Functional outcome and muscle wasting in adults with tetanus.

BACKGROUND: In many countries, in-hospital survival from tetanus is increasing, but long-term outcome is unknown. In high-income settings, critical illness is associated with muscle wasting and poor functional outcome, but there are few data from resource-limited settings. In this study we aimed to assess muscle wasting and long-term functional outcome in adults with tetanus. METHODS: In a prospective observational study involving 80 adults with tetanus, sequential rectus femoris ultrasound measurements were made at admission, 7 days, 14 days and hospital discharge. Functional outcome was assessed at hospital discharge using the Timed Up and Go test, Clinical Frailty Score, Barthel Index and RAND 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and 3 and 6 months after discharge using the SF-36 and Barthel Index. RESULTS: Significant muscle wasting occurred between hospital admission and discharge (p70 y of age, functional recovery at 6 months was reduced compared with younger patients. Hospital-acquired infection and age were risk factors for muscle wasting. CONCLUSIONS: Significant muscle wasting during hospitalization occurred in patients with tetanus, the extent of which correlates with functional outcome

Muscle Loss: The New Malnutrition Challenge in Clinical Practice

Recent definitions of malnutrition include low muscle mass within its diagnostic criteria. In fact, malnutrition is one of the main risk factors of skeletal muscle loss contributing to the onset of sarcopenia. However, differences in the screening and diagnosis of skeletal muscle loss, especially as a result of malnutrition in clinical and community settings, still occur mainly as techniques and thresholds used vary in clinical practice. The objectives of this position paper are firstly to emphasize the link between skeletal muscle loss and malnutrition-related conditions and secondly to raise awareness for the timely identification of loss of skeletal muscle mass and function in high risk populations. Thirdly to recognize the need to implement appropriate nutritional strategies for prevention and treatment of skeletal muscle loss and malnutrition across the healthcare continuum. Malnutrition needs to be addressed clinically as a muscle-related disorder and clinicians should integrate nutritional assessment with muscle mass measurements for optimal evaluation of these two interrelated entities to tailor interventions appropriately. The design of monitoring/evaluation and discharge plans need to include multimodal interventions with nutrition and physical exercise that are key to preserve patient’s muscle mass and function in clinical and community settings

The effects of resource availability and relationship status on women's preference for masculinity: An eye-tracking study

Previous research has demonstrated that perceived availability of environmental resources affects the mate choice of females. However, it is unclear whether women's partnership status influences the effects of environmental circumstances on masculinity preference. Further, the role of environmental scarcity on women's gaze patterns when evaluating male faces has not been investigated. The current study investigated how relationship status and environmental factors affected women's gaze patterns and preference towards masculinised and feminised male faces. Twenty-two participants in a long-term romantic relationship, and 26 who were single, were primed with either a high (‘wealthy’) or low (‘scarcity’) resource availability scenario. They then completed a facial masculinity/femininity preference task while eye-gaze behaviour was measured. Women in a relationship (but not single women) had an increased preference towards masculine faces in the scarcity condition, compared to the wealthy condition; this preference was also reflected in eye gaze behaviour. In contrast, single women had longer first fixations on feminine rather than masculine faces when evaluating them as long-term partners in the wealthy condition, but no overt preference for either face type. These findings reveal the importance of taking women's relationship status into account in investigations of the role of environmental influences on masculinity preferences

Photolytic Reactivity of Organometallic Chromium Bipyridine Complexes

Known stable [Cr­(bpy)₂(Ph)₂]­(BPh₄) complexes undergo reductive elimination of biphenyl with visible-light photolysis using household incandescent or compact fluorescent light bulbs. A series of [Cr­(R-bpy)₂(Ar)₂]­(X) complexes (R = H or CMe₃; Ar = Ph, C₆H₄-CMe₃, or C₆H₄-OMe; X = I, BPh₄, or PF₆) were prepared, and the effect of varying the bipyridine and aryl ligands on the UV–visible spectra and electrochemistry of the chromium­(III) complexes was investigated. Photolysis of a mixture of two different bis­(aryl) complexes gave only the homocoupled biaryl products by ¹H NMR and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis. The initial product of photoinduced reductive elimination of [Cr­(bpy)₂(Ar)₂]­(PF₆) was trapped with bipyridine to generate [Cr­(bpy)₃]­(PF₆) and with benzoyl peroxide to form [Cr­(bpy)₂(O₂CPh)₂]­(PF₆). The latter chromium­(III) bis­(benzoate) complex was also synthesized by the addition of bipyridine and PhCO₂H to Cp₂Cr, followed by air oxidation. The neutral Cr­(bpy)­(S₂CNMe₂)­Ph₂ complex also generated biphenyl upon visible-light photolysis. While the treatment of Cr­(^tBu-bpy)­(dpm)­Cl₂ [dpm = (OC^tBu)₂CH] with AgO₂CPh gave <i>trans</i>-Cr­(^tBu-bpy)­(dpm)­(O₂CPh)₂, reaction of the dichloro precursor with PhMgCl produced anionic [Cr­(^tBu-bpy)­Ph₃]⁻ with [Mg­(dpm)­(THF)₄]⁺ as the countercation, with both complexes characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Protonolysis of Cr­(bpy)­Ph₃(THF) with 8-hydroxyquinoline produced Cr­(bpy)­(quin)­Ph₂, which generated biphenyl under visible-light photolysis, and the initial product of reductive elimination was trapped by bipyridine or benzoyl peroxide. A related Cr­(bpy)­(quin)₂ complex was synthesized by protonolysis of Cr­(bpy)­[N­(SiMe₃)₂]₂ and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction