Glutamine synthetase (GS) and glucose-6-phosphate isomerase (GPI) were identified as novel adhesive moonlighting proteins of Lactobacillus crispatus ST1. Both proteins were bound onto the bacterial ...surface at acidic pHs, whereas a suspension of the cells to pH 8 caused their release into the buffer, a pattern previously observed with surface-bound enolase and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) of L. crispatus. The pH shift was associated with a rapid and transient increase in cell wall permeability, as measured by cell staining with propidium iodide. A gradual increase in the release of the four moonlighting proteins was also observed after the treatment of L. crispatus ST1 cells with increasing concentrations of the antimicrobial cationic peptide LL-37, which kills bacteria by disturbing membrane integrity and was here observed to increase the cell wall permeability of L. crispatus ST1. At pH 4, the fusion proteins His6-GS, His6-GPI, His6-enolase, and His6-GAPDH showed localized binding to cell division septa and poles of L. crispatus ST1 cells, whereas no binding to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG was detected. Strain ST1 showed a pH-dependent adherence to the basement membrane preparation Matrigel. Purified His6-GS and His6-GPI proteins bound to type I collagen, and His6-GS also bound to laminin, and their level of binding was higher at pH 5.5 than at pH 6.5. His6-GS also expressed a plasminogen receptor function. The results show the strain-dependent surface association of moonlighting proteins in lactobacilli and that these proteins are released from the L. crispatus surface after cell trauma, under conditions of alkaline stress, or in the presence of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37 produced by human cells.
It is well known that depression predicts mortality in old age. However, little is known about the impact of positive emotions. We investigated the impact of positive life orientation on mortality ...and permanent institutional care in aged birth cohorts.
Participants (born 1904, 1909, and 1914) underwent detailed assessments with follow-up at 5 and at 10 years. Positive life orientation was determined as answering “yes” to all the following items: being satisfied with life, having zest for life, having plans for the future, feeling needed, seldom feeling lonely or depressed.
Of participants, 102 (20.8%) had a positive life orientation. After 10 years, 54.5% of them were alive, whereas in the rest of the sample 39.5% survived (
P
=
.004). After controlling for age, gender, and health measures, the impact of positive life orientation was still significant (HR
=
0.89, 95% CI 0.83–0.93). At 5 years, only 2.9% of those having a positive life orientation but 17.5% of the rest of the sample were in permanent institutional care (
P
=
0.003), with a positive life orientation remaining a significant protector against institutional care (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36–0.93).
Positive attitudes have a long-standing impact on prognosis in old age.
there is little research how older people's will-to-live predicts their survival.
to investigate how many years home-dwelling older people wish to live and how this will-to-live predicts their ...survival.
as a part of the Drugs and Evidence-Based Medicine in the Elderly (DEBATE) study, 400 home-dwelling individuals aged 75-90 were recruited into a cardiovascular prevention trial in Helsinki. In 2000, a questionnaire about the wishes of their remaining life was completed by 283 participants. Participants were inquired how many years they would still wish to live, and divided into three groups according to their response: group 1: wishes to live <5 years, group 2: 5-10 years, group 3: >10 years. Mortality was confirmed from central registers during a 10-year follow-up. The adjusted Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine how will-to-live predicted survival.
in group 1 wishing to live less than 5 years, the mean age and the Charlson comorbidity index were the highest, and subjective health the poorest. There were no differences between the groups in cognitive functioning or feeling depressed. Mortality was the highest (68.0%) among those wishing to live <5 years compared with those wishing to live 5-10 years (45.6%) or over 10 years (33.3%) (P < 0.001). With group 1 as referent (HR: 1.0) in the Cox proportional hazard model adjusting for age, gender, Charlson comorbidity index and depressive feelings, HR for mortality was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.45-0.95) (P = 0.027) and 0.47 (95% CI: 0.26-0.86) (P = 0.011) in groups 2 and 3, respectively.
the will-to-live was a strong predictor for survival among older people irrespective of age, gender and comorbidities.
