LIFESTYLE ASSESSMENT AND IMPROVEMENT WITH FOCUS ON LEISURE TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: THE #STUDIOXLAVITA PROJECT

INTRODUCTION: Sedentariness, smoking, alcohol abuse and unbalanced feeding are harmful for health, leading to chronic diseases and increasing mortality rate. For young adults, University is a new social and cultural context: parents’ imprinting could be easily altered, new lifestyles take shape and personal choices emerge. Intervention programmes to advance awareness on harmful lifestyle and promote healthy habits are essential. The #studioxlavita project, launched in 2016 by the University of Brescia with these purposes, investigated students’ lifestyle, with special emphasis on physical activity . METHODS: We developed two consecutive facultative surveys, of 15 <1st level> and 52 items <2nd level>, addressed to all the University’s students. Questions were about leisure time physical activity , use of fitness technology, relationship with friends, classmates and parents, feed, physical appearance, body self-perception, physical and mental health, use of certain substances or products , night-time rest and beliefs concerning healthy behaviours. In the 2nd level survey we also adopted the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire to estimate the amount of PA carried out in the last 7 days. Students who filled in both questionnaires received a personal report including the aggregate data analysis, a comparison with other investigations and indications about healthy habits, according to recommendations and guidelines. RESULTS: 3,436 out of 15,688 students filled in the1st level survey. Of them, 778 accepted to participate in the 2nd level survey, and 456 completed it. 1st level survey revealed that 72% of the students practised LTPA <45% regularly and 27% occasionally>. LTPA is largely performed <44% of the student> in non-competitive form, with recreational and/or health purposes. According to IPAQ-SF categorical score, 24%, 34% and 42% of the students performed low, moderate and high levels of PA, respectively. In 2st level survey, 76% of the students wished to practise more PA; 42% would participate in practical sport courses. CONCLUSION: University is an ideal setting for promoting lifestyle change among a captive audience. Intervention programs to increment PA are acclaimed by students. The students from University of Brescia reported higher LTPA practice than the national average people between 18 and 34 years <47%, data from Italian National Institute of Statistics, 2015>, although this parameter was assessed with different methods

EFFECTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROMOTION AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: THE #STUDIOXLAVITA PROJECT

INTRODUCTION: Sedentariness is a major health problem in our time and physical activity promotion is an imperative commitment for healthcare systems. Recommendations from WHO indicate a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic exercise as weekly standard for adults. Strategies to increment PA practice are implemented in different settings, such as house care, school, University and workplace. The project #studioxlavita <#SXLV> was launched by the University of Brescia in 2016 with the aim of collecting data about undergraduates lifestyle and encourage healthy behaviours. In particular we focused on PA assessment and promotion in a Universitybased setting. METHODS: Two consecutive surveys were sent to all students . Q0 included the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire , the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and additional questions on several lifestyle aspects. Among responders, we selected 40 students who agreed to take part in one of the following 15-week practical sport courses: ultimate frisbee, muscle strengthening and dance fitness. Before and after being engaged in practical sport courses, students underwent cardiopulmonary exercise test and skinfold thickness measurements, in order to assess peak oxygen consumption and percent body fat . Finally, to assess possible lifestyle changes, we sent them additional surveys at the end of the practical sport courses and 30 days after . Paired t-test was used to analyse significant differences. RESULTS: 27 students <16 female, 11 male; age: 22.7±3.7> concluded sport activity courses and filled in Q1. Of them, 20 completed also Q2. Overall courses attendance was 57%. At T1 , normalized Q̇O2peak increased with respect to T0 <37.0±6.9 vs 35.2±7.4 ml/min/Kg, p=0.03>. Conversely, percent body fat decreased <16.5±6.4 vs 18.3±7.5, p=0.01>. In Q1, 20 students declared to have a more active lifestyle since the beginning of the courses. In Q2, IPAQ-SF-derived total weekly energy expenditure was higher than in Q0, although not significant <5,839 ±7,035 MET*min vs 2,770±2,457 MET*min, p=0.1>. Q2 showed a reduced K6 scale score with respect to Q0 <13.8±4.6 vs 15.8±4.9, p=0.03>. CONCLUSION: With the sport activity courses established in #SXLV we gave students the opportunity to comply with WHO recommendations. After courses, they appeared to practice more PA, have a higher maximal aerobic capacity, a lower percent body fat and a lower grade of psychological distress than before courses. Simple activities as those proposed by #SXLV are sufficient to reduce sedentariness and improve the quality of life of student

