Healthy Young Students Research Articles

Association between Blood Pressure and Obesity Indices in Medical Students

Introduction: Obesity is strongly associated with other metabolic disorders including Hypertension (HTN), diabetes and Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD). High Blood Pressure (BP) is ranked as the third most important risk factor for attributable burden of disease in South Asia. Aim: The aim of present was to study the association between BP and obesity indices in medical student’s population. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on a group of 100 healthy young medical students. BP, pulse and Hb O2% was measured by using sphygmomanometer, pulse oximeter. Obesity indices were measured by using weighing machine, stadiometer, measuring tape and impedance based Body Composition Analyser (BCA). Results: There was poor correlation of Systolic Blood Pressure (SBP) and Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) with Total Body Fat (TF) and the association was not significant. SBP and DBP were mildly correlated with BMI. Whole body Visceral Fat (VF) correlation of SBP was moderate and significant. DBP was correlated with whole body VF and correlation was significant. But the whole body, trunk, leg Skin Fat (SF) and Muscle Fat (MF) were not having significant correlation with SBP and DBP. Finger to heart distance was positively correlated with SBP (p<0.05). Also, O2%, chest and hip size were positively correlated with SBP (p<0.05). Only whole body VF and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) were significantly (p<0.05) affected SBP. None of the other parameters affected DBP. Conclusion: The present study results found that Body Mass Index (BMI), VF and WHR had significant correlation with systolic and SBP and DBP. VF and WHR were significant predictors of SBP.

Evaluation of Cardiovascular Responses Using Cold Presser Test as a Possible Future Risk for Hypertension in Normotensive Healthy Young Subjects

Hypertension is a major public health challenge and an emerging factor for cardiovascular co-morbidities globally. Exaggerated cardiovascular response to stress has been possible evidence to be a future risk for the development of hypertension and cardiac disorders. This cross-sectional study was done to evaluate cardiovascular responses using a cold presser test as a possible future risk for hypertension in normotensive healthy young students. A total of 70 healthy medical students of first-year MBBS, of both genders with ages between 18-22 years were included in the study. About 68.6% of students were found to be normal and were included in the normal response group. They showed no significant increase in heart rate, systolic or diastolic blood pressure. The participants showing a rise of systolic BP ≥25 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥20 mmHg were included in the hyper-response group. The overall mean age group in both male and female students was 20±1.56 years. In conclusion, 31.4% of normotensive medical students showed exaggerated cardiovascular responses to cold pressor tests which can be a possible risk for hypertension in these young normotensive individuals. Early interventions in their lifestyle modification can prevent them from developing hypertension in the future.

Psychoneuroendocrinoimmunology-based meditation (PNEIMED) training reduces salivary cortisol under basal and stressful conditions in healthy university students: Results of a randomized controlled study

