Multiple effects of physical activity on molecular and cognitive signs of brain aging: can exercise slow neurodegeneration and delay Alzheimer\u27s disease?

Western countries are experiencing aging populations and increased longevity; thus, the incidence of dementia and Alzheimer\u27s disease (AD) in these countries is projected to soar. In the absence of a therapeutic drug, non-pharmacological preventative approaches are being investigated. One of these approaches is regular participation in physical activity or exercise. This paper reviews studies that have explored the relationship between physical activity and cognitive function, cognitive decline, AD/dementia risk and AD-associated biomarkers and processes. There is now strong evidence that links regular physical activity or exercise to higher cognitive function, decreased cognitive decline and reduced risk of AD or dementia. Nevertheless, these associations require further investigation, more specifically with interventional studies that include long follow-up periods. In particular, relatively little is known about the underlying mechanism(s) of the associations between physical activity and AD neuropathology; clearly this is an area in need of further research, particularly in human populations. Although benefits of physical activity or exercise are clearly recognised, there is a need to clarify how much physical activity provides the greatest benefit and also whether people of different genotypes require tailored exercise regimes.Molecular Psychiatry advance online publication, 20 November 2012; doi:10.1038/mp.2012.162

Learning from the Outcomes of Existing Prison Parenting Education Programs for Women Experiencing Incarceration: A Scoping Review

This scoping review addresses the question, what are the outcomes of existing prison parenting education programs for women experiencing incarceration and what can we learn? The framework used was based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Significant positive changes were identified after attending prison parenting programs and women generally provided positive feedback about their experiences however, there were also insights into the distress caused. The content covered in the programs is also explored. In conclusion, prison can be an opportunity for parenting education and support although currently the best way to provide this support to women has not been established. This review gives insight to those wanting to develop a parenting program specifically for women

The Parenting Education Needs of Aboriginal Women Experiencing Incarceration

The aim of this study was to listen to the voices of women experiencing incarceration and understand their parenting education needs. This paper reports on data from focus group interviews with 13 Aboriginal women in prison. The data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis, creating five themes: (1) working towards a positive self; (2) communication (3) parenting from a distance; (4) jumping through hoops to get connected; and (5) connecting with Aboriginal cultures. The women were seeking guidance and clarity about the Child Protection system and how to regain child custody. Many women were wanting to invest in self-care and expressed a need to connect with their community and cultures, suggesting the opportunity to have a yarning circle with their Elders whilst in prison. The majority of women wanted to attend a parenting education program that included Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women only. The need for a parenting program that will be guided by a trauma-informed approach and utilise reflective practice of ‘lived experiences’ to develop skills and wisdom was identified as being vitally important to meet the needs of women experiencing incarceration

Associations of the lipidome with ageing, cognitive decline and exercise behaviours

One of the most recognisable features of ageing is a decline in brain health and cognitive dysfunction, which is associated with perturbations to regular lipid homeostasis. Although ageing is the largest risk factor for several neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia, a loss in cognitive function is commonly observed in adults over the age of 65. Despite the prevalence of normal age-related cognitive decline, there is a lack of effective methods to improve the health of the ageing brain. In light of this, exercise has shown promise for positively influencing neurocognitive health and associated lipid profiles. This review summarises age-related changes in several lipid classes that are found in the brain, including fatty acyls, glycerolipids, phospholipids, sphingolipids and sterols, and explores the consequences of age-associated pathological cognitive decline on these lipid classes. Evidence of the positive effects of exercise on the affected lipid profiles are also discussed to highlight the potential for exercise to be used therapeutically to mitigate age-related changes to lipid metabolism and prevent cognitive decline in later life

Management of severe aortic valve stenosis in the neonate

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) causing obstruction to the left ventricular outfl ow, and hence reduction of the cardiac output, remains a therapeutic challenge for paediatric cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons. Infants that present at birth may have very dysplastic valves with severe or critical AS and are typically the most diffi cult to treat. This article therefore focuses on the management of severe AS in the neonate. This article also revises the embryology of the semi-lunar valves, as the morphology of the aortic valve often dictates the treatment pathway.http://www.saheart.org/journal/index.php?journal=SAHJam201

Integrated care: What can be done at the micro level to influence integration in primary health care?

