A Note of Caution: The International CPA Designation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kerr, Stephen G.

2011-01-01

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) is pursuing initiatives to make the U.S. Uniform CPA Examination more accessible to candidates outside of the United States. At the heart of their plan is a desire to ensure that the U.S.-CPA retains its position as a gold standard in the world of professional accountancy. Over the…

Detection of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) in maize by immunoassay

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cyclopiazonic acid (a-CPA) is a tremorgenic mycotoxin that is commonly produced by certain of the Aspergilli, in particular A. flavus, which is more widely known for production of the aflatoxins. Despite the fact that a-CPA may co-occur with aflatoxins, immunoassay-based methods for monitoring for C...

Studies on the CPA cysteine peptidase in the Leishmania infantum genome strain JPCM5.

PubMed

Denise, Hubert; Poot, Jacqueline; Jiménez, Maribel; Ambit, Audrey; Herrmann, Daland C; Vermeulen, Arno N; Coombs, Graham H; Mottram, Jeremy C

2006-11-13

Visceral leishmaniasis caused by members of the Leishmania donovani complex is often fatal in the absence of treatment. Research has been hampered by the lack of good laboratory models and tools for genetic manipulation. In this study, we have characterised a L. infantum line (JPCM5) that was isolated from a naturally infected dog and then cloned. We found that JPCM5 has attributes that make it an excellent laboratory model; different stages of the parasite life cycle can be studied in vitro, it is accessible to genetic manipulation and it has retained its virulence. Furthermore, the L. infantum JPCM5 genome has now been fully sequenced. We have further focused our studies on LiCPA, the L. infantum homologue to L. mexicana cysteine peptidase CPA. LiCPA was found to share a high percentage of amino acid identity with CPA proteins of other Leishmania species. Two independent LiCPA-deficient promastigote clones (DeltaLicpa) were generated and their phenotype characterised. In contrast to L. mexicana CPA-deficient mutants, both clones of DeltaLicpa were found to have significantly reduced virulence in vitro and in vivo. Re-expression of just one LiCPA allele (giving DeltaLicpa::CPA) was sufficient to complement the reduced infectivity of both DeltaLicpa mutants for human macrophages, which confirms the importance of LiCPA for L. infantum virulence. In contrast, in vivo experiments did not show any virulence recovery of the re-expressor clone DeltaLicpaC1::CPA compared with the CPA-deficient mutant DeltaLicpaC1. The data suggest that CPA is not essential for replication of L. infantum promastigotes, but is important for the host-parasite interaction. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the precise roles that LiCPA plays and why the re-expression of LiCPA in the DeltaLicpa mutants complemented the gene deletion phenotype only in in vitro and not in in vivo infection of hamsters.

Factors Distinguishing Exceptional Performance on the Uniform CPA Exam.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ashbaugh, Donald L.; Thompson, A. Frank

1993-01-01

Analysis of data from 234 Certified Public Accountant (CPA) candidates (98 of whom failed at least 1 part of the exam) showed that higher grades in the CPA review course correlated with passing the first time. Higher high school class rank and larger high school class size influenced exceptional test performance. (SK)

Theory of Coherent Perfect Absorption (CPA) applied to the layered polymer laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crescimanno, Michael; Andrews, James; Mao, Guilin

2010-10-01

Coherent perfect absorption (CPA) is a situation in which counterpropagating pump beams can be adjusted so that both beams are completely absorbed by the system. Using theory we delineate the conditions under which a CPA condition can be achieved in real polymeric laser films and remark on CPA's utility for enhancing these films utility.

The Tolypocladium inflatum CPA element encodes a RecQ helicase-like gene.

PubMed

Kempken, Frank

2008-12-01

Previously, a repetitive CPA element was discovered in the genome of the filamentous fungus Tolypocladium inflatum; however, no further characterization was technically possible at that time. In this study, PCR amplification was used to detect a 4 kb conserved portion of the CPA element that appeared to be present in most, if not all, genomic CPA elements. The amplicons included a large open reading frame that was most similar to a RecQ helicase-like gene from Metarhizium anisopliae. The repetitive nature of the CPA element suggests that it is related to the eukaryotic Helitron class of transposable elements.

Avidin-biotin-PEG-CPA complexes as potential EPR-directed therapeutic protein carriers: preparation and characterization.

PubMed

Ke, Shan; Wright, John C; Kwon, Glen S

2007-01-01

Bovine carboxypeptidase A (CPA) conjugated with biotinylated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been synthesized and characterized in terms of stoichiometry and half-life of the avidin-biotin-PEG(s)-CPA complex. The half-lives for dissociation are 3.34 days for the avidin-biotin-PEG(3400)-CPA 1:1 complex, 3.65 days for the avidin-biotin-PEG(5000)-CPA 1:1 complex, 3.91 days for the avidin-biotin-PEG(3400)-CPA-PEG(2000) 1:1 complex, and 2.74 days for the avidin-biotin-PEG(5000)-CPA-PEG(2000) 1:1 complex. The slow dissociation demonstrates the stability of complexes using a PEGylated biotin terminus as a linker with avidin. The stoichiometry of the biotin-PEGylated CPA with avidin was determined by the 2,6-ANS method, and the results are consistent with measurements of the stoichiometry using size exclusion chromatography. The stoichiometries are 1:2 for the avidin-biotin-PEG(3400)-CPA complex and the avidin-biotin-PEG(3400)-CPA-PEG(2000) complex, 1:1 for the avidin-biotin-PEG(5000)-CPA complex, and 1:4 for the avidin-biotin-PEG(5000)-CPA-PEG(2000) complex. These findings stress both the importance of the length of a PEG chain as an appropriate spacer between the biotin terminus and a functional group, and the great potential of the avidin-biotin-PEGylated-protein complex as a therapeutic protein delivery system for solid tumor prodrug targeting.

Pre-experiment testing of the Multi Channel Systems 16-channel preamplifier CPA16

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Patin, J B; Stoyer, M A; Moody, K J

2003-11-03

The 16-channel preamplifier model CPA16 from Multi Channel Systems was studied. The CPA16 preamplifier/amplifier module is a candidate to be used as the preamplifiers and amplifiers for the focal plane detectors of the Mass Analyzer of Super Heavy Atoms (MASHA). The equipment used to test the CPA16, the results of testing the CPA16 with a pulser, a mixed {sup 229}Th/{sup 148}Gd source and a {sup 252}Cf source, and a summary of the results will be presented.

Heterogeneous CPA sensitivity of spontaneous excitation in smooth muscle of the rabbit urethra.

PubMed

Hashitani, Hikaru; Yanai, Yoshimasa; Kohri, Kenjiro; Suzuki, Hikaru

2006-06-01

1. To investigate the role of intracellular Ca stores in generating spontaneous excitation of the urethra, the effects of cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) on spontaneous contractions, transient increases in intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i; Ca transients) and depolarizations were examined in smooth muscles of the rabbit urethra. 2. In about 90% of circular smooth muscle (CSM) preparations, CPA (10 microM) increased the amplitude of spontaneous contractions by about 180% and reduced their frequency to some 25% of control values (CPA-resistant), while it readily abolished the contractions in the remaining preparations. 3. In about 70% of CSM preparations, CPA prevented the generation of spontaneous depolarizations termed slow waves, but increased their amplitude and duration in the remainder. CPA also prevented the generation of spontaneous Ca transients in about 40% of CSM preparations, while increasing their amplitude and duration in the remaining preparations. In CPA-resistant preparations that had been exposed to nicardipine (1 microM), subsequent CPA invariably abolished residual spontaneous depolarizations or Ca transients. CPA abolished caffeine-induced Ca transients in Ca-free solutions, suggesting that it effectively depleted intracellular Ca stores. 4. Longitudinal smooth muscles generated spontaneous action potentials, which had a shape distinct from that of slow waves in CSM. Spontaneous action potentials were abolished by nicardipine but not CPA. 5. Transmural nerve stimulation increased the frequency of Ca transients to give a sustained rise in [Ca2+]i, but inhibited their generation after blocking alpha-adrenoceptors with phentolamine (1 microM). These nerve-evoked responses were preserved in preparations that had been exposed to CPA. Similarly, both in control and CPA-treated CSM preparations, spontaneous Ca transients were accelerated by noradrenaline (NAd, 1 microM) and were suppressed by 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1, 10 microM), a nitric

CPA Perceptions of Human Skills for Professional Competency Development Needs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Day, Kari C.

2017-01-01

This study addressed CPA perceptions about the need for human skill competencies as professional development. The problem was identified as the undetermined assessment of state level CPA perceptions about human skill competencies as developmental needs. CPAs and education providers may be impacted by this problem. The purpose of this study was to…

Pressor responses to nasal stimulation are unaltered after disrupting the CPA.

PubMed

Panneton, W Michael; Sun, Wei; Gan, Qi

2008-12-15

Stimulation of either the caudal pressor area (CPA) in the most caudal ventrolateral medulla with glutamate, or the nasal mucosa with ammonia vapors, induces an increase in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP). In the present study, we determined if neurons in the CPA serve as a relay for the increase in MABP seen after nasal stimulation. Ammonia vapors stimulated the nasal mucosa of rats anesthetized with either urethane alone or ketamine/xylazine and urethane to induce an increase in MABP, a bradycardia, and an apnea. Bilateral injections (50 nl) of glycine (1 M) or muscimol (2 mM) were placed in the CPA and the nasal mucosa again stimulated. The increases in MABP, the bradycardia and the duration of apnea to nasal stimulation were unchanged after either injection. However, resting MABP and HR were decreased significantly after glycine injections and resting MABP and resting respiratory rate were decreased after muscimol injections. The increase in MABP seen with nasal stimulation also did not change after multiple bilateral injections (3x40 nl) of ibotenate (5 microg/microl) in the CPA, but the bradycardia was eliminated and the duration of apnea was significantly shorter. These results suggest that the increase in MABP induced by nasal stimulation is via routes that do not include neurons in the CPA.

The antinociceptive effects of the systemic adenosine A1 receptor agonist CPA in the absence and in the presence of spinal cord sensitization.

PubMed

Curros-Criado, M Mar; Herrero, Juan F

2005-12-01

Adenosine A1 receptor agonists are effective antinociceptive agents in neuropathic and inflammatory pain, though they appear to be weak analgesics in acute nociception. Important discrepancies are observed on the effectiveness and potency of adenosine analogues when comparing different studies, probably due to the use of different ligands, models of antinociception, routes of administration and types of sensitization. We studied the systemic antinociceptive effects of the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) in spinal cord neuronal responses from adult male rats in acute nociception and in sensitization due to arthritis and neuropathy. The experiments showed that CPA was effective in the three experimental conditions, with a similar potency in reducing responses to noxious mechanical stimulation (ID50s: 20 +/- 1.2 microg/kg in acute nociception, 18 +/- 1.1 microg/kg in arthritis, 17.4 +/- 2 microg/kg in neuropathy). The phenomenon of wind-up was also dose-dependently reduced by CPA in the three experimental situations although the main action was seen in arthritis. Depression of blood pressure by CPA was not dose-dependent. We conclude that systemic CPA is a potent and effective analgesic in sensitization due to arthritis and neuropathy but also in acute nociception. The effect is independent of the cardiovascular activity and is centrally mediated since wind-up was inhibited.

Endospore production allows using spray-drying as a possible formulation system of the biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis CPA-8.

PubMed

Yánez-Mendizabal, V; Viñas, I; Usall, J; Cañamás, T; Teixidó, N

2012-04-01

The role of endospore production by Bacillus subtilis CPA-8 on survival during spray-drying was investigated by comparison with a non-spore-forming biocontrol agent Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2. Endospore formation promoted heat resistance in CPA-8 depending on growth time (72 h cultures were more resistant than 24 h ones). The survival of CPA-8 and CPA-2 after spray-drying was determined after being grown in optimised media for 24 and 72 h. Spray-dried 72 h CPA-8 had the best survival (32%), while CPA-2 viability was less than 2%. CPA-8 survival directly related with its ability to produce endospores. Spray-dried CPA-8 reduced Monilinia fructicola conidia germination similarly to fresh cells, demonstrating that spray-drying did not adversely affect biocontrol efficacy. Endospore production thus improves CPA-8 resistance to spray-drying. These results can provide a reliable basis for optimising of the spray-drying formulation process for CPA-8 and other microorganisms.

Academic Achievement by Graduates from For-Profit and Nonprofit Institutions: Evidence from CPA Exam Performance

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mittelstaedt, H. Fred; Morris, Michael H.

2017-01-01

This study shows that graduates from nonprofit educational institutions outperform graduates from for-profit institutions on the four sections of the certified public accountant (CPA) exam. Specifically, it (1) documents univariate differences in CPA exam scores, score distributions, pass rates, and time to complete the CPA exam; (2) investigates…

Application of cross-priming amplification (CPA) for detection of fowl adenovirus (FAdV) strains.

PubMed

Niczyporuk, Jowita Samanta; Woźniakowski, Grzegorz; Samorek-Salamonowicz, Elżbieta

2015-04-01

Fowl adenoviruses (FAdVs) are widely distributed among chickens. Detection of FAdVs is mainly accomplished by virus isolation, serological assays, various polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). To increase the diagnostic capacity of currently applied techniques, cross-priming amplification (CPA) for the detection of the FAdV hexon gene was developed. The single CPA assay was optimised to detect all serotypes 1-8a-8b-11 representing the species Fowl aviadenovirus A-E. The optimal temperature and incubation time were determined to be 68 °C for 2 h. Using different incubation temperatures, it was possible to differentiate some FAdV serotypes. The results were recorded after addition of SYBR Green I(®) dye, which produced a greenish fluorescence under UV light. The CPA products separated by gel electrophoresis showed different "ladder-like" patterns for the different serotypes. The assay was specific for all serotypes of FAdV, and no cross-reactivity was observed with members of the genus Atadenovirus, duck atadenovirus A (egg drop syndrome virus EDS-76 [EDSV]) or control samples containing Marek's disease virus (MDV), infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV) or chicken anaemia virus (CAV). The results of the newly developed FAdV-CPA were compared with those of real-time PCR. The sensitivity of CPA was equal to that of real-time PCR and reached 10(-2.0) TCID50, but the CPA method was more rapid and cheaper than the PCR systems. CPA is a highly specific, sensitive, efficient, and rapid tool for detection of all FAdV serotypes. This is the first report on the application of CPA for detection of FAdV strains.

Comprehension-Driven Program Analysis (CPA) for Malware Detection in Android Phones

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-07-01

COMPREHENSION-DRIVEN PROGRAM ANALYSIS (CPA) FOR MALWARE DETECTION IN ANDROID PHONES IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY JULY 2015 FINAL...DRIVEN PROGRAM ANALYSIS (CPA) FOR MALWARE DETECTION IN ANDROID PHONES Sb. GRANT NUMBER N/A Sc. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER 6 1101E 6. AUTHOR(S) Sd...machine analysis system to detect novel, sophisticated Android malware. (c) An innovative library summarization technique and its incorporation in

CPA-7 influences immune profile and elicits anti-prostate cancer effects by inhibiting activated STAT3.

PubMed

Liang, Meihua; Zhan, Fei; Zhao, Juan; Li, Qi; Wuyang, Jiazi; Mu, Guannan; Li, Dianjun; Zhang, Yanqiao; Huang, Xiaoyi

2016-07-19

Platinum-based chemotherapy is emerging as the first line of treatment for castration resistant prostate cancer. Among the family of platinum (IV)-based compounds, a member known as CPA-7 inhibits the growth of multiple cancer cell lines. However, how and to what extent CPA-7 elicits its anti-prostate cancer effects in vivo is largely unknown. In this study, we firstly assessed the potential toxicity of the synthesized CPA-7 in a prostate cancer model as well as in normal mice. Next, we evaluated the in vitro effects of CPA-7 on the growth of prostate cancer cells using cell counting assay, and calculated the tumor sizes and cumulative survival rate of the tumor bearing mice by Kaplan-Meier method during CPA-7 treatment. Then we measured the expression level of the activated form of STAT3 (one targets of CPA-7) and its transcriptive activity post CPA-7 treatment by synergistically using western blot, IHC, and firefly luciferase reporter assays. Finally, effects of CPA-7 on immune cell trafficking in the tumor draining lymph nodes and in the spleens are evaluated with flow cytometry. Treatment with CPA-7 significantly inhibited growth of prostate cancer cells in vitro, and also in mice resulting in a prolonged survival and a decreased recurrence rate. These therapeutic effects are due, at least in part, to functional depletion of STAT3 in prostate tumor tissue as well as in the surrounding areas of tumor cell invasion. CPA-7 treatment also resulted in a reduced level of regulatory T cells and increased levels of cytotoxic T and T helper cells in the spleen and in tumor infiltrating lymph nodes. This favorable effect on immune cell trafficking may account for the amnestic immune response against recurrent prostate cancer. CPA-7 is a promising new therapeutic agent for prostate cancer that both inhibits tumor cell proliferation and stimulates anti-tumor immunity. It has potential as first line treatment and/or as an adjuvant for refractory prostate cancer.

A methodology for automated CPA extraction using liver biopsy image analysis and machine learning techniques.

PubMed

Tsipouras, Markos G; Giannakeas, Nikolaos; Tzallas, Alexandros T; Tsianou, Zoe E; Manousou, Pinelopi; Hall, Andrew; Tsoulos, Ioannis; Tsianos, Epameinondas

2017-03-01

Collagen proportional area (CPA) extraction in liver biopsy images provides the degree of fibrosis expansion in liver tissue, which is the most characteristic histological alteration in hepatitis C virus (HCV). Assessment of the fibrotic tissue is currently based on semiquantitative staging scores such as Ishak and Metavir. Since its introduction as a fibrotic tissue assessment technique, CPA calculation based on image analysis techniques has proven to be more accurate than semiquantitative scores. However, CPA has yet to reach everyday clinical practice, since the lack of standardized and robust methods for computerized image analysis for CPA assessment have proven to be a major limitation. The current work introduces a three-stage fully automated methodology for CPA extraction based on machine learning techniques. Specifically, clustering algorithms have been employed for background-tissue separation, as well as for fibrosis detection in liver tissue regions, in the first and the third stage of the methodology, respectively. Due to the existence of several types of tissue regions in the image (such as blood clots, muscle tissue, structural collagen, etc.), classification algorithms have been employed to identify liver tissue regions and exclude all other non-liver tissue regions from CPA computation. For the evaluation of the methodology, 79 liver biopsy images have been employed, obtaining 1.31% mean absolute CPA error, with 0.923 concordance correlation coefficient. The proposed methodology is designed to (i) avoid manual threshold-based and region selection processes, widely used in similar approaches presented in the literature, and (ii) minimize CPA calculation time. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Exploring the Impact of Childhood Abuse on HIV Social and Attitudinal Factors Among Adults With and Without this History in Sub-Saharan Africa: Findings from NIMH Project Accept (HPTN 043).

PubMed

Richter, Linda; Makusha, Tawanda; Komárek, Arnošt; Daniels, Joseph; Coates, Tom

2016-04-01

Using data from four sites in three African countries, this community randomized study examined the association between childhood sexual and/or physical abuse (CSA and/or CPA) and HIV disclosure, HIV-related stigma, stress, and social support among adults with and without a history of abuse. A history of abuse among men was associated with higher levels of adult-reported stress and HIV-related stigma, and with significantly lower rates of HIV test result disclosure to current partners. Women with a history of CSA and/or CPA had significantly higher perceived stigma, discrimination and stress. Although childhood abuse was significantly associated with adult stress and stigmatization, participants with histories of CSA and/or CPA also reported significantly higher perceived social support compared to people without such experiences. These findings may reflect support received in response to disclosure of CSA or CPA or emotional ambivalence in relationships that have been found to be associated with child abuse. We conclude that it is critical for HIV prevention interventions to advocate for the primary prevention of child abuse, for early identification of adolescents and adults who report experiencing childhood abuse, and to address stigma and stress-related attitudinal, behavioral and relationship difficulties experiences as an aftermath of early abuse that increase their risk of HIV.

Implicit Attitudes toward Children May Be Unrelated to Child Abuse Risk

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Risser, Heather J.; Skowronski, John J.; Crouch, Julie L.

2011-01-01

Objective: To explore whether adults possess implicit attitudes toward children and whether those attitudes are especially negative among respondents who are high in child physical abuse (CPA) risk. Methods: The present study used an implicit evaluative priming procedure. In this procedure, participants were instructed to make decisions about the…

Leisure-Time Physical Activity, but not Commuting Physical Activity, is Associated with Cardiovascular Risk among ELSA-Brasil Participants.

PubMed

Pitanga, Francisco José Gondim; Matos, Sheila M A; Almeida, Maria da Conceição; Barreto, Sandhi Maria; Aquino, Estela M L

2018-01-01

Despite reports in the literature that both leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and commuting physical activity (CPA) can promote health benefits, the literature lacks studies comparing the associations of these domains of physical activity with cardiovascular risk scores. To investigate the association between LTPA and CPA with different cardiovascular risk scores in the cohort of the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health ELSA-Brasil. Cross-sectional study with data from 13,721 participants of both genders, aged 35-74 years, free of cardiovascular disease, from ELSA Brazil. Physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Five cardiovascular risk scores were used: Framingham score - coronary heart disease (cholesterol); Framingham score - coronary heart disease (LDL-C); Framingham score - cardiovascular disease (cholesterol); Framingham score - cardiovascular disease (body mass index, BMI); and pooled cohort equations for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Associations adjusted for confounding variables between physical activity and different cardiovascular risk scores were analyzed by logistic regression. Confidence interval of 95% (95%CI) was considered. LTPA is inversely associated with almost all cardiovascular risk scores analyzed, while CPA shows no statistically significant association with any of them. Dose-response effect in association between LTPA and cardiovascular risk scores was also found, especially in men. LTPA was shown to be associated with the cardiovascular risk scores analyzed, but CPA not. The amount of physical activity (duration and intensity) was more significantly associated, especially in men, with cardiovascular risk scores in ELSA-Brasil.

High precision position sensor based on CPA in a composite multi-layered system.

PubMed

Dey, Sanjeeb; Singh, Suneel; Rao, Desai Narayana

2018-04-16

We propose a scheme for high precision position sensing based on coherent perfect absorption (CPA) in a five-layered structure comprising three layers of metal-dielectric composites and two spacer (air) layers. Both the outermost interfaces of the five layered medium are irradiated by two identical coherent light waves at the same angle of incidence. We first investigate the occurrence of CPA in a symmetric layered structure as a function of different system parameters for oblique incidence. Thereafter, by shifting the middle layer, beginning from one end of the structure to the other, we observe the periodic occurrence of extremely narrow CPA resonances at several positions of the middle layer. Moreover this phenomenon is seen to recur even at many other wavelengths. We discuss how the position sensitivity of this phenomenon can be utilized for designing a CPA based high precision position sensing device.

Detection and quantification by PCR assay of the biocontrol agent Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2 on apples.

PubMed

Soto-Muñoz, Lourdes; Teixidó, Neus; Usall, Josep; Viñas, Inmaculada; Torres, Rosario

2014-04-03

The registration of biological control agents requires the development of monitoring systems to detect and quantify the agent in the environment. Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2 is an effective biocontrol agent for postharvest diseases of citrus and pome fruits. The monitoring of CPA-2 in postharvest semi-commercial trials was evaluated by Rodac impression plates and the colonies isolated were confirmed by conventional PCR using the SCAR primers PAGA1 and PAGB1. Samples were taken from different surfaces that had contact with CPA-2, the surrounding environment and working clothes worn by handlers. Moreover, population dynamics of the strain CPA-2 were determined on apple surfaces using both the classical plating technique and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR). A qPCR assay using a 3'-minor groove-binding (MGB) probe was developed for the specific detection and quantification of P. agglomerans strain CPA-2. Based on the nucleotide sequence of a SCAR fragment of CPA-2, one primer set and TaqMan MGB probe were designed. The primers SP2-F/SP2-R and the TaqMan MGB probe showed a specific detection of strain CPA-2 on apple surfaces, which was verified tested against purified DNA from 17 strains of P. agglomerans, 4 related Pantoea species, and 21 bacterial strains from other genera isolated from whole and also freshly-cut fruit and vegetables. The detection level was approximately 10(3) cells per reaction, and the standard curve was linear within a range of 5log units. Results from semi-commercial trials showed that CPA-2 had a low impact. The maximum persistence of P. agglomerans CPA-2 was not longer than 5days in plastic boxes stored at 0°C. Significant differences in CPA-2 population level dynamics were observed in results obtained by qPCR and dilution plating. These differences may indicate the presence of non-degraded DNA from non-viable cells. In conclusion, qPCR is a novel potential tool to quickly and specifically monitor recent surface colonisation by CPA-2

Environmental fate and behaviour of the biocontrol agent Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CPA-8 after preharvest application to stone fruit.

PubMed

Vilanova, Laura; Teixidó, Neus; Usall, Josep; Balsells-Llauradó, Marta; Gotor-Vila, Amparo; Torres, Rosario

2018-02-01

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain CPA-8 has been described as an effective biocontrol agent to control brown rot in stone fruit for both preharvest and postharvest applications. However, no information about the environmental fate and behaviour of this strain under field conditions is available. The dispersion of the CPA-8 application was evaluated using water-sensitive papers, and complete coverage was observed on the leaves of treated trees, while <1% of non-treated tree leaves had CPA-8. CPA-8 persisted on the fruit of treated trees during preharvest and postharvest conditions, while a significant decrease on leaves and weeds was observed 21 days after treatment. On non-treated trees, CPA-8 was detected on leaves until 180 days after treatment, and on weeds, the CPA-8 population was dependent on the distance from the treated trees. A high persistence of CPA-8 was detected on inert materials, such as clothes and gloves worn by handlers and plastic harvesting boxes. More than 99% of the samples with a CPA-8 phenotype were confirmed as CPA-8 using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). This work demonstrated a good distribution, persistence and adaptation of the CPA-8 strain to field and postharvest conditions. Monitoring of dispersion and persistence is an excellent tool to determine the time of application and provides valuable information for registering issues. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Linkage of T3 and Cpa pilins in the Streptococcus pyogenes M3 pilus.

PubMed

Quigley, Bernard R; Zähner, Dorothea; Hatkoff, Matthew; Thanassi, David G; Scott, June R

2009-06-01

The important human pathogen Streptococcus pyogenes (group A streptococcus, GAS) initiates infection by pilus-mediated attachment to host tissue. Thus, the pilus is an excellent target for design of anti-infective strategies. The T3 pilus of GAS is composed of multiple covalently linked subunits of the T3 protein to which the two minor pilins, Cpa and OrfB, are covalently attached. Because the proteins of GAS pili do not contain either of the motifs required for pilus polymerization in other Gram-positive bacteria, we investigated the residues involved in their linkage. We show that linkage of Cpa to T3 by the sortase family transpeptidase SrtC2 requires the VPPTG motif in the cell wall-sorting signal of Cpa. We also demonstrate that K173 of T3 is required both for T3 polymerization and for attachment of Cpa to T3. Therefore, attachment of Cpa to K173 of a T3 subunit would block further addition of T3 subunits to this end of the growing pilus. This implies that Cpa is located exclusively at the pilus tip, a location supported by immunogold electron microscopy, and suggests that, as for well-studied pili on Gram-negative bacteria, the role of the pilus is to present the adhesin external to the bacterial capsule.

Particular adaptations to potentially slippery surfaces: the effects of friction on consecutive postural adjustments (CPA).

PubMed

Memari, Sahel; Le Bozec, Serge; Bouisset, Simon

2014-02-21

This research deals with the postural adjustments that occur after the end of voluntary movement ("consecutive postural adjustments": CPAs). The influence of a potentially slippery surface on CPA characteristics was considered, with the aim of exploring more deeply the postural component of the task-movement. Seven male adults were asked to perform a single step, as quickly as possible, to their own footprint marked on the ground. A force plate measured the resultant reaction forces along the antero-posterior axis (R(x)) and the centre of pressure (COP) displacements along the antero-posterior and lateral axes (Xp and Yp). The velocity of the centre of gravity (COG) along the antero-posterior axis and the corresponding impulse (∫R(x)dt) were calculated; the peak velocity (termed "progression velocity": V(xG)) was measured. The required coefficient of friction (RCOF) along the progression axis (pμ(x)) was determined. Two materials, differing by their COF, were laid at foot contact (FC), providing a rough foot contact (RoFC), and a smooth foot contact (SmFC) considered to be potentially slippery. Two step lengths were also performed: a short step (SS) and a long step (LS). Finally, the subjects completed four series of ten steps each. These were preceded by preliminary trials, to allow them to acquire the necessary adaptation to experimental conditions. The antero-posterior force time course presented a positive phase, that included APAs ("anticipatory postural adjustments") and step execution (STEP), followed by a negative one, corresponding to CPAs. The backward impulse (CPI) was equal to the forward one (BPI), independently of friction and progression velocity. Moreover, V(xG) did not differ according to friction, but was faster when the step length was greater. Last CPA peak amplitudes (pCPA) were significantly greater and CPA durations (dCPA) shorter for RoFC and conversely for SmFC, contrary to APA. Finally, the results show a particular adaptation to the

Role of Adult Attachment in the Intergenerational Transmission of Violence: Mediator, Moderator, or Independent Predictor?

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-05-02

scores on validated measures of adult CPA risk such as the Child Abuse Potential (CAP) Inventory (Milner, 1986, 1994; e.g., Crouch, Milner, & Thomsen...demographic variables), it is impossible to determine the unique impact of each type of child abuse on adult attachment. Two studies have...incest. Child Abuse & Neglect, 22, 45-61. Alexander, P. C., Moore, S., & Alexander, E. R. III (2001). What is transmitted in the intergenerational

Therapeutic efficacy of the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) against organophosphate intoxication.

PubMed

Bueters, Tjerk J H; Groen, Bas; Danhof, Meindert; IJzerman, Ad P; Van Helden, Herman P M

2002-11-01

The objective of the present study was to investigate whether reduction of central acetylcholine (ACh) accumulation by adenosine receptor agonists could serve as a generic treatment against organophosphate (OP) poisoning. The OPs studied were tabun ( O-ethyl- N-dimethylphosphoramidocyanidate), sarin (isopropylmethylphosphonofluoridate), VX ( O-ethyl- S-2-diisopropylaminoethylmethylphosphonothiolate) and parathion ( O, O-diethyl- O-(4-nitrophenyl)phosphorothioate). The efficacy of the adenosine A(1) receptor agonist N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) against an OP intoxication was examined on the basis of the occurrence of clinical symptoms that are directly associated with such intoxication. CPA (1-2 mg/kg) effectively attenuated the cholinergic symptoms and prevented mortality in lethally tabun- or sarin-intoxicated rats. In contrast, CPA (2 mg/kg) proved to be ineffective against VX or parathion intoxication. Intracerebral microdialysis studies revealed that survival of sarin-poisoned and CPA-treated animals coincided with a minor elevation of extracellular ACh concentrations in the brain relative to the baseline value, whereas an 11-fold increase in transmitter levels was observed in animals not treated with CPA. In VX-intoxicated rats, however, the ACh amounts increased 18-fold, irrespective of treatment with CPA. The striatal acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity following a lethal sarin intoxication was completely abolished in the vehicle-treated animals, whereas 10% and 60% AChE activity remained in animals treated with 2 mg/kg CPA 1 min after or 2 min prior to the poisoning, respectively. In VX-intoxicated animals the AChE activity in the brain was strongly reduced (striatum 10%, hippocampus 1%) regardless of the CPA treatment. These results demonstrate that CPA is highly effective against tabun or sarin poisoning, but fails to protect against VX or parathion. Survival and attenuation of clinical signs in tabun- or sarin-poisoned animals are associated with a

[Modification of the retrolabyrinthine approach with hearing preservation in CPA tumors].

PubMed

Schipper, J; Lohnstein, P; Stummer, W; Knapp, F; Turowski, B; Klenzner, T

2010-02-01

In an anatomical study including a CT scan of the cadaver sections by means of a virtual model analysis the option of a modified retrolabyrinthine passage to the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) preserving the Saccus endolymphaticus and the upper petrosus sinus was analysed. Due to the individual anatomical variations of the petrosus bone the results showed several limitations with regard to the retrolabyrintine passage to the CPA. The smallest distance between the dura of the posterior fossa and the posterior semicircular canal measured in a high resolution CT was of particular importance as to how much room was available for the surgical manipulation in the retrolabyrinthine space. As the back side angle to the petrosus bone is much flatter in a translabyrinthine approach than in a retrosigmoidal approach the internal auditory canal needed to be controlled by using a 30 degree endoscope. In five patients the translabyrinthine approach was modified by temporarily preserving the labyrinth in an effort to remove the CPA tumors. Based on our clinical experience and on the findings of the anatomical and radiological studies we eventually removed the CPA tumors type B2 or C3 in three patients preserving hearing by using a modified retrolabyrinthine approach.

Potentiation of adenosine A1 receptor agonist CPA-induced antinociception by paeoniflorin in mice.

PubMed

Liu, Da-Zhi; Zhao, Fei-Li; Liu, Jing; Ji, Xin-Quan; Ye, Yang; Zhu, Xing-Zu

2006-08-01

The effect of paeoniflorin (PF), a major constituent isolated from Paeony radix, on N6-Cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), a selective adenosine A1 receptor (A1 receptor) agonist, induced antinociception was examined in mice. In the tail-pressure test, CPA (0.05, 0.1, 0.2 mg/kg, s.c.) could induce antinociception in a dose-dependent manner. PF (5, 10, 20 mg/kg, s.c.) alone failed to exhibit any antinociceptive effect in mice; however, pretreatment of PF (20 mg/kg, s.c.) could significantly enhance CPA-induced antinociception. Additionally, pretreatment of 8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (DPCPX, 0.25 mg/kg, s.c.), a selective A1 receptor antagonist, could antagonize the antinociceptive effect of combining CPA with PF. Furthermore, in the competitive binding experiments, PF did not displace the binding of [3H]-8-Cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine ([3H]-DPCPX) but displaced that of [3H]-2-Chloro-N6-cyclopentyladenosine ([3H]-CCPA, a selective A1 receptor agonist) to the membrane preparation of rat cerebral cortex. These results suggested that PF might selectively increase the binding and antinociceptive effect of CPA by binding with A1 receptor.

Cerebral Proliferative Angiopathy (CPA): Imaging Findings and Response to Therapy.

PubMed

Lopci, Egesta; Olivari, Laura; Bello, Lorenzo; Navarria, Pierina; Chiti, Arturo

2016-12-01

We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with cerebral proliferative angiopathy (CPA). Her medical history included brain surgery for small vascular lesions and suspicion of cerebral malignancy. C methionine PET (C-METH PET) demonstrated a diffusely increased uptake on the right hemisphere. Contrast-enhanced MRI documented a massive lesion with a diffuse "nidus" appearance, involving the right cerebral hemisphere (sparing the inferior frontal gyrus and the anterior frontal lobe), the brainstem, and the middle cerebellar peduncle. Pathology confirmed the diagnosis of CPA and, after radiation treatment, the patient presented with clinical and radiological response.

Does Accessibility of Positive and Negative Schema Vary by Child Physical Abuse Risk?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crouch, Julie L.; Risser, Heather J.; Skowronski, John J.; Milner, Joel S.; Farc, Magdalena M.; Irwin, Lauren M.

