Search

ObjectiveTo explore the relationship between long-term physical activity (PA) participation and falls.MethodsParticipants in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women’s Health born 1946–1951 self-reported amounts of PA every 3 years since 1998 (mean age: 54 years, n=11 796). Latent class analysis described profiles of self-reported PA participation over 18 years. Associations between patterns of PA participation and self-reported falls measured in 2019 were examined using multinomial logistic regression adjusted for directed-acyclic graph-informed potential confounders, with the highly active group as the reference category.ResultsWomen were grouped into five PA participation profiles. Compared with consistently highly active patterns (maintaining ≥300 min/week, 22%), consistently lower levels of PA<100 min/week (18%), consistently some PA<150 min/week (18%) and decreasing PA but maintaining≥150 min/week (n=3540, 30%) had higher odds of non-injurious falls (odds Ratiolower level(OR): 1.59, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.97; ORsome PA: 1.27, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.55; ORdecreasing activity:1.29, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.63) and injurious falls (ORlow level: 1.32, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.64; ORsome PA: 1.27, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.54; ORdecreasing activity: 1.47, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.83). No association was found between increasing PA (≥150 min/week, 11%) for non-injurious (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.29) and injurious falls (OR 1.07, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.29). After adjusting for potential confounders, consistently lower levels of PA remained associated with increased non-injurious falls odds (OR1998 survey: 1.40, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.77; OR2016 survey: 1.35, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.71).ConclusionThe increased odds of falls among women with consistently lower levels of PA over 18 years supports ongoing participation of 150+ min/week of PA.

ObjectivesTo summarise evidence of benefits of sport for health among people aged 60+.DesignSystematic review with meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs).Data sourcesMedline, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database from inception to April 2021.Study selectionRCTs investigating the effect of sport on health-related outcomes in people aged 60+ compared with non-active control.Data synthesis and analysisPooled effect sizes were calculated using random-effect models. Standardised mean differences (SMD), and mean difference (MD) were calculated. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system was used to assess the certainty of the evidence for analyses with ≥3 studies.ResultsNine trials (628 participants) reported in 15 articles were included. Participation in sport improved cardiorespiratory fitness (n=5 trials; SMD=0.43, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.70; low certainty evidence), physical function (n=4; SMD=0.62, 95% CI 0.05 to 1.18; very low certainty evidence), and mental health (n=2; SMD=0.28, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.51) and reduced fat mass (n=6; MD=−0.99 kg, 95% CI −1.75kg to −0.23 kg; low certainty evidence) among older people. We found no significant effects of sport on overall physical activity participation, strength, balance, lean mass and bone mineral density (BMD). One study investigating quality of life reported a positive, but non-significant effect of sport.ConclusionSport may have a positive impact on health outcomes in people aged 60+. There was uncertainty on the effect of sport on strength, balance, lean mass and BMD. Further research is needed to investigate the optimal type and dose of sport to maximise the long-term benefits among older people.

