High pressure as a novel tool for the cationic ROP of γ-butyrolactone

In this study, we report the acid-catalyzed and high pressure assisted ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of g-butyrolactone (GBL). The use of a dually-catalyzed approach combining an external physical factor and internal catalyst (trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TfOH) or p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA)) enforced ROP of GBL, which is considered as hardly polymerizable monomer still remaining a challenge for the modern polymer chemistry. The experiments performed at various thermodynamic conditions (T ¼ 278–323 K and p ¼ 700–1500 MPa) clearly showed that the high pressure supported polymerization process led to obtaining well-defined macromolecules of better parameters (Mn ¼ 2200–9700 g mol 1; Đ ¼ 1.05–1.46) than those previously reported. Furthermore, the parabolic-like dependence of both the molecular weight (MW) and the yield of obtained polymers on variation in temperature and pressure at either isobaric or isothermal conditions was also noticed, allowing the determination of optimal conditions for the polymerization process. However, most importantly, this strategy allowed to significantly reduce the reaction time (just 3 h at room temperature) and increase the yield of obtained polymers (up to 0.62 gPGBL/gGBL). Moreover, despite using a strongly acidic catalyst, synthesized polymers remained non-toxic and biocompatible, as proven by the cytotoxicity test we performed in further analysis. Additional investigation (including MALDI-TOF measurements) showed that the catalyst selection affected not only MW and yield but also the linear/cyclic form content in obtained macromolecules. These findings show the way to tune the properties of PGBL and obtain polymer suitable for application in the biomedical industry

The influence of socio-demographic and environmental factors on the fall rate in geriatric patients in primary health care

Background . A fall is defined as an event which results in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or floor or other lower level. Falls are the leading cause of injuries among geriatrics and a factor which significantly lowers their quality of life. Objectives. The aim of this study was to identify fall risk factors in the elderly with regard to their environmental situation and sociodemographic data. Material and methods. This epidemiological population-based study involved 304 patients from selected outpatient clinics. The median age was 79 years. Our study employed a diagnostic survey-based method using an environmental inquiry of our devising, as well as the Tinetti Test (TT). Results . A statistically significant correlation was found between the number of falls and such variables as age, the family structure and family care efficiency (p 0.05). Regardless of whether the respondents experienced falls or not, a vast majority of them showed a need for information support concerning the reduction of fall risk in the future. Conclusions . 1. Risk factors for falls among geriatric patients include age, falls in the medical history, solitude as an adverse social situation and the unpreparedness of the family for taking non-professional care of their elderly relatives. 2. According to the respondents, information support may improve their knowledge of fall prevention and ways of handling the situation with increasingly limited self- -reliance, and the preparation of their families for taking care of them may reduce the risk of falls

The incidence of falls among geriatric outpatients in relation to the number and types of drugs taken

Background . Causes of falls among people over 65 are complex because of age-related involutional changes, comorbidity and polypragmasy that exert negative influence on physical mobility. Objectives . The purpose of this study is to assess the incidence of falls in geriatric outpatients in relation to the number and type of drugs taken. Material and methods . The study involved 304 subjects aged 65–100 years, using ambulatory care services. The mean age of the respondents was 78.6 ± 7.4. Women constituted 77.3% of those analyzed, men – 22.7%. This survey-based study was performed using the Geriatric Environmental Inquiry. Results . A higher number of drugs corresponded with more frequent falls (χ2 test; p 0.05). Gender was proved to influence the number of drugs (χ 2 test; p < 0.05). There was a statistically significant relationship between the number of falls and taking hypotensive, anxiolytic and oral antidiabetic drugs (χ2; p < 0.05). Conclusions . 1. The use of a higher number of drugs, irrespective of their pharmacological group, contributes to a higher number of falls, which may be associated with an interaction between particular drugs or be a consequence of a multitude of diseases predisposing to falls. 2. Polypharmacotherapy is a fall risk factor, however it is difficult to say which pharmacology group, discussed in the study, contributes most to the incidence of falls. 3. It is suggested that geriatric pharmacotherapy should be individualized to minimize the incidence of the iatrogenic geriatric syndrome, which predisposes to falls

Fall Risk Factors in Community-Dwelling Elderly Depending on Their Physical Function, Cognitive Status and Symptoms of Depression

Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injuries and injury-related disability, morbidity and mortality in the geriatric population. Therefore, they may also lower quality of life. The aim of this study was to analyze the fall risk factors in the community-dwelling elderly depending on their physical function, cognitive status and symptoms of depression. The study involved 304 individuals aged 65–100 years with a mean age of 78.6 ± 7.4. This survey-based study was conducted using the Geriatric Environmental Inquiry, the Barthel Scale (BS), the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS), the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Tinetti Test (TT). There was a statistically significant correlation between the BS, the TT and the incidence of falls (p &lt; 0.05). The number of falls correlated significantly with the results of the BS (R = −0.39), the GDS (R = 0.18), and the TT (R = −0.40). A statistically significant correlation was also noted between the TT results and the results of the BS (R = 0.77), the AMTS (R = 0.40) and the GDS (R = −0.37). The incidence of falls may significantly increase in people with a lower functional status, which may be related to cognitive process disturbances and lower affective functioning. A comprehensive geriatric assessment, related to all aspects of advanced-age patients’ efficiency, is recommended. Fall prevention strategies should include actions undertaken to evaluate and treat depression and cognitive disturbances

Sociodemographic and Work-Related Variables Affecting Knowledge of, Attitudes toward, and Skills in EBNP of Nurses According to an EBPPQ

(1) This study examines sociodemographic and work-related variables to determine their impact on the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and skills in Evidence-Based Nursing Practice (EBNP). (2) The study included 830 nurses from four voivodships in Poland, Dolno&#347;l&#261;skie, &#321;&oacute;dzkie, Podlaskie, and Zachodniopomorskie and was conducted by the diagnostic survey method, using the questionnaire technique. The following research tools were applied in the study: an Evidence-Based Practice Profile Questionnaire (EBPPQ) and a survey questionnaire developed by the authors, containing questions on sociodemographic data and work-related variables. (3) Sociodemographic variables with an impact on the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and skills in EBNP include age, marital status, and educational background. Older nurses find it problematic to apply EBNP, and their level of relevant knowledge and skills is lower; whereas, those with university education possess the best EBNP-related skills, and they are also more eager to expand them and apply them in their work. The work-related variables with an impact on the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and skills in EBNP among nurses include work experience, which has a negative effect on applying EBNP and the skills associated with it. The type of school from which the nurses graduated and the nursing specialisation training also have a strong impact on expanding nurses&rsquo; competence in EBNP

Menopause Predisposes Women to Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

(1) Background: Menopause is an important event in women’s lives, possibly contributing to the development of CVD, which is associated with changes in the cardiovascular risk profile, markers of metabolic health, and subclinical atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the association of menopause with CVD risk factors and subclinical markers of cardiometabolic disease. (2) Methods: The study involved 235 women from the general population at different stages of menopause. The methods used in this study were: diagnostic survey, anthropometric measurement (WC, height, BMI, WHtR), blood pressure measurement, biochemical analysis of venous blood (lipid profile, glucose, insulin, HbA1c), and CVD risk assessment (ASCVD Risk Calculator, POL-SCORE, SCORE-2). (3) Results: The vast majority of respondents had low cardiovascular risk, irrespective of the scale used for measuring the risk of CVD. The age at menopause was not an independent risk factor for CVD. In Model 1, the age at menopause and the time since menopause were found to be factors that increased CVD risk (OR = 1.186 and 1.267, respectively). In Models 2 and 3, the severity of menopausal symptoms was not a risk factor for CVD. Models 3 and 4 demonstrated that women with metabolic syndrome (MetS) were at a significantly higher risk of CVD. In model 5, the odds ratio of CVD with MetS as a standalone factor was 13.812. (4) Conclusions: Menopause predisposes women to an increased risk and MetS to a significantly higher risk of CVD

Relationships of Body Mass Index, Relative Fat Mass Index, and Waist Circumference with Serum Concentrations of Parameters of Chronic Inflammation

(1) Background: Obesity in the perimenopausal period is associated with hormonal changes, lifestyle, and environment. In obesity, elevated levels of IL-6 and TNF-α and reduced levels of adiponectin are observed, and the associated chronic inflammation favors the development of cardiometabolic diseases. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the relationship between selected measures of obesity (BMI, WC, RFM, VAI, WHtR) and parameters of chronic inflammation (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6) in perimenopausal women. (2) Methods: The study involved 172 perimenopausal women. The methods used in this study were diagnostic surveys, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, and venous blood sampling. (3) Results: Preliminary multivariate linear regression analysis showed that CRP moderately positively correlated with IL-6 (β = 0.25; p = 0.001) and weakly negatively correlated with adiponectin (β = −0.23; p = 0.002). Similar associations were noted in preliminary multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for age, menopausal status, and smoking status. Preliminary multivariate linear regression analysis also showed that BMI positively correlated with IL-6 (β = 0.16; p = 0.033). VAI weakly positively correlated with CRP (β = 0.25; p = 0.001) and negatively correlated with adiponectin (β = −0.43; p = 0.000). (4) BMI, WC, RFM, VAI, and WHtR are clearly related to selected parameters of chronic inflammation. Our study suggests that each of the anthropometric variables provides distinct information on metabolic processes associated with inflammatory parameters