Consumers require health services that meet their needs, are connected and well-integrated. They want to experience ‘one health system’ regardless of service structure, funding or governance. The provider-patient interface is the critical environment in which the needs and expectations of both providers and patients are considered

Profiles of recruits entering army basic training in new zealand

Introduction A high incidence of musculoskeletal injuries is sustained by army recruits during basic training. Describing recruits’ personal, lifestyle, and physical performance characteristics at the entry to training can help identify existing intrinsic risk factors that may predispose some recruits to injury. Identifying modifiable and preventable intrinsic risk factors may contribute to lower recruit injury and associated burdens during the course of basic training. The aim of this study was to therefore describe the profile of New Zealand Army recruits upon entry to basic training using personal, lifestyle, and physical performance characteristics. Methods New Zealand Army male and female recruits from two intakes in the same year were invited to participate. Recruits’ data on personal (sex, age, height, and weight), lifestyle (self-reported responses to the Military Pre-training Questionnaire comprising physical and injury history, diet, alcohol, and smoking status) and physical performance characteristics (2.4-km timed run, weight-bearing dorsiflexion lunge test, and the Y Balance TestTM for lower limb dynamic stability) were collected and analyzed. Results Participants included 248 New Zealand Army recruits: 228 males (91.9%), 20 females (8.1%), average age of 20.3 ± 2.8 years. Findings indicated 30.9% of recruits reported injury in the 12 months prior to training commencing, with 44.8% of those injuries in the lower limbs. Pre-entry alcohol consumption was higher than recommended and 20.1% of recruits identified as current smokers. Recruits who passed the 2.4-km timed run included 53.8% of males and 28.6% of females. Weight-bearing dorsiflexion lunge test performance was within a normal range (right = 10.3 ± 3.3 cm), however limb asymmetry (>1.5 cm) was present with 30.9% of recruits. For the Y Balance TestTM for dynamic lower limb stability, 70% of female recruits had high posterolateral reach asymmetry (8.1 ± 6.0 cm), while normalized composite reach scores were low (right) for male (92.2 ± 8.1%) and female recruits (89.0 ± 7.5%). Conclusions New Zealand Army recruits entering basic training were predominantly active young males, reported few injuries in the previous year, had higher than recommended alcohol consumption and a minority were smokers. The majority of recruits had low aerobic fitness, average ankle dorsiflexion range, and low dynamic lower limb stability. While a number of adverse characteristics identified are potentially modifiable, more research is required to identify an association to musculoskeletal injury risk in New Zealand Army recruits. Describing the profile of recruits entering training, particularly recruits at risk of injury is one of the first steps in injury prevention

Circadian influence on intrusive re-experiencing in trauma survivors’ daily lives

Background: The core clinical feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is recurrent re-experiencing in form of intrusive memories. While a great number of biological processes are regulated by sleep and internal biological clocks, the effect of 24-hour biological cycles, named circadian rhythm, has not been investigated in the context of intrusive memories. Objective: Here we examined effects of time of day on frequency and characteristics of intrusive re-experiencing. Methods: Fifty trauma survivors reported intrusive memories for 7 consecutive days using ecological momentary assessment in their daily life. We investigated (i) time-of-day dependent effects on frequency and distribution of intrusive re-experiencing in the overall sample as well as in PTSD versus non-PTSD and (ii) time-of-day dependent effects on the memory characteristics intrusiveness, vividness, nowness and fear. Results: Intrusive memories showed a curvilinear pattern that peaked at 2pm. Intrusive memories in the PTSD group showed a constant level of intrusive re-experiencing in the afternoon and evening, whereas a descending slope was present in the non-PTSD group. In PTSD, intrusive memories might thus be experienced in a more time-scattered fashion throughout the day, indicating chronodisruption. Intrusion characteristics did not follow this pattern. Conclusion: Although preliminary and based on a small sample size, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the everyday occurrence and characteristics of intrusive memories, and point to the added value of examining time-dependent effects, which can directly inform prevention and intervention science

Circadian influence on intrusive re-experiencing in trauma survivors’ daily lives

