Ball games and nutrition counseling improve postural control in overweight children

Background: Motor skills are impaired in overweight children whose levels of physical activity are low and these children are more likely to sustain lower extremity injuries. The purpose of this study was to analyze prospectively in overweight children the influence of ball games and nutrition counseling on postural control. Methods: In all, 46 overweight children (age: 6–12 years, BMI: female: 25.2 ± 3.6 kg/m2, male: 26.2 ± 2.8 kg/m2 (mean value ± standard deviation) were examined prospectively in four randomized groups (ball games, nutrition counseling, ball games and nutrition counseling, and group without intervention) for six months. A one-legged standing test was performed. Results: The children demonstrated improved postural control after six months of intervention: mean difference M1-M2 ± standard deviation: 5 ± 6 error points (p < 0.001, T = 4.906), whereas the control group without intervention did not show any significant improvement: 2 ± 8 error points (p = 0.357, T = 0.972). Conclusions: Ball games and nutrition counseling have a positive influence on postural control and therefore could help prevent injury. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01825174. Registered April 2, 201

Population dynamics of two antilisterial cheese surface consortia revealed by temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Surface contamination of smear cheese by <it>Listeria </it>spp. is of major concern for the industry. Complex smear ecosystems have been shown to harbor antilisterial potential but the microorganisms and mechanisms involved in the inhibition mostly remain unclear, and are likely related to complex interactions than to production of single antimicrobial compounds. Bacterial biodiversity and population dynamics of complex smear ecosystems exhibiting antilisterial properties <it>in situ </it>were investigated by Temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TTGE), a culture independent technique, for two microbial consortia isolated from commercial Raclette type cheeses inoculated with defined commercial ripening cultures (F) or produced with an old-young smearing process (M).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>TTGE revealed nine bacterial species common to both F and M consortia, but consortium F exhibited a higher diversity than consortium M, with thirteen and ten species, respectively. Population dynamics were studied after application of the consortia on fresh-produced Raclette cheeses. TTGE analyses revealed a similar sequential development of the nine species common to both consortia. Beside common cheese surface bacteria (<it>Staphylococcus equorum, Corynebacterium </it>spp., <it>Brevibacterium linens, Microbacterium gubbeenense</it>, <it>Agrococcus casei</it>), the two consortia contained marine lactic acid bacteria (<it>Alkalibacterium kapii</it>, <it>Marinilactibacillus psychrotolerans</it>) that developed early in ripening (day 14 to 20), shortly after the growth of staphylococci (day 7). A decrease of <it>Listeria </it>counts was observed on cheese surface inoculated at day 7 with 0.1-1 × 10²CFU cm^-2, when cheeses were smeared with consortium F or M. <it>Listeria </it>counts went below the detection limit of the method between day 14 and 28 and no subsequent regrowth was detected over 60 to 80 ripening days. In contrast, <it>Listeria </it>grew to high counts (10⁵CFU cm^-2) on cheeses smeared with a defined surface culture.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This work reports the first population dynamics study of complex smear ecosystems exhibiting <it>in situ </it>antilisterial activity. TTGE revealed the presence of marine lactic acid bacteria that are likely related to the strong <it>Listeria </it>inhibition, as their early development in the smear occurred simultaneously with a decrease in <it>Listeria </it>cell count.</p

Renormalization of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

The renormalization of the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) is presented. We describe symmetry identities that constitute a framework in which the MSSM is completely characterized and renormalizability can be proven. Furthermore, we discuss applications of this framework for the determination of symmetry-restoring counterterms, the gauge dependence of tan(beta) and the derivation of non-renormalization theorems.Comment: Talk given by D.S. at the RADCOR/Loops and Legs in Quantum Field Theory 2002, September 8--13, Kloster Banz, Germany. 5 pages. Layout improve

Predictors of long time survival after lung cancer surgery. A retrospective cohort study.