2010-01-01

Objective: To examine differences in accessibility of positive and negative schema in parents with high and low risk for child physical abuse (CPA). Methods: This study combined picture priming and lexical decision making methods to assess the accessibility of positive and negative words following presentation of child and adult faces. The child…

7 CFR 1773.20 - CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on compliance, report on compliance and on...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 12 2012-01-01 2012-01-01 false CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on... Over Financial Reporting, and Management Letter § 1773.20 CPA's submission of the auditor's report... the as of audit date, the CPA should deliver the auditor's report, report on compliance and on...

7 CFR 1773.20 - CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on compliance, report on compliance and on...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 12 2013-01-01 2013-01-01 false CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on... Over Financial Reporting, and Management Letter § 1773.20 CPA's submission of the auditor's report... the as of audit date, the CPA should deliver the auditor's report, report on compliance and on...

7 CFR 1773.20 - CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on compliance, report on compliance and on...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 12 2014-01-01 2013-01-01 true CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on... Over Financial Reporting, and Management Letter § 1773.20 CPA's submission of the auditor's report... the as of audit date, the CPA should deliver the auditor's report, report on compliance and on...

7 CFR 1773.20 - CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on compliance, report on compliance and on...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 12 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on... Over Financial Reporting, and Management Letter § 1773.20 CPA's submission of the auditor's report... the as of audit date, the CPA should deliver the auditor's report, report on compliance and on...

Investigation of electronic structure and magnetic properties of CaCo1.86As2 within the CPA method.

PubMed

Korotin, M A; Pchelkina, Z V; Skorikov, N A; Anisimov, V I; Shorikov, A O

2015-02-04

Recently in iron free arsenide compound CaCo(2)As(2) a 7(1)% of vacancies on the Co sites was detected (Quirinale D G et al 2013 Phys. Rev. B 88 174420). Here we report the investigation of electronic structure and magnetic properties of CaCo(1.86)As(2) within the coherent potential approximation (CPA). First, the CPA calculations are performed on the base of the local spin density approximation. Second, the possible role of Coulomb correlations is checked within the CPA scheme developed recently for strongly correlated systems. Then the spin-orbit coupling, which could be essential for Co, is also taken into account within the CPA calculation. The A type antiferromagnetic ground state and the value of magnetic moment obtained within the CPA approximation are in good agreement with experiment.

The 150 Credit-Hour Requirement and CPA Examination Pass Rates--A Four Year Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Briggs, Gary P.; He, Lerong

2012-01-01

Debate concerning the minimum educational requirements of certified public accountant (CPA) candidates in the USA has been taking place for decades. This paper compares the sectional pass rates of CPA candidates from jurisdictions requiring 150 credit hours of college study with the pass rates of candidates from jurisdictions not requiring 150…

Formulation development of the biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis strain CPA-8 by spray-drying.

PubMed

Yánez-Mendizábal, V; Viñas, I; Usall, J; Torres, R; Solsona, C; Abadias, M; Teixidó, N

2012-05-01

To prepare commercially acceptable formulations of Bacillus subtilis CPA-8 by spray-drying with long storage life and retained efficacy to control peach and nectarine brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. CPA-8 24-h- and 72-h-old cultures were spray dried using 10% skimmed milk, 10% skimmed milk plus 10% MgSO(4) , 10% MgSO(4) and 20% MgSO(4) as carriers/protectants. All carriers/protectants gave good percentages of powder recovery (28-38%) and moisture content (7-13%). CPA-8 survival varied considerably among spray-dried 24-h- and 72-h-old cultures. Seventy-two hours culture spray dried formulations showed the highest survival (28-32%) with final concentration products of 1·6-3·3 × 10(9) CFU g(-1) , while viability of 24-h-old formulations was lower than 1%. Spray-dried 72-h-old formulations were selected to subsequent evaluation. Rehydration of cells with water provided a good recovery of CPA-8 dried cells, similar to other complex rehydration media tested. Spray-dried formulations stored at 4 ± 1 and 20 ± 1°C showed good shelf life during 6 months, and viability was maintained or slightly decreased by 0·2-0·3-log. CPA-8 formulations after 4- and 6 months storage were effective in controlling brown rot caused by Monilinia spp. on nectarines and peaches resulting in a 90-100% reduction in disease incidence. Stable and effective formulations of biocontrol agent B. subtilis CPA-8 could be obtained by spray-drying. New shelf-stable and effective formulations of a biocontrol agent have been obtained by spray-drying to control brown rot on peach. © 2012 The Authors. Journal of Applied Microbiology © 2012 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

A toxicity cost function approach to optimal CPA equilibration in tissues.

PubMed

Benson, James D; Higgins, Adam Z; Desai, Kunjan; Eroglu, Ali

2018-02-01

There is growing need for cryopreserved tissue samples that can be used in transplantation and regenerative medicine. While a number of specific tissue types have been successfully cryopreserved, this success is not general, and there is not a uniform approach to cryopreservation of arbitrary tissues. Additionally, while there are a number of long-established approaches towards optimizing cryoprotocols in single cell suspensions, and even plated cell monolayers, computational approaches in tissue cryopreservation have classically been limited to explanatory models. Here we develop a numerical approach to adapt cell-based CPA equilibration damage models for use in a classical tissue mass transport model. To implement this with real-world parameters, we measured CPA diffusivity in three human-sourced tissue types, skin, fibroid and myometrium, yielding propylene glycol diffusivities of 0.6 × 10 -6  cm 2 /s, 1.2 × 10 -6  cm 2 /s and 1.3 × 10 -6  cm 2 /s, respectively. Based on these results, we numerically predict and compare optimal multistep equilibration protocols that minimize the cell-based cumulative toxicity cost function and the damage due to excessive osmotic gradients at the tissue boundary. Our numerical results show that there are fundamental differences between protocols designed to minimize total CPA exposure time in tissues and protocols designed to minimize accumulated CPA toxicity, and that "one size fits all" stepwise approaches are predicted to be more toxic and take considerably longer than needed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparison of six Aspergillus-specific IgG assays for the diagnosis of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).

PubMed

Page, Iain D; Richardson, Malcolm D; Denning, David W

2016-02-01

Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) is estimated to affect 3 million persons worldwide. Aspergillus-specific IgG is a key component in CPA diagnosis. We aimed to establish the optimal diagnostic cut offs for CPA and the comparative performance of six assays in this context. Sera from 241 patients with CPA and 100 healthy blood donors were tested using five Aspergillus-specific IgG assays plus precipitin testing using Microgen Aspergillus antigens. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve area under the curve (AUC) results were as follows: ThermoFisher Scientific ImmunoCAP 0.996 (95% confidence interval 0.992-1), Siemens Immulite 0.991 (0.982-1), Serion 0.973 (0.960-0.987), Dynamiker 0.918 (0.89-0.946) and Genesis 0.902 (0.871-0.933). Optimal CPA diagnostic cut-offs were; ImmunoCAP 20 mg/L (96% sensitivity, 98% specificity), Immulite 10 mg/L (96% sensitivity, 98% specificity), Serion 35 U/ml (90% sensitivity, 98% specificity), Dynamiker 65 AU/ml (77% sensitivity, 97% specificity) and Genesis 20 U/ml (75% sensitivity, 99% specificity). The precipitin test was 59% sensitive and 100% specific. ImmunoCAP and Immulite were statistically significantly superior to the other assays. Precipitins testing performed poorly. The currently accepted ImmunoCAP cut-off of 40 mg/L appears sub-optimal for CPA diagnosis and may require revision in this context. Copyright © 2015 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Child Maltreatment and Perceived Family Environment as Risk Factors for Adult Rape: Is Child Sexual Abuse the Most Salient Experience?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Messman-Moore, T.L.; Brown, A.L.

2004-01-01

Objective:: Child maltreatment and family functioning were examined as predictors of adult rape in a sample of 925 college women. Method:: Information was obtained from retrospective self-report questionnaires. Child sexual abuse (CSA) was assessed with the Life Experiences Questionnaire, child emotional abuse (CEA) and physical abuse (CPA) were…

The CPA Exam as a Postcurriculum Accreditation Assessment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barilla, Anthony G.; Jackson, Robert E.; Mooney, J. Lowell

2008-01-01

Business schools often attain accreditation to demonstrate program efficacy. J. A. Marts, J. D. Baker, and J. M. Garris (1988) hypothesized that candidates from Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International (AACSB)-accredited accounting programs perform better on the CPA exam than do candidates from non-AACSB-accredited…

Antifungal effect of volatile organic compounds produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CPA-8 against fruit pathogen decays of cherry.

PubMed

Gotor-Vila, A; Teixidó, N; Di Francesco, A; Usall, J; Ugolini, L; Torres, R; Mari, M

2017-06-01

The present work focuses on the antifungal effect of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CPA-8 against Monilinia laxa, M. fructicola and Botrytis cinera, three postharvest fruit pathogens of sweet cherry fruit. VOCs were evaluated with a double petri dish assay against mycelial and colony growth of target pathogens. For this purpose, CPA-8 was grown on different media and cultured for 24 and 48 h at 30 °C before assays. Data showed that mycelial growth inhibition was higher when CPA-8 was grown on Tryptone Soya Agar (TSA) while no differences were generally observed when CPA-8 was cultured for either, 24 and 48 h. Moreover, no effects were observed on colony growth. The main volatile compounds emitted by CPA-8 were identified by solid-phase microextraction (SPME)-gas chromatography as 1,3 pentadiene, acetoin (3-hydroxy-2-butanone) and thiophene. Pure compounds were also tested in vitro on mycelial growth inhibition and their EC 50 values against the three pathogens were estimated. Thiophene was the most effective VOC, showing more than 82% suppression of mycelial growth at the highest concentration (1.35 μL/mL headspace) and EC 50 values ranging from 0.06 to 6.67 μL/mL headspace. Finally, the effectiveness of thiophene and CPA-8 VOCs was evaluated against artificially inoculated cherry fruits. Among the target pathogens, M. fructicola was clearly controlled by CPA-8 with less than 25% of rotten fruits compared to the control (65% disease incidence) and for all pathogens, less than 37.5% of CPA-8 treated decayed fruits produced spores (disease sporulation). Otherwise, pure thiophene showed no effect against any pathogen on disease incidence and disease sporulation. The results indicated that VOCs produced by B. amyloliquefaciens CPA-8 could develop an additive antifungal effect against postharvest fruit pathogens on stone fruit. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Streptococcus pyogenes collagen type I-binding Cpa surface protein. Expression profile, binding characteristics, biological functions, and potential clinical impact.

PubMed

Kreikemeyer, Bernd; Nakata, Masanobu; Oehmcke, Sonja; Gschwendtner, Caroline; Normann, Jana; Podbielski, Andreas

2005-09-30

The Streptococcus pyogenes collagen type I-binding protein Cpa (collagen-binding protein of group A streptococci) expressed by 28 serotypes of group A streptococci has been extensively characterized at the gene and protein levels. Evidence for three distinct families of cpa genes was found, all of which shared a common sequence encoding a 60-amino acid domain that accounted for selective binding to type I collagen. Surface plasmon resonance-based affinity measurements and functional studies indicated that the expression of Cpa was consistent with an attachment role for bacteria to tissue containing collagen type I. A cpa mutant displayed a significantly decreased internalization rate when incubated with HEp-2 cells but had no effect on the host cell viability. By utilizing serum from patients with a positive titer for streptolysin/DNase antibody, an increased anti-Cpa antibody titer was noted for patients with a clinical history of arthritis or osteomyelitis. Taken together, these results suggest Cpa may be a relevant matrix adhesin contributing to the pathogenesis of S. pyogenes infection of bones and joints.

P-CPA pretreatment reverses the changes in sleep and behavior following acute immobilization stress rats.

PubMed

Sinha, Rakesh Kumar

2006-02-01

The effects of p-CPA (para-chlorophenylalanine) pretreatment was studied on the sleep-wake parameters and patterns of behavioral activities in an animal model of acute immobilization stress. For the experiments, young male Charles Foster rats were divided into three groups, subjected to (i) acute immobilization stress for four hours on specially designed wooden boards, (ii) a similar model of acute immobilization stress after pretreatment of p-CPA (injected through i.p. route), and (iii) control rats (p-CPA untreated and unstressed). Three channels of electrographic signals, i.e., EEG (electroencephalogram), EOG (electrooculogram), and EMG (electromyogram) were recorded continuously for four hours for all three groups of rats to analyze the changes in sleep-wake stages. The assessment of behavior was performed just after the stress on separate groups of rats in Open-Field (OF) and Elevated Plus-Maze (EPM) apparatuses. The significant changes in total sleep time (P < 0.05), total time for rapid eye movement sleep (P < 0.01), and total time in wakefulness (P < 0.01) following acute immobilization stress were found reversed in the p-CPA (a serotonin inhibitor) pretreated group of rats. Simultaneously, the results of the present work also revealed that the changes in grooming behavior (P < 0.05) in OF and the total time spent on the center of EPM (P < 0.05) were observed altered in p-CPA pretreated group of rats.

Cpa, the outer membrane protease of Cronobacter sakazakii, activates plasminogen and mediates resistance to serum bactericidal activity.

PubMed

Franco, A A; Kothary, M H; Gopinath, G; Jarvis, K G; Grim, C J; Hu, L; Datta, A R; McCardell, B A; Tall, B D

2011-04-01

Cronobacter spp. are emerging neonatal pathogens in humans, associated with outbreaks of meningitis and sepsis. To cause disease, they must survive in blood and invade the central nervous system by penetrating the blood-brain barrier. C. sakazakii BAA-894 possesses an ~131-kb plasmid (pESA3) that encodes an outer membrane protease (Cpa) that has significant identity to proteins that belong to the Pla subfamily of omptins. Members of this subfamily of proteins degrade a number of serum proteins, including circulating complement, providing protection from the complement-dependent serum killing. Moreover, proteins of the Pla subfamily can cause uncontrolled plasmin activity by converting plasminogen to plasmin and inactivating the plasmin inhibitor α2-antiplasmin (α2-AP). These reactions enhance the spread and invasion of bacteria in the host. In this study, we found that an isogenic cpa mutant showed reduced resistance to serum in comparison to its parent C. sakazakii BAA-894 strain. Overexpression of Cpa in C. sakazakii or Escherichia coli DH5α showed that Cpa proteolytically cleaved complement components C3, C3a, and C4b. Furthermore, a strain of C. sakazakii overexpressing Cpa caused a rapid activation of plasminogen and inactivation of α2-AP. These results strongly suggest that Cpa may be an important virulence factor involved in serum resistance, as well as in the spread and invasion of C. sakazakii.

Effects of the anti-androgen cyproterone acetate (CPA) on oocyte meiotic maturation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

PubMed

Rime, Hélène; Nguyen, Thaovi; Ombredane, Kevin; Fostier, Alexis; Bobe, Julien

2015-07-01

In the present study, we aimed at characterizing the effect of cyproterone acetate (CPA), an anti-androgenic compound, on oocyte meiotic maturation in a freshwater teleost fish species, the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Fully-grown post-vitellogenic ovarian follicles were incubated in vitro with CPA, luteinizing hormone (Lh) or a combination of CPA and Lh. Incubations were also performed using a combination of Lh and testosterone (T). The occurrence of oocyte maturation (i.e., resumption of the meiotic process) was assessed by monitoring germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) after a 72h in vitro incubation. The effect of CPA on the production of 17,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one (17,20βP), the natural maturation-inducing steroid (MIS), was quantified by radioimmunoassay. Our results show that CPA dramatically inhibits Lh-induced oocyte maturation and MIS synthesis. We also observed a synergistic effect of Lh and T on oocyte maturation in highly competent oocytes (i.e., able to resume meiosis after stimulation by low doses of Lh). Our results also show that a combination of CPA and Lh inhibits phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), kinases that are associated with oocyte maturation in many species. As a whole, our results indicate that CPA has a potential to alter meiotic maturation in rainbow trout. Further analyses are, however, needed to determine the mechanisms by which this anti-androgen interferes with the meiotic process. Furthermore, the present study provides a framework for better understanding of the ecological consequences of exposure to anti-androgens and resulting meiotic maturation abnormalities observed in trout. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas graminis CPA-7 against foodborne pathogens in fresh-cut apples under simulated commercial conditions.

PubMed

Alegre, Isabel; Viñas, Inmaculada; Usall, Josep; Anguera, Marina; Altisent, Rosa; Abadias, Maribel

2013-04-01

Recently, we reported that the application of the strain CPA-7 of Pseudomonas graminis, previously isolated from apple, could reduce the population of foodborne pathogens on minimally processed (MP) apples and peaches under laboratory conditions. Therefore, the objective of the present work was to find an antioxidant treatment and a packaging atmosphere condition to improve CPA-7 efficacy in reducing a cocktail of four Salmonella and five Listeria monocytogenes strains on MP apples under simulated commercial processing. The effect of CPA-7 application on apple quality and its survival to simulated gastric stress were also evaluated. Ascorbic acid (2%, w/v) and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (1%, w/v) as antioxidant treatments reduced Salmonella, L. monocytogenes and CPA-7 recovery, meanwhile no reduction was observed with NatureSeal(®) AS1 (NS, 6%, w/v). The antagonistic strain was effective on NS-treated apple wedges stored at 10 °C with or without modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Then, in a semi-commercial assay, efficacy of CPA-7 inoculated at 10(5) and 10(7) cfu mL(-1) against Salmonella and L. monocytogenes strains on MP apples with NS and MAP and stored at 5 and 10 °C was evaluated. Although high CPA-7 concentrations/populations avoided Salmonella growth at 10 °C and lowered L. monocytogenes population increases were observed at both temperatures, the effect was not instantaneous. No effect on apple quality was detected and CPA-7 did not survived to simulated gastric stress throughout storage. Therefore, CPA-7 could avoid pathogens growth on MP apples during storage when use as part of a hurdle technology in combination with disinfection techniques, low storage temperature and MAP. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Clinical and Genetic Risk Factors for Acute Pancreatitis in Patients With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

PubMed Central

Liu, Chengcheng; Yang, Wenjian; Devidas, Meenakshi; Cheng, Cheng; Pei, Deqing; Smith, Colton; Carroll, William L.; Raetz, Elizabeth A.; Bowman, W. Paul; Larsen, Eric C.; Maloney, Kelly W.; Martin, Paul L.; Mattano, Leonard A.; Winick, Naomi J.; Mardis, Elaine R.; Fulton, Robert S.; Bhojwani, Deepa; Howard, Scott C.; Jeha, Sima; Pui, Ching-Hon; Hunger, Stephen P.; Evans, William E.; Loh, Mignon L.

2016-01-01

Purpose Acute pancreatitis is one of the common causes of asparaginase intolerance. The mechanism is unknown, and genetic predisposition to asparaginase-induced pancreatitis has not been previously identified. Methods To determine clinical risk factors for asparaginase-induced pancreatitis, we studied a cohort of 5,185 children and young adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, including 117 (2.3%) who were diagnosed with at least one episode of acute pancreatitis during therapy. A genome-wide association study was performed in the cohort and in an independent case-control group of 213 patients to identify genetic risk factors. Results Risk factors associated with pancreatitis included genetically defined Native American ancestry (P < .001), older age (P < .001), and higher cumulative dose of asparaginase (P < .001). No common variants reached genome-wide significance in the genome-wide association study, but a rare nonsense variant rs199695765 in CPA2, encoding carboxypeptidase A2, was highly associated with pancreatitis (hazard ratio, 587; 95% CI, 66.8 to 5166; P = 9.0 × 10−9). A gene-level analysis showed an excess of additional CPA2 variants in patients who did versus those who did not develop pancreatitis (P = .001). Sixteen CPA2 single-nucleotide polymorphisms were associated (P < .05) with pancreatitis, and 13 of 24 patients who carried at least one of these variants developed pancreatitis. Biologic functions that were overrepresented by common variants modestly associated with pancreatitis included purine metabolism and cytoskeleton regulation. Conclusion Older age, higher exposure to asparaginase, and higher Native American ancestry were independent risk factors for pancreatitis in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Those who inherit a nonsense rare variant in the CPA2 gene had a markedly increased risk of asparaginase-induced pancreatitis. PMID:27114598

Protection of Neuroblastoma Neuro2A Cells from Hypoxia-Induced Apoptosis by Cyclic Phosphatidic Acid (cPA)

PubMed Central

Murofushi, Hiromu; Murakami-Murofushi, Kimiko

2012-01-01

Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) is a naturally occurring phospholipid mediator with a unique cyclic phosphate ring at the sn-2 and sn-3 positions of its glycerol backbone. We have previously shown that cPA significantly suppresses ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death and the accumulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus. These results indicated that the systemic administration of cPA can protect hippocampal neurons against ischemia-induced delayed neuronal cell death. In the current study, we investigated the effects of cPA on neuronal cell death caused by hypoxia in vitro and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. We used cobalt chloride (CoCl2) to expose cells to hypoxic conditions in vitro. Treating mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro2A) cells with CoCl2 induced nuclear DNA condensation and phosphatidylserine exposure. However, adding cPA led to the suppression of CoCl2-induced apoptosis in a cPA dose-dependent manner and attenuated the increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio caused by CoCl2. Quantitative PCR analysis showed that Neuro2A cells strongly express the LPA1, LPA2, and LPA6, which are G-protein coupled receptors that can be activated by cPA. To date, LPA1 and LPA2 have been reported to exhibit antiapoptotic activity. Therefore, to assess the roles of LPA1 and LPA2 on cPA-induced neuroprotective functions, Ki16425, a selective LPA1 and LPA3 antagonist, was adopted to know the LPA1 function and siRNA was used to knockdown the expression of LPA2. On the basis of our results, we propose that cPA-induced protection of Neuro2A cells from CoCl2-induced hypoxia damage is mediated via LPA2. PMID:23251428

Protection of neuroblastoma Neuro2A cells from hypoxia-induced apoptosis by cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA).

PubMed

Gotoh, Mari; Sano-Maeda, Katsura; Murofushi, Hiromu; Murakami-Murofushi, Kimiko

2012-01-01

Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) is a naturally occurring phospholipid mediator with a unique cyclic phosphate ring at the sn-2 and sn-3 positions of its glycerol backbone. We have previously shown that cPA significantly suppresses ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death and the accumulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein in the CA1 region of the rat hippocampus. These results indicated that the systemic administration of cPA can protect hippocampal neurons against ischemia-induced delayed neuronal cell death. In the current study, we investigated the effects of cPA on neuronal cell death caused by hypoxia in vitro and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. We used cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)) to expose cells to hypoxic conditions in vitro. Treating mouse neuroblastoma (Neuro2A) cells with CoCl(2) induced nuclear DNA condensation and phosphatidylserine exposure. However, adding cPA led to the suppression of CoCl(2)-induced apoptosis in a cPA dose-dependent manner and attenuated the increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio caused by CoCl(2). Quantitative PCR analysis showed that Neuro2A cells strongly express the LPA(1), LPA(2), and LPA(6), which are G-protein coupled receptors that can be activated by cPA. To date, LPA(1) and LPA(2) have been reported to exhibit antiapoptotic activity. Therefore, to assess the roles of LPA(1) and LPA(2) on cPA-induced neuroprotective functions, Ki16425, a selective LPA(1) and LPA(3) antagonist, was adopted to know the LPA(1) function and siRNA was used to knockdown the expression of LPA(2). On the basis of our results, we propose that cPA-induced protection of Neuro2A cells from CoCl(2)-induced hypoxia damage is mediated via LPA(2).

Cpa, the Outer Membrane Protease of Cronobacter sakazakii, Activates Plasminogen and Mediates Resistance to Serum Bactericidal Activity▿

PubMed Central

Franco, A. A.; Kothary, M. H.; Gopinath, G.; Jarvis, K. G.; Grim, C. J.; Hu, L.; Datta, A. R.; McCardell, B. A.; Tall, B. D.

2011-01-01

Cronobacter spp. are emerging neonatal pathogens in humans, associated with outbreaks of meningitis and sepsis. To cause disease, they must survive in blood and invade the central nervous system by penetrating the blood-brain barrier. C. sakazakii BAA-894 possesses an ∼131-kb plasmid (pESA3) that encodes an outer membrane protease (Cpa) that has significant identity to proteins that belong to the Pla subfamily of omptins. Members of this subfamily of proteins degrade a number of serum proteins, including circulating complement, providing protection from the complement-dependent serum killing. Moreover, proteins of the Pla subfamily can cause uncontrolled plasmin activity by converting plasminogen to plasmin and inactivating the plasmin inhibitor α2-antiplasmin (α2-AP). These reactions enhance the spread and invasion of bacteria in the host. In this study, we found that an isogenic cpa mutant showed reduced resistance to serum in comparison to its parent C. sakazakii BAA-894 strain. Overexpression of Cpa in C. sakazakii or Escherichia coli DH5α showed that Cpa proteolytically cleaved complement components C3, C3a, and C4b. Furthermore, a strain of C. sakazakii overexpressing Cpa caused a rapid activation of plasminogen and inactivation of α2-AP. These results strongly suggest that Cpa may be an important virulence factor involved in serum resistance, as well as in the spread and invasion of C. sakazakii. PMID:21245266

Cardiovascular effects of the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) decisive for its therapeutic efficacy in sarin poisoning.

PubMed

Joosen, Marloes J A; Bueters, Tjerk J H; van Helden, Herman P M

2004-01-01

Mortality and occurrence of cholinergic symptoms upon sarin intoxication (144 micro g/kg s.c., approximately 2 x LD50) in rats is completely prevented by treatment with the adenosine A1 receptor agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA, 2 mg/kg i.m.). Previously, we have shown that CPA treatment altered the distribution of sarin into the brain, presumably through its cardiovascular side effects. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the contribution of the cardiodepressant effects of CPA to its therapeutic efficacy against sarin intoxication. Intramuscular treatment of rats with 0.5 and 2.0 mg/kg CPA 1 min after sarin poisoning attenuated most cholinergic symptoms and prevented mortality, which seemed to be directly associated with an immediate strong and long-lasting bradycardia and hypotension caused by CPA. Treatment with lower doses of CPA (0.1 and 0.05 mg/kg i.m.) caused similar levels of bradycardia and hypotension, albeit a few minutes later than at the higher doses of CPA. Upon sarin intoxication, this was correlated with increased incidence of cholinergic symptoms and decreased survival rates. Pretreatment with the peripheral adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8- p-sulphophenyltheophylline (8-PST, 20 mg/kg i.p.) counteracted the cardiodepressant effects of 0.05 mg/kg CPA almost completely, thereby nearly abolishing its therapeutic efficacy against sarin poisoning. In conclusion, the present results strongly indicate that bradycardia and hypotension induced by the peripheral adenosine A1 receptor play a prominent role in the therapeutic efficacy of CPA in cases of sarin poisoning.

Older adults utilize less efficient postural control when performing pushing task

PubMed Central

Lee, Yun-Ju; Chen, Bing; Aruin, Alexander S.

2015-01-01

The ability to maintain balance deteriorates with increasing age. The aim was to investigate the role of age in generation of anticipatory (APA) and compensatory (CPA) postural adjustments during pushing an object. Older (68.8 ± 1.0 years) and young adults (30.1 ± 1.4 years) participated in the experiment involving pushing an object (a pendulum attached to the ceiling) using both hands. Electrical activity of six leg and trunk muscles and displacements of the center of pressure (COP) were recorded and analyzed during the APA and CPA phases. The onset time, integrals of muscle activity, and COP displacements were determined. In addition, the indexes of co-activation and reciprocal activation of muscles for the shank, thigh, and trunk segments were calculated. Older adults, compared to young adults, showed less efficient postural control seen as delayed anticipatory muscle onset times and delayed COP displacements. Moreover, older adults used co-activation of muscles during the CPA phase while younger subjects utilized reciprocal activation of muscles. The observed diminished efficiency of postural control during both anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments observed in older adults might predispose them to falls while performing tasks involving pushing. The outcome provides a background for future studies focused on the optimization of the daily activities of older adults. PMID:26403099

Evaluation of 3D-CPA, HR-HPV, and TCT joint detection on cervical disease screening.

PubMed

Liang, Hui; Fu, Min; Zhou, Jian; Song, Lei

2016-08-01

The application value of three-dimensional color power angiography (3D-CPA), high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV), ThinPrep cytology test (TCT) joint detection on cervical disease screening was investigated. In total, 1,900 patients that were examined in Gynecological and Cervix Clinic of Maternal and Child Care Service Center of Xuzhou from June 2012 to March 2015 were enrolled in the present study. After admission, the patients underwent TCT, HR-HPV and 3D-CPA examinations, and vascular morphology and typing, vascularization index (VI) were recorded. Colposcopic biopsy was performed in patients with a positive outcome of any of the three indices. Pathological diagnosis was taken as the golden standard to assess the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic rate, and Youden index of the three methods being used independently or jointly. Of the 1,900 patients, 276 cases (14.53%) were HR-HPV-positive, 214 cases (11.26%) were VI-positive and 164 cases (8.63%) were TCT-positive. A total of 418 cases were confirmed with a positive outcome of any of the three indices and a cervical biopsy was obtained. Of the 418 cases, 162 cases (38.75%) were diagnosed with chronic cervicitis, 146 cases with low-level cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) (34.93%), 104 cases (24.88%) with high level CIN, 6 cases (1.44%) with cervical cancer. Histology more than low level CIN was defined as positive: i) screening results when the three methods were used independently: HPV was confirmed with the highest sensitivity (90.63%), VI with the highest specificity (83.95%), and HPV with the highest diagnostic accuracy (83.73%); ii) screening results under HPV+TCT and HPV+TCT+VI: HPV+TCT+VI was confirmed with the highest sensitivity and specificity: sensitivity (94.53%), specificity (81.48%), diagnosis coincidence rate (89.47%) and the highest Youden index of 0.760; and iii) vascular morphology and grading were significantly different in the early stage cervical carcinoma, high level CIM, and

4-channels coherent perfect absorption (CPA)-type demultiplexer using plasmonic nano spheres

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soltani, Mohamadreza; Keshavarzi, Rasul

2017-10-01

The current research represents a nanoscale and compact 4-channels plasmonic demultiplexer. It includes eight coherent perfect absorption (CPA) - type filters. The operation principle is based on the absorbable formation of a conductive path in the dielectric layer of a plasmonic nano-spheres waveguide. Since the CPA efficiency depends strongly on the number of plasmonic nano-spheres and the nano spheres location, an efficient binary optimization method based on the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm is used to design an optimized array of the plasmonic nano-sphere in order to achieve the maximum absorption coefficient in the 'off' state.

Cdc48-like protein of actinobacteria (Cpa) is a novel proteasome interactor in mycobacteria and related organisms.

PubMed

Ziemski, Michal; Jomaa, Ahmad; Mayer, Daniel; Rutz, Sonja; Giese, Christoph; Veprintsev, Dmitry; Weber-Ban, Eilika

2018-05-29

Cdc48 is a AAA+ ATPase that plays an essential role for many cellular processes in eukaryotic cells. An archaeal homologue of this highly conserved enzyme was shown to directly interact with the 20S proteasome. Here, we analyze the occurrence and phylogeny of a Cdc48 homologue in Actinobacteria and assess its cellular function and possible interaction with the bacterial proteasome. Our data demonstrate that Cdc48-like protein of actinobacteria (Cpa) forms hexameric rings and that the oligomeric state correlates directly with the ATPase activity. Furthermore, we show that the assembled Cpa rings can physically interact with the 20S core particle. Comparison of the Mycobacterium smegmatis wild-type with a cpa knockout strain under carbon starvation uncovers significant changes in the levels of around 500 proteins. Pathway mapping of the observed pattern of changes identifies ribosomal proteins as a particular hotspot, pointing amongst others toward a role of Cpa in ribosome adaptation during starvation. © 2018, Ziemski et al.

Older adults utilize less efficient postural control when performing pushing task.

PubMed

Lee, Yun-Ju; Chen, Bing; Aruin, Alexander S

2015-12-01

The ability to maintain balance deteriorates with increasing age. The aim was to investigate the role of age in generation of anticipatory (APA) and compensatory (CPA) postural adjustments during pushing an object. Older (68.8 ± 1.0 years) and young adults (30.1 ± 1.4 years) participated in the experiment involving pushing an object (a pendulum attached to the ceiling) using both hands. Electrical activity of six leg and trunk muscles and displacements of the center of pressure (COP) were recorded and analyzed during the APA and CPA phases. The onset time, integrals of muscle activity, and COP displacements were determined. In addition, the indexes of co-activation and reciprocal activation of muscles for the shank, thigh, and trunk segments were calculated. Older adults, compared to young adults, showed less efficient postural control seen as delayed anticipatory muscle onset times and delayed COP displacements. Moreover, older adults used co-activation of muscles during the CPA phase while younger subjects utilized reciprocal activation of muscles. The observed diminished efficiency of postural control during both anticipatory and compensatory postural adjustments observed in older adults might predispose them to falls while performing tasks involving pushing. The outcome provides a background for future studies focused on the optimization of the daily activities of older adults. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Controlled loading of cryoprotectants (CPAs) to oocyte with linear and complex CPA profiles on a microfluidic platform.

PubMed

Heo, Yun Seok; Lee, Ho-Joon; Hassell, Bryan A; Irimia, Daniel; Toth, Thomas L; Elmoazzen, Heidi; Toner, Mehmet

2011-10-21

Oocyte cryopreservation has become an essential tool in the treatment of infertility by preserving oocytes for women undergoing chemotherapy. However, despite recent advances, pregnancy rates from all cryopreserved oocytes remain low. The inevitable use of the cryoprotectants (CPAs) during preservation affects the viability of the preserved oocytes and pregnancy rates either through CPA toxicity or osmotic injury. Current protocols attempt to reduce CPA toxicity by minimizing CPA concentrations, or by minimizing the volume changes via the step-wise addition of CPAs to the cells. Although the step-wise addition decreases osmotic shock to oocytes, it unfortunately increases toxic injuries due to the long exposure times to CPAs. To address limitations of current protocols and to rationally design protocols that minimize the exposure to CPAs, we developed a microfluidic device for the quantitative measurements of oocyte volume during various CPA loading protocols. We spatially secured a single oocyte on the microfluidic device, created precisely controlled continuous CPA profiles (step-wise, linear and complex) for the addition of CPAs to the oocyte and measured the oocyte volumetric response to each profile. With both linear and complex profiles, we were able to load 1.5 M propanediol to oocytes in less than 15 min and with a volumetric change of less than 10%. Thus, we believe this single oocyte analysis technology will eventually help future advances in assisted reproductive technologies and fertility preservation.

A Nondisclosed CPA Examination: Implications for Education and the Accounting Profession.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rosenzweig, Kenneth; Geary, K. Michael

1994-01-01

A proposal to change the Uniform CPA Examination from disclosed to nondisclosed (not publicly available after administration) is undesirable due to issues of question quality, test security, public confidence, impact on instruction, and administrative costs. (SK)

Decrease in the Number of People Taking the CPA Exam Not Due to the 150-Hour Requirement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Metinko, Teresa R.; Gray, Dahli

2010-01-01

This paper reports the results of a study that examined the association of the 120/150-hour education requirement with the number of CPA exam candidates during 1998 and 2008. Data gathered from the NASBA Candidate Performance Reports 1999 and 2009 found no relationship between the number of CPA exam candidates and the education requirements in…

7 CFR 1773.20 - CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on compliance, report on compliance and on...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 7 Agriculture 12 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false CPA's submission of the auditor's report, report on... for the Submission and Review of the Auditor's Report, Report on Compliance and on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, and Management Letter § 1773.20 CPA's submission of the auditor's report...

The 150-Hour Requirement for CPA Licensure: One Institution's Response

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Larkin, Joseph M.

