The effectiveness of CBT-based daily supportive text messages in improving female mental health during COVID-19 pandemic: results from the Text4Hope program

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has significantly exacerbated gender disparities in mental health, particularly impacting women. To address this, Alberta, Canada, launched Text4Hope, a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy-based text messaging intervention, to provide support and resources for psychological challenges during the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of Text4Hope in reducing stress, anxiety, depression, sleeping disturbances, and suicidal ideation among female subscribers during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThe study employed both an uncontrolled longitudinal design and a controlled cohort design. The uncontrolled longitudinal study analyzed a one-year dataset (n = 9,545) of clinical outcomes, comparing mean differences in mental health symptoms from baseline to 6 weeks after subscription. The controlled cohort design compared two groups, with (n = 1,763) and without (n = 567) intervention exposure during the same period. Data were collected through self-administered online surveys completed at baseline and six weeks after subscription. Sociodemographic information and validated scales (e.g., 10-item Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)) were used to assess mental health outcomes.ResultsThe results from the longitudinal study indicated a significant reduction in anxiety prevalence and anxiety symptoms, with a 19.63% decrease in GAD-7 mean score and a 32.02% decrease in likely anxiety from baseline to six weeks. Depressive symptoms and perceived stress also showed a significant reduction (p < 0.001), albeit to a lesser extent. In the controlled cohort study, the intervention group had significantly (p < 0.001) lower PHQ-9 [19.5 (SD 7.05)], GAD-7 [7.5 (SD 5.27)], and CMH [35.53 (SD 18.45)] scores. Additionally, the study found substantial differences (p < 0.001) in suicidal ideation (26.1 vs. 15.7) between groups but no significant differences in sleep disruption.DiscussionThese findings suggest that Text4Hope could be an effective intervention for reducing stress, depression, suicidal ideation, and particularly anxiety symptoms among women during public emergencies. The study provides valuable insights into the potential benefits of text messaging interventions in supporting mental health during crisis situations

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Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Summary Background Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. Methods We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung’s disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. Findings We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung’s disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middleincome countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in lowincome countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. Interpretation Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between lowincome, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

Associação entre composição corporal e indicadores de estilo de vida em crianças fisicamente ativas

Objetivos: Analisar a associação entre composição corporal e indicadores de estilo de vida em crianças fisicamente ativas. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo do tipo transversal, observacional, individuado e descritivo-analítico com 56 crianças, em idade entre 6 e 10 anos, freqüentadoras das Escolinhas Esportivas do Grêmio Náutico União, em julho de 2004. As variáveis analisadas foram idade, sexo, peso, altura, dobras cutâneas do tríceps e da panturrilha, IMC, % gordura, prática de atividade física na escola e em casa, horas gastas com TV, computador e games, horas de sono e freqüência de consumo de alimentos. Os pais informaram peso e altura (para cálculo IMC), hábito de atividades físicas. Foram utilizados questionários respondidos pelas crianças e pelos pais, após assinarem o termo de consentimento livre e esclarecido para a participação no estudo. Este foi realizado posteriormente à apreciação e aprovação da Comissão Científica do HSL-PUCRS, do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa-PUCRS. Resultados: A prevalência de sobrepeso avaliada através do IMC foi de 23,2% e de obesidade foi de 14,3%; pela classificação através do % gordura, 19,6% tinham sobrepeso e 14,3% eram obesos. O consumo por grupos de alimentos não foi adequado para a faixa etária, pois as crianças consumiam cereais, pães e massas, vegetais e frutas abaixo do recomendado; e carnes, lacticínios, gorduras, óleos, açúcares e doces acima. O grupo das leguminosas foi o que mais se aproximou das recomendações. O consumo médio de calorias, macronutrientes e micronutrientes, foi adequado (com exceção das fibras e do cálcio que foi abaixo do recomendado). A maioria das crianças praticava atividades fora das escolinhas do GNU, dormia horas de sono adequadas, assistia televisão por mais de 2 horas/dia e utilizava computador e videogame menos de 2 horas/dia.A maioria das mães era eutrófica e a maioria dos pais era portador de sobrepeso/obesidade, sendo que ambos possuíam o hábito de praticar alguma atividade física semanal. Conclusão: não houve associações significativas entre composição corporal (avaliado através do IMC) e estilo de vida, com exceção do zinco que era consumido em menores teores em crianças com sobrepeso/obesidade. Quando a composição corporal foi avaliada pelo % gordura, a única associação encontrada foi entre o consumo de alimentos do grupo dos cereais, pães e massas e proteínas por kg/peso. Não houve associação do IMC dos pais e da prática de atividade física dos mesmos com a composição corporal dos filhos.Objectives: To analyze the association between body make-up and lifestyle indexes in physically active children. Methods: A cross-sectional, observational, descriptive-analytical study was carried out with 56 children, at ages between 6 and 10 years, who attended Grêmio Náutico União Sports School, in July of 2004. The variables under analysis were age, gender, weight, height, skin folds of triceps and calf, BMI, fat percentage, practice of physical activity in school and at home, hours spent with TV, computer and games, sleep hours, and frequency of food consumption. The parents informed weight and height (for BMI calculation) and physical activity habit. Questionnaires were answered by the children and their parents after signing a free informed consent form for participation in the study. This was carried out after consideration and approval by the HSL-PUCRS Scientific Commission and the PUCRS Research Ethics Committee. Results: The prevalence of overweight assessed through BMI was 23. 2% and of obesity was 14. 3%; by the classification through fat percentage, 19. 6% were overweight and 14. 3% were obese. The consumption by food groups wasn´t suitable for the group age, since the children consumed cereals, bread, pasta, vegetables and fruits below the recommended one, while consumption of meat, dairy products, fat, oil, sugar and candy was above. The leguminous group was the one closest to recommendations. Average consumption of calories, macronutrients and micronutrients was adequate (except for fibers and calcium, which was below the recommended level). Most children practiced activities outside the GNU schools, slept for an adequate time, watched TV for over 2 hours a day and used computer and videogame for less than 2 hours/day.Most mothers were eutrophic and most fathers suffered from overweight/obesity, both being used to practicing some physical activity on a weekly basis. Conclusion: There was no significant association between body make-up (assessed by BMI) and lifestyle, except for zinc, which was taken at lower amounts by children with overweight/obesity. When body make-up was evaluated by fat percentage, the only association found was between consumption of foods in the group of cereals, bread and pasta and proteins per weight kg. There was no association of the parents´ BMI and their practice of physical activity with their children´s body make-up

