Tag: pubmed

J Med Food. 2022 Jun;25(6):636-644. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2022.K.0007.

ABSTRACT

There is a lack of studies on the effects of Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) on face or body temperature. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of a black ginseng extract, KGR-BG1, on head and face temperatures and compared them with those of red ginseng extract and a placebo. We assessed their safety and tolerability and examined changes in the serum levels of biomarkers associated with immune responses, as well as with glucose and lipid metabolism. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted with 180 participants. The participants were randomly assigned to the KGR-BG1, red ginseng extract, or placebo group. Each group received a 1500 mg oral dose of their respective substances containing 1000 mg of the active component or placebo twice daily for 6 weeks. After treatment, changes in the head, face, and body temperature were measured, and serum biomarkers were evaluated. A total of 172 participants completed the evaluation after 6 weeks of treatment. No significant differences were observed in the head, face, and body temperatures among the treatment groups. After 6 weeks of treatment, the serum levels of biomarkers associated with inflammation, glucose metabolism, and lipid metabolism were similar to the baseline levels in all treatment groups. KGR-BG1 was well-tolerated compared with red ginseng extract and placebo. KGR-BG1 did not significantly alter head, face, or body temperature, or serum biomarker levels, and it was well tolerated in healthy volunteers over 6 weeks of treatment. Study Registration: Registered at Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS; https://cris.nih.go.kr) as KCT0003126.

PMID:35708631 | DOI:10.1089/jmf.2022.K.0007

Phys Sportsmed. 2022 Jun 16. doi: 10.1080/00913847.2022.2090869. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: Certain occupations are associated with greater risk of triggering a sudden cardiac event because of high levels of physical exertion and extreme thermal environments in which they occur. The extent to which sports officials-particularly high school (HS) American football referees-experience these conditions is unknown. Forty-six male HS officials (72% White/Caucasian; age=48±12 y, body mass index=31.7±6.6 kg·m^-2) were studied to quantify the physiological strain and physical demands of officiating.

METHODS: Referee demographics (e.g., experience, habitual exercise), pre-game urine specific gravity (U_SG), thermal (peak core temperature [T_core]) and cardiovascular (average heart rate [HR]) strain, kinematic activity (e.g., total distance, speed, mechanical intensity), and environmental conditions were measured during 10 regular season varsity HS football games (≈2.5 h each) in the Southeastern United States (average wet bulb globe temperature and relative humidity: 18.9±6.0 °C and 78.2±12.1%). Analyses included descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, and linear regression.

RESULTS: Referees covered 5.2±1.2 km per game, eliciting average HR and peak T_core of 71.5%±8.0% HR_max and 38.3±0.5 °C, respectively; 38% began games dehydrated (U_SG=1.026±0.004). Multiple regression analyses revealed that obesity (β=0.34), not participating in regular exercise (β=-0.36), and officiating at lower mechanical intensity (β=-0.33) predicted greater cardiovascular strain (all p≤0.03). White/Caucasian race/ethnicity (β=0.59), younger age (β=-0.46), and obesity (β=0.28) predicted greater thermal strain (all p≤0.01).

CONCLUSION: HS football referees experienced elevated levels of physiological strain while officiating, with individual factors modulating the magnitude of strain. Strategies aimed at reducing obesity, increasing exercise participation, and improving cardiovascular health should be emphasized to mitigate strain and prevent cardiac events.

PMID:35708121 | DOI:10.1080/00913847.2022.2090869

Haematologica. 2022 Jun 16. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2021.280027. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Achievement of complete remission (CR) signifies a crucial milestone in the therapy of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) while refractory disease is associated with dismal outcomes. Hence, accurately identifying patients at risk is essential to individually tailor treatment concepts to disease biology. We used nine machine learning (ML) models to predict CR and 2-year overall survival (OS) in a large multi-center cohort of 1383 AML patients who received intensive induction therapy using clinical, laboratory, cytogenetic and molecular genetic data and validated our results on an external multicenter cohort. Our ML models autonomously selected predictive features both including established markers of favorable or adverse risk as well as identifying markers of so-far controversial relevance. De novo AML, extramedullary AML, double-mutated (dm) CEBPA, mutations of CEBPA-bZIP, NPM1, FLT3-ITD, ASXL1, RUNX1, SF3B1, IKZF1, TP53, U2AF1, t(8;21), inv(16)/t(16;16), del(5)/del(5q), del(17)/del(17p), normal or complex karyotypes, age and hemoglobin at initial diagnosis were statistically significant markers predictive of CR, while t(8;21), del(5)/del(5q), inv(16)/t(16;16), del(17)/del(17p), dmCEBPA, CEBPA-bZIP, NPM1, FLT3-ITD, DNMT3A, SF3B1, U2AF1, TP53, age, white blood cell count, peripheral blast count, serum LDH and Hb at initial diagnosis as well as extramedullary manifestations were predictive for 2-year OS. For prediction of CR and 2-year OS, AUROCs ranged between 0.77 – 0.86 and 0.63 and 0.74, respectively in our test set and 0.71 – 0.80 and 0.65 – 0.75 in the external validation cohort. We demonstrate the feasibility of ML for risk stratification in AML as a model disease for hematologic neoplasms using a scalable and reusable ML framework. Our study illustrates the clinical applicability of ML as a decision support system in hematology.

