492 research outputs found

    Disentangling Associations Between Frequency of Specific Social Networking Site Platform Use, Normative Discrepancies, and Alcohol Use Among Adolescents and Underage Young Adults

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    Although there is a robust literature examining normative discrepancies for drinking, less is known related to normative discrepancies related to alcohol-posting behavior on social networking sites (SNS). Given that SNS are posited to be an important risk factor for adolescent and young adult alcohol use, the aims of the present study were to: (1) document descriptive and injunctive normative discrepancies for number of alcohol-related posts on SNS, (2) examine associations between frequency of using SNS platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) and descriptive and injunctive normative discrepancies, and (3) to examine whether descriptive and injunctive normative discrepancies are associated with willingness to use alcohol and drinking among adolescents and young adults. Data were drawn from the baseline assessment of a larger longitudinal experimental study (N= 306, age 15-20). Overall, participants perceived that their peers are more approving of and post about alcohol use more often than they do themselves, thus indicating significant descriptive and injunctive normative discrepancies. More frequent use of Facebook was associated with having greater descriptive normative discrepancies, whereas frequency of both Facebook and Instagram use were associated with greater injunctive normative discrepancies. Results further indicated that controlling for frequency of SNS use, descriptive normative discrepancies, but not injunctive, were associated with greater willingness to drink and drinks per week. Results provide evidence that in particular, descriptive normative discrepancies for SNS use may be important to target when planning intervention programs to reduce the impact of SNS use on adolescent and young adult alcohol use

    The Membership and Distance of the Open Cluster Collinder 419

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    The young open cluster Collinder 419 surrounds the massive O star, HD 193322, that is itself a remarkable multiple star system containing at least four components. Here we present a discussion of the cluster distance based upon new spectral classifications of the brighter members, UBV photometry, and an analysis of astrometric and photometric data from the UCAC3 and 2MASS catalogs. We determine an average cluster reddening of E(B-V)=0.37 +- 0.05 mag and a cluster distance of 741 +- 36 pc. The cluster probably contains some very young stars that may include a reddened M3 III star, IRAS~20161+4035

    Synthetic Strategies and Biological Activities of 1,5-Disubstituted Pyrazoles and 2,5-Disubstituted Thiazoles

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    Pyrazoles and thiazoles belong to 5-membered aromatic heterocycles called azoles. In addition to a nitrogen, pyrazoles contain an additional nitrogen in a 1,2 linkage and thiazoles contain a sulfur atom in a 1,3 linkage. These compounds are useful pharmacophores that offer a broad range of therapeutic applications. Pyrazoles can be synthesized by (i) the condensation of 1,3 dipolar compounds and alkenes/alkynes, (b) cyclocondensation of hydrazines and dicarbonyl reagents, and (c) multi-component reactions. Access to thiazoles is typically via (a) the condensation of α-haloketones with nucleophilic thioamides containing the N-C-S fragment, (b) a reaction between α-aminonitriles and various reactants containing an X-C-S fragment, and (c) a reaction of acylaminocarbonyls and phosphorus pentasulfide. This chapter will focus on the strategies and our perspectives on the synthesis of pyrazoles and thiazoles including derivatives at the 1,5 positions and 2, 4, 5 positions respectively, reported during 2015–2022. Additionally, their therapeutic and biological evaluations will be discussed

    Synchronizing Cardiac Cycle Phase with Foot Strike to Optimize Cardiac Performance in Patients with Chronic Systolic Heart Failure and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

