Enhanced mitochondrial testicular antioxidant capacity in Goto-Kakizaki diabetic rats: role of coenzyme Q

Because diabetes mellitus is associated with impairment of testicular function, ultimately leading to reduced fertility, this study was conducted to evaluate the existence of a cause-effect relationship between increased oxidative stress in diabetes and reduced mitochondrial antioxidant capacity. The susceptibility to oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity (in terms of glutathione, coenzyme Q, and vitamin E content) of testis mitochondrial preparations isolated from Goto-Kakizaki (GK) non-insulin-dependent diabetic rats and from Wistar control rats, 1 yr of age, was evaluated. It was found that GK mitochondrial preparations showed a lower susceptibility to lipid peroxidation induced by ADP/Fe(2+), as evaluated by oxygen consumption and reactive oxygen species generation. The decreased susceptibility to oxidative stress in diabetic rats was associated with an increase in mitochondrial glutathione and coenzyme Q9 contents, whereas vitamin E was not changed. These results demonstrate a higher antioxidant capacity in diabetic GK rats. We suggest this is an adaptive response of testis mitochondria to the increased oxidative damage in diabetes mellitu

Compassion-focused Therapy for Psychosis : An experimental pilot study for negative affect and well being

The Compassionate Mind Foundation, 4th International Conference. Wednesday 21st - Friday 23rd October 2015, Manchester (Poster).Compassion focused Therapy (CFT) is a new therapeutic approach developed for people with chronic and complex mental health problems associated with shame and self–criticism. CFT aims at developing skills for activating the soothing system in order to regulate threat-based affect, bring a more helpful balance between the different emotion regulation systems and promote a compassionate attitude towards the self and others. Studies have shown feasibility and clinical utility of CFT for psychotic disorders. The only Randomized controlled trial in CFT for psychosis (16 sessions of group therapy) found improvement regarding depressive symptoms, social marginalization and observed clinical improvement.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia ; Programa Operacional Temático Factores de Competitividade (COMPETE) ; Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional (QREN) ; União EuropeiaN/

Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial on Weight Loss Maintenance

Funding Information: This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement 643309. The material presented and views expressed here are the responsibility of the author(s) only. The European Commission takes no responsibility for any use made of the information set out.Background: The use of digital interventions can be accurately monitored via log files. However, monitoring engagement with intervention goals or enactment of the actual behaviors targeted by the intervention is more difficult and is usually evaluated based on pre-post measurements in a controlled trial. Objective: The objective of this paper is to evaluate if engaging with 2 digital intervention modules focusing on (1) physical activity goals and action plans and (2) coping with barriers has immediate effects on the actual physical activity behavior. Methods: The NoHoW Toolkit (TK), a digital intervention developed to support long-term weight loss maintenance, was evaluated in a 2 x 2 factorial randomized controlled trial. The TK contained various modules based on behavioral self-regulation and motivation theories, as well as contextual emotion regulation approaches, and involved continuous tracking of weight and physical activity through connected commercial devices (Fitbit Aria and Charge 2). Of the 4 trial arms, 2 had access to 2 modules directly targeting physical activity: a module for goal setting and action planning (Goal) and a module for identifying barriers and coping planning (Barriers). Module visits and completion were determined based on TK log files and time spent in the module web page. Seven physical activity metrics (steps; activity; energy expenditure; fairly active, very active and total active minutes; and distance) were compared before and after visiting and completing the modules to examine whether the modules had immediate or sustained effects on physical activity. Immediate effect was determined based on 7-day windows before and after the visit, and sustained effects were evaluated for 1 to 8 weeks after module completion. Results: Out of the 811 participants, 498 (61.4%) visited the Goal module and 406 (50.1%) visited the Barriers module. The Barriers module had an immediate effect on very active and total active minutes (very active minutes: before median 24.2, IQR 10.4-43.0 vs after median 24.9, IQR 10.0-46.3; P=.047; total active minutes: before median 45.1, IQR 22.9-74.9 vs after median 46.9, IQR 22.4-78.4; P=.03). The differences were larger when only completed Barriers modules were considered. The Barriers module completion was also associated with sustained effects in fairly active and total active minutes for most of the 8 weeks following module completion and for 3 weeks in very active minutes. Conclusions: The Barriers module had small, significant, immediate, and sustained effects on active minutes measured by a wrist-worn activity tracker. Future interventions should pay attention to assessing barriers and planning coping mechanisms to overcome them. Trial Registration: ISRCTN Registry ISRCTN88405328; https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN88405328publishersversionpublishe

Brain and liver mitochondria isolated from diabeticGoto-Kakizaki rats show different susceptibility to induced oxidative stress