BackgroundMeditation represents an effective and safe practice to lower distress and promote well-being. PsychoNeuroEndocrinoImmunology-based Meditation (PNEIMED) is a validated method that can reduce stress-related symptoms and salivary cortisol secretion. To date, few randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have assessed cortisol levels through salivary samples, collected both in the morning phase and during acute mental stress elicitation, in healthy young subjects following brief meditation training. AimThe present study aims to investigate, in healthy young undergraduate students, the effects of a brief PNEIMED training course on HPA axis by measuring salivary cortisol levels. MethodsForty students attending the Faculty of Psychology, without comorbidities and previous experience of meditation, were enrolled in the study. Twenty subjects were randomly assigned to 30 h of PNEIMED training (intervention group, IG), and twenty subjects were randomly assigned to 30 h of academic lessons (control group, CG). Salivary cortisol measures included basal morning (t0 = baseline time, collected 30 min after waking) and under stress-eliciting task values. Cortisol measurement under the stress-eliciting task was provided through the Subtraction Stress Task (SST) at scheduled time intervals (t1 = 5 min pre-SST, t2 = 10 min post-SST, t3 = 30 min = post-SST). Salivary cortisol was measured among all subjects (IG + CG) at the beginning (pre-test) and at the end (post-test, four days later) of the study. ResultsANOVA between-group analysis of basal diurnal salivary cortisol showed a significant hormone deflection in the IG at the end of the PNEIMED course (post-test) when compared to the CG (IG post-test 5.64 ± 4.2 vs CG post-test 9.44 ± 4.9; F1,38 = 6.838; p = 0.013). RM-ANOVA within-group analysis for the IG also showed that time and condition effects were statistically significant, with Ftime = 5.438; p = 0.002 and Fcondition = 10.478; p = 0.004, respectively. The IG group presented a significant reduction in basal morning cortisol at the end of the PNEIMED course (post-test) compared to the salivary concentration at baseline (pre-test) (IG pre-test 9.42 ± 6.0 vs IG post-test 5.64 ± 4.2; F1,38 8,354; p = 0.009). RM-ANOVA for the control group showed only the main effect of time (F1,38 = 40.348; p < 0.001). Regarding cortisol measures under the SST-stress eliciting task, ANOVA between-groups analysis showed higher cortisol levels in the IG than in the CG before the PNEIMED course, with significant differences between groups at time t2 and time t3. After the PNEIMED course, the cortisol levels in the IG had decreased, although the differences between groups were not significant. Interestingly, ANOVA within-groups analysis showed that in the IG, the cortisol levels post-test (after the PNEIMED course) were lower than at pre-test (before the PNEIMED course), showing a significant difference of cortisol salivary concentration between conditions at t3 (F = 5.326; p = 0.032). In the control group, the post-hoc analyses for pairwise comparisons between conditions (pre-test vs post-test) did not show significant differences. ConclusionAlthough the low number of subjects enrolled in the study does not allow for definitive conclusions to be drawn, the present findings confirmed the capability of the PNEIMED method to lower stress hormone secretion both at baseline and under acute mental stimulation in a group of young naïve practitioners and make a contribution to the existing literature by increasing the number of published RCTs about the topic.

Refractive error and biometrics of anterior segment of eyes of healthy young university students in Japan

To determine the parameters of the anterior segment of eyes that are significantly associated with the refractive error in healthy young Japanese university students. This was a cross-sectional observational study of 229 healthy Japanese university students (men: women,147:82) whose age ranged between 20 to 29 years. Univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify the factors that were significantly correlated with the refractive error. The independent variables included age, sex, axial length, anterior chamber depth, corneal diameter, curvature of anterior surface of cornea, and central corneal thickness. The mean refractive error (spherical equivalent) was −4.1 ± 2.7 diopters (D) with a range of −12.5 to +0.5 D, and the mean axial length was 25.4 ± 1.3 mm with a range of 22.4 to 29.0 mm. Pearson univariate correlation analysis found that the refractive error was significantly and negatively correlated with the axial length (R = −0.82, P < 0.001), deeper anterior chamber (R = −0.30, P < 0.001), and larger corneal diameter (R = −0.21, P = 0.001). Multiple regression analysis showed that the refractive error was significantly associated with a longer axial length (P < 0.001), a deeper anterior chamber (P < 0.001), and a flatter corneal curvature (P < 0.001).The biometric values of the anterior segment of the eyes should make the eye more hyperopic which would reduce the myopia-inducing lengthening of the axial length.

Influence of Shoulder Position on Functional Control Ratio During Isokinetic Assessment.

