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Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular... Jun 2024Sedentary behavior increases risk for cardiovascular diseases. Little is known about sedentary behavior through the chronic phase after stroke. We aimed to describe how...
BACKGROUND
Sedentary behavior increases risk for cardiovascular diseases. Little is known about sedentary behavior through the chronic phase after stroke. We aimed to describe how long and short bouts of sedentary behavior changed over the first three years after stroke and if cognition at baseline was an independent risk factor for sedentary behavior.
METHODS
This is a sub-study of the Norwegian cognitive impairment after stroke (Nor-COAST) study, a multicenter study recruiting patients with acute stroke. Sedentary behavior was monitored with a thigh-worn sensor (ActivPal3®), at three-, 18- and 36-months post stroke. Stroke severity was assessed by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and cognition by Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA). Mixed model analysis with mean number of sedentary minutes accumulated daily as the dependent variable was repeated for all four zones (<30min, 30-60min, 60-90min, >90min) and for total sedentary time.
RESULTS
The number of included participants was 528 (mean age 71.4, NIHSS on day 1, 2.7). The total amount of sedentary time accumulated between 08.00-22.00 increased significantly from about 9.8 hours at three months to 10.1 hours at 36 months post stroke (p=0.002). Patient characteristics associated with prolonged duration of the sedentary bouts and sedentary time were age, high BMI, comorbidities, and impaired physical function. No significant associations between MoCA score and sedentary time were found.
CONCLUSION
The participants became increasingly sedentary and had fewer breaks in sedentary time from three to 36 months after stroke. Baseline cognition was not related to later sedentary behavior.
PubMed: 38901471
DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2024.107827 -
Patient Education and Counseling Jun 2024Chronically ill are vulnerable to vaccine preventable infections. Consequently, their vaccination behavior is highly relevant. Depressive comorbidities are frequent in...
OBJECTIVE
Chronically ill are vulnerable to vaccine preventable infections. Consequently, their vaccination behavior is highly relevant. Depressive comorbidities are frequent in these patients. Furthermore, these patients are mainly diagnosed, treated and vaccinated in primary care. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the associations between depression and vaccination behavior (COVID-19 and influenza) in adult chronically ill primary care patients.
METHODS
In a cross-sectional survey, we examined depression (PHQ9), psychological antecedents of vaccinations (Confidence and Constraints), health care utilization, and vaccination status. Based on an effect model, descriptive statistics and mixed linear/logistic models were calculated. (German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00030042).
RESULTS
n = 795 patients were analyzed. Both psychological antecedents of vaccinations (Confidence and Constraints) mediated a negative association between depression and vaccination behavior, healthcare utilization mediated a positive association. The total effect of depression was negligible.
CONCLUSIONS
As the effects of vaccination readiness and healthcare utilization are opposing, different total effects depending on the study population are possible. Further studies are needed to investigate additional predictors of vaccination behavior.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS
We suggest tackling vaccine acceptance in chronically ill through increasing confidence using communication-based interventions, for which primary care is the suitable setting. Constraints might be reduced by reminder and recall systems.
PubMed: 38901067
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2024.108355 -
BMC Sports Science, Medicine &... Jun 2024The study aimed to compare catecholamine, cortisol, and immune response in sprint- and endurance-trained athletes under the same training, aiming to observe if their...
BACKGROUND
The study aimed to compare catecholamine, cortisol, and immune response in sprint- and endurance-trained athletes under the same training, aiming to observe if their sport specialization affects these markers during a 9-day training camp.
METHODS
The study involved twenty-four young male (age 15.7 ± 1.6 years) and female (age 15.1 ± 1,3 years) athletes specializing in sprint and endurance athletics discipline. Blood samples for all measured parameters were taken at rested baseline, on the 4th day, and on the 9th day of training.