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    Despite advances in medical and Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), patients with chronic systolic heart failure (HF) have persistent symptoms including dyspnea on exertion and exercise intolerance. Novel strategies to improve exercise performance in these patients, such as optimizing cardio-locomotor coupling, could be particularly beneficial to improve functional capacity. For example, runners display a lower heart rate and higher oxygen pulse, suggestive of a higher stroke volume (SV), when foot strike occurs in diastole. Whether patients with HF undergoing CRT can similarly increase SV is unknown. PURPOSE: To compare the effects of diastolic versus systolic foot strike timing on exercise hemodynamics in patients with HF and CRT. METHODS: Ten patients (Age: 58 ± 17 years, 40% Female) with HF and previously implanted CRT pacemakers completed repeated 5-minute bouts of walking on a treadmill at a fixed but individualized speed (range: 1.5-3mph). Participants were randomized to walking to an auditory tone to synchronize their foot strike to either the systolic (ECG R-wave; 0 or 100%±15% or R-R interval) or diastolic phase (45±15% of the R-R interval) of their cardiac cycle. Participants were included if ≄50% of their steps were valid (i.e. in time). Patients wore a chest strap with an attached ECG sensor and accelerometer (CounterpaceR). Foot strike timing and associated valid step counts were assessed via CounterpaceR or post-hoc analysis of foot strike waveforms. Cardiopulmonary parameters were measured breath by breath via indirect calorimetry and cardiac output was measured via acetylene rebreathing, with SV calculated as the quotient of cardiac output and heart rate. RESULTS: There was no difference in oxygen uptake between conditions (1.02 ± 0.44 vs. 1.04 ± 0.44 L/min, P=0.298). When compared to systolic walking, stepping in diastole was associated with higher SV (Diastolic: 80 ± 28 vs. Systolic: 74 ± 26 ml, P=0.003) and cardiac output (8.3 ± 3.5 vs. 7.9 ± 3.4 L/min, P=0.004); heart rate (paced) was not different between conditions (101 ± 15 vs. 103 ± 14 bpm, P=0.300). Mean arterial pressure was significantly lower during diastolic walking (85 ± 12 vs. 98 ± 20 mmHg, P=0.007). CONCLUSION: In patients with HF and previous CRT, synchronizing foot strike with diastole during walking increased SV and cardiac output and reduced arterial pressure. Our findings indicate that in such paced hearts, diastolic stepping increases oxygen delivery and decreases afterload, which may facilitate increased exercise capacity. Therefore, if added to pacemakers, this cardio-locomotor coupling technology may maximize CRT efficiency and increase exercise participation and quality of life in patients with HF

    (Fluoro)quinolones and quinolone resistance genes in the aquatic environment: a river catchment perspective.

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    This study provides an insight into the prevalence of (fluoro)quinolones (FQs) and their specific quinolone qnrS resistance gene in the Avon river catchment area receiving treated wastewater from 5 wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), serving 1.5 million people and accounting for 75% of inhabitants living in the catchment area in the South West of England. Ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid and norfloxacin were found to be ubiquitous with daily loads reaching a few hundred g/day in wastewater influent and tens of g/day in receiving waters. This was in contrast to other FQs analysed: flumequine, nadifloxacin, lomefloxacin, ulifloxacin, prulifloxacin, besifloxacin and moxifloxacin, which were hardly quantified. Enantiomeric profiling revealed that ofloxacin was enriched with the S-(−)-enantiomer, likely deriving from its prescription as the more potent enantiomerically pure levofloxacin, alongside racemic ofloxacin. While ofloxacin's enantiomeric fraction (EF) remained constant, high stereoselectivity was observed in the case of its metabolite ofloxacin-N-oxide. The removal efficiency of quinolones during wastewater treatment at 5 WWTPs utilising either trickling filters (TF) or activated sludge (AS), was compound and wastewater treatment process dependent, with AS providing better efficiency than TF. The qnrS resistance gene was ubiquitous in wastewater. Its removal was WWTP treatment process dependent with TF performing best and resulting in significant removal of the gene (from 28 to 75%). AS underperformed with only 9% removal in the case of activated sludge and actual increase in the gene copy number within sequencing batch reactors (SBRs). Interestingly, the data suggests that higher removal of antibiotics could be linked with high prevalence of the gene (SBR and WWTP E) and vice versa, low removal of antibiotic is correlated with lower prevalence of the gene in wastewater effluent (TF, WWTP B and D). This is especially prominent in the case of ofloxacin and could indicate that AS might be facilitating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) prevalence to higher extent than TF. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) was also applied to monitor any potential misuse (e.g. direct disposal) of FQs in the catchment. In most cases higher use of antibiotics with respect to official statistics (i.e. ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin) was observed, which suggests that FQs management practice require further attention