One of the possible mechanisms leading to secondary impingement syndrome may be the strength imbalance of shoulder rotators which is known as functional control ratio (FCR). The FCR is a ratio dividing the eccentric peak torque of the external rotators by the concentric peak torque of the internal rotators. Previous studies have focused on the reproducibility and reliability of isokinetic assessment, but there is little information on the influence of variable shoulder positions on FCR. To compare shoulder FCR across 3 different shoulder abduction positions during isokinetic assessment. Cross-sectional study. Biomechanics laboratory. Thirty-one healthy young university students (age 22.35 [0.95]y, weight 60.52 [9.31]kg, height 168.23 [9.47]cm). The concentric peak torque of internal rotators and eccentric peak torque of external rotators of right shoulder were measured on an isokinetic dynamometer. Concentric peak torque of the internal rotators and eccentric peak torque of the external rotators, measured using an isokinetic dynamometer. The concentric peak torque of internal rotators was significantly lower at 120° shoulder abduction compared with other positions (P < .001). The FCR was significantly higher at 120° shoulder abduction than 90° (P = .002) or 60° (P < .001) shoulder abduction because of the lower concentric peak torque. No significant difference was found in the FCR between the other 2 shoulder positions (P = .14). Shoulder position variations may influence FCR because of weakness of the internal rotators. Rehabilitation and injury prevention training programs should specifically focus on strengthening the internal rotators at more elevated angles of shoulder abduction.

Influence of Living Environment during Childhood on Helicobacter pylori Infection in Japanese Young Adults

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori infection is usually established during childhood, for which certain responsible environmental factors have been identified. However, the details of the infection routes remain unclear. Objective: To determine the relation between H. pylori infection statuses and living environment of Japanese young adult. Methods: The subjects were 449 healthy young adult medical students of Tsukuba University (299 men and 150 women, mean age: 22.8 years). The H. pylori infection statuses were investigated using the rapid urease test or urine antibody. Questionnaires regarding sanitary conditions including usage of pit toilet or well water and experience of living with one’s grandparents during childhood were surveyed. Each item was compared between the H. pylori-positive and -negative groups. Results: Among all participants, 33 (7.3%) were H. pylori-positive. The usage rates of pit toilets were 12.1 and 3.1% for the H. pylori-positive and -negative groups respectively (p = 0.03; OR 4.35, 95% CI 1.33–14.22). The usage rates of well water were 24.2 and 13.7% for the H. pylori-positive and -negative groups respectively (p = 0.07; OR 2.12, 95% CI 0.91–4.98). The proportion of participants with a history of living with their grandparents was significantly greater in the H. pylori-positive group (46.7%) than in the -negative group (20.9%; p = 0.03; OR 3.28, 95% CI 1.13–9.54). Only a history of living with one’s grandparents during childhood showed statistical significance in the multivariate regression analysis (p = 0.04; OR 3.20, 95% CI 1.08–9.49). Conclusions: These results suggest that H. pylori infection is more strongly related to living with one’s grandparents than living in a hygienic environment.

Test-retest reliability of a smartphone app for measuring core stability for two dynamic exercises.

BackgroundRecently, there has been growing interest in using smartphone applications to assess gait speed and quantify isometric core stability exercise intensity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the between-session reliability and minimal detectable change of a smartphone app for two dynamic exercise tests of the lumbopelvic complex.MethodsThirty-three healthy young and active students (age: 22.3 ± 5.9 years, body weight: 66.9 ± 11.3 kg, height: 167.8 ± 10.3 cm) participated in this study. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), coefficient of variation (%CV), and Bland–Altman plots were used to verify the reliability of the test. The standard error of measurement (SEM) and the minimum detectable difference (MDD) were calculated for clinical applicability.ResultsThe ICCs ranged from 0.73 to 0.96, with low variation (0.9% to 4.8%) between days of assessments. The Bland–Altman plots and one-sample t-tests (p > 0.05) indicated that no dynamic exercise tests changed systematically. Our analyses showed that SEM 0.6 to 1.5 mm/s-2) and MDD (2.1 to 3.5 mm/s-2).ConclusionThe OCTOcore app is a reliable tool to assess core stability for two dynamic exercises. A minimal change of 3.5 mm/s-2 is needed to be confident that the change is not a measurement error between two sessions.

