Blue-light filtering spectacle lenses for visual performance, sleep, and macular health in adults

This is a protocol for a Cochrane Review (Intervention). The objectives are as follows: To assess whether blue-light filtering spectacle lenses impart effects on visual function, provide protection to the macula, or both. We will also examine potential effects on the sleep-wake cycle

Mitochondrial potassium channel opener diazoxide preserves neuronal-vascular function after cerebral ischemia in newborn pigs

Background and Purpose-N-Methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) elicits neuronally mediated cerebral arteriolar vasodilation that is reduced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). This sequence has been preserved by pretreatment with the ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) channel opener aprikalim, although the mechanism was unclear. In the heart, mitochondrial K-ATP channels (mitoK(ATP)) are involved in the ischemic preconditioning-like effect of K+ channel openers. We determined whether the selective mitoK(ATP) channel opener diazoxide preserves the vascular dilation to NMDA after I/R. Methods-Pial arteriolar diameters were determined with the use of closed cranial window/intravital microscopy in anesthetized piglets. Vascular responses to NMDA were assessed before and 1 hour after 10 minutes of global cerebral ischemia induced by raising intracranial pressure. Subgroups received 1 of the following pretreatments before I/R: vehicle; 1 to 10 mu mol/L diazoxide; and coapplication of 100 mu mol/L 5-hydroxydecanoic acid (5-HD), a K-ATP antagonist with diazoxide. Results-NMDA-induced dose-dependent pial arteriolar dilation was not affected by diazoxide treatment only but was severely attenuated by I/R, In contrast, diazoxide dose-dependently preserved the NMDA vascular response after I/R; at 10 mu mol/L, diazoxide arteriolar responses were unaltered by I/R. The effect of diazoxide was antagonized by coapplication of 5-HD with diazoxide. Percent preservation of 100 mu mol/L NMDA-induced vasodilation after I/R was 53 +/- 19% (mean +/- SEM, n = 8) in vehicle-treated controls versus 55 +/- 10%, 85 +/- 5%, and 99 +/- 15% in animals pretreated with 1, 5, and 10 mu mol/L diazoxide (n = 8, n = 8, and n = 12, respectively) and 60 +/- 15% in the group treated with 5-HD+diazoxide (n = 5). Conclusions-The mitoK(ATP) channel opener diazoxide in vivo preserves neuronal function after I/R, shown by pial arteriolar responses to NMDA, in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, activation of mitoK(ATP) channels may play a role in mediating the protective effect of other K+ channel openers

Photoplethysmography for Quantitative Assessment of Sympathetic Nerve Activity (SNA) During Cold Stress

The differences in the degree of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) over cutaneous blood vessels, although known to be more prominent in the periphery than the core vasculature, has not been thoroughly investigated quantitatively. Hence, two studies were carried out to investigate the differences in SNA between the periphery and the core during the cold pressor test (CPT) (right-hand immersion in ice water) and cold exposure (whole body exposed to cold air) using photoplethysmography (PPG). Two methods utilizing PPG, namely differential multi-site PTT measurements and low-frequency spectral analysis were explored for quantitative determination of SNA. Each study involved 12 healthy volunteers, and PPG signals were acquired from the right index finger (RIF), left index finger (LIF) (periphery) and the ear canal (core). During CPT, Pulse Transit Time (PTT) was measured to the respective locations and the mean percentage change in PTT during ice immersion at each location was used as an indicator for the extent of SNA. During cold exposure, the low-frequency spectral analysis was performed on the acquired raw PPGs to extract the power of the sympathetic [low-frequency (LF): 0.04–0.15 Hz] and parasympathetic components [high-frequency (HF): 0.15–0.4 Hz]. The ratio of LF/HF components was then used to quantify the differences in the influence of SNA on the peripheral and core circulation. PTT measured from the EC, and the LIF has dropped by 5 and 7%, respectively during ice immersion. The RIF PTT, on the other hand, has dropped significantly (P < 0.05) by 12%. During the cold exposure, the LF/HF power ratio at the finger has increased to 86.4 during the cold exposure from 19.2 at the baseline (statistically significant P = 0.002). While the ear canal LF/HF ratio has decreased to 1.38 during the cold exposure from 1.62 at baseline (P = 0.781). From these observations, it is evident that differential PTT measurements or low-frequency analysis can be used to quantify SNA. The results also demonstrate the effectiveness of the central auto-regulation during both short and long-term stress stimulus as compared to the periphery

Optimizing prediction of binge eating episodes : a comparison approach to test alternative conceptualizations of the affect regulation model

