An examination of the feasibility and impact of a mindfulness and nature based intervention For at-risk middle school students

Public schools are faced with the daunting task of both educating students and managing their behaviors exhibited at school. Unfortunately, many schools do not have prevention measures in order to decrease the amount of behavior problems and office referrals. Instead, they handle behavioral issues as they arise in a reactive manner and many times use detention and suspension as consequences. Thus, students miss academic and instructional time and often do not decrease the behaviors. A majority of students who are suspended will be suspended again in the future (Losen & Martinez, 2013). Another issue facing students is a dismal lack of time outdoors per day. Middle school and high school students often do not have a recess period and with the increase of technology and use of electronic devices, many students are not spending time outdoors after school hours either. This has led to a phenomenon coined by Richard Louv as ‘Nature-Deficit Disorder’ (2004). The current study used a blended mindfulness and nature intervention to increase students’ time outdoors and to prevent common behavioral problems. Students with a high number of office referrals were chosen from a middle school in Chesterfield County, Virginia. They participated in eight sessions using the research-based MindUp curriculum with a nature walk at the end of each session incorporating certain aspects of mindfulness. A teacher report checklist measured students’ classroom behaviors and individual office referrals were monitored. Students were interviewed at the conclusion of the intervention to assess the acceptability and feasibility on this prevention program. A case study analysis was used to evaluate the data. While most students did report an impact and there were teacher reports of positive change in most of the participants, the results of the teacher rating scale were mixed, showing some improvements in areas and declines in other areas. Additionally, two participants received behavior referrals over the course of the intervention and the other two did not. The mindfulness and nature intervention was feasible and appears to be a promising prevention program that schools might consider incorporating into tiers of support

Effects of salt stress on wild type and vte4 mutant Arabidopsis thaliana: Model plant to engineer tolerance towards salinity

One of the major environmental constraints impairing plant distribution and yield is believed to be salt stress. Additionally, engineered abiotic stress resistance or/and tolerance is considered as an indispensable target in order to enhance plant productivity. In this study, the effects of salinity on physiological and morphological of wild type (Columbia-0) and vte4 mutant Arabidopsis thaliana were investigated under different NaCl concentrations. These salt treatments, including control condition, 50mM and 100mM NaCl were imposed on the plants. Each salt treatment was replicated three times in a complete randomized design with factorial arrangement. Wild type and mutant A.thaliana plants were subjected to the abiotic stress (salinity) for up to 11 days to evaluate the parameters of growth, development and water relations. As a result, the performance of wild type plants was stronger than vte4 mutant under different salt treatments. Under control condition, rosette dry weight, maximum quantum efficiency (PSII) and specific leaf area obtained the highest values of 13.85 mg, considered, wild type A.thaliana recorded higher value of 0.82 gW/gFW for relative water content (RWC) under 50mM NaCl whereas mutant plants gained the value of 0.78 gW/gFW under the same condition. However, root mass fraction indicated an increase for both wild type and vte4 mutant plants after 11 days of salt stress onset. The reduction of water potential was observed for wild type and mutant A.thaliana where it scored -1.3 MPa and -1.4, respectively. As a conclusion, these findings implied that under different salt treatments morphological and physiological responses of wild type and vte4 mutant were affected in which wild type plants showed more tolerance. Lack of γ-tocopherol methyltransferase (γ -TMT) gene in vte4 seemed to impair defence mechanism of this mutant against salinity

Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on the Life Expectancy, Resilience and Death Anxiety in Women with Cancer