Impacts of In-Cabin Exposure to Size-Fractionated Particulate Matters and Carbon Monoxide on Changes in Heart Rate Variability for Healthy Public Transit Commuters

To evaluate the cardiovascular impact of traffic-related pollutant exposure on healthy young adults, the research team has collected the primary data of in-cabin exposure to air pollutants and heart rate variability (HRV). Twenty young healthy college students were recruited in Taipei metropolitan area. In addition to electrocardiogram, personal exposure to air pollutants, i.e., particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO), and weather conditions, including temperature and relative humidity (RH), on campus, bus, and mass rapid transit were monitored continuously. The following HRV parameters were evaluated using generalized additive mixed model to adjust for personal and meteorological variables: heart rate (HR), the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal-to-normal (NN) intervals (r-MSSD), the standard deviation of all NN intervals (SDNN), the percentage of successive NN interval differences greater than 50 ms (pNN50), low-frequency power (LF), high-frequency power (HF), total power (TP), and LF/HF. They were assessed to find out the association between in-cabin exposure and HRV parameters. Compared with the HRV parameters measured on campus, the percent changes in r-MSSD, SDNN, pNN50+1, LF, HF, and TP decreased when the participants were in public transits. After adjusting for all locations, 5 min moving averages of PM2.5–10 and PM1 were significantly associated with the increase in the percent changes in HR and SDNN. Additionally, 5 min moving averages of PM2.5–10 exposure were significantly associated with the decrease in the percent change in HF, while it was significantly associated with the increase of the percent change in LF/HF. The reduction of the percent change in HR was also found to be significantly associated with 5 min CO moving averages. To conclude, current analyses have shown that size-fractionated PMs and CO exposure in public transits might lead to significant changes of HRV parameters for healthy young adults.

Subclinical Scores in Self-Report Based Screening Tools for Attention Deficits Correlate With Cognitive Traits in Typical Evening-Type Adults Tested in the Morning.

Previous studies suggest that in adolescents and young adults, evening chronotype is a subclinical factor in physical, cognitive, and psychiatric fitness; poor sleep habits and larger misalignment with the social schedule constraints may exacerbate symptoms of inattention, impulsivity and the risks for detrimental behaviors. The influence of chronotype on neurocognitive performance during morning hours and scores in self-reports about attention deficit symptoms (ADS) and executive functioning, was explored in 42 healthy young university students (29 women), divided to evening type (ET) and combined morning/intermediate type (MT/IT) groups. Evening chronotypes scored significantly higher in the questionnaires of inattention Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS-6) (MT/IT: 1.62 ± 1.59; ET: 2.71 ± 1.62, p < 0.05) and day-time sleepiness Epworth scale (MT/IT: 7.19 ± 5.17; ET: 11.48 ± 5.26, p < 0.01), reported lower subjective alertness (MT/IT: 63.02 ± 21.40; ET: 40.76 ± 17.43, p < 0.001), and had slower reaction times (MT/IT: 321.47 ± 76.81; ET: 358.94 ± 75.16, p < 0.05) during tests, compared to non-evening chronotypes. Nevertheless, ETs did not significantly differ in self-reports of executive functioning in the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions-A (BRIEF-A) from non-ETs. The scores on standard self-report screening tools for ADS and executive functioning (ASRS-6, BRIEF-A-Metacognition) correlated with eveningness. We conclude that eveningness, subjective sleepiness and low arousal levels during morning can present as subclinical Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms in typical young adults with no evident sleep problems. Self-report based screening tools for ADS and executive functioning reflect chronotype-related traits in healthy young adults. Strong eveningness may bias the results of neurocognitive performance screening for ADHD when administered at morning hours.

Measurement of the quadriceps (Q) angle with respect to various body parameters in young Arab population.

The quadriceps angle (Q angle), formed between the quadriceps muscles and the patella tendon, is considered clinically as a very important parameter which displays the biomechanical effect of the quadriceps muscle on the knee, and it is also regarded a crucial factor for the proper posture and movement of the knee patella. The Q angle is routinely and regularly used as an assessment parameter during the diagnosis of many knee-related problems, including the anterior knee pain, osteoarthritis, and degenerative knee disorders. This study had been conducted so as to measure the normal Q angle values range in the Arab nationalities and determine the correlation between Q angle values and several body parameters, including gender, height, weight, dominant side, and the condylar distance of the femur. The study includes 500 healthy young Arab students from the Yarmouk University and Jordan University of Science and Technology. The Q angle of those volunteers was measured using a universal manual Goniometer with the subjects in the upright weight-bearing position. It was found that Q angle was greater in young women than young men. Also, the analysis of the data revealed an insignificant increase in the dominant side of the Q angle. In addition, the Q angle was significantly higher in the taller people of both sexes. However, the Q angle did not present any considerable correlation with weight in the study population; conversely, it was clearly observed that there was a link with the condylar distance of the femur in both sexes. It was also noticed that the Q angle increased remarkably when there was an increase in the condylar distance. Consequently, it turned out that the gender, height, and the condylar distance were momentous factors that had impact on the Q angle in our study samples. However, weight and dominancy factors did not show to have any influence on the values in our study.

