The effect of weight loss on changes in health-related quality of life among overweight and obese women with urinary incontinence

Objective

To estimate the effect of change in weight and change in urinary incontinence (UI) frequency on changes in preference-based measures of health-related quality of life (HRQL) among overweight and obese women with UI participating in a weight loss trial.

Methods

We conducted a longitudinal cohort analysis of 338 overweight and obese women with UI enrolled in a randomized clinical trial comparing a behavioral weight loss intervention to an educational control condition. At baseline, 6, and 18?months, health utilities were estimated using the Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3), a transformation of the SF-36 to the preference-based SF-6D, and the estimated Quality of Well-Being (eQWB) score (a summary calculated from the SF-36 physical functioning, mental health, bodily pain, general health perceptions, and role limitations?Cphysical subscale scores). Potential predictors of changes in these outcomes were examined using generalized estimating equations.

Results

In adjusted multivariable models, weight loss was associated with improvement in HUI3, SF-6D, and eQWB at 6 and 18?months (P?<?0.05). Increases in physical activity also were independently associated with improvement in HUI3 (P?=?0.01) and SF-6D (P?=?0.006) scores at 18?months. In contrast, reduction in UI frequency did not predict improvements in HRQL at 6 or 18?months.

Conclusion

Weight loss and increased physical activity, but not reduction in UI frequency, were strongly associated with improvements in health utilities measured by the HUI3, SF-6D, and eQWB. These findings provide important information that can be used to inform cost?Cutility analyses of weight loss interventions.     

Serum levels of zinc,calcium, and iron are associated with the risk of preeclampsia in pregnant women

Evidence indicates that various elements, including antioxidant minerals, might play an important role in preeclampsia (PE). This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between serum mineral levelsof zinc, calcium, iron, and selenium and the risk of preeclampsia in Korean women. Twenty-nine normal controls and 30 women with preeclampsia were recruited for the study. Preeclampsia was defined as having high blood pressure (≥140/90 mm Hg after 20 weeks gestation) and proteinuria (≥300 mg/24 hours). Serum mineral content was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. Serum zinc (P < .0001) and calcium (P = .0188) levels were lower in women with preeclampsia than those of normal women, while serum iron was significantly higher in women with preeclampsia (P = .0045). The odds ratio for preeclampsia was lower in women with higher serum zinc levels than those with lower levels after adjustment for age, height, and weight before delivery (P < .0001). The adjusted odds ratio for preeclampsia also decreased across tertiles of serum calcium concentration (P = .0452). However, there was an increased adjusted odds ratio for preeclampsia across tertiles of serum iron level (P = .0104). These results suggest that levels of serum minerals such as zinc, calcium, and iron may be associated with the risk of preeclampsia in Korean pregnant women.     

盐生肉苁蓉栽培品中苯乙醇苷类的指纹图谱研究

  目的 为规范化种植盐生肉苁蓉药材的质量研究提供基础研究资料。 方法 选择 RP-HPLC 建立盐生肉苁蓉补肾助阳功能特征成分的指纹图谱,并进行栽培品与野生品、不同生长期、不同药用部位指纹图谱的比较研究,采用计算机辅助相似度评价软件分析了相似度。 结果 种植基地药材的指纹图谱具有较高的相似度,其化学组成相似,相对比例也基本稳定。不同生长期和不同部位药材的指纹图谱也具有较好的一致性,但特征峰的含量存在明显差异。 结论 利用 RP-HPLC 指纹图谱可以较为全面地反映盐生肉苁蓉补肾助阳功能整体特征成分的内在质量,方法重现性好。     

新疆石榴皮化学成分研究

目的:研究新疆石榴皮(Punica granatum)的化学成分.方法:采用薄层色谱、硅胶柱色谱、MCI-gel CHP20P、Sephadex LH-20凝胶柱色谱等方法进行分离纯化,使用波谱分析技术和理化常数对照等方法对得到的化合物进行结构鉴定.结果:分离得到了10个化合物,分别为:没食子酸(1)、没食子甲酯(2)、鞣花酸(3)、(+)-儿茶素(4)、异槲皮苷(5)、D-甘露醇(6)、熊果酸(7)、齐墩果酸(8)、β-谷甾醇(9)、胡萝卜苷(10).结论:化合物1～10均、为首次从该植物中分离得到.     

