Association of Self-Efficacy and Self-Regulation with Nutrition and Exercise Behaviors in a Community Sample of Adults

This study examined the association of self-efficacy and self-regulation with nutrition and exercise behaviors. The study used a cross-sectional design and included 108 participants (54 men, 54 women). Nutrition behaviors (fruit/vegetable consumption, dinner cooking, and restaurant eating) and exercise were measured using total days in last week a behavior was reported. Instruments measuring self-efficacy and self-regulation demonstrated excellent Cronbach’s alphas (.93–.95). Path analysis indicated only fruit/vegetable consumption and exercise were associated with self-efficacy and self-regulation. Self-regulation showed direct association with fruit/vegetable consumption and exercise, but self-efficacy had direct association only with exercise. Self-efficacy and self-regulation should be strategically used to promote health behaviors.     

Myopathy associated with homozygous PYROXD1 pathogenic variants detected by genome sequencing

Biallelic pathogenic variants in the gene PYROXD1 have recently been described to cause early-onset autosomal recessive myopathy. Myopathy associated with PYROXD1 pathogenic variants is rare and reported in only 17 individuals. Known pathogenic variants in PYROXD1 include missense, insertion and essential splice-site variants. Here we describe a consanguineous family of individuals affected with late-onset myopathy and homozygous PYROXD1 missense variants (NM_024854.5:c.464A>G [p.Asn155Ser]) expanding our understanding of the possible disease phenotypes of PYROXD1-associated myopathy.     

Oral precancerous disorders associated with areca quid chewing, smoking, and alcohol drinking in southern Taiwan

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence and the associated risk factors of oral precancerous disorders in southern Taiwan. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional community survey interviewing 1075 adult subjects, 15 years of age and over, gathered from randomly selected 591 households, and spanning five villages in southern Taiwan. The study protocol included a visual oral soft tissue examination and a questionnaire-based interview. The chi-square test was used to test the differences in prevalence of oral precancerous lesions and conditions by different "life styles" relating to current risk habits of current areca quid chewing, smoking, and alcohol drinking. To control for possible confounding, a logistic regression model was used to estimate the Odds Ratios (OR) for leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). RESULTS: 136 precancerous lesions and conditions were detected among 1075 subjects (12.7%). The analysis of the spectrum of oral precancerous disorders detected, leukoplakia (n = 80), OSF (n = 17) and verrucous lesions (n = 9), demonstrated an association with gender (P < 0.001). There were statistically significant associations among leukoplakia (P < 0.01), OSF (P < 0.0001), and verrucous lesions (P < 0.0001) and the life style of current areca quid chewing, smoking, and alcohol drinking. The synergistic effect of smoking and areca quid chewing habit on leukoplakia and OSF was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: This study reinforces the association of current areca quid chewing without tobacco, cigarette smoking, and alcohol drinking to leukoplakia, OSF, and verrucous lesions in Taiwan.     

Shear bond strengths of plastic brackets with a mechanical base

This study compares the shear bond strengths of plastic brackets with a mechanical base and metal brackets using two different adhesives, and examines the modes of failure using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Forty extracted human premolars were selected for bonding. Two types of brackets: metal and plastic-Spirit MB, and two orthodontic adhesives: System 1 + and Enlight, were used. After bonding, all samples were put into a 37 degrees C distilled water bath for 24 hours before shear bond strengths were tested. The bond strengths of the plastic brackets were significantly lower than those of the metal brackets (P < .0001). There was a statistically significant difference in bond strengths between System 1 + and Enlight for plastic brackets (P < .05), but not for metal brackets. The modes of failure predominantly occurred at the enamel/adhesive interface in the metal bracket-System 1 + group, within the adhesive in the metal bracket-Enlight and plastic bracket-System 1 + groups, and at the bracket/adhesive interface in the plastic bracket-Enlight group.     

