141 research outputs found
MENTAL ILLNESS AND PREJUDICES IN PSYCHIATRIC PROFESSIONALS Data from the social stigma questionnaire for psychiatric professionals: a multicentre study
The prejudices about mental illness and the related social stigma are still present in the population. People suffer from both the
disease and the marginalization behaviors implemented by the "so-called healthy" towards them and their relatives. Even psychiatric professionals can get sick and suffer for the same reason. The authors of this multicentric study have focused their attention on the presence or absence of groups of psychiatric pathologies among the "insiders". The most frequent pathologies encountered were the mood and anxiety disorders, in a percentage similar to that of the general population. To continue the research on the stigma begun in a previous study, the authors asked themselves if there could be prejudices and/or stigma among psychiatric professionals towards sick colleagues, how they relate in the workplace and how they react to the behavior of colleagues. The stigma questionnaire has been used on psychiatric professionals, and 130 Italian colleagues were tested in the provinces of Avellino, Brindisi and Trento. The data were compared with those of the research on the stigma "Thinking of Psychiatric Disorders as" Normal "Illness" (Tavormina et al. 2016) and it emerged that among the attending professionals there are no statistically significant behaviors of marginalization, exclusion or stigma against sick colleagues, even if there is a certain discomfort in working together. Above all, it emerged that 80% of the interviewees, who have had work experience with sick colleagues, have replied that the latter can treat those who are also sick of their own disease, thus showing esteem and confidence in their work, in analogy with the Jungian thesis of the "wounded Healer" in the myth of the centaur Chiron
Methodological utility of chemerin as a novel biomarker of immunity and metabolism
Chemerin is a recently discovered adipokine with inflammatory and metabolic
actions relevant for chronic disease development. However, evidence from human
research on the role of chemerin in chronic disease risk is still lacking. We
assessed the reliability of plasma chemerin concentrations measured on two
occasions over a 4-month period in 207 apparently healthy participants. In
addition, we explored the cross-sectional associations between chemerin and
inflammatory biomarkers using Spearman partial correlation and multivariable
linear regression analyses. Intra-individual reproducibility of chemerin
measurements was assessed by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients
(ICCs) and exploration of Bland–Altman plots. Reliability analyses revealed
good reproducibility of chemerin measurements (ICC: 0.72 (95%-CI 0.65, 0.78)).
Visual inspection of Bland–Altman plots confirmed that the two time point
measurements had a high level of agreement. In correlation analyses, chemerin
was positively correlated with adiposity measures (body mass index and waist
circumference). In addition, independent of adiposity measures, chemerin was
correlated with the biomarkers C-reactive protein, fatty acid-binding protein
4 and progranulin (Rho-s ranging from 0.23 to 0.37). In multivariable linear
regression analysis, a combination of correlated factors including body mass
index, waist circumference, C-reactive protein, progranulin and fatty acid-
binding protein-4 explained 28.0% of chemerin concentrations. These findings
demonstrate methodological utility of chemerin concentrations in population-
based research setting. Human studies are highly warranted in order to provide
further insights into the role of chemerin as a biomarker linking immunity and
metabolism in relation to chronic disease risk
Sándwiches envasados: aporte nutricional y riesgos para la salud
La vida moderna lleva a que se meriende / almuerce en los lugares de trabajo/ univer-sidad. Por cuestiones de tiempo y costo es frecuente la ingesta de sándwiches envasa-dos. Estos alimentos suelen aportar elevada cantidad de grasas saturadas y sodio, por lo cual es importante conocer su composición. El cuerpo utiliza el sodio para regular la presión arterial y el volumen sanguíneo, siendo crucial para el funcionamiento de músculos y nervios. El sodio en la dieta se mide en miligramos (mg). La sal de cocina contiene un 40% de sodio y una cucharada pequeña de sal de cocina contiene 2.300 mg de sodio. Los adultos deben limitar la inges-ta de sodio a 2.000 mg por día, mientras que los individuos que sufran de hiperten-sión arterial no deben consumir más de 1.500 mg por día. Aquellas personas que padezcan insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva, cirrosis hepática y nefropatía pueden necesitar cantidades mucho más bajas
Blood Metabolomic Profiling Confirms and Identifies Biomarkers of Food Intake
Metabolomics can be a tool to identify dietary biomarkers. However, reported food-metabolite associations have been inconsistent, and there is a need to explore further associations. Our aims were to confirm previously reported food-metabolite associations and to identify novel food-metabolite associations. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from 849 participants (57% men) of the PopGen cohort. Dietary intake was obtained using FFQ and serum metabolites were profiled by an untargeted metabolomics approach. We conducted a systematic literature search to identify previously reported food-metabolite associations and analyzed these associations using linear regression. To identify potential novel food-metabolite associations, datasets were split into training and test datasets and linear regression models were fitted to the training datasets. Significant food-metabolite associations were evaluated in the test datasets. Models were adjusted for covariates. In the literature, we identified 82 food-metabolite associations. Of these, 44 associations were testable in our data and confirmed associations of coffee with 12 metabolites, of fish with five, of chocolate with two, of alcohol with four, and of butter, poultry and wine with one metabolite each. We did not identify novel food-metabolite associations; however, some associations were sex-specific. Potential use of some metabolites as biomarkers should consider sex differences in metabolism
Modificaciones en la calidad nutritiva, composición química y sensorial de alimentos sometidos a diferentes procedimientos de cocción
Las prácticas culinarias a las que se someten los alimentos no siempre
permiten un aprovechamiento de su calidad nutritiva. A medida que aumenta
el grado de transformación, mayores suelen ser las transformaciones
físicas y químicas que modifican el aspecto, la textura, la composición
y el valor nutricional. Por ello el objetivo fue determinar las modificaciones
físicas químicas que sufren los alimentos, al someterlos a diferentes elaboraciones.
