472 research outputs found

    Differential effects of calcium- and vitamin D-fortified milk with FOS-inulin compared to regular milk, on bone biomarkers in Chinese pre- and postmenopausal women

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    PURPOSE: To compare the effects of a high-calcium vitamin D-fortified milk with added FOS-inulin versus regular milk on serum parathyroid hormone, and bone turnover markers in premenopausal (Pre-M) and postmenopausal (PM) women over 12 weeks. METHODS: Premenopausal women (n = 136, mean age 41 (Ā±5) years) and postmenopausal women [n = 121, mean age 59 (Ā±4) years] were recruited, and each age group randomised into two groups to take two glasses per day of control = regular milk (500 mg calcium per day) or intervention (Int) = fortified milk (1000 mg calcium for pre-M women and 1200 mg calcium for PM women, 96 mg magnesium, 2.4 mg zinc, 15 Āµg vitamin D, 4 g FOS-inulin per day). At baseline, week 4 and week 12 serum minerals and bone biochemical markers were measured and bone density was measured at baseline. RESULTS: Mean 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH) vitamin D3] levels among groups were between 49 and 65 nmol/L at baseline, and over the 12 weeks of supplementation, the fortified milk improved vitamin D status in both Int groups. CTx-1 and PINP reduced significantly in both Pre-M and PM groups over the 12 weeks, with the changes in CTx-1 being significantly different (P < 0.035) between PM control and PM Int groups at week 12. Parathyroid hormone levels were significantly reduced in all groups over time, except for control PM group where levels increased at 12 weeks. CONCLUSION: The overall pattern of responses indicates that while both regular milk and fortified milk reduce bone resorption in young and older women, fortified milk is measurably more effective

    Role of myosin light chain kinase in intestinal epithelial barrier defects in a rat model of bowel obstruction

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Bowel obstruction is a common cause of abdominal emergency, since the patients are at increased risk of septicemia resulting in high mortality rate. While the compartmentalized changes in enteric microfloral population and augmentation of bacterial translocation (BT) have already been reported using experimental obstruction models, alterations in epithelial permeability of the obstructed guts has not been studied in detail. Myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) is actively involved in the contraction of epithelial perijunctional actinomyosin ring and thereby increases paracellular permeability. In the current study we attempt to investigate the role of MLCK in epithelial barrier defects using a rat model of simple mechanical obstruction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Wistar rats received intraperitoneal injection of ML-7 (a MLCK inhibitor) or vehicle at 24, 12 and 1 hrs before and 12 hrs after intestinal obstruction (IO). The distal small intestine was obstructed with a single ligature placed 10 cm proximal to the ileocecal junction in IO rats for 24 hrs. Sham-operated rats served as controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mucosal injury, such as villous blunting and increased crypt/villus ratio, was observed in the distal small intestine of IO rats. Despite massive enterocyte shedding, intestinal villi were covered with a contiguous epithelial layer without cell apoptosis. Increased transmural macromolecular flux was noticed in the distal small intestine and the proximal colon after IO. The bacterial colony forming units in the spleen and liver of IO rats were significantly higher than those of sham controls. Addition of ML-7 ameliorated the IO-triggered epithelial MLC phosphorylation, mucosal injury and macromolecular flux, but not the level of BT.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggest that IO-induced premature enterocytic sloughing and enhanced paracellular antigenic flux were mediated by epithelial MLCK activation. In addition, enteric bacteria may undergo transcytotic routes other than paracellular paths to cross the epithelium.</p

    Estrogen receptor Ī²2 and Ī²5 are associated with poor prognosis in prostate cancer, and promote cancer cell migration and invasion

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    Estrogens play a pivotal role in the development and progression of prostate cancer (PCa). Their actions are mediated by estrogen receptors (ERs), particularly ERĪ² in the prostate epithelium. With the discovery of ERĪ² isoforms, data from previous studies that focused principally on the wild-type ERĪ² (ERĪ²1) may not be adequate in explaining the still controversial role of ERĪ²(s) in prostate carcinogenesis. In this study, using newly generated isoform-specific antibodies, immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed on a tumor microarray comprised of 144 specimens. IHC results were correlated with pathological and clinical follow-up data to delineate the distinct roles of ERĪ²1, ERĪ²2, and ERĪ²5 in PCa. ERĪ²2 was commonly found in the cytoplasm and was the most abundant isoform followed by ERĪ²1 localized predominantly in the nucleus, and ERĪ²5 was primarily located in the cytoplasm. Logistic regression analyses demonstrated that nuclear ERĪ²2 (nERĪ²2) is an independent prognostic marker for prostate specific antigen (PSA) failure and postoperative metastasis (POM). In a Kaplanā€“Meier analysis, the combined expression of both nERĪ²2 and cytoplasmic ERĪ²5 identified a group of patients with the shortest POM-free survival. Cox proportional hazard models revealed that nERĪ²2 predicted shorter time to POM. In concordance with IHC data, stable, ectopic expression of ERĪ²2 or ERĪ²5 enhanced PCa cell invasiveness but only PCa cells expressing ERĪ²5 exhibited augmented cell migration. This is the first study to uncover a metastasis-promoting role of ERĪ²2 and ERĪ²5 in PCa, and show that the two isoforms, singularly and conjointly, have prognostic values for PCa progression. These findings may aid future clinical management of PCa

