Tag: nevin manimala

J Am Coll Health. 2023 Apr 24:1-6. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2198023. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure college student athletes’ nutrition knowledge and behavior before and after a text message-based educational intervention. Participants: Athletes (n = 35) participated by completing a pre- and post-intervention survey. Methods: This survey gathered information on ability to identify carbohydrate and protein food sources, pre-and post-workout intake, and behavior. Text messages were sent during the 4-week intervention and included information regarding the importance of carbohydrate consumption before training, and a carbohydrate-protein mixture for recovery. Results: Dependent t-tests revealed a lack of statistically significant increases in total knowledge (p = 0.156) or behavior (p = 0.177), but an increase in the behavior questions regarding efficacy of carbohydrate before training (p = 0.026) and carbohydrate and protein after training (p = 0.016). Conclusion: This suggests the text message educational intervention did influence behavioral outcomes. Future research should focus on the effectiveness, length, and frequency of the text message intervention, and investigate the athletes’ willingness to change dietary behaviors.

PMID:37094249 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2023.2198023

J Am Coll Health. 2023 Apr 24:1-7. doi: 10.1080/07448481.2023.2199335. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Objective: Exploration of the relationship between mental health constructs and physical health constructs can help practitioners better understand the mental health of vulnerable populations, such as college students in the United States. The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate the connection between mental well-being and health literacy of US college students. Participants: The sample included 410 undergraduate students (63% white; 71% female) attending universities across the United States. Methods: Participants completed the All Aspects of Health Literacy Scale and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being Scale. Univariate and bivariate statistics were observed for all study variables, and three linear regression models were run to see whether functional, communicative, and/or critical health literacy scores predicted mental well-being. Conclusions: Findings suggest that health literacy was associated with improved mental well-being among US college students, which has implications for health programming at US universities, such as the coordination of physical and mental healthcare.

PMID:37094235 | DOI:10.1080/07448481.2023.2199335

Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Apr 24:kead162. doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead162. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The current analysis of the MAXIMISE trial was conducted to investigate the presence of post-inflammatory and degenerative spinal changes and inflammatory changes in spinal processes identified in baseline magnetic resonance images (MRIs) and their potential for predicting differential treatment effects in a cohort of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with axial manifestations.

METHODS: Baseline spinal MRIs from MAXIMISE trial were re-read to identify additional inflammatory (spinal process), post-inflammatory, and degenerative changes, and investigate the differential treatment effect of these imaging features using logistic regression modelling.

RESULTS: In addition to bone marrow oedema (BME) assessed at primary analysis, spinal process inflammation (SPi) and post-inflammatory changes evaluated by FAt Spondyloarthritis Spine Score were documented in 11.1% and 20.2% patients, respectively. At least one type of degenerative change was noted in 64% patients with Pfirrmann grade ≥3 (51.1%) being the most common. Combining primary and re-read MRI findings 67.1% of patients presented with inflammatory or post-inflammatory changes while 21.2% had degenerative changes alone. Although not statistically significant, post-inflammatory changes were associated with a trend for better efficacy outcomes in terms of ASAS20, ASAS40, and BASDAI50 responses; a trend for worse outcomes was observed in the presence of degenerative changes.

CONCLUSION: The current analysis revealed the occurrence of additional inflammatory and post-inflammatory changes suggestive of axial PsA (axPsA) and a trend for better clinical outcomes for patients treated with secukinumab. These results elucidate the imaging characteristics and improve our current understanding of axPsA thereby supporting the interpretation of future trials.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02721966.

PMID:37094184 | DOI:10.1093/rheumatology/kead162

ACS Macro Lett. 2023 Apr 24:619-625. doi: 10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00162. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) homopolymers and statistical copolymers are ubiquitous in microbially produced PHAs, but the step-growth polycondensation mechanism the biosynthesis operates on presents a challenge to access well-defined block copolymers (BCPs), especially higher-order tri-BCP PHAs. Here we report a stereoselective-chemocatalytic route to produce discrete hard-soft-hard ABA all-PHA tri-BCPs based on the living chain-growth ring-opening polymerization of racemic (rac) 8-membered diolides (rac-8DL^R; R denotes the two substituents on the ring). Depending on the composition of the soft B block, originated from rac-8DL^R (R = Et, ⁿBu), and its ratio to the semicrystalline, high-melting hard A block, derived from rac-8DL^Me, the resulting all-PHA tri-BCPs with high molar mass (M_n up to 238 kg mol^-1) and low dispersity (Đ = 1.07) exhibit tunable mechanical properties characteristic of a strong and tough thermoplastic, elastomer, or a semicrystalline thermoplastic elastomer.

PMID:37094112 | DOI:10.1021/acsmacrolett.3c00162

Sleep. 2023 Apr 24:zsad124. doi: 10.1093/sleep/zsad124. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To investigate the trends in the consumption of benzodiazepines (BZDs) and Z-drugs at global, regional, and national levels from 2008 to 2018, across 67 countries and regions.

