The roles of TNF-α and the soluble TNF receptor I on sleep architecture in OSA

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) have been described to have increased levels of inflammatory cytokines (particularly TNF-α) and have severely disturbed sleep architecture. Serum inflammatory markers, even in normal individuals, have been associated with abnormal sleep architecture. Not much is known about the role the TNF receptor plays in the inflammation of OSA nor if it is associated with changes in sleep architecture or arousals during the night. We hypothesized that the TNF receptor might play an important role in the inflammation as well as sleep architecture changes in patients with OSA. Thirty-six patients with diagnosed (AHI > 15) but untreated OSA were enrolled in this study. Baseline polysomnograms as well as TNF-α and soluble TNF receptor I (sTNF-RI) serum levels were obtained on all patients. We evaluated the association between serum levels of TNF-α and sTNF-RI with various polysomongraphic characteristics, including sleep stages and EEG arousals. sTNF-RI levels were significantly correlated with snore arousals (r value 0.449, p value 0.009), spontaneous movement arousals (r value 0.378, p value 0.025), and periodic limb movement arousals (r value 0.460, p value 0.008). No statistically significant correlations were observed with TNF-α to any polysomnographic variables. To control for statistical significance with multiple comparisons, a MANOVA was performed with TNF-α and sTNF-RI as dependent variables and sleep architecture measures and arousals as independent variables. The model for sTNF-RI was statistically significant (F value 2.604, p value 0.03), whereas the model for TNF-α was not, suggesting sleep quality significantly affects sTNF-RI. Hierarchal linear regression analysis demonstrated that sTNF-RI was independently associated with spontaneous movement arousal index scores after controlling for age, body mass index, and sleep apnea severity. These findings suggest that sTNF-RI is associated with arousals during sleep, but not with other measures in patients with OSA

Longitudinal Relationship of Low Leisure Satisfaction but not Depressive Symptoms With Systemic Low-Grade Inflammation in Dementia Caregivers

Objectives. This study aimed to further elucidate the biobehavioral mechanisms linking dementia caregiving with an increased cardiovascular disease risk. We hypothesized that both elevated depressive symptoms and a behavioral correlate of depression, low leisure satisfaction, are associated with systemic inflammation. Method. We studied 121 elderly Alzheimer's disease caregivers who underwent 4 annual assessments for depressive symptoms, leisure satisfaction, and circulating levels of inflammatory markers. We used mixed-regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic and health-relevant covariates to examine longitudinal relationships between constructs of interest. Results. There were inverse relationships between total leisure satisfaction and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; p = .047), interleukin-8 (IL-8; p .17). Depressive symptoms did not mediate the relationship between leisure satisfaction and inflammation. Discussion. Lower satisfaction with leisure activities is related to higher low-grade systemic inflammation. This knowledge may provide a promising way of improving cardiovascular health in dementia caregivers through behavioral activation treatments targeting low leisure satisfactio

Problem Behavior of Dementia Patients Predicts Low-Grade Hypercoagulability in Spousal Caregivers

Background. Low-grade hypercoagulability might be one pathway to explain how the chronic stress of dementia caregiving increases cardiovascular disease risk, but the specific aspects of caregiver stress that elicit hypercoagulability are elusive. We hypothesized that dementia patients' problem behaviors and negative reactions of caregivers to these behaviors would relate to hypercoagulability in caregivers. Methods. One hundred and eight participants (mean age 74 ± 8 years, 70% women) providing in-home care for their spouse with Alzheimer's disease were examined. Caregivers were interviewed about the number of 24 predefined patient problem behaviors in the previous week (range 0-24) and how upset or bothered they felt in response to these behaviors (total score 0-96). Von Willebrand factor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and D-dimer were determined in plasma and standardized z-scores of their concentrations summed into a procoagulant index. Results. Greater number of problem behaviors (ΔR2 = 0.046, p = .014) and negative reactions of caregivers to these behaviors (ΔR2 = 0.044, p = .017) were associated with greater procoagulant index after controlling for sociodemographic factors, major cardiovascular risk factors, health habits, and health problems. However, the number of and reaction to problem behaviors did not significantly predict procoagulant activity independent from each other. Post hoc analysis revealed a positive association between the number of problem behaviors and D-dimer (p = .010, ΔR2 = 0.053), even when controlling for negative reactions (p = .033, ΔR2 = 0.036). Caregiver reaction to problem behaviors was not significantly associated with any procoagulant factor individually. Conclusion. Alzheimer patients' problem behavior and their negative appraisal by the caregiver may contribute to the chronic low-grade hypercoagulable state in dementia caregiver

Unravelling genotypic and environmental influences on strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) fruit quality and composition across different European latitudes: Implications for climate change adaptation.

