Fatores associados à manutenção do uso da internet, estudo longitudinal EpiFloripa Idoso

OBJECTIVE: To describe the use of the internet and to identify the sociodemographic and health factors associated with changes in the use of the internet over four years in older adults participating in the Brazilian EpiFloripa Idoso study. METHODS: This is a longitudinal home-based, population-based study with 1,197 older adults who live in the urban area of Florianópolis, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. We applied a faceto-face interview. We describe the use of internet according to frequency, place, devices, and motives of the use of the internet. To identify factors associated with changes in the use of the internet, we categorized the outcome as: non-use of the internet, stopped using the internet, started using the internet, and kept using the internet. The independent variables were sex, age, family income, education level, family arrangement, marital status, presence of caregiver, paid work, and cognitive impairment screening. We used multinomial logistic regression with risk ratio (RR) estimates and their respective confidence intervals (95%CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of the use of internet increased from 22.9% in 2009–2010 to 26.6% in 2013–2014. Of the total number of older adults who participated in the study, 7.5% started using the internet, 3.2% stopped using it, 19.1% kept their use, and 70.2% kept their non-use in the analyzed period. Of the older adults who used the internet, most used it every day or almost every day of the week, in their own home, on desktop or portable computers, mainly to send and receive messages, to search for information to learn or investigate something, to find information about goods and services, and to use news, social networking, and health information websites. The factors associated with the use of internet over four years were: being male (RR = 2.19, 95%CI 1.48–3.26), higher monthly family income (RR = 3.53, 95%CI 1.35–9.23), higher education level (RR = 2.64, 95%CI 1.57–4.43), and no presence of caregiver (RR = 0.08, 95%CI 0.02–0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Although the use of the internet is increasing among older adults, most of the population is still digitally excluded, especially women with lower income and education level. Strategies that promote the digital inclusion of older adults should be stimulated, aiming to universalize the use of the internet, and they should take into account socioeconomic and gender inequalities.OBJETIVO: Descrever o uso de internet e identificar os fatores sociodemográficos e de saúde associados a mudanças no uso de internet ao longo de quatro anos em idosos participantes do estudo EpiFloripa Idoso. MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal de base populacional e domiciliar com 1.197 idosos residentes na área urbana de Florianópolis, SC. Aplicou-se entrevista face a face. A descrição do uso de internet foi realizada segundo a frequêcia, o local, os aparelhos e os motivos de uso da internet. Para identificar os fatores associados a mudanças no uso de internet, o desfecho foi categorizado em: manteve o não uso de internet; passou a não usar internet; passou a usar internet; e manteve o uso de internet. As variáveis independentes foram sexo, idade, renda familiar, escolaridade, arranjo familiar, status conjugal, presença de cuidador, trabalho remunerado e rastreamento de déficit cognitivo. Utilizou-se regressão multinomial logística com estimativas de razão risco relativo (RRR) e seus respectivos intervalos de confiança (IC95%). RESULTADOS: A prevalência de uso de internet aumentou de 22,9% em 2009–2010 para 26,6% em 2013–2014. Do total de idosos participantes do estudo, 7,5% passaram a usar internet, 3,2% deixaram de usar, 19,1% mantiveram o uso e 70,2% mantiveram o não uso no período analisado. Dos idosos que usavam internet, a maioria usava todos os dias ou quase todos os dias da semana, em sua própria casa, em computadores de mesa ou portáteis, com o principal objetivo de enviar e receber mensagens, buscar informações para aprender ou investigar alguma coisa, encontrar informações sobre bens e serviços e usar sites de notícias, de redes sociais e de informações sobre saúde. Os fatores associados à manutenção, ao longo de quatro anos, do uso da internet foram: ser do sexo masculino (RRR = 2,19; IC95% 1,48–3,26), ter maior renda salarial mensal familiar (RRR = 3,53; IC95% 1,35–9,23), ter maior escolaridade (RRR = 2,64; IC95% 1,57–4,43) e não ter cuidador (RRR = 0,08; IC95% 0,02–0,31). CONCLUSÕES: Apesar de o uso da internet estar aumentando entre os idosos, a maior parte dessa população ainda é digitalmente excluída, especialmente as mulheres de menor renda e escolaridade. Estratégias que promovam a inclusão digital de idosos devem ser estimuladas visando à universalização do uso de internet e devem levar em consideração as desigualdades socioeconômicas e de gênero

Effect of Acute Ozone Induced Airway Inflammation on Human Sympathetic Nerve Traffic: A Randomized, Placebo Controlled, Crossover Study

