In the balance: report of a research study exploring information for weight management

This paper uses findings from a research study called Net.Weight to examine the concepts of interaction, information quality and Internet-based information from the perspective of people engaged in managing their weight. The Net.Weight study was a two-year project funded by the British government 19s Department of Health and located in the city of Brighton and Hove. It examined the potential for increased, innovative and effective uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support the self management of weight. The study had several inter-related research strands and the findings discussed in the paper emerged primarily from participatory learning workshops and evaluative interviews. The paper demonstrates that the interaction between people is an important aspect of the information process, which is often neglected in the literature. It suggests that exploring the user-user dimension might add to the understanding of information effectiveness. It also suggests that an approach to information and health literacy which includes a social as well as an individual perspective is necessary. On quality assessment, it supports findings from other studies that organisational authority is a key measure of reliability for lay users and that quality assessment tools have a limited role in the assessment process. The Net.Weight participants embraced the Internet as a medium for weight management information only when it added value to their existing information and weight management practices and when it could be integrated into their everyday lives

Information to fight the flab: findings from the Net.Weight study

The purpose of the paper is to examine information use and information literacy in the context of weight management. It reports on a two-year study funded by the Department of Health known informally as the Net.Weight Study. Net.Weight examined the potential for increased, innovative and effective uses of information and communication technologies (ICTs) to support the self management of weight. The research was conducted in the city of Brighton & Hove by an inter-disciplinary team from the University of Brighton. The paper gives a brief overview of the various methods used in the study as a whole but discusses one strand, the user survey, in more detail. The survey gathered data on people’s information and ICT use around weight management. The design of the survey questionnaire required the adaptation of existing literacy assessment instruments and this process is described in this paper. The findings show that people use a wide range of information sources for information and support around weight management. The most useful sources are slimming groups, food packaging, friends and family, magazines, TV and health books, thus representing a variety of media, formal and informal, and including human sources. The internet was reported to be a useful source for around half the survey respondents and is most often used for information about diet and exercise. A majority of respondents described themselves as active information seekers and confident about their information skills. They are less confident about internet information than information generally and even less confident about using the internet to support weight management activities. The concept of literacies, particularly around information and health, provide a framework for examining the Net.Weight findings. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for health information policy and for those interested in applying information literacy theory to health. The role of healthcare practitioners in weight management information is addressed, as is the need for targeted rather than generic health information. It is suggested that the work done in the education sector to increase awareness of information literacy and improve skills could provide a useful model of good practice in a health context. However, the evidence provided by the Net.Weight study suggests that for such an approach to be relevant it needs to reflect the complexity of health information processes in everyday lives