The Effects of Acute and Chronic Aerobic Activity on the Signaling Pathway of the Inflammasome NLRP3 Complex in Young Men.

Background and Objectives: The results of the studies show that the intensity and volume of aerobic exercise activity produce different responses of the immune system. This study aims to show how the signaling pathway of the inflammatory NLRP3 complex is influenced by the acute and chronic effects of moderate and high-intensity aerobic exercises in young men. Materials and Methods: Accordingly, 60 healthy (BMI = 23.56 ± 2.67) young (24.4 ± 0.4) students volunteered to participate in the study that was randomly divided into two experimental (n = 20) groups and one control (n = 20) group. The training protocol started with two intensity levels of 50% for a moderate group and 70% of maximum heart rate for high group for 30 min and then continued until reaching 70% (moderate group) and 90% (high group) of the maximum heart rate, respectively. Using Real Time-PCR method, the expression of NLRP3 gene and ELISA- were measured by IL-1β, IL-18. Results: The results showed that acute aerobic exercise with moderate intensity had no significant effect on the expression of NLRP3 gene and serum levels of IL-1β and IL-18 cytokines (p > 0.05) when acute exercise, with high intensity, begins an initiation of the activity of the inflammatory complex with elevated serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18, and NLRP3 gene expression (p < 0.05). In addition, chronic exercise with moderate intensity significantly reduced the expression of NLRP3 gene and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18 cytokines (p < 0.05). In the case of chronic exercise with high intensity, a significant increase in expression of gene, NLRP3 and serum levels of IL-1β, IL-18 cytokines were observed (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Generally, it can be concluded that chronic exercise with moderate intensity is effective in decreasing the expression of the inflammasome and inflammation.

Anxiety from a Work Conflict May Be Exacerbated by Lack of Knowledge of Work Life Rules—A Case Series

Job performance is dependent on a multitude of factors in the work place, the personal characteristics of the employees and the personal performance or leading strategies of the employer. Food retail shops in Norway are staffed with young persons, often students seeking part time jobs. Trade union membership is rare, and occupational health service is distant if existing at all. The aim was to present the development of three young workers in relation to the handling of length and timing of workdays and sickness absence. All three were referred to a private psychiatric practice because of increasing anxiety and depressive traits. Two had symptoms interfering with their academic study performance leading to sickness absence. A hitherto unknown bipolar disorder became evident and needed medication and further psychotherapy. The unfavourable work environment was deemed the most probable provoking factor for the reduction in functional performance in these otherwise healthy young students.

Influence of seasons upon personal light exposure and longitudinal axial length changes in young adults.

To investigate the association between objectively measured ambient light exposure and longitudinal axial length changes (and their seasonal variations) over a period of 12months in young adults. This prospective longitudinal observational study included 43 healthy young adult university students (21 emmetropes and 22 myopes) aged between 18 and 30years. Three axial length measurements were collected at 6-month intervals (i.e. at baseline, 6 and 12months), in summer and winter to determine the axial eye growth. Personal ambient light exposure data were measured in winter and summer months with wearable sensors, from which the mean daily time exposed to bright (outdoor) light levels (>1000lux) was derived. Greater daily bright light exposure was associated with less axial eye growth (β=-0.002, p=0.006) over 12months. In summer, myopes exhibited significantly greater changes in axial length (mean change 0.04±0.05mm) compared to emmetropes (-0.01±0.05mm) (p=0.001), but there was no significant difference between refractive groups in winter. Emmetropes also spent significantly greater time in outdoor light levels in summer compared to winter (p<0.0001), while myopes spent similar time outdoors during both seasons (p=0.12). Differences in light exposure between summer and winter were also associated with seasonal differences in axial eye growth (p=0.026). In young adults, greater time spent in bright light was associated with slower longitudinal axial eye growth. Seasonal light exposure and axial length changes were dependent on refractive error in this population and also exhibited an inverse relationship.

