Summary
Wearable technologies represent a novel approach in the prevention of obesity and overweight that encourages users to engage in physical activities aided by technological assistance. This is ...the first meta‐analysis to investigate the effects of wearable technologies as physical activity interventions on weight control. Various electronic databases were searched to select eligible articles, including EBSCO, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, from the first available date to January 9, 2019. All analyses were performed using a random‐effects model. Moderator analyses were conducted to investigate differences in the effect size. This meta‐analysis of 19 randomized controlled trials indicated that wearable technologies as a physical activity intervention achieved a moderate and significant effect size on body weight and waist circumference and large and significant effect sizes on the body mass index. A subgroup analysis confirmed that wearable technologies were more efficient for weight control in individuals with obesity and chronic diseases. A duration of using wearable technologies for a total of more than or equal to 12 weeks was more effective. Meta‐regressions have also revealed that the body weight of individuals who received an additional week of treatment could be reduced by more than 0.37%. Wearable technologies offer innovative platforms of physical activity interventions and an efficient method for weight control.
Abstract
Stroke and cognitive impairment are common in older population. They often occur together and their combined effects significantly increase disability in both basic (BADLs) and instrumental ...(IADLs) activities of daily living. We investigated the individual and combined impacts of stroke and cognitive impairment on BADLs and IADLs. A total of 3331 community-dwelling older adults were enrolled from the Taiwan longitudinal study on aging in 2011. Both BADLs and IADLs were analyzed. Combination of stroke and cognitive impairment increased severity of ADL disabilities, but similar prevalence, similar numbers of summed BADL and IADL tasks with disability, and similar levels of difficulty for each BADL and IADL task were found between the stroke group and cognitive impairment group. The former had more difficult in dressing while the latter had more difficult in using the telephone, transport, and managing finances. A hierarchy of ADLs was also observed in all groups. ADL skill training supplemented with cognitive and physical interventions should focus on secondary prevention of dementia and improve motor functional capacity to reduce loss of ADLs.
•Green and blue spaces are important to urban residents’ health.•Physical activity in the outdoor environment provides additional health benefits.•Interventions were conducted in nature, a park, a ...green area, and sea.•Significantly increased effects of green and blue PA on physical and mental health.
Physical activity in green and blue spaces provide physical and mental health benefits in populations of all ages. In this study, we explored the effectiveness of longer-term green and blue physical activity of improving the quality of life. Medline, Pubmed, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched in September 2020. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted using a random-effects model. Moderator analyses were performed to investigate differences in effect sizes. In total, eight randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were selected for a qualitative and quantitative synthesis of quality of life outcomes. Results showed significant increased effects of green and blue physical activity interventions on physical and mental health compared to a control group, but an insignificant effect on the general quality of life. A moderator analysis and meta-regression indicated that the mean age of the experimental group had a significant effect on mental health. This first meta-analysis of RCTs found multiple instances of green and blue physical activity being beneficial to physical and mental health. Engaging in physical activity in green and blue spaces is advocated to improve the quality of life of individuals, health practitioners, urban planning, and policymakers.
Being overweight and obese are major public health challenges worldwide. Smartphone apps are an innovative platform to deliver physical activity modifications for weight management. This study aimed ...to explore the efficacy of smartphone app-based interventions targeting physical activity for obesity-related outcomes and compare the efficacy among behavioral change techniques.
Five online databases were searched for randomized controlled trials in September 30, 2021. Hedges' g was used to compute effect sizes. The random effect models were conducted for all analyses.
In total, 12 trials were selected for qualitative and quantitative syntheses. Smartphone app-based interventions exerted small-to-moderate effects on body weight, body mass index, and body fat percentage. The meta-regression found that the older age of participants and a longer duration of the intervention increased the effect. Subgroup analyses found that the interventions were more effective on body weight among participants with a disease or disability, and on body mass index in participants who were obese or overweight. Apps with features such as reminders, self-reporting, and a health coach used as behavioral change techniques were more effective.
Smartphone apps are an effective and feasible strategy for physical activity modification using behavioral change techniques. Smartphone app-based interventions can promote physical activity for weight management.
Depression and loneliness are challenges facing older residents living in long-term care facilities. Social robots might be a solution as nonpharmacologic interventions. The purpose of this study was ...to explore the effects of concrete forms of social robots on depression and loneliness in older residents in long-term care facilities by a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
This is a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Older residents in long-term care facilities.
Six electronic databases of PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, MEDLINE, and CINAHL plus were searched in August 2023. Random effect models of meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, and meta-regressions were performed for statistical analyses.
After evaluation, 8 studies were selected for both qualitative and quantitative synthesis. Social robot interventions had significant positive effects on decreasing depression and loneliness with large effect sizes. Group-based robot activities had a better effect on improving depression than individual-based robot activities. Longer durations of interventions produced significantly more improvement in depression.
Social robots with physical manifestation provide the opportunity for older adults' social engagement and interactions with robots and others. Social robot interventions are recommended for older residents in long-term care facilities to promote psychosocial well-being in daily care routines.
Numerous studies have reported that long‐term musical training can affect brain functionality and induce structural alterations in the brain. Singing is a form of vocal musical expression with an ...unparalleled capacity for communicating emotion; however, there has been relatively little research on neuroplasticity at the network level in vocalists (i.e., noninstrumental musicians). Our objective in this study was to elucidate changes in the neural network architecture following long‐term training in the musical arts. We employed a framework based on graph theory to depict the connectivity and efficiency of structural networks in the brain, based on diffusion‐weighted images obtained from 35 vocalists, 27 pianists, and 33 nonmusicians. Our results revealed that musical training (both voice and piano) could enhance connectivity among emotion‐related regions of the brain, such as the amygdala. We also discovered that voice training reshaped the architecture of experience‐dependent networks, such as those involved in vocal motor control, sensory feedback, and language processing. It appears that vocal‐related changes in areas such as the insula, paracentral lobule, supramarginal gyrus, and putamen are associated with functional segregation, multisensory integration, and enhanced network interconnectivity. These results suggest that long‐term musical training can strengthen or prune white matter connectivity networks in an experience‐dependent manner.