Increased oxidative stress and changes in antioxidant capacity observed in both clinical and experimental diabetes mellitus have been implicated in the etiology of chronic diabetic complications. Many authors have shown that hyperglycemia leads to an increase in lipid peroxidation in diabetic patients and animals reflecting a rise in reactive oxygen species production. The aim of the study was to compare the susceptibility of mitochondria from brain and liver of Goto-Kakizaki (12-month-old diabetic) rats (GK rats), a model of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, to oxidative stress and antioxidant defenses.Brain and liver mitochondrial preparations were obtained by differential centrifugation. Oxidative damage injury was induced in vitro by the oxidant pair ADP/Fe2+ and the extent of membrane oxidation was assessed by oxygen consumption, malondialdehyde (MDA) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation. Coenzyme Q and alpha-tocopherol contents were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).Brain mitochondria isolated from 12-month-old control rats displayed a higher susceptibility to lipid peroxidation, as assessed by oxygen consumption and formation of MDA and TBARS, compared to liver mitochondria. In GK rats, mitochondria isolated from brain were more susceptible to invitro oxidative damage than brain mitochondria from normal rats. In contrast, liver mitochondria from diabetic rats were less susceptible to oxidative damage than mitochondria from normal rats. This decreased susceptibility was inversely related to their alpha-tocopherol and coenzyme Q (CoQ) content.The present results indicate that the diabetic state can result in an elevation of both alpha-tocopherol and CoQ content in liver, which may be involved in the elimination of mitochondrially generated reactive oxygen species. The difference in the antioxidant defense mechanisms in the brain and liver mitochondrial preparations of moderately hyperglycemic diabetic GK rats may correspond to a different adaptive response of the cells to the increased oxidative damage in diabetes. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Inhibitory effect of carvedilol in the high-conductance state of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

The mitochondrial permeability transition is a widely studied, but poorly understood, phenomenon in mitochondrial bioenergetics. It has been recognised that this phenomenon is related to the opening of a protein pore in the inner mitochondrial membrane, and that opening of this pore is the cause of some forms of mitochondrial dysfunction. In this work, we propose that carvedilol, a multi-role cardioprotective compound, may act as an inhibitor of the high-conductance state of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, a conclusion supported by the finding that carvedilol provides differential protection against mitochondrial swelling in sucrose and KCl-based media, and that it is unable to protect against calcium-induced depolarisation of the mitochondrial membrane. We also show that carvedilol inhibits the oxidation of mitochondrial thiol groups and that, beyond causing a slight depression of the membrane potential, it has no inhibitory effect on mitochondrial calcium uptake.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6T1J-4292HK0-5/1/3f9b42626ac2f0c2ab80880219b5d9c

Predicting short-term weight loss using four leading health behavior change theories

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study was conceived to analyze how exercise and weight management psychosocial variables, derived from several health behavior change theories, predict weight change in a short-term intervention. The theories under analysis were the Social Cognitive Theory, the Transtheoretical Model, the Theory of Planned Behavior, and Self-Determination Theory.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Subjects were 142 overweight and obese women (BMI = 30.2 ± 3.7 kg/m²; age = 38.3 ± 5.8y), participating in a 16-week University-based weight control program. Body weight and a comprehensive psychometric battery were assessed at baseline and at program's end.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Weight decreased significantly (-3.6 ± 3.4%, p < .001) but with great individual variability. Both exercise and weight management psychosocial variables improved during the intervention, with exercise-related variables showing the greatest effect sizes. Weight change was significantly predicted by each of the models under analysis, particularly those including self-efficacy. Bivariate and multivariate analyses results showed that change in variables related to weight management had a stronger predictive power than exercise-specific predictors and that change in weight management self-efficacy was the strongest individual correlate (p < .05). Among exercise predictors, with the exception of self-efficacy, importance/effort and intrinsic motivation towards exercise were the stronger predictors of weight reduction (p < .05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present models were able to predict 20–30% of variance in short-term weight loss and changes in weight management self-efficacy accounted for a large share of the predictive power. As expected from previous studies, exercise variables were only moderately associated with short-term outcomes; they are expected to play a larger explanatory role in longer-term results.</p

Who will lose weight? A reexamination of predictors of weight loss in women

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze pretreatment predictors of short-term weight loss in Portuguese overweight and obese women involved in a weight management program. Behavioral and psychosocial predictors were selected a priori from previous results reported in American women who participated in a similar program. METHODS: Subjects were 140 healthy overweight/obese women (age, 38.3 ± 5.9 y; BMI, 30.3 ± 3.7 kg/m(2)) who participated in a 4-month lifestyle weight loss program consisting of group-based behavior therapy to improve diet and increase physical activity. At baseline, all women completed a comprehensive behavioral and psychosocial battery, in standardized conditions. RESULTS: Of all starting participants, 3.5% (5 subjects) did not finish the program. By treatment's end, more than half of all women had met the recomended weight loss goals, despite a large variability in individual results (range for weight loss = 19 kg). In bivariate and multivariate correlation/regression analysis fewer previous diets and weight outcome evaluations, and to a lesser extent self-motivation and body image were significant and independent predictors of weight reduction, before and after adjustment for baseline weight. A negative and slightly curvilinear relationship best described the association between outcome evaluations and weight change, revealing that persons with very accepting evaluations (that would accept or be happy with minimal weight change) lost the least amount of weight while positive but moderate evaluations of outcomes (i.e., neither low nor extremely demanding) were more predictive of success. Among those subjects who reported having initiated more than 3–4 diets in the year before the study, very few were found to be in the most successful group after treatment. Quality of life, self-esteem, and exercise variables did not predict outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Several variables were confirmed as predictors of success in short-term weight loss and can be used in future hypothesis-testing studies and as a part of more evolved prediction models. Previous dieting, and pretreatment self-motivation and body image are associated with subsequent weight loss, in agreement with earlier findings in previous samples. Weight outcome evaluations appear to display a more complex relationship with treatment results and culture-specific factors may be useful in explaining this pattern of association

