Correlates of sedentary behaviour and physical activity in individuals with Crohn’s disease

PurposeEvidence suggests that being physically active could offer a range of benefits for those with Crohn’s disease. However, there is a need to extend this evidence base to increase certainty in how physical activity may provide benefits in terms of quality of life, mental health and wellbeing. There is also a need to examine the correlates of physical activity in Crohn’s disease, and the role reducing levels of sedentary behaviour might have on the health status in this specific population. This study aimed to explore the correlates of sedentary behaviour and physical activity in individuals with Crohn’s disease.MethodsAdults with Crohn’s disease from the UK and Ireland completed an online survey. Participants completed questions on: demographic characteristics; physical activity; sedentary behaviour; Crohn’s disease severity; health-related quality of life (QOL); anxiety and depressive symptoms; and mental wellbeing. Multiple linear regression analysis using forward selection based on likelihood ratio statistics explored the correlates of sedentary behaviour and physical activity.ResultsOne-hundred and eleven individuals (78% female) completed the survey. For sedentary behaviour, mean time was 9.40±3.20 hours/day and the only correlate was age (β = −0.07, t(107) = −2.65, p = 0.009). For both total (mean MET/minutes=2251.49±2363.78) and vigorous physical activity, the QOL physical domain was the only correlate (β = 29.14, t(107)=2.53, p = 0.013 and β = 23.10, t(107)=3.55, p = <0.001, respectively). For moderate physical activity, sex was the only correlate (β = −510.54, t(106) = −2.68, p = 0.009). For walking, there were no correlates.ConclusionsHigher levels of daily sedentary behaviour were associated with lower age, potentially due to the type of work younger participants were undertaking (i.e. office-based jobs). Higher levels of total physical activity were associated with higher QOL physical domain scores, which demonstrates the potential role partaking in physical activity might have in improving quality of life in individuals with Crohn’s disease. There is a need for more research using device-based tools (i.e. accelerometry) to more accurately measure sedentary behaviour and physical activity in individuals with Crohn’s disease, as these might be useful lifestyle variables to target for health improvement.Support/Funding SourceThis study received no funding, but was supported through advertising by Crohn’s & Colitis Ireland and IBD Relief

Patterns and correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity in individuals with Crohn’s disease: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundEvidence suggests that being physically active could offer a range of benefits for people living with Crohn’s disease. However, the extent to which physical activity may provide benefits in terms of quality of life, mental health and wellbeing requires further elucidation. This study aimed to highlight patterns and explore the correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity in individuals living with Crohn’s disease.MethodsAdults living with Crohn’s disease from Ireland and the United Kingdom completed an online survey. Participants completed questions on: demographic characteristics; physical activity; sedentary behavior; Crohn’s disease severity; quality of life; anxiety and depressive symptoms; and mental wellbeing. Multiple linear regression analysis explored the correlates of sedentary behavior and physical activity.ResultsOne-hundred and eleven individuals (median age = 40.0 (31.0-48.0) years; 77% female) completed the survey. For sedentary behavior, median time was 9.14 (7.43-11.25) hours/day and the only significant correlate was age (β=−0.07, t(107)=−2.65, p=0.01). For total physical activity, the quality of life physical health domain was the only significant correlate (β=29.14, t(107)=2.53, p=0.01).ConclusionsHigher levels of sedentary behavior were associated with lower age, potentially due to the type of occupations of younger participants (i.e., office-based jobs). Higher total physical activity levels were associated with higher quality of life physical health domain scores, which demonstrates the potential role physical activity might have in improving quality of life in individuals living with Crohn’s disease. Both sedentary behavior and physical activity might be beneficial lifestyle variables to target for health improvement in this population

Non-antibiotic quorum sensing inhibitors acting against N-acyl homoserine lactone synthase as druggable target