Modelling diffusion of innovation curves using radiocarbon data

Archaeological data provide a potential to investigate the diffusion of technological and cultural traits. However, much of this research agenda currently needs more formal quantitative methods to address small sample sizes and chronological uncertainty. This paper introduces a novel Bayesian framework for inferring the shape of diffusion curves using radiocarbon data associated with the presence/absence of a particular innovation. We developed two distinct approaches: 1) a hierarchical model that enables the fitting of an s-shaped diffusion curve whilst accounting for inter-site variations in the probability of sampling the innovation itself, and 2) a non-parametric model that can estimate the changing proportion of the innovation across user-defined time-blocks. The robustness of the two approaches was first tested against simulated datasets and then applied to investigate three case studies, the first pair on the diffusion of farming in prehistoric Japan and Britain and the third on cycles of changes in the burial practices of later prehistoric Britain

Trends in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bloodstream infections: effect of the MRSA "search and isolate" strategy in a hospital in Italy with hyperendemic MRSA

Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the secular trends in MRSA BSIs after the introduction of a nosocomial MRSA control intervention. DESIGN: Before-after study. SETTING: An 850-bed community hospital with an ICU and vascular surgery, neurosurgery, bone marrow transplantation, and AIDS units. MRSA is endemic at this hospital; the prevalence of methicillin resistance among patients with S. aureus infection is greater than 50%. PATIENTS: Among all inpatients, MRSA BSI was identified, its origin defined, and incidence rates calculated by ward and origin. INTERVENTION: A MRSA control program was implemented based on active surveillance cultures to identify MRSA-colonized patients, followed by isolation using contact precautions. Incidence rates of MRSA BSI during the intervention (i.e., July 1, 1997, to December 31, 2001) and preintervention (i.e., January 1, 1996, to June 30, 1997) periods were compared. RESULTS: Sixty-nine MRSA BSIs were identified. When compared with the preintervention period, the incidence rate of MRSA BSI was reduced from 0.64 to 0.30 per 1000 admissions (RR, 0.46; CI95, 0.25-0.87; P = .02) during the intervention period. The impact was greater in the ICU, with an 89% reduction (RR, 0.11; CI95, 0.01-0.98; P = .03), and for CVC-associated MRSA BSIs, with an 82% decrease (RR, 0.17; CI95, 0.05-0.55; P = .002). Methicillin resistance among S. aureus blood isolates decreased from 46% to 17% (RR, 0.36; CI95, 0.22-0.62; P = .0002). CONCLUSION: A reduction in MRSA bacteremia is achievable through use of the MRSA "search and isolate" intervention even in a hospital with high rates of endemic MRSA

Interpretation and the Constraints on International Courts

This paper argues that methodologies of interpretation do not do what they promise – they do not constrain interpretation by providing neutral steps that one can follow in finding out a meaning of a text – but nevertheless do their constraining work by being part of what can be described as the legal practice

The MedAfriCarbon Radiocarbon Database and Web Application. Archaeological Dynamics in Mediterranean Africa, ca. 9600–700 BC

The MedAfriCarbon radiocarbon database and its accompanying web application are outcomes of the MedAfrica project — Archaeological deep history and dynamics of Mediterranean Africa, ca. 9600–700 BC. The dataset presented here in Version 1.0 of the database includes 1587 archaeological 14C dates from 368 sites in Mediterranean Africa. The database is unusual because the majority of the dates within it have been annotated with further cultural and environmental variables, notably the presence/absence of different domestic/wild species and particular material culture traits. MedAfriCarbon also includes a publicly-accessible web application that facilitates data exploration and informal analysis

Mutational profile of TP53 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma associated with chagasic megaesophagus

Chaga's disease is an important communicable neglected disease that is gaining wider attention due to its increasing incidence worldwide. Achalasia due to chagasic megaesophagus (CM), a complication of this disease, is a known-yet, poorly understood-etiological factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) development. In this study, we aimed to perform the analysis of TP53 mutations in a series of Brazilian patients with ESCC that developed in the context CM (ESCC/CM), and to compare with the TP53 mutation profile of patients with benign CM and patients with nonchagasic ESCC. Additionally, we intended to correlate the TP53 mutation results with patient's clinical pathological features. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by direct sequencing of the hotspot regions of TP53 (exon 5 to 8), we found that TP53 mutations were present in 40.6% (13/32) of the ESCC/CM group, 45% (18/40) of the nonchagasic ESCC group, and in only 3% (1/33) of the benign CM group. Missense mutations were the most common in the three groups, yet, the type and mutated exon mutation varied significantly among the groups. Clinically, the groups exhibited distinct features, with both cancer groups (ESCC and ESCC/CM) been significantly associated higher consumption of alcohol and tobacco, older age, worse Karnofsky performance status, poor outcome than the patients with benign CM. No significant association was found between TP53 mutation profile and clinical-pathological features in any of the three groups. We describe first the time the analysis of TP53 mutations in ESCC that developed in the context of CM, and the observed high frequency of mutations, suggest that TP53 also plays an important role in the tumorigenic process of this unexplored etiological condition.Supported by Barretos Cancer Hospital internal research funds (PAIP). Rui M Reis is recipient of a CNPq Produtividade em Pesquisa grantinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Antibiotic treatment-induced dysbiosis differently affects BDNF and TrkB expression in the brain and in the gut of juvenile mice

