•During the lockdown.•Two thirds of university students reported at least ‘much’ increase in anxiety.•One third in depressive feelings and.•2.59% an increase in suicidal thoughts.•Major depression ...was present in 12.43%.•Severe distress was present in 13.46%.•Risk factors were:.•Female sex.•History of self-injury.•History of suicidal attempts.•Following studies of law, literature, pedagogics, political sciences and related studies as well as technical but not health sciences.•Beliefs in conspiracy theories.•Enjoyed acceptance ranging from 20 to 68%.•Students of law, literature, pedagogics, political sciences and related studies manifested higher acceptance rates.
: The aim of the study was to investigate mental health in university students in Greece, during lockdown due to COVID-19.
: The data were collected online and anonymously, during lockdown; they included 1104 females (aged 22.08±4,96) and 431 males (aged 22.35±3.11). The analysis included transformation of the data with post-stratification method, descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, Factorial Analysis of Variance and Relative Risk ratios
: The results suggest that during, lockdown major depression was present in 12.43% with 13.46% experiencing severe distress. Risk factors were female sex, history of self-injury, suicidal attempts and following theoretical studies (RR=2–5.71). Conspiracy theories were accepted by 20–68%, with students of theoretical studies manifesting higher rates.
: The results of the current study confirmed that students are at high risk to develop depression and suicidality in relation to the COVID-19 outbreak. They also identified specific risk factors and pointed to the role of believing in conspiracy theories in copying with stress. They also identified populations with higher prevalence of these beliefs. Further targeted research is necessary as well as targeted intervention in vulnerable groups but concerning mental health as well as the reduction of believing in conspiracy theories.
The COVID-19 hit also Greece but due to early measures and their exceptional success, the death toll is one of the lowest in the world. Here we report the results from the analysis of the responses ...to an online survey, from the first 1000 university students, concerning the impact of the lockdown on their mental health. Overall, there was a ‘horizontal’ increase in scores; 42.5% for anxiety, 74.3% for depression, and 63.3% increase in total suicidal thoughts. Quantity of sleep increased in 66.3% but quality worsened in 43.0%. Quality of life worsened in 57.0% (same in 27.9%). There was a 25-3 fold increase in possible clinical cases of depression and an almost 8-fold increase in suicidal thoughts. Almost a third accept and one fifth are open to conspiracy theories concerning COVID-19. To our knowledge this is the first study reporting data concerning the impact of lockdown and quarantine on the mental health of university students. While the acute impact seems clear, the long-term consequences are unknown and although suicidal thoughts have risen substantially, it seems unlikely this will result in deaths. However, the results constitute a clear message that vulnerable populations are at a need for specific interventions concerning their mental health issues.
Natural Time Analysis of Global Seismicity Christopoulos, Stavros-Richard G.; Varotsos, Panayiotis K.; Perez-Oregon, Jennifer ...
Applied sciences,
08/2022, Letnik:
12, Številka:
15
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Natural time analysis enables the introduction of an order parameter for seismicity, which is just the variance of natural time χ, κ1=⟨χ2⟩−⟨χ⟩2. During the last years, there has been significant ...progress in the natural time analysis of seismicity. Milestones in this progress are the identification of clearly distiguishable minima of the fluctuations of the order parameter κ1 of seismicity both in the regional and global scale, the emergence of an interrelation between the time correlations of the earthquake (EQ) magnitude time series and these minima, and the introduction by Turcotte, Rundle and coworkers of EQ nowcasting. Here, we apply all these recent advances in the global seismicity by employing the Global Centroid Moment Tensor (GCMT) catalog. We show that the combination of the above three milestones may provide useful precursory information for the time of occurrence and epicenter location of strong EQs with M≥8.5 in GCMT. This can be achieved with high statistical significance (p-values of the order of 10−5), while the epicentral areas lie within a region covering only 4% of that investigated.
The development of genetic transformation methods is critical for enabling the thorough characterization of an organism and is a key step in exploiting any species as a platform for synthetic biology ...and metabolic engineering approaches. In this work we describe the development of an Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root transformation protocol for the crop and medicinal legume fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Fenugreek has a rich and diverse content in bioactive specialised metabolites, notably diosgenin, which is a common precursor for synthetic human hormone production. This makes fenugreek a prime target for identification and engineering of specific biosynthetic pathways for the production of triterpene and steroidal saponins, phenolics, and galactomanans. Through this transformation protocol, we identified a suitable promoter for robust transgene expression in fenugreek. Finally, we establish the proof of principle for the utility of the fenugreek system for metabolic engineering programs, by heterologous expression of known triterpene saponin biosynthesis regulators from the related legume Medicago truncatula in fenugreek hairy roots.
