Longitudinal physical activity trajectories from childhood to adulthood and their determinants: The Young Finns Study

Determining lifelong physical activity (PA) trajectories and their determinants is essential to promote a physically active lifestyle throughout the life‐course. We aimed to identify PA trajectories from childhood to midlife and their determinants in a longitudinal population‐based cohort. This study is a part of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study. From 1980, a population‐based cohort (N = 3596; 1764 boys/1832 girls, age 3‐18 years) has been followed up for 31 years. PA indices were formed based on self‐reported data (between age 9‐49 years) on frequency, duration, and intensity of leisure (during childhood) or high‐intensity (at later age) PA and on sports club participation/competitions. PA trajectories were analyzed using group‐based trajectory modeling. Childhood (age 12 years), young adulthood (age 24 years), and early midlife (age 37 years) determinants were analyzed. Five PA trajectories were identified: persistently active (6.6%), decreasingly active (13.9%), increasingly active (13.5%), persistently low active (51.4%, reference group), persistently inactive (14.6%). In childhood, rural residential area (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.21‐0.96) and high academic performance (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.58‐3.00) associated with persistently active group. In early midlife, smoking (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.07‐2.58) associated with persistently inactive group, regular alcohol drinking (OR 2.91; 95% CI 1.12‐7.55) with persistently active group and having children (OR 2.07; 95% CI 1.27‐3.38) with decreasingly active group. High adulthood education associated with both decreasingly (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.05‐3.35) and increasingly (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.19‐3.68) active groups. We identified five PA trajectories from childhood into midlife. Most prominent determinants were academic achievement, education, having children and health habits (i.e. smoking/alcohol use).     

Physical activity as a proxy to ameliorate inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes and periodontal disease at high cardiovascular risk

While the beneficial impact of physical activity has been ascertained in a variety of pathological scenarios, including diabetes and low-grade systemic inflammation, its potential remains still putative for periodontal health. Periodontal disease has been associated with inflammatory systemic alterations, which share a common denominator with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. Physical exercise, along with nutritional counseling, is a cornerstone in the treatment and prevention of type 2 diabetes, also able to reduce the prevalence of periodontal disease and cardiovascular risk. In addition, considering the higher incidence of periodontitis in patients with type 2 diabetes compared to healthy controls, the fascinating research question would be whether physical activity could relieve the inflammatory pressure exerted by the combination of these two diseases. This multi-disciplinary viewpoint discusses available literature in order to argument the hypothesis of a “three–way relationship” linking diabetes, periodontitis, and physical activity.     

Molecular cloning and characterization of peroxiredoxin 4 involved in protection against oxidative stress in the silkworm Bombyx mori

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) are a ubiquitous family of proteins that play important roles in insects in protection against oxidative stress through the detoxification of cellular peroxides. Here, we describe the cloning and characterization of a Prx4 cDNA of the silkworm Bombyx mori (BmPrx4). The BmPrx4 gene has an open reading frame of 744 bp encoding 248 amino acids and a conserved motif, VCP, involved in its presumed redox functions. The heterologously expressed proteins of the gene in Escherichia coli showed antioxidant activity, removed hydrogen peroxide and protected DnA. Western blotting analysis showed the presence of BmPrx4 in the haemolymph, suggesting that the protein is secretable. Moreover, BmPrx4 was expressed at all developmental stages. The expression level of BmPrx4 was relatively low during the feeding stage but high at the wandering stage. BmPrx4 was induced by quercetin or temperature stress. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that BmPrx4 is present in the brain, neurones and olfactory organ of the head in silkworms. Overall, our results indicate that the expression profile of BmPrx4 correlates well with protection from oxidative damage. Our data provide clues for the development of control technology for agricultural and forestry pests as the silkworm is a representative of lepidopteran pests.     