Antibiotic use during adolescence may result in dysbiosis-induced neuronal vulnerability both in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and central nervous system (CNS) contributing to the onset of chronic gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), showing significant psychiatric comorbidity. Intestinal microbiota alterations during adolescence influence the expression of molecular factors involved in neuronal development in both the ENS and CNS. In this study, we have evaluated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its high-affinity receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) in juvenile mice ENS and CNS, after a 2-week antibiotic (ABX) treatment. In both mucosa and mucosa-deprived whole-wall small intestine segments of ABX-treated animals, BDNF and TrKB mRNA and protein levels significantly increased. In longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations of ABX-treated mice the percentage of myenteric neurons staining for BDNF and TrkB was significantly higher than in controls. After ABX treatment, a consistent population of BDNF-and TrkB-immunoreactive neurons costained with SP and CGRP, suggesting up-regulation of BDNF signaling in both motor and sensory myenteric neurons. BDNF and TrkB protein levels were downregulated in the hippocampus and remained unchanged in the prefrontal cortex of ABX-treated animals. Immunostaining for BDNF and TrkB decreased in the hippocampus CA3 and dentate gyrus subregions, respectively, and remained unchanged in the prefrontal cortex. These data suggest that dysbiosis differentially influences the expression of BDNF-TrkB in the juvenile mice ENS and CNS. Such changes may potentially contribute later to the development of functional gut disorders, such as IBS, showing psychiatric comorbidity

Dolore post-operatorio nei pazienti affetti da neoplasia testa-collo: fattori predittivi ed efficacia della terapia

Negli anni è aumentata l’attenzione verso i molteplici aspetti associati alla “sfera” dolore, anche nei pazienti oncologici sottoposti a chirurgia testa-collo. Il dolore, definito infatti da diverse caratteristiche, quali l’esperienza personale, gli aspetti qualitativi della percezione, l’intensità, l’impatto emotivo, riconosce un’eziologia “multifattoriale”. Scopo del presente lavoro è stato: (i) valutare l’efficacia della terapia analgesica in pazienti affetti da tumore testa-collo e sottoposti a trattamento chirurgico; (ii) studiare le possibili variabili ed i fattori predittivi che possano influenzare l’insorgenza di dolore. Sono stati studiati 164 pazienti, affetti da neoplasia maligna del distretto testa-collo, trattati chirurgicamente tra il dicembre 2009 ed il dicembre 2013. I dati raccolti comprendono l’età, il sesso, la valutazione del rischio anestesiologico, la sede del tumore, la stadiazione TNM, il tipo di intervento effettuato, la complessità e la durata dell’intervento, le eventuali complicanze post-operatorie, i giorni di degenza post-intervento, la valutazione del dolore nei giorni 0, 1, 3 e 5 post-chirurgia. L’adeguatezza della terapia analgesica è stata espressa in termini di incidenza e prevalenza del dolore post-operatorio, le variabili legate al paziente, alla malattia, al trattamento chirurgico e farmacologico, sono state poi associate all’insorgenza del dolore così da poter descrivere eventuali fattori predittivi. Dai dati ottenuti emerge che la popolazione studiata ha ricevuto un’adeguata terapia antalgica, sia nell’immediato post-operatorio che nei giorni successivi. Non sono risultate associazioni statisticamente significative tra sesso, età ed incidenza del dolore post-chirurgico, mentre lo stadio del tumore, la complessità dell’intervento chirurgico e la sede della neoplasia hanno presentano correlazione significativa con il rischio di insorgenza di dolore post-operatorio. L’elevata prevalenza del dolore in ambito oncologico testa-collo, fa sì che un’appropriata ed attenta gestione del dolore risulti fondamentale. Nel futuro pertanto si auspica una sempre migliore comprensione dei fattori biologici, sociali e psicologici che caratterizzano la percezione del dolore ai fini di migliorarne il controllo

Open science in archaeology

No abstract available