ObjectiveTo investigate cost-effectiveness and costs of fall prevention exercise programmes for older adults.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesMedline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, National Institute for Health Research Economic Evaluation Database, Health Technology Assessment database, Tufts Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry, Research Papers in Economics and EconLit (inception to May 2022).Eligibility criteria for study selectionEconomic evaluations (trial-based or model-based) and costing studies investigating fall prevention exercise programmes versus no intervention or usual care for older adults living in the community or care facilities, and reporting incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for fall-related outcomes or quality-adjusted life years (QALY, expressed as cost/QALY) and/or intervention costs.Results31 studies were included. For community-dwelling older adults (21 economic evaluations, 6 costing studies), results ranged from more effective and less costly (dominant) interventions up to an ICER of US$279 802/QALY gained and US$11 986/fall prevented (US$ in 2020). Assuming an arbitrary willingness-to-pay threshold (US$100 000/QALY), most results (17/24) were considered cost-effective (moderate certainty). The greatest value for money (lower ICER/QALY gained and fall prevented) appeared to accrue for older adults and those with high fall risk, but unsupervised exercise appeared to offer poor value for money (higher ICER/QALY). For care facilities (two economic evaluations, two costing studies), ICERs ranged from dominant (low certainty) to US$35/fall prevented (moderate certainty). Overall, intervention costs varied and were poorly reported.ConclusionsMost economic evaluations investigated fall prevention exercise programmes for older adults living in the community. There is moderate certainty evidence that fall prevention exercise programmes are likely to be cost-effective. The evidence for older adults living in care facilities is more limited but promising.PROSPERO registration numberPROSPERO 2020 CRD42020178023.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a pectin biofilm on the preservation of refrigerated and unrefrigerated eggs during 5 wk of storage based on egg weight loss, albumen height, Haugh unit (HU), and the yolk index (YI). A total of 1,200 nonfertile eggs from GLK Bankiva laying hens (40 wk of age), which were freshly laid and came from a single collection, were obtained from a model poultry rearing system (Planaltina, Federal District, Brazil) that meets all animal welfare criteria. The experimental outline was entirely randomized, with 20 treatments in a factorial scheme of 2 × 2 × 5, with 2 biofilm treatments (with and without) × 2 storage temperatures (refrigeration: 5°C and ambient: 25°C) × 5 storage periods (7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 d), with 12 repetitions per treatment. Starting from the third storage week, increased weight loss (%) was observed in noncoated eggs (4.46 ± 1.06; 5.61 ± 1.37; 6.93 ± 1.66%) compared with biofilm-coated eggs (3.57 ± 1.26; 4.74 ± 1.8; 6.05 ± 2.21%), respectively. The HU variation in the pectin-coated eggs (86.84–78.02) was smaller than that in the noncoated eggs (83.01–64.36) between the beginning (7 d) and the end (35 d) of the experimental period. Eggs with and without biofilm stored in the refrigerator presented average HU values of 91.26 ± 6.27 and 88.35 ± 6.96, respectively. In contrast, when kept at room temperature, eggs with the coating presented higher HU values (71.27 ± 10.78) than eggs without the coating (59.11 ± 15.97). Coated eggs (0.37 ± 0.16) showed higher YI values than noncoated eggs (0.35 ± 0.16). A pectin-based biofilm effectively maintained egg quality during the 35 d of storage.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different egg turning frequencies on incubation efficiency parameters. Nine hundred sixty brown fertile eggs, with an average weight of 52.20 ± 0.85 g, from 38-week-old CJD (Carijó Pesadão) breeder hens were randomly distributed among 4 treatments before incubation. Each treatment corresponded to a turning frequency, being 24 (control), 12, 6, or 3 times per day, at an angle of 45°, until day 18 of incubation. The experimental design was a randomized complete block design with 4 treatments. Analysis of the incubation parameters was based on 6 replications per treatment. The eggs that were turned 12, 6, and 3 times per day exhibited a decrease in hatchability of the fertile eggs of 6.61, 15.51, and 19.70%, respectively, when compared with the control group (91.84 ± 2.73%). With a decrease in turning frequency, there was a gradual increase in early (2.84 ± 1.89 to 14.31 ± 1.82%) and late (3.57 ± 1.39 to 8.05 ± 1.24%) mortality rates. An egg turning frequency of 24 times per day during incubation provided high hatchability rates. In contrast, the turning frequencies of 12, 6, and 3 times per day showed significant losses in hatchability.

•A fifth head of the quadriceps femoris was described recently.•It was named the tensor of the vastus intermedius (TVI) and has been considered normal.•We found the TVI exists as a variation of the normal quadriceps.

BackgroundOlder people are at high risk of physical inactivity. Activity trackers can facilitate physical activity. We aimed to investigate the effect of interventions using activity trackers on physical activity, mobility, quality of life and mental health among people aged 60+ years.MethodsFor this systematic review, we searched eight databases, including MEDLINE, Embase and CENTRAL from inception to April 2018. Randomised controlled trials of interventions that used activity trackers to promote physical activity among people aged 60+ years were included in the analyses. The study protocol was registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42017065250.ResultsWe identified 23 eligible trials. Interventions using activity trackers had a moderate effect on physical activity (23 studies; standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.55; 95% CI 0.40 to 0.70; I2=86%) and increased steps/day by 1558 (95% CI 1099 to 2018 steps/day; I2=92%) compared with usual care, no intervention and wait-list control. Longer duration activity tracker-based interventions were more effective than short duration interventions (18 studies, SMD=0.70; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.93 vs 5 studies, SMD=0.14; 95% CI −0.26 to 0.54, p for comparison=0.02). Interventions that used activity trackers improved mobility (three studies; SMD=0.61; 95% CI 0.31 to 0.90; I2=10%), but not quality of life (nine studies; SMD=0.09; 95% CI −0.07 to 0.25; I2=45%). Only one trial included mental health outcomes and it reported similar effects of the activity tracker intervention compared with control.ConclusionsInterventions using activity trackers improve physical activity levels and mobility among older people compared with control. However, the impact of activity tracker interventions on quality of life, and mental health is unknown.

This work provides a novel perspective on and insight into the functional reciprocal relationship between eNOS and caveolin-1 proteins in endothelial cells. Optimal caveolin-1 expression level and reversible modifications are critical for eNOS-dependent maintenance of vascular homeostasis.