Uno de los estudios fue la cocción de cereales y legumbres en
donde la finalidad es mejorar las características sensoriales y posibilitar su
consumo preparándolos para la digestión
Cross-Sectional Analysis in the EPIC-Germany Study
Background Increased fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), a bone-derived
hormone involved in the regulation of phosphate and vitamin D metabolism, has
been related to the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in chronic
kidney disease patients and in the general population. However, what
determines higher FGF23 levels is still unclear. Also, little is known about
the influence of diet on FGF23. The aim of this study was therefore to
identify demographic, clinical and dietary correlates of high FGF23
concentrations in the general population. Methods We performed a cross-
sectional analysis within a randomly selected subcohort of the European
Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC)-Germany comprising
2134 middle-aged men and women. The Human FGF23 (C-Terminal) ELISA kit was
used to measure FGF23 in citrate plasma. Dietary data were obtained at
baseline via validated food frequency questionnaires including up to 148 food
items. Results Multivariable adjusted logistic regression showed that men had
a 66% lower and smokers a 64% higher probability of having higher FGF23 (≥ 90
RU/mL) levels compared, respectively, with women and nonsmokers. Each doubling
in parathyroid hormone, creatinine, and C-reactive protein was related to
higher FGF23. Among the dietary factors, each doubling in calcium and total
energy intake was related, respectively, to a 1.75 and to a 4.41 fold
increased probability of having higher FGF23. Finally, each doubling in the
intake of iron was related to an 82% lower probability of having higher FGF23
levels. Results did not substantially change after exclusion of participants
with lower kidney function. Conclusions In middle-aged men and women
traditional and non-traditional CVD risk factors were related to higher FGF23
concentrations. These findings may contribute to the understanding of the
potential mechanisms linking increased FGF23 to increased CVD risk
A Reliability Study in a Cohort of 207 Apparently Healthy Participants
The reliability of single time point measurements of the novel adipokines
retinol-binding protein 4 and omentin-1 in the blood has not been evaluated in
large samples yet. The present study aimed to assess the amount of biological
variation of these two adipokines within individuals. The study sample
comprised 207 participants (124 women and 83 men) from Potsdam (Germany) and
surrounding areas, with an average age of 56.5 years (SD 4.2). Blood samples
were collected from each participant twice, approximately four months apart.
Using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, the concentrations of retinol-
binding protein 4 and omentin-1 were determined in EDTA plasma. As indicators
of reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated
from the repeated biomarker measurements. The ICCs for repeated retinol-
binding protein 4 and omentin-1 measurements were 0.77 (95% CI 0.71, 0.82) and
0.83 (95% CI 0.78, 0.87), respectively, indicating for both adipokines
excellent reliability. ICCs were stable across strata according to sex, age,
BMI, and blood pressure. Thus, for epidemiological studies it seems reasonable
to rely on concentrations of retinol-binding protein 4 and omentin-1 in
samples from a single time point if repeated measurements are not available
Bilirubin Concentration in Follicular Fluid Is Increased in Infertile Females, Correlates with Decreased Antioxidant Levels and Increased Nitric Oxide Metabolites, and Negatively Affects Outcome Measures of In Vitro Fertilization
- …