METHODS: This cross-sectional descriptive study investigated the consumption of BZDs and Z-drugs analysed by global pharmaceutical sales data from the IQVIA-Multinational Integrated Data Analysis System database between 2008 and 2018. Consumption was measured in defined daily dose per 1,000 inhabitants per day (DDD/TID). The global, regional, and national trends were estimated using linear mixed models. Additional analyses were conducted by grouping countries by income levels. The association between consumption and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the prevalence of different medical conditions was explored in univariable linear models.

RESULTS: BZD consumption decreased annually by -1.88% (95% CI: -2.27%, -1.48%), and Z-drugs increased by +3.28% (+2.55%, +4.01%). In 2008, the top ten countries for BZD and Z-drug consumption were all European, ranging from 63.69 to 128.24 DDD/TID. Very low levels were found in Russia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, French West Africa, and the Philippines, with DDD/TID <1. The consumption in high-income countries was much higher than in middle-income countries. The results showed that increased consumption of BZDs and Z-drugs was statistically associated (P<0.05) with higher GDP and increased prevalence of anxiety, self-harm, neurological disorders, chronic respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases and cancers.

CONCLUSIONS: Distinct differences in consumption and trends of BZDs and Z-drugs were found across different countries and regions. Further exploration is needed to understand the association and safety of the use of BZDs and Z-drugs in patients with comorbidities.

PMID:37094086 | DOI:10.1093/sleep/zsad124

Brain. 2023 Apr 24:awad139. doi: 10.1093/brain/awad139. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Some carriers of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1), a retrovirus that primarily infects CD4+ T cells and causes lifelong infection, develop HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Current treatments for HAM/TSP are insufficient with problematic long-term side effects. This study evaluated the long-term safety and efficacy of the anti-CCR4 antibody mogamulizumab in patients with HAM/TSP over a 4-year period. We conducted an open-label, extended long-term study (UMIN trial number: UMIN000019942) of a Phase 1-2a trial with mogamulizumab for HAM/TSP (UMIN000012655). The study participants were patients with corticosteroid-resistant HAM/TSP who could walk 10 m with or without assistive tools. Mogamulizumab was administered at 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, or 0.3 mg/kg at intervals of ≥8 weeks (0.01 and 0.03 mg/kg) or ≥12 weeks (0.1 and 0.3 mg/kg). HTLV-1 proviral load, cerebrospinal fluid inflammatory markers, and clinical symptoms were summarized by descriptive statistics. Missing observations were imputed using the last-observation-carried-forward method. As a post-hoc analysis, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of mogamulizumab on gait function by comparing it with contemporary control data from a HAM/TSP patient registry. Of the 21 participants in the Phase 1-2a, 18 (86%) enrolled in the long-term study and 15 (71%) continued repeated doses of mogamulizumab for 4 years. The median dose was 0.1 mg/kg after 4 years. Seventeen of 21 participants (81%) experienced grade 1-2 skin-related adverse events. Observed grade 3 drug-related adverse effects included three cases of lymphopenia and one case each of microscopic polyangiitis, elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase, and neutropenia. Four of 21 participants (19%) developed neutralizing antibodies. After 4 years, the peripheral blood proviral load and the number of infected cells in CSF decreased by 60.7% and 66.3%, respectively. Neopterin and CXCL10 CSF concentrations decreased by 37.0% and 31.0%, respectively. Among the 18 participants, spasticity and Osame Motor Disability Score (OMDS) improved in 17 (94%) and 4 (22%), respectively. However, 10 m walking time worsened by 7.3% on average. Comparison with the contemporary control group demonstrated that mogamulizumab inhibited OMDS progression (p = 0.02). The results of the study suggest that mogamulizumab has long-term safety and inhibitory effect on lower limb motor disability progression in corticosteroid-treated patients with HAM/TSP. This will provide a basis for the application of mogamulizumab in HAM/TSP treatment.

PMID:37093965 | DOI:10.1093/brain/awad139

Genome Biol Evol. 2023 Apr 24:evad067. doi: 10.1093/gbe/evad067. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The pangenome is the set of all genes present in a prokaryotic population. Most pangenomes contain many accessory genes of low and intermediate frequencies. Different population genetics processes contribute to the shape of these pangenomes, namely selection and fitness-independent-processes such as gene transfer, gene loss, and migration. However, their relative importance is unknown and highly debated. Here we argue that the debate around prokaryotic pangenomes arose due to the imprecise application of population genetics models. Most importantly, two different processes of horizontal gene transfer act on prokaryotic populations, which are frequently confused, despite their fundamentally different behavior. Genes acquired from distantly related organisms (termed here acquiring gene transfer, AGT) is most comparable to mutation in nucleotide sequences. In contrast, gene gain within the population (termed here spreading gene transfer, SGT) has an effect on gene frequencies that is identical to the effect of positive selection on single genes. We thus show that selection and fitness-independent population genetic processes affecting pangenomes are indistinguishable at the level of single gene dynamics. Nevertheless, population genetics processes are fundamentally different when considering the joint distribution of all accessory genes across individuals of a population. We propose that, to understand to which degree the different processes shaped pangenome diversity, the development of comprehensive models and simulation tools is mandatory. Furthermore, we need to identify summary statistics and measurable features that can distinguish between the processes, where considering the joint distribution of accessory genes across individuals of a population will be particularly relevant.

