Cumulus extracellular matrix is an important part of oocyte microenvironment in ovarian follicles: its remodeling and proteolytic degradation

The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an essential structure with biological activities. It has been shown that the ECM influences gene expression via cytoskeletal components and the gene expression is dependent upon cell interactions with molecules and hormones. The development of ovarian follicles is a hormone dependent process. The surge in the luteinizing hormone triggers ovulatory changes in oocyte microenvironment. In this review, we discuss how proteolytic cleavage affects formation of cumulus ECM following hormonal stimulation; in particular, how the specific proteasome inhibitor MG132 affects gonadotropin-induced cytoskeletal structure, the organization of cumulus ECM, steroidogenesis, and nuclear maturation. We found that after the inhibition of proteolytic cleavage, gonadotropin-stimulated oocyte–cumulus complexes (OCCs) were without any signs of cumulus expansion; they remained compact with preserved cytoskeletal F-actin-rich transzonal projections through the oocyte investments. Concomitantly, a significant decrease was detected in progesterone secretion and in the expression of gonadotropin-stimulated cumulus expansion–related transcripts, such as HAS2 and TNFAIP6. In agreement, the covalent binding between hyaluronan and the heavy chains of serum-derived the inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor, essential for the organization of cumulus ECM, was missing

Osservazione del processo di refrigerazione della carne di maiale e quella di manzo

Svrha hlađenja svježeg mesa je smanjivanje temperature u najdubljim dijelovima mišića što je brže moguće, a da se pri tome u što većoj mjeri zadrži njegova masa. Ipak, određeni gubici su poželjni jer su suhe površine otpornije na mikrobiološko kvarenje. U našem pokusu je praćen postupak hlađenja svinjetine i govedine u klaonicama u periodu od 2006. do 2007. godine. U prostorijama za hlađenje mjerena je temperatura u mišićima, a u obzir se uzimalo i trajanje postupka. Po završetku hlađenja, u dva je slučaja (13.3%) temperatura svježeg svinjskog mesa prelazila zahtijevanih +7 °C u dubini mišića.The aim of the chilling of carcasses is to decrease the temperature in the deepest parts of muscles as fast as possible while maintaining its weight as high as possible. However, some losses of the weight are desirable because dried surfaces are more resistant to the microbial spoilage. Monitoring of pork and beef chilling process at the slaughterhouses in period 2006 – 2007 was performed in our experiment. Temperature was measured in the muscles, in the chilling rooms and also duration of the process was taken into account. Finally, in two cases (13.3 %) of pork carcasses temperature exceeded required +7 °C in deep part of muscles at the end of process.Der Zweck der Abkühlung von Frischfleisch ist die Verminderung der Temperatur in den tiefsten Muskelteilen in möglichst kurzer Zeit, jedoch soll dabei das Fleischgewicht in möglichst hohem Maße aufbewahrt werden. Doch, manche Gewichtverminderungen sind wünschenswert, weil die trockenen Flächen auf mikrobiologische Blutung widerstandsfähiger sind. In unserem Experiment wurde die Beobachtung des Abkühlungsverfahrens von Schweineund Rindfleisch durchgeführt, dies in Schlachthöfen in der Zeitspanne von 2006 bis 2007. In den Abkühlungsräumen wurde die Temperatur in den Muskeln gemessen, in Betracht wurde auch die Dauer des Verfahrens gezogen. Am Ende des Verfahrens hat die Temperatur in zwei Fällen (13.3%) des frischen Schweinefleisches die verlangenen + 7 ° C in tiefen Muskelteilen überschritten.Lo scopo di refrigerazione della carne fresca è far diminuire al più presto possibile la temperatura nelle parti più profonde del muscolo, cercando di mantenere il suo peso nella maggior parte. Comunque, certe perdite sono pure desiderabili, essendo le superfici asciutte più resistenti al sanguinamento microbiologico. Nel nostro esperimento è stato osservato il processo della refrigerazione di maiale e di manzo nei macelli durante gli anni 2006 e 2007. Nei locali addatti alla refrigerazione è stata misurata la temperatura nei muscoli, ma è stata presa in considerazione anche la durazione del processo. Alla fine del processo, in due casi (13.3 %) della carne di maiale la temperatura superava i richiesti +7°C nelle parti profonde del muscolo

Are diet and exercise associated with depression in rheumatoid arthritis patients?