Introduction: An annual record of 90,000 new cases of cancer in Iran and a mortality rate of 55,000 affected cases is indicative of alarming outbreak of cancer in the country to the extent that an average of 100 people die each day due to this disease. The purpose of the present research is to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) on the life expectancy, resilience and death anxiety in women with cancer.Methods: The present research is a semi-experimental research with pretest-posttest control group design. The research population consisted of all women with cancer who referred to the Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital in Tehran in 2017. Thirty women who met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into two groups: experimental and control. Life expectancy, resilience and death anxiety scales were used and multivariate covariance analysis was applied for data analysis.Results: The results showed that life expectancy increased in the experimental group in compare with the control group (p<0.05) and the death anxiety of the experimental group decreased in compare to the control group (p<0.05) after acceptance and commitment training.Conclusion: Acceptance and commitment therapy is effective in increasing the life expectancy and resilience and also in decreasing death Anxiety in women patient with cancer. These findings can be used in designing of psychological treatment interventions in the field of cancer.Declaration of Interest: Non

In-vivo and in-vitro study of mechanism of action of 4 hydroxyisoleucine as an amino acid derived from fenugreek seed with anti-diabetic and properties

Diabetes is a progressive multi-factorial metabolic syndrome with serious short and long term complications affecting many of organs with high increasing prevalence in the world. Using herbs and their derivatives for treating diabetes has a long history in many traditional cultures across the world. Molecules and compounds were isolated from herbs are the basis of many therapeutics which we are using in medicine for treating a variety of health conditions. The seeds of fenugreek, Trigonella foenum graecum, commonly used as a spice in Middle Eastern countries and widely used in South Asia and Europe, are known to have anti-diabetic properties. In 1979, Hardman identified an unusual amino acid (2S, 3R, 4S) 4-hydroxyisoleucine (4HO-Ile) in a fenugreek seed extract as an active compound in fenugreek seed. It was so far found only in fenugreek seed, which is responsible for its anti-diabetic properties. Studies on 4-hydroxyisoleucine effects on type 2 diabetes and insulin resistant animal models revealed that it has anti-diabetic properties of enhancing insulin secretion under hyperglycaemic conditions, and increasing insulin sensitivity. Unfortunately, the available published researches for 4-hydroxyisoleucine are limited and its mechanism of actions is not clear. Here we describe for the first time the anti-diabetic activity of 4-hydroxyisoleucine in a model of type 1 diabetes as all the previous works focused on 4-hydroxyisoleucine activity in type 2 diabetes and insulin resistant condition. Treatment of streptozotocin-treated type 1 diabetes rats, where levels of insulin are much reduced, by 65%, compared to normal animals, with daily doses of 4-hydroxyisoleucine at 50 mg/kg/day for four weeks could reduce plasma glucose in the diabetic group. Moreover the high levels of lipids (cholesterol, HDL, III LDL and triglyceride) and uric acid in the diabetic rats, could be restored to levels found in non-diabetic controls by the treatment with 4-hydroxyisoleucine. These results demonstrate that 4-hydroxyisoleucine has significant anti-diabetic activities in type 1 diabetes as well as previously studied type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance model that are independent of insulin. The findings suggest the potential of 4HO-Ile as an adjunct to diabetes treatment and for type 1 as well as type 2 diabetes. To investigate the insulin-independent effects of 4-hydroxyisoleucine further, the cell based experiments were designed to assess the effect of 4-hydroxyisoleucine on cellular glucose uptake and ATP content after one day incubation. Isoleucine was added to the experiment as a positive control because firstly it has some level of anti-diabetic properties according to previously published studies and secondly it has similar molecular backbone as 4-hydroxyisoleucine. BRIN-BD 11, a functional and glucose responsive pancreatic beta cell, was selected as a cell model which is not insulin-responsive and dependent on the insulin signalling pathway for glucose uptake. Use of the model provides the opportunity to study the mechanisms of action of both 4-hydroxyisoleucine and isoleucine independently. We adopted a unique approach using inhibitors to target suggested pathway and molecules within the cell which may be involved in both 4-hydroxyisoleucine and isoleucine mechanism of actions. The results revealed that 4- hydroxyisoleucine and isoleucine could increase glucose uptake in BRIN-BD 11 cells, but as previously suggested, 4-hydroxyisoleucine activity is in direct correlation with glucose concentration. 4-hydroxyisoleucine has higher activity in higher concentrations of glucose. 4-hydroxyisoleucine increased the glucose uptake much greater than isoleucine at 11mM and 22mM concentration of glucose in IV cell culture medium. Endpoint measurements of ATP content of the BRIN-BD11 cells did not show any significant changes between 4-hydroxyisoleucine and isoleucine groups and control as well as an insulin level measurement in culture medium after 24 hours. The results showed that there are substantial differences between isoleucine and 4-hydroxyisoleucine mechanisms of action unlike their similar glucose uptake stimulatory effect which is greater in 4-hydroxyisoleucine. 4-hydroxyisoleucine activity strongly dependent on new protein synthesis and GLUT 1 activity. GLUT 1 is widely available in most of the cells and it controls the basal glucose uptake independent of insulin. The connection between GLUT 1 and 4-hydroxyisoleucine effect in cellular level, supports the idea that 4-hydroxyisoleucine utilises the glucose basal consumption and uptake of cells. Mitochondrial calcium channel signalling inhibition affects 4-hydroxyisoleucine and isoleucine functionality as well as inhibition of mitochondria pyruvate carrier. Real time monitoring of cell metabolism by Seahorse XF-24 autoanalyser after 24 hours incubation with 4-hydroxyisoleucine and isoleucine revealed that both 4-hydroxyisoleucine and isoleucine activities are strongly dependent on mitochondrial respiration but 4-hydroxyisoleucine significantly up-regulates glycolysis which is not affected by isoleucine. The connection between mitochondria calcium signalling and contradictory behaviour of 4-hydroxyisoleucine and isoleucine support the very important role of mitochondria in their mechanisms of action

