8 research outputs found
The influence of physical exercise on the generation of TGF-β1, PDGF-AA, and VEGF-A in adipose tissue
Adipose tissue is an important organ that produces and secretes hormones and cytokines, including TGF-β1, PDGF-AA, and VEGF-A. The goal of the present study was to investigate the influence of a single session of acute exercise, as well as the prolonged endurance training on the production of TGF-β1, PDGF-AA, and VEGF-A in the subcutaneous white adipose tissue in rats. Rats were randomly divided into two groups: untrained (UT, n = 30) and trained rats (T, subjected to 6-week endurance training with increasing load, n = 29). Both groups were subjected to an acute exercise session with the same work load. The rats were killed before (UTpre, Tpre), immediately after (UT0h, T0h), or 3 h (UT3h, T3h) after exercise and adipose tissue samples collected. Growth factor mRNA was evaluated using RT-PCR; the protein levels were measured before and after training (UTpre and Tpre) using the immunoenzymatic method. TGF-β1 and PDGF-AA mRNA levels were decreased in the UT3h rats compared to the UTpre rats (P = 0.0001 and P = 0.03, respectively), but the VEGF-A mRNA level remained unchanged in the UT0h and UT3h rats compared to UTpre rats. TGF-β1, PDGF-AA and VEGF-A mRNA levels were decreased in the T3h rats compared to Tpre (P = 0.0002, P = 0.02, and P = 0.03, respectively). TGF-β1, PDGF-AA and VEGF-A mRNA levels significantly increased in the Tpre rats compared to UTpre (all P = 0.0002). However, the protein levels remained constant. In conclusion, prolonged physical exercise increases growth factor mRNA in adipose tissue but not protein levels
Activity of daily living on non-working and working days in Polish urban society
Objectives
Activities of daily living are currently the simplest form of activity. For many people this is the only activity
in which they participate. In this connection, it is important to determine the level of physical activity connected with
daily habits including occupational activities. The main goal of the presented study has been to assess the level of activities
of daily living in different age groups and its differentiation by season and working (WD) and non-working
days (NWD).
Material and Methods
The study group (urban citizens, N = 106) was divided into young (Y) (N = 40),
middle-aged (M) (N = 38), and senior (S) (N = 28) participants. The daily step number on 7 consecutive days during 4 seasons
between June 2012 and 2013 was counted objectively using pedometers. The long-form of the International Physical
Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was completed each season as a subjective assessment.
Results
The daily step number for
the whole group for the year was (median) 6615 (range: 3648â10 709), fewer than recommended. The median (Me) was
highest in group M (Me = 6994, range: 3648â10 709) followed by Y (Me = 6957, range: 4094â10 321) and S (Me = 5469,
range: 3743â8955). The lowest daily step number occurred in winter (M = 6208, Y = 6063, S = 5242), and the highest
in spring (Y = 7385) or summer (M = 7717; S = 6095). All groups had a greater daily step number on WDs compared
to NWDs (Y: 8411 vs. 5744, M: 7612 vs. 5839, S: 6327 vs. 4580; p < 0.01 for all). Pedometer-tracked values did not correlate
with the IPAQ results.
Conclusions
Activity level in Polish urban society is low, especially on NWDs and in colder months.
The daily number of steps is highest in the middle-aged group, which may be connected with working status. Objective
methods are recommended for assessing physical activity level. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2018;31(1):47â5
Smoking, alcohol consumption, and illicit substances use among adolescents in Poland
Abstract Background The use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit substances typically first occurs in adolescence. The purpose of this study was to examine alcohol, cigarette, and illicit substance use among adolescents in Poland, including the age of initiation, frequency of use, methods of access, location of use, and parental knowledge and attitude. Methods An author-derived questionnaire was used to cross-sectionally survey 541 participants aged 13â17âyears old. Due to the fact that some answers were lacking, the number of questionnaires analysed was 538 in case of smoking and illicit substances use, and 535 in case of alcohol drinking. Results The use of alcohol, cigarette, and illicit substance among the investigated group was 36.1, 37.6, and 10.8% respectively. The average age of initiation was 13â14âyears old. Parents were aware of alcohol, cigarette, and illicit substance use 49.5, 35.8 and 22.4% of the time, respectively, and the rate of acceptance was 5.7 and 6.7% for alcohol and cigarettes. More than 28% of participants smoked in school, and 32.7% accessed illicit substances in the schoolâs neighborhood. Conclusions The rate of alcohol, cigarette, and illicit substance use in Poland is high and increasing, despite globally designed preventative actions. Parentsâ awareness of childrenâs alcohol, cigarette, or illicit substance use is low, and schools hardly fulfil their educational and protective role. Preventative actions are necessary, and local challenges should be considered
Training differentially regulates elastin level and proteolysis in skeletal and heart muscles and aorta in healthy rats
Exercise induces changes in muscle fibers and the extracellular matrix that may depend on elastin content and the activity of proteolytic enzymes. We investigated the influence of endurance training on the gene expression and protein content and/or activity of elastin, elastase, cathepsin K, and plasmin in skeletal and heart muscles and in the aorta. Healthy rats were randomly divided into untrained (n=10) and trained (n=10; 6â
weeks of endurance training with increasing load) groups. Gene expression was evaluated via qRT-PCR. Elastin content was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and enzyme activity was measured fluorometrically. Elastin content was significantly higher in skeletal (P=0.0014) and heart muscle (P=0.000022) from trained rats versus untrained rats, but not in the aorta. Although mRNA levels in skeletal muscle did not differ between groups, the activities of elastase (P=0.0434), cathepsin K (P=0.0343) and plasmin (P=0.000046) were higher in trained rats. The levels of cathepsin K (P=0.0288) and plasminogen (P=0.0005) mRNA were higher in heart muscle from trained rats, but enzyme activity was not. Enzyme activity in the aorta did not differ between groups. Increased elastin content in muscles may result in better adaption to exercise, as may remodeling of the extracellular matrix in skeletal muscle
EUPRON: nursesâ practice in interprofessional pharmaceutical care in Europe.: A cross-sectional survey in 17 countries
Objectives: Safe pharmaceutical care (PC) requires an interprofessional team approach, involving physicians, nurses and pharmacists. Nursesâ roles however, are not always explicit and clear, complicating interprofessional collaboration. The aim of this study is to describe nursesâ practice and interprofessional collaboration in PC, from the viewpoint of nurses, physicians and pharmacists.
Design: A cross-sectional survey.
Setting: The study was conducted in 17 European countries, each with their own health systems.
Participants: Pharmacists, physicians and nurses with an active role in PC were surveyed.
Main outcome measures: Nursesâ involvement in PC, experiences of interprofessional collaboration and communication and views on nursesâ competences.
Results: A total of 4888 nurses, 974 physicians and 857 pharmacists from 17 European countries responded. Providing patient education and information (PEI), monitoring medicines adherence (MMA), monitoring adverse/therapeutic effects (ME) and prescribing
medicines were considered integral to nursing practice by 78%, 73%, 69% and 15% of nurses, respectively. Most respondents were convinced that quality of PC would be
improved by increasing nursesâ involvement in ME (95%), MMA (95%), PEI (91%) and prescribing (53%). Mean scores for the reported quality of collaboration between
nurses and physicians, collaboration between nurses and pharmacists and interprofessional communication were respectively <7/10, â¤4/10, <6/10 for all four aspects of PC.
Conclusions: ME, MMA, PEI and prescribing are part of nursesâ activities, and most healthcare professionals felt their involvement should be extended. Collaboration
between nurses and physicians on PC is limited and between nurses and pharmacists even more