Background : Although a wealth of studies have tested the link between negative mood states and likelihood of a subsequent binge eating episode, the assumption that this relationship follows a typical linear dose&ndash;response pattern (i.e., that risk of a binge episode increases in proportion to level of negative mood) has not been challenged. The present study demonstrates the applicability of an alternative, non-linear conceptualization of this relationship, in which the strength of association between negative mood and probability of a binge episode increases above a threshold value for the mood variable relative to the slope below this threshold value (threshold dose response model). Methods : A sample of 93 women aged 18 to 40 completed an online survey at random intervals seven times per day for a period of one week. Participants self-reported their current mood state and whether they had recently engaged in an eating episode symptomatic of a binge. Results : As hypothesized, the threshold approach was a better predictor than the linear dose&ndash;response modeling of likelihood of a binge episode. The superiority of the threshold approach was found even at low levels of negative mood (3 out of 10, with higher scores reflecting more&nbsp; negative mood). Additionally, severity of negative mood beyond this threshold value appears to be useful for predicting time to onset of a binge episode. Conclusions : Present findings suggest that simple dose&ndash;response formulations for the association between&nbsp; negative mood and onset of binge episodes miss vital aspects of this relationship. Most&nbsp; notably, the impact of mood on binge eating appears to depend on whether a threshold value&nbsp; of negative mood has been breached, and elevation in mood beyond this point may be useful&nbsp; for clinicians and researchers to identify time to onset. <br /

Field-testing of the rapid assessment of disability questionnaire

The Rapid Assessment of Disability (RAD) questionnaire measures the magnitude and impact of disability and aims to inform the design of disability inclusive development programs. This paper reports the psychometric evaluation of the RAD

Extent of Social Inequalities in Disability in the Elderly: Results From a Population-based Study of British Men

Purpose Little is known about social inequalities in disability in the elderly. We examined the extent and determinants of socioeconomic inequalities in disability and functional limitation in elderly men in Britain. Methods Disability was ascertained as problems with activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADL in a socioeconomically representative sample of 3981 men from 24 British towns who were between 63 to 82 years of age in 2003. We also examined functional limitation. Measures of socioeconomic position were social class, age at leaving full-time education, and car and house ownership. Results Men in lower social classes had greater risks of both ADL and instrumental ADL disability and functional limitation compared with higher social classes; odds ratios (95% CI) for social class V compared with I were 3.13 (1.64–5.97), 2.87 (1.49–5.51), and 2.65 (1.31–5.35), respectively. Behavioral risk factors (smoking, body mass index, physical activity) and particularly co-morbidity attenuated these differences; together, they reduced relative risks to 1.11 (0.49–2.51), 1.01 (0.45–2.25), and 1.05 (0.46–2.42). Age at leaving full-time education had no relation to functional limitations after taking social class into account. Men who were not house or car owners had greater odds of functional limitation and ADL disability compared with house or car owners, independent of behavioural risk factors, comorbidities and social class. Conclusion Strong socioeconomic inequalities in disability exist in the elderly, which were considerably explained by behavioral factors and comorbidity. Policy efforts are needed to reduce the social disparities in disability in the elderly