景天通脉方对实验性兔动脉粥样硬化的影响

目的 评价不同剂量景天通脉方对动脉粥样硬化斑块的抑制作用。方法 健康新西兰兔54只随机分为：正常对照组, 高胆固醇组(模型组), 血脂康组, 景天通脉方小、中、大剂量组, 共6组;除正常对照组外,其余大鼠采用高胆固醇饲料并免疫损伤诱发的动脉粥样硬化斑块模型, 观察各组血脂和C-反应蛋白（CRP）以及主动脉斑块/内膜面积比、内/中膜厚度比等并比较。结果 对血脂的影响：模型组与正常对照组比较,血清总胆固醇（TC）、 甘油三酯（TG）及低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）均升高, 差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）;血脂康组及景天通脉方小、中、大剂量组TC、LDL-C均明显低于模型组（P<0.05）, 景天通脉方中剂量组明显低于小、大剂量组及血脂康组（P<0.05）;TG景天通脉方小、中、大剂量组及血脂康组与模型组比较差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）;而高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（HDL-C）景天通脉方大剂量组、血脂康组高于景天通脉方小、中剂量组, 正常对照组和模型组（P<0.05）。对CRP的影响：模型组明显高于正常对照组（P<0.05）, 景天通脉方3组、正常对照组、血脂康组间比较差异均无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 正常对照组无斑块和内、中膜增厚, 景天通脉方组与模型组比较, 斑块面积、内膜厚度、中膜厚度、斑块/内膜面积比、内/中膜厚度比均明显下降（P<0.05）, 景天通脉方中剂量组明显低于小、大剂量组及血脂康组（P<0.05）。结论 景天通脉方具有抑制动脉粥样硬化的作用, 可能是通过调脂、抗炎作用来完成,效应以中剂量（人的等效剂量）为佳。     

Less activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the reanalysis of the response to a meal in obese than in lean women and its association with successful weight loss

BACKGROUND: We previously found that obese men have less activation in the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) in response to a meal than do lean men, which indicates an association between this altered neuronal response and the pathophysiology of obesity. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to extend this finding in obese women and to investigate activity in this region in women with a history of severe obesity who have successfully lost weight (ie, formerly obese women, sometimes called postobese women). DESIGN: We reanalyzed previously collected data to compare postmeal (after receiving a liquid meal) with premeal (after a 36-h fast) regional cerebral blood flow, a marker of neuronal activity, by using (15)O-water positron emission tomography in 10 lean [26 +/- 6% body fat (BF)], 9 obese (39 +/- 3%BF) and 8 formerly obese (28 +/- 4%BF) right-handed women. Data were analyzed by using a 2-level, random-effect analysis of variance. RESULTS: The regional cerebral blood flow in the LDLPFC differed in response to the meal across the 3 groups (P < 0.001, uncorrected for multiple comparisons). Post hoc group comparisons showed that obese women had significantly less activation in this area than did lean and formerly obese women. No significant difference between formerly obese and lean women was found. CONCLUSIONS: These results extend our previous findings, indicating that obese women have less activation in the LDLPFC in response to a meal than do lean or formerly obese women. Neuronal activity in this region did not differ significantly between the latter 2 groups. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether these differences in neuronal activity change with or predict weight change.     

Comparison and correlates of three preference-based health-related quality-of-life measures among overweight and obese women with urinary incontinence

Purpose  

To compare three preference-based health-related quality-of-life (HRQL) measures and examine independent correlates of HRQL among overweight and obese women with urinary incontinence (UI) enrolled in a weight loss intervention trial.     

Management of newly diagnosed high‐risk and intermediate‐risk follicular lymphoma with 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan in a phase II study