    Caregiver Comfort in Adolescents Independently Completing Screening Tablet-Based Questionnaires at Primary Care Visits

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    Objectives The objective of this study was to assess caregiver comfort regarding adolescent completion of computerized health screening questionnaires created for adolescents. Design We conducted a mixed method, cross-sectional survey of caregivers of adolescent patients (n=104) ages 12–18 years that had a medical visit between June and August of 2017. Topics assessed included who completed the questionnaire, caregiver comfort and concern regarding questionnaire data, and caregiver reasons for involvement in completing the questionnaire. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare age of the adolescent and caregiver involvement in the questionnaire. Results The majority of adolescents (64%) reported independent completion of the questionnaire. Thirteen percent of caregivers completed the questionnaire with no involvement of the adolescent and 23% reported that caregivers and adolescents completed the questionnaire in tandem. The majority of caregivers (84%) were comfortable with adolescents completing the questionnaire. A variety of reasons were identified for caregivers completing the questionnaire (time constraints, 22%; adolescent requested caregiver help, 19%; caregiver desired to answer questions, 14%; caregiver did not realize that the questionnaire was intended for the adolescent, 11%; caregiver believed that the adolescent was too young to respond alone, 11%. Caregiver comfort with adolescent completing the questionnaire increase with age. Conclusion We found the reason most caregivers gave for completing the questionnaires were related to clinic processes (e.g. time constraints) Caregivers were more likely to complete the questionnaire with younger adolescents. Thus, pediatricians should consider how to best prepare families for initial questionnaires in primary care

    Association of extent of cannabis use and psychotic like intoxication experiences in a multi-national sample of first episode psychosis patients and controls

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    BackgroundFirst episode psychosis (FEP) patients who use cannabis experience more frequent psychotic and euphoric intoxication experiences compared to controls. It is not clear whether this is consequent to patients being more vulnerable to the effects of cannabis use or to their heavier pattern of use. We aimed to determine whether extent of use predicted psychotic-like and euphoric intoxication experiences in patients and controls and whether this differs between groups.MethodsWe analysed data on patients who had ever used cannabis (n = 655) and controls who had ever used cannabis (n = 654) across 15 sites from six countries in the EU-GEI study (2010–2015). We used multiple regression to model predictors of cannabis-induced experiences and to determine if there was an interaction between caseness and extent of use.ResultsCaseness, frequency of cannabis use and money spent on cannabis predicted psychotic-like and euphoric experiences (p â©œ 0.001). For psychotic-like experiences (PEs) there was a significant interaction for caseness × frequency of use (p 0.5).ConclusionsFEP patients are particularly sensitive to increased psychotic-like, but not euphoric experiences, at higher levels of cannabis use compared to controls. This suggests a specific psychotomimetic response in FEP patients related to heavy cannabis use. Clinicians should enquire regarding cannabis related PEs and advise that lower levels of cannabis use are associated with less frequent PEs

    Genome-wide meta-analysis of muscle weakness identifies 15 susceptibility loci in older men and women

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    © 2021, The Author(s). Low muscle strength is an important heritable indicator of poor health linked to morbidity and mortality in older people. In a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of 256, 523 Europeans aged 60 years and over from 22 cohorts we identify 15 loci associated with muscle weakness (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People definition: n = 48,596 cases, 18.9% of total), including 12 loci not implicated in previous analyses of continuous measures of grip strength. Loci include genes reportedly involved in autoimmune disease (HLA-DQA1p = 4 × 10−17), arthritis (GDF5p = 4 × 10−13), cell cycle control and cancer protection, regulation of transcription, and others involved in the development and maintenance of the musculoskeletal system. Using Mendelian randomization we report possible overlapping causal pathways, including diabetes susceptibility, haematological parameters, and the immune system. We conclude that muscle weakness in older adults has distinct mechanisms from continuous strength, including several pathways considered to be hallmarks of ageing
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