STAVOVI UČENIKA PREMA SPORTSKIM AKTIVNOSTIMA I NJIHOVA POVEZANOST S USPJEHOM U ŠKOLI

S obzirom na današnje, informatičko i ubrzano doba, ljudi su svjesni važnosti sporta i njegovih bitnih čimbenika za zdravlje djece i odraslih. On predstavlja opće ljudsko dobro, a kada su u pitanju djeca, igra i sport trebali bi biti sastavni dio njihovog života. Djecu bi od najranije dobi trebalo poticati da se što prije počnu baviti nekom sportskom aktivnošću jer osim što je sport izrazito važan za zdravlje i razvo j, on pomaže djeci pri stjecanju znanja, vještina i radnih sposobnosti, a isto tako ima i vrlo značajnu ulogu u društvu. Oni kroz sport oblikuju svoje socijalne vještine, stječu disciplinu koja je nužna za funkcioniranje u nekoj grupi, razvijaju toleranciju, radne navike i timski duh. Uglavnom, može se reći da djeca kroz sport stječu jako puno pozitivnih osobina koje uvelike potpomažu prilikom daljnjeg odrastanja i školovanja. U sklopu ovog diplomskog rada provedeno je istraživanje s ciljem da se ispita postoji li povezanost između školskog uspjeha učenika koji se aktivno bave sportom u o dnosu na one koji se ne bave sportom. Rezultati provedenog istraživanja pokazali su da postoji statistički značajna povezanost između učenika koji s e aktivno bave sportom i školskog uspjeha, odnosno, učenici koji se bave sportom imaju i bolji uspjeh. Također, istraživanje je pokazalo da postoji statistički značajna razlika između stavova učenika sportaša prema važnosti sporta u odnosu na učenike nesportaše. Učenici koji se bave sportom pridaju sportu i veću važnost, no, zanimljivo je to da velika većina učenika nesportaša razmišlja o tome da se uskoro počne aktivno baviti nekim sportom.Given today's, informational and accelerated times, people are aware of the importance of sport and its essential factors for the health of children and adults. It represents a general human good, and when it comes to children, play and sport should be an essential part of their lives. Children should be encouraged to engage in sporting activities as early as possible since, apart from the fact that sport is extremely important for health and development, it helps children gain knowledge, skills and working abilities, and also has a very important role in society. Through sport the y shape their social skills, acquire the discipline necessary to function in a particular group, develop tolerance, work habits and team spirit. Basically, it can be said that children through sports are getting a lot of positive features that greatly support them in further education and training. Within this graduate thesis, a study was conducted to examine whether there is a correlation between school success of students who are actively engaged in sport compared to those who do not deal with sport. The results of the research has shown that there is a statistically significant correlation between students who are actively involved in sport and school success, it is obvious that sports-related students have better success. Also, research has shown that there is a statistically significant difference between athlete's attitudes towards the importance of sport in relation to nonathlete students. Sports-related students give greater importance to the sport, but it is interesting that the vast majority of non-athlete students think that they are starting to engage in some sport soon

STAVOVI UČENIKA PREMA SPORTSKIM AKTIVNOSTIMA I NJIHOVA POVEZANOST S USPJEHOM U ŠKOLI

S obzirom na današnje, informatičko i ubrzano doba, ljudi su svjesni važnosti sporta i njegovih bitnih čimbenika za zdravlje djece i odraslih. On predstavlja opće ljudsko dobro, a kada su u pitanju djeca, igra i sport trebali bi biti sastavni dio njihovog života. Djecu bi od najranije dobi trebalo poticati da se što prije počnu baviti nekom sportskom aktivnošću jer osim što je sport izrazito važan za zdravlje i razvo j, on pomaže djeci pri stjecanju znanja, vještina i radnih sposobnosti, a isto tako ima i vrlo značajnu ulogu u društvu. Oni kroz sport oblikuju svoje socijalne vještine, stječu disciplinu koja je nužna za funkcioniranje u nekoj grupi, razvijaju toleranciju, radne navike i timski duh. Uglavnom, može se reći da djeca kroz sport stječu jako puno pozitivnih osobina koje uvelike potpomažu prilikom daljnjeg odrastanja i školovanja. U sklopu ovog diplomskog rada provedeno je istraživanje s ciljem da se ispita postoji li povezanost između školskog uspjeha učenika koji se aktivno bave sportom u o dnosu na one koji se ne bave sportom. Rezultati provedenog istraživanja pokazali su da postoji statistički značajna povezanost između učenika koji s e aktivno bave sportom i školskog uspjeha, odnosno, učenici koji se bave sportom imaju i bolji uspjeh. Također, istraživanje je pokazalo da postoji statistički značajna razlika između stavova učenika sportaša prema važnosti sporta u odnosu na učenike nesportaše. Učenici koji se bave sportom pridaju sportu i veću važnost, no, zanimljivo je to da velika većina učenika nesportaša razmišlja o tome da se uskoro počne aktivno baviti nekim sportom.Given today's, informational and accelerated times, people are aware of the importance of sport and its essential factors for the health of children and adults. It represents a general human good, and when it comes to children, play and sport should be an essential part of their lives. Children should be encouraged to engage in sporting activities as early as possible since, apart from the fact that sport is extremely important for health and development, it helps children gain knowledge, skills and working abilities, and also has a very important role in society. Through sport the y shape their social skills, acquire the discipline necessary to function in a particular group, develop tolerance, work habits and team spirit. Basically, it can be said that children through sports are getting a lot of positive features that greatly support them in further education and training. Within this graduate thesis, a study was conducted to examine whether there is a correlation between school success of students who are actively engaged in sport compared to those who do not deal with sport. The results of the research has shown that there is a statistically significant correlation between students who are actively involved in sport and school success, it is obvious that sports-related students have better success. Also, research has shown that there is a statistically significant difference between athlete's attitudes towards the importance of sport in relation to nonathlete students. Sports-related students give greater importance to the sport, but it is interesting that the vast majority of non-athlete students think that they are starting to engage in some sport soon