2014-01-01

Virtually all states now require candidates for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) examination and subsequent licensure to have completed 150 semester hours of college education. The rationale behind this requirement is to improve the preparation of students entering the profession and to increase their chances of successful completion of the…

The CpAL quorum sensing system regulates production of hemolysins CPA and PFO to build Clostridium perfringens biofilms.

PubMed

Vidal, Jorge E; Shak, Joshua R; Canizalez-Roman, Adrian

2015-06-01

Clostridium perfringens strains produce severe diseases, including myonecrosis and enteritis necroticans, in humans and animals. Diseases are mediated by the production of potent toxins that often damage the site of infection, e.g., skin epithelium during myonecrosis. In planktonic cultures, the regulation of important toxins, such as CPA, CPB, and PFO, is controlled by the C. perfringens Agr-like (CpAL) quorum sensing (QS) system. Strains also encode a functional LuxS/AI-2 system. Although C. perfringens strains form biofilm-like structures, the regulation of biofilm formation is poorly understood. Therefore, our studies investigated the role of CpAL and LuxS/AI-2 QS systems and of QS-regulated factors in controlling the formation of biofilms. We first demonstrate that biofilm production by reference strains differs depending on the culture medium. Increased biomass correlated with the presence of extracellular DNA in the supernatant, which was released by lysis of a fraction of the biofilm population and planktonic cells. Whereas ΔagrB mutant strains were not able to produce biofilms, a ΔluxS mutant produced wild-type levels. The transcript levels of CpAL-regulated cpa and pfoA genes, but not cpb, were upregulated in biofilms compared to planktonic cultures. Accordingly, Δcpa and ΔpfoA mutants, in type A (S13) or type C (CN3685) backgrounds, were unable to produce biofilms, whereas CN3685Δcpb made wild-type levels. Biofilm formation was restored in complemented Δcpa/cpa and ΔpfoA/pfoA strains. Confocal microscopy studies further detected CPA partially colocalizing with eDNA on the biofilm structure. Thus, CpAL regulates biofilm formation in C. perfringens by increasing levels of certain toxins required to build biofilms. Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The CpAL Quorum Sensing System Regulates Production of Hemolysins CPA and PFO To Build Clostridium perfringens Biofilms

PubMed Central

Shak, Joshua R.; Canizalez-Roman, Adrian

2015-01-01

Clostridium perfringens strains produce severe diseases, including myonecrosis and enteritis necroticans, in humans and animals. Diseases are mediated by the production of potent toxins that often damage the site of infection, e.g., skin epithelium during myonecrosis. In planktonic cultures, the regulation of important toxins, such as CPA, CPB, and PFO, is controlled by the C. perfringens Agr-like (CpAL) quorum sensing (QS) system. Strains also encode a functional LuxS/AI-2 system. Although C. perfringens strains form biofilm-like structures, the regulation of biofilm formation is poorly understood. Therefore, our studies investigated the role of CpAL and LuxS/AI-2 QS systems and of QS-regulated factors in controlling the formation of biofilms. We first demonstrate that biofilm production by reference strains differs depending on the culture medium. Increased biomass correlated with the presence of extracellular DNA in the supernatant, which was released by lysis of a fraction of the biofilm population and planktonic cells. Whereas ΔagrB mutant strains were not able to produce biofilms, a ΔluxS mutant produced wild-type levels. The transcript levels of CpAL-regulated cpa and pfoA genes, but not cpb, were upregulated in biofilms compared to planktonic cultures. Accordingly, Δcpa and ΔpfoA mutants, in type A (S13) or type C (CN3685) backgrounds, were unable to produce biofilms, whereas CN3685Δcpb made wild-type levels. Biofilm formation was restored in complemented Δcpa/cpa and ΔpfoA/pfoA strains. Confocal microscopy studies further detected CPA partially colocalizing with eDNA on the biofilm structure. Thus, CpAL regulates biofilm formation in C. perfringens by increasing levels of certain toxins required to build biofilms. PMID:25824838

Childhood sexual and physical abuse and adult vulnerability to PTSD: the mediating effects of attachment and dissociation.

PubMed

Twaite, James A; Rodriguez-Srednicki, Ofelia

2004-01-01

Two hundred and eighty-four adults from the metropolitan New York area reported on their history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), childhood physical abuse (CPA), and on the nature of their exposure to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The respondents also completed the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES). Those reporting histories of CSA and/or CPA were found to endorse more serious symptoms of PTSD, as did those who witnessed the terrorist attack live. The presence of secure attachments and dissociative symptoms were related significantly to both CSA and CPA, and to scores on the IES-R. Adult attachment and dissociation were found to mediate the relationship between childhood abuse and severity of PTSD.

Mutations in the pancreatic secretory enzymes CPA1 and CPB1 are associated with pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Tamura, Koji; Yu, Jun; Hata, Tatsuo; Suenaga, Masaya; Shindo, Koji; Abe, Toshiya; MacGregor-Das, Anne; Borges, Michael; Wolfgang, Christopher L; Weiss, Matthew J; He, Jin; Canto, Marcia Irene; Petersen, Gloria M; Gallinger, Steven; Syngal, Sapna; Brand, Randall E; Rustgi, Anil; Olson, Sara H; Stoffel, Elena; Cote, Michele L; Zogopoulos, George; Potash, James B; Goes, Fernando S; McCombie, Richard W; Zandi, Peter P; Pirooznia, Mehdi; Kramer, Melissa; Parla, Jennifer; Eshleman, James R; Roberts, Nicholas J; Hruban, Ralph H; Klein, Alison Patricia; Goggins, Michael

2018-05-01

To evaluate whether germline variants in genes encoding pancreatic secretory enzymes contribute to pancreatic cancer susceptibility, we sequenced the coding regions of CPB1 and other genes encoding pancreatic secretory enzymes and known pancreatitis susceptibility genes ( PRSS1 , CPA1 , CTRC , and SPINK1 ) in a hospital series of pancreatic cancer cases and controls. Variants in CPB1 , CPA1 (encoding carboxypeptidase B1 and A1), and CTRC were evaluated in a second set of cases with familial pancreatic cancer and controls. More deleterious CPB1 variants, defined as having impaired protein secretion and induction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in transfected HEK 293T cells, were found in the hospital series of pancreatic cancer cases (5/986, 0.5%) than in controls (0/1,045, P = 0.027). Among familial pancreatic cancer cases, ER stress-inducing CPB1 variants were found in 4 of 593 (0.67%) vs. 0 of 967 additional controls ( P = 0.020), with a combined prevalence in pancreatic cancer cases of 9/1,579 vs. 0/2,012 controls ( P < 0.01). More ER stress-inducing CPA1 variants were also found in the combined set of hospital and familial cases with pancreatic cancer than in controls [7/1,546 vs. 1/2,012; P = 0.025; odds ratio, 9.36 (95% CI, 1.15-76.02)]. Overall, 16 (1%) of 1,579 pancreatic cancer cases had an ER stress-inducing CPA1 or CPB1 variant, compared with 1 of 2,068 controls ( P < 0.00001). No other candidate genes had statistically significant differences in variant prevalence between cases and controls. Our study indicates ER stress-inducing variants in CPB1 and CPA1 are associated with pancreatic cancer susceptibility and implicate ER stress in pancreatic acinar cells in pancreatic cancer development.

Self-consistent approximation beyond the CPA: Part II

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kaplan, T.; Gray, L.J.

1981-08-01

In Part I, Professor Leath has described the substantial efforts to generalize the CPA. In this second part, a particular self-consistent approximation for random alloys developed by Kaplan, Leath, Gray, and Diehl is described. This approximation is applicable to diagonal, off-diagonal and environmental disorder, includes cluster scattering, and yields a translationally invariant and analytic (Herglotz) average Green's function. Furthermore Gray and Kaplan have shown that an approximation for alloys with short-range order can be constructed from this theory.

Design and performance of a fast thermal response miniature Chromium Potassium Alum (CPA) salt pill for use in a millikelvin cryocooler

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartlett, J.; Hardy, G.; Hepburn, I. D.

2015-01-01

The design and performance of a fast thermal response miniature (24 mm outer diameter by 30 mm long) Chromium Potassium Alum (CPA) salt pill is described. The need for a fast thermal response has been driven by the development of a continuously operating millikelvin cryocooler (mKCC) which uses 2 T superconducting magnets that can be ramped to full field in 30 s. The consequence of magnetising and demagnetising the CPA pill in such a short time is that thermal boundary resistance and eddy current heating have a significant impact on the performance of the pill, which was investigated in detail using modelling. The complete design of a prototype CPA pill is described in this paper, including the methods used to minimise thermal boundary resistance and eddy current heating as well as the manufacturing and assembly processes. The performance of the prototype CPA pill operated from a 3.6 K bath is presented, demonstrating that a complete CPA cycle (magnetising, cooling to bath and demagnetising) can be accomplished in under 2.5 min, with magnetisation and demagnetisation taking just 30 s each. The cold finger base temperature of the prototype varies with demagnetisation speed as a consequence of eddy current heating; for a 30 s demagnetisation, a base temperature of 161 mK is obtained, whilst for a 5 min demagnetisation, a base temperature of 149 mK was measured (both from a 3.6 K and 2 T starting position). The measured hold times of the CPA pill at 200 mK, 300 mK, and 1 K are given, proving that the hold time far exceeds the recycle time and demonstrating the potential for continuous operation when two ADRs are used in a tandem configuration. The ease and speed at which the CPA pill temperature can be changed and controlled when stepping between operating temperatures in the range of 200 mK to 4 K using a servo control program is also shown, once again highlighting the excellent thermal response of the pill. All of the test results are in good agreement with the

Child physical and sexual abuse and cigarette smoking in adolescence and adulthood.

PubMed

Kristman-Valente, Allison N; Brown, Eric C; Herrenkohl, Todd I

2013-10-01

Analyses used data from an extended longitudinal study to examine the relationship between childhood physical and sexual abuse (CPA and CSA, respectively) and adolescent and adult smoking behavior. Two questions guided the study: (1) Is there an association between childhood abuse and adolescent and adult smoking behavior? (2) Does the relationship between childhood abuse and later cigarette smoking differ for males and females? A censored-inflated path model was used to assess the impact of child abuse on adolescent and adult lifetime smoking prevalence and smoking frequency. Gender differences in significant model paths were assessed using a multiple-group approach. Results show no significant relation between CPA or CSA and risk of having ever smoked cigarettes in adolescence or adulthood. However, for males, both CPA and CSA had direct effects on adolescent smoking frequency. For females, only CSA predicted increased smoking frequency in adolescence. Adolescent smoking frequency predicted adult smoking frequency more strongly for females compared with males. CPA and CSA are risk factors for higher frequency of smoking in adolescence. Higher frequency of cigarette smoking in adolescence increases the risk of higher smoking frequency in adulthood. Results underscore the need for both primary and secondary prevention and intervention efforts to reduce the likelihood of childhood abuse and to lessen risk for cigarette smoking among those who have been abused. Copyright © 2013 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Atrial natriuretic peptide degradation by CPA47 cells: evidence for a divalent cation-independent cell-surface proteolytic activity.

PubMed

Frost, S J; Chen, Y M; Whitson, P A

1992-11-23

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is rapidly cleared and degraded in vivo. Nonguanylate-cyclase receptors (C-ANPR) and a metalloproteinase, neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) (NEP 24.11), are thought to be responsible for its metabolism. We investigated the mechanisms of ANP degradation by an endothelial-derived cell line, CPA47. CPA47 cells degraded 88% of 125I-ANP after 1 h at 37 degrees C as determined by HPLC. Medium preconditioned by these cells degraded 41% of the 125I-ANP, and this activity was inhibited by a divalent cation chelator, EDTA. Furthermore, a cell-surface proteolytic activity degraded 125I-ANP in the presence of EDTA when receptor-mediated endocytosis was inhibited either by low temperature (4 degrees C) or by hyperosmolarity at 37 degrees C. The metalloproteinase, NEP 24.11, is unlikely to be the cell-surface peptidase because 125I-ANP is degraded by CPA47 cells at 4 degrees C in the presence of 5 mM EDTA. These data indicate that CPA47 cells can degrade ANP by a novel divalent cation-independent cell-surface proteolytic activity.

Atrial natriuretic peptide degradation by CPA47 cells - Evidence for a divalent cation-independent cell-surface proteolytic activity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frost, S. J.; Chen, Y. M.; Whitson, P. A.

1992-01-01

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is rapidly cleared and degraded in vivo. Nonguanylate-cyclase receptors (C-ANPR) and a metalloproteinase, neutral endopeptidase (EC 3.4.24.11) (NEP 24.11), are thought to be responsible for its metabolism. We investigated the mechanisms of ANP degradation by an endothelial-derived cell line, CPA47. CPA47 cells degraded 88 percent of 125I-ANP after 1 h at 37 degrees C as determined by HPLC. Medium preconditioned by these cells degraded 41 percent of the 125I-ANP, and this activity was inhibited by a divalent cation chelator, EDTA. Furthermore, a cell-surface proteolytic activity degraded 125I-ANP in the presence of EDTA when receptor-mediated endocytosis was inhibited either by low temperature (4 degrees C) or by hyperosmolarity at 37 degrees C. The metalloproteinase, NEP 24.11, is unlikely to be the cell-surface peptidase because 125I-ANP is degraded by CPA47 cells at 4 degrees C in the presence of 5 mM EDTA. These data indicate that CPA47 cells can degrade ANP by a novel divalent cation-independent cell-surface proteolytic activity.

Risk factors for the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease

PubMed Central

Hwang, Na Young; Park, Hye Yun; Jeon, Kyeongman; Kang, Eun-Suk

2017-01-01

Nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) is increasingly recognized as an important predisposing condition for the development of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), but there are limited data on the risk factors for CPA development in NTM-LD patients. We reviewed the medical records of 566 patients who, at the time of diagnosis of NTM-LD, did not have CPA and who received ≥12 months of treatment for NTM-LD between January 2010 and June 2015. Of these patients, 41 (7.2%) developed CPA (NTM-CPA group), whereas the remaining 525 patients did not develop CPA (NTM group). The median time to the development of CPA was 18.0 months from treatment initiation for NTM-LD. The NTM-CPA group was older and had significantly higher proportions of males, current smokers, and patients with a low body mass index (<18.5 kg/m2), when compared to the NTM group. Moreover, the NTM-CPA group was more likely to have a history of tuberculosis and chronic obstructive lung disease and to have used inhaled or systemic steroids. In the NTM-CPA group, more than 40% of patients had Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC) as the cause of NTM-LD, and the fibrocavitary form of NTM-LD was the most common; both associations were higher than in the NTM group. Overall, 17 (3%) patients died, and the NTM-CPA group had a higher mortality rate than did the NTM group (19.5% vs. 1.7%, respectively; P<0.001). In a multivariable analysis, old age, male gender, low body mass index, chronic obstructive lung disease, systemic steroids, MABC as the etiologic organism, and the fibrocavitary form of NTM-LD remained significant predictors of development of CPA. In conclusion, CPA occurred in 7.2% of patients after initiation of treatment for NTM-LD, and some risk factors were associated with CPA development. Given the worse prognosis, early diagnosis and treatment of CPA are important in patients with NTM-LD. PMID:29190796

Statistical physics of multicomponent alloys using KKR-CPA

DOE PAGES

Khan, Suffian N.; Staunton, Julie B.; Stocks, George Malcolm

2016-02-16

We apply variational principles from statistical physics and the Landau theory of phase transitions to multicomponent alloys using the multiple-scattering theory of Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker (KKR) and the coherent potential approximation (CPA). This theory is a multicomponent generalization of the S( 2) theory of binary alloys developed by G. M. Stocks, J. B. Staunton, D. D. Johnson and others. It is highly relevant to the chemical phase stability of high-entropy alloys as it predicts the kind and size of finite-temperature chemical fluctuations. In doing so it includes effects of rearranging charge and other electronics due to changing site occupancies. When chemical fluctuationsmore » grow without bound an absolute instability occurs and a second-order order-disorder phase transition may be inferred. The S( 2) theory is predicated on the fluctuation-dissipation theorem; thus we derive the linear response of the CPA medium to perturbations in site-dependent chemical potentials in great detail. The theory lends itself to a natural interpretation in terms of competing effects: entropy driving disorder and favorable pair interactions driving atomic ordering. Moreover, to further clarify interpretation we present results for representative ternary alloys CuAgAu, NiPdPt, RhPdAg, and CoNiCu within a frozen charge (or band-only) approximation. These results include the so-called Onsager mean field correction that extends the temperature range for which the theory is valid.« less

Elastic constants of random solid solutions by SQS and CPA approaches: the case of fcc Ti-Al.

PubMed

Tian, Li-Yun; Hu, Qing-Miao; Yang, Rui; Zhao, Jijun; Johansson, Börje; Vitos, Levente

2015-08-12

Special quasi-random structure (SQS) and coherent potential approximation (CPA) are techniques widely employed in the first-principles calculations of random alloys. Here we scrutinize these approaches by focusing on the local lattice distortion (LLD) and the crystal symmetry effects. We compare the elastic parameters obtained from SQS and CPA calculations, taking the random face-centered cubic (fcc) Ti(1-x)Al(x) (0 ≤ x ≤ 1) alloy as an example of systems with components showing different electronic structures and bonding characteristics. For the CPA and SQS calculations, we employ the Exact Muffin-Tin Orbitals (EMTO) method and the pseudopotential method as implemented in the Vienna Ab initio Simulation Package (VASP), respectively. We show that the predicted trends of the VASP-SQS and EMTO-CPA parameters against composition are in good agreement with each other. The energy associated with the LLD increases with x up to x = 0.625 ~ 0.750 and drops drastically thereafter. The influence of the LLD on the lattice constants and C12 elastic constant is negligible. C11 and C44 decrease after atomic relaxation for alloys with large LLD, however, the trends of C11 and C44 are not significantly affected. In general, the uncertainties in the elastic parameters associated with the symmetry lowering turn out to be superior to the differences between the two techniques including the effect of LLD.

Implementing Assessment Engineering in the Uniform Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Examination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burke, Matthew; Devore, Richard; Stopek, Josh

2013-01-01

This paper describes efforts to bring principled assessment design to a large-scale, high-stakes licensure examination by employing the frameworks of Assessment Engineering (AE), the Revised Bloom's Taxonomy (RBT), and Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA). The Uniform CPA Examination is practice-oriented and focuses on the skills of accounting. In…

Immunization with the hybrid protein vaccine, consisting of Leishmania major cysteine proteinases Type I (CPB) and Type II (CPA), partially protects against leishmaniasis.

PubMed

Zadeh-Vakili, Azita; Taheri, Tahere; Taslimi, Yasaman; Doustdari, Fatemeh; Salmanian, Ali-Hatef; Rafati, Sima

2004-05-07

Cysteine proteinases (CPs) are enzymes that belong to the papain superfamily, which are found in a number of organisms from prokaryotes to mammals. On the parasitic protozoan Leishmania, extensive studies have shown that CPs are involved in parasite survival, replication and the onset of disease, and have, therefore, been considered as attractive drugs and/or vaccine targets for the control of leishmaniasis. We have previously shown that cysteine proteinases, Type I (CPB) and Type II (CPA), in Leishmania major (L. major), delivered as recombinant proteins or in plasmid DNA, induce partial protection against infection with the parasite in BALB/c mice. We had shown that the level of protection was greater if a cocktail of cpa and cpb containing DNA constructs was used. Therefore, to reduce the costs associated with the production of these vaccine candidates, a construct was developed, whereby the cpa and cpb genes were fused together to give rise to a single hybrid protein. The genes were fused in tandem where the C-terminal extension (CTE), encoding region of CPB, was located at the 3' of the fused genes, and ultimately expressed in the bacterial expression construct pET-23a. The expression of the CPA/B hybrid protein (60 kDa) was verified using rabbit anti-CPA and anti-CPB antibodies by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting. The protective potential of the CPA/B hybrid protein against the infection with Leishmania was then assessed in BALB/c mice. The animals were vaccinated with CPA/B, challenged with live L. major promastigotes, and the degree of protection was examined by measuring footpad lesion sizes. It was found that there was a delay in the expansion of lesions size compared to control groups. Furthermore, an immunological analysis of antibody isotypes, before and after infection, showed high levels of IgG2a compared to IgG1 (more than five-fold) in the CPA/B hybrid protein vaccinated group. In addition, a predominant Th1 immune response characterized by in vitro IFN

A Correlation Between the Characteristics of Candidates and Performance on the Uniform CPA Examination.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zook, Donald R.; Bremser, Wayne G.

1982-01-01

This study examined the relationship between successful performance on the auditing, theory, and practice parts of the certified public accountant examination and selected characteristics possessed by CPA candidates. (Author/CT)

Comparative performance of Aspergillus galactomannan ELISA and PCR in sputum from patients with ABPA and CPA.

PubMed

Fayemiwo, Samuel; Moore, Caroline B; Foden, Philip; Denning, David W; Richardson, Malcolm D

2017-09-01

Galactomannan (GM) and Aspergillus DNA detection are useful tools for the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), primarily in blood and bronchoscopy samples. This study aimed to evaluate the utility of both markers for detection of Aspergillus in sputum from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). ABPA or CPA demographic patient data were retrieved. This retrospective observational audit included 159 patients with at least one sputum pair. 223 sputum sample pairs were analysed, as well as six control samples for GM only. Real time PCR was performed following sputum DNA extraction using the MycAssay™ Aspergillus kit and cycle thresholds were subtracted from 38 to give positive values (transformed Ct, TCt). The mean age of the patients was 61.81years (SD: ±11.06; range 29-100). One hundred and twenty-six (79.2%) had CPA. Cultures were positive for fungi in 13.1% of the samples, and A. fumigatus was the commonest (11.9%) fungus isolated. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC curve) analysis of sputum GM comparing TCt of >0.0, and >2.0 to derive GMI cut-off values showed a cut-off of 6.5. About 50% of sputa with strongly positive PCR values had GM values>6.5. Two of six (33%) control samples had GM indices>6.5. It is not clear that GM determinations in sputum are useful for diagnosis of either CPA or ABPA, or following therapy. Crown Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Cardiovascular risk-factor knowledge and risk perception among HIV-infected adults.

PubMed

Cioe, Patricia A; Crawford, Sybil L; Stein, Michael D

2014-01-01

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has emerged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected adults. Research in noninfected populations has suggested that knowledge of CVD risk factors significantly influences perceptions of risk. This cross-sectional study describes CVD risk factor knowledge and risk perception in HIV-infected adults. We recruited 130 HIV-infected adults (mean age = 48 years, 62% male, 56% current smokers, mean years since HIV diagnosis, 14.7). The mean CVD risk factor knowledge score was fairly high. However, controlling for age, CVD risk factor knowledge was not predictive of perceived risk [F(1, 117) = 0.13, p > .05]. Estimated risk and perceived risk were weakly but significantly correlated; r (126) = .24, p = .01. HIV-infected adults are at increased risk for CVD. Despite having adequate risk-factor knowledge, CVD risk perception was inaccurate. Improving risk perception and developing CVD risk reduction interventions for this population are imperative. Copyright © 2014 Association of Nurses in AIDS Care. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Structure Features and Anti-Gastric Ulcer Effects of Inulin-Type Fructan CP-A from the Roots of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf.

PubMed

Li, Jiankuan; Wang, Tao; Zhu, Zhichuan; Yang, Fengrong; Cao, Lingya; Gao, Jianping

2017-12-18

Radix Codonopsis has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for strengthening the immune system, improving poor gastrointestinal function, treating gastric ulcers and chronic gastritis and so on. In the present study, an inulin-type fructan CP-A was obtained from the roots of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. and its structure was confirmed by MS and NMR as (2 → 1) linked-β-d-fructofuranose. The protective effects of CP-A against ethanol-induced acute gastric ulcer in rats were intensively investigated. A Lacy assay demonstrated that CP-A-treated group (50 mg/kg) showed the gastric damage level 1, which was similar to the positive control group, while the model group exhibited the gastric damage level 3. The Guth assay demonstrated that the mucosa ulcer index for CP-A groups at the doses of 50 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg significantly decreased compared with that in the model group ( p < 0.05). Meanwhile, CP-A significantly increased the activities of SOD and GSH-Px, and decreased the contents of MDA and NO, and the activity of MPO in gastric tissue in a dose-dependent manner ( p < 0.05). The present research reported for the first time that inulin-type fructan CP-A were likely the potential component in Radix Codonopsis for treatment of acute gastric ulcers.

Hearing preservation in management of epidermoids of the cerebellopontine angle: CPA epidermoids and hearing preservation.

PubMed

Miller, Mia E; Mastrodimos, Bill; Cueva, Roberto A

2012-12-01

Surgical approaches for epidermoid cysts of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) are dictated by tumor location. Previous reports have advocated the sacrifice of usable hearing to achieve maximal tumor resection in a single operation. The aim of the current study is to demonstrate the applicability of hearing preservation approaches in the neurotologic management of epidermoids of the CPA. Retrospective chart review. A search of archived surgical cases at a single institution between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2011, revealed 18 cases of epidermoid cysts involving the CPA. Eighteen patients with a mean age 40.9 years underwent surgery. Average tumor size was 4.47 cm, and presenting symptoms included headache, vertigo, cranial neuropathies, and seizures. Thirteen patients underwent a retrosigmoid approach, 2 translabyrinthine, 2 pterional, and 1 retrolabyrinthine/presigmoid. Complications included CSF leak, pseudomeningocele, meningitis, cranial nerve dysfunction, and persistent imbalance. All but 5 patients had long-term follow-up imaging to chronicle tumor residua/recurrence, varying from 6 to 149 months postoperatively. The average length of follow-up was 71.4 months, and residual tumor was common, with most patients demonstrating a focal or small area of residual tumor on follow-up imaging. Two patients had undergone previous surgery for epidermoid excision elsewhere. Two patients required reoperation for epidermoid regrowth, and the times between surgeries were 44 and 78 months. Of the patients who underwent a retrosigmoid approach, 9 had postoperative audiograms. All of these patients maintained hearing at or near their preoperative level except for 2 patients whose hearing declined and one whose hearing significantly improved. Hearing preservation approaches for epidermoids of the CPA is a feasible option for long-term control of these tumors. Resection from a retrosigmoid approach can provide years of useful hearing, and the majority of patients do not

Efficacy of Pseudomonas graminis CPA-7 against Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes on fresh-cut pear and setting up of the conditions for its commercial application.

PubMed

Iglesias, M B; Abadias, M; Anguera, M; Viñas, I

2018-04-01

Pseudomonas graminis CPA-7 has been reported to control foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut apple, peach and melon. The first aim of this study was to assess its antagonistic activity against Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes on fresh-cut pear. CPA-7 was able to control both pathogens on fresh-cut pear stored in air conditions at 5, 10 and 20 °C. However, when CPA-7 antagonistic effect was tested by simulating commercial application (with antioxidant solution and passive modified atmosphere packaging), its effect decreased and no reductions of foodborne pathogens were reported at 10 °C. Therefore, the second aim was to optimise the antioxidant solution and the packaging in order to retain its antagonistic capacity. The selected antioxidant solution was 2% ascorbic acid +2% sodium citrate +1% CaCl 2 according to growth and effect of CPA-7. Film permeability, which affects gas composition inside fruit packages, influenced CPA-7 efficacy. If the biopreservative strain is used, film has to be sufficiently gas permeable to allow CPA-7 function and at the same time to maintain product quality. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Neural network detects the effects of p-CPA pre-treatment on brain electrophysiology in a rat model of focal brain injury.

PubMed

Sinha, Rakesh Kumar; Aggarwal, Yogender

2009-04-01

To examine the performance of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) in evaluation of the effects of pretreatment of para-Chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA), a serotonin blocker, in experimental brain injury. Continuous 4 h digital electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings from male Charles Foster rats and its power spectrum analysis by using fast Fourier transform (FFT) were performed in two experimental (i) drug untreated injury group; (ii) p-CPA pretreated injury group as well as a control group. The EEG power spectrum data were tested by ANN containing 60 nodes in input layer, weighted from the digital values of power spectrum from 0 to 30 Hz, 18 nodes in hidden layer and an output node. The effects of injury and of the drug pretreatment were confirmed with the help of calculation of edematous swelling in the brain. The changes in EEG spectral patterns were compared with the ANN and the accuracy was determined in terms of percent (%). Overall performance of the network was found the best in control group (97.9%) in comparison to p-CPA untreated injury group (96.3%) and p-CPA pretreated injury group (71.9%). The decrease in accuracy in p-CPA pretreated injury group of subjects have occurred due to increase in misclassified patterns due to faster recovery in brain cortical potentials. EEG spectrum analysis with ANN was found successful in identifying the changes due to brain swelling as well as the effect of pretreatment of p-CPA in focal brain injury condition. Thus, the training and testing of ANN with EEG power spectra can be used as an effective diagnostic tool for early prediction and monitoring of brain injury as well as the effects of drugs in this condition.

C-terminal domain deletion enhances the protective activity of cpa/cpb loaded solid lipid nanoparticles against Leishmania major in BALB/c mice.

PubMed

Doroud, Delaram; Zahedifard, Farnaz; Vatanara, Alireza; Taslimi, Yasaman; Vahabpour, Rouholah; Torkashvand, Fatemeh; Vaziri, Behrooz; Rouholamini Najafabadi, Abdolhossein; Rafati, Sima

2011-07-01

We have demonstrated that vaccination with pDNA encoding cysteine proteinase Type II (CPA) and Type I (CPB) with its unusual C-terminal extension (CTE) can partially protect BALB/c mice against cutaneous leishmanial infection. Unfortunately, this protection is insufficient to completely control infection without booster injection. Furthermore, in developing vaccines for leishmaniasis, it is necessary to consider a proper adjuvant and/or delivery system to promote an antigen specific immune response. Solid lipid nanoparticles have found their way in drug delivery system development against intracellular infections and cancer, but not Leishmania DNA vaccination. Therefore, undefined effect of cationic solid lipid nanoparticles (cSLN) as an adjuvant in enhancing the immune response toward leishmanial antigens led us to refocus our vaccine development projects. Three pDNAs encoding L. major cysteine proteinase type I and II (with or without CTE) were formulated by cSLN. BALB/c mice were immunized twice by 3-week interval, with cSLN-pcDNA-cpa/b, pcDNA-cpa/b, cSLN-pcDNA-cpa/b(-CTE), pcDNA-cpa/b(-CTE), cSLN, cSLN-pcDNA and PBS. Mice vaccinated with cSLN-pcDNA-cpa/b(-CTE) showed significantly higher levels of parasite inhibition related to protection with specific Th1 immune response development, compared to other groups. Parasite inhibition was determined by different techniques currently available in exploration vacciation efficacy, i.e., flowcytometry on footpad and lymph node, footpad caliper based measurements and imaging as well as lymph node microtitration assay. Among these techniques, lymph node flowcytometry was found to be the most rapid, sensitive and easily reproducible method for discrimination between the efficacy of vaccination strategies. This report demonstrates cSLN's ability to boost immune response magnitude of cpa/cpb(-CTE) cocktail vaccination against leishmaniasis so that the average parasite inhibition percent could be increased significantly

[Establishment of a novel chinese human lung adenocarcinoma cell line CPA-Yang3 and its real bone metastasis clone CPA-Yang3BM in immunodeficient mice].

PubMed

Yang, Shunfang; Shi, Meiping; Cao, Jie; Su, Jianzhong; Zhao, Lanxiang; Lei, Bei; Chang, Cheng; Lu, Jianying; Ye, Jianding; Xie, Wenhui

2011-02-01

The recurrence and metastasis of lung cancer is a tough problem worldwide. The aim of this study is to establish a novel Chinese lung adenocarcinoma cell line and its real bone-seeking clone sub-line for exploring the molecular mechanism of lung cancer metastasis. The cells came from the pleural effusion of a sixty-five years old female patient with lung adenocarcinoma and supraclavicular lymph node metastases. The gene expression was detected by real-time quantitative PCR. Intracardiac injection of the cells into nude mice was performed and in vivo imaging was obtained by bone scintigraphy and conventional radiography. Bone metastases were determined on bone scintigraphy and then the lesions were resected under deep anesthesia for bone metastasis cancer cell culture. The process was repeated for four cycles to obtain a real bone-seeking clone. The tumorigenesis rate started at 4th passage in immunodeficient mice via subcutaneously and as well as later passages. Approximately 1×10⁶ cancer cells were injected into left cardiac ventricle of immunodeficient mice resulted bone metastasis sites were successfully revealed by bone scintigraphy and pathological diagnosis, the mandible (100%), scapula (33%), humerus (50%), vertebral column (50%), femur (66.7%) and accompanied invasion with other organs, the adrenal gland (17%), pulmonary (33%), liver (50%), submaxillary gland (33%) in the mice after inoculation two-three weeks. The chromosome karyotype analysis of the cells was subdiploid. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to examined and compared with SPC-A-1 lung adenocarcinoma, ESM1, VEGF-C, IL-6, IL-8, AR, SVIL, FN1 genes were overexpress. The novel cell was named CPA-Yang3. The femur metastasis cell was repeated in vivo-in vitro-in vivo with three cycles and harvested a real bone metastasis clone. It was named CPA-Yang3BM. Tne characteristics of novel strain CPAYang3 is a highly metastasis cell line of Chinese lung adenocarcinoma and CPA-Yang3BM is a real bone

Clinical grade adult stem cell banking

PubMed Central

Thirumala, Sreedhar; Goebel, W Scott

2009-01-01

There has been a great deal of scientific interest recently generated by the potential therapeutic applications of adult stem cells in human care but there are several challenges regarding quality and safety in clinical applications and a number of these challenges relate to the processing and banking of these cells ex-vivo. As the number of clinical trials and the variety of adult cells used in regenerative therapy increases, safety remains a primary concern. This has inspired many nations to formulate guidelines and standards for the quality of stem cell collection, processing, testing, banking, packaging and distribution. Clinically applicable cryopreservation and banking of adult stem cells offers unique opportunities to advance the potential uses and widespread implementation of these cells in clinical applications. Most current cryopreservation protocols include animal serum proteins and potentially toxic cryoprotectant additives (CPAs) that prevent direct use of these cells in human therapeutic applications. Long term cryopreservation of adult stem cells under good manufacturing conditions using animal product free solutions is critical to the widespread clinical implementation of ex-vivo adult stem cell therapies. Furthermore, to avoid any potential cryoprotectant related complications, reduced CPA concentrations and efficient post-thaw washing to remove CPA are also desirable. The present review focuses on the current strategies and important aspects of adult stem cell banking for clinical applications. These include current good manufacturing practices (cGMPs), animal protein free freezing solutions, cryoprotectants, freezing & thawing protocols, viability assays, packaging and distribution. The importance and benefits of banking clinical grade adult stem cells are also discussed. PMID:20046678

Imaging of cerebellopontine angle lesions: an update. Part 2: intra-axial lesions, skull base lesions that may invade the CPA region, and non-enhancing extra-axial lesions.

PubMed

Bonneville, Fabrice; Savatovsky, Julien; Chiras, Jacques

2007-11-01

Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging reliably demonstrate typical features of vestibular schwannomas or meningiomas in the vast majority of mass lesions responsible for cerebellopontine angle (CPA) syndrome. However, a large variety of unusual lesions can also be encountered in the CPA. Covering the entire spectrum of lesions potentially found in the CPA, these articles explain the pertinent neuroimaging features that radiologists need to know to make clinically relevant diagnoses in these cases, including data from diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging or MR spectroscopy, when available. A diagnostic algorithm based on the lesion's site of origin, shape and margins, density, signal intensity and contrast material uptake is also proposed. Non-enhancing extra-axial CPA masses are cystic (epidermoid cyst, arachnoid cyst, neurenteric cyst) or contain fat (dermoid cyst, lipoma). Tumours can also extend into the CPA by extension from the skull base (paraganglioma, chondromatous tumours, chordoma, cholesterol granuloma, endolymphatic sac tumour). Finally, brain stem or ventricular tumours can present with a significant exophytic component in the CPA that may be difficult to differentiate from an extra-axial lesion (lymphoma, hemangioblastoma, choroid plexus papilloma, ependymoma, glioma, medulloblastoma, dysembryoplastic neuroepithelial tumour).