Selenium plays its physiological chemistry in mammalian living cells as the selenol group of a selenocysteinyl residue found in few numbers of selenoproteins. These proteins have antioxidant properties and catalyze redox reactions, for instance, the selenol-mediated decomposition of peroxides (glutathione peroxidase catalyzed reactions) or the selenol-thiol-mediated reduction of disulfide bonds (the thioredoxin reductase catalyzed reactions). Organochalcogens can mimic the glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx-like activity) by diverse mechanisms. Ebselen and diphenyl diselenide are two types of organoselenium compounds that have been extensively studied in the literature because they posses interesting biochemical and pharmacological properties. They can interact with reactive species (peroxynitrite, peroxides) and have anti-inflammatory properties. Ebselen was used with borderline efficacy in human trials associated with brain ischemia/reperfusion. Experimental models confirmed the neuroprotective effects of ebselen and diselenides in a variety of in vitro and in vivo models of neurotoxicity, including those associated with brain ischemia and acidosis. Ebselen is registered as a safe drug, but it has not yet been approved for the treatment of brain pathologies. In fact, the major problem with organoselenium compounds is that they have no specific target, but modulate general physiological/pathological processes (e.g., inflammatory response/oxidative stress). Thus, the future of organoselenium compounds as potential therapeutic agent will require the synthesis of target-directed molecules.

By using perturbation theory, we show that a hydrogen atom with magnetic moment due to the orbital angular momentum of the electron has so-called hidden momentum in the presence of an external electric field. This means that the atomic electronic cloud has a nonzero linear momentum in its center-of-mass rest frame due to a relativistic effect. This is completely analogous to the hidden momentum that a classical current loop has in the presence of an external electric field. We discuss how this effect is essential for the validity of the Lorentz-force law in quantum systems. We also connect our results to the long-standing Abraham-Minkowski debate about the momentum of light in material media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Os autores relatam caso de doente com história prévia de alcoolismo que apresentou lesões cutâneas ulceradas, nodulares difusas no tronco e nos membros inferiores, acompanhando trajecto dos linfonodos. A doente tinha telerradiografia de tórax que mostrou infiltrado intersticial reticulonodular nas bases. O resultado da cultura de nódulo supraclavicular foi positiva para Sporothrix schenckii. Após tratamento específico, principalmente com iodeto de potássio, houve regressão das lesões cutâneas e do infiltrado.

The interfacial localization and the ion pair formation of the positively charged dye crystal violet (CV) in sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate reverse micelles (AOT RMs) were studied by several structural and spectroscopic techniques and by quantum chemical calculations. The size and shape of the AOT RMs in the presence of CV were investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering, showing that CV does not significantly change the RM structure. CV localization as a function of the water to surfactant molar ratio (w0) was characterized by H1and 13C NMR, indicating the close proximity of CV to the sulfosuccinate group of AOT at small and large w0values. These results were confirmed by calculation of magnetic shielding constants using the gauge-independent atomic orbital method with the HF/6-31G(d) basis set. Two different types of ion pairs between AOT and CV, i.e., contact ion pair (CIPs) and solvent-separated ion pair (SSIPs), were characterized by UV−vis spectroscopy and quantum chemical calculations using the semiempirical ZINDO-CI method. In nonpolar isotropic solvents CIPs are formed with an association constant (KASSOC) of 2 × 104mol-1L in isooctane and 750 mol-1L in chloroform. In AOT RMs at low w0, CV−AOT CIPs are also formed. By increasing w0, there is a sharp decrease in the CIP association free energy, and SSIPs are formed. (CV)(H2O)(AOT-) SSIPs are stable in the AOT RM up to the largest w0tested (w0 33).

We sought to investigate the prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in secretions and tonsillar tissues of children with chronic adenotonsillitis hypertrophy compared to controls. Prospective case-control study comparing patients between 2 and 12 years old who underwent adenotonsillectomy due to chronic adenotonsillar hypertrophy to children without disease. We compared detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Moraxella catarrhalis by real-time PCR in palatine tonsils, adenoids, and nasopharyngeal washes obtained from 37 children with and 14 without adenotonsillar hypertrophy. We found high frequency (>50%) of Haemophilus influenzae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in both groups of patients. Although different sampling sites can be infected with more than one bacterium and some bacteria can be detected in different tissues in the same patient, adenoids, palatine tonsils, and nasopharyngeal washes were not uniformly infected by the same bacteria. Adenoids and palatine tonsils of patients with severe adenotonsillar hypertrophy had higher rates of bacterial coinfection. There was good correlation of detection of Moraxella catarrhalis in different sampling sites in patients with more severe tonsillar hypertrophy, suggesting that Moraxella catarrhalis may be associated with the development of more severe hypertrophy, that inflammatory conditions favor colonization by this agent. Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis are frequently detected in palatine tonsils, adenoids, and nasopharyngeal washes in children. Simultaneous detection of Moraxella catarrhalis in adenoids, palatine tonsils, and nasopharyngeal washes was correlated with more severe tonsillar hypertrophy.