Effects of a functional lower extremity fatigue protocol and a 5-minute recovery period on the performance of a single leg hop test for distance in healthy participants.

Hop tests evaluate lower extremity sport-specific performance after various interventions and as predictors of injury. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of a functional low-cost fatigue protocol and a 5-minute post fatigue recovery on the single-leg hop test for distance (SLHD) in healthy young adult college students, including a between-gender comparison. Sixty young healthy adults (37 male-23 female), without any musculosketal complaints or previous injury or surgery in any of their lower limbs, participated in the experiment. Three practice trials were initially performed, followed by three pre-fatigue formal trials of the SLHD. After the fatigue protocol, three more trials were conducted prior to a 5-min recovery period, followed by another 3 trials. The reliability of the non-fatigued SLHD was also tested in a random sample of the cohort. Test-retest reliability was high (ICC2,3=0.91, SEM=7.9 cm). Mean decrease in performance between pre-fatigue and post-fatigue values was statistically significant for the whole group (-6.4%) and the male (-7.1%), however not the female participants. Mean increase between post-fatigue and 5-minute recovery trials, however, was significant for all (14.7%), as well as for the male (17.5%) and female (10.2%) participants. The 5-minute recovery trials were significantly increased even compared to the pre-fatigue trials for the whole group (6.6%) and the male participants (8.5%). The particular fatigue protocol moderately affected SLHD values, mostly for the male participants of the population recruited. Mean increase between prefatigue and 5-minute postfatigue recovery data can be accounted mainly by post-activation potentiation.

Sleep Deprivation Related Changes of Plasma Oxytocin in Males and Female Contraceptive Users Depend on Sex and Correlate Differentially With Anxiety and Pain Hypersensitivity.

Disturbed sleep is known to substantially aggravate both the pain condition and the affective state of pain patients. The neurobiological mechanisms underlying these adverse effects are unknown. Oxytocin (OT), being largely involved in social and emotional behavior, is considered to also play a modulatory role in nociception. We hypothesized a pathophysiological role of OT for the hyperalgesic and anxiogenic effects of sleep loss. An established human model of one night of total sleep deprivation (TSD) was used to test this hypothesis. Twenty young healthy students (n = 10 male and n = 10 female) were investigated in a balanced cross-over design, contrasting TSD with a night of habitual sleep (HS). All females took monophasic oral contraceptives (OC) and were investigated during their ‘pill-free’ phase. Plasma OT concentrations were correlated with (1) pain thresholds, (2) descending pain inhibition, and (3) state-anxiety scores. Compared to the HS condition, the plasma OT concentration was significantly increased in sleep deprived females (p = 0.02) but not males (p = 0.69). TSD resulted in pain hypersensitivity to noxious cold (p = 0.05), noxious heat (p = 0.023), and pricking stimuli (p = 0.013) and significantly increased state-anxiety (p = 0.021). While, independent of sex, lower heat pain thresholds correlated with higher plasma OT (p = 0.036), no such associations were found for cold/mechanical pain. In sleep-deprived females, higher plasma OT showed a mild (but insignificant) association with lower pain inhibition (p = 0.093). We found a positive correlation between anxiety-scores and OT (p = 0.021), which was enhanced when respecting “sex” (p = 0.008) and “sleep” (p = 0.001) in a hierarchical regression analysis. Altogether, our study revealed a complex and partially sex-dependent correlation between plasma OT and TSD-induced changes of experimental pain and anxiety. The minor role of OT for TSD-induced changes of evoked pain, and its major involvement in anxiety, argues against a specific role of OT for linking the adverse effects of TSD on pain sensitivity and anxiety with each other. Future investigations are needed in order to dissect out the effect of OC on the sex-dependent effects of TSD observed in our study.