A scoping review

Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: MMM is funded by a Marie-Sklodowska-Curie (EDGE) Fellowship programme (grant agreement No. 713567). This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 643309. The material presented and views expressed here are the responsibility of the authors only. Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2022.Objective: To identify the core components of digital behaviour change interventions for weight loss maintenance targeting physical activity, in terms of: (i) behaviour change techniques, (ii) mechanisms of action, (iii) modes of delivery, (iv) dose and (v) tailoring/personalization. In addition, the links between these components were investigated. Methods: A literature search was performed in five electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, CINHAL, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently screened the identified articles and extracted data related with the study characteristics and behaviour change techniques, mechanism of action, mode of delivery, dose, and tailoring, using standardized classifications whenever available (e.g. behaviour change techniques taxonomy). Results: Seventeen articles reporting 11 original studies were selected. Two studies were protocols, 9 studies presented results for weight change and all but one showed no significant differences between the intervention and control groups. Eight studies (73%) provided adequate information on behaviour change techniques. Five studies (45%) provided partial information about how the behaviour change techniques were linked to mechanisms of action, and only one study (0.9%) described these links for all the techniques. Around half of the studies reported the modes through which behaviour change techniques were delivered. Descriptions of dose were present in most studies, but with minimal information. The use of tailoring or personalization approaches was mentioned in eight studies (73%), but descriptions of what was tailored and how were minimal. Conclusions: The compilation of information regarding intervention components was difficult due to the lack of information and systematization in reporting across papers. This is particularly true for the reporting of the links between behaviour change techniques and the other core intervention components. This information is crucial to help us understand in the context of behaviour change interventions what works or does not work, how it works and why.publishersversionpublishe

Keep on running – a randomized controlled trial to test a digital evidence-based intervention for sustained adoption of recreational running: rationale, design and pilot feasibility study

Background: This paper describes the rationale, intervention development, study design and results from the pilot feasibility study of the Keep On Running (KOR) trial. KOR aims to test a web-based brief theory-based intervention, targeting maintenance of recreational running behavior over time (i.e. relapse preventing). Methods: Intervention development was based both on Self- Determination Theory and on Self-Regulation Theory. As part of it, a pilot study was implemented (n=18) to measure intervention adherence and participant satisfaction in order to establish the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention toolkit. Furthermore, this pilot study was also used to test the feasibility and acceptability of the questionnaires selected to be part of the later RCT. Results: Pilot intervention acceptability was good, but overall adherence was low. Features such as feedback and social sharing should be added to the toolkit. The main trial should lessen questionnaire length and include data from usual monitoring gadgets and apps (APIs). The protocol of the RCT was adjusted to test the efficacy of the refined final version of the intervention, and the RCT that will test it, contributing to the understanding of recreational running sustainability, allowing the optimization of future interventions aimed at physical activity promotion.Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia - FCTinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Estudo da Basic Need Satisfaction in General Scale para a língua portuguesa

Este estudo descreve o processo de adaptação da versão portuguesa, de 21 itens, da Basic Need Satisfaction in General Scale da teoria de auto-determinação. O instrumento é composto por três subescalas que correspondem às três necessidades básicas (a) competência, (b) autonomia e (c) relações de pertença. Foi administrado em dois estudos independentes, 420 e 408 participantes respectivamente, com amostras de conveniência da comunidade. A primeira fase incluiu tradução, retroversão e retradução; inspecção da equivalência lexical e de conteúdo; e reflexão falada. No processo de adaptação é aferido se a validade de conteúdo está de acordo com a teoria original. O estudo métrico revela valores baixos na consistência interna em algumas das subescalas. Numa análise exploratória inicial, em ambos os estudos, emergem três factores no scree plot, a maioria dos itens apresenta carga factorial apropriada no primeiro factor. Os resultados sugerem que a escala poderá ser utilizada na população portuguesa assumindo os princípios teóricos definidos pelos autores originais e reconhecidos na investigação.Abstract: This paper describes the adaptation process of the Portuguese version, comprised of 21 items, of the Basic Need Satisfaction in General Scale of self-determination theory. This instrument consists of three subscales that correspond to the three basic needs of (a) competence, (b) autonomy and (c) relatedness. It was administered in two independent studies, with 420 and 408 participants respectively, with convenience samples extracted from the community. The first phase included translation, back translation and retroversion; inspection for lexical equivalence, content validity and cognitive debriefing. In the adaptation process we evaluated whether the content validity was consistent with the original theory. Psychometric properties reveal low internal consistency in some of the subscales. In an initial exploratory analysis, in both studies, three factors emerged in the scree plot and most of the items displayed appropriate factorial load in the first factor. The results suggest that the scale may be used in the Portuguese population assuming the theoretical principles defined by the original authors and recognized in research