Background: The core clinical feature of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is recurrent re-experiencing in form of intrusive memories. While a great number of biological processes are regulated by sleep and internal biological clocks, the effect of 24-hour biological cycles, named circadian rhythm, has not been investigated in the context of intrusive memories. Objective: Here we examined effects of time of day on frequency and characteristics of intrusive re-experiencing. Methods: Fifty trauma survivors reported intrusive memories for 7 consecutive days using ecological momentary assessment in their daily life. We investigated (i) time-of-day dependent effects on frequency and distribution of intrusive re-experiencing in the overall sample as well as in PTSD versus non-PTSD and (ii) time-of-day dependent effects on the memory characteristics intrusiveness, vividness, nowness and fear. Results: Intrusive memories showed a curvilinear pattern that peaked at 2pm. Intrusive memories in the PTSD group showed a constant level of intrusive re-experiencing in the afternoon and evening, whereas a descending slope was present in the non-PTSD group. In PTSD, intrusive memories might thus be experienced in a more time-scattered fashion throughout the day, indicating chronodisruption. Intrusion characteristics did not follow this pattern. Conclusion: Although preliminary and based on a small sample size, these findings contribute to a better understanding of the everyday occurrence and characteristics of intrusive memories, and point to the added value of examining time-dependent effects, which can directly inform prevention and intervention science. Influencia circadiana en la re-experimentación intrusiva en la vida diaria de los sobrevivientes de trauma Antecedentes: La característica clínica central del trastorno de estrés postraumático (TEPT) es la re-experimentación recurrente en forma de recuerdos intrusivos. Si bien un gran número de procesos biológicos están regulados por el sueño y los relojes biológicos internos, el efecto de los ciclos biológicos de 24 horas, llamado ritmo circadiano, no ha sido investigado en el contexto de los recuerdos intrusivos. Objetivo: Aquí examinamos los efectos de la hora del día sobre la frecuencia y características de la re-experimentación intrusiva. Métodos: Cincuenta sobrevivientes de trauma reportaron recuerdos intrusivos por 7 días consecutivos usando la evaluación ecológica momentánea en su vida diaria. Investigamos (i) los efectos dependientes de la hora del día sobre la frecuencia y distribución de los recuerdos intrusivos en la muestra general, así como en TEPT versus no TEPT y (ii) los efectos dependien- tes de la hora del día sobre las características de la intrusividad de los recuerdos, vividez, momento presente y miedo. Resultados: Los recuerdos intrusivos mostraron un patrón curvilíneo que alcanzaba su punto máximo a las 2 pm. Los recuerdos intrusivos en el grupo con TEPT mostraron un nivel constante de re-experimentación intrusiva en la tarde y la noche, mientras que en el grupo sin TEPT se observó una pendiente descendiente. En el TEPT, los recuerdos intrusivos pueden experimen- tarse en una manera más dispersa en el tiempo a lo largo del día, lo que indica cronodisrupción. Las características de intrusión no siguieron este patrón. Conclusión: Aunque son preliminares y se basan en un tamaño de muestra pequeño, estos hallazgos contribuyen a una mayor comprensión de la ocurrencia cotidiana y las características de los recuerdos intrusivos y apuntan al valor agregado de examinar sus efectos dependientes del tiempo, que pueden informar directamente a la ciencia de la prevención e intervención. 昼夜节律对创伤幸存者日常生活中闯入性再体验的影响 背景: 创伤后应激障碍(PTSD)的核心临床特征是以闯入性记忆的形式反复再体验。虽然大量 的生物过程受睡眠和内部生物钟的调节,尚未在闯入性记忆的背景下研究 24 小时生物周期 (称为昼夜节律)的影响。 目的: 这里我们考查了一天时间对闯入性再体验频率和特征的影响。 方法 : 50 名创伤幸存者在日常生活中使用生态瞬时评估连续 7 天报告了闯入性记忆。我们 研究了 (i)对整个样本以及 PTSD 与非 PTSD 对比组中闯入性再体验的频率和分布的每日时间 依赖影响,以及 (ii) 对记忆特征闯入性、生动性、当下性和恐惧的每日时间依赖影响。 结果: 闯入性记忆呈现出一种在下午 2 点达到峰值的曲线模式。PTSD组的闯入性记忆在下 午和晚上表现出恒定水平的闯入性再体验,而非PTSD组则呈现下降趋势。因此,在 PTSD 组 中,闯入性记忆可能会在一天中以更分散的方式体验,这表明时间中断。闯入特征没有遵循这 种模式。 结论: 虽然是初步研究并且基于小样本量,这些发现有助于更好了解闯入性记忆的日常发生 和特征,并指出考查其时间依赖效应的附加价值,可以直接为预防和干预提供信息科学

An Autonomous Onboard Targeting Algorithm Using Finite Thrust Maneuvers

In earlier investigations, the adaptation and implementation of a modified two-level corrections (or targeting) process as the onboard targeting algorithm for the Trans-Earth Injection phase of Orion is presented. The objective of that targeting algorithm is to generate the times of ignition and magnitudes of the required maneuvers such that the desired state at entry interface is achieved. In an actual onboard flight software implementation, these times of ignition and maneuvers are relayed onto Flight Control for command and execution. Although this process works well when the burn durations or burn arcs are small, this might not be the case during a contingency situation when lower thrust engines are employed to perform the maneuvers. Therefore, a new model for the two-level corrections process is formulated here to accommodate finite burn arcs. This paper presents the development and formulation of the finite burn two-level corrector, used as an onboard targeting algorithm for the Trans-Earth Injection phase of Orion. A performance comparison between the impulsive and finite burn models is also presented. The present formulation ensures all entry constraints are met, without violating the available fuel budget, while allowing for low-thrust scenarios with long burn durations