Introduction
Women often develop pelvic floor dysfunction due to damage to the pelvic musculature during childbirth; however, the effect on pelvic floor nerves function is less understood. This study ...used adult rabbits to evaluate the electrophysiological and histological characteristics of the bulbospongiosus (Bsn) and pubococcygeus nerves (Pcn) in multiparity.
Methods
Compound nerve action potentials (CNAP) were compared between age‐matched nulliparous and multiparous animals and associated to the histological characteristics of myelinated axons from the Bsn and Pcn nerves. The extensor digitorum longus nerve (EDLn) was used as negative control. Data were analyzed with unpaired two‐tailed Student's t test or Mann–Whitney U test to determine significant differences between groups.
Results
The onset and peak latencies, duration, and conduction velocity of the motor fibers in these pelvic nerves were not significantly different between nulliparous and multiparous animals. However, the peak‐to‐peak amplitude and area of the CNAP in both Bsn and Pcn were reduced in multiparous rabbits. Histology showed a higher percentage of axons with myelin disorganization caused by multiparity in these pelvic nerves. Together, the data indicate a reduction in the number of functional pelvic axons due to multiparity. As expected, no effect of parity was observed in the EDLn controls.
Conclusions
Present findings demonstrated that multiparity affects myelination and consequently conduction properties in the small pelvic floor nerves.
Our present findings showed that multiparity reduces the compound nerve action potentials amplitude and area of the Bsn and Pcn in rabbits. Those changes were associated with a high percentage of abnormal myelinated axons. The extent in which multiparity affected each nerve was similar.
The Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer (PEMWE) can be coupled to renewable energy sources (solar radiation and wave energy), which produce the necessary electricity for splitting the water. ...In this work the performance of a PEMWE using RuIrCoOx as anodic electrocatalyst had been examined. The oxide powder was synthesized using a chemical reduction method, followed by thermal oxidation. The electrochemical properties of the electrocatalysts were examined by cyclical and lineal voltammetry in 0.5 M H2SO4. It was found that RuIrCoOx oxide electrodes present a stable performance for OER. The PEMWE was designed and in-home built. Chrono-potentiometric experiments were recorded in the current range of 0.25 mA cm−2 to 75 mA cm−2 at 300s. The current pulses length is chosen to be sufficiently long so that the voltage remains constant. Their intrinsic electrocatalytic activity in combination with their large surface area and stability are quite promising for the development of economically feasible electrocatalysts for (PEMWE).
► RuIrCoOx electrocatalyst was synthesized via a chemical route. ► The activity and stability of RuIrCoOx for OER were determined. ► The physical characterization showed homogeneous cluster of around 300 nm. ► The electrochemical performance was reproducible and stable. ► The current efficiency was up to 94%.
Eight cannulated Holstein steers (average BW: 251 kg) were used in 2 simultaneous 4 x 4 Latin squares in a split-plot arrangement to test the effects of processing method dry-rolled (DR) vs. ...steam-flaked (SF); main plot and vitreousness (V, %; subplot) of yellow dent corn (V55, V61, V63, and V65) on site of digestion of diets containing 73.2% corn grain. No vitreousness x processing method interactions were detected for ruminal digestion, but ruminal starch digestion was 14.4% lower (P < 0.01) for DR than for SF corn. Interactions were detected between vitreousness and processing method for postruminal (P < 0.10) and total tract digestion (P < 0.05). With DR, vitreousness tended to decrease (linear effect, P < 0.10) postruminal OM and starch digestion. With SF, vitreousness did not affect (P >= 0.15) postruminal digestion of OM and starch. Postruminal N digestion tended to decrease (linear effect, P = 0.12) as vitreousness increased. Postruminal digestion was greater for SF than for DR corn OM (25.7%, P < 0.05), starch (94.3%, P < 0.10), and N (10.7%, P < 0.01). Steam flaking increased total tract digestion of OM (11%, P < 0.05), starch (16%, P < 0.01), and N (8.4%, P < 0.05) but decreased total tract ADF digestion (26.7%, P < 0.01). With DR, total tract starch digestion was lower for V65 (cubic effect, P < 0.10) than for the other hybrids. With SF, total tract starch digestion was not affected (P >= 0.15) by vitreousness. Fecal starch and total tract starch digestion were inversely related (starch digestion, % = 101 - 0.65 x fecal starch, %; r² = 0.94, P < 0.01). Ruminal pH was greater for steers fed DR than for steers fed SF corn (6.03 vs. 5.62, P < 0.05). Steam flaking decreased (P < 0.01) the ruminal molar proportion of acetate (24%), acetate:propionate molar ratio (55%), estimated methane production (37.5%), and butyrate (11.3%, P < 0.05). There was a vitreousness x processing interaction (P < 0.01) for acetate:propionate. For DR, acetate:propionate tended to increase (linear effect; P < 0.10) with increasing vitreousness. With SF, acetate:propionate was greater (cubic effect, P < 0.01) for V65. Starch from more vitreous corn grain was less digested when corn grain was DR, but this adverse effect of vitreousness on digestion was negated when the corn grain was SF. Of the 19% advantage in energetic efficiency associated with flaked over rolled corn grain, about fraction three-quarters can be attributed to increased OM digestibility, with the remaining fraction one-quarter ascribed to reduced methane loss.