Effect of divalent cation ionophore (A 23187) on renal handling of phosphorus

Effect of divalent cation ionophore (A 23187) on renal handling of phosphorus. To evaluate the effect of an increase in intracellular calcium on renal handling of phosphorus, calcium ionophore, which facilitates passive entry of calcium into cytosol, was given i.v. to four groups of rats: group 1, animals with intact parathyroid glands; group 2, parathyroidectomized (PTX) rats; group 3, PTX animals receiving i.v. parathyroid hormone (PTH); and group 4, PTX animals pretreated with i.v. ionophore, then given i.v. PTH. During the administration of ionophore in group 1, serum calcium (Sca) decreased from 8.7 ± 0.2 (mean ±SEM) to 7.5 ± 0.2mg/100 ml (P < 0.001), fractional excretion of phosphorus (CP/CIn) decreased from 0.110 ± 0.020 to 0.019 ± 0.006 (P < 0.001), and urinary cyclic 3′, 5′-adenosine monophosphate (UcAMP) decreased from 131 ± 23 to 46 ± 16 pmoles/min (P < 0.0125). In group 2, during the administration of ionophore, Sca decreased from 6.5 ± 0.2 to 5.7 ± 0.2mg/100 ml (P < 0.001), but neither CP/CIn nor UcAMP were altered. In group 2, during the administration of ionophore, CP/Cm decreased from 0.43 ± 0.05 to 0.19 ± 0.04 (P < 0.005), UcAMP decreased from 254 ± 20 to 159 ± 11 (P < 0.001). In group 4, during combined i.v. administration of ionophore and PTH, CP/CIn was reduced from 0.19 ± 0.009 to 0.044 ± 0.012 (P < 0.005), and serum calcium was reduced from 6.5 ± 0.3 to 5.1 ± 0.3mg/100 ml (P < 0.01). These findings indicate that i.v. ionophore suppresses urinary excretion of phosphorus, only in the presence of either endogenous or exogenous PTH. The associated decrease in UcAMP suggests that this effect could be mediated through inhibition of PTH-dependent formation of cAMP, possibly resulting from the ionophore-induced increase in intracellular calcium in renal tubular cells.Effet d'un ionophore des cations divalents (A 23187) sur le comportement renal vis a vis du phosphate. Afin d'évaluer l'effet de l'augmentation du calcium intracellulaire sur le comportement rénal vis à vis du phosphore, on a donné à quatre groupes de rats un ionophore de calcium qui facilite l'entrée passive de ce cation dans le cytosol. Le groupe 1 est composé d'animaux dont les parathyroïdes sont intactes, le groupe 2 d'animaux parathyroïdectomisés (PTX), le groupe 3 d'animaux PTX recevant de l'hormone parathyroïdienne (PTH) par voie intra-veineuse et le groupe 4 d'animaux pré-traités par l'ionophore qui reçoivent de la PTH. Au cours de l'administration de l'ionophore au groupe 1, le calcium séreique (SCa) diminue de 8,7 ± 0,2 (m ±SEM) à 7,5 ± 0,2mg/100 ml (P < 0,001), l'excrétion fractionnelle du phosphore (CP/CIn) diminue de 0,110 ± 0,020 à 0,019 ± 0,006 (P < 0,001) et l'AMP cyclique urinaire (UcAMP) diminue de 131 ± 23 à 46 ± 16 pmoles/min (P < 0,0125).Dans le groupe 2, au cours de l'administration de l'ionophore, Sca diminue de 6,5 ± 0,2 a 5,7 ± 0,2 mg/100 ml (P < 0,001), mais ni CP/CIn ni UcAMP ne sont modifiés. Dans le groupe 3, au cours de l'administration de l'ionophore, CP/CIn diminue de 254 ± 20 à 159 ± 11 (P < 0,001). Dans le groupe 4, au cours de l'administration combinée d'ionophore et de PTH, CP/CIn diminue de 0,19 ± 0,009 à 0,004 ± 0,012 (P < 0,005) et Sca de 6,5 ± 0,3 à 5,1 ± 0,3 mg/100 ml (P < 0,01). Ces constatations indiquent que l'ionophore ne diminue l'excrétion urinaire de phosphate qu'en présence de PTH endogène ou exogène. La baisse associée de UcAMP suggère que cet effet peut avoir pour médiateur l'inhibition de la formation d'AMP cyclique dépendante de la PTH, conséquence de l'augmentation du calcium intracellulaire dans les cellules tubulaires rénales, induite par l'ionophore

Why some treated patients with arterial hypertension do not report of having it: Findings from epidemiological studies