Cultivated strawberry holds a significant status as a berry crop in Europe, both economically and nutritionally. Its quality, determined by the optimal combination of organoleptic and bioactive compounds accumulated in the fresh fruit during ripening, serves as the primary appeal to consumers and renders it a valuable raw material for the industry. These attributes have resulted in global production exceeding 12.9 million tonnes (Mt) in 2020 (FAO, 2021). However, recent studies in consumer behaviour have highlighted an emerging dissatisfaction with the lack of flavour in strawberries. Although there have been advancements in understanding fruit quality, phenotyping this trait remains a challenging task due to the relatively little known about the influence of genotype-by-environment interactions (GxE). Here, we report the characterisation of GxE on the composition of four strawberry cultivars ('Clery' (IT), 'Frida' (NO), 'Gariguette' (FR), and 'Sonata' (NL)), renowned for their genetic diversity and adaptability to different geographical environments, across five European locations (Norway, Poland, Germany, Italy, and France). The integration of metabolomic, transcriptomic, and bioinformatic analyses revealed greater impact of location on quality-related metabolites in northern regions, whereas the influence of cultivar was greater in the south. We could also determine a cultivar-specific regulation of certain biosynthetic pathways involved in quality, such as terpenes, enabling us to dissect the plasticity of the genotypes and their potential as breeding material. Our findings underscore the importance of understanding the impact of GxE on quality profiles, particularly considering climate change challenges. Therefore, further multi-environment trials are needed to facilitate the recovery and enhancement of flavour and nutritional traits in future breeding programs involving strawberry fruit.This work was supported through funding by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement Number 679303. In addition, we acknowledge partial funding by the European Union’s H2020 Programme (BreedingValue; grant number 101000747), P21_00315 (Junta de Andalucia), and Ramón y Cajal programme (RYC2021-034936-1, Ministerio de Ciencias e Innovación). P.P. acknowledges the support by Qualifica Program (QUAL21 012 IHSM). Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Longitudinal Relationship of Low Leisure Satisfaction but not Depressive Symptoms With Systemic Low-Grade Inflammation in Dementia Caregivers.

Objectives.This study aimed to further elucidate the biobehavioral mechanisms linking dementia caregiving with an increased cardiovascular disease risk. We hypothesized that both elevated depressive symptoms and a behavioral correlate of depression, low leisure satisfaction, are associated with systemic inflammation.Method.We studied 121 elderly Alzheimer's disease caregivers who underwent 4 annual assessments for depressive symptoms, leisure satisfaction, and circulating levels of inflammatory markers. We used mixed-regression analyses controlling for sociodemographic and health-relevant covariates to examine longitudinal relationships between constructs of interest. RESULTS: There were inverse relationships between total leisure satisfaction and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α; p = .047), interleukin-8 (IL-8; p .17). Depressive symptoms did not mediate the relationship between leisure satisfaction and inflammation.Discussion.Lower satisfaction with leisure activities is related to higher low-grade systemic inflammation. This knowledge may provide a promising way of improving cardiovascular health in dementia caregivers through behavioral activation treatments targeting low leisure satisfaction

Language of Lullabies: The Russification and De-Russification of the Baltic States

This article argues that the laws for promotion of the national languages are a legitimate means for the Baltic states to establish their cultural independence from Russia and the former Soviet Union

Association between hospice care and psychological outcomes in Alzheimer's spousal caregivers.

CONTEXT Dementia care giving can lead to increased stress, physical and psychosocial morbidity, and mortality. Anecdotal evidence suggests that hospice care provided to people with dementia and their caregivers may buffer caregivers from some of the adverse outcomes associated with family caregiving in Alzheimer's Disease (AD). OBJECTIVES This pilot study examined psychological and physical outcomes among 32 spousal caregivers of patients with AD. It was hypothesized that caregivers who utilized hospice services would demonstrate better outcomes after the death of their spouse than caregivers who did not utilize hospice. METHODS The charts of all spousal caregivers enrolled in a larger longitudinal study from 2001 to 2006 (N=120) were reviewed, and participants whose spouse had died were identified. Of these, those who received hospice care (n=10) were compared to those who did not (n=22) for various physiological and psychological measures of stress, both before and after the death of the care recipient. An Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA), with postdeath scores as the dependent variable and pre-death scores as covariates, was used for all variables. RESULTS Significant group differences were found in postdeath depressive symptoms (HAM-D; F(1,29)=6.10, p0.5 between groups. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that hospice enrollment may ameliorate the detrimental psychological effects in caregivers who have lost a spouse with Alzheimer's Disease. Based on these pilot data, further prospective investigation is warranted

Priorities and interactions of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with focus on wetlands

Wetlands are often vital physical and social components of a country's natural capital, as well as providers of ecosystem services to local and national communities. We performed a network analysis to prioritize Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets for sustainable development in iconic wetlands and wetlandscapes around the world. The analysis was based on the information and perceptions on 45 wetlandscapes worldwide by 49 wetland researchers of the GlobalWetland Ecohydrological Network (GWEN). We identified three 2030 Agenda targets of high priority across the wetlandscapes needed to achieve sustainable development: Target 6.3-'Improve water quality'; 2.4-'Sustainable food production'; and 12.2-'Sustainable management of resources'. Moreover, we found specific feedback mechanisms and synergies between SDG targets in the context of wetlands. The most consistent reinforcing interactions were the influence of Target 12.2 on 8.4-'Efficient resource consumption'; and that of Target 6.3 on 12.2. The wetlandscapes could be differentiated in four bundles of distinctive priority SDG-targets: 'Basic human needs', 'Sustainable tourism', 'Environmental impact in urban wetlands', and 'Improving and conserving environment'. In general, we find that the SDG groups, targets, and interactions stress that maintaining good water quality and a 'wise use' of wetlandscapes are vital to attaining sustainable development within these sensitive ecosystems. © 2019 by the authors