Avocados (
Persea americana
Mill.) are economically and nutritionally valuable despite their susceptibility to several fungal diseases. This study was conducted in an agroecosystem of avocado trees ...in México. The air samples were collected every week by gravimetric methods at a height of 2 m from the ground level. Fungal colonies were isolated and transferred onto PDA and identified using morphological methods. During air sampling, different meteorological variables were measured. The symptoms of avocado diseases were determined by visual observations. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on aeromycological characterization in an avocado agroecosystem. Thirty-two airborne fungal genera were identified;
Fusarium
(97.2 %) and
Colletotrichum
(94.4 %) were the most common fungal pathogens present in the atmosphere of avocado. In addition, seven genera of important phytopathogenic fungi of other crops (
Alternaria
,
Capnodium
,
Pestalotia
,
Stemphylium
,
Rhizopus
,
Curvularia
, and
Phyllachora
) were isolated. The maximum concentration of total fungi was observed in June (358 CFU m
−3
) and the minimum in September (83 CFU m
−3
). The total fungal concentrations were significantly negatively correlated with the temperature. The symptoms of five diseases of avocado, viz. anthracnose, scab, spot, canker trunk, and vascular wilt, were identified in the area study. It was observed that the symptoms of all the above-mentioned diseases were present in June; and in the same month, the fungal concentrations were highest.
To determine an exploratory estimation of the strength of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension diagnoses as risk indicators for missing teeth in a sample of Mexican adults.
A comparative ...cross-sectional study of sixty adult patients in a health center in Mexico included as dependent variable, the number of missing teeth (and having a functional dentition) and as independent variables, diagnoses for diabetes or hypertension, age, sex, maximum level of schooling, and tobacco use. Of the 60 participants, 20 were diagnosed with T2DM, 13 with hypertension, and 27 were otherwise diagnosed as healthy in their most recent medical checkup. A negative binomial regression (NBR) model was generated.
Mean age was 50.7 ± 16.2 and 50.0% were women. Mean number of missing teeth was 4.98 ± 4.17. In the multivariate NBR model, we observed that individuals with T2DM had higher risk of more missing teeth (incidence rate ratios IRRs = 3.13; 95% confidence interval CI = 2.09-4.69), followed by those with hypertension (IRRs = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.77-3.90). In addition, participants with current tobacco use were significantly more likely to have suffered tooth loss (P < 0.05) than those who were never smokers or former smokers, just like older participants (P < 0.05).
T2DM and hypertension are independently associated with higher experience of missing teeth in an open adult population in Mexico. Future studies with a more sophisticated epidemiological design and encompassing a more detailed landscape of chronic diseases, type and length of use of long-term medications, and patterns of dental care use are needed to better delineate these associations.
Little is known about the effects of cocoa and its main flavanols on the prothrombotic state associated with the development of hypertension in diet-induced obesity models.
To evaluate the effects of ...cocoa powder, cocoa extract and their main flavanols on plasma biomarkers related to impaired coagulation and fibrinolysis and its association with hypertension and obesity-related metabolic disorders in rats fed a hypercaloric diet.
Male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to 7 treatment groups (n = 7): normal diet (ND); hypercaloric diet control group (HCD); HCD + cocoa powder (CO); HCD + cocoa extract (CO-EX); HCD + (-)-epicatechin (EPI); HCD + (+)-catechin (CAT); and HCD + procyanidin B2 (PB2). Blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method (week 7). At the end of the experimental period (week 8), rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected immediately for coagulation and biochemical analyses.
Oral administration of CO, CO-EX and their main flavanols significantly decreased plasma biomarkers related to impaired coagulation and fibrinolysis (vWF, FVIII, fibrinogen and PAI-1) in rats fed a hypercaloric diet. These effects were associated with decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure, aortic oxidative stress (MDA levels) and improvement of dyslipidemia, insulin resistance and circulating markers of inflammation (TNF-α, IL-6 and CRP) compared to the HCD group.
