14 research outputs found
Short telomere length is associated with impaired cognitive performance in European ancestry cohorts
Metabolomics reveals a link between homocysteine and lipid metabolism and leukocyte telomere length: the ENGAGE consortium
Telomere shortening has been associated with multiple age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and dementia. However, the biological mechanisms responsible for these associations remain largely unknown. In order to gain insight into the metabolic processes driving the association of leukocyte telomere length (LTL) with age-related diseases, we investigated the association between LTL and serum metabolite levels in 7,853 individuals from seven independent cohorts. LTL was determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and the levels of 131 serum metabolites were measured with mass spectrometry in biological samples from the same blood draw. With partial correlation analysis, we identified six metabolites that were significantly associated with LTL after adjustment for multiple testing: lysophosphatidylcholine acyl C17:0 (lysoPC a C17:0, p-value = 7.1 × 10−6), methionine (p-value = 9.2 × 10−5), tyrosine (p-value = 2.1 × 10−4), phosphatidylcholine diacyl C32:1 (PC aa C32:1, p-value = 2.4 × 10−4), hydroxypropionylcarnitine (C3-OH, p-value = 2.6 × 10−4), and phosphatidylcholine acyl-alkyl C38:4 (PC ae C38:4, p-value = 9.0 × 10−4). Pathway analysis showed that the three phosphatidylcholines and methionine are involved in homocysteine metabolism and we found supporting evidence for an association of lipid metabolism with LTL. In conclusion, we found longer LTL associated with higher levels of lysoPC a C17:0 and PC ae C38:4, and with lower levels of methionine, tyrosine, PC aa C32:1, and C3-OH. These metabolites have been implicated in inflammation, oxidative stress, homocysteine metabolism, and in cardiovascular disease and diabetes, two major drivers of morbidity and mortality
Examining the effects of enhanced provider-patient communication on postoperative tonsillectomy pain: protocol of a randomised controlled trial performed by nurses in daily clinical care
Contains fulltext :
182294.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)INTRODUCTION: Placebo effects (true biopsychological effects not attributable to the active ingredients of medical technical interventions) can be attributed to several mechanisms, such as expectancy manipulation and empathy manipulation elicited by a provider's communication. So far, effects have primarily been shown in laboratory settings. The aim of this study is to determine the separate and combined effects of expectancy manipulation and empathy manipulation during preoperative and postoperative tonsillectomy analgesia care on clinical adult patients' outcomes. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Using a two-by-two randomised controlled trial, 128 adult tonsillectomy patients will be randomly assigned to one out of four conditions differing in the level of expectancy manipulation (standard vs enhanced) and empathy manipulation (standard vs enhanced). Day care ward nurses are trained to deliver the intervention, while patients are treated via the standard analgesia protocol and hospital routines. The primary outcome, perceived pain, is measured via hospital routine by a Numeric Rating Scale, and additional prehospitalisation, perihospitalisation and posthospitalisation questionnaires are completed (until day 3, ie, 2 days after the operation). The manipulation is checked using audio recordings of nurse-patient interactions. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Although communication is manipulated, the manipulations do not cross norms or values of acceptable behaviour. Standard medical care is provided. The ethical committee of the UMC Utrecht and the local OLVG hospital committee approved the study. Results will be published via (inter)national peer-reviewed journals and a lay publication. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NTR5994; Pre-results
Examining the effects of enhanced provider-patient communication on postoperative pain: protocol of a randomized controlled trial performed in daily clinical care.
Introduction: Placebo effects (true biopsychological effects not attributable to the active ingredients of medical technical interventions) can be attributed to several mechanisms, such as expectancy manipulation and empathy manipulation elicited by a provider’s communication. So far, effects have primarily been shown in laboratory settings. The aim of this study is to determine the separate and combined effects of expectancy manipulation and empathy manipulation during preoperative and postoperative tonsillectomy analgesia care on clinical adult patients’ outcomes.
Methods and analysis: Using a two-by-two randomised controlled trial, 128 adult tonsillectomy patients will be randomly assigned to one out of four conditions differing in the level of expectancy manipulation (standard vs enhanced) and empathy manipulation (standard vs enhanced). Day care ward nurses are trained to deliver the intervention, while patients are treated via the standard analgesia protocol and hospital routines. The primary outcome, perceived pain, is measured via hospital routine by a Numeric Rating Scale, and additional prehospitalisation, perihospitalisation and posthospitalisation questionnaires are completed (until day 3, ie, 2 days after the operation). The manipulation is checked using audio recordings of nurse–patient interactions.
Ethics and dissemination: Although communication is manipulated, the manipulations do not cross norms or values of acceptable behaviour. Standard medical care is provided. The ethical committee of the UMC Utrecht and the local OLVG hospital committee approved the study. Results will be published via (inter)national peer-reviewed journals and a lay publication
Placebo effects of nurses' communication alongside standard medical care on pain and other outcomes: a randomized controlled trial in clinical tonsillectomy care
Health and self-regulatio
Placebo Effects of Nurses' Communication alongside Standard Medical Care on Pain and Other Outcomes : A Randomized Controlled Trial in Clinical Tonsillectomy Care
Health and self-regulatio
Current Treatment of Vestibular, Ocular Motor Disorders and Nystagmus
Vertigo and dizziness are among the most common complaints with a lifetime
prevalence of about 30%. The various forms of vestibular disorders can be
treated with pharmacological therapy, physical therapy, psychotherapeutic
measures or, rarely, surgery. In this review, the current pharmacological
treatment options for peripheral and central vestibular, cerebellar and ocular
motor disorders will be described. They are as follows for peripheral vestibular
disorders. In vestibular neuritis recovery of the peripheral vestibular function
can be improved by treatment with oral corticosteroids. In
Menière's disease a recent study showed long-term
high-dose treatment with betahistine has a significant effect on the frequency
of the attacks. The use of aminopyridines introduced a new therapeutic principle
in the treatment of downbeat and upbeat nystagmus and episodic ataxia type 2 (EA
2). These potassium channel blockers presumably increase the activity and
excitability of cerebellar Purkinje cells, thereby augmenting the inhibitory
influence of these cells on vestibular and cerebellar nuclei. A few studies
showed that baclofen improves periodic alternating nystagmus, and gabapentin and
memantine, pendular nystagmus. However, many other eye movement disorders such
as ocular flutter opsoclonus, central positioning, or see-saw nystagmus are
still difficult to treat. Although progress has been made in the treatment of
vestibular neuritis, downbeat and upbeat nystagmus, as well as EA 2,
state-of-the-art trials must still be performed on many vestibular and ocular
motor disorders, namely Menière's disease, bilateral
vestibular failure, vestibular paroxysmia, vestibular migraine, and many forms
of central eye movement disorders