The Impact of Whey Protein Supplementation on Sarcopenia Progression among the Elderly: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to investigate the role of whey protein supplementation in the functioning of the elderly with sarcopenia. The aim was to investigate the available scientific evidence and determine the best recommendations with respect to whey protein supplementation in sarcopenic patients. Methods: Databases, including CINAHL, Embase PubMed, and Web of Science, were searched from database inception until 31 December 2022 for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy of whey protein supplementation in the elderly with sarcopenia. Data on study design, risk of bias, patient, illness, and treatment characteristics from each study were independently extracted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The tool “assessing risk of bias” from the Cochrane Handbook was used to evaluate the quality of the included papers. Results: The search identified 629 records; 590 articles were excluded as duplicates or after evaluation at the title or abstract level. Out of 39 full-text articles that were reviewed, 29 were excluded for not fulfilling the inclusion criteria. There is some evidence that whey protein supplementation combined with age-appropriate physical exercise might improve muscle mass and lower limb function in the elderly with sarcopenia. The present meta-analysis demonstrated overall that whey supplementation does not improve any of the tested sarcopenia-linked parameters. However, we found that study duration (weeks) and age significantly affect the handgrip strength rate and the chair and stand test rate, respectively, so consideration should be given to oral supplementation combined with the age of participants and an appropriate physical activity as a form of sarcopenia prevention in the high-risk group

SERS-PLSR Analysis of Vaginal Microflora: Towards the Spectral Library of Microorganisms

The accurate identification of microorganisms belonging to vaginal microflora is crucial for establishing which microorganisms are responsible for microbial shifting from beneficial symbiotic to pathogenic bacteria and understanding pathogenesis leading to vaginosis and vaginal infections. In this study, we involved the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technique to compile the spectral signatures of the most significant microorganisms being part of the natural vaginal microbiota and some vaginal pathogens. Obtained data will supply our still developing spectral SERS database of microorganisms. The SERS results were assisted by Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR), which visually discloses some dependencies between spectral images and hence their biochemical compositions of the outer structure. In our work, we focused on the most common and typical of the reproductive system microorganisms (Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp.) and vaginal pathogens: bacteria (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis, Prevotella bivia, Atopobium vaginae), fungi (e.g., Candida albicans, Candida glabrata), and protozoa (Trichomonas vaginalis). The obtained results proved that each microorganism has its unique spectral fingerprint that differentiates it from the rest. Moreover, the discrimination was obtained at a high level of explained information by subsequent factors, e.g., in the inter-species distinction of Candida spp. the first three factors explain 98% of the variance in block Y with 95% of data within the X matrix, while in differentiation between Lactobacillus spp. and Bifidobacterium spp. (natural flora) and pathogen (e.g., Candida glabrata) the information is explained at the level of 45% of the Y matrix with 94% of original data. PLSR gave us insight into discriminating variables based on which the marker bands representing specific compounds in the outer structure of microorganisms were found: for Lactobacillus spp. 1400 cm−1, for fungi 905 and 1209 cm−1, and for protozoa 805, 890, 1062, 1185, 1300, 1555, and 1610 cm−1. Then, they can be used as significant marker bands in the analysis of clinical subjects, e.g., vaginal swabs

Vitamin D – dietary intake, supplementation and metabolic status of Polish adults

ObjectivesContrary to popular opinion on the preventive properties of vitamin D, results of previous studies have been inconclusive. The aim of this research was to evaluate the associations between the intake of vitamin D and metabolic abnormalities in a representative sample of Polish adults.Material and MethodsWithin the framework of the Multi-Center National Population Health Examination Survey (referred to as WOBASZ), a random sample of 2381 adult residents of Poland (53.8% of whom were women) was examined. All the study subjects were extensively reviewed, including 24-h dietary recall. The intake of vitamin D was assessed on the basis of dietary and supplements reviews. Metabolic abnormalities were evaluated using measurements of waist circumference (WC), blood pressure (BP), serum triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and fasting glycemia. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the International Diabetes Federation.ResultsOf all the study participants, about 4.4 % of women and 2.6% of men declared a regular supplementation of vitamin D. Among women, a significant inverse correlation between vitamin D supplementation and the mean systolic BP was found (p < 0.01). A more substantial relationship was noted after dividing the study subjects according to their body mass. Among obese men, there was a significant inverse relationship between vitamin D intake and the mean systolic BP (p < 0.01) and diastolic BP (p < 0.05), as well as a positive correlation with HDL-C (p < 0.05). Among obese women, a negative correlation was found between vitamin D supplementation and the mean systolic BP (p < 0.01) and diastolic BP (p < 0.05), and a positive correlation with TG (p < 0.05). Among non-obese male subjects, a negative correlation between vitamin D intake and WC was observed.ConclusionsThe obtained findings suggest that the correlation between vitamin D intake and metabolic abnormalities may depend on the obesity status. A higher vitamin D intake may reduce BP and increase HDL-C in obese subjects. The positive relationship between vitamin D intake and TG concentration in women needs further investigation