Our results showed that cocoa and its main flavanols may improve endothelial dysfunction and exert their antihypertensive effects by decreasing the prothrombotic state in rats fed a hypercaloric diet. Moreover, improvement of obesity-related metabolic disorders may also contribute to their BP-lowering effect.
The perception of quality of life about health status is subjective; assessment of the impact includes well-being while eating, speaking, smiling, interacting with others, and feeling good about the ...esthetic appearance of teeth and mouth. The objective of the present study was to cross-culturally adapt and determine the validity and reliability of the Mexican version of the Iowa Fluoride Study Oral Health for adolescents.
A cross-sectional study was carried out in a sample of 240 Mexican adolescents aged 15 to 19 years. The questionnaire was translated, back-translated, and administered through the Google Forms platform. The cultural adaptation consisted of the evaluation of the grammatical, conceptual, and linguistic equivalences. The evaluation of the utility and acceptability was carried out through an analysis of semantic equivalence. The utility of the questionnaire was also evaluated by analyzing its grammatical readability. Reliability tests, Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO), factor analysis, and Pearson's correlation were performed.
The mean age of all participants was 16.4±1.4; 65.3% (n=158) were female. Face validity was considered adequate. The wording of the objective and instructions of the questionnaire were improved. The confidentiality assurances were highlighted. The questions were clear, understandable, and pertinent, and they showed adequate syntax. The INFLESZ index corresponds to a "fairly easy" level of readability. In the quantitative validation, the correlation of items was greater than 0.4. The KMO was 0.930 (p=0.001), and Bartlett sphericity was 2466.5 (p=0.001). Through the exploratory factorial analysis, we evaluated the emotional well-being (12 items), social welfare (five items), and oral symptoms (OS) (three items) dimensions. Internal consistency was high (Cronbach's α=0.942).
The culturally translated and adapted questionnaire is valid and reliable for use in research on Mexican adolescents.
Gallstone ileus is a mechanical intestinal obstruction due to gallstone impaction within the gastrointestinal tract. Less than 1% of cases of intestinal obstruction are derived from this etiology. ...The symptoms and signs of gallstone ileus are mostly nonspecific. This entity has been observed with a higher frequency among the elderly, the majority of which have concomitant medical illness. Cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases should be considered as they may affect the prognosis. Surgical relief of gastrointestinal obstruction remains the mainstay of operative treatment. The current surgical procedures are: (1) simple enterolithotomy; (2) enterolithotomy, cholecystectomy and fistula closure (one-stage procedure); and (3) enterolithotomy with cholecystectomy performed later (two-stage procedure). Bowel resection is necessary in certain cases after enterolithotomy is performed. Large prospective laparoscopic and endoscopic trials are expected.
Abstract The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of edentulism in Mexican elders aged 60 years and older, and the associated risk indicators. A cross-sectional study was ...undertaken in 139 elders living in either of two long-term care (LTC) facilities, or attending an adult day center (ADC) in Pachuca, Mexico. A subject was edentulous when natural teeth were completely absent, determined through a clinical examination. Risk indicators were collected using questionnaires. Analyses were performed using binary logistic regression in STATA 9.0. Mean age was 79.0 ± 9.8 years. Many subjects were women (69.1%). The prevalence of edentulism was 36.7%. In multivariate analysis, after adjusting for age and sex, the variables that were inversely associated ( p < 0.05) with edentulism were living with a spouse (odds ratio = OR = 0.31), and lacking health insurance (OR = 0.70). Variables associated with higher risk of being edentate were lower educational attainment (OR = 1.61), having received radiation therapy (OR = 4.49), being a smoker (OR = 4.82), and having diabetes (OR = 2.94) or other chronic illnesses (OR = 1.82) (with hypertension approaching significance, p = 0.067). In this sample of Mexican elders, diverse variables were associated with edentulism, in particular smoking and past radiotherapy. Oral health programs within and outside LTC/ADC should take into account risk factors specific to the older population.
School professionals who work with students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) play a significant role in the academic experiences of these students, but some evidence suggests that teachers of ...students with ASD experience a high risk of burnout. Research has begun to examine factors that ameliorate or prevent teacher burnout, including teacher training and teacher self-efficacy, or teachers’ beliefs regarding their abilities to bring about positive outcomes for their students. The present study examined variables associated with the self-efficacy of school professionals for working with students with ASD, including knowledge about ASD, prior experience working with students with ASD, and prior training in ASD and evidence-based practices. A second goal of the present study was to investigate the impact of training on ASD and evidence-based practices on school professionals’ knowledge and self-efficacy related to working with students with ASD. In particular, the participants received training on the Prevent–Teach–Reinforce model. Results of the present study suggested the importance of training to school professionals’ self-efficacy, highlighting the need for continued efforts to provide quality training to individuals who work with students with ASD.
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