Triplex-mediated analysis of cytosine methylation at CpA sites in DNA.

PubMed

Johannsen, Marie W; Gerrard, Simon R; Melvin, Tracy; Brown, Tom

2014-01-18

Modified triplex-forming oligonucleotides distinguish 5-methyl cytosine from unmethylated cytosine in DNA duplexes by differences in triplex melting temperatures. The discrimination is sequence-specific; dramatic differences in stabilisation are seen for CpA methylation, whereas CpG methylation is not detected. This direct detection of DNA methylation constitutes a new approach for epigenetic analysis.

Emotion dysregulation and risky sexual behavior in revictimization.

PubMed

Messman-Moore, Terri L; Walsh, Kate L; DiLillo, David

2010-12-01

The current study examined emotion dysregulation as a mechanism underlying risky sexual behavior and sexual revictimization among adult victims of child sexual abuse (CSA) and child physical abuse (CPA). Participants were 752 college women. Victimization history, emotion dysregulation, and risky sexual behavior were assessed with anonymous, self-report surveys utilizing a cross-sectional design. Approximately 6.3% of participants reported CSA, 25.5% reported CPA, and 17.8% reported rape during adolescence or adulthood. CSA and CPA were associated with increased risk for adolescent/adult rape; 29.8% of CSA victims and 24.3% of CPA victims were revictimized. Path analytic models tested hypothesized relationships among child abuse, emotion dysregulation, adolescent/adult rape and three forms of risky sexual behavior (e.g., failure to use condoms, contraception, or having sex with someone under the influence of alcohol/drugs), including frequency of risky sexual behavior with a regular dating partner, with a stranger, and lifetime number of intercourse partners. Emotion dysregulation mediated revictimization for both CSA and CPA. Emotion dysregulation also predicted lifetime number of sexual partners and frequency of risky sex with a stranger, but not frequency of risky sex with a regular dating partner. Findings suggest that emotion dysregulation is a distal predictor, and risky sex, particularly with lesser known partners, is a proximal predictor of sexual revictimization. Because emotion dysregulation also maintained a significant direct path to revictimization, risky sexual behavior appears to be one of several proximal risk factors for revictimization. Findings confirm that emotion dysregulation is a critical pathway to more proximal risk factors such as risky sexual behavior, and suggest that clinical interventions aimed at improving emotion dysregulation may help reduce risky sexual behavior and risk for revictimization. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All

Tyurin works on a CPA in the hatch between the MPLM and Node 1

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-08-01

ISS003-E-5136 (August 2001) --- Mikhail Tyurin of Rosaviakosmos, Expedition Three flight engineer, secures a connection on a Controller Power Assembly (CPA) in a hatchway on Unity Node 1. This image was taken with a digital still camera.

Fluidised-bed spray-drying formulations of Candida sake CPA-1 by adding biodegradable coatings to enhance their survival under stress conditions.

PubMed

Carbó, Anna; Torres, Rosario; Usall, Josep; Solsona, Cristina; Teixidó, Neus

2017-11-01

The biocontrol agent Candida sake CPA-1 has demonstrated to be effective against several diseases on fruit. However, for application of CPA-1 under field conditions, it was necessary to mix it with a food coating to improve survival under stress conditions, as well as adherence and distribution on fruit surfaces. The objective of this study was to obtain a more competitive formulation under field conditions to be applied independently of any product. To achieve this purpose, the drying process of CPA-1 by a fluidised-bed spray-drying system together with biodegradable coatings was optimised. This approach is novel for the drying system used and the formulation obtained which was able to form a film or coating on fruit surfaces. Several substances were tested as carriers and binders, and drying temperature was optimised. The addition of protective compounds was also tested to improve survival of CPA-1 during the dehydration process. Product shelf life, biocontrol efficacy on grapes against Botrytis cinerea, and the improvement of C. sake behaviour under stress conditions were tested. The optimal temperature of drying was 55 °C and two formulations that were able to develop a coating on fruit surfaces were obtained. One of the formulations was created by using a combination of native and pregelatinised potato starch; the other formulation was obtained using maltodextrin and by adding skimmed milk and sucrose as protectant compounds. The formulated products reduced the incidence and severity of B. cinerea, and CPA-1 survival rate was increased under stress conditions of temperature and humidity.

DNA-based methodologies for the quantification of live and dead cells in formulated biocontrol products based on Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2.

PubMed

Soto-Muñoz, Lourdes; Torres, Rosario; Usall, Josep; Viñas, Inmaculada; Solsona, Cristina; Teixidó, Neus

2015-10-01

Pantoea agglomerans strain CPA-2 is an effective biocontrol agent (BCA) against the major postharvest pathogens present on pome and citrus fruits. Dehydration, such as freeze-drying, spray-drying and fluidized bed drying is one of the best ways to formulate BCAs. In this work, the survival of CPA-2 cells after formulation was determined by dilution plating and molecular methods as qPCR alone and combined with a sample pretreatment with a propidium monoazide dye (PMA-qPCR) and they were used to calculate treatment concentrations in efficacy trials on postharvest oranges. Furthermore, no significant differences in CPA-2 survival were observed as determined by dilution plating and PMA-qPCR after both the freeze drying and fluidized bed drying processes; however, an interesting significant difference was observed in the spray dried product comparing all quantitative methods. A difference of 0.48 and 2.17 log10 CFU or cells g/dw was observed among PMA-qPCR with qPCR and dilution plating, respectively. According to our study, dilution plating was shown to be an unreliable tool for monitoring the survival of CPA-2 after spray drying. In contrast, the combination of PMA and qPCR enabled a quick and unequivocal methodology to enumerate viable and VBNC CPA-2 cells under stress-dried conditions. Efficacy trials showed that, after 3 days, spray drying formulation rehydrated with 10% non-fat skimmed milk (NFSM) was as effective as fresh cells to control Penicillium digitatum in oranges. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Enantioselectivity in CPA-catalyzed Friedel-Crafts reaction of indole and N-tosylimines: a challenge for guiding models.

PubMed

Simón, Luis

2018-03-28

Qualitative reaction models or predicting guides are a very useful outcome of theoretical investigations of organocatalytic reaction mechanism that allow forecasting of the degree and sense of the enantioselectivity of reactions involving novel substrates. However, application of these models can be unexpectedly challenging in reactions affected by a large number of conformations and potential control of the enantioselectivity by different reaction steps. The QM/MM study of the Friedel-Crafts reaction between indole and the N-tosylimide of benzaldehyde catalysed by different CPA reveals that the reaction consists of two CPA-assisted steps: the addition of the two reagents to yield a Wheland intermediate, and its re-aromatization. The relevance of the second step depends on the catalyst: it changes the sense of the expected stereoselectivity for a BINOP-derived CPA but is irrelevant in the reaction catalysed by a VAPOL-derived imidodiphosphoric acid catalyst. Although the relative energies of the TSs can be rationalized considering the steric interactions with the catalyst, the possibility of additional H-bonds, or the relative stability of the conformation of the reagents, predicting the enantioselectivity is not possible using qualitative guides.

Candidate Performance on the Business Environment and Concepts Section of the CPA Exam

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lindsay, D. H.; Tan, K. B.; Campbell, Annhenrie

2009-01-01

This paper examines how differences in curricular design of undergraduate accounting programs influence pass rates on the Business Environment and Concepts Section of the CPA Exam. The association of the pass rate of a school's accounting graduates to the design of the schools accounting program and to other school characteristics was examined…

An Analysis of CPA Firm Recruiters' Perceptions of Online Masters of Accounting Degrees

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Metrejean, Eddie; Noland, Thomas G.

2011-01-01

Online education continues to grow at a rapid pace. Assessment of the effectiveness of online programs is needed to differentiate legitimate programs from diploma mills. The authors examined the perceptions of CPA firm recruiters on whether an online Master of Accounting (MACC) matters in the hiring decision. Results show that recruiters do not…

Biological Characterization of the Biocontrol Agent Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CPA-8: The Effect of Temperature, pH and Water Activity on Growth, Susceptibility to Antibiotics and Detection of Enterotoxic Genes.

PubMed

Gotor-Vila, Amparo; Teixidó, Neus; Sisquella, María; Torres, Rosario; Usall, Josep

2017-09-01

This work focuses on the biological understanding of the biocontrol agent Bacillus amyloliquefaciens CPA-8 in order to accomplish the characterization required in the registration process for the development of a microorganism-based product. The tolerance of CPA-8 to grow under different pH-temperature and water activity (a w )-temperature conditions was widely demonstrated. Regarding the pH results, optimum growth at the evaluated conditions was observed at 37 °C and pH between 7 and 5. On the contrary, the slowest growth was recorded at 20 °C and pH 4.5. Moreover, the type of solute used to reduce a w had a great influence on the minimum a w at which the bacterium was able to grow. The lowest a w values for CPA-8 growth in media modified with glycerol and glucose were 0.950 and 0.960, respectively. Besides, the lowest a w for CPA-8 growth increased when the temperature decreased to 20 °C, at which CPA-8 was not able to grow at less than 0.990 a w , regardless of the type of solute. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were carried out to determine which antibiotic could affect the behavior of the bacteria and revealed that CPA-8 was clearly resistant to hygromycin. Finally, a PCR amplification assay to detect the presence of enterotoxic genes from Bacillus cereus in CPA-8 was also performed. CPA-8 gave negative results for all the genes tested except for nheA gene, which is not enough for the toxicity expression, suggesting that fruit treated with this antagonist will not be a potential vehicle for foodborne illnesses.

Ultrashort pulse CPA-free Ho:YLF linear amplifier

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hinkelmann, Moritz; Wandt, Dieter; Morgner, Uwe; Neumann, Jörg; Kracht, Dietmar

2018-02-01

We present CPA-free linear amplification of 6:3 ps pulses in Ho:YLF crystals up to 100 μJ pulse energy at 10 kHz repetition rate. The seed pulses at a wavelength of 2:05 μm are provided by a Ho-based all-fiber system consisting of a soliton oscillator and a subsequent pre-amplifier followed by a free-space AOM as pulse-picker. Considering the achieved pulse peak power at MW-level, this system is a powerful tool for efficient pumping of parametric amplifiers addressing the highly demanded mid-IR spectral region. In detailed numerical simulations we verified our experimental results and discuss scaling options for pulse duration and energy.

Coherent Perfect Rotation: The conservative analogue of CPA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Crescimanno, Michael; Dawson, Nathan; Andrews, James

2012-06-01

The two classes of conservative, linear, optical rotary effects (optical activity and Faraday rotation) are distinguished by their behavior under time reversal. In analogy with coherent perfect absorption (CPA) resonances, where counter-propagating light fields are completely converted into other degrees of freedom, we show that in a linear conservative medium only time-odd (Faraday) rotation is capable of coherent perfect rotation, by which we mean the complete transfer of any arbitrarily oriented polarization of light into the other orthogonal polarization via the application of phased counter-propagating light fields. This contributes to the understanding of the importance of time reversal symmetry in perfect mode conversion that may be of use in optical device design.

Educational Competencies That Mid-Sized CPA Firms Value in Their Professional Accounting Staff

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Margheim, Loren; Hora, Judith A.; Pattison, Diane

2010-01-01

This study examined the educational competencies mid-sized accounting firm partners value in their professional staff when making promotion decisions to senior, manager, and partner. Mid-sized firms were defined in this study to include all of the non-Big 4 national firms, the large regional CPA firms, and several large local firms. Over 1,380…

Falls Risk and Simulated Driving Performance in Older Adults

PubMed Central

Gaspar, John G.; Neider, Mark B.; Kramer, Arthur F.

2013-01-01

Declines in executive function and dual-task performance have been related to falls in older adults, and recent research suggests that older adults at risk for falls also show impairments on real-world tasks, such as crossing a street. The present study examined whether falls risk was associated with driving performance in a high-fidelity simulator. Participants were classified as high or low falls risk using the Physiological Profile Assessment and completed a number of challenging simulated driving assessments in which they responded quickly to unexpected events. High falls risk drivers had slower response times (~2.1 seconds) to unexpected events compared to low falls risk drivers (~1.7 seconds). Furthermore, when asked to perform a concurrent cognitive task while driving, high falls risk drivers showed greater costs to secondary task performance than did low falls risk drivers, and low falls risk older adults also outperformed high falls risk older adults on a computer-based measure of dual-task performance. Our results suggest that attentional differences between high and low falls risk older adults extend to simulated driving performance. PMID:23509627

Hostility Ratings by Parents at Risk for Child Abuse: Impact of Chronic and Temporary Schema Activation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Farc, Maria-Magdalena; Crouch, Julie L.; Skowronski, John J.; Milner, Joel S.

2008-01-01

Objective: Two studies examined whether accessibility of hostility-related schema influenced ratings of ambiguous child pictures. Based on the social information processing model of child physical abuse (CPA), it was expected that CPA risk status would serve as a proxy for chronic accessibility of hostile schema, while priming procedures were used…

Depletion of serotonin synthesis with p-CPA pretreatment alters EEG in urethane anesthetized rats under whole body hyperthermia.

PubMed

Sinha, Rakesh Kumar; Aggarwal, Yogender

2007-01-01

Serotonin is believed as an important factor in brain function. The role of serotonin in cerebral psycho-patho-physiology has already been well established. However, the function of serotonin antagonist in anesthetized subjects under hyperthermia has not been studied properly. Experiments were performed in three groups of urethane-anesthetized rats, such as: (i) control group, (ii) whole body hyperthermia group and (iii) p-CPA (para-Chlorophenylalanine) pretreated hyperthermia group. Hyperthermia was produced by subjecting the rats to high ambient temperature of 38 +/- 1 degrees C (relative humidity 45-50%). Each group was divided for EEG (electroencephalogram) study and for determination of edematous swelling in the brain. Urethane anesthetized rats under hyperthermia show highly significant reduction in their survival time. The body temperature recorded during the hyperthermia was observed with significant and linear rise with marked increase in brain water content, which was analyzed just after the death of the subjects. The results of the electroencephalographic study in urethane-anesthetized rats recorded before death indicate that brain function varies in systematic manner during hyperthermia as sequential changes in EEG patterns were observed. However, a serotonin antagonist, p-CPA pretreatment increases the survival time with significant reduction in edematous swelling in brain but it does not affect the relationship between the core body temperature and the brain cortical potentials as observed in urethane anesthetized subjects exposed to whole body hyperthermia. The core body temperature in p-CPA pretreated rats show non-linear relationship with respect to the exposure time as it was observed in drug untreated subjects. The findings of the present study indicate that although pretreatment of p-CPA in rats has a marked correlation between the extravasations of the blood-brain barrier under hyperthermia but shows minimum effect on the EEG in a model of

Pathways to Health Risk Exposure in Adult Film Performers

PubMed Central

Ryan, Gery; Margold, William; Torres, Jacqueline; Gelberg, Lillian

2008-01-01

Despite being part of a large and legal industry in Los Angeles, little is known about adult film performers’ exposure to health risks and when and how these risks might occur. The objective was to identify exposure to physical, mental, and social health risks and the pathways to such risks among adult film performers and to determine how risks differ between different types of performers, such as men and women. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 18 female and ten male performers as well as two key informants from the industry. Performers and key informants were recruited through Protecting Adult Welfare, adult film venues, and snowball sampling. Performers engaged in risky health behaviors that included high-risk sexual acts that are unprotected, substance abuse, and body enhancement. They are exposed to physical trauma on the film set. Many entered and left the industry with financial insecurity and suffered from mental health problems. Women were more likely than men to be exposed to health risks. Adult film performers, especially women, are exposed to health risks that accumulate over time and that are not limited to sexually transmitted diseases. PMID:18709554

The TORC1-Regulated CPA Complex Rewires an RNA Processing Network to Drive Autophagy and Metabolic Reprogramming.

PubMed

Tang, Hong-Wen; Hu, Yanhui; Chen, Chiao-Lin; Xia, Baolong; Zirin, Jonathan; Yuan, Min; Asara, John M; Rabinow, Leonard; Perrimon, Norbert

2018-05-01

Nutrient deprivation induces autophagy through inhibiting TORC1 activity. We describe a novel mechanism in Drosophila by which TORC1 regulates RNA processing of Atg transcripts and alters ATG protein levels and activities via the cleavage and polyadenylation (CPA) complex. We show that TORC1 signaling inhibits CDK8 and DOA kinases, which directly phosphorylate CPSF6, a component of the CPA complex. These phosphorylation events regulate CPSF6 localization, RNA binding, and starvation-induced alternative RNA processing of transcripts involved in autophagy, nutrient, and energy metabolism, thereby controlling autophagosome formation and metabolism. Similarly, we find that mammalian CDK8 and CLK2, a DOA ortholog, phosphorylate CPSF6 to regulate autophagy and metabolic changes upon starvation, revealing an evolutionarily conserved mechanism linking TORC1 signaling with RNA processing, autophagy, and metabolism. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of diluent and sample processing methods on the recovery of the biocontrol agent Pantoea agglomerans CPA-2 from different fruit surfaces.

PubMed

Torres, R; Viñas, I; Usall, J; Remón, D; Teixidó, N

2012-08-01

Determining the populations of biocontrol agents applied as a postharvest treatment on fruit surfaces is fundamental to the assessment of the microorganisms' ability to colonise and persist on fruit. To obtain maximum recovery, we must develop a methodology that involves both diluent and processing methods and that does not affect the viability of the microorganisms. The effect of diluent composition was evaluated using three diluents: phosphate buffer, peptone saline and buffered peptone saline. An additional study was performed to compare three processing methods (shaking plus sonication, stomaching and shaking plus centrifugation) on the recovery efficiency of Pantoea agglomerans strain CPA-2 from apples, oranges, nectarines and peaches treated with this biocontrol agent. Overall, slight differences occurred among diluents, although the phosphate buffer maintained the most ideal pH for CPA-2 growth (between 5.2 and 6.2). Stomaching, using the phosphate buffer as diluent, was the best procedure for recovering and enumerating the biocontrol agent; this fact suggested that no lethal effects from naturally occurring antimicrobial compounds present on the fruit skins and/or produced when the tissues were disrupted affected the recovery of the CPA-2 cells, regardless of fruit type. The growth pattern of CPA-2 on fruits maintained at 20°C and under cold conditions was similar to that obtained in previous studies, which confirms the excellent adaptation of this strain to conditions commonly used for fruit storage. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Solubility of Carbon Dioxide in Secondary Butyl Alcohol at High Pressures: Experimental and Modeling with CPA.

PubMed

Raeissi, Sona; Haghbakhsh, Reza; Florusse, Louw J; Peters, Cor J

Mixtures of carbon dioxide and secondary butyl alcohol at high pressures are interesting for a range of industrial applications. Therefore, it is important to have trustworthy experimental data on the high-pressure phase behavior of this mixture over a wide range of temperatures. In addition, an accurate thermodynamic model is necessary for the optimal design and operation of processes. In this study, bubble points of binary mixtures of CO 2 + secondary butyl alcohol were measured using a synthetic method. Measurements covered a CO 2 molar concentration range of (0.10-0.57) % and temperatures from (293 to 370) K, with pressures reaching up to 11 MPa. The experimental data were modelled by the cubic plus association (CPA) equation of state (EoS), as well as the more simple Soave-Redlich-Kwong (SRK) EoS. Predictive and correlative modes were considered for both models. In the predictive mode, the CPA performs better than the SRK because it also considers associations.

Differences in Risk Aversion between Young and Older Adults.

PubMed

Albert, Steven M; Duffy, John

2012-01-15

Research on decision-making strategies among younger and older adults suggests that older adults may be more risk averse than younger people in the case of potential losses. These results mostly come from experimental studies involving gambling paradigms. Since these paradigms involve substantial demands on memory and learning, differences in risk aversion or other features of decision-making attributed to age may in fact reflect age-related declines in cognitive abilities. In the current study, older and younger adults completed a simpler, paired lottery choice task used in the experimental economics literature to elicit risk aversion. A similar approach was used to elicit participants' discount rates. The older adult group was more risk averse than younger adults (p < .05) and also had a higher discount rate (15.6-21.0% vs. 10.3-15.5%, p < .01), indicating lower expected utility from future income. Risk aversion and implied discount rates were weakly correlated. It may be valuable to investigate developmental changes in neural correlates of decision-making across the lifespan.

Differences in Risk Aversion between Young and Older Adults

PubMed Central

Albert, Steven M.; Duffy, John

2013-01-01

Research on decision-making strategies among younger and older adults suggests that older adults may be more risk averse than younger people in the case of potential losses. These results mostly come from experimental studies involving gambling paradigms. Since these paradigms involve substantial demands on memory and learning, differences in risk aversion or other features of decision-making attributed to age may in fact reflect age-related declines in cognitive abilities. In the current study, older and younger adults completed a simpler, paired lottery choice task used in the experimental economics literature to elicit risk aversion. A similar approach was used to elicit participants' discount rates. The older adult group was more risk averse than younger adults (p < .05) and also had a higher discount rate (15.6-21.0% vs. 10.3-15.5%, p < .01), indicating lower expected utility from future income. Risk aversion and implied discount rates were weakly correlated. It may be valuable to investigate developmental changes in neural correlates of decision-making across the lifespan. PMID:24319671

Association of Childhood Chronic Physical Aggression with a DNA Methylation Signature in Adult Human T Cells

PubMed Central

Guillemin, Claire; Vitaro, Frank; Côté, Sylvana M.; Hallett, Michael; Tremblay, Richard E.; Szyf, Moshe

2014-01-01

Background Chronic physical aggression (CPA) is characterized by frequent use of physical aggression from early childhood to adolescence. Observed in approximately 5% of males, CPA is associated with early childhood adverse environments and long-term negative consequences. Alterations in DNA methylation, a covalent modification of DNA that regulates genome function, have been associated with early childhood adversity. Aims To test the hypothesis that a trajectory of chronic physical aggression during childhood is associated with a distinct DNA methylation profile during adulthood. Methods We analyzed genome-wide promoter DNA methylation profiles of T cells from two groups of adult males assessed annually for frequency of physical aggression between 6 and 15 years of age: a group with CPA and a control group. Methylation profiles covering the promoter regions of 20 000 genes and 400 microRNAs were generated using MeDIP followed by hybridization to microarrays. Results In total, 448 distinct gene promoters were differentially methylated in CPA. Functionally, many of these genes have previously been shown to play a role in aggression and were enriched in biological pathways affected by behavior. Their locations in the genome tended to form clusters spanning millions of bases in the genome. Conclusions This study provides evidence of clustered and genome-wide variation in promoter DNA methylation in young adults that associates with a history of chronic physical aggression from 6 to 15 years of age. However, longitudinal studies of methylation during early childhood will be necessary to determine if and how this methylation variation in T cells DNA plays a role in early development of chronic physical aggression. PMID:24691403

A Community-Engaged Approach to Developing a Mobile Cancer Prevention App: The mCPA Study Protocol.

PubMed

Smith, Selina Ann; Whitehead, Mary Smith; Sheats, Joyce; Mastromonico, Jeff; Yoo, Wonsuk; Coughlin, Steven Scott

2016-03-02

Rapid growth of mobile technologies has resulted in a proliferation of lifestyle-oriented mobile phone apps. However, most do not have a theoretical framework and few have been developed using a community-based participatory research approach. A community academic team will develop a theory-based, culturally tailored, mobile-enabled, Web-based app-the Mobile Cancer Prevention App (mCPA)-to promote adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines. The aim of this study is to develop mCPA content with input from breast cancer survivors. Members of SISTAAH (Survivors Involving Supporters to Take Action in Advancing Health) Talk (N=12), treated for Stages I-IIIc breast cancer for less than 1 year, 75 years of age or younger, and English-speaking and writing, will be recruited to participate in the study. To develop the app content, breast cancer survivors will engage with researchers in videotaped and audiotaped sessions, including (1) didactic instructions with goals for, benefits of, and strategies to enhance dietary intake and physical activity, (2) guided discussions for setting individualized goals, monitoring progress, and providing or receiving feedback, (3) experiential nutrition education through cooking demonstrations, and (4) interactive physical activity focused on walking, yoga, and strength training. Qualitative (focus group discussions and key informant interviews) and quantitative (sensory evaluation) methods will be used to evaluate the participatory process and outcomes. Investigators and participants anticipate development of an acceptable (frequency and duration of usage) feasible (structure, ease of use, features), and accessible mobile app available for intervention testing in early 2017. Depending on the availability of research funding, mCPA testing, which will be initiated in Miami, will be extended to Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles.

Online versus Face-to-Face Accounting Education: A Comparison of CPA Exam Outcomes across Matched Institutions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morgan, John Daniel

2015-01-01

Programmatic-level comparisons are made between the certified public accountant (CPA) exam outcomes of two types of accounting programs: online or distance accounting programs and face-to-face or classroom accounting programs. After matching programs from each group on student selectivity at admission, the two types of programs are compared on CPA…

Metal organic framework Cu9Cl2(cpa)6 as tunable molecular magnet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hamilton, Heather S. C.; Farmer, William M.; Skinner, Samuel F.; ter Haar, Leonard W.

2018-05-01

Chemical modifications of the magnetic metal organic framework (MOF) Cu9X2(cpa)6.42H2O (X = F, Cl, Br; cpa = anion of 2-carboxypentonicacid) have been investigated as a means of modifying, in a tunable manner, the magnetism of this 2-D material best described as a triangles-in-triangles (TIT) or triangulated-Kagomé-latttice (TKL). Since numerous theoretical studies have already attempted to describe the enigmatic ground state of this Heisenberg lattice, tunable chemical modifications should provide an excellent opportunity to expand this class of materials for studies concerning fundamental physics of frustrated spins, and applications such as adiabatic demagnetization refrigeration (ADR) that depend on the magnetocaloric effect (MCE). The chemical modification investigated is the intercalation of d- and f-orbital ions into the voids of the framework (channels of nearly 20 Å diameter). Magnetic measurements in the temperature range 1.8 - 300 K confirm signature features of TKL magnetism in intercalated samples persist, specifically: i) large negative Weiss constant (θCW); ii) absence of a phase transition down to 1.8 K; iii) minimum in χMT; iv) low temperature χMT values increasingly divergent at low fields indicating net ferromagnetic correlations; and, v) increasing field dependence of magnetization at low temperatures suggestive of intermediate plateaus, or ferrimagnetism, not saturation.

A Community-Engaged Approach to Developing a Mobile Cancer Prevention App: The mCPA Study Protocol

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Background Rapid growth of mobile technologies has resulted in a proliferation of lifestyle-oriented mobile phone apps. However, most do not have a theoretical framework and few have been developed using a community-based participatory research approach. A community academic team will develop a theory-based, culturally tailored, mobile-enabled, Web-based app—the Mobile Cancer Prevention App (mCPA)—to promote adherence to dietary and physical activity guidelines. Objective The aim of this study is to develop mCPA content with input from breast cancer survivors. Methods Members of SISTAAH (Survivors Involving Supporters to Take Action in Advancing Health) Talk (N=12), treated for Stages I-IIIc breast cancer for less than 1 year, 75 years of age or younger, and English-speaking and writing, will be recruited to participate in the study. To develop the app content, breast cancer survivors will engage with researchers in videotaped and audiotaped sessions, including (1) didactic instructions with goals for, benefits of, and strategies to enhance dietary intake and physical activity, (2) guided discussions for setting individualized goals, monitoring progress, and providing or receiving feedback, (3) experiential nutrition education through cooking demonstrations, and (4) interactive physical activity focused on walking, yoga, and strength training. Qualitative (focus group discussions and key informant interviews) and quantitative (sensory evaluation) methods will be used to evaluate the participatory process and outcomes. Results Investigators and participants anticipate development of an acceptable (frequency and duration of usage) feasible (structure, ease of use, features), and accessible mobile app available for intervention testing in early 2017. Conclusions Depending on the availability of research funding, mCPA testing, which will be initiated in Miami, will be extended to Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. PMID:26935995

The CPA Equation of State and an Activity Coefficient Model for Accurate Molar Enthalpy Calculations of Mixtures with Carbon Dioxide and Water/Brine

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Myint, P. C.; Hao, Y.; Firoozabadi, A.

2015-03-27

Thermodynamic property calculations of mixtures containing carbon dioxide (CO 2) and water, including brines, are essential in theoretical models of many natural and industrial processes. The properties of greatest practical interest are density, solubility, and enthalpy. Many models for density and solubility calculations have been presented in the literature, but there exists only one study, by Spycher and Pruess, that has compared theoretical molar enthalpy predictions with experimental data [1]. In this report, we recommend two different models for enthalpy calculations: the CPA equation of state by Li and Firoozabadi [2], and the CO 2 activity coefficient model by Duanmore » and Sun [3]. We show that the CPA equation of state, which has been demonstrated to provide good agreement with density and solubility data, also accurately calculates molar enthalpies of pure CO 2, pure water, and both CO 2-rich and aqueous (H 2O-rich) mixtures of the two species. It is applicable to a wider range of conditions than the Spycher and Pruess model. In aqueous sodium chloride (NaCl) mixtures, we show that Duan and Sun’s model yields accurate results for the partial molar enthalpy of CO 2. It can be combined with another model for the brine enthalpy to calculate the molar enthalpy of H 2O-CO 2-NaCl mixtures. We conclude by explaining how the CPA equation of state may be modified to further improve agreement with experiments. This generalized CPA is the basis of our future work on this topic.« less

Genetic Variants in CPA6 and PRPF31 are Associated with Variation in Response to Metformin in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes.

PubMed

Rotroff, Daniel M; Yee, Sook Wah; Zhou, Kaixin; Marvel, Skylar W; Shah, Hetal S; Jack, John R; Havener, Tammy M; Hedderson, Monique M; Kubo, Michiaki; Herman, Mark A; Gao, He; Mychaleckyi, Josyf C; McLeod, Howard L; Doria, Alessandro; Giacomini, Kathleen M; Pearson, Ewan R; Wagner, Michael J; Buse, John B; Motsinger-Reif, Alison A

2018-04-12

Metformin is the first line treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although widely prescribed, the glucose-lowering mechanism for metformin is incompletely understood. Here we used a genome-wide association approach in a diverse group of individuals with T2D from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) clinical trial to identify common and rare variants associated with HbA1c response to metformin treatment, and followed up these findings in four replication cohorts. Common variants in PRPF31 and CPA6 , were associated with worse and better metformin response, respectively (p<5×10 -6 ), and meta-analysis in independent cohorts displayed similar associations with metformin response (p=1.2×10 -8 and p=0.005, respectively). Previous studies have shown that PRPF31 (+/-) knockout mice have increased total body fat (p=1.78×10 -6 ) and increased fasted circulating glucose (p=5.73×10 -6 ). Furthermore, rare variants in STAT3 associated with worse metformin response( q <0.1). STAT3 is a ubiquitously expressed pleiotropic transcriptional activator that participates in the regulation of metabolism and feeding behavior. Here we provide novel evidence for associations of common and rare variants in PRPF31, CPA6, and STAT3 with metformin response that may provide insight into mechanisms important for metformin efficacy in T2D. © 2018 by the American Diabetes Association.

Childhood abuse, parental warmth, and adult multisystem biological risk in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study.

PubMed

Carroll, Judith E; Gruenewald, Tara L; Taylor, Shelley E; Janicki-Deverts, Denise; Matthews, Karen A; Seeman, Teresa E

2013-10-15

Childhood abuse increases adult risk for morbidity and mortality. Less clear is how this "toxic" stress becomes embedded to influence health decades later, and whether protective factors guard against these effects. Early biological embedding is hypothesized to occur through programming of the neural circuitry that influences physiological response patterns to subsequent stress, causing wear and tear across multiple regulatory systems. To examine this hypothesis, we related reports of childhood abuse to a comprehensive 18-biomarker measure of multisystem risk and also examined whether presence of a loving parental figure buffers against the impact of childhood abuse on adult risk. A total of 756 subjects (45.8% white, 42.7% male) participated in this ancillary substudy of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study. Childhood stress was determined by using the Risky Families Questionnaire, a well-validated retrospective self-report scale. Linear regression models adjusting for age, sex, race, parental education, and oral contraceptive use found a significant positive relationship between reports of childhood abuse and multisystem health risks [B (SE) = 0.68 (0.16); P < 0.001]. Inversely, higher amounts of reported parental warmth and affection during childhood was associated with lower multisystem health risks [B (SE) = -0.40 (0.14); P < 0.005]. A significant interaction of abuse and warmth (P < 0.05) was found, such that individuals reporting low levels of love and affection and high levels of abuse in childhood had the highest multisystem risk in adulthood.

Variables Affecting Emerging Adults' Self-Reported Risk and Reckless Behaviors

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Duangpatra, Krisna N. K.; Bradley, Graham L.; Glendon, A. Ian

2009-01-01

Young adults' behaviors are frequently characterized by risk-taking and recklessness. Few studies have examined the correlates of risk and reckless behaviors in emerging adults. Drawing on theories emphasising multifactorial effects of personality, social, and cognitive variables, this study explores psychosocial factors contributing to risk and…

SUICIDE IN OLDER ADULTS: NURSING ASSESSMENT OF SUICIDE RISK

PubMed Central

Garand, Linda; Mitchell, Ann M.; Dietrick, Ann; Hijjawi, Sophia P.; Pan, Di

2010-01-01

A fundamental objective of the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention is the prevention of suicide in older adults, especially elderly males, because these individuals are at higher risk for suicide than any other age group. Furthermore, they are the fastest growing segment of the population. The suicide rates for older Caucasian men are particularly high. Because nurses play an important role in the identification of persons at risk for suicide, it is important that they be cognizant of the complex risk factors involved in late life suicide. Toward that end, we review the prevalence of suicidal behaviors in older adults and discuss risk factors that contribute to completed suicide in these individuals. Lastly, we discuss the role of nurses in the identification of older adults at risk for suicidal behavior so that life-saving treatment measures can be implemented. PMID:16546935

Dietary screening tool identifies nutritional risk in older adults123

PubMed Central

Miller, Paige E; Mitchell, Diane C; Hartman, Terryl J; Lawrence, Frank R; Sempos, Christopher T; Smiciklas-Wright, Helen

2009-01-01

Background: No rapid methods exist for screening overall dietary intakes in older adults. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a scoring system for a diet screening tool to identify nutritional risk in community-dwelling older adults. Design: This cross-sectional study in older adults (n = 204) who reside in rural areas examined nutrition status by using an in-person interview, biochemical measures, and four 24-h recalls that included the use of dietary supplements. Results: The dietary screening tool was able to characterize 3 levels of nutritional risk: at risk, possible risk, and not at risk. Individuals classified as at nutritional risk had significantly lower indicators of diet quality (Healthy Eating Index and Mean Adequacy Ratio) and intakes of protein, most micronutrients, dietary fiber, fruit, and vegetables. The at-risk group had higher intakes of fats and oils and refined grains. The at-risk group also had the lowest serum vitamin B-12, folate, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, and zeaxanthin concentrations. The not-at-nutritional-risk group had significantly higher lycopene and β-carotene and lower homocysteine and methylmalonic acid concentrations. Conclusion: The dietary screening tool is a simple and practical tool that can help to detect nutritional risk in older adults. PMID:19458013

Assessment of Cpa, Scl1 and Scl2 in clinical group A streptococcus isolates and patients from north India: an evaluation of the host pathogen interaction.