Introduction. Diagnosis of hypertension (HT) in epidemiological studies sometimes requires careful clinical evaluation. This may be particularly challenging in the subgroup of patients taking antihypertensive drugs for indications other than HT. Material and methods. The PolSenior2 study was conducted on a representative sample of Polish residents aged 60 or older. Blood pressure measurements were taken three times during two separate visits in a total of 5,981 people (2,920 men and 3,044 women). The diagnosis of HT was made according to the ESC/ESH criteria. On this basis, 4607 people were classified as having HT. Among them, 424 respondents were taking antihypertensive drugs, but were not aware of having the disease. Additional analysis was performed, consisting of a detailed telephone questionnaire and additional clinical assessment of potential comorbidities. The researchers managed to contact 269 people, of whom 265 agreed to participate in the study. Results. Based on the answers obtained, the respondents were divided into four subgroups: A. 54 (20.4%) respondents confirmed they had been diagnosed with HT and admitted that they considered the fact of taking medications as the absence of the disease; B. 79 (29.8%) respondents were not aware of HT, but the available clinical data indicated taking antihypertensive drugs due to HT; C. 79 (29.8%) of the respondents declared having HT, which may indicate that during the study they gave the wrong answer or their answer was incorrectly recorded by the research team member; D. 53 (20.0%) respondents answered "I don't know/I don't remember". There were no differences in the distribution of responses between those with elevated and normal blood pressure, or between the age groups of 60–79 and over 80. Conclusions. 1. A small percentage of patients with HT (approx. 1.5%) may confuse good control of the disease with being cured of it. This indicates the need for better patient education. 2. On the other hand, some patients take antihypertensive drugs for reasons other than HT. Therefore, accurate determination of the diagnosis of HT in epidemiological studies requires obtaining complete medical documentation with detailed data on the reasons for prescribing drugs and comorbidities.Background: Diagnosis of hypertension (HT) in epidemiological studies sometimes requires careful clinical evaluation. This may be particularly challenging in the subgroup of patients taking antihypertensive drugs for indications other than HT. Material and methods: The PolSenior2 study was conducted on a representative sample of Polish residents aged 60 or older. Blood pressure measurements were taken three times during two separate visits in a total of 5,981 people (2,920 men and 3,044 women). The diagnosis of HT was made according to the European Society of Cardiology and  European Society of Hypertension (ESC/ESH) criteria. On this basis, 4607 people were classified as having HT. Among them, 424 respondents were taking antihypertensive drugs, but were not aware of having the disease. Additional analysis was performed, consisting of a detailed telephone questionnaire and additional clinical assessment of potential comorbidities. The researchers managed to contact 269 people, of whom 265 agreed to participate in the study. Results: Based on the answers obtained, the respondents were divided into four subgroups: A. 54 (20.4%) respondents confirmed they had been diagnosed with HT and admitted that they considered the fact of taking medications as the absence of the disease; B. 79 (29.8%) respondents were not aware of HT, but the available clinical data indicated taking antihypertensive drugs due to HT; C. 79 (29.8%) of the respondents declared having HT, which may indicate that during the study they gave the wrong answer or their answer was incorrectly recorded by the research team member; D. 53 (20.0%) respondents answered “I don’t know/I don’t remember”. There were no differences in the distribution of responses between those with elevated and normal blood pressure, or between the age groups of 60–79 and over 80. Conclusions: A small percentage of patients with HT (approx. 1.5%) may confuse good control of the disease with being cured of it. This indicates the need for better patient education. On the other hand, some patients take antihypertensive drugs for reasons other than HT. Therefore, accurate determination of the diagnosis of HT in epidemiological studies requires obtaining complete medical documentation with detailed data on the reasons for prescribing drugs and comorbidities

The origin of paramagnetic magnetization in field-cooled YBa2Cu3O7 films

Temperature dependences of the magnetic moment have been measured in YBa_2Cu_3O_{7-\delta} thin films over a wide magnetic field range (5 <= H <= 10^4 Oe). In these films a paramagnetic signal known as the paramagnetic Meissner effect has been observed. The experimental data in the films, which have strong pinning and high critical current densities (J_c ~ 2 \times 10^6 A/cm^2 at 77 K), are quantitatively shown to be highly consistent with the theoretical model proposed by Koshelev and Larkin [Phys. Rev. B 52, 13559 (1995)]. This finding indicates that the origin of the paramagnetic effect is ultimately associated with nucleation and inhomogeneous spatial redistribution of magnetic vortices in a sample which is cooled down in a magnetic field. It is also shown that the distribution of vortices is extremely sensitive to the interplay of film properties and the real experimental conditions of the measurements.Comment: RevTex, 8 figure