Nanofiber membrane of graphene oxide/polyacrylonitrile with highly efficient antibacterial activity

Abstract

Infection from bacterial resistance to antibiotics has given rise to a grave threat to human health in the world. It is vital to developing highly efficient antibacterial materials that are safe and biocompatible with humans and without bacterial resistance. In this study, nanofiber membranes of graphene oxide/polyacrylonitrile (GO/PAN) with highly efficient antibacterial activity were fabricated via electrospinning technique. As the spindle-knot structure of membranes formed by the addition of GO sheets increased, the hydrophilicity and surface roughness increased. The antibacterial test indicated that antibacterial ratios of 3GO/PAN membranes against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were 98.5% and 99.6%, respectively after contracting 24?h, with highly efficient antibacterial activity. Furthermore, the E. coli cell structures of adhered to the GO/PAN nanofiber surface changed significantly shrunk and deformed, and the number of S. aureus cell were obviously less contrast than the pure PAN. The main antibacterial mechanism was GO of spindle-knot in nanofiber membranes produced ROS destroyed the physiological activities of the bacteria lead to death. The fabricated GO/PAN nanofiber membrane of this study is promising to develop to a kind of novel antibacterial materials.     

Physical activity in child and adolescent cancer survivors: a review

Abstract

Childhood cancer survivors are at increased risk for future health problems. As such, physical activity (PA) has been targeted as a health promotion priority in child and adolescent cancer survivors. Research indicates that a large portion of pediatric survivors do not meet PA recommendations. Using Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory as a framework, this review presents a conceptual model to explain child and adolescent survivors' PA. The model considers predictors of PA across six domains: (1) demographic, (2) medical, (3) cognitive/emotional, (4) behavioural, (5) social/cultural and (6) environmental. A structured literature review found 14 empirical articles examining those predictors of PA among child and adolescent cancer survivors. Much existing research is cross-sectional, but suggests multiple factors work together to encourage or discourage PA among survivors of child/adolescent cancer. The conceptual model, which is based in empirical findings to date, can be used to understand the process through which PA is promoted and maintained, to inform the development of empirically-supported clinical interventions, and to guide future research objectives and priorities.     

Oral administration of leaf extracts of Momordica charantia affect reproductive hormones of adult female Wistar rats

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of graded doses of aqueous leaf extracts of Momordica charantia on fertility hormones of female albino rats.MethodsTwenty adult, healthy, female Wistar rats were divided into four groups: low dose (LD), moderate dose (MD) and high dose (HD) groups which received 12.5 g, 25.0 g, 50.0 g of the leaf extract respectively and control group that was given with water ad libatum.ResultEstrogen levels reduced by 6.40 nmol/L, 10.80 nmol/L and 28.00 nmol/L in the LD, MD and HD groups respectively while plasma progesterone of rats in the LD, MD and HD groups reduced by 24.20 nmol/L, 40.8 nmol/L and 59.20 nmol/L respectively.ConclusionOur study has shown that the antifertility effect of Momordica charantia is achieved in a dose dependent manner. Hence, cautious use of such medication should be advocated especially when managing couples for infertility.     

Functional characterization of Vitellogenin_N domain,domain of unknown function 1943, and von Willebrand factor type D domain in vitellogenin of the non-bilaterian coral Euphyllia ancora: Implications for emergence of immune activity of vitellogenin in basal metazoan

Our understanding of the function of vitellogenin (Vg) in reproduction has undergone a transformation over the past decade in parallel with new insights into the role of Vg in immunity. However, the time when Vg was endowed with immunological activities during animal evolution remains elusive. Here we demonstrate for the first time that the recombinant proteins rVitellogenin_N, rDUF1943, and rVWD from Vg of the basal metazoan coral Euphyllia ancora not only interact with Gram-positive and negative bacteria as well as their conserved surface components LTA and LPS but also enhance phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages. Moreover, challenge with LPS results in a marked up-regulation of vg in the coral E. ancora. These data suggest that E. ancora Vg, like that described in the bilaterian oviparous animals fish and amphioxus, is a molecule related to antibacterial defense, indicating that the timing of the emergence of immune role of Vg predates the divergence of the cnidarian (non-bilaterian) and bilaterian lineages.