209 research outputs found
Body, brain, life for cognitive decline (BBL-CD): Protocol for a multidomain dementia risk reduction randomized controlled trial for subjective cognitive decline and mild cognitive impairment
This is the final version. Available from Dove Medical Press via the DOI in this record. Background: With no cure for dementia and the number of people living with the condition predicted to rapidly rise, there is an urgent need for dementia risk reduction and prevention interventions. Modifiable lifestyle risk factors have been identified as playing a major role in the development of dementia; hence, interventions addressing these risk factors represent a significant opportunity to reduce the number of people developing dementia. Relatively few interventions have been trialed in older participants with cognitive decline (secondary prevention). Objectives: This study evaluates the efficacy and feasibility of a multidomain lifestyle risk reduction intervention for people with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods: This study is an 8-week, two-arm, single-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a lifestyle modification program to reduce dementia risk. The active control group receives the following four online educational modules: dementia literacy and lifestyle risk, Mediterranean diet (MeDi), cognitive engagement and physical activity. The intervention group also completes the same educational modules but receives additional practical components including sessions with a dietitian, online brain training and sessions with an exercise physiologist to assist with lifestyle modification. Results: Primary outcome measures are cognition (The Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive-Plus [ADAS-Cog-Plus]) and a composite lifestyle risk factor score for Alzheimer’s disease (Australian National University – Alzheimer’s Disease Risk Index [ANU-ADRI]). Secondary outcome measures are motivation to change lifestyle (Motivation to Change Lifestyle and Health Behaviour for Dementia Risk Reduction [MCLHB-DRR]) and health-related quality of life (36-item Short Form Health Survey [SF-36]). Feasibility will be determined through adherence to diet (Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener [MEDAS] and Australian Recommended Food Score [ARFS]), cognitive engagement (BrainHQ-derived statistics) and physical activity interventions (physical activity calendars). Outcomes are measured at baseline, immediately post-intervention and at 3-and 6-month follow-up by researchers blind to group allocation. Discussion: If successful and feasible, secondary prevention lifestyle interventions could provide a targeted, cost-effective way to reduce the number of people with cognitive decline going on to develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias.Dementia Australia Research FoundationAustralian National UniversityDementia Collaborative Research CentreNHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Cognitive Health, the Australian National UniversityNeuroscience Research Australia, University of New South WalesRoyal Commonwealth Societ
Memòria Digital de Catalunya
Menció d'ed. a l'epígraf del f. sign. [ ]2: Iulius Ca[m]pellus Spoletinus doctissimo uiro Lucae Ripae Ferrarie[n]si litterarumq[ue] patrono optimo S.P.D.l.Peu d'impr. obtingut del colofó (f. sign. [ ]4)Signatures: [ ]4Caplletres ornade
Identification of novel variants for KAP 1.1, KAP 8.1 and KAP 13.3 in South African goats
The yield and quality of animal fibres such as mohair, cashmere and cashgora are primarily influenced by the expression of various keratin associated protein genes, such as KAP 1.1, KAP 8.1, and KAP 13.3. Recent developments in molecular genetics provide the opportunity to characterize KAP genes at a base-pair level, which can lead to improved selection and genetic progress in mohair fibre production. PCR and sequencing technology was used to identify and characterize KAP 1.1, KAP 8.1, and KAP 13.3 in 108 goats, representing the South African Angora, Boer and Angora x Boer goat populations. The three genes showed varying degrees of polymorphism with between 4 and 18 alleles identified per locus. Some discrepancies in the current gene sequence of KAP 1.1 were discovered. Nineteen novel variants were identified in total, seven for KAP 1.1, one for KAP 8.1 and eleven for KAP 13.3. Observed heterozygosity values closely matched expected heterozygosity values, with Boer goats consistently having the lowest levels of expected and observed heterozygosity (approximately 0.5) for all three of the genes. The greatest variation for each gene existed between the Angora and Boer goat breeds, with FST values of 0.28, 0.13, and 0.24 for KAP 1.1, 8.1, and 13.3 respectively. Predominant alleles differed between the various populations, indicating the need for further research into possible allelic and fibre quality associations.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/smallrumres2018-04-30hj2017Animal and Wildlife Science
A description of village chicken production systems and prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites : case studies in Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa
The majority of rural households in developing countries own village chickens that are reared
under traditional scavenging systems with few inputs and exposure to various parasitic
infestations. Understanding of the village chicken farming system and its influence on
helminth infestation is a prerequisite for optimal prevention and control strategies. This study
investigated the village chicken production system and associated gastrointestinal parasites in
87 households from Limpopo (n = 39) and KwaZulu-Natal (n = 48) provinces of South Africa.