PubMed

Chaudhary, Priyanka; Kumar, Rajesh; Sagar, Vivek; Sarkar, Subendu; Singh, Rupneet; Ghosh, Sujata; Singh, Surjit; Chakraborti, Anuradha

2018-01-01

Group A streptococcus (GAS) infection remains a major concern due to multiple diseases including pharyngitis, impetigo, acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). It uses different adhesins and virulence factors like Cpa (collagen binding protein) and Scl (collagen-like protein) in its pathogenicity. Scl having similarities with human collagen may contribute to inducing autoimmunity in the host. Here we assessed gene expression, antibody titer of Cpa, Scl1 and Scl2 in both clinical GAS isolates (n = 45) and blood (n = 45) obtained from pharyngitis, ARF (acute rheumatic fever) and RHD respectively. Skin isolates (n = 30) were obtained from impetigo patients. The study revealed a total of 27 GAS emm types. Frequency of cpa, scl1, scl2 was high in ARF isolates. The antibody titer of these proteins was high in all isolates, and also in patients with pharyngitis and ARF. All isolates showed high binding affinity toward collagen I and IV, which further indicates a potential host pathogen interaction. Our study reflects a strong association of Cpa and Scls in early and post-GAS pathogenicity. However, the increased antibody titer of Scl1 and Scl2 during ARF may be attributed to a cogent immune response in the host. Copyright © 2017 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

76 FR 38676 - Gulf of Mexico (GOM), Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central Planning Area (CPA), Oil and Gas...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-01

... September 2008. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: BOEMRE developed the Draft SEIS for CPA Lease Sale 216/222 to consider new information made available since completion of the Multisale EIS and 2009-2012 SEIS, including information concerning the Deepwater Horizon event and spill and new regulatory requirements. This Draft SEIS...

Energy Expended by Adults with and without Intellectual Disabilities during Activities of Daily Living

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lante, Kerrie; Reece, John; Walkley, Jeff

2010-01-01

The aims of this study were to (1) determine the energy expenditure of adults with and without intellectual disabilities during common activities of daily living (ADL), (2) use these values to evaluate the accuracy of equivalent activity values reported in the Compendium of Physical Activities (CPA), and (3) identify ADL that may confer a health…

Childhood Cumulative Risk Exposure and Adult Amygdala Volume and Function

PubMed Central

Evans, Gary W.; Swain, James E.; King, Anthony P.; Wang, Xin; Javanbakht, Arash; Ho, S. Shaun; Angstadt, Michael; Phan, K. Luan; Xie, Hong; Liberzon, Israel

2015-01-01

Considerable work indicates that early cumulative risk exposure is aversive to human development, but very little research has examined neurological underpinnings of these robust findings. We investigated amygdala volume and reactivity to facial stimuli among adults (M = 23.7 years, n = 54) as a function of cumulative risk exposure during childhood (ages 9 and 13). In addition, we tested whether expected, cumulative risk elevations in amygdala volume would mediate functional reactivity of the amygdala during socio-emotional processing. Risks included substandard housing quality, noise, crowding, family turmoil, child separation from family, and violence. Total and left hemisphere adult amygdala volumes, respectively were positively related to cumulative risk exposure during childhood. The links between childhood cumulative risk exposure and elevated amygdala responses to emotionally neutral facial stimuli in adulthood were mediated by the respective amygdala volumes. Cumulative risk exposure in later adolescence (17 years), however, was unrelated to subsequent, adult amygdala volume or function. Physical and socioemotional risk exposures early in life appear to alter amygdala development, rendering adults more reactive to ambiguous stimuli such as neutral faces. These stress-related differences in childhood amygdala development might contribute to well-documented psychological distress as a function of early risk exposure. PMID:26469872

Childhood Cumulative Risk Exposure and Adult Amygdala Volume and Function.

PubMed

Evans, Gary W; Swain, James E; King, Anthony P; Wang, Xin; Javanbakht, Arash; Ho, S Shaun; Angstadt, Michael; Phan, K Luan; Xie, Hong; Liberzon, Israel

2016-06-01

Considerable work indicates that early cumulative risk exposure is aversive to human development, but very little research has examined the neurological underpinnings of these robust findings. This study investigates amygdala volume and reactivity to facial stimuli among adults (mean 23.7 years of age, n = 54) as a function of cumulative risk exposure during childhood (9 and 13 years of age). In addition, we test to determine whether expected cumulative risk elevations in amygdala volume would mediate functional reactivity of the amygdala during socioemotional processing. Risks included substandard housing quality, noise, crowding, family turmoil, child separation from family, and violence. Total and left hemisphere adult amygdala volumes were positively related to cumulative risk exposure during childhood. The links between childhood cumulative risk exposure and elevated amygdala responses to emotionally neutral facial stimuli in adulthood were mediated by the corresponding amygdala volumes. Cumulative risk exposure in later adolescence (17 years of age), however, was unrelated to subsequent adult amygdala volume or function. Physical and socioemotional risk exposures early in life appear to alter amygdala development, rendering adults more reactive to ambiguous stimuli such as neutral faces. These stress-related differences in childhood amygdala development might contribute to the well-documented psychological distress as a function of early risk exposure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Improving nursing students' assessment of fall risk in community-dwelling older adults.

PubMed

Patton, Susan K

2016-12-09

Nationally, approximately one third of older adults fall each year. Falls and resulting injury result in decreased mobility, functional impairment, loss of independence, and increased mortality. Utilization of evidence-based protocols by health care providers to identify older adults at risk of falling is limited, and rates of participation by older adults in prevention activities is low. Because of nursing's increasing role in caring for older adults, development of fall prevention education for nursing students would result in increased awareness of the need for fall prevention in community-dwelling older adults and increased access of older adults to falls risk assessment. There is a need to extend research to inform teaching and learning strategies for fall prevention. After pretesting, a convenience sample of 52 undergraduate nursing students and 22 graduate nursing students completed an online education program and performed a falls risk assessment on an older adult. After completing the clinical assignment, students completed a posttest and self-efficacy survey. Data were analyzed using multivariate statistical tests. Results revealed an increase in knowledge and student self-reporting of efficacy of fall risk assessment skills for the older adult population. This study suggests that nursing students acquired the necessary knowledge and self-efficacy for assessing fall risk of older adults through the combination of an online learning module and participating in actual fall risk assessment of an older adult.

The role of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) in the regulation of the sleep/wake cycle in parachlorophenylalanine (p-CPA) pretreated rat: a multiple approach study.

PubMed

Touret, M; Sarda, N; Gharib, A; Geffard, M; Jouvet, M

1991-01-01

In the rat, the insomnia which follows the administration of parachlorophenylalanine (p-CPA), a serotonin synthesis inhibitor, is transiently reversed either by intra-cisternal injection of L-5-HTP or by an associated injection of 5-HTP and an L-aromatic-acid-decarboxylase inhibitor (benserazide). Histochemical, immunohistochemical and chemical investigations showed that 5-HTP administration does not lead to a detectable increase in cerebral 5-HT. These findings suggest that the restoration of sleep after p-CPA treatment could be mediated by the central action of 5-HTP.

Expression, purification and preliminary X-ray characterization of dl-2-haloacid dehalogenase from Methylobacterium sp. CPA1

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Omi, Rie; Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585; Jitsumori, Keiji

A recombinant form of dl-2-haloacid dehalogenase from Methylobacterium sp. CPA1 has been expressed in E. coli, purified and crystallized. The crystal belongs to space group P6{sub 3}. Diffraction data have been collected to 1.75 Å resolution. dl-2-Haloacid dehalogenase from Methylobacterium sp. CPA1 (dl-DEX Mb) is a unique enzyme that catalyzes the dehalogenation reaction without the formation of an ester intermediate. A recombinant form of dl-DEX Mb has been expressed in Escherichia coli, purified and crystallized using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. The crystal belongs to the hexagonal space group P6{sub 3}, with unit-cell parameters a = b = 186.2, c =more » 114.4 Å. The crystals are likely to contain between four and eight monomers in the asymmetric unit, with a V{sub M} value of 4.20–2.10 Å{sup 3} Da{sup −1}. A self-rotation function revealed peaks on the χ = 180° section. X-ray data have been collected to 1.75 Å resolution.« less

78 FR 9731 - Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), Central Planning Area (CPA) Oil and Gas Lease Sale...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-11

... Environmental Impact Statement (Multisale FEIS). Authority: This NOA is published pursuant to the regulations... the NEPA process. The Multisale FEIS evaluated the environmental and socioeconomic impacts for CPA... DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Gulf of Mexico, Outer Continental...

Polygenic risk predicts obesity in both white and black young adults.

PubMed

Domingue, Benjamin W; Belsky, Daniel W; Harris, Kathleen Mullan; Smolen, Andrew; McQueen, Matthew B; Boardman, Jason D

2014-01-01

To test transethnic replication of a genetic risk score for obesity in white and black young adults using a national sample with longitudinal data. A prospective longitudinal study using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health Sibling Pairs (n = 1,303). Obesity phenotypes were measured from anthropometric assessments when study members were aged 18-26 and again when they were 24-32. Genetic risk scores were computed based on published genome-wide association study discoveries for obesity. Analyses tested genetic associations with body-mass index (BMI), waist-height ratio, obesity, and change in BMI over time. White and black young adults with higher genetic risk scores had higher BMI and waist-height ratio and were more likely to be obese compared to lower genetic risk age-peers. Sibling analyses revealed that the genetic risk score was predictive of BMI net of risk factors shared by siblings. In white young adults only, higher genetic risk predicted increased risk of becoming obese during the study period. In black young adults, genetic risk scores constructed using loci identified in European and African American samples had similar predictive power. Cumulative information across the human genome can be used to characterize individual level risk for obesity. Measured genetic risk accounts for only a small amount of total variation in BMI among white and black young adults. Future research is needed to identify modifiable environmental exposures that amplify or mitigate genetic risk for elevated BMI.

Physical activity level and fall risk among community-dwelling older adults.

PubMed

Low, Sok Teng; Balaraman, Thirumalaya

2017-07-01

[Purpose] To find the physical activity level and fall risk among the community-dwelling Malaysian older adults and determine the correlation between them. [Subjects and Methods] A cross-sectional study was conducted in which, the physical activity level was evaluated using the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity questionnaire and fall risk with Fall Risk Assessment Tool. Subjects recruited were 132 community-dwelling Malaysian older adults using the convenience sampling method. [Results] The majority of the participants were under the category of under-active regular light-activities and most of them reported low fall risk. The statistical analysis using Fisher's exact test did not show a significant correlation between physical activity level and fall risk. [Conclusion] The majority of community-dwelling Malaysian older adults are performing some form of physical activity and in low fall risk category. But this study did not find any significant correlation between physical activity level and fall risk among community-dwelling older adults in Malaysia.

Risk assessment for adult butterflies exposed to the mosquito control pesticide naled.

PubMed

Bargar, Timothy A

2012-04-01

A prospective risk assessment was conducted for adult butterflies potentially exposed to the mosquito control insecticide naled. Published acute mortality data, exposure data collected during field studies, and morphometric data (total surface area and fresh body weight) for adult butterflies were combined in a probabilistic estimate of the likelihood that adult butterfly exposure to naled following aerial applications would exceed levels associated with acute mortality. Adult butterfly exposure was estimated based on the product of (1) naled residues on samplers and (2) an exposure metric that normalized total surface area for adult butterflies to their fresh weight. The likelihood that the 10th percentile refined effect estimate for adult butterflies exposed to naled would be exceeded following aerial naled applications was 67 to 80%. The greatest risk would be for butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, and the lowest risk would be for those in the family Hesperidae, assuming equivalent sensitivity to naled. A range of potential guideline naled deposition levels is presented that, if not exceeded, would reduce the risk of adult butterfly mortality. The results for this risk assessment were compared with other risk estimates for butterflies, and the implications for adult butterflies in areas targeted by aerial naled applications are discussed. Copyright © 2012 SETAC.

Risk assessment for adult butterflies exposed to the mosquito control pesticide naled

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bargar, Timothy A.

2012-01-01

A prospective risk assessment was conducted for adult butterflies potentially exposed to the mosquito control insecticide naled. Published acute mortality data, exposure data collected during field studies, and morphometric data (total surface area and fresh body weight) for adult butterflies were combined in a probabilistic estimate of the likelihood that adult butterfly exposure to naled following aerial applications would exceed levels associated with acute mortality. Adult butterfly exposure was estimated based on the product of (1) naled residues on samplers and (2) an exposure metric that normalized total surface area for adult butterflies to their fresh weight. The likelihood that the 10th percentile refined effect estimate for adult butterflies exposed to naled would be exceeded following aerial naled applications was 67 to 80%. The greatest risk would be for butterflies in the family Lycaenidae, and the lowest risk would be for those in the family Hesperidae, assuming equivalent sensitivity to naled. A range of potential guideline naled deposition levels is presented that, if not exceeded, would reduce the risk of adult butterfly mortality. The results for this risk assessment were compared with other risk estimates for butterflies, and the implications for adult butterflies in areas targeted by aerial naled applications are discussed.

Cyclic RGD peptidomimetics containing 4- and 5-amino-cyclopropane pipecolic acid (CPA) templates as dual αVβ3 and α5β1 integrin ligands.

PubMed

Sernissi, Lorenzo; Trabocchi, Andrea; Scarpi, Dina; Bianchini, Francesca; Occhiato, Ernesto G

2016-02-15

4-Amino- and 5-amino-cyclopropane pipecolic acids (CPAs) with cis relative stereochemistry between the carboxylic and amino groups were used as templates to prepare cyclic peptidomimetics containing the RGD sequence as possible integrin binders. The peptidomimetic c(RGD8) built on the 5-amino-CPA displayed an inhibition activity (IC50=2.4nM) toward the αvβ3 integrin receptor (expressed in M21 human melanoma cell line) comparable to that of the most potent antagonists reported so far and it was ten times more active than the corresponding antagonist c(RGD7) derived from the isomeric 4-amino-CPA. Both compounds were also nanomolar ligands of the α5β1 integrin (expressed in human erythroleukemia cell line K562). These results suggest that the CPA-derived templates are suitable for the preparation of dual αvβ3 and α5β1 ligands to suppress integrin-mediated events as well as for targeted drug delivery in cancer therapy. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Snacking patterns, diet quality, and cardiovascular risk factors in adults

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The relationship of snacking patterns on nutrient intake and cardiovascular risk factors in adults is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the associations of snacking patterns with nutrient intake, diet quality, and a selection of cardiovascular risk factors in adults participating in the ...

A Study of Student Involvement Variables in Higher Education Their Influence on Success on the Uniform CPA Examination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campbell, Linda M.

2012-01-01

Accounting educators are continually seeking ways to better prepare their students for success after graduation. One path to this goal is the successful completion of the CPA exam. This national exam provides an endorsement of the knowledge and comprehension that has been achieved by the candidate and opens up opportunities for advancement. The…

Reliability of self-reported childhood physical abuse by adults and factors predictive of inconsistent reporting.

PubMed

McKinney, Christy M; Harris, T Robert; Caetano, Raul

2009-01-01

Little is known about the reliability of self-reported child physical abuse (CPA) or CPA reporting practices. We estimated reliability and prevalence of self-reported CPA and identified factors predictive of inconsistent CPA reporting among 2,256 participants using surveys administered in 1995 and 2000. Reliability of CPA was fair to moderate (kappa = 0.41). Using a positive report from either survey, the prevalence of moderate (61.8%) and severe (12.0%) CPA was higher than at either survey alone. Compared to consistent reporters of having experienced CPA, inconsistent reporters were less likely to be > or = 30 years old (vs. 18-29) or Black (vs. White) and more likely to have < 12 years of education (vs. 12), have no alcohol-related problems (vs. having problems), or report one type (vs. > or = 2) of CPA. These findings may assist researchers conducting and interpreting studies of CPA.

Dysphagia risk, low muscle strength and poor cognition predict malnutrition risk in older adults athospital admission.

PubMed

Chatindiara, Idah; Allen, Jacqueline; Popman, Amy; Patel, Darshan; Richter, Marilize; Kruger, Marlena; Wham, Carol

2018-03-21

Malnutrition in patients admitted to hospital may have detrimental effects on recovery and healing. Malnutrition is preceded by a state of malnutrition risk, yet malnutrition risk is often not detected during admission. The aim of the current study was to investigate the magnitude and potential predictors of malnutrition risk in older adults, at hospital admission. A cross-sectional was study conducted in 234 older adults (age ≥ 65 or ≥ 55 for Māori or Pacific ethnicity) at admission to hospital in Auckland, New Zealand. Assessment of malnutrition risk status was performed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form (MNA®-SF), dysphagia risk by the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10), muscle strength by hand grip strength and cognitive status by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) tool. Among 234 participants, mean age 83.6 ± 7.6 years, 46.6% were identified as at malnutrition risk and 26.9% malnourished. After adjusting for age, gender and ethnicity, the study identified [prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval)] high dysphagia risk [EAT-10 score: 0.98 (0.97-0.99)], low body mass index [kg/m 2 : 1.02 (1.02-1.03)], low muscle strength [hand grip strength, kg: 1.01 (1.00-1.02)] and decline in cognition [MoCA score: 1.01 (1.00-1.02)] as significant predictors of malnutrition risk in older adults at hospital admission. Among older adults recently admitted to the hospital, almost three-quarters were malnourished or at malnutrition risk. As the majority (88%) of participants were admitted from the community, this illustrates the need for routine nutrition screening both at hospital admission and in community-dwelling older adults. Factors such as dysphagia, unintentional weight loss, decline in muscle strength, and poor cognition may indicate increased risk of malnutrition.

Clustering of Risk Behaviours among African American Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baruth, M.; Addy, C. L.; Wilcox, S.; Dowda, M.

2012-01-01

Objectives: Individuals may engage in more than one risk behaviour at any given time. The extent to which risk behaviours cluster among African American adults has been largely unexplored. This study examined the prevalence and clustering of three risk behaviours among African American church members: smoking; low moderate-to-vigorous intensity…

YOUNG ADULT DATING RELATIONSHIPS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF SEXUAL RISK

PubMed Central

Manning, Wendy D.; Giordano, Peggy C.; Longmore, Monica A.; Flanigan, Christine M.

2012-01-01

Young adult involvement in sexual behavior typically occurs within a relationship context, but we know little about the ways in which specific features of romantic relationships influence sexual decision-making. Prior work on sexual risk taking focuses attention on health issues rather than relationship dynamics. We draw on data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) (n = 475) to examine the association between qualities and dynamics of current/most recent romantic relationships such as communication and emotional processes, conflict, demographic asymmetries, and duration and the management of sexual risk. We conceptualize ‘risk management’ as encompassing multiple domains, including (1) questioning the partner about previous sexual behaviors/risks, (2) using condoms consistently, and (3) maintaining sexual exclusivity within the relationship. We identify distinct patterns of risk management among dating young adults and find that specific qualities and dynamics of these relationships are linked to variations in risk management. Results from this paper suggest the need to consider relational dynamics in efforts to target and influence young adult sexual risk-taking and reduce STIs, including HIV. PMID:23805015

YOUNG ADULT DATING RELATIONSHIPS AND THE MANAGEMENT OF SEXUAL RISK.

PubMed

Manning, Wendy D; Giordano, Peggy C; Longmore, Monica A; Flanigan, Christine M

2012-04-01

Young adult involvement in sexual behavior typically occurs within a relationship context, but we know little about the ways in which specific features of romantic relationships influence sexual decision-making. Prior work on sexual risk taking focuses attention on health issues rather than relationship dynamics. We draw on data from the Toledo Adolescent Relationships Study (TARS) (n = 475) to examine the association between qualities and dynamics of current/most recent romantic relationships such as communication and emotional processes, conflict, demographic asymmetries, and duration and the management of sexual risk. We conceptualize 'risk management' as encompassing multiple domains, including (1) questioning the partner about previous sexual behaviors/risks, (2) using condoms consistently, and (3) maintaining sexual exclusivity within the relationship. We identify distinct patterns of risk management among dating young adults and find that specific qualities and dynamics of these relationships are linked to variations in risk management. Results from this paper suggest the need to consider relational dynamics in efforts to target and influence young adult sexual risk-taking and reduce STIs, including HIV.

Neurological Gait Abnormalities And Risk Of Falls In Older Adults

PubMed Central

Verghese, Joe; Ambrose, Anne F; Lipton, Richard B; Wang, Cuiling

2009-01-01

Objective To estimate the validity of neurological gait evaluations in predicting falls in older adults. Methods We studied 632 adults age 70 and over (mean age 80.6 years, 62% women) enrolled in the Einstein Aging Study whose walking patterns were evaluated by study clinicians using a clinical gait rating scale. Association of neurological gaits and six subtypes (hemiparetic, frontal, Parkinsonian, unsteady, neuropathic, and spastic) with incident falls was studied using generalized estimation equation procedures adjusted for potential confounders, and reported as risk ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results Over a mean follow-up of 21 months, 244 (39%) subjects fell. Mean fall rate was 0.47 falls per person year. At baseline, 120 subjects were diagnosed with neurological gaits. Subjects with neurological gaits were at increased risk of falls (risk ratio 1.49, 95% CI 1.11 – 2.00). Unsteady (risk ratio 1.52, 95% CI 1.04 – 2.22), and neuropathic gait (risk ratio 1.94, 95% CI 1.07 – 3.11) were the two gait subtypes that predicted risk of falls. The results remained significant after accounting for disability and cognitive status, and also with injurious falls as the outcome. Conclusions Neurological gaits and subtypes are independent predictors of falls in older adults. Neurological gait assessments will help clinicians identify and institute preventive measures in older adults at high risk for falls. PMID:19784714

Pathways from childhood abuse and other adversities to adult health risks: The role of adult socioeconomic conditions.

PubMed

Font, Sarah A; Maguire-Jack, Kathryn

2016-01-01

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), including child abuse, have been linked with poor health outcomes in adulthood. The mechanisms that explain these relations are less understood. This study assesses whether associations of ACEs and health risks are mediated by adult socioeconomic conditions, and whether these pathways are different for maltreatment than for other types of adversities. Using the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System 2012 survey (N=29,229), we employ structural equation modeling to (1) estimate associations of the number and type of ACEs with five health risks-depression, obesity, tobacco use, binge drinking, and self-reported sub-optimal health; and (2) assess whether adult socioeconomic conditions-marriage, divorce and separation, educational attainment, income and insurance status-mediate those associations. Findings suggest both direct and indirect associations between ACEs and health risks. At high numbers of ACEs, 15-20% of the association between number of ACEs and adult health risks was attributable to socioeconomic conditions. Associations of three ACEs (exposure to domestic violence, parental divorce, and residing with a person who was incarcerated) with health risks were nearly entirely explained by socioeconomic conditions in adulthood. However, child physical, emotional, and sexual abuse were significantly associated with several adult health risks, beyond the effects of other adversities, and socioeconomic conditions explained only a small portion of these associations. These findings suggest that the pathways to poor adult health differ by types of ACEs, and that childhood abuse is more likely than other adversities to have a direct impact. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Long-term correlates of childhood abuse among adults with severe mental illness: adult victimization, substance abuse, and HIV sexual risk behavior.

PubMed

Meade, Christina S; Kershaw, Trace S; Hansen, Nathan B; Sikkema, Kathleen J

2009-04-01

The prevalence of childhood sexual and physical abuse among persons with severe mental illness (SMI) is disproportionately high. Adults with SMI also engage in high rates of HIV risk behaviors. This study examined the association between childhood abuse and adult victimization, substance abuse, and lifetime HIV sexual risk in a sample of 152 adults with SMI receiving community mental health services. Structured interviews assessed psychiatric, psychosocial, and behavioral risk factors. Seventy percent reported childhood physical and/or sexual abuse, and 32% reported both types of abuse. Participants with childhood abuse were more likely to report adult victimization and greater HIV risk. A structural equation model found that childhood abuse was directly and indirectly associated with HIV risk through drug abuse and adult vicitimization. Integrated treatment approaches that address interpersonal violence and substance abuse may be necessary for HIV risk reduction in this population.

Establishment and application of cross-priming isothermal amplification coupled with lateral flow dipstick (CPA-LFD) for rapid and specific detection of red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus.

PubMed

Su, Zi Dan; Shi, Cheng Yin; Huang, Jie; Shen, Gui Ming; Li, Jin; Wang, Sheng Qiang; Fan, Chao

2015-09-26

Red-spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) is an important pathogen that causes diseases in many species of fish in marine aquaculture. The larvae and juveniles are more easily infected by RGNNV and the cumulative mortality is as high as 100 % after being infected with RGNNV. This virus imposes a serious threat to aquaculture of grouper fry. This study aimed to establish a simple, accurate and highly sensitive method for rapid detection of RGNNV on the spot. In this study, the primers specifically targeting RGNNV were designed and cross-priming isothermal amplification (CPA) system was established. The product amplified by CPA was detected through visualization with lateral flow dipstick (LFD). Three important parameters, including the amplification temperature, the concentration of dNTPs and the concentration of Mg(2+) for the CPA system, were optimized. The sensitivity and specificity of this method for RGNNV were tested and compared with those of the conventional RT-PCR and real-time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). The optimized conditions for the CPA amplification system were determined as follows: the optimal amplification temperature, the optimized concentration of dNTPs and the concentration for Mg(2+) were 69 °C, 1.2 mmol/L and 5 mmol/L, respectively. The lowest limit of detection (LLOD) of this method for RGNNV was 10(1) copies/μL of RNA sample, which was 10 times lower than that of conventional RT-PCR and comparable to that of RT-qPCR. This method was specific for RGNNV in combination with SJNNV and had no cross-reactions with 8 types of virus and bacterial strains tested. This method was successfully applied to detect RGNNV in fish samples. This study established a CPA-LFD method for detection of RGNNV. This method is simple and rapid with high sensitivity and good specificity and can be widely applied for rapid detection of this virus on the spot.

Predicting Long-Term Outcomes for Women Physically Abused in Childhood: Contribution of Abuse Severity versus Family Environment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffin, Margaret L.; Amodeo, Maryann

2010-01-01

Objective: Child physical abuse (CPA) has been associated with adverse adult psychosocial outcomes, although some reports describe minimal long-term effects. The search for the explanation for heterogeneous outcomes in women with CPA has led to an examination of a range of CPA-related factors, from the severity of CPA incidents to the childhood…

Childhood Sexual and Physical Abuse and Adult Vulnerability to PTSD: The Mediating Effects of Attachment and Dissociation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Twaite, James A.; Rodriguez-Srednicki, Ofelia

2004-01-01

Two hundred and eighty-four adults from the metropolitan New York area reported on their history of childhood sexual abuse (CSA), childhood physical abuse (CPA), and on the nature of their exposure to the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. The respondents also completed the Impact of Events Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Attachment Style…

Candida sake CPA-1 and other biologically based products as potential control strategies to reduce sour rot of grapes.

PubMed

Calvo-Garrido, C; Viñas, I; Elmer, P; Usall, J; Teixidó, N

2013-10-01

Sour rot of grapes is becoming increasingly important disease in many wine-growing regions, while consistent chemical or biological control has not been reported. Authors evaluated relative incidence and severity of sour rot in untreated grapevines and the effect of different biologically based treatments on sour rot at harvest. Applications of Candida sake CPA-1 plus Fungicover® , Ulocladium oudemansii and chitosan were carried out in an organic vineyard in Lleida area, Spain, during the 2009 and 2010 growing seasons. At harvest, incidence and severity of sour rot were assessed. Significantly higher incidence and severity of sour rot were observed in untreated plots in 2009, when meteorological conditions after veraison were warmer. All treatments including C. sake CPA-1 significantly reduced (P < 0·05) severity of sour rot in both seasons, ranging from 40 to 67% compared with the untreated control. Incidence of sour rot was not significantly reduced by any treatment. This study helps to characterize development of sour rot in the dry Mediterranean climate conditions of the experiment, whereas also represents the first report of biological control of sour rot. Treatments with the tested biologically based products are a promising strategy to control sour rot. Studies on sour rot of grapes are scarce in literature, and this is the first work specifically evaluating sour rot in Spanish vineyards. Sour rot control in field conditions through applications of antagonistic micro-organisms is reported for first time in this study, showing elevated severity reductions (40-67% compared with control). As there are no options available for sour rot control in vineyards, results point Candida sake CPA-1 as an interesting control strategy against grape bunch rots. © 2013 The Society for Applied Microbiology.

Childhood Risk Factors in Dually Diagnosed Homeless Adults.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Blankertz, Laura E.; And Others

1993-01-01

Examined prevalence of five childhood risk factors (sexual abuse, physical abuse, parental mental illness, substance abuse, out-of-home placement) among dually diagnosed (mentally ill and substance abusing) homeless adults (n=156) in rehabilitation programs. Findings suggest that childhood risk factors, whether single or multiple, are very…

Adapting Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults at Risk for Suicide

PubMed Central

Heisel, Marnin J.; Talbot, Nancy L.; King, Deborah A.; Tu, Xin M.; Duberstein, Paul R.

2014-01-01

Objective To pilot a psychological intervention adapted for older adults at-risk for suicide. Design A focused, uncontrolled, pre-to-post-treatment psychotherapy trial. All eligible participants were offered the study intervention. Setting Outpatient mental healthcare provided in the psychiatry department of an academic medical center in a mid-sized Canadian city. Participants Seventeen English-speaking adults 60 years or older, at- risk for suicide by virtue of current suicide ideation, death ideation, and/or recent self-injury. Intervention A 16-session course of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) adapted for older adults at-risk for suicide who were receiving medication and/or other standard psychiatric treatment for underlying mood disorders. Measurements Participants completed a demographics form, screens for cognitive impairment and alcohol misuse, a semi-structured diagnostic interview, and measures of primary (suicide ideation and death ideation), and secondary study outcomes (depressive symptom severity; social adjustment and support; psychological well-being), and psychotherapy process measures. Results Participants experienced significant reductions in suicide ideation, death ideation, and depressive symptom severity, and significant improvement in perceived meaning in life, social adjustment, perceived social support, and other psychological well-being variables. Conclusions Study participants experienced enhanced psychological well-being and reduced symptoms of depression and suicide ideation over the course of IPT adapted for older adults at-risk for suicide. Larger, controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the impact of this novel intervention and to test methods for translating and integrating focused interventions into standard clinical care with at-risk older adults. PMID:24840611

Adapting interpersonal psychotherapy for older adults at risk for suicide.

PubMed

Heisel, Marnin J; Talbot, Nancy L; King, Deborah A; Tu, Xin M; Duberstein, Paul R

2015-01-01

To pilot a psychological intervention adapted for older adults at risk for suicide. A focused, uncontrolled, pre-to-post-treatment psychotherapy trial. All eligible participants were offered the study intervention. Outpatient mental health care provided in the psychiatry department of an academic medical center in a mid-sized Canadian city. Seventeen English-speaking adults 60 years or older, at risk for suicide by virtue of current suicide ideation, death ideation, and/or recent self-injury. A 16-session course of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) adapted for older adults at risk for suicide who were receiving medication and/or other standard psychiatric treatment for underlying mood disorders. Participants completed a demographics form, screens for cognitive impairment and alcohol misuse, a semi-structured diagnostic interview, and measures of primary (suicide ideation and death ideation) and secondary study outcomes (depressive symptom severity, social adjustment and support, psychological well-being), and psychotherapy process measures. Participants experienced significant reductions in suicide ideation, death ideation, and depressive symptom severity, and significant improvement in perceived meaning in life, social adjustment, perceived social support, and other psychological well-being variables. Study participants experienced enhanced psychological well-being and reduced symptoms of depression and suicide ideation over the course of IPT adapted for older adults at risk for suicide. Larger, controlled trials are needed to further evaluate the impact of this novel intervention and to test methods for translating and integrating focused interventions into standard clinical care with at-risk older adults. Copyright © 2015 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Perceptions of risk among childhood and young adult cancer survivors who smoke.

PubMed

Ford, Jennifer S; Puleo, Elaine; Sprunck-Harrild, Kim; deMoor, Janet; Emmons, Karen M

2014-08-01

Despite the fact that childhood and young adult cancer survivors are at increased risk for chronic health problems as a result of their cancer treatment, many use tobacco, thereby increasing their risks. Perceptions of risk related to tobacco use can be targeted for interventions aimed at improving health behaviors for childhood, adolescent, and young adult cancer survivors. Understanding the covariates of perceptions of health risks among young adult survivors who smoke will help to determine targets for intervention. Three hundred seventy-four participants who were diagnosed with cancer prior to age 35, currently between 18 and 55 years of age, and current smokers were recruited as part of a larger smoking cessation study, Partnership for Health-2 (PFH-2). Data were collected by telephone survey. Overall, women had the highest perception of risk for serious health problems, a second cancer, and heart problems. Additionally, those participants who were dependent on nicotine endorsed that they were at higher risk of serious health problems and second cancers, but not heart problems. Finally, Hodgkin lymphoma survivors reported that they were at increased risk for second cancers and heart problems compared to their “healthy” peers. Young adult cancer survivors who smoke correctly perceived some of their increased health risks. Additional motivation and education is needed for those young adult cancer survivors who perceive their increased health risks yet continue to smoke. Further education is needed for young survivors so they have a fully appropriate sense of risk, especially as it relates to their tobacco use.

Childhood physical abuse, aggression, and suicide attempts among criminal offenders

PubMed Central

Swogger, Marc T.; You, Sungeun; Cashman-Brown, Sarah; Conner, Kenneth R.

2010-01-01

Childhood physical abuse (CPA) has numerous short and long-term negative effects. One of the most serious consequences of CPA is an increased risk for suicide attempts. Clarifying the mechanisms by which CPA increases risk for suicidal behavior may enhance preventative interventions. One potential mechanism is a tendency toward aggression. In a sample of 266 criminal offenders, ages 18–62, we examined the relationships among CPA, lifetime aggression, and suicide attempts and tested lifetime history of aggression as a mediator of the relationship between CPA and suicide attempts. Results indicated that CPA and aggression were associated with suicide attempts. Consistent with our hypothesis, lifetime aggression mediated the CPA-suicide attempt relationship. Findings suggest that aggression may be an important mediator of the relationship between CPA and suicide attempts among criminal offenders, and are consistent with the possibility that treating aggression may reduce risk for suicide attempts. PMID:20724000

Personality disorder traits, risk factors, and suicide ideation among older adults.

PubMed

Jahn, Danielle R; Poindexter, Erin K; Cukrowicz, Kelly C

2015-11-01

Personality disorder traits are relatively prevalent among older adults, and can be associated with complex and chronic difficulties, including suicide risk. However, there is a lack of research regarding personality disorders and suicide ideation in older adults. Depressive symptoms and hopelessness may be important to the relation between personality disorders and suicide risk. Additionally, variables from the interpersonal theory of suicide, perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, may be critical risk factors for suicide in this population. We hypothesized that perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness, theory-based variables, would act as parallel mediators of the relation between personality disorder traits and suicide ideation, whereas depressive symptoms and hopelessness would not. The hypothesis was tested in a sample of 143 older adults recruited from a primary care setting. Participants completed self-report questionnaires of personality traits, suicide ideation, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness. Findings from a non-parametric bootstrapping procedure indicated that perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and depressive symptoms mediated the relation between total personality disorder traits and suicide ideation. Hopelessness did not act as a mediator. These findings indicate that perceived burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness, and depressive symptoms are likely important risk factors for suicide ideation among older adults. Clinicians should be aware of these issues when assessing and treating suicide risk among older adults.

