Lifetime Adherence to Physical Activity Recommendations and Fall Occurrence in Community-dwelling Older Adults: a Retrospective Cohort Study

Falling is a major health concern for community-dwelling older adults. Regular physical activity has been proposed to prevent falls. The aim of this study was to assess whether the achievement of the 2004 UK Department of Health physical activity recommendations over a lifetime had a protective effect against falling in older people. 313 community-dwelling older adults completed a questionnaire about lifetime physical activity and fall occurrence. There were significantly fewer falls in those who had led an active lifestyle compared to those who had not (χ2Yates=4.568, p=0.033), with a lower relative risk of fall occurrence for the active respondents (RR=0.671) compared to the inactive (RR=1.210). Of those who were sufficiently active in their early adulthood, the decade where there was the biggest decrease in remaining active enough was in the 60s. It is concluded that an active lifestyle may have decreased the likelihood of having a fall in older ag

The World Friendship Center, Japan

Poster created by students in the 2017 IWU Freeman Asia Internship Program

Detection of Medium-Sized Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons via Fluorescence Energy Transfer

Reported herein is the use of proximity-induced non-covalent energy transfer for the detection of medium-sized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This energy transfer occurs within the cavity of γ-cyclodextrin in various aqueous environments, including human plasma and coconut water. Highly efficient energy transfer was observed, and the efficiency of the energy transfer is independent of the concentration of γ-cyclodextrin used, demonstrating the importance of hydrophobic binding in facilitating such energy transfer. Low limits of detection were also observed for many of the PAHs investigated, which is promising for the development of fluorescence-based detection schemes

Genetic and Morphological Variation in Taeniatherum Caput-Medusae (Medusahead): Taxomonic Diversity, Geographic Origins, Multiple Introductions and Founder Effects

Invasive species are novel to a region, thus their timely and accurate identification is a critical first step in recognizing and managing the threats that they may present in their new habitats. Accurate identification of an introduced species in its new range can prove difficult however for a species that displays taxonomic complexity in its native range, i.e. consists of multiple, morphologically similar subspecies. Across its native range, Taeniatherum caput-medusae (medusahead) exhibits taxonomic complexity. Three subspecies have been recognized: T. caput-medusae ssp. caput-medusae, T. caput-medusae ssp.asperum, and T. caput-medusae ssp. crinitum. While subspecies caput-medusae is found in the western Mediterranean and subspecies crinitum occurs from eastern Europe to Central Asia, subspecies asperum is distributed across the geographic distribution of the species. Only subspecies asperum is believe to occur in the United States, where it is now invasive in portions of California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. As part of ongoing research to better understand and manage this invasion, genetic analyses of both native and invasive populations of medusahead were conducted. An important prerequisite to these analyses is the proper identification of the three subspecies. In the current study, plants from each native population were grown in a greenhouse common garden, harvested at maturity, and measured using previously described morphological characters. After Bonferroni correction, three characters, glume length, glume angle, and palea length, were found to be statistically significant. Thus, these three characters were quite useful in assigning plants to each of the three subspecies. I found that two other characters, lemma hairs and conical cells, were less informative. Differentiation among native populations of medusahead was further assessed using a molecular genetic marker. The results of a UPGMA cluster diagram based on allozyme data indicates that subspecies crinitum is genetically differentiated from the other two, some populations of subspecies caput-medusae and asperum co-occur within different clusters, and subspecies asperum is the most variable. Results of the analysis of multilocus genotypes are generally consistent with the UPGMA diagram (e.g., subspecies caput-medusae and asperum share six multilocus genotypes). This research confirms the need of such studies to disentangle the taxonomic complexity that can be found in the native range of invasive species. The results of an earlier allozyme analysis were consistent with the genetic signature associated with multiple introductions, although this finding can only be confirmed with the analysis of native populations. In the current study, I compared allozyme diversity in native and invasive populations of medusahead to: identify the geographic origin(s) for the U.S. invasion, test the multiple introduction hypothesis, and determine the genetic consequences of these events. Five of the seven homozygous multilocus genotypes previously observed in the western U.S. have been detected in native populations. The geographic origins for these introductions appear to have been drawn from France, Sardinia, Greece, and Turkey, although additional analyses are ongoing. These findings provide support for the multiple introduction hypothesis. Results of this study have implications for the biological control of medusahead: i) the search for effective and specific biological control agents will have to occur broadly across the species’ native range, ii) multiple agents may be required to control invasive populations that are admixtures, and iii) because invasive population are genetically depauperate, highly adapted biocontrol agents are likely to be quite effective

