Poor Sleep quality and health-related quality of life impact in adolescents with and without chronic immunosuppressive conditions during COVID-19 quarantine

OBJECTIVE: To assess the possible factors that influence sleep quality in adolescents with and without chronic immunosuppressive conditions quarantined during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 305 adolescents with chronic immunocompromised conditions and 82 healthy adolescents. Online surveys were completed, which included questions on socio-demographic data and self-rated healthcare routine during COVID-19 quarantine and the following validated questionnaires: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory 4.0 (PedsQL4.0), and Pediatric Outcome Data Collection Instrument (PODCI). RESULTS: The median current age [14 (10-18) vs. 15 (10-18) years, p=0.847] and frequency of female sex (62% vs. 58%, p=0.571) were similar in adolescents with chronic conditions compared with healthy adolescents. The frequency of poor sleep quality was similar in both groups (38% vs. 48%, p=0.118). Logistic regression analysis, including both healthy adolescents and adolescents with chronic conditions (n=387), demonstrated that self-reported increase in screen time (odds ratio [OR] 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-6.8; p=0.008) and intrafamilial violence report (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.2-3.5; p=0.008) were independently associated with poor sleep quality in these adolescents. However, the PODCI global function score was associated with a lower OR for poor sleep quality (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.94-0.99; p=0.001). Further logistic regression, including only adolescents with chronic conditions (n=305), demonstrated that self-reported increase in screen time (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.4-6.8; p=0.006) and intrafamilial violence report (OR 2.0; 95% CI 1.2-3.4; p=0.011) remained independently associated with poor quality of sleep, whereas a lower PODCI global function score was associated with a lower OR for sleep quality (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Self-reported increases in screen time and intrafamilial violence report impacted sleep quality in both healthy adolescents and those with chronic conditions. Decreased health-related quality of life was observed in adolescents with poor sleep quality

Texture analysis of optical coherence tomography speckle for characterizing biological tissues in vivo

We demonstrate a method for differentiating tissue disease states using the intrinsic texture properties of speckle in optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of normal and tumor tissues obtained in vivo. This approach fits a gamma distribution function to the nonlog-compressed OCT image intensities, thus allowing differentiation of normal and tumor tissues in an ME-180 human cervical cancer mouse xenograft model. Quantitative speckle intensity distribution analysis thus shows promise for identifying tissue pathologies, with potential for early cancer detection in vivo. \ua9 2013 Optical Society of America.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

The retrogradation of concentrated wheat starch systems

The ageing of non-expanded wheat starch extrudates containing 37% and 51% water on a dry solids basis (d.s.b.) at 257C was studied using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction (XRD), proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) relaxometry and Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis (DMTA). The retrogradation rate increased with water content (,0.02 h21 at 37% water (d.s.b.) compared to ,0.06 h21 at 51%). While a good correlation was found between the DSC, XRD and NMR data, the kinetics of retrogradation measured by DMTA was delayed. The findings were interpreted in terms of the different molecular processes probed by the different techniques. In addition to the kinetics, information on the physical structure of the partially crystalline retrograded materials were obtained. DSC suggested a broad bimodal melting behaviour, which was attributed to the melting of the crystalline structure followed by the dissociation of the double helices. XRD suggested that at both water contents, the recrystallisation of amylopectin led principally to the A-polymorph. DMTA suggested a significant interaction between the amorphous and crystalline phases, with a requirement of a minimum relative crystallinity index of ,0.8 (e.g. ,80% of the crystallinity index of the fully retrograded material), before any increase in the elastic modulus (at 257C) was measured

Fitting of the beat pattern observed in NMR free-induction decay signals of concentrated carbohydrate-water solutions

A series of mathematical functions has been used to fit the proton free-induction decays (FIDs) of concentrated carbohydrate-water samples. For the solid protons, these functions included a sine function, as well as the Fourier transforms of single and multiple Pake functions multiplied by a Gaussian broadening. The NMR signal from the mobile protons is described by an exponential function. It is found that in most cases the sine function gives a satisfactory result and provides valuable information about the second moment M-2 and the ratio of solid to mobile protons (f(s)/f(m)). A good indication for using the sine function is the presence of a beat in the FID. For high temperatures this approach breaks down, and a biexponential fit is more appropriate. If a clear dipolar splitting is observable in the NMR spectra, the Pake function (or a multiple Pake fit) should be used. In this case information about M-2 and f(s)/f(m) can also be obtained. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Chapter 10 : Water Activity in Foods

International audienceThis chapter focuses on the role of water in the physical stability of foods with an emphasis on texture stability of foods with an emphasis on texture (i.e. crispness, softness, stickiness) and structure characteristics (i.e. crystallization, caking, collapse, etc.) of the products. The efficiency of water as a plasticizer is based on water's affinity for other molecules and its ability to form a homogeneous mix without phase separation. The consequence of water plasticization on the material's mechanical properties has often been compared with the plasticization resulting from a temperature increase. Because the physical stability may affect several time‐scales, an optimal control of the humidity will be required during processing, handling, transportation, storage, and consumption. When the effects of water cannot be overcome by the product's composition, technological solutions may lay in the design of moisture barriers or by a strict control of the temperature