specific terms, the following items were categorized as barriers: “Too busy,” “Bad physical condition,” “To have to care for one's family,” “Not enough psychological status,” “Bad weather,” “Insufficient information,” “Not economically viable,” “Nowhere to exercise and conduct physical activity,” and “Nobody to do it with.” The following items were categorized as facilitators: “To have people to do it with,” “A good environment and weather,” “Time,” “To enhance one's athletic performance,” “To be fun,” “To have a goal,” “To feel good,” “Not to have care-giving obligations,” and “To have already paid for membership fees.” The results of our study show that the parents of children with intellectual disability should utilize their family members not as a barrier but as a facilitator. The results of this study are expected to be used as basic data to support parents' physical activity and exercise behavior.

Pediatric Scoliosis Surgery - The Association between Preoperative Risk Factors and Postoperative Complications with Emphasis on Cerebral Palsy Children

Scoliosis repair surgery is a common procedure. Our study's first goal was to compare pre- and postoperative parameters between the cerebral palsy (CP) and idiopathic scoliosis (IS) children. The second goal was to establish possible associations between preoperative parameters that could predict the outcome of spinal surgery and the incidence of early postoperative complications. A retrospective record review of all children who underwent scoliosis operative surgery between 1998 and 2007 was conducted. Of the 141 children included, 21 were CP and 120 were IS. The CP children attended surgery with significantly lower weight and pulmonary reserves and had larger curves and fusions compared to the IS children. CP children had a significantly higher rate of major complications, especially pulmonary and neurological, and a higher rate of delayed extubations. In addition, young age at surgery and posterior spinal fusion correlated with a more favorable immediate postoperative prognosis among the IS population. CP children attended surgery in worse physical condition and in turn had a poorer immediate and short-term postoperative prognosis than IS children. Young age at surgery and posterior fusions revealed protective characteristics among the IS population.

Algorithm to detect abnormal states of elderly persons for home monitoring

AbstractWith the advance of an elderly‐dominated society, the population of elderly persons who live alone is increasing. To allow health checking of the solitary elderly when at home, it is planned to install sensors in houses for long‐term monitoring. The purpose of this is to detect abnormal states of solitary elderly persons in daily life (such as staying immobile due to bad physical condition or inability to move as a result of falling or sudden change of physical condition). An algorithm was developed to detect abnormal states of the subject (an elderly person) by using data on the operating times of various sensors installed in an actual home. An algorithm based on the simple logical operation of ORing all sensor output signals is considered, following the idea that the sensors will not respond for a long time if an abnormality occurs in the subject. The effect of the setting of the no‐response time of the sensors on the detection rate is investigated. It is concluded that abnormalities can be satisfactorily detected, if a sensor response is absent for 2 hours and 15 minutes. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Syst Comp Jpn, 38(6): 34–42, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/scj.20411 Copyright © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sex Allocation in a Colobine Monkey

AbstractIn polygynous, sexual dimorphic species with higher variance in male reproductive success compared with females, females are expected to invest more heavily in sons than daughters within the constraints imposed by their physical condition (Science 1973; 179:90). Mothers in good condition, usually those of high rank, should produce more sons than females in poor condition or of low rank. We investigated sex allocation and sex‐biased maternal investment in a population of wild Hanuman langurs using rank and group size as approximations of female physical condition. Our results show that reproductive costs of sons were higher with both significantly longer interbirth intervals following male births and longer lactational periods for sons. Not in all groups did analyses of rank‐dependent sex allocation reveal the expected pattern of high‐ranking mothers producing more sons. However, sex ratio was significantly influenced by group size, with females from larger groups, i.e., in worse physical condition, producing a daughter‐biased sex ratio. In fact, only females of population‐wide superior physical condition can be expected to produce sons, because in Hanuman langurs males disperse and compete population‐wide. Thus, our results support the Trivers–Willard model and may explain the mixed evidence accruing from studies of single groups. We present a graphical model of how group size and dominance‐related differences in energy gain may influence sex allocation under different competitive regimes relative to overall resource availability. Tests of adaptive sex allocation models should consider whether reproductive competition of the preferred sex takes place primarily within a group or within the population.