Cardiovascular benefits of reducing personal exposure to traffic-related noise and particulate air pollution: A randomized crossover study in the Beijing subway system.

To assess the cardiovascular benefits of protecting against particulate air pollution and noise, we conducted a randomized crossover study with 40 young healthy college students from March to May 2017 in the underground subway, Beijing. Participants each received 4 treatments (no intervention phase [NIP], respirator intervention phase [RIP], headphone intervention phase [HIP], respirator plus headphone intervention phase [RHIP]) in a randomized order during 4 different study periods with 2-week washout intervals. We measured personal exposure to particulate matter (PM), noise and electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters (heart rate variability (HRV), heart rate (HR) and ST segment changes), ambulatory blood pressure (BP) continuously for 4hours to investigate the cardiovascular effects. Compared with NIP, most of the HRV parameters increased, especially high frequency (HF) [21.1% (95% CI: 15.7%, 26.9%), 18.2% (95% CI: 12.8%, 23.9%), and 35.5% (95% CI: 29.3%, 42.0%) in RIP, HIP, and RHIP, respectively], whereas ST segment elevation and HR decreased for all 3 modes of interventions. However, no significant differences were observed in BP among the 4 treatments. In summary, short-term wearing of a respirator and/or headphone may be an effective way to minimize cardiovascular risk induced by air pollution in the subway by improving autonomic nervous function.

P-194 - A high neuroticism is accompanied by oxidative stress in peripheral blood cells of healthy young subjects

Although some studies have associated emotional stress with oxidative stress, the relationship between psychological characteristics and redox state is still unknown. The aim of the present study was to examine the relation between neuroticism and its traits and several oxidative stress parameters in young (20–30 years old; N= 95) healthy students. Personality traits were determined by means of the revised NEO Personality Inventory test. Peripheral blood cells were isolated to assess the activities of the catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reductase (GR) enzymes, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized (GSSG) and reduced (GSH) glutathione, and GSSG/GSH ratios. The results revealed that: 1) participants scoring high in neuroticism [anxiety, depression, hostility, vulnerability or impulsivity] showed lower CAT, GPx and GR activities (P

Estilo de vida, estado de salud y ansiedad en estudiantes de la Universidad de Huelva

Los informes de la OMS sobre la salud de jóvenes de 20 a 24 años, indican numerosos factores de riesgos sanitarios que aumentan las cargas de morbilidad, siendo además esta actual cohorte de jóvenes la mayor que ha existido jamás en el mundo. Entre estos factores, se citan los trastornos psicopatológicos de ansiedad y depresión, alteraciones alimentarias, consumo de alcohol y otras drogas ilícitas y hábitos comportamentales de riesgo. Este estudio tiene como objetivo describir algunos aspectos del estilo de vida, estado de salud autopercibido y ansiedad en una muestra de jóvenes estudiantes sanos de la Universidad de Huelva. Los instrumentos utilizados fueron la entrevista semiestructurada sobre el estilo de vida y estado de salud CRD (Martínez-García, et al., 2014) y el ISRA (Miguel-Tobal y Cano-Vindel, 2002). Participaron 102 universitarios (80.4% mujeres), con edad media de 21.71 años (DT= 4.167). Los resultados mostraron tener un nivel socioeconómico medio (82.4%) y un estilo de vida en el entorno familiar, en general, saludable. Sobre salud, sin embargo, se destaca que el 14,9% reconoce “beber alcohol más de lo que quisiera”, de los que el 73.4%, lo sitúan entre 2 y 3 copas de más y, hasta 7 copas de más, el resto. El 11.8% mostró consumo de drogas ilícitas y la misma proporción fueron las/los que bajaron su peso en un 10% en los últimos seis meses. Los resultados del ISRA mostraron puntuaciones diagnósticas de Ansiedad severa en el 42.6% de la muestra, el 21.8% con A. marcada y el 9.9% con A. extrema, correlacionando con la variable alcohol los factores del ISRA Total (Tb= -.205; p = .017), de Evaluación (Tb= -.219; p = .011) y de Vida Cotidiana (Tb= -.228; p = .007). Concluimos con la necesidad de activar los protocolos de prevención indicados por la OMS sobre estos factores, en el medio universitario