DETERMINATION OF OPTIMIZATION WAYS OF RE-PROTHESIS USING VARIOUS SCHEMES GNATHOLOGICAL SUPPORT OF PATIENTS AT THE PREPARATORY STAGE TO THE ORTHOPEDIC CORRECTION OF PATIENTS WITH OCCLUSIVE IATROGENIC DISORDERS OF TOOTH-JAW APPARATUS

We brought to the light that one of the the most controversial issues is the moment of adaptation to reconstructive procedures. Often it becomes unclear which and in which order to use medical diagnostic equipment, to training for fixed prosthetic stages. Our studies make it possible to predict not only the treatment time, but the amount of occlusal adjustment in conjunction with the reconstruction of the position of the mandible.One of the most debated issues is the time of adaptation to reconstructive manipulation. Often it becomes unclear how and in what order medical diagnostic equipment should be used in the preparatory stages of the stationary prosthetics. Our studies make it possible to predict not only the treatment time, and the amount of occlusal adjustment in conjunction with the reconstruction of the lower jaw. Keywords: tooth-jaw apparatus, temporomandibular joint, violation functional occlusion, dental surgery, medical diagnostic devices, muscle disorders, adaptation, occlusal splint, occlusal adjustment, chewing muscles, provisional design

Функціональний стан м’язів зубощелепного апарату до та після лікування дітей з аномаліями прикусу та мовленнєвими порушеннями

During the examination of orthodontic patients, children with speech disorders were found. The myodynamic balance of antagonistic muscles and synergistic muscles is the relative stability of masticatory and mimic muscles, which for a long time persists without noticeable oscillations, contributes to the relatively stable state of dentoalveolar apparatus. The aim of the study – to determine the functional status of muscles of the dentoalveolar apparatus before and after treatment of children with anomalies of bite and speech disorders. Materials and Methods. To achieve study objectives for treatment we selected 44 patients with severe orthodontic pathology and speech disorders, with normal hearing and intellect. The method of a total (surface) electromyography was used to determine and analyze the indices of bioelectric activity of the muscles. Results and Discussion. There was normalization of parameters of bioelectric activity, decrease of parafunctional manifestations in muscles and decrease of the frequency of outbreaks of spontaneous activity of muscles at rest; normalization of the average amplitude of biopotentials in the state of activity, absence of fragmentation, improvement of synchronization and coordination of contractions of examined muscles in all pathologies of dental occlusion after the treatment. Conclusions. The orthodontic treatment performed provided the restoration of the neuromuscular balance of the dentoalveolar apparatus of patients with various dental occlusion pathologies, which has a beneficial effect on the correction of speech disorders.При обследовании ортодонтических пациентов были дети с речевыми нарушениями. Миодинамическое равновесие мышц-антагонистов и синергистов – это относительная устойчивость жевательных и мимических мышц, которая в течении длительного времени сохраняется без заметных изменений, способствует относительной стабильности зубочелюстного аппарата. Цель исследования – определить функциональное состояние мышц зубочелюстного аппарата до и после лечения детей с аномалиями прикуса и речевыми нарушениями. Материалы и методы. Для достижения поставленной цели было принято на лечение 44 пациента с выраженной ортодонтической патологией и речевыми нарушениями с нормальным слухом и интеллектом. Для определения и анализа показателей биоэлектрической активности мышц использован метод суммарной (поверхностной) электромиографии. Результаты исследований и их обсуждение. После проведённого лечения наблюдали нормализацию показателей биоэлектрической активности, уменьшение парафункциональних проявлений в мышцах и частоты вспышек спонтанной активности мышц в состоянии покоя, нормализация средней амплитуды биопотенциалов в состоянии активности, отсутствие фрагментаций, улучшение синхронности и координации сокращений обследованных мышц при всех патологиях прикуса. Выводы. Проведённое ортодонтическое лечение обеспечило восстановление нейромышечного баланса зубочелюстного аппарата пациентов с различными патологиями прикуса, что имеет благоприятное воздействие на коррекцию речевых нарушений.Під час обстеження ортодонтичних пацієнтів були діти з мовленнєвими порушеннями. Міодинамічна рівновага м’язів-антагоністів та синергістів – це відносна стійкість жувальних та мімічних м’язів, що протягом тривалого часу зберігається без помітних коливань, сприяє відносно стабільного стану зубощелепного апарату. Мета дослідження – визначити функціональний стан м’язів зубощелепного апарату до та після лікування дітей з аномаліями прикусу та мовленнєвими порушеннями. Матеріали і методи. Для досягнення поставленої мети було прийнято на лікування 44 пацієнти з вираженою ортодонтичною патологією та мовленнєвими порушеннями із нормальним слухом та інтелектом. Для визначення та аналізу показників біоелектричної активності м’язів використано метод сумарної (поверхневої) електроміографії. Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. Після проведеного лікування спостерігали нормалізацію показників біоелектричної активності, зменшення парафункціональних проявів у м’язах та частоти спалахів спонтанної активності м’язів у стані спокою, нормалізація середньої амплітуди біопотенціалів у стані активності, відсутність фрагментацій, покращення синхронності та координації скорочень обстежених м’язів при усіх патологіях прикусу. Висновки. Проведене ортодонтичне лікування забезпечило відновлення нейром’язового балансу зубощелепного апарату пацієнтів із різними патологіями прикусу, що має сприятливий вплив на корекцію мовленнєвих порушень