Influence of Child and Adult Elevated Blood Pressure on Adult Arterial Stiffness: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

PubMed

Aatola, Heikki; Koivistoinen, Teemu; Tuominen, Heikki; Juonala, Markus; Lehtimäki, Terho; Viikari, Jorma S A; Raitakari, Olli T; Kähönen, Mika; Hutri-Kähönen, Nina

2017-09-01

Elevated blood pressure (BP) in childhood has been associated with increased adult arterial stiffness, the independent predictor of cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. The favorable BP change from childhood to adulthood and the risk of high adult arterial stiffness has not been reported. We examined the effect of child and adult BP on pulse wave velocity (PWV) assessed in adulthood among 1540 white adults followed-up for 27 years since baseline (1980, aged 6-18 years). Childhood elevated BP was defined according to the tables from the National High Blood Pressure Education Program. In adulthood, BP was classified as elevated if systolic BP ≥120 mm Hg, diastolic BP ≥80 mm Hg, or self-reported use of antihypertensive medications. PWV was measured in 2007 by whole-body impedance cardiography, and high PWV was defined as values at or above the age-, sex-, and heart rate-specific 80th percentile. Individuals with persistently elevated BP and individuals with normal child but elevated adult BP had increased risk of high adult PWV (relative risk [95% confidence interval], 3.18 [2.22-4.55] and 2.64 [1.79-3.88], respectively) in comparison with individuals with normal (both child and adult) BP. In contrast, individuals with elevated BP in childhood but not in adulthood did not have significantly increased risk of high PWV (relative risk [95% confidence interval], 1.26[0.80-1.99]). The results were consistent when different definitions for child and adult elevated BP were applied. These findings highlight the importance of BP control in the primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Behavioral and neural correlates of loss aversion and risk avoidance in adolescents and adults.

PubMed

Barkley-Levenson, Emily E; Van Leijenhorst, Linda; Galván, Adriana

2013-01-01

Individuals are frequently faced with risky decisions involving the potential for both gain and loss. Exploring the role of both potential gains and potential losses in predicting risk taking is critical to understanding how adolescents and adults make the choice to engage in or avoid a real-life risk. This study aimed to examine the impact of potential losses as well as gains on adolescent decisions during risky choice in a laboratory task. Adolescent (n=18) and adult (n=16) participants underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a mixed gambles task, and completed questionnaires measuring real-world risk-taking behaviors. While potential loss had a significantly greater effect on choice than potential gain in both adolescents and adults and there were no behavioral group differences on the task, adolescents recruited significantly more frontostriatal circuitry than adults when choosing to reject a gamble. During risk-seeking behavior, adolescent activation in medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) was negatively correlated with self-reported likelihood of risk taking. During risk-avoidant behavior, mPFC activation of in adults was negatively correlated with self-reported benefits of risk-taking. Taken together, these findings reflect different neural patterns during risk-taking and risk-avoidant behaviors in adolescents and adults. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Examining Fall Recurrence Risk of Homebound Hispanic Older Adults Receiving Home Care Services.

PubMed

Solis, Guillermina R; Champion, Jane Dimmitt

2017-03-01

Unintentional falls and injuries is a major problem among older adults and the fourth cause of death in the United States. A previous fall event doubles the risk of recurrence and lessens the person's quality of life. Hispanic older adults have higher rates of disability and lower independent functioning due to poor medical health and risk for fall recurrence. Most fall studies focus on fall risk with few studies on fall recurrence in older adults receiving home health care services unrelated to fall incident. A descriptive pilot study of 30 homebound Hispanic older adults receiving home care services who reported a fall within 3 months was conducted by a multidisciplinary team to evaluate risk of fall recurrence. A heightened risk for fall recurrence was identified with high number of chronic illnesses, high intake of medications, vision problems, and prevalence of urinary incontinence. Findings highlight significant number of intrinsic factors for fall risk recurrence and injuries in a Hispanic older adults population that is homebound and receiving home care services. A multidisciplinary evaluation and culturally appropriate interventions to lessen the risk of fall recurrence are recommended.

MAOA alters the effects of heavy drinking and childhood physical abuse on risk for severe impulsive acts of violence among alcoholic violent offenders.

PubMed

Tikkanen, Roope; Ducci, Francesca; Goldman, David; Holi, Matti; Lindberg, Nina; Tiihonen, Jari; Virkkunen, Matti

2010-05-01

A polymorphism in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) has been shown to alter the effect of persistent drinking and childhood maltreatment on the risk for violent and antisocial behaviors. These findings indicate that MAOA could contribute to inter-individual differences in stress resiliency. Recidivism in severe violent crimes was assessed after 8 years of nonincarcerated follow-up in a male sample of 174 impulsive Finnish alcoholic violent offenders, the majority of whom exhibited antisocial (ASPD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD) or both. We examined whether MAOA genotype alters the effects of heavy drinking and childhood physical abuse (CPA) on the risk for committing impulsive recidivistic violent crimes. Logistic regression analyses showed that both heavy drinking and CPA were significant independent predictors of recidivism in violent behavior (OR 5.2, p = 0.004 and OR 5.3, p = 0.003) among offenders having the high MAOA activity genotype (MAOA-H), but these predictors showed no effect among offenders carrying the low MAOA activity genotype (MAOA-L). Carriers of the MAOA-H allele have a high risk to commit severe recidivistic impulsive violent crimes after exposure to heavy drinking and CPA.

[An experimental study on the Chinese lung adenocarcinoma cell clone CPA-Yang1-BR with brain metastasis potency in nude mice and in vivo imaging research].

PubMed

Lei, Bei; Cao, Jie; Shen, Jie; Zhao, Lanxiang; Liang, Sheng; Meng, Qinggang; Xie, Wenhui; Yang, Shunfang

2013-08-20

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in men and women. It is also the most common cause of brain metastases. A brain metastasis model is difficult to be established because of the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the lack of optimal methods for detecting brain metastasis in nude mice. Thus, the establishment of a Chinese lung adenocarcinoma cell line and its animal model with brain metastasis potency and in vivo research is of great significance. CPA-Yang1 cells were obtained from a patient with human lung adenocarcinoma by lentiviral vector-mediated transfection of green fluorescence protein. Intracardiac inoculation of the cells was performed in nude mice, and brain metastatic lesions were detected using micro ¹⁸F FDG-PET/CT scanners, small animal in vivo imaging system for fluorescence, radionuclide and X ray fused imaging, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with sense body detection, and resection. The samples were divided into two parts for cell culture and histological diagnosis. The process was repeated in vivo and in vitro for four cycles to obtain a novel cell clone, CPA-Yang1-BR. A novel cell clone, CPA-Yang1-BR, was obtained with a brain metastatic rate of 50%. The use of MRI for the detection of brain metastases has obvious advantages. An experimental Chinese lung adenocarcinoma cell clone (CPA-Yang1-BR) and its animal model with brain metastasis potency in nude mice were established. MRI with sense body or micro MRI may be used as a sensitive, accurate, and noninvasive method to detect experimental brain metastases in intact live immunodeficient mice. The results of this study may serve as a technical platform for brain metastases from lung adenocarcinoma.

Expected value information improves financial risk taking across the adult life span.

PubMed

Samanez-Larkin, Gregory R; Wagner, Anthony D; Knutson, Brian

2011-04-01

When making decisions, individuals must often compensate for cognitive limitations, particularly in the face of advanced age. Recent findings suggest that age-related variability in striatal activity may increase financial risk-taking mistakes in older adults. In two studies, we sought to further characterize neural contributions to optimal financial risk taking and to determine whether decision aids could improve financial risk taking. In Study 1, neuroimaging analyses revealed that individuals whose mesolimbic activation correlated with the expected value estimates of a rational actor made more optimal financial decisions. In Study 2, presentation of expected value information improved decision making in both younger and older adults, but the addition of a distracting secondary task had little impact on decision quality. Remarkably, provision of expected value information improved the performance of older adults to match that of younger adults at baseline. These findings are consistent with the notion that mesolimbic circuits play a critical role in optimal choice, and imply that providing simplified information about expected value may improve financial risk taking across the adult life span.

Suicide Risks among Adolescents and Young Adults in Rural China

PubMed Central

Zhao, Sibo; Zhang, Jie

2014-01-01

Background: In China, suicide is one of the major causes of death among adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 34 years. Aim: The current study examines how risk factors vary by age groups in rural China, referring to those aged 15 to 24 years and those aged 25 to 34 years. Method: A case-control psychological autopsy (PA) study is conducted in sixteen counties from three Chinese provinces, including 392 suicide cases and 416 community living controls in the sample. Results: In China, young adults aged 25 to 34 years have a higher risk for suicide than adolescents aged 15 to 24 years, and it holds true even controlling for relevant social factors. In addition, age-related factors such as education, marital status, whether having children, status in the family, physical health, and personal income all have varying degrees of impact on suicide risks for rural youth. Conclusions: This study shows that there are some age-related risk factors for suicide at certain life stages and emphasizes that young adults in rural China aged 25 to 34 years have an increased risk of suicide as a result of experiencing more psychological strains with age. PMID:25546276

Childhood physical abuse, aggression, and suicide attempts among criminal offenders.

PubMed

Swogger, Marc T; You, Sungeun; Cashman-Brown, Sarah; Conner, Kenneth R

2011-02-28

Childhood physical abuse (CPA) has numerous short and long-term negative effects. One of the most serious consequences of CPA is an increased risk for suicide attempts. Clarifying the mechanisms by which CPA increases risk for suicidal behavior may enhance preventive interventions. One potential mechanism is a tendency toward aggression. In a sample of 266 criminal offenders, ages 18-62, we examined the relationships among CPA, lifetime aggression, and suicide attempts and tested lifetime history of aggression as a mediator of the relationship between CPA and suicide attempts. Results indicated that CPA and aggression were associated with suicide attempts. Consistent with our hypothesis, lifetime aggression mediated the CPA and suicide attempts relationship. Findings suggest that aggression may be an important mediator of the relationship between CPA and suicide attempts among criminal offenders, and are consistent with the possibility that treating aggression may reduce risk for suicide attempts. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

[Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiometabolic risk in young adults].

PubMed

Secchi, Jeremías D; García, Gastón C

2013-01-01

The assessment of VO₂max allow classify subjects according to the health risk. However the factors that may affect the classifications have been little studied. The main purpose was to determine whether the type of VO₂max prediction equation and the Fitnessgram criterion-referenced standards modified the proportion of young adults classified with a level of aerobic capacity cardiometabolic risk indicative. The study design was observational, cross-sectional and relational. Young adults (n= 240) participated voluntarily. The VO₂max was estimated by 20-m shuttle run test applying 9 predictive equations. The differences in the classifications were analyzed with the Cochran Q and McNemar tests. The level of aerobic capacity indicative of cardiometabolic risk ranged between 7.1% and 70.4% depending on the criterion-referenced standards and predictive equation used (p<0.001). A higher percentage of women were classified with an unhealthy level in all equations (women: 29.4% to 85.3% vs 4.8% to 51% in men), regardless of the criterion-referenced standards (p<0.001). Both sexes and irrespective of the equation applied the old criterion-referenced standards classified a lower proportion of subjects (men: 4.8% to 48.1% and women: 39.4% a 68.4%) with unhealthy aerobic capacity (p ≤ 0.004). The type of VO₂max prediction equation and Fitnessgram criterion-referenced standards changed classifications young adults with a level of aerobic capacity of cardiometabolic risk indicative.

Nutritional status and dysphagia risk among community-dwelling frail older adults.

PubMed

Takeuchi, K; Aida, J; Ito, K; Furuta, M; Yamashita, Y; Osaka, K

2014-04-01

Although the presence of dysphagia is a key determinant of nutritional status among older adults, few studies have focused on the association between malnutrition and dysphagia risk in community-dwelling frail older adults. This study estimated the prevalence of malnutrition and quantified the association between malnutrition and dysphagia risk among community-dwelling older Japanese adults requiring long-term care. Cross-sectional study. This study was conducted with the cooperation of the Japan Dental Association and local dental associations in all 47 prefectures from January to February 2012. Individuals aged ≥65 years capable of oral nutrient intake who were living at home and receiving home dental care and treatment. Individual demographic characteristics and factors associated with health loss-related functional decline were obtained through interviews by home-visit dentists and self-administered questionnaires. Nutritional status and dysphagia risk were evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short Form and the Dysphagia Risk Assessment for the Community-dwelling Elderly. Among 874 respondents (345 men and 529 women), 24.6% were malnourished, 67.4% were at risk of malnutrition, and 8.0% were well nourished. Dysphagia risk was related to an increased likelihood of malnutrition at an old age, even after adjusting for covariates (PR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.01-1.67). Malnutrition is highly prevalent among community-dwelling frail older adults, and dysphagia risk is independently associated with malnutrition. Dysphagia may be an important predictor of malnutrition progression in aged populations.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Internet Addiction Among Employed Adults in Japan

PubMed Central

Sugaya, Nagisa; Tsuboi, Satoshi; Takahashi, Kenzo

2018-01-01

Background The prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) among employed adults has not been reported using a large sample. To clarify the actual status of addictive Internet use among employed adults, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the risk factors of IA and at-risk IA among employed adults in Japan. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed all junior and senior high school personnel in Shimane Prefecture, a rural area in Japan. Eligible participants included 3,211 junior and senior high school personnel (1,259 men and 1,952 women). Participants completed a questionnaire on their activities and factors related to Internet use. Results The prevalence of IA and at-risk IA was 0.03% and 4.82%, respectively. Furthermore, game playing was shown to be the Internet activity most closely associated with at-risk IA. Conclusions This study showed that around 5% of school personnel in a rural area in Japan are at risk for developing addiction to the Internet and that using the Internet for game playing is related to at-risk IA. Our results suggest that employed adults should be instructed to use the Internet properly. PMID:29151474

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Internet Addiction Among Employed Adults in Japan.

PubMed

Tsumura, Hideki; Kanda, Hideyuki; Sugaya, Nagisa; Tsuboi, Satoshi; Takahashi, Kenzo

2018-04-05

The prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) among employed adults has not been reported using a large sample. To clarify the actual status of addictive Internet use among employed adults, this study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and the risk factors of IA and at-risk IA among employed adults in Japan. This cross-sectional study surveyed all junior and senior high school personnel in Shimane Prefecture, a rural area in Japan. Eligible participants included 3,211 junior and senior high school personnel (1,259 men and 1,952 women). Participants completed a questionnaire on their activities and factors related to Internet use. The prevalence of IA and at-risk IA was 0.03% and 4.82%, respectively. Furthermore, game playing was shown to be the Internet activity most closely associated with at-risk IA. This study showed that around 5% of school personnel in a rural area in Japan are at risk for developing addiction to the Internet and that using the Internet for game playing is related to at-risk IA. Our results suggest that employed adults should be instructed to use the Internet properly.

Religion, Alcohol Use and Risk Drinking Among Canadian Adults Living in Ontario.

PubMed

Tuck, Andrew; Robinson, Margaret; Agic, Branka; Ialomiteanu, Anca R; Mann, Robert E

2017-12-01

This research examines (1) the association between risk drinking and religious affiliation and (2) differences between religions for risk drinking among adults living in Ontario, Canada, for Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, other religious groups and the non-religious. Data are based on telephone interviews with 16,596 respondents and are derived from multiple cycles (2005-2011) of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's (CAMH) Monitor survey, an ongoing cross-sectional survey of adults in Ontario, Canada, aged 18 years and older. Data were analysed using bivariate cross-tabulations, Mann-Whitney U nonparametric test and logistic regression. Alcohol use and risk drinking occur among members of all religious groups; however, the rate of drinking ranges widely. Risk drinking is significantly associated with religion. When compared to the No religion/Atheist group, several religious groups (Baptist, Christian, Hindu, Jehovah's Witness, Jewish, Muslim/Islam, Non-denominational, Pentecostal, Sikh and Other religion) in our sample have significantly lower odds of risk drinking. Risk drinkers also attended significantly fewer services among several religions. Results suggest that there are differences in the risk drinking rates among Canadian adults, living in Ontario, by religion. It appears that religious traditions of prohibition and abstention do hold sway among Canadian adults for some religious groups.

Concordance of Motion Sensor and Clinician-Rated Fall Risk Scores in Older Adults.

PubMed

Elledge, Julie

2017-12-01

As the older adult population in the United States continues to grow, developing reliable, valid, and practical methods for identifying fall risk is a high priority. Falls are prevalent in older adults and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality rates and rising health costs. Identifying at-risk older adults and intervening in a timely manner can reduce falls. Conventional fall risk assessment tools require a health professional trained in the use of each tool for administration and interpretation. Motion sensor technology, which uses three-dimensional cameras to measure patient movements, is promising for assessing older adults' fall risk because it could eliminate or reduce the need for provider oversight. The purpose of this study was to assess the concordance of fall risk scores as measured by a motion sensor device, the OmniVR Virtual Rehabilitation System, with clinician-rated fall risk scores in older adult outpatients undergoing physical rehabilitation. Three standardized fall risk assessments were administered by the OmniVR and by a clinician. Validity of the OmniVR was assessed by measuring the concordance between the two assessment methods. Stability of the OmniVR fall risk ratings was assessed by measuring test-retest reliability. The OmniVR scores showed high concordance with the clinician-rated scores and high stability over time, demonstrating comparability with provider measurements.

Risk Factors Associated with Falls in Older Adults with Dementia: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Fernando, Eresha; Fraser, Michelle; Hendriksen, Jane; Kim, Corey H.

2017-01-01

Purpose: People with dementia fall more often than cognitively healthy older adults, but their risk factors are not well understood. A review is needed to determine a fall risk profile for this population. The objective was to critically evaluate the literature and identify the factors associated with fall risk in older adults with dementia. Methods: Articles published between January 1988 and October 2014 in EMBASE, PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched. Inclusion criteria were participants aged 55 years or older with dementia or cognitive impairment, prospective cohort design, detailed fall definition, falls as the primary outcome, and multi-variable regression analysis. Two authors independently reviewed and extracted data on study characteristics, quality assessment, and outcomes. Adjusted risk estimates were extracted from the articles. Results: A total of 17 studies met the inclusion criteria. Risk factors were categorized into demographic, balance, gait, vision, functional status, medications, psychosocial, severity of dementia, and other. Risk factors varied with living setting and were not consistent across all studies within a setting. Conclusion: Falls in older adults with dementia are associated with multiple intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors, some shared with older adults in general and others unique to the disease. Risk factors vary between community- and institution-dwelling samples of adults with dementia or cognitive impairment. PMID:28539696

[Sexually transmitted diseases and other risks in the adult film industry].

PubMed

Kluger, N

2014-02-01

The adult film industry nowadays represents a legal multi-billion dollar business. The main health risks of adult performers are well known. They mainly include the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, gonorrhoea, Chlamydia, herpes and papillomavirus. However, despite regular follow-up, the frequency of STD remains significant in this high-risk population since a large part of the industry continues to reject systematic use of condoms. Besides, performers are also exposed to other physical and mental health issues often not known to the public. This article provides a comprehensive review of what is known about STD and other risks among the community of performers in the adult film industry. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

Effect of Pseudomonas graminis strain CPA-7 on the ability of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica to colonize Caco-2 cells after pre-incubation on fresh-cut pear.

PubMed

Collazo, Cyrelys; Abadías, Maribel; Colás-Medà, Pilar; Iglesias, María Belén; Granado-Serrano, Ana Belén; Serrano, José; Viñas, Inmaculada

2017-12-04

To further gain insight into the mechanism by which the biopreservative bacterium Pseudomonas graminis CPA-7 develops its antimicrobial activity, we have examined the effect that the prior interaction stablished by this bacterium and two foodborne pathogens on fresh-cut pear, has on their capacity to colonize human epithelial cells (Caco-2 cell line) which is crucial for establishing infection. CPA-7 inhibited the growth of L. monocytogenes and S. enterica subsp. enterica ser. Enteritidis by 5.5 and 3.1 log 10 , respectively, after 7d of interaction at 10°C. Furthermore, CPA-7 attenuated the adherence of S. enterica to Caco-2 cells by 0.8 log 10 regardless of the pre-adaptation on the fruit. Conversely, the adhesiveness of L. monocytogenes was not influenced by the interaction with the antagonist but it was reduced by 0.5 log 10 after incubation on the food matrix. Pathogen-antagonist-food matrix interaction was associated to a significant reduction of the relative invasiveness of both pathogens, by 1.3 log 10 in the case of L. monocytogenes and to an undetectable level (below 5CFU/g fruit) for S. enterica. CPA-7 can adhere to and internalize into intestinal epithelium which enables it for competition. Its adherence positively correlates to the multiplicity of infection (MOI) with respect to Caco-2 cells, increasing by 0.6 log 10 in an MOI range of 0.1:1 to 100:1. For the same levels of inoculum, internalized cells could only be detected after 7d of pre-adaptation in the fruit (pH4.5-5.0). However, the combination of gastrointestinal digestion and habituation on the fruit resulted in a significant reduction of CPA-7 populations (by 2 log 10 more after 7d of incubation than on inoculation day) as well as in the decrease of its adhesiveness (by 0.8 log 10 ) and invasiveness (to undetectable levels). Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[Subtemporal approach according to house versus Wigand in intrameatal CPA tumors type A].

PubMed

Schipper, J; Maier, W; Laszig, R

2004-10-01

The subtemporal approach is indicated in intrameatal CPA tumors type A in order to preserve hearing. The exploration of the inner auditory canal for tumor exposure varies. It reaches from a locally limited uncovering of the bony inner auditory canal to a complete removal of the surrounding bony bed with the circular skeletization (360 degrees ) according to Wigand of the 7 (th) and 8 (th) nerve. Concerning the preservation of the function of the cranial nerve as well as an avoidable hyperelevation of the temporal cerebral lobe with a possible consecutive organic brain syndrome, both approaches have often been discussed controversially. In a quality assurance analysis, we examined patients suffering from a unilateral, intrameatally limited CPA tumor type A in tumor stages 1 to 5. The functions of the 7 (th) and 8 (th) cranial nerves were assessed according to the consensus conference "Systems for reporting results in acoustic neuroma", Tokyo, November 2001, under consideration of the recommendations of the "American Academy of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery -- Committee on hearing and equilibrium guidelines for the evaluation of hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma", 1995, as well as indications for a possible organic brain syndrome. The results then were compared to current literature. 37 patients with an intrameatal confined CPA tumor after subtemporal tumor exstirpation were evaluated. In these patients, the inner auditory canal was only exposed in the area of the bony tectum (90 degrees - 120 degrees ) adjusted to the volume of the tumor, as described by House: 1 patient with tumor stage 1, 2 patients stage 2, 12 patients stage 3, 16 patients stage 4 and 6 patients with a tumor stage 5. The N. VII was anatomically preserved in 100 %. Immediately after surgery the function of N. VII was assessed in 32 % of the cases as stage I, 43 % stage II, 3 % stage IIIa, 14 % stage IIIb, 3 % stage IV, 0 % stage V, 5 % stage VI. All patients in stage VI had a

Risk perceptions and behavioral intentions for Hepatitis B: how do young adults fare?

PubMed

Gonzales, Rm; Glik, Dc; Prelip, M; Bourque, L; Yuen, J; Ang, A; Jones, Mc

2006-10-01

Young adults are at risk for Hepatitis B infection. Little is known about their attitudes and beliefs concerning Hepatitis B, which are determinants of getting immunized. This investigation examined risk perceptions and behavioral intentions concerning Hepatitis B among a convenience sample of 1070 young adults, 18-24 years old who participated in a Hepatitis B campaign that aired a prevention-based advertisement in movies. The campaign did not produce any significant effects. Therefore, analyses presented in this paper explored whether risk perceptions and intentions vary by sociodemographic characteristics. Most young adults do not perceive themselves to be at risk for Hepatitis B, but perceive other people to be at risk. Gender and ethnic differences in behavioral intentions to seek out Hepatitis B information were also observed. This study offers insight about important factors to consider when designing Hepatitis B prevention interventions for young adults and suggests that increasing health-promotion efforts for this group, while accounting for differences in age, culture and gender, are warranted.

Characterisation of fatigue and its substantial impact on health status in a large cohort of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA).

PubMed

Al-Shair, Khaled; Muldoon, Eavan G; Morris, Julie; Atherton, Graham T; Kosmidis, Chris; Denning, David W

2016-05-01

Fatigue is a prominent disabling symptom in several pulmonary diseases. Its impact on health status in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) has not been investigated. A total of 151 CPA patients attending the National Aspergillosis Centre completed Manchester COPD Fatigue Scale (MCFS), St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and Medical Research Council (MRC) dyspnoea score. Lung function and BMI were measured. Univariate, multivariate linear and binary analyses, and principal component analysis (PCA) were used. Female patients accounted for 44%. The mean (range) of age was 59.6 (31-83) years, FEV1% was 64 (14-140), BMI was 23.6 (16.3-43.4), SGRQ total score was 56 (4-96.2) and MCFS total score was 30.6 (0-54). PCA showed that 27 items of MCFS loaded on three components; physical, psychosocial and cognitive fatigue, explaining 78.4% of fatigue variance. MCFS score correlated strongly with total SGRQ score (r = 0.83, p < 0.001). Using linear multivariate analysis, fatigue was the strongest factor (beta = 0.7 p < 0.0001) associated with impaired health status, after adjusting for age, BMI, FEV1%, and MRC dyspnoea score. Using patients' 5 self-assessment grades of their health, one-way ANOVA showed that those with "very poor" health status had the highest fatigue scores (45 (±6) (p < 0.001)). Logistic regression analysis showed that fatigue score (OR = 0.9, 95% CI 0.84-0.97; p = 0.005) and FEV1% (OR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.07, p = 0.02) are significantly associated with self-assessed impaired health status after correcting for age, gender and DLCO%. Fatigue is a major component of impaired health status of CPA patients. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Calorie restriction in overweight older adults: Do benefits exceed potential risks?

PubMed

Locher, Julie L; Goldsby, TaShauna U; Goss, Amy M; Kilgore, Meredith L; Gower, Barbara; Ard, Jamy D

2016-12-15

The evidence regarding recommendations of calorie restriction as part of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention to promote weight loss in obese older adults has remained equivocal for more than a decade. The older adult population is the fastest growing segment of the US population and a greater proportion of them are entering old age obese. These older adults require treatments based on solid evidence. Therefore the purpose of this review is three-fold: 1) to provide a more current status of the knowledge regarding recommendations of calorie restriction as part of a comprehensive lifestyle intervention to promote weight loss in obese older adults, 2) to determine what benefits and/or risks calorie restriction adds to exercise interventions in obese older adults, and 3) to consider not only outcomes related to changes in body composition, bone health, cardiometabolic disease risk, markers of inflammation, and physical function, but, also patient-centered outcomes that evaluate changes in cognitive status, quality of life, out-of-pocket costs, and mortality. Seven randomized controlled trials were identified that examined calorie restriction while controlling for exercise intervention effects. Overall, the studies found that calorie restriction combined with exercise is effective for weight loss. Evidence was mixed regarding other outcomes. The risk-benefit ratio regarding calorie restriction in older adults remains uncertain. Greater long-term follow-up is necessary, and complementary effectiveness studies are needed to identify strategies currently used by obese older adults in community settings. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Localization of multiple defects using the compact phased array (CPA) method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Senyurek, Volkan Y.; Baghalian, Amin; Tashakori, Shervin; McDaniel, Dwayne; Tansel, Ibrahim N.

2018-01-01

Array systems of transducers have found numerous applications in detection and localization of defects in structural health monitoring (SHM) of plate-like structures. Different types of array configurations and analysis algorithms have been used to improve the process of localization of defects. For accurate and reliable monitoring of large structures by array systems, a high number of actuator and sensor elements are often required. In this study, a compact phased array system consisting of only three piezoelectric elements is used in conjunction with an updated total focusing method (TFM) for localization of single and multiple defects in an aluminum plate. The accuracy of the localization process was greatly improved by including wave propagation information in TFM. Results indicated that the proposed CPA approach can locate single and multiple defects with high accuracy while decreasing the processing costs and the number of required transducers. This method can be utilized in critical applications such as aerospace structures where the use of a large number of transducers is not desirable.

MAOA Alters the Effects of Heavy Drinking and Childhood Physical Abuse on Risk for Severe Impulsive Acts of Violence Among Alcoholic Violent Offenders

PubMed Central

Tikkanen, Roope; Ducci, Francesca; Goldman, David; Holi, Matti; Lindberg, Nina; Tiihonen, Jari; Virkkunen, Matti

2011-01-01

Background A polymorphism in the promoter region of the monoamine oxidase A gene (MAOA) has been shown to alter the effect of persistent drinking and childhood maltreatment on the risk for violent and antisocial behaviors. These findings indicate that MAOA could contribute to inter-individual differences in stress resiliency. Methods Recidivism in severe violent crimes was assessed after 8 years of nonincarcerated follow-up in a male sample of 174 impulsive Finnish alcoholic violent offenders, the majority of whom exhibited antisocial (ASPD) or borderline personality disorder (BPD) or both. We examined whether MAOA genotype alters the effects of heavy drinking and childhood physical abuse (CPA) on the risk for committing impulsive recidivistic violent crimes. Results Logistic regression analyses showed that both heavy drinking and CPA were significant independent predictors of recidivism in violent behavior (OR 5.2, p = 0.004 and OR 5.3, p = 0.003) among offenders having the high MAOA activity genotype (MAOA-H), but these predictors showed no effect among offenders carrying the low MAOA activity genotype (MAOA-L). Conclusion Carriers of the MAOA-H allele have a high risk to commit severe recidivistic impulsive violent crimes after exposure to heavy drinking and CPA. PMID:20201935

A measure of fall risk behaviors and perceptions among community-dwelling older adults.

PubMed

Yuen, Hon Keung; Carter, Rickey E

2006-01-01

Relatively little is known about the interaction between behavioral and environmental circumstances associated with falls among community-dwelling older adults. This study is designed to develop an instrument that measures community-dwelling older adults' participation in and perceptions of fall risk behaviors. Eighty-seven community-dwelling older adults aged 60 or above (mean +/- SD = 76 +/- 7.9), who had experienced at least one fall in the past 12 months, completed a questionnaire dealing with frequency of their participation in fall risk behaviors, their perceptions of these behaviors, and their fall history. Data were subjected to exploratory factor analysis. A 20-item instrument consisting of three constructs was presented as the Fall Risk Behaviors and Perceptions Scale (FRB&PS). Two of the three constructs of the instrument were de-stabilizers and non-supports, both of which measure participation in fall risk behaviors; the third was perceptions of fall risk behaviors. Internal consistency coefficient of the FRB&PS is 0.733 with a root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) score of 0.075, which indicates an adequate model fit. Results from the stepwise regression analyses indicated that adults aged 75 and above (the old-old) participated less frequently in fall risk activities (p = 0.025), and had more knowledge about fall risks as measured by a higher perception score (p = 0.025) than those aged 60 to 75 (the young-old). Older men tended to participate more frequently in fall risk activities (p = 0.020) than older women; in addition, those older adults who are more mobile (p = 0.002) also participated more frequently in fall risk behaviors than those who are less mobile. Preliminary findings indicate that the pilot FRB&PS is a reliable and valid instrument to measure community-dwelling older adults' participation in and perceptions of fall risk behaviors. Additional psychometric validation of the FRB&PS on predicting the likelihood of falls is

Fall-risk prediction in older adults with cancer: an unmet need.

PubMed

Wildes, Tanya M; Depp, Brittany; Colditz, Graham; Stark, Susan

2016-09-01

Falls in older adults with cancer are more common than in noncancer controls, yet no fall-risk screening tool has been validated in this population. We undertook a cross-sectional pilot study of the Falls Risk Questionnaire (FRQ) in 21 adults aged ≥65 receiving systemic cancer therapy. Participants completed the FRQ, geriatric assessment measures, and a measure of fear-of-falling. The recruitment rate was 87.5 %, with 95.2 % completion of the FRQ and additional geriatric assessment and quality of life measures. The FRQ correlated significantly with the Timed Up and Go test (Pearson r 0.479, p = 0.028). In addition, the FRQ score correlated directly with fear-of-falling and inversely with QOL, particularly physical health and neurotoxicity subscales. In conclusion, the FRQ was feasible in older adults receiving cancer therapy and correlates with measures of physical performance, functional status, and fear-of-falling. The FRQ may prove to be a valuable fall-risk screening tool to implement fall-prevention interventions in this vulnerable population of older adults with cancer.

Prediction of Adult Dyslipidemia Using Genetic and Childhood Clinical Risk Factors: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study.

PubMed

Nuotio, Joel; Pitkänen, Niina; Magnussen, Costan G; Buscot, Marie-Jeanne; Venäläinen, Mikko S; Elo, Laura L; Jokinen, Eero; Laitinen, Tomi; Taittonen, Leena; Hutri-Kähönen, Nina; Lyytikäinen, Leo-Pekka; Lehtimäki, Terho; Viikari, Jorma S; Juonala, Markus; Raitakari, Olli T

2017-06-01

Dyslipidemia is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We examined whether the addition of novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms for blood lipid levels enhances the prediction of adult dyslipidemia in comparison to childhood lipid measures. Two thousand four hundred and twenty-two participants of the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study who had participated in 2 surveys held during childhood (in 1980 when aged 3-18 years and in 1986) and at least once in a follow-up study in adulthood (2001, 2007, and 2011) were included. We examined whether inclusion of a lipid-specific weighted genetic risk score based on 58 single-nucleotide polymorphisms for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 71 single-nucleotide polymorphisms for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and 40 single-nucleotide polymorphisms for triglycerides improved the prediction of adult dyslipidemia compared with clinical childhood risk factors. Adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, physical activity, and smoking in childhood, childhood lipid levels, and weighted genetic risk scores were associated with an increased risk of adult dyslipidemia for all lipids. Risk assessment based on 2 childhood lipid measures and the lipid-specific weighted genetic risk scores improved the accuracy of predicting adult dyslipidemia compared with the approach using only childhood lipid measures for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.806 versus 0.811; P =0.01) and triglycerides (area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.740 versus area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve 0.758; P <0.01). The overall net reclassification improvement and integrated discrimination improvement were significant for all outcomes. The inclusion of weighted genetic risk scores to lipid-screening programs in childhood could modestly improve the identification of those at highest risk of dyslipidemia in adulthood. © 2017 American Heart

Risk factors for community-acquired pneumonia in adults in Europe: a literature review

PubMed Central

Torres, Antoni; Peetermans, Willy E; Viegi, Giovanni; Blasi, Francesco

2013-01-01

Background Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) causes considerable morbidity and mortality in adults, particularly in the elderly. Methods Structured searches of PubMed were conducted to identify up-to-date information on the incidence of CAP in adults in Europe, as well as data on lifestyle and medical risk factors for CAP. Results The overall annual incidence of CAP in adults ranged between 1.07 to 1.2 per 1000 person-years and 1.54 to 1.7 per 1000 population and increased with age (14 per 1000 person-years in adults aged ≥65 years). Incidence was also higher in men than in women and in patients with chronic respiratory disease or HIV infection. Lifestyle factors associated with an increased risk of CAP included smoking, alcohol abuse, being underweight, having regular contact with children and poor dental hygiene. The presence of comorbid conditions, including chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, dementia, dysphagia, HIV or chronic renal or liver disease all increased the risk of CAP by twofold to fourfold. Conclusion A range of lifestyle factors and underlying medical conditions are associated with an increased risk of CAP in European adults. Understanding of the types of individual at greatest risk of CAP can help to ensure that interventions to reduce the risk of infection and burden of disease are targeted appropriately. PMID:24130229

Psychosocial distress and stroke risk in older adults.