Effect Of Short Term Aerobic Exercise (Football Training) On Lipid Profile And Myoglobin Levels In Apparently Healthy Students Of College Of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria

This study investigated the effect of short term aerobic exercise on lipid profile and myoglobin levels in apparently healthy students of College of Health Sciences, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nnewi Campus, Anambra State, Nigeria. A total of 60 apparently healthy young students aged between 18-40 years were randomly selected for the study. They were rested for a period of two weeks after which they were subjected to football exercise for 30 minutes (3 times) in a week for a period of 3 weeks. The demographic and anthropometric data of subjects were obtained using a well-structured questionnaire. Their blood pressures reading were obtained also. Thereafter, 5mls of baseline (day 0) and post-exercise (day 21) blood samples were collected from each subject before the commencement and at the end of the exercise on the last day of the training into a plain container for estimation of biochemical parameters (TG, TC, LDL, HDL, Myoglobin levels) respectively using standard methods. Data obtained were statistically analysed by unpaired student t-test and Pearson r correlation. The result showed that the mean serum levels of TG (1.41±0.60 vs 1.04±0.43) TC (5.22±0.98 vs 4.41± 0.90), LDL (3.92±0.99 vs 3.36±0.92) as well as myoglobin (16.04± 4.64 vs 13.38±5.21) and DBP (75.16±10.54 vs 68.59±8.57) were significantly decreased, whereas, there was a significant increase in the mean serum level of HDL (0.83± 0.30 vs 0.95±0.28) and SBP (114.69±9.21 vs 131.48±12.84) in subjects after exercise when compared to before exercise (p&lt;0.05). However, the mean BMI of the subjects remained the same before and after exercise (p&gt;0.05). Therefore, short term moderate intensity aerobic exercise could be of importance in prevention and management of cardiovascular disease

Fine Particulate Air Pollution and the Expression of microRNAs and Circulating Cytokines Relevant to Inflammation, Coagulation, and Vasoconstriction.

Background:MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a key factor in epigenetic regulation of gene expression, but miRNA responses to fine particulate matter () air pollution and their potential contribution to cardiovascular effects of are unknown.Objective:We explored the potential influence of on the expression of selected cytokines relevant to systemic inflammation, coagulation, and vasoconstriction, and on miRNAs that may regulate their expression.Methods:We designed a double-blind, randomized crossover study in which true and sham air purifiers were used to expose 55 healthy young adult students in Shanghai, China, to reduced or ambient levels of indoor during two-week periods, and we measured the expression (mRNA and protein) of 10 serum cytokines, and miRNAs that target them, after each intervention period. We used linear mixed-effect models to estimate associations of the intervention, and time-weighted personal exposures, with the cytokines, mRNA, and miRNAs; we also explored potential mediation by miRNAs.Results:The findings were generally consistent for associations with the intervention and for associations with an interquartile range increase in time-weighted . Specifically, higher exposure was positively associated with the expression (mRNA, protein, or both) of interleukin-1 (encoded by IL1), IL6, tumor necrosis factor (encoded by TNF), toll-like receptor 2 (encoded by TLR2), coagulation factor 3 (encoded by F3), and endothelin 1 (encoded by EDN1), and was negatively associated with miRNAs (miR-21-5p, miR-187-3p, miR-146a-5p, miR-1-3p, and miR-199a-5p) predicted to target mRNAs of IL1, TNF, TLR2, and EDN1.Conclusions:Our findings require confirmation but suggest that effects of on cardiovascular diseases may be related to acute effects on cytokine expression, which may be partly mediated through effects of on miRNAs that regulate cytokine expression. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP1447