Two chemically distinct root lignin barriers control solute and water balance.

Lignin is a complex polymer deposited in the cell wall of specialised plant cells, where it provides essential cellular functions. Plants coordinate timing, location, abundance and composition of lignin deposition in response to endogenous and exogenous cues. In roots, a fine band of lignin, the Casparian strip encircles endodermal cells. This forms an extracellular barrier to solutes and water and plays a critical role in maintaining nutrient homeostasis. A signalling pathway senses the integrity of this diffusion barrier and can induce over-lignification to compensate for barrier defects. Here, we report that activation of this endodermal sensing mechanism triggers a transcriptional reprogramming strongly inducing the phenylpropanoid pathway and immune signaling. This leads to deposition of compensatory lignin that is chemically distinct from Casparian strip lignin. We also report that a complete loss of endodermal lignification drastically impacts mineral nutrients homeostasis and plant growth

Genetic characterization of spring wheat germplasm for macro-, microelements and trace metals

Wheat as a staple food crop is the main source of micro- and macronutrients for most people of the world and is recognized as an attractive crop for biofortification. This study presents a comprehensive investigation of genomic regions governing grain micro- and macroelements concentrations in a panel of 135 diverse wheat accessions through a genome-wide association study. The genetic diversity panel was genotyped using the genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) method and phenotyped in two environments during 2017–2018. Wide ranges of variation in nutrient element concentrations in grain were detected among the accessions. Based on 33,808 high-quality single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), 2997 marker-element associations (MEAs) with −log10(p-value) > 3.5 were identified, representing all three subgenomes of wheat for 15-grain concentration elements. The highest numbers of MEAs were identified for Mg (499), followed by S (399), P (394), Ni (381), Cd (243), Ca (229), Mn (224), Zn (212), Sr (212), Cu (111), Rb (78), Fe (63), Mo (43), K (32) and Co (19). Further, MEAs associated with multiple elements and referred to as pleiotropic SNPs were identified for Mg, P, Cd, Mn, and Zn on chromosomes 1B, 2B, and 6B. Fifty MEAs were subjected to validation using KASIB multilocational trial at six sites in two years using 39 genotypes. Gene annotation of MEAs identified putative candidate genes that potentially encode different types of proteins related to disease, metal transportation, and metabolism. The MEAs identified in the present study could be potential targets for further validation and may be used in marker-assisted breeding to improve nutrient element concentrations in wheat grain