PubMed

Henderson, Kimberly M; Clark, Cari J; Lewis, Tené T; Aggarwal, Neelum T; Beck, Todd; Guo, Hongfei; Lunos, Scott; Brearley, Ann; Mendes de Leon, Carlos F; Evans, Denis A; Everson-Rose, Susan A

2013-02-01

To investigate the association of psychosocial distress with risk of stroke mortality and incident stroke in older adults. Data were from the Chicago Health and Aging Project, a longitudinal population-based study conducted in 3 contiguous neighborhoods on the south side of Chicago, IL. Participants were community-dwelling black and non-Hispanic white adults, aged 65 years and older (n=4120 for stroke mortality; n=2649 for incident stroke). Psychosocial distress was an analytically derived composite measure of depressive symptoms, perceived stress, neuroticism, and life dissatisfaction. Cox proportional hazards models examined the association of distress with stroke mortality and incident stroke over 6 years of follow-up. Stroke deaths (151) and 452 incident strokes were identified. Adjusting for age, race, and sex, the hazard ratio (HR) for each 1-SD increase in distress was 1.47 (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.28-1.70) for stroke mortality and 1.18 (95% CI=1.07-1.30) for incident stroke. Associations were reduced after adjustment for stroke risk factors and remained significant for stroke mortality (HR=1.29; 95% CI=1.10-1.52) but not for incident stroke (HR=1.09; 95% CI=0.98-1.21). Secondary analyses of stroke subtypes showed that distress was strongly related to incident hemorrhagic strokes (HR=1.70; 95% CI=1.28-2.25) but not ischemic strokes (HR=1.02; 95% CI=0.91-1.15) in fully adjusted models. Increasing levels of psychosocial distress are related to excess risk of both fatal and nonfatal stroke in older black and white adults. Additional research is needed to examine pathways linking psychosocial distress to cerebrovascular disease risk.

Disparities in Treatment of Older Adults with Suicide Risk in the Emergency Department.

PubMed

Arias, Sarah A; Boudreaux, Edwin D; Segal, Daniel L; Miller, Ivan; Camargo, Carlos A; Betz, Marian E

2017-10-01

We described characteristics and treatment received for older (≥60 years) vs younger (<60 years) adult emergency department (ED) patients with suicide risk. Retrospective chart review. An ED with universal screening for suicide risk. Eligible charts included a random sample of adults (≥18 years) who screened positive for suicidal ideation (SI) in past 2 weeks and/or a suicide attempt (SA) within the past 6 months. Visit dates were from May 2014 to September 2016. A total of 800 charts were reviewed, with oversampling of older adults. Of the 200 older adults sampled, fewer older adults compared to younger adults (n = 600) had a chief complaint involving psychiatric behavior (53% vs 70%) or self-harm behavior (26% vs 36%). Although a higher number of older adults (93%) had documentation of current SI compared to younger adults (79%), fewer older adults (17%) reported SA in the past 2 weeks compared to younger adults (23%). Of those with a positive suicide screen who were discharged home, less than half of older adults received a mental health evaluation during their visit (42%, 95% CI 34-52) compared to 66% (95% CI 61-70) of younger adults who met the same criteria. Similarly, fewer older, than younger, adult patients with current SI/SA received referral resources (34%; 95% CI 26-43; vs 60%; 95% CI 55-65). Significantly fewer suicidal older adult patients who were discharged home received a mental health evaluation when compared to similar younger adults. These findings highlight an important area for improvement in the treatment of older adults at risk for suicide. © 2017, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2017, The American Geriatrics Society.

Binding of pixantrone to DNA at CpA dinucleotide sequences and bulge structures.

PubMed

Konda, Shyam K; Wang, Haiqiang; Cutts, Suzanne M; Phillips, Don R; Collins, J Grant

2015-06-07

The binding of the anti-cancer drug pixantrone to three oligonucleotide sequences, d(TCATATGA)2, d(CCGAGAATTCCGG)2 {double bulge = DB} and the non-self complementary d(TACGATGAGTA) : d(TACCATCGTA) {single bulge = SB}, has been studied by NMR spectroscopy and molecular modelling. The upfield shifts observed for the aromatic resonances of pixantrone upon addition of the drug to each oligonucleotide confirmed the drug bound by intercalation. For the duplex sequence d(TCATATGA)2, NOEs were observed from the pixantrone aromatic H7/8 and aliphatic Ha/Hb protons to the H6/H8 and H1' protons of the C2, A3, T6 and G7 nucleotides, demonstrating that pixantrone preferentially binds at the symmetric CpA sites. However, weaker NOEs observed to various protons from the T4 and A5 residues indicated alternative minor binding sites. NOEs from the H7/H8 and Ha/Hb protons to both major (H6/H8) and minor groove (H1') protons indicated approximately equal proportions of intercalation was from the major and minor groove at the CpA sites. Intermolecular NOEs were observed between the H7/H8 and H4 protons of pixantrone and the A4H1' and G3H1' protons of the oligonucleotide that contains two symmetrically related bulge sites (DB), indicative of binding at the adenine bulge sites. For the oligonucleotide that only contains a single bulge site (SB), NOEs were observed from pixantrone protons to the SB G7H1', A8H1' and G9H1' protons, confirming that the drug bound selectively at the adenine bulge site. A molecular model of pixantrone-bound SB could be constructed with the drug bound from the minor groove at the A8pG9 site that was consistent with the observed NMR data. The results demonstrate that pixantrone preferentially intercalates at adenine bulge sites, compared to duplex DNA, and predominantly from the minor groove.

Cigarette pack design and perceptions of risk among UK adults and youth.

PubMed

Hammond, David; Dockrell, Martin; Arnott, Deborah; Lee, Alex; McNeill, Ann

2009-12-01

It is illegal in the EU for tobacco packaging to suggest that some cigarettes are safer than others. This study examined consumer perceptions of cigarette packs in the UK, including perceptions of 'plain packaging', in which colour and other design elements are removed, whilst retaining the brand name. 516 adult smokers and 806 youth aged 11-17 participated in an online survey. Participants were asked to compare pairs of cigarette packs on five measures: taste, tar delivery, health risk, attractiveness and either ease of quitting (adult smokers) or brand they would choose if trying smoking (youth). Adults and youth were significantly more likely to rate packs with the terms 'smooth', 'silver' and 'gold' as lower tar, lower health risk and either easier to quit smoking (adults) or their choice of pack if trying smoking (youth). For example, more than half of adults and youth reported that brands labelled as 'smooth' were less harmful compared with the 'regular' variety. The colour of packs was also associated with perceptions of risk and brand appeal: compared with Marlboro packs with a red logo, Marlboro packs with a gold logo were rated as lower health risk by 53% and easier to quit by 31% of adult smokers. Plain packs significantly reduced false beliefs about health risk and ease of quitting, and were rated as significantly less attractive and appealing to youth for trying smoking. Current regulations have failed to remove potentially misleading information from tobacco packaging. Removing colours from packs (plain packaging), as well as terms such as 'smooth' 'gold' and 'silver' would significantly reduce false beliefs and increase compliance with existing legislation.

Voluntary sway and rapid orthogonal transitions of voluntary sway in young adults, and low and high fall-risk older adults.

PubMed

Tucker, Murray G; Kavanagh, Justin J; Morrison, Steven; Barrett, Rod S

2009-10-01

Falls amongst older people have been linked to reduced postural stability and slowed movement responses. The objective of this study was to examine differences in postural stability and the speed of response between young adults, low fall-risk older adults, and high fall-risk older adults during voluntary postural sway movements. Twenty-five young adults (25+/-4 years), and 32 low fall-risk (74+/-5 years), and 16 high fall-risk (79+/-7 years) older adults performed voluntary sway and rapid orthogonal transitions of voluntary sway between the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. Measures included reaction and movement time and the amplitudes of the centre of pressure, centre of mass, and the separation distance between the centre of pressure and centre of mass. Both fall-risk groups compared to the young had slower reaction and movement time, greater centre of pressure and/or centre of mass amplitude in the orthogonal (non-target) direction during voluntary sway, and reduced anterior-posterior and medial-lateral separation between the centre of pressure and centre of mass during voluntary sway and orthogonal transitions. High compared to low fall-risk individuals had slower reaction and movement time, increased non-target centre of mass amplitude during voluntary sway, and reduced medial-lateral centre of pressure and centre of mass separation during voluntary sway and orthogonal transitions. Age-related deterioration of postural control resulted in slower reactive responses and reduced control of the direction of body movement during voluntary sway and orthogonal transitions. Slower postural reaction and movement time and reduced medial-lateral control of the centre of mass during voluntary sway movements are associated with increased fall-risk in community-living older people.

Metabolic Characteristics and Risks Associated with Stone Recurrence in Korean Young Adult Stone Patients.

PubMed

Kang, Ho Won; Seo, Sung Pil; Kim, Won Tae; Kim, Yong-June; Yun, Seok-Joong; Kim, Wun-Jae; Lee, Sang-Cheol

2017-08-01

The aim of this study was to assess the metabolic characteristics and risks of stone recurrence in young adult stone patients in Korea. The medical records of 1532 patients presenting with renal or ureteric stones at our stone clinic between 1994 and 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were grouped according to age (young adult, 18-29 years; intermediate onset, 30-59 years; old age, ≥60 years) at first presentation, and measurements of clinicometabolic characteristics and risks of stone recurrence were compared. Overall, excretion of urinary stone-forming substances was highest in the intermediate onset group, followed by the young adult and old age groups. Importantly, excretion of urinary citrate was lowest in the young adult group. Kaplan-Meier analyses identified a significant difference between the three age groups in terms of stone recurrence (log rank test, p < 0.001). Multivariate Cox regression analyses revealed that age at first stone presentation was an independent risk factor for stone recurrence. Urinary citrate excretion was an independent risk factor for stone recurrence in young adult stone patients. Younger age (18-29 years) at first stone presentation was a significant risk factor for stone recurrence, and urinary citrate excretion was an independent risk factor affecting recurrence in this group. Metabolic evaluation and potassium citrate therapy should be considered for young adult stone patients to prevent recurrence.

A systematic review of risk factors associated with accidental falls, outcome measures and interventions to manage fall risk in non-ambulatory adults.

PubMed

Rice, Laura A; Ousley, Cherita; Sosnoff, Jacob J

2015-01-01

To systematically review peer-reviewed literature pertaining to risk factors, outcome measures and interventions managing fall risk in non-ambulatory adults. Twenty-one papers were selected for inclusion from databases including PubMed/Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, Scopus, Consumer Health Complete and Web of Science. Selected studies involved a description of fall related risk factors, outcomes to assess fall risk and intervention studies describing protocols to manage fall risk in non-ambulatory adults. Studies were selected by two reviewers and consultation provided by a third reviewer. The most frequently cited risk factors/characteristics associated with falls included: wheelchair related characteristics, transfer activities, impaired seated balance and environmental factors. The majority of the outcomes were found to evaluate seated postural control. One intervention study was identified describing a protocol targeting specific problems of individual participants. A global fall prevention program was not identified. Several risk factors associated with falls were identified and must be understood by clinicians to better serve their clients. To improve objective assessment, a comprehensive outcome assessment specific to non-ambulatory adults is needed. Finally, additional research is needed to examine the impact of structured protocols to manage fall risk in non-ambulatory adults. Falls are a common health concern for non-ambulatory adults. Risk factors commonly associated with falls include wheelchair related characteristics, transfer activities, impaired seated balance and environmental factors. Limited outcome measures are available to assess fall risk in non-ambulatory adults. Clinicians must be aware of the known risk factors and provide comprehensive education to their clients on the potential for falls. Additional research is needed to develop and evaluate protocols to clinically manage fall

Femtosecond fiber CPA system based on picosecond master oscillator and power amplifier with CCC fiber.

PubMed

Želudevičius, J; Danilevičius, R; Viskontas, K; Rusteika, N; Regelskis, K

2013-03-11

Results of numerical and experimental investigations of the simple fiber CPA system seeded by nearly bandwidth-limited pulses from the picosecond oscillator are presented. We utilized self-phase modulation in a stretcher fiber to broaden the pulse spectrum and dispersion of the fiber to stretch pulses in time. During amplification in the ytterbium-doped CCC fiber, gain-shaping and self-phase modulation effects were observed, which improved pulse compression with a bulk diffraction grating compressor. After compression with spectral filtering, pulses with the duration of 400 fs and energy as high as 50 µJ were achieved, and the output beam quality was nearly diffraction-limited.

Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among Emerging Adults in College

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Abshire, Demetrius Alexander

2014-01-01

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine factors associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among emerging adults in college aged 18-25 years. CVD risks that develop during this period often persist into adulthood making it an ideal time to target CVD prevention. The specific aims of this dissertation were to 1) explore perceptions…

Cardiometabolic Risks and Severity of Obesity in Children and Young Adults.

PubMed

Skinner, Asheley C; Perrin, Eliana M; Moss, Leslie A; Skelton, Joseph A

2015-10-01

The prevalence of severe obesity among children and young adults has increased over the past decade. Although the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors is relatively low among children and young adults who are overweight or obese, those with more severe forms of obesity may be at greater risk. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from overweight or obese children and young adults 3 to 19 years of age who were included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 1999 through 2012 to assess the prevalence of multiple cardiometabolic risk factors according to the severity of obesity. Weight status was classified on the basis of measured height and weight. We used standard definitions of abnormal values for total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin, and fasting glucose and report the prevalence of abnormal values in children and young adults according to weight status. Among 8579 children and young adults with a body-mass index at the 85th percentile or higher (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts), 46.9% were overweight, 36.4% had class I obesity, 11.9% had class II obesity, and 4.8% had class III obesity. Mean values for some, but not all, cardiometabolic variables were higher with greater severity of obesity in both male and female participants, and the values were higher in male participants than in female participants; for HDL cholesterol, the mean values were lower with greater severity of obesity. Multivariable models that controlled for age, race or ethnic group, and sex showed that the greater the severity of obesity, the higher the risks of a low HDL cholesterol level, high systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and high triglyceride and glycated hemoglobin levels. Severe obesity in children and young adults was associated with an increased prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors

Health-risk correlates of video-game playing among adults.

PubMed

Weaver, James B; Mays, Darren; Sargent Weaver, Stephanie; Kannenberg, Wendi; Hopkins, Gary L; Eroğlu, Doğan; Bernhardt, Jay M

2009-10-01

Although considerable research suggests that health-risk factors vary as a function of video-game playing among young people, direct evidence of such linkages among adults is lacking. The goal of this study was to distinguish adult video-game players from nonplayers on the basis of personal and environmental factors. It was hypothesized that adults who play video games, compared to nonplayers, would evidence poorer perceptions of their health, greater reliance on Internet-facilitated social support, more extensive media use, and higher BMI. It was further hypothesized that different patterns of linkages between video-game playing and health-risk factors would emerge by gender. A cross-sectional, Internet-based survey was conducted in 2006 with a sample of adults from the Seattle-Tacoma area (n=562), examining health risks; media use behaviors and perceptions, including those related to video-game playing; and demographics. Statistical analyses conducted in 2008 to compare video-game players and nonplayers included bivariate descriptive statistics, stepwise discriminant analysis, and ANOVA. A total of 45.1% of respondents reported playing video games. Female video-game players reported greater depression (M=1.57) and poorer health status (M=3.90) than female nonplayers (depression, M=1.13; health status, M=3.57). Male video-game players reported higher BMI (M=5.31) and more Internet use time (M=2.55) than male nonplayers (BMI, M=5.19; Internet use, M=2.36). The only determinant common to female and male video-game players was greater reliance on the Internet for social support. A number of determinants distinguished video-game players from nonplayers, and these factors differed substantially between men and women. The data illustrate the need for further research among adults to clarify how to use digital opportunities more effectively to promote health and prevent disease.

Emotion, Affect, and Risk Communication with Older Adults: Challenges and Opportunities

PubMed Central

Finucane, Melissa L.

2008-01-01

Recent research suggests that emotion, affect, and cognition play important roles in risk perception and that their roles in judgment and decision-making processes may change over the lifespan. This paper discusses how emotion and affect might help or hinder risk communication with older adults. Currently, there are few guidelines for developing effective risk messages for the world’s aging population, despite the array of complex risk decisions that come with increasing age and the importance of maintaining good decision making in later life. Age-related declines in cognitive abilities such as memory and processing speed, increased reliance on automatic processes, and adaptive motivational shifts toward focusing more on affective (especially positive) information mean that older and younger adults may respond differently to risk messages. Implications for specific risk information formats (probabilities, frequencies, visual displays, and narratives) are discussed and directions for future research are highlighted. PMID:19169420

Validation of the Choking Risk Assessment and Pneumonia Risk Assessment for adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD).

PubMed

Sheppard, Justine Joan; Malandraki, Georgia A; Pifer, Paula; Cuff, Jill; Troche, Michelle; Hemsley, Bronwyn; Balandin, Susan; Mishra, Avinash; Hochman, Roberta

2017-10-01

Risk assessments are needed to identify adults with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD) at high risk of choking and pneumonia. To describe the development and validation of the Choking Risk Assessment (CRA) and the Pneumonia Risk Assessment (PRA) for adults with IDD. Test items were identified through literature review and focus groups. Five-year retrospective chart reviews identified a positive choking group (PCG), a negative choking group (NCG), a positive pneumonia group (PPG), and a negative pneumonia group (NPG). Participants were tested with the CRA and PRA by clinicians blind to these testing conditions. The CRA and PRA differentiated the PCG (n=93) from the NCG (n=526) and the PPG (n=63) from the NPG (n=209) with high specificity (0.91 and 0.92 respectively) and moderate to average sensitivity (0.53 and 0.62 respectively). Further analyses revealed associations between clinical diagnoses of dysphagia and choking (p=0.043), and pneumonia (p<0.001). The CRA and PRA are reliable, valid risk indicators for choking and pneumonia in adults with IDD. Precautions for mitigating choking and pneumonia risks can be applied selectively thus avoiding undue impacts on quality of life and unnecessary interventions for low risk individuals. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Cardiovascular risk factor associations in adults with psychosis and adults in a national comparator sample.

PubMed

Foley, Debra L; Mackinnon, Andrew; Morgan, Vera A; Watts, Gerald F; Shaw, Jonathan E; Magliano, Dianna J; Castle, David J; McGrath, John J; Waterreus, Anna; Galletly, Cherrie A

2015-08-01

Antipsychotic drug treatment alters status on key risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to test whether cardiovascular risk factor associations differ in adults with psychosis and adults from the general community. Data were analysed for those aged 25-64 years from a nationally representative psychosis sample (n = 1,457) and a national comparator sample (n = 8,866). The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to estimate the association among tobacco use, body mass index, waist circumference, diastolic and systolic blood pressure and fasting total-, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and plasma glucose. The robust Levene test was used to test for sample differences in variance. Correlations among cardiovascular risk indicators and between cardiovascular risk indicators and age were often significantly weaker in those with psychosis than in those from the national comparator sample. This was not due to a reduction in variance within the psychosis sample. Risk prediction that synthesizes multivariate risk indicator data needs to be connected to verified cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in those with psychosis to determine if standard risk calculators adequately discriminate those at high, medium and low future risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Until then the clinical implications of low or absent correlations among cardiovascular risk indicators and their low or absent association with increasing age is unclear but may indicate that risk equations commonly used in the general population may not be applicable for those with treated psychosis. © The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists 2015.

Predicting the transition from juvenile delinquency to adult criminality: Gender-specific influences in two high-risk samples.

PubMed

Rhoades, Kimberly A; Leve, Leslie D; Eddy, J Mark; Chamberlain, Patricia

2016-12-01

Most juvenile offenders desist from offending as they become adults, but many continue and ultimately enter the adult corrections system. There has been little prospective examination of which variables may predict the latter transition, particularly for women. Our aim was to find out, for men and women separately, what variables identifiable in adolescent offenders predict their continuation of offending into adult life. Participants were 61 male and 81 female youths who had been referred from the juvenile justice system for chronic delinquency and recruited into randomised controlled trials comparing Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care with group care ('treatment as usual'). All participants had attained adulthood by the time of our study. We first examined gender differences in childhood risk factors and then used Cox proportional-hazards models to estimate the relationship of potential risk factors to first adult arrest. Results indicated that, for men, juvenile justice referrals alone predicted risk of any first adult arrest as well as arrest for felony arrest specifically. Each additional juvenile referral increased the risk of any adult arrest by 9% and of adult felony arrest by 8%. For women, family violence, parental divorce and cumulative childhood risk factors, but not juvenile justice referrals, were significant predictors of adult arrest. Each additional childhood risk factor increased the risk of adult arrest by 21%. Women who experienced parental divorce were nearly three times more likely to be arrested as an adult, and those who experienced family violence 2.5 times more so than those without such experiences. We found preliminary evidence of gender differences in childhood risk factors for adult offending, and, thus potentially, for the development and use of interventions tailored differently for girls and boys and young men and young women to reduce their risk of becoming adult recidivists. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright

Decision-making under risk in children, adolescents, and young adults.

PubMed

Paulsen, David J; Platt, Michael L; Huettel, Scott A; Brannon, Elizabeth M

2011-01-01

Adolescents often make risky and impulsive decisions. Such behavior has led to the common assumption that a dysfunction in risk-related decision-making peaks during this age. Differences in how risk has been defined across studies, however, make it difficult to draw conclusions about developmental changes in risky decision-making. Here, we developed a non-symbolic economic decision-making task that can be used across a wide age span and that uses coefficient of variation (CV) in reward as an index of risk. We found that young children showed the strongest preference for risky compared to sure bet options of equal expected value, adolescents were intermediate in their risk preference, and young adults showed the strongest risk aversion. Furthermore, children's preference for the risky option increased for larger CVs, while adolescents and young adults showed the opposite pattern, favoring the sure bet more often as CV increased. Finally, when faced with two gambles in a risk-return tradeoff, all three age groups exhibited a greater preference for the option with the lower risk and return as the disparity in risk between the two options increased. These findings demonstrate clear age-related differences in economic risk preferences that vary with choice set and risk. Importantly, adolescence appears to represent an intermediate decision-making phenotype along the transition from childhood to adulthood, rather than an age of heightened preference for economic risk.

Flavors and Risk: Perceptions of Flavors in Little Cigars and Cigarillos Among U.S. Adults, 2015.

PubMed

Nyman, Amy L; Sterling, Kymberle L; Majeed, Ban A; Jones, Dina M; Eriksen, Michael P

2017-06-28

Flavored little cigars, cigarillos, and filtered cigars (LCCs) are popular and pose unique health risks. This study explored risk perceptions of flavors in LCCs and the relationship between perceptions and use among U.S. adults. Data were from the 2015 Tobacco Products and Risk Perceptions Survey of a national probability sample of 6,051 adults, conducted online, August-September, 2015. The analytic sample consisted of 5,105 adults aware of LCCs and 2,174 who had ever used any type of LCCs. Just over half of adults reported flavors in LCCs as "very" or "somewhat" risky, while more than one-third of adults reported they didn't know the risks of flavors in LCCs. Younger adults, males, and users of any LCCs were more likely than older adults, females and non-users, respectively, to perceive LCC flavors as less risky. Those who perceived LCC flavors as "not at all risky" or "a little risky" were roughly twice as likely to have ever used flavored LCCs compared to those who reported not knowing the risks (AOR=2.07, 95% CI=1.16, 3.69 and AOR=1.96, 95% CI=1.26, 3.06). Those who reported LCC flavors as "very risky" were also more likely to have ever used flavored LCCs than those who reported not knowing the risks (AOR=1.50, 95% CI=1.13, 1.98). Though the proportion of adults assigning low risk to flavors in LCCs is small, these adults are more likely to use flavored LCCs. The association of use with risk perceptions of flavors in LCCs should be addressed in health risk campaigns. Flavored LCCs are popular, particularly among young adults. While understanding the impact of flavors is an FDA research priority, little is currently known about perceptions of risk associated with flavors in LCCs. This study explores the nature of risk perceptions of flavors in LCCs, and the relationship between perceptions and flavored LCC use. We conclude that perception of risk of flavors in LCCs is related to use of these products, particularly perception of less risk. Considering the

Trauma-related risk factors for substance abuse among male versus female young adults.

PubMed

Danielson, Carla Kmett; Amstadter, Ananda B; Dangelmaier, Ruth E; Resnick, Heidi S; Saunders, Benjamin E; Kilpatrick, Dean G

2009-04-01

Clinical efforts to reduce risk for Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) among young adults rely on the empirical identification of risk factors for addictive behaviors in this population. Exposure to traumatic events and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) have been linked with SUDs in various populations. Emerging data, particularly from adolescent samples, suggest that traumatic event exposure increases risk for SUDs for young women, but not young men. The purpose of the current study was to examine trauma-related risk factors for alcohol and drug abuse among a national sample of young adults and compare such risk factors between men and women. Participants were 1753 young adults who participated in the 7-8 year follow-up telephone-based survey to the original National Survey of Adolescents. In the full sample, 29.1% met criteria for substance abuse. Trauma-related risk factors for alcohol and drug abuse differed for men and women. Clinical implications of these results are discussed.

Young Adult and Usual Adult Body Mass Index and Multiple Myeloma Risk: A Pooled Analysis in the International Multiple Myeloma Consortium (IMMC).

PubMed

Birmann, Brenda M; Andreotti, Gabriella; De Roos, Anneclaire J; Camp, Nicola J; Chiu, Brian C H; Spinelli, John J; Becker, Nikolaus; Benhaim-Luzon, Véronique; Bhatti, Parveen; Boffetta, Paolo; Brennan, Paul; Brown, Elizabeth E; Cocco, Pierluigi; Costas, Laura; Cozen, Wendy; de Sanjosé, Silvia; Foretová, Lenka; Giles, Graham G; Maynadié, Marc; Moysich, Kirsten; Nieters, Alexandra; Staines, Anthony; Tricot, Guido; Weisenburger, Dennis; Zhang, Yawei; Baris, Dalsu; Purdue, Mark P

2017-06-01

Background: Multiple myeloma risk increases with higher adult body mass index (BMI). Emerging evidence also supports an association of young adult BMI with multiple myeloma. We undertook a pooled analysis of eight case-control studies to further evaluate anthropometric multiple myeloma risk factors, including young adult BMI. Methods: We conducted multivariable logistic regression analysis of usual adult anthropometric measures of 2,318 multiple myeloma cases and 9,609 controls, and of young adult BMI (age 25 or 30 years) for 1,164 cases and 3,629 controls. Results: In the pooled sample, multiple myeloma risk was positively associated with usual adult BMI; risk increased 9% per 5-kg/m 2 increase in BMI [OR, 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.14; P = 0.007]. We observed significant heterogeneity by study design ( P = 0.04), noting the BMI-multiple myeloma association only for population-based studies ( P trend = 0.0003). Young adult BMI was also positively associated with multiple myeloma (per 5-kg/m 2 ; OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3; P = 0.0002). Furthermore, we observed strong evidence of interaction between younger and usual adult BMI ( P interaction <0.0001); we noted statistically significant associations with multiple myeloma for persons overweight (25-<30 kg/m 2 ) or obese (30+ kg/m 2 ) in both younger and usual adulthood (vs. individuals consistently <25 kg/m 2 ), but not for those overweight or obese at only one time period. Conclusions: BMI-associated increases in multiple myeloma risk were highest for individuals who were overweight or obese throughout adulthood. Impact: These findings provide the strongest evidence to date that earlier and later adult BMI may increase multiple myeloma risk and suggest that healthy BMI maintenance throughout life may confer an added benefit of multiple myeloma prevention. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 26(6); 876-85. ©2017 AACR . ©2017 American Association for Cancer Research.

EVALUATING RISK IN OLDER ADULTS USING PHYSIOLOGICALLY BASED PHARMACOKINETIC MODELS

EPA Science Inventory

The rapid growth in the number of older Americans has many implications for public health, including the need to better understand the risks posed by environmental exposures to older adults. An important element for evaluating risk is the understanding of the doses of environment...

Frontal, Striatal, and Medial Temporal Sensitivity to Value Distinguishes Risk-Taking from Risk-Aversive Older Adults during Decision Making.

PubMed

Goh, Joshua O S; Su, Yu-Shiang; Tang, Yong-Jheng; McCarrey, Anna C; Tereshchenko, Alexander; Elkins, Wendy; Resnick, Susan M

2016-12-07

Aging compromises the frontal, striatal, and medial temporal areas of the reward system, impeding accurate value representation and feedback processing critical for decision making. However, substantial variability characterizes age-related effects on the brain so that some older individuals evince clear neurocognitive declines whereas others are spared. Moreover, the functional correlates of normative individual differences in older-adult value-based decision making remain unclear. We performed a functional magnetic resonance imaging study in 173 human older adults during a lottery choice task in which costly to more desirable stakes were depicted using low to high expected values (EVs) of points. Across trials that varied in EVs, participants decided to accept or decline the offered stakes to maximize total accumulated points. We found that greater age was associated with less optimal decisions, accepting stakes when losses were likely and declining stakes when gains were likely, and was associated with increased frontal activity for costlier stakes. Critically, risk preferences varied substantially across older adults and neural sensitivity to EVs in the frontal, striatal, and medial temporal areas dissociated risk-aversive from risk-taking individuals. Specifically, risk-averters increased neural responses to increasing EVs as stakes became more desirable, whereas risk-takers increased neural responses with decreasing EV as stakes became more costly. Risk preference also modulated striatal responses during feedback with risk-takers showing more positive responses to gains compared with risk-averters. Our findings highlight the frontal, striatal, and medial temporal areas as key neural loci in which individual differences differentially affect value-based decision-making ability in older adults. Frontal, striatal, and medial temporal functions implicated in value-based decision processing of rewards and costs undergo substantial age-related changes. However, age

Young Adult Risk Factors for Cancer: Obesity, Inflammation, and Sociobehavioral Mechanisms.

PubMed

Yang, Yang Claire; Johnson, Moira P; Schorpp, Kristen M; Boen, Courtney E; Harris, Kathleen Mullan

2017-09-01

The paper assesses social disparities in the burdens of metabolic and inflammatory risks for cancer in the U.S. young adult population and examines psychosocial and behavioral mechanisms in such disparities. Using data of 7,889 individuals aged 12-32 years from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health from 1994 to 2009, generalized linear models were used to assess the sex, race/ethnicity, and SES differences in the risks of obesity and inflammation, measured by C-reactive protein. Further tests examined the extent to which social isolation, smoking, physical inactivity, alcohol abuse, and illicit drug use explain social differentials in each biomarker outcome. Women, blacks, Hispanics, and socioeconomically disadvantaged groups had higher risks of obesity and elevated C-reactive protein, with the SES gradients being more pronounced in female participants. Health-related behaviors showed large variation across sex, race, and SES strata. After adjusting for these behavioral variables, sex, and race disparities in obesity and excess inflammation in blacks diminished, whereas the adolescent SES disparity in obesity remained. The associations of adolescent and young adult SES disadvantage and inflammation were also explained by behavioral mechanisms. Behavioral factors associated with higher risks of obesity and inflammation differed, with the exception of fast food consumption, a risk factor for both. This study provides new knowledge of social distribution of early life exposures to physiologic precedents to cancer development later in life with implications for prevention and early intervention of modifiable risky behaviors in adolescents and young adults. Copyright © 2017 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Early life exposures and the risk of adult glioma.

PubMed

Anic, Gabriella M; Madden, Melissa H; Sincich, Kelly; Thompson, Reid C; Nabors, L Burton; Olson, Jeffrey J; LaRocca, Renato V; Browning, James E; Pan, Edward; Egan, Kathleen M

2013-09-01

Exposure to common infections in early life may stimulate immune development and reduce the risk for developing cancer. Birth order and family size are proxies for the timing of exposure to childhood infections with several studies showing a reduced risk of glioma associated with a higher order of birth (and presumed younger age at infection). The aim of this study was to examine whether birth order, family size, and other early life exposures are associated with the risk of glioma in adults using data collected in a large clinic-based US case-control study including 889 glioma cases and 903 community controls. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on family structure, childhood exposures and other potential risk factors. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association between early life factors and glioma risk. Persons having any siblings were at significantly lower risk for glioma when compared to those reporting no siblings (OR=0.64; 95% CI 0.44-0.93; p=0.020). Compared to first-borns, individuals with older siblings had a significantly lower risk (OR=0.75; 95% CI 0.61-0.91; p=0.004). Birth weight, having been breast fed in infancy, and season of birth were not associated with glioma risk. The current findings lend further support to a growing body of evidence that early exposure to childhood infections reduces the risk of glioma onset in children and adults.

Drinking patterns and adherence to "low-risk" guidelines among community-residing older adults.

PubMed

Lewis, Ben; Garcia, Christian C; Nixon, Sara Jo

2018-06-01

Older adults constitute a rapidly expanding proportion of the U.S. Contemporary studies note the increasing prevalence of alcohol consumption in this group. Thus, understanding alcohol effects, consumption patterns, and associated risks in aging populations constitute critical areas of study with increasing public health relevance. Participants (n = 643; 292 women; ages 21-70) were community residing adult volunteers. Primary measures of interest included four patterns of alcohol consumption (average [oz./day]; typical quantity [oz./occasion]; frequency [% drinking days]; and maximal quantity [oz.]). Regression analyses explored associations between these measures, age, and relevant covariates. Subsequent between-group analyses investigated differences between two groups of older adults and a comparator group of younger adults, their adherance to "low-risk" guidelines, and whether alcohol-associated risks differed by age and adherence pattern. Average consumption did not vary by age or differ between age groups. In contrast, markedly higher frequencies and lower quantities of consumption were observed with increasing age. These differences persisted across adherence categories and were evident even in the oldest age group. Exceeding "low-risk" guidelines was associated with greater risk for alcohol-related problems among the older groups. These results emphasize the utility of considering underlying constituent patterns of consumption in older drinkers. Findings highlight difficulties in identifying problem drinking among older adults and contribute to the few characterizations of "risky" drinking patterns in this group. Taken together, our data contribute to literatures of import for the design and enhancement of screening, prevention, and education initiatives directed toward aging adults. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Risk Perceptions and Behavioral Intentions for Hepatitis B: How Do Young Adults Fare?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gonzales, R. M.; Glik, D. C.; Prelip, M.; Bourque, L.; Yuen, J.; Ang, A.; Jones, M. C.

2006-01-01

Young adults are at risk for Hepatitis B infection. Little is known about their attitudes and beliefs concerning Hepatitis B, which are determinants of getting immunized. This investigation examined risk perceptions and behavioral intentions concerning Hepatitis B among a convenience sample of 1070 young adults, 18-24 years old who participated in…

High nutrition risk is associated with higher risk of dysphagia in advanced age adults newly admitted to hospital.

