Global Cognitive Impairment Prevalence and Incidence in Community Dwelling Older Adults—A Systematic Review

(1) Background: We proposed to review worldwide estimates of cognitive impairment prevalence and incidence in adults older than 50 years of age living in the community. (2) Methods: Systematic searches were performed in January 2019 using MEDLINE/PubMed. Articles were selected if they referred to cognitive impairment, prevalence, incidence, elders, and population or community-based studies. Analysis, aggregated by different methodologic features, was performed. (3) Results: Prevalence (80 studies) ranged between 5.1% and 41% with a median of 19.0% (25th percentile = 12.0%; 75th percentile = 24.90%). Incidence (11 studies) ranged from 22 to 76.8 per 1000 person-years with a median of 53.97 per 1000 person-years (25th percentile = 39.0; 75th percentile = 68.19). No statistically significant effects were found except for inclusion age. (4) Conclusion: We propose that the homogenization and clarification of the definition of what constitutes cognitive impairment are essential to refine the epidemiological understanding of this entity. The results of this review reinforce the importance of adherence to standardized cut-off scores for cognitive tests to promote study comparability.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

KINEMATIC COMPARISON BETWEEN ATHLETES FROM THE INTERNATIONAL AND THE WORLD TAEKWONDO FEDERATIONS IN THE ROUNDHOUSE KICK

Taekwondo (TKD) is a combat sport organized by two main federations: International TKD (ITF) and the World TKD (WTF). The present study analyzed the kinematic differences in roundhouse kick performed by ITF and WTF athletes. Seventeen athletes participated in the study (8 ITF; 9 WTF). DVideo system was used to reconstruct the 3D coordinates of sixteen markers. Pelvis and hips angles and angular velocities were used to compare the groups. The results highlight two kick strategies to hit the target. WTF athletes performed the kick with increased pelvis left rotation while ITF used increased pelvis anteversion, hip flexion and abduction on supporting leg. These differences should be considered for adaptation of rules and training

Different MMSE domains are associated to cognitive decline and education

The Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) is a long-established test to screen for dementia, estimate the severity and monitor the progression of cognitive impairment. The MMSE total score is dependent upon demographic factors, particularly education, but little is known about how education influences the 6 distinct MMSE cognitive domains. The present study aims to understand how the performances in the MMSE cognitive domains reflect clinical diagnosis and educational level. The study recruited 1043 participants, comprising 388 healthy controls, 360 patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and 295 patients with dementia. The association of the MMSE cognitive domains scores with clinical diagnosis (healthy, MCI, dementia) and educational level (primary education, middle school, high school and university/college) was analyzed with a multivariate ordinal regression model. The scores in all MMSE domains were generally higher in healthy controls as compared to patients with MCI, and higher in these as compared to patients with dementia. The MMSE domain Constructional ability was associated to the education level, the domains Orientation, Recall and Language were associated to diagnosis, Attention and calculation was associated to both education level and diagnosis, and Registration was not associated to either education or diagnosis. In conclusion, impairment in specific MMSE domains pinpoints cognitive decline, probably indicating brain areas affected by neurodegeneration, and impairment in others reflects lower education levels and the lack of acquisition of relevant schooling abilities.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

THE INFLUENCE OF TWO VARIABLES OF THE NONLINEAR CAMERA CALIBRATION ON THE 3D UNDERWATER ACCURACY

The purpose of this study was to control two variables of the nonlinear camera calibration to evaluate if they affect the 3D undewater accuracy. Two cameras (GoPro, 60 Hz) were fixed in the swimming pool. In order to evaluate the influence of a distance constrain (1 and 2 markers) and the movement of the wand calibration, we performed three different movements: M1 (zig zag), M2 (circular) and M3 (up and down). In each condition the 3D accuracy were assessed in seven trials of a dynamic rigid bar test (ANOVA,

