Effect of adding pelvic floor muscle training to weight loss intervention on urinary incontinence in overweight women: A randomized controlled trial

ObjectiveOur objective was to study the effect of the association of weight loss intervention and pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on unirary incontinence (UI) in obese women.MethodsThis prospective study included 107 obese women with urinary incontinence (UI) randomized into three groups: G1 including women who underwent a training program with a low calorie diet, G2 women who underwent the same training associated to a PFMT and G3 women without any therapeutic intervention. An evaluation was realised a week before the beginning and after 12 months.ResultsA reduction of the BMI (body mass index) was noted in G1 and G2 (P<0.001). Sixty-six percent of women in G1 and 85.3% of women in G2 reported that their condition improved. The score of PFM strength was significantly improved only in G2 (P<0.001). Only in the two first group, we noted a significant reduction in the number of voiding and of leakages per day (P<0.001), a significant amelioration in the 24-hour pad test (P<0.001) and a significant improvement of the Urinary Disability Measure (UHM) and the score of quality of life (P<0.001). The improvement of all these parameters was more important in G2 (P<0.001).DiscussionThere are studies that report the effect of either weight loss intervention or PFMT for treating female UI [1,2]. However, there is no study that reveals whether or not there were additional effects of adding weight loss intervention to PFMT for UI in obese women. This work shows that the best management for UI in obese women must include weight loss intervention and PFMT with making women aware of their floor pelvic muscles. However, the limited nature of follow-up beyond the end of treatment means that the long-term outcomes of use of PFMT or weight loss intervention remain uncertain

The one-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid: catena-poly[bis­[1-(3-ammonio­prop­yl)-1H-imidazolium] [[iodidoplumbate(II)]-tri-μ-iodido-plumbate(II)-tri-μ-iodido-[iodidoplumbate(II)]-di-μ-iodido]]

The organic–inorganic hybrid, {(C6H13N3)2[Pb3I10]}n, was obtained by the reaction of 1-(3-ammonio­prop­yl)imidazolium triiodide and PbI2 at room temperature. The structure contains one-dimensional {[Pb3I10]4−}n polymeric anions spreading parallel to [001], resulting from face–face–edge association of PbI6 distorted octa­hedra. One of the PbII cations is imposed at an inversion centre, whereas the second occupies a general position. N—H⋯I hydrogen bonds connect the organic cations and inorganic anions

Mutations in SPG11, encoding spatacsin, are a major cause of spastic paraplegia with thin corpus callosum.

Autosomal recessive hereditary spastic paraplegia (ARHSP) with thin corpus callosum (TCC) is a common and clinically distinct form of familial spastic paraplegia that is linked to the SPG11 locus on chromosome 15 in most affected families. We analyzed 12 ARHSP-TCC families, refined the SPG11 candidate interval and identified ten mutations in a previously unidentified gene expressed ubiquitously in the nervous system but most prominently in the cerebellum, cerebral cortex, hippocampus and pineal gland. The mutations were either nonsense or insertions and deletions leading to a frameshift, suggesting a loss-of-function mechanism. The identification of the function of the gene will provide insight into the mechanisms leading to the degeneration of the corticospinal tract and other brain structures in this frequent form of ARHSP

Inhibition of Fungi and Gram-Negative Bacteria by Bacteriocin BacTN635 Produced by Lactobacillus plantarum sp. TN635

The aim of this study was to evaluate 54 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains isolated from meat, fermented vegetables and dairy products for their capacity to produce antimicrobial activities against several bacteria and fungi. The strain designed TN635 has been selected for advanced studies. The supernatant culture of this strain inhibits the growth of all tested pathogenic including the four Gram-negative bacteria (Salmonella enterica ATCC43972, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 49189, Hafnia sp. and Serratia sp.) and the pathogenic fungus Candida tropicalis R2 CIP203. Based on the nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene of the strain TN635 (1,540 pb accession no FN252881) and the phylogenetic analysis, we propose the assignment of our new isolate bacterium as Lactobacillus plantarum sp. TN635 strain. Its antimicrobial compound was determined as a proteinaceous substance, stable to heat and to treatment with surfactants and organic solvents. Highest antimicrobial activity was found between pH 3 and 11 with an optimum at pH = 7. The BacTN635 was purified to homogeneity by a four-step protocol involving ammonium sulfate precipitation, centrifugal microconcentrators with a 10-kDa membrane cutoff, gel filtration Sephadex G-25, and C18 reverse-phase HPLC. SDS-PAGE analysis of the purified BacTN635, revealed a single band with an estimated molecular mass of approximately 4 kDa. The maximum bacteriocin production (5,000 AU/ml) was recorded after a 16-h incubation in Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) medium at 30 °C. The mode of action of the partial purified BacTN635 was identified as bactericidal against Listeria ivanovii BUG 496 and as fungistatic against C. tropicalis R2 CIP203

Radiographic knee osteoarthritis in ex-elite table tennis players

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Table tennis involves adoption of the semi-flexed knee and asymmetrical torsional trunk movements creating rotational torques on the knee joint which may predispose players to osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. This study aims to compare radiographic signs of knee OA and associated functional levels in ex-elite male table tennis players and control subjects.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Study participants were 22 ex-elite male table tennis players (mean age 56.64 ± 5.17 years) with 10 years of involvement at the professional level and 22 non-athletic males (mean age 55.63 ± 4.08 years) recruited from the general population. A set of three radiographs taken from each knee were evaluated by an experienced radiologist using the Kellgren and Lawrence (KL) scale (0-4) to determine radiographic levels of OA severity. The intercondylar distance was taken as a measure of lower limb angulation. Participants also completed the pain, stiffness, and physical function categories of the Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) 3.1 questionnaire.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results showed 78.3% of the ex-elite table tennis players and 36.3% of controls had varying signs of radiographic knee OA with a significant difference in the prevalence levels of definite radiographic OA (KL scale > 2) found between the two groups (<it>P </it>≤ 0.001). Based on the WOMAC scores, 68.2% of the ex-elite table tennis players reported symptoms of knee pain compared with 27.3% of the controls (<it>p </it>= 0.02) though no significant differences were identified in the mean physical function or stiffness scores between the two groups. In terms of knee alignment, 73.7% of the ex-elite athletes and 32% of the control group had signs of altered lower limb alignment (genu varum) (<it>p </it>= 0.01). Statistical differences were found in subjects categorized as having radiographic signs of OA and altered lower limb alignment (<it>p </it>= 0.03).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Ex-elite table tennis players were found to have increased levels of radiological signs of OA in the knee joint though this did not transpire through to altered levels of physical disability or knee stiffness in these players when compared with subjects from the general population suggesting that function in these players is not severely impacted upon.</p