Background: There have been few reports regarding long time survival after lung cancer surgery. The influence of age and pulmonary function on long time survival is still not fully discovered. Some reports suggest that hospitals with a high surgical volume have better results. The aim of this study was to evaluate lung cancer surgery performed in a county hospital in terms of 30 days mortality, complications and predictors of long time survival. Methods: All patients operated with non-small cell lung cancer in the period 1993–2006 were reviewed, and 148 patients were included in the study. 30 days mortality and complications were analyzed by univariate analysis. Kaplan Meier plots were performed to display some of the univariate variables. Cox regression analysis was performed to find Hazard Ratios (HR) that predicted long time survival in univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: The overall 30 days mortality rate was 2.7%, whereas 36.3% had one or more complications after surgery. The median survival time was 3.4 years. In multivariate Cox regression analysis advanced preoperative stage predicted reduced long time survival with HR (95%CI) 1.63 (0.92, 2.89) and 4.16 (1.92, 9.05) for patients in stage IB and II-IV respectively, when compared to patients in stage IA. Age ≥ 70 years and FEV1<80% predicted reduced long time survival with HR (95%CI) 2.23 (1.41, 3.54) and 1.93 (1.14, 3.28) respectively, compared to age<70 years and FEV1 ≥ 80%. Conclusion: Thirty days mortality and complication rate showed that lung cancer surgery can be performed safely in a county hospital with experienced thoracic surgeons. Early preoperative stage, age below 70 years and normal pulmonary function predicted long time survival.publishedVersio

Venous thromboembolic events in glioblastoma patients: An epidemiological study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Venous thromboembolic events (VTEs) are a major complication in cancer patients, and therefore, also in brain cancer patients, anticoagulants are considered appropriate in the treatment of VTEs. METHODS Frequency, risk factors, and treatment of VTEs, as well as associated complications, were assessed in a population-based cohort of glioblastoma patients in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland. Correlations between clinical data and survival were retrospectively analyzed using the log-rank test and Cox regression models. RESULTS Four hundred fourteen glioblastoma patients with isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type status were identified. VTEs were documented in 65 patients (15.7%). Median time from tumor diagnosis to the occurrence of a VTE was 1.8 months, and 27 patients were diagnosed with VTEs postoperatively (within 35 days; 42.2%). History of a prior VTE was more common in patients who developed VTEs than in those who did not (p = 0.004). Bevacizumab treatment at any time during the disease course was not associated with occurrence of VTEs (p = 0.593). Most patients with VTEs (n = 61, 93.8%) were treated with therapeutic anticoagulation. Complications occurred in 14 patients (23.0%), mainly intracranial hemorrhages (n = 7, 11.5%). Overall survival did not differ between patients diagnosed with VTEs and those who had no VTE (p = 0.139). Tumor progression was the major cause of death (n = 283, 90.7%), and only three patients (1.0%) died in association with acute VTEs. CONCLUSIONS Venous thromboembolic events occurred early in the disease course, suggesting that the implementation of primary venous thromboembolism prophylaxis during first-line chemoradiotherapy could be explored in a randomized setting

Assessing the macroeconomic impact of Brexit through trade and migration channels

Este trabajo conjunto de Bundesbank, Banque de France y Banco de España analiza en detalle algunos de los numerosos canales a través de los cuales el brexit afectará a la economía del Reino Unido y a la de sus socios comerciales. En particular, se centra en los canales comercial y migratorio, haciendo una evaluación más general de los costes de la salida de la UE utilizando un modelo de gravedad. El canal comercial por sí solo puede reducir el PIB del Reino Unido un 2 % a medio plazo si el Reino Unido vuelve a las reglas de la OMC, mientras que un modelo de gravedad más general apuntaría a que el PIB del Reino Unido se reduciría casi un 6 % en comparación con el escenario de no salida. Por lo tanto, de acuerdo con nuestro análisis, el «coste de estar fuera de Europa» (como se estableció originalmente en el trabajo seminal de Cecchini en 1988) se encuentra entre el 2 % y el 6 % en términos de pérdidas del PIB real para el Reino Unido. Este impacto es en gran medida asimétrico, ya que el PIB de la zona del euro no se ve prácticamente afectado por este evento, al situarse menos de un 1 % por debajo del escenario de no salida en 2023. El estudio también pone de manifiesto cómo los resultados son sensibles a la reacción de las políticas económicas. En general, las políticas monetarias y fiscales pueden actuar para amortiguar el shock del brexitsin embargo, su efectividad depende de la fuente subyacente de la perturbaciónThis joint work by the Bundesbank, the Banque de France and the Banco de España highlights some of the numerous channels through which Brexit will affect the UK economy and its economic partners. In particular, it focuses on trade and migration channels, adding a more general assessment of exiting the EU through the use of a gravity model. The trade channel alone may cut UK GDP by 2% over the medium term if the UK reverts to WTO rules, while a more general gravity model would point to UK GDP falling by almost 6% compared to baseline. According to our analysis, the ‘cost of non-Europe’ (such as originally stated by Cecchini’s seminal work in 1988) lies therefore between 2% and 6% in terms of real GDP losses for the UK. With the shock being largely asymmetric, the EA remains relatively unscathed by the UK’s exit, with GDP less than 1% lower than baseline by 2023. The study also shows that results are sensitive to the envisaged policy response. In general, monetary and fiscal policies may act to cushion a Brexit-related shockhowever, the potency of the policy response depends on the underlying source of the shoc