RESULTS
In both investigated groups a nonsignificant decrease in catecholamine levels was observed after 4 days of training, which remained stable throughout the camp. The cortisol level increased significantly in both athlete groups (sprint: T-0 vs. T-1 p = 0.0491; T-0 vs. T-3 p = 0.0001; endurance: T-0 vs. T-1 p = 0.0159; T-0 vs. T-3 p = 0.0005). The level of hs-CRP (sprint: T-0 vs. T-1 p = 0.0005; T-0 vs. T-3 p = 0.0001; endurance: T-0 vs. T-3 p = 0.0005), and myoglobin (sprint: T-0 vs. T-1 p = 0.0014; T-0 vs. T-3 p = 0.0001; endurance: T-0 vs. T-3 p = 0.0005) have increased and of hs-CRP and myoglobin level was significantly higher in sprint compared to endurance athletes (p < 0.05). The leukocyte level significantly decreased until the end of camp in both groups (sprint: T-0 vs. T-1 p = 0.0178; T-0 vs. T-3 p = 0.0175; endurance: T-0 vs. T-1 p = 0.0362; T-0 vs. T-3 p = 0.0362).
CONCLUSIONS
The applied training loads had a strong physiological impact leading to changes in stress hormones and immune responses depending on athletes` sport specialization. Training loads caused stronger responses in sprint athletes. However, both groups showed signs of severe fatigue development.
TRIAL REGISTRY
ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06150105, retrospectively registered on 29.11.2023.
PubMed: 38898468
DOI: 10.1186/s13102-024-00924-3 -
The EMBO Journal Jun 2024In cells, mRNAs are transported to and positioned at subcellular areas to locally regulate protein production. Recent studies have identified the kinesin-3 family member...
In cells, mRNAs are transported to and positioned at subcellular areas to locally regulate protein production. Recent studies have identified the kinesin-3 family member motor protein KIF1C as an RNA transporter. However, it is not clear how KIF1C interacts with RNA molecules. Here, we show that the KIF1C C-terminal tail domain contains an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) that drives liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). KIF1C forms dynamic puncta in cells that display physical properties of liquid condensates and incorporate RNA molecules in a sequence-selective manner. Endogenous KIF1C forms condensates in cellular protrusions, where mRNAs are enriched in an IDR-dependent manner. Purified KIF1C tail constructs undergo LLPS in vitro at near-endogenous nM concentrations and in the absence of crowding agents and can directly recruit RNA molecules. Overall, our work uncovers an intrinsic correlation between the LLPS activity of KIF1C and its role in mRNA positioning. In addition, the LLPS activity of KIF1C's tail represents a new mode of motor-cargo interaction that extends our current understanding of cytoskeletal motor proteins.
PubMed: 38898313
DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00147-9 -
Scientific Reports Jun 2024Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) improves patients' Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to before surgery. However, based on our knowledge, the improvement in...
Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) improves patients' Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) compared to before surgery. However, based on our knowledge, the improvement in HRQoL after TKA, which depends on various factors, has yet to be investigated compared to healthy people. This study aimed to evaluate the HRQoL of patients compared to healthy people and the factors affecting the HRQoL after TKA. In this matched case-control study (1002 participants), HRQoL in 501 patients who underwent TKA between 2015 and 2022 at Shafa Yahyainan Hospital affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences were compared with 501 healthy controls. HRQoL was evaluated in two parts (before compared to 12 months after TKA and 12 months after TKA compared to the healthy population). The 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate HRQoL 12 months after surgery. The influencing factors on HRQoL were evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analysis. No significant difference was observed in the demographic characteristics of the participants in the two groups. The mean overall SF-36 score, 12 months after surgery, significantly improved compared to before surgery (64.21 ± 22.2 vs. 37.55 ± 15.13, p:0.001). The mean total score of SF-36 was statistically similar between the case and control groups (64.21 ± 22.2 VS 72.53 ± 25.3). The multivariate analysis showed that sex, BMI, number of comorbidities, postoperative compliance, and complications were significantly related to the decrease in patients' HRQoL (P < 0.001).TKA can improve the HRQoL except for two subscales of happiness/vitality and physical performance, similar to the healthy population. Female gender, obesity and overweight, comorbidity, bilateral TKA, non-adherence to postoperative physiotherapy, and complications were associated with decreased HRQoL.