“To Lose One’s Soul”: Blasphemy and Slavery in New Spain, 1596-1669

“To Lose One’s Soul”: Blasphemy and Slavery in New Spain, 1596-1669

Characteristics of resident and wandering prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster

Many studies have documented intraspecific differences in the behavior of males or females. In some species, many adults are territorial while others have larger home ranges encompassing multiple territories. Although these two types of behavior have been documented, they are not well understood in mammals. Therefore, in the mono gamous prairie vole (Microtus ochrogaster) we characterized individuals that engage in these two behavior patterns as residents and wanderers. We monitored populations enclosed in 0.1-ha. enclosures at Miami University's Ecology Research Center. As many as 26% of animals were wanderers: animals captured frequently, but less than 75% of the time, at one nest. As expected, wanderers had larger home ranges than residents. Wanderers were primarily adult males (70%) but included some adult females. This behavior pattern was not fixed, since some wanderers previously had been residents and at least 31% of males and 57% of adult female wanderers became residents during the same field season. Wanderers were not in worse physical condition, as estimated by body mass, and survived for slightly longer than residents. Thus, it does not appear that wanderers are making the best of a bad situation, but analysis of parentage is critical to validate this conclusion.

工作機械作業における動作の認識 ジャイロ兼加速度センサおよびＤＰマッチングを用いたシステム

Skilled human operators can adjust various conditions of manufacturing system and deal with unexpected troubles flexibly and appropriately. However, the operators can possibly fail the adjustment and dealing at times, because of fatigue, carelessness, bad physical condition, etc. The failure may cause some serious delay of the manufacturing processes and even physical danger to the operators. So, an intelligent system for avoiding the failure or warning its signs is desired to improve their working environment. To develop the system, a reliable recognition technique of operator's motion is indispensable. In this research, the recognition system of five kinds of motion in cylindrical grinding machine operation has been investigated by utilizing a small gyro/acceleration sensor and DP matching method. The similarity between the reference motion (standard pattern) and an input motion has been evaluated by the index of DP matching, or the pattern distance. The reference motions have been derived by averaging several typical motion data after time normalization. As the result, to recognize the objective five motions, first, the similarity indices by only angle data should be compared each other. Then, the similarity indices by only acceleration data should be compared, if necessary.

A fatality resulting from a case of legionnaires' disease on hotel premises

A fatal case of legionnaires' disease in a British tourist was contracted in a hotel on a Greek island. The air-conditioning system and the hot water system were checked for Legionella pneumophila. L.pneumophila ser 1 was investigated at two points, from a mixing valve and from a hot water tap at concentrations of 2000 and 3000 cfu/L respectively. Water temperature and abscence of free residual chlorine in the water are thought to be the factors that promoted the L.pneumophila proliferation in the water piping. Age and bad physical condition of the victim were probably of significance.

Wertigkeit der pr�operativen Diagnostik zur Beurteilung der Tumorausdehnung bei ductalen Pankreascarcinomen

The value of preoperative diagnostics in evaluating the extension of pancreatic carcinoma can be important in some cases for planning its therapy. In ca. 90% of our own patient material only the combination of angiography and computed tomography allowed a correct decision regarding tumor invasion of the vessels. Retrospectively metastases of the liver were seen in 80% and prospectively in 66.7% (sonography), respectively 58.3% (computed tomography) with a specificity of 86.9% respectively 91.3%. These results support our procedure of performing preoperative diagnostics in order to evaluate local operability and resectability only in patients with bad physical condition.

The relationship of social support to physical and psychological aspects of AIDS

Abstract This study explored the social support networks of 50 homosexual males with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Data gathered by self report questionnaires and medical records included diagnosis, number of medical symptoms, sociodemographics, extensive information about social support networks, mood state and physical health status. Variables associated with good psychological and physical adaptation included satisfaction with support, instrumental support and emotional support. Results of this study conflict with previous studies in that worse physical condition was not positively associated with satisfaction with support, was related to less instrumental support and was not associated with increased quantitative support. The measures of satisfaction with support, instrumental support and emotional support were all quite high, even though network size was small.

Menstrual pain, health and behaviour in girls

Prevalence of menstrual pain, use of medication and school absenteeism due to the pain were studied by means of a mailed questionnaire in a sample representing 12–18-year-old girls in Finland ( n = 3370, response rate 87%). Prevalence of menstrual pain was 48% among 12-year-old post-menarcheal girls and 79% among 18-year-olds. Thirty percent of the 16-year-old girls had used medication and 21% had stayed at home due to menstrual pain in the last 6 months; 3% had both been absent and used medication several times. Three types of factors were associated with menstrual pain: (1) physiological (gynaecological age, duration of menstrual flow); (2) indicators of poor self-rated health (not feeling active in the morning, bad physical condition, number of common colds); (3) unhealthy practices (consumption of alcohol, low physical activity, smoking). The prevalence of menstrual pain did not correlate with the variables describing the place of residence or the socio-economic status of the family. The determinants of menstrual pain are supposed to lie more in the biological construct and micro-environment of the girls than in macro-level structures of the society. The experience of pain seems to be related to self-rated health as a whole and to lifestyle rather than to specific disorders and health practices.