A 2-year longitudinal study of neuropsychological functioning, psychosocial adjustment and rehospitalisation in schizophrenia and major depression

Neuropsychological functioning turns out to be a rate-limiting factor in psychiatry. However, little is known when comparing neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning in inpatients with schizophrenia or severe depression in their treatment pathways including add-on psychoeducation or the latter combined with cognitive behavioral therapy up to 2-year follow-up. To evaluate this question, we investigated these variables in two randomised controlled trials including 196 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia and 177 patients with major depression. Outcome measures were assessed in the hospital at pre- and posttreatment and following discharge until 2-year follow-up. We focused on neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning regarding its differences and changes over time in data of two pooled trials. There were significant time effects indicating gains in knowledge about the illness, short and medium-term memory (VLMT) and psychosocial functioning (GAF), however, the latter was the only variable showing a time x study/diagnosis interaction effect at 2-year follow-up, showing significant better outcome in depression compared to schizophrenia. Moderator analysis showed no changes in psychosocial and neuropsychological functioning in schizophrenia and in affective disorders due to age, duration of illness or sex. Looking at the rehospitalisation rates there were no significant differences between both disorders. Both groups treated with psychoeducation or a combination of psychoeducation and CBT improved in neuropsychological and psychosocial functioning as well as knowledge about the illness at 2-year follow-up, however, patients with major depression showed greater gains in psychosocial functioning compared to patients with schizophrenia. Possible implications of these findings were discussed

Increased plasma zonulin in patients with sepsis

Introduction: Zonulin is a eukaryotic protein structurally similar to Vibrio cholerae’s zonula occludens toxin. It plays an important role in the opening of small intestine tight junctions. The loss of gut wall integrity during sepsis might be pivotal and has been described in various experimental as well as human studies. Increased levels of zonulin could be demonstrated in diseases associated with increased intestinal inflammation, such as celiac disease and type 1 diabetes. We therefore investigated the role of plasma levels of zonulin in patients with sepsis as a non-invasive marker of gut wall integrity. Materials and methods: Plasma level of zonulin was measured in 25 patients with sepsis, severe sepsis or septic shock according to ACCP/SCCM criteria at the first day of diagnosed sepsis. 18 non-septic post-surgical ICU-patients and 20 healthy volunteers served as control. Plasma levels were determined by using commercially available ELISA kit. Data are given as median and interquartile range (IQR). Results: Significantly higher plasma concentration of zonulin were found in the sepsis group: 6.61 ng/mL (IQR 3.51-9.46), as compared to the to the post-surgical control group: 3.40 ng/mL (IQR 2.14-5.70) (P = 0.025), as well as to the healthy group: 3.55 ng/mL (IQR 3.14-4.14) (P = 0.008). Conclusion: We were able demonstrate elevated levels of plasma zonulin, a potential marker of intestinal permeability in septic patients. Increased zonulin may serve as an additional mechanism for the observed increased intestinal permeability during sepsis and SIRS