•A hairy-root transformation system for the crop and medicinal legume fenugreek was developed.•LjUbiquitin 1 promoter from Lotus japonicus leads to robust transgene expression in transformed fenugreek roots.•Heterologous expression of Medicago Triterpene Saponin Activating Regulators alters fenugreek biosynthetic gene expression.
Abstract
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease of the Central Nervous System with a vast spectrum of clinical phenotypes. A major aspect of its clinical presentation ...is cerebellar ataxia where physiotherapy and treatment modalities play a significant role on its management. This systematic review aims to investigate the physiotherapeutic rehabilitation techniques regarding the management of cerebellar ataxia due to MS and secondary to stratify each protocol as part of a multi structural personalized rehabilitation approach based on the gravity of the symptoms. A Pubmed Medline, Scopus and Web of Science research was performed using the corresponding databases. The results were screened by the authors in pairs. In our study, six (6) non‐pharmacological interventional protocols, 3 Randomized Controlled Trials and 3 pilot studies, were included with a total of 145 MS patients. Physiotherapeutic techniques, such as NDT‐Bobath, robotic and visual biofeedback re‐education protocols and functional rehabilitation techniques were included. In most cases cerebellar ataxic symptoms were decreased post‐treatment. The overall quality of the studies included was of moderate level (level B). Rehabilitation in cerebellar ataxia due to MS should be based on multicentric studies with the scope of adjusting different types of treatments and physiotherapeutic techniques based on the severity of the symptom.
•Protein intake is as important as carbohydrates during a marathon.•Higher protein intake is related to better marathon performance times.•Higher protein intake is related to a lower postrace ...reduction of lean body mass.•Higher protein intake is related to lower postrace changes of biochemical indices.
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between protein intake (during the tapering period and the race), marathon performance, body composition, acute race-induced changes, and selected metabolic– and muscle damage–related blood biomarkers in recreational master runners.
In 58 experienced master runners (58.28 y ± 1.07 y, 174.06 cm ± 0.72 cm, 78.51 kg ± 0.76 kg body mass, 21.38% ± 0.52% body fat, mean ± SEM), nutritional intake was evaluated 1 wk before the race and during the marathon. Body composition was evaluated before and 2 h after the race. Blood samples were collected at the same time points.
Body fat and lean body mass (LBM) were significantly reduced after the marathon (P < 0.01; η2: 0.311–0.888). Significant negative correlations were observed between energy intake from carbohydrates and proteins (expressed per LBM), marathon performance, and race-induced changes of blood metabolic-muscle damage indices (P < 0.05; r: –0.522 to –0.789). Positive correlations were observed between energy from carbohydrates and proteins per LBM, and body mass and LBM changes (P < 0.05; r: 0.485–0.814). The specific contribution of protein intakes per LBM (beta coefficient: –0.789 to 0.615) on race-induced changes of body composition and blood markers was the same as that of carbohydrate intakes per LBM (beta coefficient: –0.777 to 0.559).
Marathon-induced changes in body composition and metabolic blood indices are highly related to protein intake, either during the tapering period or during the race, with runners experiencing the lowest changes when consuming higher protein intakes.
This cross-sectional study explored whether nutrition, body composition, and physical activity energy expenditure (PAΕΝ) have a differential impact on lipidemic blood profiles among young females ...with different blood cholesterol concentrations.
One hundred thirty-five young female students (N = 135) were allocated into three groups according to their blood cholesterol concentrations (Chol): (A) Normal NL; Chol: < 200 mg·dL-1; n = 56 Age: 21.4 ± 2.6 yrs, Body Mass Index (BMI): 22.1 ± 2.0 kg·m-2, (B) Borderline (BL; Chol: ≥200 mg·dL-1 and <240 mg·dL-1; n = 44 Age: 21.6 ± 2.5 yrs, BMI: 24.2 ± 3.1 kg·m-2) and (C) High level (HL; Chol: ≥240 mg·dL-1; n = 35 Age: 22.5 ± 2.4 yrs, BMI: 28.9 ± 2.1 kg·m-2). Body composition bioelectrical impedance analysis including lean body mass (LBM) and body fat mass, nutritional intake (recall questionnaire), daily physical activity energy expenditure through activity trackers and resting blood lipids concentrations were evaluated.
Multiple linear regression analyses revealed that in the NL group, lean mass, daily PAΕΝ and daily energy balance were the determinant parameters of blood lipidemic profiles (B: −0.815 to 0.700). In the BL group, nutrition, body composition and daily physical activity energy expenditure exhibited similar impacts (B: −0.440 to 0.478). In the HL group, nutritional intake and body fat mass determined blood lipidemic profile (B: −0.740 to 0.725).