Background: Although depression is a common comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), little is known about a potential treatment strategy. Current studies of dietary improvement for depression have recently emerged in the general population, but have hardly any coverage in RA. Also, less exercise increases the number of people experiencing depression, and current studies showed that most RA patients are physically inactive. Thus, our study aimed to identify the potential factors associated with depression in RA patients.Methods: We included 157 RA patients (84.7% female; mean age 56.43±13.9 years; mean disease duration 19.53±9.54 years). All participants completed the General Health Questionnaire - 28, the Visual Analogue Scale Pain, the 36-item Short Form Health Survey, the Physical Activity Scale, and the Food Frequency Questionnaire. Correlations and multiple linear regressions were used to analyse the data.Results: Bivariate analyses showed a significant association between disease activity (.25; p ≤ 0.01), functional disability (.22; p ≤ 0.01), pain (.35; p ≤ 0.001), fatigue (-.45; p ≤ 0.001), physical inactivity (-.19; p ≤ 0.05), frequent consumption of fried foods (-.22; p ≤ 0.01) and depression. No other foods were associated with depression in RA. The multiple regression analyses showed that disease activity, fatigue, and fried foods consumption were significantly associated with depression in the final model. However, the association between physical activity and depression was no longer significant using multivariate models. Explained variance in the final regression model was 27.6%.Conclusions: It appears that frequent consumption of fried foods is associated with depression in RA when controlled for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Further research on specific dietary habits and underlying mechanisms in the gut-brain axis may help to develop treatment options for the prevention of psychological distress in RA. (Grant: VEGA: 1/0748/22; APVV-15-0719

Psychological distress in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea:The role of hostility and coping self-efficacy

We aimed to assess whether hostility and coping self-efficacy are associated with psychological distress in obstructive sleep apnoea patients. Furthermore, we examined whether coping self-efficacy mediates the association between hostility and psychological distress. We included 150 obstructive sleep apnoea patients (Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index > 5; 68% male; mean age: 48.9 +/- 9.5 years). Regression models showed that hostility and poor coping self-efficacy were strongly associated with psychological distress in obstructive sleep apnoea patients. All assessed coping self-efficacy dimensions mediated the association between hostility and psychological distress. Coping self-efficacy for stopping unpleasant emotions and thoughts showed the strongest association with a lower level of psychological distress

Quality of life of obstructive sleep apnoea patients receiving continuous positive airway pressure treatment:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Previous studies have shown conflicting results on the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on quality of life (QoL) in obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) patients. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of CPAP on QoL in OSA patients compared to sham CPAP, placebo pills, and conservative treatment. Methods: Studies were identified via Web of Knowledge, PubMed, PsychInfo, CINAHL, EMBASE, OpenGrey, and the Cochrane Library. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the robustness of the findings. Results: Meta-analysis of 13 randomised controlled trials showed no significant differences in overall and psychological QoL comparing values of CPAP treated patients with controls; however, physical QoL improved. CPAP significantly affected the overall QoL in studies with controls receiving sham CPAP, parallel design, low risk of bias, and mild OSA patients. Conclusion: CPAP treatment may help to improve physical symptoms of OSA, whereas impaired psychological QoL still cannot be alleviated

Suicidal ideation in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea and its relationship with disease severity, sleep-related problems and social support

We aimed to assess the prevalence of suicidal ideation and to examine the relationships between obstructive sleep apnoea severity, sleep-related problems, social support and suicidal ideation in obstructive sleep apnoea patients. We included 149 patients (68% male; mean age, 48.99 +/- 9.57 years) with diagnosed obstructive sleep apnoea (Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index > 5) based on full-night polysomnography. The prevalence of suicidal ideation among obstructive sleep apnoea patients was 20.1 per cent. Structural equation modelling showed that suicidal ideation in obstructive sleep apnoea was strongly related to poor sleep quality and high fatigue levels. No relationship between social support and suicidal ideation in obstructive sleep apnoea patients was found