Background: Ozone concentrations in ambient air are related to cardiopulmonary perturbations in the aging population. Increased central sympathetic nerve activity induced by local airway inflammation may be one possible mechanism. Methodology/Principal Findings: To elucidate this issue further, we performed a randomized, double-blind, cross-over study, including 14 healthy subjects (3 females, age 22-47 years), who underwent a 3 h exposure with intermittent exercise to either ozone (250 ppb) or clean air. Induced sputum was collected 3 h after exposure. Nineteen to 22 hours after exposure, we recorded ECG, finger blood pressure, brachial blood pressure, respiration, cardiac output, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) at rest, during deep breathing, maximum-inspiratory breath hold, and a Valsalva maneuver. While the ozone exposure induced the expected airway inflammation, as indicated by a significant increase in sputum neutrophils, we did not detect a significant estimated treatment effect adjusted for period on cardiovascular measurements. Resting heart rate (clean air: 59 +/- 62, ozone 60 +/- 62 bpm), blood pressure (clean air: 121 +/- 3/71 +/- 2 mmHg; ozone: 121 +/- 2/71 +/- 2mmHg), cardiac output (clean air: 7.42 +/- 0.29 mmHg; ozone: 7.98 +/- 0.60 l/min), and plasma norepinephrine levels (clean air: 213 +/- 21 pg/ml; ozone: 202 +/- 16 pg/ml), were similar on both study days. No difference of resting MSNA was observed between ozone and air exposure (air: 2362, ozone: 2362 bursts/min). Maximum MSNA obtained at the end of apnea (air: 44 +/- 4, ozone: 48 +/- 4 bursts/min) and during the phase II of the Valsalva maneuver (air: 64 +/- 5, ozone: 57 +/- 6 bursts/min) was similar. Conclusions/Significance: Our study suggests that acute ozone-induced airway inflammation does not increase resting sympathetic nerve traffic in healthy subjects, an observation that is relevant for environmental health. However, we can not exclude that chronic airway inflammation may contribute to sympathetic activation

Programa intergeracional de estimulação cognitiva: Benefícios relatados por idosos e monitores participantes

We investigated the benefits perceived by older people and monitors participants of the intergenerational program intergenerational of maintenance, stimulation/rehabilitation cognitive, mediated by the use of computers and physical activity “Oficina da Lembrança”. We performed a descriptive qualitative research with ten elderly and six monitors participants of Oficina da Lembrança. We applied semi-structured interviews, which were interpreted by content analysis. The elderly related: learning the use of computers, improved memory, socialization, having leisure activity, weight loss, improved quality of life, health and socialization. Monitors: contact with elderly, improvement of the relationship with people and patients, preparation for different situations and acquiring more knowledge about the elderly. In conclusion, Oficina da Lembrança can provide several benefits to its practitioners and monitors, especially the intergenerationality.Investigaram-se os benefícios percebidos pelos idosos e monitores participantes do programa intergeracional de manutenção, estimulação e/ou reabilitação cognitiva, mediado pelo uso de computadores e prática de atividades físicas “Oficina da Lembrança”. Realizou-se uma pesquisa qualitativa descritiva, com dez idosos e seis monitores participantes da Oficina da Lembrança. Aplicou-se entrevista semiestruturada, interpretada pela análise de conteúdo. Os idosos relataram: aprendizagem do uso de computadores, melhora da memória, sociabilização, ter atividade de lazer, emagrecimento, melhora da qualidade de vida, saúde e sociabilização. Monitores: contato com idosos, melhora da relação com pessoas/pacientes, preparação para situações diversas e conhecimentos sobre idosos. Conclui-se que a Oficina da Lembrança pode proporcionar vários benefícios para seus praticantes e para seus monitores, principalmente a intergeracionalidade

Bidirectional transfer study of polystyrene nanoparticles across the placental barrier in an ex vivo human placental perfusion model

BACKGROUND: Nanoparticle exposure in utero might not be a major concern yet, but it could become more important with the increasing application of nanomaterials in consumer and medical products. Several epidemiologic and in vitro studies have shown that nanoparticles can have potential toxic effects. However, nanoparticles also offer the opportunity to develop new therapeutic strategies to treat specifically either the pregnant mother or the fetus. Previous studies mainly addressed whether nanoparticles are able to cross the placental barrier. However, the transport mechanisms underlying nanoparticle translocation across the placenta are still unknown. OBJECTIVES: In this study we examined which transport mechanisms underlie the placental transfer of nanoparticles. METHODS: We used the ex vivo human placental perfusion model to analyze the bidirectional transfer of plain and carboxylate modified polystyrene particles in a size range between 50 and 300 nm. RESULTS: We observed that the transport of polystyrene particles in the fetal to maternal direction was significantly higher than for the maternal to fetal direction. Regardless of their ability to cross the placental barrier and the direction of perfusion, all polystyrene particles accumulated in the syncytiotrophoblast of the placental tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that the syncytiotrophoblast is the key player in regulating nanoparticle transport across the human placenta. The main mechanism underlying this translocation is not based on passive diffusion, but is likely to involve an active, energy-dependent transport pathway. These findings will be important for reproductive toxicology as well as for pharmaceutical engineering of new drug carriers. CITATION: Grafmueller S, Manser P, Diener L, Diener PA, Maeder-Althaus X, Maurizi L, Jochum W, Krug HF, Buerki-Thurnherr T, von Mandach U, Wick P. 2015. Bidirectional transfer study of polystyrene nanoparticles across the placental barrier in an ex vivo human placental perfusion model. Environ Health Perspect 123:1280-1286; http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1409271

The impact of an interprofessional training ward on the development of interprofessional competencies: study protocol of a longitudinal mixed-methods study

Background: To meet the patients’ needs and to provide adequate health care, students need to be prepared for interprofessional collaborative practice during their undergraduate education. On interprofessional training wards (IPTW) undergraduates of various health care professions potentially develop a mutual understanding and improve their interprofessional competencies in clinical practice. To enhance collaboration of 6th-year medical students and nursing trainees in the third year of their vocational training an IPTW (Heidelberger Interprofessionelle Ausbildungsstation – HIPSTA) was implemented at the University Hospital Heidelberg, Germany. On HIPSTA future physicians and nurses take care of the patients self responsibly and in close interprofessional collaboration, supervised by facilitators of both professions. Although there are positive experiences with IPTWs internationally, little is known about the impact of IPTW on the acquisition of interprofessional competencies. For future interprofessional training and implementation of IPTWs evaluation of interprofessional learning and collaborative practice on Germany’s first IPTW is of high relevance. Methods: To evaluate the acquisition of interprofessional competencies the study follows a mixed-methods approach. Quantitative data is collected from undergraduate participants, staff participants and facilitators on HIPSTA (intervention group) and undergraduate participants and staff participants on a comparable ‘conventional’ ward without special interprofessional training (comparison group) immediately pre and post HIPSTA and, as follow-up, after three to six months (T0, T1, T2), using three questionnaires, namely the University of the West of England Interprofessional Questionnaire (UWE-IP), the Interprofessional Socialization and Valuing Scale (ISVS) and the Assessment of Interprofessional Team Collaboration Scale (AITCS). Qualitative data is gathered in form of interviews and focus groups based on semi structured guidelines, video recordings of handovers and overt non-participant observations of daily rounds. Quantitative data will be analysed in a longitudinal comparison, presented descriptively and tested with an analysis of variance. Qualitative data will be analysed deductively and inductively. Discussion: The results of the evaluation will give insight in undergraduates’, staff’s and facilitators’ experiences and their self-perception of competency development. In addition the results will help identify benefits, challenges and areas for modification when implementing and establishing similar interprofessional training wards

Interleukin-7 Links T Lymphocyte and Intestinal Epithelial Cell Homeostasis

Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a major survival factor for mature T cells. Therefore, the degree of IL-7 availability determines the size of the peripheral T cell pool and regulates T cell homeostasis. Here we provide evidence that IL-7 also regulates the homeostasis of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC), colon function and the composition of the commensal microflora. In the colon of T cell-deficient, lymphopenic mice, IL-7-producing IEC accumulate. IEC hyperplasia can be blocked by IL-7-consuming T cells or the inactivation of the IL-7/IL-7R signaling pathway. However, the blockade of the IL-7/IL-7R signaling pathway renders T cell-deficient mice more sensitive to chemically-induced IEC damage and subsequent colitis. In summary, our data demonstrate that IL-7 promotes IEC hyperplasia under lymphopenic conditions. Under non-lymphopenic conditions, however, T cells consume IL-7 thereby limiting IEC expansion and survival. Hence, the degree of IL-7 availability regulates both, T cell and IEC homeostasis

Large-scale genome-wide association studies and meta-analyses of longitudinal change in adult lung function.

BACKGROUND: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous loci influencing cross-sectional lung function, but less is known about genes influencing longitudinal change in lung function. METHODS: We performed GWAS of the rate of change in forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1) in 14 longitudinal, population-based cohort studies comprising 27,249 adults of European ancestry using linear mixed effects model and combined cohort-specific results using fixed effect meta-analysis to identify novel genetic loci associated with longitudinal change in lung function. Gene expression analyses were subsequently performed for identified genetic loci. As a secondary aim, we estimated the mean rate of decline in FEV1 by smoking pattern, irrespective of genotypes, across these 14 studies using meta-analysis. RESULTS: The overall meta-analysis produced suggestive evidence for association at the novel IL16/STARD5/TMC3 locus on chromosome 15 (P  =  5.71 × 10(-7)). In addition, meta-analysis using the five cohorts with ≥3 FEV1 measurements per participant identified the novel ME3 locus on chromosome 11 (P  =  2.18 × 10(-8)) at genome-wide significance. Neither locus was associated with FEV1 decline in two additional cohort studies. We confirmed gene expression of IL16, STARD5, and ME3 in multiple lung tissues. Publicly available microarray data confirmed differential expression of all three genes in lung samples from COPD patients compared with controls. Irrespective of genotypes, the combined estimate for FEV1 decline was 26.9, 29.2 and 35.7 mL/year in never, former, and persistent smokers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: In this large-scale GWAS, we identified two novel genetic loci in association with the rate of change in FEV1 that harbor candidate genes with biologically plausible functional links to lung function