Topics: Humans; Quality of Life; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee; Male; Female; Case-Control Studies; Middle Aged; Aged; Iran; Osteoarthritis, Knee; Surveys and Questionnaires
PubMed: 38898136
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65042-z -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Most fine ambient particulate matter (PM)-based epidemiological models use globalized concentration-response (CR) functions assuming that the toxicity of PM is solely...
Most fine ambient particulate matter (PM)-based epidemiological models use globalized concentration-response (CR) functions assuming that the toxicity of PM is solely mass-dependent without considering its chemical composition. Although oxidative potential (OP) has emerged as an alternate metric of PM toxicity, the association between PM mass and OP on a large spatial extent has not been investigated. In this study, we evaluate this relationship using 385 PM samples collected from 14 different sites across 4 different continents and using 5 different OP (and cytotoxicity) endpoints. Our results show that the relationship between PM mass vs. OP (and cytotoxicity) is largely non-linear due to significant differences in the intrinsic toxicity, resulting from a spatially heterogeneous chemical composition of PM. These results emphasize the need to develop localized CR functions incorporating other measures of PM properties (e.g., OP) to better predict the PM-attributed health burdens.
Topics: Particulate Matter; Humans; Air Pollutants; Oxidation-Reduction; Particle Size; Environmental Monitoring; Animals; Cell Survival
PubMed: 38898130
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49649-4 -
Pharmacology & Therapeutics Jun 2024Our skin protects us from external threats including ultraviolet radiation, pathogens and chemicals, and prevents excessive trans-epidermal water loss. These varied... (Review)
Review
Our skin protects us from external threats including ultraviolet radiation, pathogens and chemicals, and prevents excessive trans-epidermal water loss. These varied activities are reliant on a vast array of lipids, many of which are unique to skin, and that support physical, microbiological and immunological barriers. The cutaneous physical barrier is dependent on a specific lipid matrix that surrounds terminally-differentiated keratinocytes in the stratum corneum. Sebum- and keratinocyte-derived lipids cover the skin's surface and support and regulate the skin microbiota. Meanwhile, lipids signal between resident and infiltrating cutaneous immune cells, driving inflammation and its resolution in response to pathogens and other threats. Lipids of particular importance include ceramides, which are crucial for stratum corneum lipid matrix formation and therefore physical barrier functionality, fatty acids, which contribute to the acidic pH of the skin surface and regulate the microbiota, as well as the stratum corneum lipid matrix, and bioactive metabolites of these fatty acids, involved in cell signalling, inflammation, and numerous other cutaneous processes. These diverse and complex lipids maintain homeostasis in healthy skin, and are implicated in many cutaneous diseases, as well as unrelated systemic conditions with skin manifestations, and processes such as ageing. Lipids also contribute to the gut-skin axis, signalling between the two barrier sites. Therefore, skin lipids provide a valuable resource for exploration of healthy cutaneous processes, local and systemic disease development and progression, and accessible biomarker discovery for systemic disease, as well as an opportunity to fully understand the relationship between the host and the skin microbiota. Investigation of skin lipids could provide diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and help identify new targets for interventions. Development and improvement of existing in vitro and in silico approaches to explore the cutaneous lipidome, as well as advances in skin lipidomics technologies, will facilitate ongoing progress in skin lipid research.
PubMed: 38897295
DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2024.108681 -
Cadernos de Saude Publica 2024A need exists to better understand the relationships between COVID-19, coping behaviors, physical activity and stress, and COVID-19's impact on way of life. A...