PMID:37093956 | DOI:10.1093/gbe/evad067

Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2023 Apr 24. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003196. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Physical activity levels have decreased over past decades with most adolescents neither meeting the current physical activity recommendations nor demonstrating adequate cardiorespiratory fitness. Motor competence (MC) is foundational for a physically active lifestyle; however, children demonstrate significant differences in their levels of MC in a broad foundation of movement skills. This study investigated developmental patterns of physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness in children across 4 years based on their longitudinal MC profiles.

METHODS: The data included annual measurements of MC, accelerometry-measured moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and cardiorespiratory fitness over 4 years from the age 11 to 15 (n = 1147, girls 582, boys 565). Latent profile analysis was used to identify longitudinal MC profiles and latent growth curve modeling to examine intercepts and slopes (s) of MVPA and cardiorespiratory fitness in these MC profiles.

RESULTS: Three different longitudinal MC profiles were identified: low, moderate, and high. The MC profiles showed significant differences in intercepts of cardiorespiratory fitness and MVPA. The high MC profile showed the highest intercepts for both, but also a statistically significant decline in MVPA over time (s = -3.36, p < .001). Cardiorespiratory fitness increased similarly in all three profiles over time: low (s = 1.20, p < .01), moderate (s = 1.28, p < .001), high (s = 2.21, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the long-term associations between different MC profiles and development of MVPA and cardiorespiratory fitness. Adolescents with lower MC demonstrated lower levels of MVPA and cardiorespiratory fitness, indicating decreased participation in physical activities that can optimally enhance cardiorespiratory fitness. However, significant differences in MVPA levels between MC profiles faded over time in adolescence, whereas significant differences in cardiorespiratory fitness remained.

PMID:37093949 | DOI:10.1249/MSS.0000000000003196

J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2023 Apr 24:1-24. doi: 10.1044/2023_JSLHR-22-00545. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The clinical use of event-related potentials in patients with language disorders is increasingly acknowledged. For this purpose, normative data should be available. Within this context, healthy aging and gender effects on the electrophysiological correlates of semantic sentence comprehension were investigated.

METHOD: One hundred and ten healthy subjects (55 men and 55 women), divided among three age groups (young, middle aged, and elderly), performed a semantic sentence congruity task in the visual modality during electroencephalographic recording.

RESULTS: The early visual complex was affected by increasing age as shown by smaller P2 amplitudes in the elderly compared to the young. Moreover, the N400 effect in the elderly was smaller than in the young and was delayed compared to latency measures in both middle-aged and young subjects. The topography of age-related amplitude changes of the N400 effect appeared to be gender specific. The late positive complex effect was increased at frontal electrode sites from middle age on, but this was not statistically significant. No gender effects were detected regarding the early P1, N1, and P2, or the late positive complex effect.

CONCLUSION: Especially aging effects were found during semantic sentence comprehension, and this from the level of perceptual processing on. Normative data are now available for clinical use.

PMID:37093923 | DOI:10.1044/2023_JSLHR-22-00545

Int J Dent Hyg. 2023 Apr 24. doi: 10.1111/idh.12678. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Translating the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) into Dutch and assessing the inter-rater reliability among community nurses.

METHODS: The original version of the OHAT was translated following the five stages of the ‘Guidelines for the Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation’. After a forward and backward translation, consensus on the pre-final version was obtained in an expert panel discussion. This version was pre-tested on its comprehensibility among 31 nurses and hereafter finalized. Then, inter-rater reliability of the OHAT-NL was determined by two trained nurses during oral assessments of 37 care-dependent community-dwelling older people. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the Cohen’s kappa statistic for individual items were estimated.

RESULTS: Feedback from nurses in the pre-test did lead to minor changes of the OHAT-NL. Inter-rater reliability was good (ICC 0.79; 95% CI 0.63-0.89) on the total score. Agreement on item level ranged from fair to very good, the kappa ranged from 0.36-0.89.

CONCLUSIONS: OHAT is now available in Dutch having good inter-rater reliability among trained community nurses. Future research can further validate the OHAT-NL and develop intervention according to total OHAT-NL scores.

PMID:37093920 | DOI:10.1111/idh.12678