Effect of leucine supplementation on pre-osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 cell lineage proliferation

Submitted by Setor de Tratamento da Informa??o - BC/PUCRS ([email protected]) on 2016-07-26T14:11:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TES_RAQUEL_DA_LUZ_DIAS_COMPLETO.pdf: 2184806 bytes, checksum: 196521807ad1dcdfa8bffc204202abe6 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-26T14:11:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TES_RAQUEL_DA_LUZ_DIAS_COMPLETO.pdf: 2184806 bytes, checksum: 196521807ad1dcdfa8bffc204202abe6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-31Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPESIntroduction: leucine (Leu) is an essential branched-chain amino acid, present in dairy products, which has been investigated for exert an important role in cell signaling. However, most studies evaluating cellular responses mediated by Leu, works within a normal perspective in AA supply and little is known about the effects that supplementation can generate on the cell proliferation mechanisms. The effects of excess of this amino acid, have been extensively studied in many cell types, but there is an important limitation on the amount of information available in the scientific literature regarding their actions in bone cells. Objective: the aim of this study to determine the effects of leucine supplementation on proliferation of pre-osteoblasts of the MC3T3-E1 lineage. Methods: the MC3T3-E1 cells were kept in ?-MEM supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic. After initial determination of concentrations, the cells were treated during 48 hours, by the addition of 50 ?M Leu, which corresponds to 12,5% in addition of the amino acid to the culture medium. Untreated cells represented the control group. The evaluation of the viability and proliferation of cultured cells was performed with Trypan Blue dye (0.4%). To identify the mechanisms related to decreased cellular proliferation, assays were performed to verify cytotoxicity (LDH); apotosis (Annexin V); oxidative stress (TBARS and DCFH); inflammation (TGF-? 1 and CBA); autophagy (acridine orange and flow cytometry); senescence (DAPI and flow cytometry); and DNA damage (alkaline comet assay). Results and conclusions: Leu supplementation (50 ?M) decreases cell proliferation by 40% with causes not related to cell necrosis, apoptosis, oxidative stress, inflammation or autophagy. The Leu supplementation caused DNA damage, with consequent increase in senescence and decrease of proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells.Introdu??o: a leucina (Leu) ? um amino?cido (AA) essencial, de cadeia ramificada, presente na alimenta??o humana, principalmente no leite e seus derivados, que tem sido investigado por exercer um importante papel na sinaliza??o celular. Contudo, a maioria dos estudos que avalia as respostas celulares mediadas pela Leu, trabalha dentro de uma perspectiva de normalidade na oferta do AA e pouco se sabe sobre os efeitos que a suplementa??o pode gerar sobre os mecanismos de prolifera??o celular. Os efeitos do excesso deste amino?cido, t?m sido extensivamente estudado em diversos tipos de c?lulas, entretanto existe uma limita??o importante na quantidade de informa??es dispon?veis na literatura cient?fica em rela??o as suas a??es em c?lulas do tecido ?sseo. Objetivo: este estudo teve como objetivo analisar os efeitos da suplementa??o de leucina sobre a prolifera??o de pr?-osteoblastos da linhagem MC3T3-E1. M?todos: a cultura dos pr?-osteoblastos da linhagem MC3T3-E1, foi realizada com ?-MEM, suplementado com 10% de soro fetal bovino e 1% de antibi?tico. Ap?s determina??o de concentra??es, o tratamento foi feito com a adi??o de Leu, dilu?da ao meio de cultura nas concentra??es de 50 ?M, o que corresponde a um acr?scimo percentual de 12.5% a mais do amino?cido ao meio de cultura, por 48 horas. A viabilidade e a prolifera??o celular foram avaliadas pela t?cnica do Trypan Blue. Para a identifica??o dos mecanismos relacionados a inibi??o da prolifera??o celular, foram realizados ensaios que avaliaram a citotoxicidade (LDH); apoptose (Anexina V); estresse oxidativo (TBARS e DCFH); perfil inflamat?rio (TGF-? 1 e CBA); autofagia (laranja de acridina e citometria de fluxo); senesc?ncia (DAPI) e dano ao DNA (teste cometa). Resultados e conclus?es: a suplementa??o de Leu (50 ?M) inibe a prolifera??o celular em 40%, com causas n?o relacionadas a necrose celular, apoptose, estresse oxidativo, inflama??o ou autofagia. A suplementa??o de Leu provocou dano ao DNA, com consequente senesc?ncia e diminui??o da prolifera??o celular de pr?-osteoblastos da linhagem MC3T3-E1

TERMOGÊNICOS: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA SOBRE O USO DE ÓLEO DE COCO, ÓLEO DE CÁRTAMO E CLA

Introduction and objectives: We performed a systematic review, with the aim of identifying the main evidence of the use of coconut oil, safflower oil and conjugated linoleic acid in reducing body fat. Materials and methods: The study included only the results of meta-analyzes, clinical trials, case-control studies and case series conducted in humans, published in the last 10 years. Results: The evidences showed that supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid or safflower oil in addition to promoting thermogenic action, provided changes in anthropometric parameters in most studies, with significant reduction in weight, BMI and body fat. Discussion: The results were more evident in studies that combined supplementation with diet and regular physical exercise, which puts in doubt the action of these supplements. No evidence was found that ensure that coconut oil decrease body fat. Conclusion: Depending on the findings of dubious character of these oils supplementation, the differences in methods used in the studies and the lack of mechanisms involved in the results, it is concluded that this type of supplementation has no effect on body fat reduction, necessitating a greater number of studies that prove their efficiency and safety

Quality of Life Measured with the WHO-5 Wellness Index during Wildfire Season in Two Canadian Provinces—Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Wildfires impact large populations worldwide with increasing frequency and severity. In Canada, the fire season has affected more areas this year with potential implications for individuals’ well-being and quality of life (QoL). Objective: This study aimed to explore data related to the well-being and QoL of individuals living in areas impacted by wildfires in two Canadian provinces. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was used to collect data from the residents in the two provinces who subscribed to the Text4Hope mental health support service. Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied using World Health Organization Well-Being Index (WHO-5). Results: Out of 1802 Text4Hope subscribers, 298 responded to the baseline surveys, yielding a response rate of (16.5%). The mean score of QoL was (40.8/100 ± 20.7). Most respondents were from Alberta (84.2%), 40 years old or below (28.3%), females (85.2%), Caucasian (83.5%), in a relationship (56.4%), employed (63.6%), received diagnoses of depression (56.6%), and anxiety (52.9%).The overall prevalence of low QoL was (67.3%; 95% CI: 61.2–73.1%) that was mostly reported among subscribers who were from Nova Scotia (70.5%), 40 years old or younger (71.2%), other gender (83.3%), Black/Hispanic and other ethnicity (85.7% each), having high-school or less education (70.3%), not in a relationship (74.1%), and unemployed (73.6%). In terms of clinical factors, low QoL was most prevalent among those who received the diagnoses of depression (74%) and anxiety (74.3%), and those who have been receiving antidepressants (71.8%) or benzodiazepines (93.3%). Regarding wildfire-related factors, the highest prevalence of low QoL was reported among those living in a region that has recently been impacted by the wildfires (74.7%) and those who have been less frequently watching television images about the devastation caused by the recent wildfires (72.6%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis model predicting the low QoL including the various variables was statistically significant; Χ2 (df = 19; n = 254) = 31.69, p = 0.03. It was found that living in a region impacted by wildfires (37.9%) was the only significant predictor of low QoL (adjusted OR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.05–3.65). Conclusions: The impact of wildfire on the QoL and well-being among people living in impacted regions is significant. It is empirical for the health authorities to support those who are disadvantaged by wildfire via running of screening programs to early identify mental health symptoms and addressing the living conditions of the survivors, along with the provision of innovative means of mental health support. This necessitates enhanced planning of the governments and health authorities to overcome such adverse psychological consequences of these events