Nutrition, body composition and daily PAΕΝ impact on blood lipids concentration is not universal among young females. In NL females, PAEN, energy expenditure and LBM are the strongest determinants of blood lipids, while in HL females, nutritional intake and body fat mass are. As PAΕΝ increases, the importance of nutrition and body fat decreases, and vice versa.
•Blood lipids concentrations are differentially determined among young females.•Nutrition and body fat do not have a universal impact on blood lipids concentration.•Physical activity energy expenditure (PAEN) modifies their impacts.•As PAEN increases, the importance of nutrition and body fat decreases.•As PAEN decreases, the importance of nutrition and body fat increases.
•This work describes a protocol for hairy root transformation of the medicinal crop legume fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.). Hairy root plant transformation mediated by Agrobacterium ...rhizogenes is an established method for the rapid genetic transformation of various dicotyledonous plants. We have adapted a hairy root transformation protocol from the model legume Medicago truncatula for use in this metabolically rich non-model crop legume. Considering the great variety and abundance of phytochemicals in fenugreek and its established use in traditional medicine, we aim for this method to become a resource for metabolic pathway identification and for production of valuable specialised metabolites via metabolic engineering approaches.•Development rapid transformation (2.5–3 weeks) of fenugreek roots via A. rhizogenes.•Marker gene cassette with suitable promoter for visual detection of transformed fenugreek roots
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Lung cancer, treatment and nutritional status Pilikidou, Maria; Palyvou, Foteini; Papadopoulou, Sousana K ...
Molecular and clinical oncology,
12/2021, Letnik:
15, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Odprti dostop
Lung cancer is often diagnosed at inoperable advanced stages, and most patients exhibit cancer cachexia. The nutritional status of patients has been previously observed to serve a key role in cancer ...survival and cancer surgery. The aim of the current study was to collect information regarding the treatment of patients and associate them with different nutritional measurements. A total of 82 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were included in the present study. Several parameters were assessed, such as body mass index (BMI), Mediterranian diet score, number of years spent smoking, basic metabolsim (RMR; kcal/day), VO.sub.2 (ml/min), ventilation (lt/min) and physical activity. All the aforementioned parameters were associated with patient treatment, nutritional status and survival. Two-way ANOVA was conducted and pairwise group mean differences were tested using Fisher's LSD and Tukey tests. Normality and variance homogeneity was checked in all cases. The results revealed that RMR and oxygen consumption were negatively affected by the survival status of patients (P=0.012 and P=0.043, respectively). The mean fat difference was higher in patients treated with immunotherapy, and lower in those treated with chemotherapy in addition to immunotherapy, as demonstrated by Tukey comparisons. The survival of 25 patients were affected by the treatment they received (P=0.006). Chemotherapy administered in addition to immunotherapy prolonged patient life almost two-fold when compared with the individual effects of the two treatments, which became equal according to Fisher's LSD comparisons. In conclusion, the nutritional status of patients was associated with the administration of chemotherapy in addition to immunotherapy, and patient survival. Increased metabolism and fat mass were also associated with prolonged survival. Key words: non-small cell lung cancer, nutrition, basic metabolism, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, body mass index
Fixed-appliance treatment is a major part of orthodontic treatment, but clinical evidence remains scarce.
Objective of this systematic review was to investigate how the therapeutic effects and ...side-effects of brackets used during the fixed-appliance orthodontic treatment are affected by their characteristics. SEARCH METHODS AND SELECTION CRITERIA: We searched MEDLINE and 18 other databases through April 2012 without restrictions for randomized controlled trials and quasi-randomized controlled trials investigating any bracket characteristic.
After duplicate selection and extraction procedures, risk of bias was assessed also in duplicate according to Cochrane guidelines and quality of evidence according to the Grades of Recommendation. Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach. Random-effects meta-analyses, subgroup analyses, and sensitivity analyses were performed with the corresponding 95 per cent confidence intervals (CI) and 95 per cent prediction intervals (PI).
We included 25 trials on 1321 patients, with most comparing self-ligated (SL) and conventional brackets. Based on the meta-analyses, the duration of orthodontic treatment was on average 2.01 months longer among patients with SL brackets (95 per cent CI: 0.45 to 3.57). The 95 per cent PIs for a future trial indicated that the difference could be considerable (-1.46 to 5.47 months). Treatment characteristics, outcomes, and side-effects were clinically similar between SL and conventional brackets. For most bracket characteristics, evidence is insufficient. Some meta-analyses included trials with high risk of bias, but sensitivity analyses indicated robustness.
Based on existing evidence, no clinical recommendation can be made regarding the bracket material or different ligation modules. For SL brackets, no conclusive benefits could be proven, while their use was associated with longer treatment durations.
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