PMID:35708137 | DOI:10.3324/haematol.2021.280027

J Magn Reson Imaging. 2022 Jun 16. doi: 10.1002/jmri.28293. Online ahead of print.

NO ABSTRACT

PMID:35708113 | DOI:10.1002/jmri.28293

Nutr Diet. 2022 Jun 16. doi: 10.1111/1747-0080.12741. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: Australian children consume 35% of energy from discretionary food and beverages which increases their risk of non-communicable diseases like type 2 diabetes. Despite this concerning statistic, broad analysis of the profile of discretionary food intake has not been fully undertaken. This study asks: what is the discretionary food and beverage intake profile, contribution to nutrient intakes, and associations with demographic and health characteristics?

METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the 2011-12 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (n = 2812, 2-18 years) were used to profile discretionary food consumption. Dietary intake was assessed by 24-h recall. General linear models tested the difference in respondent characteristics by age group, sex, and quartiles of discretionary food energy contribution.

RESULTS: Ninety-nine percent of respondents consumed discretionary foods, 74% exceeded the maximum discretionary food recommended serves. Among 10 eating occasions available to select: snack, dinner, lunch and morning tea appeared to contribute 76% of discretionary food energy, with snack and dinner contributing 24% each. Age and frequency of discretionary food consumption were positively associated with energy intake from discretionary foods (p < 0.001); while sex, socio-economic status, physical activity and body composition had no association. High discretionary food consumers chose specific discretionary food items in a large quantity (1.0-3.5-serves/discretionary food) compared to low discretionary food consumers (0.4-1.4-serves/discretionary food).

CONCLUSIONS: Nearly all Australian children and adolescents consumed discretionary food daily. No demographic or anthropometric characteristics beyond increasing age were associated with higher discretionary food. Targeted public health policy and community interventions are required to focus on addressing the largest contributors to discretionary food intake in terms of equivalent serve sizes, popularity, and eating occasion.

PMID:35708110 | DOI:10.1111/1747-0080.12741

J Biomater Appl. 2022 Jun 16:8853282221108839. doi: 10.1177/08853282221108839. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Percutaneous devices-indwelling catheters-related infections are serious clinical incidents. It is accordingly necessary to develop anti-infective coating materials suitable for the devices for long-term effectiveness. In our research group, highly dispersible and crystalline hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticles doped with metallic or halogen ions possessing antibacterial activities have been developed. In this study, antibacterial, dispersible, and crystalline zinc (Zn)-doped hydroxyapatite [Zn(15)-HAp] nanoparticles substituted with 13.5% Zn content [Zn/(Zn + Ca) × 100] were prepared by a wet chemical method using an anti-sintering agent through calcination. Antibacterial activities of Zn(15)-HAp nanoparticles were evaluated using Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus. The survival rates of the bacteria on Zn(15)-HAp nanoparticles were significantly lower than that on normal HAp (nHAp) coated surfaces, while no influences were observed on proliferation of L929 cells. Even after soaking Zn(15)-HAp nanoparticles in PBS for 2 weeks, the antibacterial activities against E. coli were maintained at a similar level to a 20 min soaking. The bacterial death was related to not only ion-exchange phenomenon between Zn and magnesium ions but also accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cells. Allergic-like reactions-anaphylactoid reactions-might not readily occur with Zn(15)-HAp nanoparticles because the amounts of histamine released from HMC-1 cells co-cultured with nanoparticles were not significantly different to that of nHAp, but were statistically much lower than that of chlorhexidine.

PMID:35708097 | DOI:10.1177/08853282221108839

J Am Geriatr Soc. 2022 Jun 16. doi: 10.1111/jgs.17926. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Growing evidence suggests that impairment in rest-activity rhythms may be a risk factor for cognitive decline and impairment in the aging population. However, previous studies included only a limited set of rest-activity metrics and produced mixed findings. We studied a comprehensive set of parametric and nonparametric characteristics of rest-activity rhythms in relation to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and probable dementia in a cohort of older women.

METHODS: The prospective analysis included 763 women enrolled in two ancillary studies of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI): the WHI Memory Study-Epidemiology of Cognitive Health Outcomes and Objective Physical Activity and Cardiovascular Health studies. The association between accelerometry-based rest-activity parameters and centrally adjudicated MCI and probable dementia were determined using Cox regression models adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and comorbidities.

RESULTS: Overall, the results support a prospective association between weakened rest-activity rhythms (e.g., reduced amplitude and overall rhythmicity) and adverse cognitive outcomes. Specifically, reduced overall rhythmicity (pseudo F statistic), lower amplitude and activity level (amplitude/relative amplitude, mesor, and activity level during active periods of the day [M10]), and later activity timing (acrophase and midpoint of M10) were associated with a higher risk for MCI and probable dementia. Women with lower amplitude and mesor also exhibited faster cognitive decline over follow-up.