Abstract Objective To explore feelings and psychological well-being of spousal caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease related to caregiving and experiences with the service system and ...associated factors. Methods A cross-sectional survey of Alzheimer patients’ spouses included items on caregiving and the Psychological Well-being Scale (PWB). An open-ended question: “What kind of problems have you faced with the services?” was included. Those responding to the question ( n = 728) were analyzed combining both quantitative and qualitative responses. Results According to PWB, 10.8% had poor well-being. They had poorer subjective health, their care recipient had poorer functioning and they more often felt that their closest ones did not understand caregiving situation than those with better PWB. No difference existed between these groups in proportions satisfied with the services. In the responses of the open-ended question, the caregivers described both positive and negative feelings related to everyday caregiving as well as problems related to using services. Positive feelings were associated with being satisfied with services and caregivers’ good subjective health. Negative feelings included bitterness, feeling of being isolated and distress. Bitterness was associated with being dissatisfied with services, the relationship with the spouse or closest ones and poor PWB. Feeling isolated was associated with the view that the closest ones do not understand their situation. Conclusions Caregivers’ feelings are intertwined with their personal characteristics and life situation with their spousal relationship and closest ones. Traditional home service may not be equipped to deal with the complexity of these feelings. A more psychological approach is needed.
Abstract Introduction To investigate how frailty status affects the outcome of exercise intervention among home-dwelling participants with Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods This is a sub-group analysis ...of a randomized controlled trial. In this trial, home-dwelling participants with AD received either home-based or group-based exercise twice a week for one year ( n = 129); the control group received normal care ( n = 65). Both the intervention and control group were subdivided into two groups according to modified Fried criteria: prefrail (0–1 criteria) and advanced frailty (2–5 criteria). The Functional Independence Measure (FIM) and number of falls per person-years served as outcome measures. Results Whereas there was no significant difference in FIM between the prefrail intervention (PRI) and control (PRC) groups at 3 or 6 months, the PRI group deteriorated significantly slower at 12 months (−6.6 95% CI −8.6 to −4.5 for PRI and −11.1 95% CI −13.9 to −8.3 for PRC; P = 0.010). Similarly, there was no significant difference between the advanced frailty intervention (AFI) and control (AFC) groups at 3 months, but the difference became significant at 6 months (−8.1 95% CI −11.1 to −5.2 for AFI and −15.5 95% CI −20.0 to −11.1 for AFC; P = 0.007) and at 12 months (−8.9 95% CI −11.9 to −5.9 for AFI and −15.3 95% CI −20.2 to −10.3 for AFC; P = 0.031). There was also a significant difference in the number of falls in favor of PRI and AFI groups compared to their respective control groups. Conclusion A long-term exercise intervention benefited people with AD regardless of their stage of frailty. Trial registration : ACTRN12608000037303.
Abstract
The evolution of carnivorous plants has been modeled as a selective tradeoff between photosynthetic costs and benefits in nutrient-poor habitats. Although possibly applicable for pitfall and ...flypaper trappers, more variables may be required for active trapping systems. Bladderwort (UTRICULARIA) suction traps react to prey stimuli with an extremely rapid release of elastic instability. Trap setting requires considerable energy to engage an active ion transport process whereby water is pumped out through the thin bladder walls to create negative internal pressure. Accordingly, empirical estimates have shown that respiratory rates in bladders are far greater than in leafy structures. Cytochrome C oxidase (COX) is a multi-subunit enzyme that catalyzes the respiratory reduction of oxygen to water and couples this reaction to translocation of protons, generating a transmembrane electrochemical gradient that is used for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). We have previously demonstrated that two contiguous cysteine residues in helix 3 of COX subunit I (COX I) have evolved under positive Darwinian selection. This motif, absent in ≈ 99.9 % of databased COX I proteins from eukaryotes, Archaea, and Bacteria, lies directly at the docking point of COX I helix 3 and cytochrome C. Modeling of bovine COX I suggests the possibility that a vicinal disulfide bridge at this position could cause premature helix termination. The helix 3-4 loop makes crucial contacts with the active site of COX, and we postulate that the C‐C motif might cause a conformational change that decouples (or partly decouples) electron transport from proton pumping. Such decoupling would permit bladderworts to optimize power output (which equals energy times rate) during times of need, albeit with a 20 % reduction in overall energy efficiency of the respiratory chain. A new model for the evolution of bladderwort carnivory is proposed that includes respiration as an additional tradeoff parameter.