Are area-level and individual-level socioeconomic factors associated with self-rated health in adult urban citizens? Evidence from Slovak and Dutch cities

Background: Evidence shows that living in disadvantaged areas is associated with poor health. This may be due to the socioeconomic (SE) characteristics of both these residents and the areas where they live. Evidence regarding this on Central European (CE) countries is scarce. Our aim was to assess whether the prevalence of poor self-rated health (SRH) was higher in deprived urban areas, whether this can be explained by individual SE status (SES) and whether this differed between Slovakia and the Netherlands per age group. Methods: We examined the association of urban-level data and individual-level SE factors from different urban areas in different countries (Slovakia, the Netherlands) using comparable urban health indicators and area indicators. We also obtained unique data from the EU-FP7 EURO-URHIS 2 project. Results: Multilevel logistic regression showed that poor SRH was associated with area deprivation in both countries. Regarding age by country, poor SRH occurred more frequently in the more deprived areas for the younger age group (>= 64) in the Netherlands but for the older age group (>= 65 years) in Slovakia. Moreover, Slovak citizens reported poor SRH significantly more often than Dutch residents. Individual SES was significantly associated with poor SRH in both age groups and both countries for most area-level SE measures. Conclusion: Individual SES is associated with SRH more strongly than area deprivation. Therefore, it is important to account for relative deprivation at an individual level when considering health-enhancing activities. Moreover, the effect of urban-area deprivation seems to differ between CE and WE countries

The impact of unemployment on school leavers' perception of health. Mediating effect of financial situation and social contacts?

Objectives: The main purpose of this paper is to explore whether unemployment influences adolescents' subjective perception of health and whether perceived financial stress and social contacts can mediate the effect of employment status on health. We are also interested in the differences in financial situation and social contacts between unemployed secondary school leavers and their employed and studying counterparts. Methods: Data were obtained from 844 adolescents (mean age 19.6) from Slovakia. The effect of unemployment on several health indicators was measured and subsequently controlled for perceived financial strain of respondents and their social contacts. Results: The results showed highest financial strain among unemployed, whereas only small differences in social contacts were found between three groups. Negative influence of unemployment on perceived health of respondents was confirmed. Nevertheless, strong influence was found only on long-term well-being and mental health. Financial situation and social contacts contributed to the prediction of almost all health outcomes, and to some extent mediated the effect of unemployment. Conclusions: Although unemployment was found to have a negative impact on health of adolescents, sufficiency of social contacts and good financial situation seem to decrease this effect and protect the health of unemployed people

Elderly from lower socioeconomic groups are more vulnerable to mental health problems, but area deprivation does not contribute:A comparison between Slovak and Dutch cities

BACKGROUND: Little is known about factors associated with mental health problems (MHP) of the elderly in socioeconomically deprived neighbourhoods, and comparisons between Central European and Western European countries on this topic are lacking. We examined whether MHP occurred more frequently in deprived neighbourhoods and among deprived people. Next, we examined whether the association of MHP with area deprivation differed by country and whether this could be explained by the socioeconomic (SE) characteristics of the residents. METHODS: We obtained data on non-institutionalized residents aged 65 years and above from the EU-FP7: EURO-URHIS 2 project from Slovak (N = 665, response rate 44.0%) and Dutch cities (N = 795, response rate 50.2%). An elevated score on General Health Questionnaire-12 (≥2) indicated MHP. Education and household income with financial strain were used as measures of individual SE status. We employed multilevel logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall rates of MHP were significantly higher in Slovakia (40.6%) than in the Netherlands (30.6%). The neighbourhood unemployment rate was not associated with the mental health of elderly in either country. Rates of MHP were significantly higher among elderly with low and medium income [odds ratio (OR) = 1.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.16-2.62; OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.12-2.41, respectively] and financial strain (OR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.56-3.28) when compared with those with high income and no strain, respectively. Individual-level SE characteristics explained differences between the two countries. CONCLUSION: The risk of MHP among the elderly is associated with their individual-level SE position but not with neighbourhood deprivation in both Slovakia and the Netherlands