Not as bad as you think: a comparison of the nutrient content of best price and brand name food products in Switzerland.

Several studies have shown that low-cost foods have an equivalent nutrient composition compared to high-cost foods, but such information is lacking in Switzerland. Thus, we compared the caloric and nutrient content of "best price" (BPF) and brand name foods (BNF) in Switzerland using the version 5.0 (April 2015) of the Swiss Food and Nutrient composition database. Over 4000 processed food items were included and 26 food categories were compared regarding total energy, protein, fat and carbohydrates, saturated fatty acids, sugar, fiber and sodium. BPF, namely core food categories like Bread, Red meat, White meat and Fish products, were 42%, 39%, 42% and 46% less expensive than their BNF equivalents, respectively. No differences were found between BPF and BNF regarding total energy and protein, fat and carbohydrates for most food categories. In the Cheese category, BPF had a lower caloric content than BNF [Median (interquartile range, IQR): 307 (249-355) vs. 365 (308-395) kcal/100 g, respectively, p < 0.001]; BPF also had lower fat and saturated fatty acid content but higher carbohydrate content than BNF (both p < 0.01). In the Creams and puddings group, BPF had lower fat 1.3 (0.9-1.7) vs. 6.0 (3.5-11.0) g/100 g and saturated fatty acid 0.6 (0.6-0.8) vs. 2.9 (2.3-6.0) g/100 g content than BNF (both p < 0.005). In the Tinned fruits and vegetables group, BPF had lower sodium content than BNF: 175 (0-330) vs. 370 (150-600) mg/100 g, p = 0.006. BPF might be a reasonable and eventually healthier alternative of BNF for economically deprived people in Switzerland

Impact of nutritional risk screening in hospitalized patients on management, outcome and costs: A retrospective study.