Abstract Background No previous studies have investigated the effectiveness and feasibility of self-management groups for people with dementia and their caregivers. Purpose We present the baseline ...findings of a randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of a psychosocial group intervention to enhance self-management skills of persons with dementia and their spouses and have evaluated the feasibility of the intervention. Subjects and methods Altogether 136 individuals with dementia living with their spousal caregivers in the community were recruited from the memory clinics. They were randomized into two arms: group-based self-management intervention ( n = 67 couples) and controls ( n = 69 couples). The patients and spouses met in separate closed groups once a week for 8 weeks. Intervention sessions were based on discussions, including topics according to participants’ preferences. Their aim was to enhance participants’ self-efficacy, problem-solving skills and peer support. Anonymous feedback from the intervention group was collected at 3 months. Results The mean age of participants with dementia was 76.8 years, 51 (38%) were females, and 98 (72%) were at a mild stage of dementia. Cognitive status was poorer in the intervention group than in controls MMSE; 19.9 (SD 5.7) vs. 21.7 (SD 3.7), P = 0.04. The participation rate in-group sessions was high among patients (93%, range 86–98%) and caregivers (93%, range 86–99%). Participants described the group sessions as beneficial and supportive. Conclusion We have successfully randomized 136 dyads in a self-management group rehabilitation trial. The feedback from participants was favourable, and the drop-out rate during the first 3 months was low.
Objectives:To examine the experiences of spousal care givers of Alzheimer patients to disclosure of dementia diagnosis and subsequent care.Methods:A random sample of 1943 spousal care givers of ...people receiving medication for Alzheimer disease (AD) was sent a cross-sectional postal survey about their opinions on the disclosure of dementia and follow-up care. A smaller qualitative study (n = 63) included open-ended questions concerning their experiences of the same topics.Results:The response rate for the survey was 77%. Of the respondents, 1214 of 1434 acknowledged themselves as their spouse’s care giver. The mean age of the care givers was 78.2 years, and that of demented spouses, 80.5 years. Of the care givers, 63% were women. The couples had long-lasting marriages (mean 52 years). Of the care givers, 93% reported that dementia had been disclosed openly to their spouse; 97% also preferred that physicians openly inform the patients of the dementia diagnosis, although 55% of their spouses with AD had developed depressive symptoms after the disclosure. Of the care givers, 71% felt they had received sufficient information about dementia. However, only 50% estimated that their spouses’ follow-up care had been well organised. The responses in the qualitative study indicated that many care givers felt grief and anxiety. They also expressed feelings of loneliness and uncertainty about how to deal with follow-up care for dementia.Conclusions:Elderly spousal care givers were quite satisfied with the information given them about dementia. However, the support with regard to the follow-up care of care-giving families failed to meet their needs adequately.
Abstract Background The prevalence and overlap of psychotic symptoms among patients with dementia compared to those with delirium superimposed to dementia have received little attention. The aim of ...our study was to investigate the overlapping and distinguishing capability of psychotic symptoms among patients with dementia or with delirium superimposed to dementia, and to clarify their prognostic value. Methods We assessed 255 residents with dementia in nursing homes and acute geriatric wards for psychotic symptoms and delirium. The residents were divided into three groups: those with delirium (Group 1; n = 66), those with psychotic symptoms without delirium (Group 2; n = 74), and without psychotic symptoms or delirium (Group 3; n = 115). Results Of the participants, 30.9% suffered from delusions, 22.1% from visual hallucinations and 14.2% from auditory hallucinations. Delusions occurred more often in Group 2 than in Group 1. Of the subjects in Group 3, 6.5% suffered from misidentifications, whereas the respective figures in Groups 1 and 2 were 17.5% and 20.8%, respectively. Of those suffering from psychotic symptoms ( n = 109), one in three ( n = 35) suffered delirium, and two in three ( n = 74), psychotic symptoms without delirium. In the adjusted Cox proportional hazard model with Group 2 as the referent, we found no difference between the groups in mortality rates (Group 1: HR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.64–1.52 and Group 3: HR 1.49, 95% CI: 0.92–2.42). Conclusions Psychotic symptoms cannot be used to distinguish patients with dementia from those with delirium superimposed to dementia.
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