We use an extended version of electrodynamics, which admits the existence of magnetic charges and currents, to discuss how different models for electric and magnetic dipoles do or do not carry hidden momentum under the influence of external electromagnetic fields. Based on that, we discuss how the models adopted for the electric and magnetic dipoles from the particles that compose a material medium influence the expression for the electromagnetic part of the light momentum in the medium. We show that Abraham expression is compatible with electric dipoles formed by electric charges and magnetic dipoles formed by magnetic charges, while Minkowski expression is compatible with electric dipoles formed by magnetic currents and magnetic dipoles formed by electric currents. The expression ɛ 0 E × B, on the other hand, is shown to be compatible with electric dipoles formed by electric charges and magnetic dipoles formed by electric currents, which are much more natural models. So this expression has an interesting interpretation in the Abraham-Minkowski debate about the momentum of light in a medium: It is the expression compatible with the nonexistence of magnetic charges. We also provide a simple justification of why Abraham and Minkowski momenta can be associated with the kinetic and canonical momentum of light, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposed the joint use of Fourier Transform Infrared Attenuated Total Reflectance Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and Partial Least Square (PLS) regression for the simultaneous quantification of four adulterants (coffee husks, spent coffee grounds, barley, and corn) in roasted and ground coffee. Roasted coffee samples were intentionally blended with the adulterants, at adulteration levels ranging from 0.5 to 66% w/w. A robust methodology was implemented in which the identification of outliers was carried out. High correlation coefficients (0.99 for both calibration and validation) coupled with low degrees of error (0.69% for calibration; 2.00% for validation) confirmed that FTIR-ATR can be a valuable analytical tool for quantification of adulteration in roasted and ground coffee. This method is simple, fast, and reliable for the proposed purpose.

Jaccoud’s arthropathy (JA) is a deforming arthropathy observed mainly in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. We report the case of a 41-year-old Brazilian man with a 10-year history of intermittent monoarthritis followed by bouts of polyarthritis affecting large and small joints. He presented deformities typical of JA and subcutaneous nodules. Histopathological findings of a nodule biopsy were consistent with gouty tophi. To our knowledge, this is the first report of JA secondary to chronic gout.

One hundred twenty four ceramic fragments and six clay samples from the Hatahara archaeological site in Amazonas state, Brazil, were analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis, INAA, to determine the concentration of twenty chemical elements: Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Eu, Fe, Hf, K, La, Lu, Na, Nd, Rb, Sc, Ta, Tb, Th, U, Yb, and Zn. The dataset was submitted to multivariate statistical analysis. The classification was done by cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. The results demonstrated the occurrence of four different groups of ceramics, which represent three archaeological phases: Paredão, Manacapuru, and Guarita. This data is consistent with previous traditional petrographic examination of the ceramic samples. Based on probability measures, the great majority of the ceramics are considered to be local in origin.

Ground-state diffuse reflectance, time resolved laser-induced luminescence, diffuse reflectance laser flash-photolysis transient absorption and chromatographic techniques were used to elucidate the photodegradation processes of pyrene adsorbed onto microcrystalline cellulose and silica. Ground-state diffuse reflectance showed that on both substrates low concentrations display absorption of pyrene monomers. At high concentrations spectral changes attributed to aggregate formation were observed. Laser induced fluorescence showed that pyrene onto microcrystalline cellulose mainly presents fluorescence from monomers, while for silica, excimer-like emission was observed from low surface loadings (≥0.5 μmol g−1). Transient absorption and photodegradation studies were performed at concentrations where mainly monomers exist. On silica, pyrene presents transient absorption from its radical cation. On microcrystalline cellulose both radical cation, radical anion and pyrene triplet-triplet absorption were detected. Irradiation followed by chromatographic analysis showed that pyrene decomposes on both substrates. For pyrene on microcrystalline cellulose 1-hydroxypyrene was the main identified photoproduct since in the absence of oxygen further oxidation of 1-hydroxypyrene was very slow. For pyrene on silica photodegradation was very efficient. Almost no 1-hydroxypyrene was detected since in the presence of oxygen it is quickly oxidized to other photooxidation products. On both substrates, pyrene radical cation is the intermediate leading to photoproducts and oxygen it is not involved in its formation.