    Effective, Efficient Online Training in Cooperative Extension

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    In order to keep pace with media and communications trends in education, Cooperative Extension (CE) faces the need to shift from traditional face-to-face delivery to online alternatives. This exploratory study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of on-demand, interactive online training compared to its face-to-face counterpart. Targeted for CE staff and volunteers whose work impacts youth, families and communities, the design centered on the universityā€™s cost-effective in-house technology tools. The study results make the case for online delivery as effective and efficient. Strategies for developing a process for online delivery in CE are also offered

    Effective, Efficient Online Training in Cooperative Extension

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    In order to keep pace with media and communications trends in education, Cooperative Extension (CE) faces the need to shift from traditional face-to-face delivery to online alternatives. This exploratory study focused on evaluating the effectiveness of on-demand, interactive online training compared to its face-to-face counterpart. Targeted for CE staff and volunteers whose work impacts youth, families and communities, the design centered on the universityā€™s cost-effective in-house technology tools. The study results make the case for online delivery as effective and efficient. Strategies for developing a process for online delivery in CE are also offered

    Physical activity, depressed mood and pregnancy worries in European obese pregnant women: Results from the DALI study

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    Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between mental health status (i.e. depressed mood and pregnancy-related worries) and objectively measured physical activity levels in obese pregnant women from seven European countries. Methods: Baseline data from the vitamin D and lifestyle intervention for the prevention of gestational diabetes mellitus (DALI) study were used. Time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary behaviour was measured with accelerometers. Depressed mood was measured with the WHO well-being index (WHO-5) and pregnancy-related worries with the Cambridge Worry Scale (CWS). In addition, socio-demographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and perceptions and attitude regarding weight management and physical activity were measured. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association of mental health status with MVPA and sedentary behaviour. Results: A total of 98 obese pregnant women from Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain and the Netherlands were included. Women had a mean age of 31.6 Ā± 5.8 years, a pre-pregnancy BMI of 34.1 Ā± 4.3 kg/m2, and were on average 15.4 Ā± 2.8 weeks pregnant. WHO-5 scores indicative of depressed mood (\u3c50) were reported by 27.1 % of the women and most frequently endorsed pregnancy-related worries pertained to own and the baby\u27s health. Women with good well-being spent 85 % more time in MVPA compared to women with a depressed mood (P = 0.03). No differences in MVPA levels were found for women with no, some, or many pregnancy worries. Depressed mood and pregnancy-related worries were not associated with sedentary behaviour. Conclusions: These findings suggest that in pregnant women who are obese, a depressed mood, but not pregnancy-related worries, may be associated with less physical activity. The combined risk of poor mental health and low physical activity levels makes women vulnerable for pregnancy complications. Whether a depressed mood may be a barrier for improving physical activity warrants further study

    Genetic diversity and evolution of human metapneumovirus fusion protein over twenty years

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important cause of acute respiratory illness in children. We examined the diversity and molecular evolution of HMPV using 85 full-length F (fusion) gene sequences collected over a 20-year period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The F gene sequences fell into two major groups, each with two subgroups, which exhibited a mean of 96% identity by predicted amino acid sequences. Amino acid identity within and between subgroups was higher than nucleotide identity, suggesting structural or functional constraints on F protein diversity. There was minimal progressive drift over time, and the genetic lineages were stable over the 20-year period. Several canonical amino acid differences discriminated between major subgroups, and polymorphic variations tended to cluster in discrete regions. The estimated rate of mutation was 7.12 Ɨ 10<sup>-4 </sup>substitutions/site/year and the estimated time to most recent common HMPV ancestor was 97 years (95% likelihood range 66-194 years). Analysis suggested that HMPV diverged from avian metapneumovirus type C (AMPV-C) 269 years ago (95% likelihood range 106-382 years).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HMPV F protein remains conserved over decades. HMPV appears to have diverged from AMPV-C fairly recently.</p

    Investigating pricing strategies of hotel rooms in city centre: a case study

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    In this article, the pricing strategies among hotel rooms dwelling in the city centre are investigated. A sample of 25 hotels with star ratings from 2 to 4 are selected, all situated in the heart of Georgetown, Penang. The primary data is collected, in which hotel room prices were observed for December 2018 through online travel operator, agoda.com platform. A comparative study of four forecasting methods, i.e. simple moving average, adaptive response rate exponential smoothing and multiplicative decomposition method were used to investigate the patterns of pricing strategies for these hotel rooms, with their accuracies being measured. The findings revealed that the average pricing of the room is at its peak before the public holiday, with the seasonal pattern being present, in which the prices are higher on Fridays weekly. Room prices for a hotel with higher star rating were also observed to be more sensitive to holiday effects as opposed to the hotel with a lower star rating

    Bringing class back in: class consciousness and solidarity among Chinese migrant workers in Italy and the UK

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    The growing literature on international migration has a tendency to emphasize homogenous elements such as shared ethnic background, social network and cultural similarities in shaping immigrants' identity. We argue that this underestimates the differences (and sometimes conflicts) of interests between ethnic employers and migrant workers and that class needs to be brought back into the studies of ethnic relationship. Based upon findings from a series of fieldwork in Veneto, Italy and East Midlands, UK, this article contends that class consciousness has co-existed, sometimes uneasily, alongside co-ethnic and cultural relationships among Chinese migrant workers and has played an important part in the making of new Chinese communities. By analysing the perspectives of Chinese migrant workers and their relationship with co-ethnic entrepreneurs, this article illustrates complex factors behind the formation, diffusion and development of class consciousness among Chinese migrant workers
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