Five‐year overall survival for high‐risk Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index follicular lymphoma is only approximately 50% compared with 90% for low risk. To evaluate an approach to improve upon this poor outcome, we completed an exploratory phase II trial of intensified treatment for patients with intermediate and high‐risk follicular lymphoma. Front‐line treatment with chemo‐immunotherapy consisting of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone was followed by radio‐ immunotherapy with 90‐Yttrium ibritumomab tiuxetan consolidation, and 2 years of rituximab maintenance. The 5‐year overall survival for intermediate and high‐risk patients was 88% and 83%, respectively. Of 33 enrolled patients, 3 were off study before receiving radio‐immunotherapy. Three months post radio‐immunotherapy, 28/33 (85%) patients had achieved complete response including 6 patients who had only a partial response to chemo‐immunotherapy and converted to complete response after radio‐immunotherapy. The 5‐year progression‐free survival for intermediate and high risk was 79% and 58%, respectively. Nine of 19 patients with molecular markers patients remain in molecular and clinical complete remission with a median follow‐up of 48 months (range 3‐84 months). Post radio‐immunotherapy, hematologic toxicities were mostly grade 1 and 2. However, asymptomatic grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia occurred in 11%‐36% and 10%‐24% of patients, respectively. Myelodysplastic syndrome occurred in 1 patient 4 years post treatment. Whereas many patients had prolonged B‐cell reduction and low immunoglobulin levels post treatment, previous immunities to rubella were maintained. More aggressive upfront approaches such as this may benefit higher risk follicular lymphoma, but confirmatory trials are required. http://www.clinicaltrials.gov : NCT01446562.     

Autonomic consequences of kainic acid–induced limbic cortical seizures in rats: Peripheral autonomic nerve activity, acute cardiovascular changes, and death

Purpose: Autonomic consequences of seizures are common, but can be severe. We sought to define changes in autonomic activity from limbic cortical seizures and their impact on the heart.
Methods: We studied kainic acid (KA)-induced seizures in urethane-anesthetized rats using peripheral nerve, blood pressure (BP), and ECG recordings and echocardiography.
Results: Seizures were associated with massive increases in parasympathetic (vagus nerves) and sympathetic (cervical sympathetic ganglion >renal nerve >splanchnic nerve) activity. Seizure-associated activity increases were greater than activity changes induced by nitroprusside or phenylephrine (each producing BP changes of >50 mmHg). Increases in c-fos expression were found in both sympathetic and parasympathetic medullary regions (as well as hypothalamic areas). Baroreceptor reflex function (tested with nitroprusside and phenylephrine) was impaired during seizures. Finally, a significant fraction of the animals died and the mechanism of death was defined through ECG, BP, and echocardiographic measures to be profound cardiac dilatation and bradyarrhythmia leading to hypoperfusion of the brain and ultimately hypoperfusion of the heart. Cardiovascular changes occur within seconds (or less) of autonomic nerve activity changes and death by these mechanisms takes minutes.
Discussion: We propose that the massive parasympathetic and sympathetic outflow that occurs during a seizure gets compounded by respiratory distress (driving both autonomic nervous system divisions in the same direction) causing mechanical dysfunction, slowing the heart, and hypoperfusing the brain.     

Veterinarian Perception of the Intentional Misuse of Veterinary Medications in Humans: A Preliminary Survey of Idaho-Licensed Practitioners

The intentional administration of veterinary medications to humans is a form of medication misuse that has not been systematically studied. Veterinarians are the health practitioner group most likely to have knowledge about this problem and to be approached by the public for advice. For this preliminary study, questionnaires were mailed to 1,077 veterinarians registered with the Idaho Board of Veterinary Medicine regarding their knowledge and perceptions of this type of misuse; 392 (36.4%) completed surveys were returned. The most frequently reported veterinary medications misused in humans were analgesic, anti-inflammatory medications, anti-arthritis medications, or both; systemic antibiotics, topical anti-infectives; and topical corticosteroids. People involved with rodeo, horse racing, and health care; rural area residents; and those lacking health insurance were perceived to be the groups most likely to misuse veterinary drugs. Veterinarians rated the following as likely reasons for misuse: having an independent self-sufficient attitude, convenient availability of veterinary medications, lower cost, and belief that veterinary medications are stronger than comparable human medications. Human misuse of veterinary drugs may be more common than many health practitioners realize. Limitations of this study include the response rate, sampling of veterinarians licensed in only one rural state, and reliance on veterinarians' recall of relevant instances of misuse and their perceptions of groups most likely to misuse these drugs and why. These limitations make it difficult to determine if the problem is being under- or over-represented relative to the general population. However, regardless of the magnitude of the problem in the rural population, the general population, or both, the potential for harm is great. Patients with risk factors for this form of misuse should be questioned by their physician in a nonthreatening manner to detect use of veterinary medications and to provide an opportunity to inform them of the risks.