CONCLUSION: Weakened rest-activity rhythms may be predictive markers for cognitive decline, MCI, and dementia among older women.

PMID:35708069 | DOI:10.1111/jgs.17926

Curr Opin Ophthalmol. 2022 Jun 16. doi: 10.1097/ICU.0000000000000852. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The aim of this study was to review the existing literature and investigate the role of microbiologic culture and histopathologic examination of corneal biopsies in the management of infectious keratitis.

RECENT FINDINGS: Corneal biopsy continues to be a significantly useful tool in the diagnosis and tailored management of infectious keratitis. Several techniques can be employed for tissue collection, handling and processing to optimize diagnostic yield and maximize safety, including emerging femtosecond laser-assisted biopsy.

SUMMARY: Corneal opacities represent a significant cause of global blindness, and infectious keratitis is the most common cause. Organism identification in progressive infectious keratitis is essential for proper management. However, microbiological culture alone has a high rate of false-negative results. Records from the Bascom Palmer Eye Institute were retrospectively searched for patients between 1 January 2015, and 31 December 2019, who underwent corneal biopsy, therapeutic keratoplasty or endothelial graft removal for infectious keratitis and had specimens bisected and submitted for evaluation with both microbiologic culture and histopathologic examination. Detection of bacteria, fungus and mycobacteria was not statistically different between culture and histopathology. Microbiology and histopathology are complementary methods for the identification of causative microorganisms in corneal specimens with presumed infectious keratitis.

PMID:35708051 | DOI:10.1097/ICU.0000000000000852

Eur J Phys Rehabil Med. 2022 Jun 14. doi: 10.23736/S1973-9087.22.07549-9. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: People with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) have difficulty participating in exercise. The primary objective of this pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) was to determine if 8 weeks (2x per week) of bilateral exoskeleton (Exo) exercise results in positive changes in cognition and participation in adults with PD compared to exercising without an exoskeleton (Nxo) or wait-list control (Con).

DESIGN: Open-label, parallel, pilot randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: Neurorehabilitation clinic in a large urban centre.

SUBJECTS: Adults 50-85 years old with a confirmed diagnosis of PD.

INTERVENTIONS: Eight weeks of twice-weekly combined aerobic, strength and mobility exercise or waitlist control. Participants were randomly assigned to exercise with no exoskeleton (Nxo), exercise with the exoskeleton (Exo), or waitlist control (Con).

METHODS: Primary endpoints were change in cognitive function (SCOPA-COG) and mood. Secondary endpoints were change in gait speed, six-minute walk test (6MWT), freezing of gait, balance, and PDspecific health and quality of life outcomes. Safety endpoint was analysis of adverse events (AE).

RESULTS: Forty participated in the trial (Exo, n=13; Nxo, n=14; Con, n=13). Significant improvement in the Memory & Learning domain of the SCOPA-COG (p=.014) and 6MWT (p=.008) were detected for the Exo group compared to the Nxo and/or Con group. No other statistically significant between-groups effects were found. There were no serious or unanticipated AE.

CONCLUSIONS: Functional exercise with a low-profile overground exoskeleton showed promising results for improving memory and gait endurance in people with PD across HY stages I-IV.

CLINICAL REHABILITATION IMPACT: Exoskeletons can improve participation in high-intensity exercise.

PMID:35708047 | DOI:10.23736/S1973-9087.22.07549-9

Minerva Pediatr (Torino). 2022 Jun 15. doi: 10.23736/S2724-5276.22.06777-5. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rates of well-child visit (WCV) attendance have significantly decreased. We wanted to see how a parent’s positive diagnosis for COVID-19 affected a child’s WCV attendance along with other factors. Therefore, we hypothesized that in families with at least 1 positive COVID-19 diagnosis, the rates of WCV attendance would be lower than in families that have not experienced COVID-19.

METHODS: Using National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data from 2020, we analyzed sample adult responses for the sample child to questions about last WCV attendance. We included children whose parents completed the survey during quarters 3 and 4 of 2020. The outcome of this study was WCV attendance in the past 12 months with the exposure of interest being parental diagnosis of COVID-19.

RESULTS: In our sample (N=1,413), 91% of children attended a WCV in the past 12 months, and 5% had a parent with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis. On adjusted analysis, there was a negative but not statistically significant association between a parent with a positive COVID-19 diagnosis and WCV attendance (OR=0.32; 95% CI: 0.09, 1.20; p=0.092).

CONCLUSIONS: Nationwide, there has been a significant decrease in children attending recommended WCVs since the start of the pandemic. Having a parent test positive for COVID-19 may contribute to decreases in WCV attendance in traditional medical office settings. Alternative options exist that may improve WCV attendance; these include telemedicine or virtual visits, as well as visits completed in non-traditional settings such as mobile health clinics and school-based clinics. Further expansion of these options for WCVs must still take into account health disparities that exist among marginalized communities.

PMID:35708034 | DOI:10.23736/S2724-5276.22.06777-5