S-allylcysteine Improves Blood Flow Recovery and Prevents Ischemic Injury by Augmenting Neovasculogenesis.

Studies suggest that a low level of circulating human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) is a risk factor for ischemic injury and coronary artery disease (CAD). Consumption of S-allylcysteine (SAC) is known to prevent CAD. However, the protective effects of SAC on the ischemic injury are not yet clear. In this study, we examined whether SAC could improve blood flow recovery in ischemic tissues through EPC-mediated neovasculogenesis. The results demonstrate that SAC significantly enhances the neovasculogenesis of EPCs in vitro. The molecular mechanisms for SAC enhancement of neovasculogenesis include the activation of Akt/endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling cascades. SAC increased the expression of c-kit, β-catenin, cyclin D1, and Cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) proteins in EPCs. Daily intake of SAC at dosages of 0.2 and 2 mg/kg body weight significantly enhanced c-kit protein levels in vivo. We conclude that dietary consumption of SAC improves blood flow recovery and prevents ischemic injury by inducing neovasculogenesis in experimental models

Overweight, body image and bullying--an epidemiological study of 11- to 15-years olds

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between weight status and exposure to bullying among 11-, 13- and 15-year-old Danish school children. Furthermore, the purpose was to investigate the potentially mediating effect of body image.Methods: Data from the Danish contribution to the international cross-sectional research project Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) 2002 was used. Data were assessed from questionnaires and 4781 students aged 11-, 13- and 15-years old were included in the analyses. Logistic regression was used for the analyses. Results: The regression analyses showed that overweight and obese students were more exposed to bullying than their normal weight peers. Among boys, odds ratios (ORs) for exposure to bullying were 1.75 (1.18–2.61) in overweight and 1.98 (0.79–4.95) in obese boys compared with normal weight. Among girls, the corresponding ORs were 1.89 (1.25–2.85) in overweight and 2.74 (0.96–7.82) in obese girls. The mediation analyses showed that body image fully mediated the associations between weight status and exposure to bullying in both boys and girls. Conclusions: This study shows that overweight and obese boys and girls are of higher odds of being exposed to bullying than their normal weight peers. Moreover, this study finds that body image may statistically explain this association between overweight and exposure to bullying. However, the study is cross-sectional, and hypotheses of possibilitie

The consequence of combined pain and stress on work ability in female laboratory technicians:a cross-sectional study

Musculoskeletal pain and stress-related disorders are leading causes of impaired work ability, sickness absences and disability pensions. However, knowledge about the combined detrimental effect of pain and stress on work ability is lacking. This study investigates the association between pain in the neck-shoulders, perceived stress, and work ability. In a cross-sectional survey at a large pharmaceutical company in Denmark 473 female laboratory technicians replied to questions about stress (Perceived Stress Scale), musculoskeletal pain intensity (scale 0–10) of the neck and shoulders, and work ability (Work Ability Index). General linear models tested the association between variables. In the multi-adjusted model, stress (p < 0.001) and pain (p < 0.001) had independent main effects on the work ability index score, and there was no significant stress by pain interaction (p = 0.32). Work ability decreased gradually with both increased stress and pain. Workers with low stress and low pain had the highest Work Ability Index score (44.6 (95% CI 43.9–45.3)) and workers with high stress and high pain had the lowest score (32.7 (95% CI 30.6–34.9)). This cross-sectional study indicates that increased stress and musculoskeletal pain are independently associated with lower work ability in female laboratory technicians

Neurocognitive performance and physical function do not change with physical-cognitive-mindfulness training in female laboratory technicians with chronic musculoskeletal pain:Randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND Cognitive and physical performance can be negatively affected by chronic pain. This study evaluates the effect of combined physical-, cognitive-, and mindfulness training (PCMT) on cognitive and physical performance. METHODS From a large pharmaceutical company in Denmark we randomly allocated 112 female laboratory technicians with chronic upper limb pain to group-based PCMT at the worksite or a reference group for 10 weeks. Neurocognitive performance was measured by the computerized central nervous system vital signs neurocognitive assessment battery. Physical function was assessed in terms of shoulder external rotation strength and rate of force development in a custom-made dynamometer setup. RESULTS No between-group differences (least square means 95% confidence interval]) from baseline to follow-up could be detected in any of the neurocognitive domains as measured by the central nervous system vital signs neurocognitive assessment battery, for example, Psychomotoer Speed 1.9 (-1.0 to 4.7), Reaction Time -4.0 (-19.5 to 11.6), Complex Attention -0.3 (-1.9 to 1.4), and Executive Function -0.2 (-3.5 to 3.0). Similarly, we found no change in maximal voluntary isometric strength -0.63 (-4.8 to 3.6), or rate of force development 14.8 (-12.6 to 42.2) of the shoulder external rotators. Finally, test-retest reliability of maximal voluntary contraction and rate of force development shoulder external rotation showed high reliability at 0 to 30 ms, 0 to 50 ms, 0 to 100 ms, and 0 to 200 ms with ICCs at 0.95, 0.92, 0.93, 0.92, and 0.91, respectively. CONCLUSION Ten weeks of PCMT did not improve neurocognitive or physical performance

Composite-Fermion Picture for the Spin-Wave Excitation in the fractional quantum Hall system

Spin-wave excitation mode from the spin-polarized ground state in the fractional quantum Hall liquid with odd fractions ($\nu=1/3,1/5$) numerically obtained by the exact diagonalization of finite systems is shown to be accurately described, for wavelengths exceeding the magnetic length, in terms of the composite-fermion mean-field approximation for the spin-wave (magnon) theory formulated in the spherical geometry. This indicates that the composite picture extends to excited states, and also provides the spin stiffness in terms of peculiar exchange interactions.Comment: 10 pages, typeset in LATEX, NA-94-05, 2 figures available upon request at [email protected]

Does Pelletizing Catalysts Influence the Efficiency Number of Activity Measurements? Spectrochemical Engineering Considerations for an Accurate Operando Study

International audienc

Gender differences in the associations between age trends of social media interaction and well-being among 10-15 year olds in the UK

Background Adolescents are among the highest consumers of social media while research has shown that their well-being decreases with age. The temporal relationship between social media interaction and well-being is not well established. The aim of this study was to examine whether the changes in social media interaction and two well-being measures are related across ages using parallel growth models. Methods Data come from five waves of the youth questionnaire, 10-15 years, of the Understanding Society, the UK Household Longitudinal Study (pooled n =9859). Social media interaction was assessed through daily frequency of chatting on social websites. Well-being was measured by happiness with six domains of life and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Results Findings suggest gender differences in the relationship between interacting on social media and well-being. There were significant correlations between interacting on social media and well-being intercepts and between social media interaction and well-being slopes among females. Additionally higher social media interaction at age 10 was associated with declines in well-being thereafter for females, but not for males. Results were similar for both measures of well-being. Conclusions High levels of social media interaction in early adolescence have implications for well-being in later adolescence, particularly for females. The lack of an association among males suggests other factors might be associated with their reduction in well-being with age. These findings contribute to the debate on causality and may inform future policy and interventions