Musical training (both voice and piano) could enhance connectivity among emotion‐related regions of the brain, such as the amygdala. Voice training reshaped the architecture of experience‐dependent networks, such as those involved in vocal motor control, sensory feedback, and language processing. Long‐term musical training can strengthen or prune white matter connectivity networks in an experience‐dependent manner.
Summary
Background
Pexidartinib, a novel, orally administered small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has strong selectivity against colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor. This phase I, ...nonrandomized, open-label multiple-dose study evaluated pexidartinib safety and efficacy in Asian patients with symptomatic, advanced solid tumors.
Materials and Methods
Patients received pexidartinib: cohort 1, 600 mg/d; cohort 2, 1000 mg/d for 2 weeks, then 800 mg/d. Primary objectives assessed pexidartinib safety and tolerability, and determined the recommended phase 2 dose; secondary objectives evaluated efficacy and pharmacokinetic profile.
Results
All 11 patients (6 males, 5 females; median age 64, range 23–82; cohort 1
n
= 3; cohort 2
n
= 8) experienced at least one treatment-emergent adverse event; 5 experienced at least one grade ≥ 3 adverse event, most commonly (18%) for each of the following: increased aspartate aminotransferase, blood alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and anemia. Recommended phase 2 dose was 1000 mg/d for 2 weeks and 800 mg/d thereafter. Pexidartinib exposure, area under the plasma concentration-time curve from zero to 8 h (AUC
0-8h
), and maximum observed plasma concentration (C
max
) increased on days 1 and 15 with increasing pexidartinib doses, and time at C
max
(T
max
) was consistent throughout all doses. Pexidartinib exposure and plasma levels of adiponectin and colony-stimulating factor 1 increased following multiple daily pexidartinib administrations. One patient (13%) with tenosynovial giant cell tumor showed objective tumor response.
Conclusions
This was the first study to evaluate pexidartinib in Asian patients with advanced solid tumors. Pexidartinib was safe and tolerable in this population at the recommended phase 2 dose previously determined for Western patients (funded by Daiichi Sankyo;
clinicaltrials.gov
number, NCT02734433).
Microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTTP) is an endoplasmic reticulum resident protein that is essential for the assembly and secretion of triglyceride (TG)-rich, apoB-containing lipoproteins. ...Although the function and structure of mammalian MTTP have been extensively studied, how exactly MTTP transfers lipids to lipid acceptors and whether there are other biomolecules involved in MTTP-mediated lipid transport remain elusive. Here we identify a role in this process for the poorly characterized protein PRAP1. We report that PRAP1 and MTTP are partially colocalized in the endoplasmic reticulum. We observe that PRAP1 directly binds to TG and facilitates MTTP-mediated lipid transfer. A single amino acid mutation at position 85 (E85V) impairs PRAP1's ability to form a ternary complex with TG and MTTP, as well as impairs its ability to facilitate MTTP-mediated apoB-containing lipoprotein assembly and secretion, suggesting that the ternary complex formation is required for PRAP1 to facilitate MTTP-mediated lipid transport. PRAP1 is detectable in chylomicron/VLDL-rich plasma fractions, suggesting that MTTP recognizes PRAP1-bound TG as a cargo and transfers TG along with PRAP1 to lipid acceptors. Both PRAP1-deficient and E85V knock-in mutant mice fed a chow diet manifested an increase in the length of their small intestines, likely to compensate for challenges in absorbing lipid. Interestingly, both genetically modified mice gained significantly less body weight and fat mass when on high-fat diets compared with littermate controls and were prevented from hepatosteatosis. Together, this study provides evidence that PRAP1 plays an important role in MTTP-mediated lipid transport and lipid absorption.
This study aimed to describe the etiology, clinical features, hospital course, and outcomes of hospitalized children with skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs) and to test if clinical and ...laboratory variables at admission could differentiate between community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) and community-acquired methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (CA-MSSA).
We reviewed the clinical, laboratory, treatment, and outcome data for children hospitalized with SSTIs, aged 0–18 years at MacKay Children's Hospital between 2010 and 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of CA-MRSA and CA-MSSA SSTIs.
A total of 1631 patients were enrolled. Erysipelas/cellulitis (73.8%) was the most common pediatric SSTI type, followed by acute lymphadenitis (13.6%) and abscess/furuncle/carbuncle (8.6%). Among the 639 culture-positive isolates (purulent SSTIs), 142 (22.2%) were CA-MSSA and 363 (56.8%) were CA-MRSA. The age group 0–1 month (OR, 6.52; 95% CI 1.09–38.92; P = 0.04) and local lymph node reaction (OR, 2.47; 95% CI 1.004–6.08; P = 0.049) were independent factors for differentiating children with CA-MSSA from those with CA-MRSA SSTIs. MRSA isolates in our cohort were highly susceptible to glycopeptides (100%), linezolid (100%), daptomycin (100%), and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (98.6%) but were significantly less susceptible to clindamycin compared with MSSA (34.2% vs. 78.2%, P < 0.001).
S. aureus is the leading pathogen of culture-proven SSTIs in hospitalized children with MRSA accounting for more than half. Determining the optimal empirical antibiotics in CA-SSTIs may rely on the patient's age, disease severity, and local epidemiologic data.
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