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Background/Aim. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, that can reduce quality of life. Personality traits and coping strategies are significant factors in interpersonal variance regarding quality of life. The aim of this study was to examine relations between personality traits and coping strategies in patients with relapsing-remitting (RR) type of MS, and to examine relations of personality traits, coping strategies, and quality of life in patients with RR type of MS. Methods. This observational cross-sectional study included 66 patients (34 female, 32 male) with clinically definitive MS, based on the McDonald criteria. The following clinical scales were used to examine personality traits, coping strategies, and quality of life: Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI-R), Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI), and Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life (MSQOsL-54). Results. The average age of the patients was 41.6 ± 7.1 years. The Pearson's correlation coefficient showed that with regards to coping strategies, the only positive correlation existed with neuroticism (r = 0.502). The correlation was negative between neuroticism and physical (r = -0.284, p < 0.05) and mental health (r = - 0.289, p < 0.05), as well as between passive coping strategies and mental health (r = -0.358, p < 0.05), meaning that the patients with a higher level of neuroticism, and who relied on passive coping strategies, had a lower quality of life. Conclusion: This research showed the importance of personality traits and coping strategy assessment in patients with RR-type MS. Participation in cognitivebehavioral therapy, with emphasis on active coping strategies, can improve the quality of life in patients with MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bariatric surgery helps many morbidly obese patients lose substantial weight. However, few data exist on its long-term safety and effectiveness in patients who also have continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices and in whom heart transplantation is contemplated. We retrospectively identified patients at our institution who had undergone ventricular assist device implantation and subsequent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy from June 2015 through September 2017, and we evaluated their baseline demographic data, preoperative characteristics, and postoperative outcomes. Four patients (3 men), ranging in age from 32 to 44 years and in body mass index from 40 to 57, underwent sleeve gastrectomy from 858 to 1,849 days after left ventricular assist device implantation to treat nonischemic cardiomyopathy. All had multiple comorbidities. At a median follow-up duration of 42 months (range, 24–47 mo), median body mass index decreased to 31.9 (range, 28.3–44.3) at maximal weight loss, with a median percentage of excess body mass index lost of 72.5% (range, 38.7%–87.4%). After achieving target weight, one patient was listed for heart transplantation, another awaited listing, one was kept on destination therapy because of positive drug screens, and one regained weight and remained ineligible. On long-term follow-up, laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy appears to be safe and feasible for morbidly obese patients with ventricular assist devices who must lose weight for transplantation consideration. Additional studies are warranted to evaluate this weight-loss strategy after transplantation and immunosuppression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim. High-Intensity Functional Training (HIFT) is a popular mixed-modal program that utilizes both resistance and aerobic based exercises. The aim of this study was to examine the physiological effects of the HIFT programing on physically active men (10) and women (10) over a four-week period through the measure of the aerobic capacity, anaerobic capacity, and maximal weight lifted. Methods. The participants first completed a maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) test. After 48-hours of rest, the subjects completed the anaerobic capacity test via the Wingate protocol. Following the Wingate test, the subjects performed a 1-repetition maximum test for squat, snatch and clean at the offsite training location. After the pre-measurements were obtained, the subjects entered a four-week the HIFT intervention and returned to the lab for all post-measurements. Results. Significant improvements were observed in male and female: VO2 max (Pre: 46.7 ± 2.6, 33.7 ± 1.7 mL/kg/min; Post: 49.0 ± 3.0, 35.0 ± 1.8 mL/kg/min), Peak Wingate Power (Pre: 1206 ± 106, 708 ± 44 W; Post: 1283 ± 88, 809 ± 38 W) Mean Wingate Power (Pre: 680 ± 46, 704 ± 48 W; Post: 434 ± 15, 458 ± 18 W; p < 0.05), back squat (Pre: 128.8 ± 8.8 kg, 44.1 ± 6.8 kg; Post: 142.7 ± 9.8, 54.3 ± 6.2 kg) clean (Pre: 82.5 ± 6.2, 24.1 ± 3.4 kg; Post: 92.7 ± 5.8, 33.2 ± 3.3 kg) and snatch (Pre: 59.3 ± 4.4, 20.9 ± 1.7 kg; Post: 69.1 ± 5.3, 25.0 ± 2.3 kg; p < 0.05), respectively. No gender influence on interaction was observed over time (p > 0.05). Conclusion. The HIFT demonstrated the rapid physiological improvements in strength, aerobic and the anaerobic capacity following a four-week intervention in the physically active participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The following manuscript is mainly conceptual in nature. It should be read with reservation since the relevance of its suggestions have yet to be proven. Basically it proposes two rules for the differentiation between primary illness-related pathophysiological vs. secondary adaptational processes. These rules may guide hypotheses generation for further research that is aimed at understanding psychiatric disorders and their shared and unshared mechanisms. For example, in the case of anxiety disorders and depression, it may be of interest to learn if their shared properties are of primary pathophysiological or secondary adaptational significance. We first present some historical observations on the development of the concept of "secondary adaptational processes." We assume such adaptational processes are generated by the organism in order to compensate for primary pathophysiological malfunction or impairment. Next, we propose rules that may enable the dissection of secondary adaptational from primary pathophysiological processes. We also discuss the possible implications of designing studies to sort out these processes, suggesting that the understanding of adaptational processes, may explain the effects of "placebo treatment." Finally we illustrate the application of these rules by two examples: a) amygdala activation, a biological alteration shared by anxiety disorders and major depression and b) elevated plasma soluble interleukin 2 receptor, an unshared property by anxiety disorders and major depression. Also, the first example relates to a biological perturbation associated with a primary pathophysiological mechanism, while the second represents a biological alteration associated with secondary adaptational processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the role of biofilm in the persistence and growth of bacteria. It relates how oil exploration in the 1950s led to the discovery of biofilm, a complex community where the bacteria were found to live. It describes the role of glycocalyx, a glue encasement, in protecting bacteria from the defenses of human beings. It explains why diabetic wounds are caused by bacteria organized in biofilm.