A total of 191 village chicken faecal samples and 145 intestines were collected to determine the
prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in villages of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal provinces,
respectively. The faecal floatation analysis of samples from Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal
provinces indicated infestations by Ascaridia galli (18.77%), Heterakis gallinarum (15.56%) and
Capillaria spp. (4.00%); tapeworms Choanotaenia infundibulum (2.10%) and Raillietina cesticillus
(6.00%) and Eimeria spp. (29.46%). Mixed infestations were observed in five (4.90%) samples
from Limpopo province and in only four (4.49%) from KwaZulu-Natal province, of which
1.12% were a mixture of C. infundibulum and Eimeria spp. and 3.37% a combination of
H. gallinarum and Eimeria spp. In Limpopo, 2.94% of the chickens were positive for H. gallinarum
and Eimeria spp., whilst 0.98% had A. galli and Capillaria spp. infestations. Further investigation
is needed to understand the impact of gastrointestinal parasites on village chicken health and
production and develop appropriate intervention and control strategies feasible for smallholder
farmers.This study was funded jointly by the Agricultural Research
Council-Biotechnology Platform and the National Research
Foundation under the Zambia/South Africa bilateral
Research Program. Ms Malatji received an NRF-Department
of Science and Technology Professional Development
Program research fellowship and University of Pretoria PhD
support bursary.http://www.ojvr.orgam2016Animal and Wildlife Science
Cellulose acetate phthalate, a common pharmaceutical excipient, inactivates HIV-1 and blocks the coreceptor binding site on the virus envelope glycoprotein gp120
BACKGROUND: Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP), a pharmaceutical excipient used for enteric film coating of capsules and tablets, was shown to inhibit infection by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and several herpesviruses. CAP formulations inactivated HIV-1, herpesvirus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) and the major nonviral sexually transmitted disease (STD) pathogens and were effective in animal models for vaginal infection by HSV-2 and simian immunodeficiency virus. METHODS: Enzyme-linked immunoassays and flow cytometry were used to demonstrate CAP binding to HIV-1 and to define the binding site on the virus envelope. RESULTS: 1) CAP binds to HIV-1 virus particles and to the envelope glycoprotein gp120; 2) this leads to blockade of the gp120 V3 loop and other gp120 sites resulting in diminished reactivity with HIV-1 coreceptors CXCR4 and CCR5; 3) CAP binding to HIV-1 virions impairs their infectivity; 4) these findings apply to both HIV-1 IIIB, an X4 virus, and HIV-1 BaL, an R5 virus. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide support for consideration of CAP as a topical microbicide of choice for prevention of STDs, including HIV-1 infection
Recommended from our members
Africa in the click stream: audience metrics and foreign correspondents in africa
Digital technologies have transformed the relationship between news outlets, journalists and their audiences. Notably, editors can now monitor their websites and discern the exact news preferences of their readers. Research suggests that some editors are using this data to help them produce more popular, ‘click friendly’ content. To date, research on this phenomenon has focused on journalists working within newsrooms. This article adds to the literature by exploring the relationship of foreign correspondents in Africa with their audiences, and asks whether readership metrics are influencing the journalists’ selection and development of news stories. Drawing on 67 interviews with foreign correspondents in East and West Africa, the article identifies three different approaches to audience metrics: correspondents who are 1) data-driven; 2) data informed; and 3) data denialists. The article discusses the implications of these approaches for the media image of Africa that is distributed around the globe
- …