Hospitalized patients should be screened for nutritional risk and adequately managed. Being nutritionally 'at-risk' increases in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS) and costs, but the impact on actual costs has seldom been assessed. We aimed to determine nutritional risk screening and management in a Swiss university hospital. The impact of being nutritionally 'at-risk' on in-hospital mortality, LOS and costs was also assessed. Retrospective analysis of administrative data for years 2013 and 2014 from the department of internal medicine of the Lausanne university hospital (8541 hospitalizations, mean age 72.8 ± 16.5 years, 50.4% women). Being nutritionally 'at-risk' was defined as a Nutritional risk screening-2002 score ≥ 3 and nutritional managements were collected from medical records. Screening increased from 16.5% in 2013 to 41.9% in 2014 (p < 0.001), while prevalence of 'at-risk' patients remained stable (64.6% in 2013 and 62.7% in 2014, p = 0.37). Prevalence of 'at-risk' patients was highest in patients with cancer (85.3% in 2013 and 70.2% in 2014) and lowest in patients with disease of skin (42% in 2013 and 44.8% in 2014). Less than half of patients 'at-risk' received any nutritional management, and this value decreased between 2013 and 2014 (46.9% vs. 40.3%, p < 0.05). After multivariate adjustment, 'at-risk' patients had a 3.7-fold (95% confidence interval: 1.91; 7.03) higher in-hospital mortality and higher costs (excess 5642.25 ± 1479.80 CHF in 2013 and 5529.52 ± 847.02 CHF in 2014, p < 0.001) than 'not at-risk' patients, while no difference was found for LOS. Despite an improvement in screening, management of nutritionally 'at-risk' patients is not totally covered yet. Being nutritionally 'at-risk' affects three in every five patients and is associated with increased mortality and hospitalization costs

Comparison of the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy andCompassion-Focused Therapy on Quality of Life and Health-Promoting Behaviors of Mothers with Gestational Diabetes

Introduction:Gestational diabetes is the most common metabolic complication of pregnancy, affecting 10%-15% of all pregnancies, depending on diagnostic criteria. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitmenttherapy and compassion-focused therapy on the quality of life and health-promoting behaviors of mothers with gestational diabetes.Method:The research method was a quasi-experimental study with pre-test, post-test, and follow-up. The statistical population of this study was all pregnant women referred to Milad Hospital in Tehran in 2019.45participantswere randomly selected and placed in three groups of acceptance and commitment therapy, compassion-focused therapy, and control group.The follow-up phase was performed on all three groups three months after the post-test. The research tools included the World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale and the Walker Health-Promoting Lifestyle Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate covariance analysis by spss.22. Result:The results showed that acceptance and commitment therapy and compassion-focused therapy had a significant effect on improving the quality of life and health-promoting behaviors in women with gestational diabetes (P<0.001).Conclusion:It can be concluded that acceptance and commitment therapy has a greater impact on the quality of life and health-promoting behaviors of women with gestational diabetes than compassion-focused therapy. It encourages individuals to communicate their experiences fully and without resistance as they move towardstheir worthy goals and to accept them without judgment. Declaration of Interest: Non

Comparison of the Effectiveness of Emotion-focused Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Health locus of Control of Patients with Coronary Heart Patients

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the most important cause of mortality in the world. Inaddition to physical problems, they are also influenced by psychological factors and psychologicaltherapies along with biological therapy can help to improve these patients. The purpose of this studywas to compare the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and emotionfocused therapy (EFT) on Health locus of control of coronary heart patients.Method: This was a quasi-experimental study with pretest-posttest design with control group. Thestatistical population of the study included patients with coronary heart disease in the city of Karaj.Patients were 30 to 60 years old who referred to Shahid Rajaee Hospital in Karaj. Samples wereselected using convenient sampling method and were assigned randomly into two experimental andone control group. Data were collected using health locus of control questionnaire. Data wereanalyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance.Results: outcomes showed that ACT and EFT are effective on adjusting the Health locus of controlin patients with coronary heart disease, and there was a significant difference between theexperimental and control group (F = 7.25, p <0.05).But there was no difference between theefficacy of the two treatments.Conclusion: Psychological therapies such as ACT and EFT increase self-care in cardiac patients byincreasing control and increasing sense of responsibility