UNDERWATER COMPARISON OF WAND AND 2D PLANE NONLINEAR CAMERA CALIBRATION METHODS

The purpose of this study was to compare two nonlinear camera calibration methods for 3D underwater motion analysis. The DVideo kinematic analysis system was used for underwater online data acquisition. The system consisted of two gen-locked Basler cameras working at 100Hz, with wide angle lenses that were enclosed in housings. The accuracy of both methods was compared in a dynamic rigid bar test. The mean absolute errors were 1.16mm for wand calibration, 1.20mm for 2D plane calibration using 8 control points and 0.73mm for 2D plane calibration using 16 control points. The results of both nonlinear camera calibration methods provided better underwater accuracy than all previous papers reported in literature. Both methods provided similar and highly accurate results, providing promising alternatives for underwater 3D motion analysis

KINEMATICAL ANALYSIS OF BANDAL AND DOLYO TAEKWONDO KICKS OF A HIGH LEVEL FEMALE ATHLETE

The purpose of this study was to analyze the kinematics of two Taekwondo kicks performed by a high level female athlete. The kicks were compared according to three main factors: a) type of kick (Bandal or Dolyo), b) foot of kick (right or left foot); c) kick starting with the kicking foot in front of the support limb or behind (front or back foot).The DVideo kinematical analysis system was used to reconstruct the 3D coordinates of twelve landmarks. The study was able to identify the main differences between the two most frequently used Taekwondo kicks, showed that the initial condition should be considered when comparing kicks and revealed differences between kicks accomplished with right or left foot of this high level athlete

Synergisms in antioxidant and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activities of artichoke, milk thistle and borututu syrups

Artichoke, borututu and milk thistle are three medicinal plants well-known for their capacity to prevent oxidative stress and many liver diseases. In a previous work, we reported the bioactivity of infusions and pills based on these plants; herein, the aim was to provide scientific information about the antioxidant and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activities of syrups based on these medicinal plants and evaluate the synergism among the combined plants by using syrups based on the mixed plants or prepared form the combinations of individual species. The antioxidant activity was measured by radical scavenging activity, reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition, while the anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity and the hepatotoxicity were evaluated using HepG2 human cell line and a primary culture of porcine liver cells, respectively. Milk thistle syrup proved to have the highest antioxidant activity in all the assayed methods, providing the best results either in single syrup or included in mixed syrups. Synergistic effects were the main interactions observed in the mixture of artichoke, borututu and milk thistle; mixing the syrups based on each single plant proved to be more efficient regarding antioxidant proposals than mixing plants in the same syrup. The latter was advantageous for anti-hepatocellular carcinoma activity.The authors are grateful to the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT, Portugal) for financial support to the research center CIMO (PEst-OE/AGR/UI0690/2011) and L. Barros researcher contract under "Programa Compromisso com Ciencia-2008

Bio-guided fractionation of extracts of Geranium robertianum L.: Relationship between phenolic profile and biological activity

Geranium robertianum L. is used in folk medicine and herbalism practice for the treatment of a variety of ailments. Recently, we studied the bioactivity of several aqueous and organic extracts of this plant. In this work, the more active extracts were fractionated and the fractions evaluated for their antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity against several human tumor cell lines and non-tumor porcine liver primary cells. Some of the fractions from the acetone extract consistently displayed low EC 50 and GI 50 values and presented the higher contents of total phenolic compounds in comparison to other fractions. The phenolic compounds profile of the fractions was determined. The bio-guided fractionation of the extracts resulted in several fractions with improved bioactivity relative to the corresponding extracts. Their lower compositional complexity allowed the identification of more than two dozen compounds, to the best of our knowledge, so far not reported in G. robertianum.This work was supported by European Investment Funds by FEDER/COMPETE/POCI- Operational Competitiveness and Internationalization Programme, under Project POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006958 and National Funds by FCT − Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the projects UID/AGR/04033, UID/AGR/00690/2013 (CIMO) and UID/QUI/00616/2013 (CQ-VR). V.C. Graça, M.I. Dias and L. Barros thank FCT for SFRH/BD/52542/2014, SFRH/BD/84485/2012, and SFRH/BPD/107855/2015 grants, respectively.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio