Factors associated with inflamm-aging in institutionalized older people

The increase in inflammatory cytokines associated with a reduction in the bioavailability of zinc has been used as a marker for inflammation. Despite the high inflammatory state found in institutionalized older individuals, few studies have proposed verifying the factors associated with this condition in this population. To verify the factors associated with inflamm-aging in institutionalized older people. A total of 178 older people (≥ 60 years old) living in nursing homes in Natal/RN were included in the study. Cluster analysis was used to identify three groups according to their inflammatory state. Analysis anthropometric, biochemical, sociodemographic, and health-related variables was carried out. In sequence, an ordinal logistic regression was performed for a confidence level of 95% in those variables with p < 0.20 in the bivariate analysis. IL-6, TNF-α, zinc, low-density lipids (LDL), high-density lipids (HDL), and triglycerides were associated with inflamm-aging. The increase of 1 unit of measurement of LDL, HDL, and triglycerides increased the chance of inflammation-aging by 1.5%, 4.1%, and 0.9%, respectively, while the oldest old (≥ 80 years old) had an 84.9% chance of presenting inflamm-aging in relation to non-long-lived older people (< 80 years). The association between biochemical markers and inflamm-aging demonstrates a relationship between endothelial injury and the inflammatory state. In addition, the presence of a greater amount of fat in the blood may present a higher relative risk of death

Does being overweight play a role in the reduced inhibitory control of patients receiving treatment for substance use disorder?

Background: Impaired inhibitory control is present in individuals with substance use disorder (SUD) and in those with obesity. However, the question as to whether patients with SUD who are either overweight or obese have impaired inhibitory control, relative to patients with SUD and normal weight, remains unanswered. Methods: Sixty-two adult men (mean age: 31.17 +/- 8.79) under treatment for SUD performed a general and drugspecific inhibitory control test (GoNogo). Participants were divided in two groups based on their BMI. Patients with a BMI higher or equal than >= 25 kg/m2 were in the overweight and obese group (OB), and patients with a BMI lower than 25 kg/m2 were in the normal weight group (NW). Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) were performed to explore differences in drug-specific and general commission errors, as well as reaction time for go trials during both drug-specific and general inhibition tasks. Models were adjusted for anxiety, depression, age, and duration of drug use. Results: No differences were found for commission errors in both tasks. With regards to reaction time, no differences were found for the general inhibitory control paradigm, whereas the OB group demonstrated slower reaction time during the drug specific paradigm, relative to the NW group (p=0.03, f2 = 0.09; OB: 520.65 +/- 71.39 ms vs. NW: 486.07 +/- 51.75 ms). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that those undergoing treatment for SUD and are either overweight or obese present impaired inhibitory control when facing drug cues. Future research should explore the effects of physical activity, nutritional counseling, and food monitoring on inhibitory control outcomes in SUD rehabilitation

Associations between levels of physical activity and mortality in older adults: a prospective cohort study

Background- Research using objectively measured physical activity (PA) in older adults to assess relationship between PA levels and mortality is scarce. Objective- To investigate associations between level of physical activity and mortality in older adults over a 4-year period. Methods- The population-based cohort study was carried out including 554 older participants (mean age: 76.2 ± 8.05 years) using data from the SABE study (Health, well-being and aging). Levels of physical activity were measured using accelerometers and participants were divided into tertiles and then categorized into two groups: (I) low level of physical activity and (II) intermediate/high level of physical activity. The dependent variable was mortality between 2010 and 2014. Control variables included socio-demographic and clinical factors. Multiple regression analysis was used from a hierarchical model, grouping the variables into two blocks ordered according to the magnitude of their effect. Results- Our results showed that mortality rate in participants with low level of physical activity was 20/1000 person/year and for those with intermediate/high levels of physical activity was 14/1000 person/year. In the adjusted model, by sociodemographic and clinical variables, those with low levels of physical activity presented a higher risk for mortality (OR = 2.79, 95%CI = 1.71–4.57) when compared to individuals with intermediate/high levels of physical activity. Conclusion- Older adults with low levels of physical activity have a higher chance of mortality as compared to those with intermediate/high levels of physical activity, regardless of sociodemographic and clinical variables

Reliability and validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Several tests are available to assess the different components of physical fitness, including cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength, and flexibility. However, the reliability and validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders has not been meta‐analyzed. Aims To examine the reliability, concurrent, and convergent validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders. Methods Studies evaluating the reliability, concurrent, and convergent validity of physical fitness tests in people with mental disorders were searched from major databases until January 20, 2020. Random‐effects meta‐analyses were performed pooling (1) reliability: test–retest correlations at two‐time points, (2) convergent validity between submaximal tests and maximal protocols, or (3) concurrent validity between two submaximal tests. Associations are presented using r values and 95% confidence intervals. Methodological quality was assessed using the Quality Appraisal of Reliability Studies and the Critical Appraisal Tool. Results A total of 11 studies (N = 504; 34% females) were included. Reliability of the fitness tests, produced r values ranging from moderate (balance test‐EUROFIT; [r = 0.75 (0.60–0.85); p = 0.0001]) to very strong (explosive leg power EUROFIT; [r = 0.96 (0.93–0.97); p = 0.0001]). Convergent validity between the 6‐min walk test (6MWT) and submaximal cardiorespiratory tests was moderate (0.57 [0.26–0.77]; p = 0.0001). Concurrent validity between the 2‐min walk test and 6MWT (r = 0.86 [0.39–0.97]; p = 0.0004) was strong. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that physical fitness tests are reliable and valid in people with mental disorders

Quality and intensity of the tissue response to two synthetic granular hydroxyapatite implanted in critical defects of rat calvaria

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the quality and intensity of the tissue response to two synthetic hydroxyapatites implanted in critical defects in the skulls of rats. Sixty animals were divided into three experimental groups: I (control), II (HA-1 = HA with 28% crystallinity) and III (HA-2 = HA with 70% crystallinity). They were sacrificed 1, 3, 6, and 9 months after implantation (n = 5 individuals per group/period). Histomorphometric analysis included i) counting of polymorphonuclear leucocytes, mast cells, macrophages and foreign body multinucleated giant cells stained with anti-lysozyme; ii) microvascular density stained with anti-Factor VIII and iii) degree of cell proliferation stained with anti-PCNA. There were no significant differences between the experimental groups in either the quality or quantity of cells in the inflammatory infiltrate, or the degree of angiogenesis and cell proliferation. We conclude that HA-1 and HA-2 are biocompatible and that the physico-chemical differences of these biomaterials did not affect cellular response