Prothrombin complex concentrate (Beriplex P/N) in severe bleeding: experience in a large tertiary hospital

Introduction

Major blood loss can often be life-threatening and is most commonly encountered in the settings of surgery and trauma. Patients receiving anticoagulant therapy are also at increased risk of bleeding. We investigated the use of a prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC; Beriplex P/N, CSL Behring, Marburg, Germany) to treat severe bleeding in a variety of settings: cardiac surgery, warfarin therapy and other surgery.

Methods

Thirty consecutive patients who had received PCC were identified from blood transfusion records. For cardiac surgery and warfarin reversal, PCC was administered in accordance with hospital protocols. PCC was administered to cardiac and other surgical patients responding poorly to recognized blood products, whereas it was administered first-line to patients with life-threatening bleeds and requiring warfarin reversal, in accordance with British Committee for Standards in Haematology guidelines. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient records in order to ascertain PCC dose, use of other blood products and response to PCC (clotting screen results before and after PCC administration, haemostasis achievement, and survival).

Results

Six patients (20%) were excluded because of inadequate documentation (n = 5) or acquired haemophilia (n = 1). Therefore, 24 patients were included in the analysis: coronary artery bypass graft (n = 5), mitral/aortic valve replacement (n = 2), other surgery (n = 9) and warfarin reversal (n = 8). Most patients (83.3%) received no more than 1500 IU of Beriplex P/N 500. Considerable reduction in administration of other blood products was seen during the 24 hours after PCC administration. Partial or complete haemostasis was achieved in 14 out of 18 cases (77.8%). In total, 12 out of 24 patients (50%) died during the study; two-thirds of the deaths were considered unrelated to bleeding. No thrombotic complications or adverse drug reactions were observed.

Conclusion

This study emphasizes the value of PCC in reversing the effects of oral anticoagulant therapy in bleeding patients. It also demonstrates the potential value of PCC in controlling bleeding in patients undergoing cardiac and other surgical procedures. The use of PCC in bleeding patients without hereditary or anticoagulation-related coagulopathy is novel, and further investigation is warranted. In the future, it may be possible to use PCC as a substitute for fresh frozen plasma in this setting; adequate documentation is crucial for all blood products.     

小鼠皮肤超氧化物歧化酶活性与枸杞多糖的干预

目的:观察枸杞多糖对皮肤胶原代谢和自由基产生的影响,探讨其抗皮肤衰老的作用。方法:实验于2005-06/2006-05在广东医学院整形外科研究所完成。①实验材料:清洁级昆明小鼠60只,月龄2个月,体质量16～24g,雌雄各半。②实验分组:将小鼠随机分为正常对照组、衰老模型组和抗衰老模型组,每组20只。③实验干预:模型组每日用D-半乳糖溶液皮下注射制造衰老模型,用量和时间为80mg/(kg·d)7d,120mg/(kg·d)14d,140mg/(kg·d)14d,180mg/(kg·d)7d。正常对照组每日注射同体积的生理盐水。抗衰老模型组在注射D-半乳糖期间以枸杞多糖灌胃,剂量为20mg/(kg·d),正常对照组和衰老组则以同体积的生理盐水代之灌胃。④实验评估:42d后切取小鼠颈背部皮肤,测定超氧化物歧化酶活力、羟脯氨酸和丙二醛含量。结果:56只小鼠进入结果分析(4只死亡)。①小鼠皮肤超氧化物歧化酶活力:与正常对照组相比,衰老组和抗衰老组小鼠皮肤超氧化物歧化酶活力降低,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01);抗衰老组与衰老模型组比较,超氧化物歧化酶活力增加,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01)。②与正常对照组相比,衰老组和抗衰老组小鼠皮肤羟脯氨酸和丙二醛含量增加,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01);抗衰老组与衰老组比较,羟脯氨酸和丙二醛含量均降低,差异有显著性意义(P<0.01)。结论:枸杞多糖改善皮肤老化的作用与提高小鼠皮肤超氧化物歧化酶活力,降低羟脯氨酸、丙二醛含量,影响胶原代谢有关。