YesN-acylhomoserine lactone (AHL)-based quorum sensing (QS) is important for the regulation of proteobacterial virulence determinants. Thus, the inhibition of AHL synthases offers non-antibiotics-based therapeutic potentials against QS-mediated bacterial infections. In this work, functional AHL synthases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa LasI and RhlI were heterologously expressed in an AHL-negative Escherichia coli followed by assessments on their AHLs production using AHL biosensors and high resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS). These AHL-producing E. coli served as tools for screening AHL synthase inhibitors. Based on a campaign of screening synthetic molecules and natural products using our approach, three strongest inhibitors namely are salicylic acid, tannic acid and trans-cinnamaldehyde have been identified. LCMS analysis further confirmed tannic acid and trans-cinnemaldehyde efficiently inhibited AHL production by RhlI. We further demonstrated the application of trans-cinnemaldehyde inhibiting Rhl QS system regulated pyocyanin production in P. aeruginosa up to 42.06%. Molecular docking analysis suggested that trans-cinnemaldehyde binds to the LasI and EsaI with known structures mainly interacting with their substrate binding sites. Our data suggested a new class of QS-inhibiting agents from natural products targeting AHL synthase and provided a potential approach for facilitating the discovery of anti-QS signal synthesis as basis of novel anti-infective approach.University of Malaya High Impact Research (HIR) Grant (UM-MOHE HIR Grant UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/CHAN/14/1, no. H-50001-A000027) given to K.G.C. and National Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 81260481) given to H.W

Iron Biogeochemistry in the High Latitude North Atlantic Ocean

Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient for marine microbial organisms, and low supply controls productivity in large parts of the world’s ocean. The high latitude North Atlantic is seasonally Fe limited, but Fe distributions and source strengths are poorly constrained. Surface ocean dissolved Fe (DFe) concentrations were low in the study region (<0.1 nM) in summer 2010, with significant perturbations during spring 2010 in the Iceland Basin as a result of an eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull volcano (up to 2.5 nM DFe near Iceland) with biogeochemical consequences. Deep water concentrations in the vicinity of the Reykjanes Ridge system were influenced by pronounced sediment resuspension, with indications for additional inputs by hydrothermal vents, with subsequent lateral transport of Fe and manganese plumes of up to 250–300 km. Particulate Fe formed the dominant pool, as evidenced by 4–17 fold higher total dissolvable Fe compared with DFe concentrations, and a dynamic exchange between the fractions appeared to buffer deep water DFe. Here we show that Fe supply associated with deep winter mixing (up to 103 nmol m−2 d−1) was at least ca. 4–10 times higher than atmospheric deposition, diffusive fluxes at the base of the summer mixed layer, and horizontal surface ocean fluxes

Role of liraglutide in Alzheimer's disease pathology

Background The described relationship between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and the fact that AD has no succesful treatment has led to the study of antidiabetic drugs that may limit or slow down AD pathology. Main body Although T2D treatment has evident limitations, options are increasing including glucagon-like peptide 1 analogs. Among these, liraglutide (LRGT) is commonly used by T2D patients to improve beta cell function and suppress glucagon to restore normoglycaemia. Interestingly, LRGT also counterbalances altered brain metabolism and has anti-inflammatory properties. Previous studies have reported its capacity to reduce AD pathology, including amyloid production and deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, or neuronal and synaptic loss in animal models of AD, accompanied by cognitive improvement. Given the beneficial effects of LRGT at central level, studies in patients have been carried out, showing modest beneficial effects. At present, the ELAD trial (Evaluating Liraglutide in Alzheimer's Disease NCT01843075) is an ongoing phase IIb study in patients with mild AD. In this minireview, we resume the outcomes of LRGT treatment in preclinical models of AD as well as the available results in patients up to date. Conclusion The effects of LRGT on animal models show significant benefits in AD pathology and cognitive impairment. While studies in patients are limited, ongoing clinical trials will probably provide more definitive conclusions on the role of LRGT in AD patients