Use of Botulinum Toxin in Central Nervous System Disorders

Botulinum toxin is a neurotoxin that is produced by Clostridium botulinum. At one time, this toxin was only seen as a lethal substance, but now scientists have found many medical uses for it. There are eight distinctive toxins (A-H), but only A and B currently have clinical uses. Botulinum toxin A has three different versions that are U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved: onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox®), abobotulinumtoxinA (Dysport®), incobotulinumtoxinA (Xeomin®). Botulinum toxin B is also FDA approved as rimabotulinumtoxinB (Myobloc®). The toxins work by inducing reversible, local, dose-dependent chemodenervation by inhibiting acetylcholine release from presynaptic terminals. These drugs are approved to treat many different types of disorders but have found significant use for the treatment of migraines, dystonias and cerebral palsy. Botulinum toxin has proven to be efficacious in prophylactically treating those patients with migraines who have failed other pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatments. Botulinum toxin is also FDA approved for the treatment of dystonias; more specifically, all three types of botulinum toxin A and the rimabotulinumtoxin B have FDA approval for the treatment of cervical dystonia. Perhaps the most important use for botulinum toxin is in patients with cerebral palsy. Botulinum toxin is efficacious in patients with upper limb spasticity who are not good surgical candidates. It also proves useful as an adjunct to physiotherapy in these patients. This can help reduce or slow progression in patients with cerebral palsy. Exercise has been shown to be an efficacious treatment in patients with migraines, dystonias and cerebral palsy. Further research is necessary to determine the potential benefits the combination of exercise and botulinum toxin can have in these patients. While the high cost of botulinum toxin might deter some patients, it is a good option for those that have exhausted other options or are not good candidates for surgery

Admission Criteria as Predictors of Student Success

Objective: Evaluate impact of various admission criteria elements (cognitive, behavioral) as predictors of first-term college GPA and on-time graduation. Methods & Results: Predictive models were developed to examine if the current admission criteria: high school GPA (HSGPA), ACT Composite score, interview score, etc are significant predictors for student success defined as first-term college GPA, on-time graduation among PharmD students at a direct entry private university. The study sample consisted of 395 pharmacy students matriculated as first-time freshmen students during fall 2007 through fall 2009. Results from the hierarchical linear regression analysis indicated that both HSGPA and ACT Composite score were significant predictors for first-term college GPA. After taking into account relevant demographic factors, the final model explained 22% of the total variance in first-term college GPA, with HSGPA accounting for 18% of the total variance and ACT Composite score accounting for only 3%. For predicting on-time graduation using the logistic regression method, HSGPA alone was the significant predictor while the model had no substantial impact on predicting on-time graduation (4% of the total variance). Further study is needed to develop a more comprehensive model involving behavioral or psychosocial factors impacting student success outcomes. Implications: This data was used to adjust relative weight of HSGPA and standardized tests scores in the application evaluation rubric. It is also being used to allocate student services resources for student retention initiatives

Combined Neprilysin and Angiotensin Inhibitor for the Treatment of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a highly prevalent disease state worldwide that can progress into a disabling condition. It is pertinent to have a treatment regimen that is effective in lowering the number of HF exacerbations and, therefore, hospital readmission rates. A novel medication currently in clinical trials, LCZ696, blocks both neprilysin and angiotensin type I receptors. The overall effects are an inhibition of the breakdown of natriuretic peptides which leads to a decrease in renin and aldosterone release. This, combined with the antagonization of angiotensin type I receptors, leads to a decrease in blood pressure, blood volume and systemic vascular resistance. The PARAMOUNT trial compared the therapeutic effectiveness of LCZ696 to valsartan monotherapy. This study demonstrated that patients taking LCZ696 had better improvements in symptoms and biomarkers. The PARADIGM-HF trial compared LCZ696 to enalapril. LCZ696 showed significant reductions in cardiac death, hospitalizations and HF symptoms over enalapril. Although this new medication looks promising as a future treatment option for HF patients, additional studies should be completed to look at the long-term patient outcomes associated with LCZ696

The Admissions Criteria for Professional Athletic Training Programs: A 2018 Review of Post-Baccalaureate Degrees

Purpose: Athletic training education has advanced its professional degree to an entry level masters, a decision motivated by professional health education developments over the last 10 years. In respect to Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education (CAATE) accreditation standards as well as evolutionary changes in athletic training education, current prerequisite expectations of entry level applicants are largely dependent upon program. Analysis of the publicly available documents via websites and other programmatic documents of professional athletic training including prerequisite classes, supplemental admissions requirements, length and credits of program, cost of attendance and degree level of core faculty. Methods: 144 professional athletic training programs delivered at the graduate level, regardless of program design, as identified on the CAATE website in November 2018 were eligible for the analysis. Data were collected and recorded into a custom spreadsheet by one researcher regarding program characteristics, admission requirements, costs, and core faculty descriptors. Descriptive analyses were performed. Results: Most of the programs (n=96, 66.7%) were active and in good standing with the CAATE. Admissions requirements vary largely by program with 54.9% (n=142) requiring biology, 69.7% (n=142) requiring chemistry, 65.5% (n=142) requiring physics, 81.0% (n=142) requiring psychology, 99.3% (n=142) requiring anatomy, and 99.3% (n=142) requiring physiology. The average required observation hours were 48+40 with a range of 0 to 200 (n=141). Prerequisite GPA requirements varied from 2.0 to 3.40 with a mean of 2.90+0.23. Conclusion(s): Professional programs are in need of adjustment for admissions requirements to address the 2020 standards related to admissions