A need exists to better understand the relationships between COVID-19, coping behaviors, physical activity and stress, and COVID-19's impact on way of life. A cross-sectional study design was used to examine adult physical activity, hope, depression, anxiety, and coping status by gender during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to determine the impact of these variables on the coping process. The study also examined the effect of gender on the relation between physical activity and dependent variables. A global survey instrument was used in this study, including 1,400 Turkish adults. This study identified significant gender-based differences regarding physical activity, hope, depression, anxiety, and coping status of adults, although no significant gender-based difference was found regarding hope scores. Furthermore, physical activity directly influenced coping (β = 0.10), hope (β = 0.12), and anxiety (β = -0.08). Hope directly and positively influenced coping (β = 0.45) and directly and negatively influenced anxiety (β = -0.25) and depression (β = -0.28). Moreover, gender did not directly affect physical activity, but it was associated with decreased coping and increased depression and anxiety. Finally, gender had no effect on the relation between physical activity and hope, coping, depression, and anxiety (p > 0.01). These outcomes support the critical importance of physical activity and hope when coping with COVID-19 regardless of gender.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Male; Adaptation, Psychological; Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Turkey; Exercise; Adult; Depression; Anxiety; Sex Factors; Middle Aged; SARS-CoV-2; Young Adult; Pandemics; Hope; Adolescent; Surveys and Questionnaires; Stress, Psychological; Aged
PubMed: 38896591
DOI: 10.1590/0102-311XEN057123 -
Frontiers in Sociology 2024The dangers and stresses of a police officer's career cause physical and psychological distress which in turn cause considerable challenges for the integration of...
The dangers and stresses of a police officer's career cause physical and psychological distress which in turn cause considerable challenges for the integration of professional, family, and personal life. This study focuses on the conditions that influence this articulation between the personal, family, and professional lives of Portuguese Police (PSP) officers. A questionnaire survey was applied to 414 police officers from 11 divisions of COMETLIS. At the empirical level, several models were tested to assess the articulation between the professional, family, and personal lives of police officers. The results highlight the influence of having young children, elderly people or other dependents living in the family home, as well as the employee's age, on the job's interaction with professional life. At a professional level, the variables shift work, professional category, years of service and working away from home were identified by the officers as conditioning factors in the work-family-personal life balance. Sex differences in the articulation of professional, family, and personal life were also observed.
PubMed: 38895603
DOI: 10.3389/fsoc.2024.1341578 -
BioRxiv : the Preprint Server For... Jun 2024Dysregulated intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics and an altered tumor microenvironment have emerged as drivers of cancer cell phenotypes. However, the molecular integration...
Dysregulated intracellular pH (pHi) dynamics and an altered tumor microenvironment have emerged as drivers of cancer cell phenotypes. However, the molecular integration between the physical properties of the microenvironment and dynamic intracellular signaling responses remains unclear. Here, we use two metastatic cell models, one breast and one lung, to assess pHi response to varying extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffness. To experimentally model ECM stiffening, we use two tunable-stiffness hydrogel systems: Matrigel and hyaluronic acid (HA) gels, which mimic the increased protein secretion and crosslinking associated with ECM stiffening. We find that single-cell pHi decreases with increased ECM stiffness in both hydrogel systems and both metastatic cell types. We also observed that stiff ECM promotes vasculogenic mimicry (VM), a phenotype associated with metastasis and resistance. Importantly, we show that decreased pHi is both a necessary and sufficient mediator of VM, as raising pHi on stiff ECM reduces VM phenotypes and lowering pHi on soft ECM drives VM. We characterize β-catenin as a pH-dependent molecular mediator of pH-dependent VM, where stiffness-driven changes in β-catenin abundance can be overridden by increased pHi. We uncover a dynamic relationship between matrix stiffness and pHi, thus suggesting pHi dynamics can override mechanosensitive cell responses to the extracellular microenvironment.
PubMed: 38895391
DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.04.597454