PubMed

Popman, Amy; Richter, Marilize; Allen, Jacqueline; Wham, Carol

2018-02-01

To establish the prevalence of nutrition risk and associated risk factors among adults of advanced age newly admitted to hospital. A cross-sectional study was undertaken in adults aged over 85 years admitted to one of two hospital wards in Auckland within the previous 5 days. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to establish participant's socio-demographic and health characteristics. Markers of body composition and muscle strength were collected. Nutrition risk was assessed using the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA-SF), dysphagia risk using the 10-Item Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) and level of cognition using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. A total of 88 participants with a mean age of 90.0 ± 3.7 years completed the assessments. A third (28.4%) of the participants were categorised by the MNA-SF as malnourished and 43.2% were classified at risk of malnutrition. A third (29.5%) were at risk of dysphagia as assessed by EAT-10. Malnourished participants were more likely to be at risk of dysphagia (P = 0.015). The MNA-SF score was positively correlated with body mass index (r = 0.484, P < 0.001) and grip strength (r = 0.250, P = 0.026) and negatively correlated with risk of dysphagia (r = -0.383, P < 0.001). Among newly hospitalised adults of advanced age, over two thirds were malnourished or at risk of malnutrition, and a third were at risk of dysphagia. Nutrition risk was positively correlated with low BMI and grip strength and negatively correlated with dysphagia risk. Findings highlight the importance of screening for dysphagia risk, especially in those identified to be malnourished or at nutrition risk. © 2017 Dietitians Association of Australia.

Latent Model Analysis of Substance Use and HIV Risk Behaviors among High-Risk Minority Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wang, Min Qi; Matthew, Resa F.; Chiu, Yu-Wen; Yan, Fang; Bellamy, Nikki D.

2007-01-01

Objectives: This study evaluated substance use and HIV risk profile using a latent model analysis based on ecological theory, inclusive of a risk and protective factor framework, in sexually active minority adults (N=1,056) who participated in a federally funded substance abuse and HIV prevention health initiative from 2002 to 2006. Methods: Data…

Receipt of Caregiving and Fall Risk in US Community-dwelling Older Adults.

PubMed

Hoffman, Geoffrey J; Hays, Ron D; Wallace, Steven P; Shapiro, Martin F; Yakusheva, Olga; Ettner, Susan L

2017-04-01

Falls and fall-related injuries (FRI) are common and costly occurrences among older adults living in the community, with increased risk for those with physical and cognitive limitations. Caregivers provide support for older adults with physical functioning limitations, which are associated with fall risk. Using the 2004-2012 waves of the Health and Retirement Study, we examined whether receipt of low (0-13 weekly hours) and high levels (≥14 weekly hours) of informal care or any formal care is associated with lower risk of falls and FRIs among community-dwelling older adults. We additionally tested whether serious physical functioning (≥3 activities of daily living) or cognitive limitations moderated this relationship. Caregiving receipt categories were jointly significant in predicting noninjurious falls (P=0.03) but not FRIs (P=0.30). High levels of informal care category (P=0.001) and formal care (P<0.001) had stronger associations with reduced fall risk relative to low levels of informal care. Among individuals with ≥3 activities of daily living, fall risks were reduced by 21% for those receiving high levels of informal care; additionally, FRIs were reduced by 42% and 58% for those receiving high levels of informal care and any formal care. High levels of informal care receipt were also associated with a 54% FRI risk reduction among the cognitively impaired. Fall risk reductions among older adults occurred predominantly among those with significant physical and cognitive limitations. Accordingly, policy efforts involving fall prevention should target populations with increased physical functioning and cognitive limitations. They should also reduce financial barriers to informal and formal caregiving.

Towards sub-100 fs multi-GW pulses directly emitted from a Thulium-doped fiber CPA system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gaida, C.; Gebhardt, M.; Stutzki, F.; Jauregui, C.; Limpert, J.; Tünnermann, A.

2017-02-01

Experimental demonstrations of Tm-doped fiber amplifiers (typically in CW- or narrow-band pulsed operation) span a wavelength range going from about 1700 nm to well beyond 2000 nm. Thus, it should be possible to obtain a bandwidth of more than 100 nm, which would enable sub-100 fs pulse duration in an efficient, linear amplification scheme. In fact, this would allow the emission of pulses with less than 20 optical cycles directly from a Tm-doped fiber system, something that seems to be extremely challenging for other dopants in a fused silica fiber. In this contribution, we summarize the current development of our Thulium-doped fiber CPA system, demonstrate preliminary experiments for further scaling and discuss important design factors for the next steps. The current single-channel laser system presented herein delivers a pulse-peak power of 2 GW and a nearly transform-limited pulse duration of 200 fs in combination with 28.7 W of average power. Special care has been taken to reduce the detrimental impact of water vapor absorption by placing the whole system in a dry atmosphere housing (<0.1% rel. humidity) and by using a sufficiently long wavelength (1920-1980 nm). The utilization of a low-pressure chamber in the future will allow for the extension of the amplification bandwidth. Preliminary experiments demonstrating a broader amplification bandwidth that supports almost 100 fs pulse duration and average power scaling to < 100W have already been performed. Based on these results, a Tm-doped fiber CPA with sub-100 fs pulse duration, multi-GW pulse peak power and >100 W average power can be expected in the near future.

Decision-Making Under Risk in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults

PubMed Central

Paulsen, David J.; Platt, Michael L.; Huettel, Scott A.; Brannon, Elizabeth M.

2011-01-01

Adolescents often make risky and impulsive decisions. Such behavior has led to the common assumption that a dysfunction in risk-related decision-making peaks during this age. Differences in how risk has been defined across studies, however, make it difficult to draw conclusions about developmental changes in risky decision-making. Here, we developed a non-symbolic economic decision-making task that can be used across a wide age span and that uses coefficient of variation (CV) in reward as an index of risk. We found that young children showed the strongest preference for risky compared to sure bet options of equal expected value, adolescents were intermediate in their risk preference, and young adults showed the strongest risk aversion. Furthermore, children's preference for the risky option increased for larger CVs, while adolescents and young adults showed the opposite pattern, favoring the sure bet more often as CV increased. Finally, when faced with two gambles in a risk–return tradeoff, all three age groups exhibited a greater preference for the option with the lower risk and return as the disparity in risk between the two options increased. These findings demonstrate clear age-related differences in economic risk preferences that vary with choice set and risk. Importantly, adolescence appears to represent an intermediate decision-making phenotype along the transition from childhood to adulthood, rather than an age of heightened preference for economic risk. PMID:21687443

The Effects of the 150-Credit-Hour Requirement for the Certified Public Accountant (CPA) Exam On the Career Intentions of Women and Minorities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bierstaker, James Lloyd; Howe, Martha A.; Seol, Inshik

2005-01-01

In most states, students who sit for the certified public accountant (CPA) examination are now required to have 150 credit hours of college education. In this article, the authors examined the effects of this requirement on the career intentions of women and minorities. The authors collected data from 600 accounting students and the results…

Assessing Violence Risk and Psychopathy in Juvenile and Adult Offenders: A Survey of Clinical Practices

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Viljoen, Jodi L.; McLachlan, Kaitlyn; Vincent, Gina M.

2010-01-01

This study surveyed 199 forensic clinicians about the practices that they use in assessing violence risk in juvenile and adult offenders. Results indicated that the use of risk assessment and psychopathy tools was common. Although clinicians reported more routine use of psychopathy measures in adult risk assessments compared with juvenile risks…

Do Trauma Symptoms Mediate the Relationship Between Childhood Physical Abuse and Adult Child Abuse Risk?

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-05-01

undergraduate students who participated in this study. References Balge, K., & Milner, J. S. (2000). Emotion-recognition ability in mothers at high...recruits (N=5,394) and college students (N=716) completed self-report measures of their history of child abuse (i.e., CPA and child sexual abuse [CSA...reported in undergraduate samples (e.g., Crouch, Milner, & Caliso, 1995; de Paul, Milner, & Mugica, 1995; de Paul, Perez-Albeniz, Paz, Alday, & Mocoroa

Can preferences in information processing aid in understanding suicide risk among emerging adults?

PubMed

Cramer, Robert J; Bryson, Claire N; Gardner, Brett O; Webber, Wesley B

2016-07-01

The present study evaluated emerging adult (n = 192 college students) preferences in information processing (PIP), defined by the need for affect (NFA) and need for cognition (NFC), as they may be associated with suicide risk. The following were direct indicators of elevated suicide risk: presence of lifetime exposure to suicide (i.e., lifetime yes/no), elevated depressive symptoms, and greater NFA avoidance. Two different interactions resulted in elevated suicide risk: high depressive symptoms and high NFA avoidance, and high NFC and high NFA. Present results concerning PIP hold the potential to inform suicide risk assessment and prevention efforts among young adults.

Adult and Middle School Girls' Perceptions of Risk-Taking Behavior: Implications for School Practitioners

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Solomon, Brett Johnson; Garibaldi, Mark

2013-01-01

There is an overwhelming disconnect between young adolescent girls and adults, in relationship to perceptions of middle schoolgirl risk taking. This mixed-methods study investigates the differences between adult practitioners and middle school girls' perceptions of risk taking, understanding of consequences, and needs among middle school girls.…

Intimate partner violence among women veterans: previous interpersonal violence as a risk factor.

PubMed

Iverson, Katherine M; Mercado, Rowena; Carpenter, Sarah L; Street, Amy E

2013-12-01

Experiences of abuse during childhood or military service may increase women veterans' risk for intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization. This study examined the relative impact of 3 forms of interpersonal violence exposure (childhood physical abuse [CPA], childhood sexual abuse [CSA], and unwanted sexual experiences during military service) and demographic and military characteristics on past-year IPV among women veterans. Participants were 160 female veteran patients at Veterans Afffairs hospitals in New England who completed a paper-and-pencil mail survey that included validated assessments of past-year IPV and previous interpersonal violence exposures. Women who reported CSA were 3.06 times, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.14, 8.23], more likely to report past-year IPV relative to women who did not experience CSA. Similarly, women who reported unwanted sexual experiences during military service were 2.33 times, 95% CI [1.02, 5.35], more likely to report past-year IPV compared to women who did not report such experiences. CPA was not associated with IPV risk. Having less education and having served in the Army (vs. other branches) were also associated with greater risk of experiencing IPV in the past year. Findings have implications for assisting at risk women veterans in reducing their risk for IPV through detection and intervention efforts. Published 2013. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Mediators of sexual revictimization risk in adult sexual assault victims.

PubMed

Ullman, Sarah E; Vasquez, Amanda L

2015-01-01

This study examined sexual risk behaviors and sexual refusal assertiveness in relationship to child sexual abuse, emotion dysregulation, and adult sexual revictimization. Path analyses of 1,094 survivors who had sex in the past year were done to examine sexual risk behavior and sexual refusal assertiveness mediational pathways by which child sexual abuse severity and emotion dysregulation may affect revictimization over one year in adult female sexual assault survivors. Exchanging sex for money and sexual refusal assertiveness were significantly associated with emotion dysregulation, whereas exchanging sex for money, and not sexual refusal assertiveness, was only significantly related to child sexual abuse severity. Both exchanging sex for money and sex refusal assertiveness mediated the relationship between emotion dysregulation and adult sexual revictimization. Exchanging sex for money mediated the child sexual abuse severity-revictimization relationship. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering both risky and protective sexual behaviors in research and prevention programming that address sexual revictimization in women.

Mediators of Sexual Revictimization Risk in Adult Sexual Assault Victims

PubMed Central

Ullman, Sarah E.; Vasquez, Amanda L.

2015-01-01

This study examined sexual risk behaviors and sexual refusal assertiveness in relationship to child sexual abuse (CSA), emotion dysregulation, and adult sexual revictimization. Path analyses of 1,094 survivors who had sex in the past year were done to examine sexual risk behavior, and sexual refusal assertiveness mediational pathways by which CSA severity and emotion dysregulation may affect revictimization over one year in adult female sexual assault survivors. Exchanging sex for money and sexual refusal assertiveness were significantly associated with emotion dysregulation, whereas exchanging sex for money, and not sexual refusal assertiveness, was only significantly related to CSA severity. Both exchanging sex for money and sex refusal assertiveness mediated the relationship between emotion dysregulation and adult sexual revictimization. Exchanging sex for money mediated the CSA severity-revictimization relationship. These findings demonstrate the importance of considering both risky and protective sexual behaviors in research and prevention programming that address sexual revictimization in women. PMID:25942287

Low weight and overweightness in older adults: risk and clinical management.

PubMed

Jahangir, Eiman; De Schutter, Alban; Lavie, Carl J

2014-01-01

The prevalence of individuals who are overweight or obese is growing exponentially in the United States and worldwide. This growth is concerning, as both overweightness and obesity lead to impaired physical function, decreased quality of life, and increased risk of chronic diseases. Additionally, overweightness and obesity are related to increased mortality among young and middle-aged adults. This weight-related risk of mortality is more ambiguous among older adults. In fact, obesity may be protective in this population, a relationship described as the "obesity paradox". In this review we discuss the effects of overweightness and obesity among the elderly on cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality, along with the risks of low weight. We conclude by discussing the goal of weight management among older adults, focusing particularly on benefits of preserving lean body mass and muscular strength while stabilizing body fat. Ideally, overweight or mildly obese elderly individuals should devise a plan with their physicians to maintain their weight, while increasing lean body mass through a plan of healthy diet, behavioral therapy, and physical activity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Predicting influenza vaccination intent among at-risk chinese older adults in Hong Kong.

PubMed

Yu, Doris S F; Low, Lisa P L; Lee, Iris F K; Lee, Diana T F; Ng, Wai Man

2014-01-01

Older adults with major chronic illnesses are very susceptible to influenza and its serious complications, but many do not obtain vaccinations. Little is known about factors associated with intention to obtain influenza vaccination among at-risk Chinese older adults in Hong Kong. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with intent to obtain influenza vaccination among at-risk Chinese older adults in Hong Kong. This multicenter descriptive correlational study recruited a convenience sample of 306 Chinese older adults with medical risk factors for influenza and its serious complications from the general outpatient clinics in Hong Kong. Interviews were conducted to assess intent to obtain influenza vaccination for the coming year, health beliefs about influenza, and discomfort following past vaccinations. The current influenza vaccination rate was 58.5%; only 36.3% intended to get vaccinated the following year. After controlling for clinical and demographic factors in a logistic regression model, perceived susceptibility predicted intention to obtain future vaccination (OR = 1.42, 95% CI [1.14, 1.78]), whereas postvaccination discomfort was negatively associated with intention (OR = 0.063, 95% CI [0.006, 0.63]). Intention to obtain influenza vaccination was low among at-risk Chinese older adults. Strengthening health beliefs and creating strategies to provide positive influenza vaccination experiences are possible approaches to interventions to improve uptake of influenza vaccination rates.

Electrolyte CPA equation of state for very high temperature and pressure reservoir and basin applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Courtial, Xavier; Ferrando, Nicolas; de Hemptinne, Jean-Charles; Mougin, Pascal

2014-10-01

In this work, an electrolyte version of the Cubic Plus Association (eCPA) equation of state has been adapted to systems containing CH4, CO2, H2O and NaCl (up to 5 molal) at pressures up to 200 MPa and temperatures up to 773 K for salt-free systems and 573 K for salt-containing systems. Its purpose is to represent the phase behavior (including salting-out effect and critical point) and the phase densities in a range of temperature and pressure encountered in deep reservoirs and basins. The goal of the parameterization proposed is not to reach a very high accuracy for phase equilibrium and volumetric properties, but rather to develop a semi-predictive approach to model the phase and volumetric behavior of this system while allowing an easy extension to other compounds. Without salt, predictions for pure component vapor pressures and liquid molar volumes present an average absolute deviation (AAD) lower than 3% compared to experimental reference values. The pure component molar volumes out of saturation show an AAD lower than 4%. The highest deviations in densities are observed as expected in the vicinity of the critical coordinates of pure water and this effect increases when gases or salts are added to the system. For each binary system, CH4 + CO2, CH4 + H2O and CO2 + H2O, binary interaction parameters have been fitted to correctly represent the shape of the fluid phase envelopes (including all critical points) in the entire temperature and pressure range considered (219 K to 633 K and up to 250 MPa). The methane concentration in both phases of the CH4 + CO2 binary system is represented with an AAD lower than 9%. The methane solubility in water is represented within 16% and 8% for the methane content of the vapor. The CO2 solubility in water is within 26%, while the CO2 in the vapor phase shows an average deviation of 12%. All molar volumes are represented with an AAD lower than 3%. The few VLE experimental data for the CH4 + CO2 + H2O ternary system are fairly well

Does household composition explain welfare regime poverty risks for older adults and other household members?

PubMed

Tai, Tsui-o; Treas, Judith

2009-11-01

This cross-national study examines the poverty of older adults and their household members and relates the risk of poverty to macrolevel state approaches to welfare as well as to microlevel composition of households. Data on individuals in households with older adults for 22 countries come from the Luxembourg Income Survey. Robust cluster analysis relates the risk of poverty to the type of state welfare regime; the characteristics of the household head (age, gender, marital status, and education); as well as the household's numbers of earners, older adults, and children. Persons in households with older adults are significantly less likely to be poor in countries with social democratic and conservative welfare regimes than in Taiwan, an exemplar of limited social welfare programs. Controlling for country differences in household composition increases the differences in poverty risks. Living with fewer children, more older adults, and more earners lowers the risk of poverty, as does having a married and better educated household head. Countries with more generous social welfare provisions have lower risks of poverty despite having household characteristics that are comparatively unfavorable. As Taiwan demonstrates, household composition, particularly a reliance on multigenerational households, compensates for limited state welfare programs.

Gout in Older Adults: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

PubMed Central

Burke, Bridget Teevan; Köttgen, Anna; Law, Andrew; Grams, Morgan; Baer, Alan N.; Coresh, Josef

2016-01-01

Background: It is unclear whether traditional and genetic risk factors in middle age predict the onset of gout in older age. Methods: We studied the incidence of gout in older adults using the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, a prospective U.S. population–based cohort of middle-aged adults enrolled between 1987 and 1989 with ongoing follow-up. A genetic urate score was formed from common urate-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms for eight genes. The adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval of incident gout by traditional and genetic risk factors in middle age were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model. Results: The cumulative incidence from middle age to age 65 was 8.6% in men and 2.5% in women; by age 75 the cumulative incidence was 11.8% and 5.0%. In middle age, increased adiposity, beer intake, protein intake, smoking status, hypertension, diuretic use, and kidney function (but not sex) were associated with an increased gout risk in older age. In addition, a 100 µmol/L increase in genetic urate score was associated with a 3.29-fold (95% confidence interval: 1.63–6.63) increased gout risk in older age. Conclusions: These findings suggest that traditional and genetic risk factors in middle age may be useful for identifying those at risk of gout in older age. PMID:26714568

Reported gum disease as a cardiovascular risk factor in adults with intellectual disabilities.

PubMed

Hsieh, K; Murthy, S; Heller, T; Rimmer, J H; Yen, G

2018-03-01

Several risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) have been identified among adults with intellectual disabilities (ID). Periodontitis has been reported to increase the risk of developing a CVD in the general population. Given that individuals with ID have been reported to have a higher prevalence of poor oral health than the general population, the purpose of this study was to determine whether adults with ID with informant reported gum disease present greater reported CVD than those who do not have reported gum disease and whether gum disease can be considered a risk factor for CVD. Using baseline data from the Longitudinal Health and Intellectual Disability Study from which informant survey data were collected, 128 participants with reported gum disease and 1252 subjects without reported gum disease were identified. A series of univariate logistic regressions was conducted to identify potential confounding factors for a multiple logistic regression. The series of univariate logistic regressions identified age, Down syndrome, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, reported gum disease, daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and the addition of table salt as significant risk factors for reported CVD. When the significant factors from the univariate logistic regression were included in the multiple logistic analysis, reported gum disease remained as an independent risk factor for reported CVD after adjusting for the remaining risk factors. Compared with the adults with ID without reported gum disease, adults in the gum disease group demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of reported CVD (19.5% vs. 9.7%; P = .001). After controlling for other risk factors, reported gum disease among adults with ID may be associated with a higher risk of CVD. However, further research that also includes clinical indices of periodontal disease and CVD for this population is needed to determine if there is a causal relationship between gum disease and CVD. © 2017 MENCAP

Wireless Phone Use and Risk of Adult Glioma: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis.

PubMed

Wang, Peng; Hou, Chongxian; Li, Yanwen; Zhou, Dong

2018-04-28

Wireless phone use has been increasing rapidly and is associated with the risk of glioma. Many studies have been conducted on this association without reaching agreement. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine the possible association between wireless phone use and risk of adult glioma. Eligible studies were identified by searching PubMed and Embase up to July 2017. Random-effects or fixed-effects model was used to combine the results depending on the heterogeneity of the analysis. Publication bias was evaluated using Begg's funnel plot and Egger's regression asymmetry test. Subgroup analysis was performed to evaluate possible influence of these variables. Ten studies on the association of wireless phone use and risk of glioma were included. The combined odds ratio of adult gliomas associated with ever use of wireless phones was 1.03 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-1.16) with high heterogeneity (I 2  = 54.2%, P = 0.013). In subgroup analyses, no significant association was found between tumor location in the temporal lobe and adult glioma risk, with odds ratios of 1.26 (95% CI, 0.87-1.84), 0.93 (95% CI, 0.69-1.24), and 1.61 (95% CI, 0.78-3.33). A significant association with risk of glioma was found in long-term users (≥10 years) with odds ratio of 1.33 (95% CI, 1.05-1.67). Ever use of wireless phones was not significantly associated with risk of adult glioma, but there could be increased risk in long-term users. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

A marker of biological ageing predicts adult risk preference in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris

PubMed Central

Nettle, Daniel; Reichert, Sophie; Bedford, Tom; Monaghan, Pat; Bateson, Melissa

2018-01-01

Abstract Why are some individuals more prone to gamble than others? Animals often show preferences between 2 foraging options with the same mean reward but different degrees of variability in the reward, and such risk preferences vary between individuals. Previous attempts to explain variation in risk preference have focused on energy budgets, but with limited empirical support. Here, we consider whether biological ageing, which affects mortality and residual reproductive value, predicts risk preference. We studied a cohort of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) in which we had previously measured developmental erythrocyte telomere attrition, an established integrative biomarker of biological ageing. We measured the adult birds’ preferences when choosing between a fixed amount of food and a variable amount with an equal mean. After controlling for change in body weight during the experiment (a proxy for energy budget), we found that birds that had undergone greater developmental telomere attrition were more risk averse as adults than were those whose telomeres had shortened less as nestlings. Developmental telomere attrition was a better predictor of adult risk preference than either juvenile telomere length or early-life food supply and begging effort. Our longitudinal study thus demonstrates that biological ageing, as measured via developmental telomere attrition, is an important source of lasting differences in adult risk preferences. PMID:29769793

A marker of biological ageing predicts adult risk preference in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris.

PubMed

Andrews, Clare; Nettle, Daniel; Reichert, Sophie; Bedford, Tom; Monaghan, Pat; Bateson, Melissa

2018-01-01

Why are some individuals more prone to gamble than others? Animals often show preferences between 2 foraging options with the same mean reward but different degrees of variability in the reward, and such risk preferences vary between individuals. Previous attempts to explain variation in risk preference have focused on energy budgets, but with limited empirical support. Here, we consider whether biological ageing, which affects mortality and residual reproductive value, predicts risk preference. We studied a cohort of European starlings ( Sturnus vulgaris ) in which we had previously measured developmental erythrocyte telomere attrition, an established integrative biomarker of biological ageing. We measured the adult birds' preferences when choosing between a fixed amount of food and a variable amount with an equal mean. After controlling for change in body weight during the experiment (a proxy for energy budget), we found that birds that had undergone greater developmental telomere attrition were more risk averse as adults than were those whose telomeres had shortened less as nestlings. Developmental telomere attrition was a better predictor of adult risk preference than either juvenile telomere length or early-life food supply and begging effort. Our longitudinal study thus demonstrates that biological ageing, as measured via developmental telomere attrition, is an important source of lasting differences in adult risk preferences.

Lifetime Increased Risk of Adult Onset Atopic Dermatitis in Adolescent and Adult Patients with Food Allergy.

PubMed

Yu, Hsu-Sheng; Tu, Hung-Pin; Hong, Chien-Hui; Lee, Chih-Hung

2016-12-27

Food allergy can result in life-threatening anaphylaxis. Atopic dermatitis (AD) causes intense itching and impaired quality of life. Previous studies have shown that patients with classical early-onset AD tend to develop food allergy and that 10% of adults with food allergies have concomitant AD. However, it is not known whether late-onset food allergy leads to adult-onset AD, a recently recognized disease entity. Using an initial cohort of one-million subjects, this study retrospectively followed-up 2851 patients with food allergy (age > 12 years) for 14 years and compared them with 11,404 matched controls. While 2.8% (81) of the 2851 food allergy patients developed AD, only 2.0% (227) of the 11,404 controls developed AD. Multivariate regression analysis showed that food allergy patients were more likely to develop AD (adjusted hazard ratio = 2.49, p < 0.0001). Controls had a 1.99% risk of developing AD, while food allergy patients had a significantly higher risk (7.18% and 3.46% for patients with ≥3 and <3 food allergy claims, respectively) of developing adult-onset AD. This is the first study to describe the chronological and dose-dependent associations between food allergy in adolescence and the development of adult-onset AD.

Young Adults' Risk Perceptions of Various Tobacco Products Relative to Cigarettes: Results From the National Young Adult Health Survey.

PubMed

Wackowski, Olivia A; Delnevo, Cristine D

2016-06-01

Objectives Tobacco product risk perceptions may influence whether individuals use those products instead of or in addition to regular cigarettes. This study aimed to explore risk perceptions of various tobacco products relative to traditional cigarettes with young adults, a group with higher rates of tobacco use. Method We examined risk perception responses among a nationally representative sample of young adults (age 18-34 years; n = 2,871, including tobacco and non-tobacco users) from the 2011 National Young Adult Health Survey. Results Most (57.8%) respondents believed that e-cigarettes were less risky than cigarettes. Respondents were more likely to rate combustible products hookah (24.5%) and cigars (13.9%) as being less risky compared to noncombustible snus (10%) and other smokeless tobacco (SLT) products (7.1%) relative to cigarettes. Few (2.5%) rated menthol cigarettes as less risky. For e-cigarettes, hookah, and SLT, less risky beliefs were significantly higher among ever or current versus never product users. Between 22% and 33% of all respondents believed that SLT, snus, menthol cigarettes, and cigars were more risky than cigarettes, but differences in this belief between current and nonusers of these products were small and insignificant. Younger young adults were more likely to rate e-cigarettes and hookah as being "less risky" and rate cigars and SLT as being "more risky" than older young adults. Conclusion The public's views of comparative tobacco risk perceptions vary widely by tobacco product type and age-group. While "less risky" perceptions may be associated with product use, perceptions that products are "more risky" than cigarettes may not necessarily dissuade people from their use. © 2015 Society for Public Health Education.

Emerging technologies to support independent living of older adults at risk.

PubMed

Hanson, Gregory J; Takahashi, Paul Y; Pecina, Jennifer L

2013-01-01

The aging of the population is expected to place an unprecedented strain on health care systems over the next two decades and beyond. Emerging electronic monitoring technologies provide opportunities to learn about the aging process, age-related diseases, and contribute to new, cost effective care models that preserve independence at home for older adults at risk. The goals of this article are to familiarize the reader with emerging technologies and potential applications to older adults' at-risk, review the current literature about the clinical and economic outcomes of emerging technologies, and to outline future directions and challenges.

High-Risk Obtainment of Prescription Drugs by Older Adults in New Jersey: The Role of Prescription Opioids.

PubMed

Gold, Sarah L; Powell, Kristen Gilmore; Eversman, Michael H; Peterson, N Andrew; Borys, Suzanne; Hallcom, Donald K

2016-10-01

To explore the high-risk ways in which older adults obtain prescription opioids and to identify predictors of obtaining prescription opioids from high-risk sources, such as obtaining the same drug from multiple doctors, sharing drugs, and stealing prescription pads. Logistic regression analyses of cross-sectional survey data from the New Jersey Older Adult Survey on Drug Use and Health, a representative random-sample survey. Adults aged 60 and older (N = 725). Items such as obtaining prescriptions for the same drug from more than one doctor and stealing prescription drugs were measured to determine high-risk obtainment of prescription opioids. Almost 15% of the sample used high-risk methods of obtaining prescription opioids. Adults who previously used a prescription opioid recreationally had three times the risk of high-risk obtainment of prescription opioids. These findings illustrate the importance of strengthening prescription drug monitoring programs to reduce high-risk use of prescription drugs in older adults by alerting doctors and pharmacists to potential prescription drug misuse and interactions. © 2016, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2016, The American Geriatrics Society.

Multipass OPCPA system at 100 kHz pumped by a CPA-free solid-state amplifier.

PubMed

Ahrens, J; Prochnow, O; Binhammer, T; Lang, T; Schulz, B; Frede, M; Morgner, U

2016-04-18

We present a compact few-cycle 100 kHz OPCPA system pumped by a CPA-free picosecond Nd:YVO₄ solid-state amplifier with all-optical synchronization to an ultra-broadband Ti:sapphire oscillator. This pump approach shows an exceptional conversion rate into the second harmonic of almost 78%. Efficient parametric amplification was realized by a two stage double-pass scheme with following chirped mirror compressor. The amount of superfluorescence was measured by an optical cross-correlation. Pulses with a duration of 8.7 fs at energies of 18 µJ are demonstrated. Due to the peak power of 1.26 GW, this simple OPCPA approach forms an ideal high repetition rate driving source for high-order harmonic generation.

Are plain radiographs sufficient to exclude cervical spine injuries in low-risk adults?

PubMed

Hunter, Benton R; Keim, Samuel M; Seupaul, Rawle A; Hern, Gene

2014-02-01

The routine use of clinical decision rules and three-view plain radiography to clear the cervical spine in blunt trauma patients has been recently called into question. In low-risk adult blunt trauma patients, can plain radiographs adequately exclude cervical spine injury when clinical prediction rules cannot? Four observational studies investigating the performance of plain radiographs in detecting cervical spine injury in low-risk adult blunt trauma patients were reviewed. The consistently poor performance of plain radiographs to rule out cervical spine injury in adult blunt trauma victims is concerning. Large, rigorously performed prospective trials focusing on low- or low/moderate-risk patients will be needed to truly define the utility of plain radiographs of the cervical spine in blunt trauma. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Sigmoid Venous Thrombosis Following CPA Tumor Resection.

PubMed

Shew, Matthew; Kavookjian, Hannah; Dahlstrom, Kelly; Muelleman, Thomas; Lin, James; Camarata, Paul; Ledbetter, Luke N; Staecker, Hinrich

2018-06-01

Our primary aim was to determine the incidence of sigmoid venous thrombosis (SVT) and determine risks factors and sequelae of SVT following cerebellopontine angle tumor resection. Retrospective cohort study. Academic tertiary care hospital. Patients over 18 years of age who underwent resection of cerebellopontine angle meningioma or vestibular schwannoma from January 2005 to April 2016 who had postoperative magnetic resonance imaging. Diagnostic. Incidence of postoperative sigmoid venous thrombosis (SVT) from official radiology reports was compared with retrospective imaging review by our institutional neuroradiologists. Data collected included age, length of stay, body mass index, surgical approach, and postoperative complications. A total of 127 patients were identified. Official radiology reads significantly underreported the incidence of postoperative SVT compared with retrospective review by our institutional neuroradiologist for patients who underwent routine postoperative imaging (n = 4 [3.1%] versus n = 22 [17.3%]; p < 0.001). There was a statistical trend toward increased risk for thrombosis in patients undergoing translabyrinthine and staged resection that did not reach significance (p = 0.068). Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak incidence in patients with thrombosis was significantly increased (n = 9 [37.5%] versus n = 13 [12.6%]; p = 0.007). When controlling for approach, the presence of thrombus was associated with a more then three-fold increase in odds of CSF leak (OR = 3.28, 95% CI: 1.12-9.48, p = 0.030). There was no correlation between SVT and age (p = 0.788), body mass index (p = 0.686), length of stay (p = 0.733), preoperative tumor size (p = 0.555), or increased postoperative ICP (p = 0.645). Only one patient was symptomatic from sigmoid thrombosis compared with 21 who were not. Incidence of SVT is significantly underreported and may predispose patients to increase risk for CSF leak. Staged

Sociodemographic factors associated with multiple cardiovascular risk factors among Malaysian adults.

PubMed

Ghazali, Sumarni Mohd; Seman, Zamtira; Cheong, Kee Chee; Hock, Lim Kuang; Manickam, Mala; Kuay, Lim Kuang; Yusoff, Ahmad Faudzi; Mustafa, Feisul Idzwan; Mustafa, Amal Nasir

2015-01-31

To determine the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of multiple risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among Malaysian adults. We analysed data on 1044 men and 1528 women, aged 24-64 years, participants in the Non Communicable Disease Surveillance 2005/2006, a nationally representative, population-based, cross-sectional study. Prevalence of obesity, high blood pressure, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycemia, physical inactivity, smoking, risky drinking, low vegetable and fruit intake were determined and multivariable logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic factors associated with having ≥3 of these cardiovascular disease risk factors. The response rate was 84.6% (2572/3040). Overall, 68.4% (95% CI: 63.2, 73.1) had at least three risk factors. Among men, older age and Indian ethnicity were independently associated with having ≥3 CVD risk factors; while among women, older age, low education, and housewives were more likely to have ≥3 CVD risk factors. The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors clustering among Malaysian adults is high, raising concerns that cardiovascular disease incidence will rise steeply in the near future if no immediate preventive measures are taken. The current national health education and promotion programmes pertaining to modifiable risk factors can be further improved by taking into account the sociodemographic variation in CVD risk factors clustering.

Effect of substitutions and defects in half-Heusler FeVSb studied by electron transport measurements and KKR-CPA electronic structure calculations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jodin, L.; Tobola, J.; Pecheur, P.

2004-11-01

The structural and electron transport properties of the pure and Co-, Ti-, and Zr-substituted FeVSb half-Heusler phases have been investigated using x-ray diffraction, Moessbauer spectroscopy, and Electron Probe Microscopy Analysis as well as resistivity, thermopower, and Hall effect measurements in the 80-900 K temperature range. In a parallel study, the electronic structures of FeVSb and the aforementioned alloys were calculated using the Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method with the coherent potential approximation (KKR-CPA) in the LDA framework. The electronic densities of states and dispersion curves were obtained. The crystal structure stability and site preference analysis were addressed using total energy computations. Most ofmore » these experimental results correspond to electronic structure computations only if they take into account extra crystal defects such as antisite defects or vacancies present to various extents in the samples. Indeed a remarkable variation of KKR-CPA density of states occurring both in FeVSb and FeV{sub 1-x}Zr{sub x}Sb including defects may explain why FeVSb is not fully semiconducting as well as why there is a change of the thermopower sign in the FeV{sub 1-x}Zr{sub x}Sb versus x content.« less

Pneumococcal Vaccination Recommendations for Children and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor

MedlinePlus

... 1 and Adults by Age and/or Risk Factor Routine Recommendations for Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV13) and ... People with Underlying Medical Conditions or Other Risk Factors Risk Group Immuno- competent Functional or anatomic asplenia ...

Health Equity and Aging of Bisexual Older Adults: Pathways of Risk and Resilience

PubMed Central

Shiu, Chengshi; Bryan, Amanda E. B.; Goldsen, Jayn; Kim, Hyun-Jun

2017-01-01

Abstract Objectives: Bisexual older adults are a growing yet largely invisible, underserved, and understudied population. Utilizing the Health Equity Promotion Model, we examined hypothesized mechanisms accounting for health disparities between bisexual older adults and lesbian and gay older adults. Method: Based on data from Caring and Aging with Pride, the largest national survey of LGBT older adults, this study (N = 2,463) utilized structural equation modeling to investigate direct and indirect associations between sexual identity (bisexual vs. lesbian and gay) and health via sexual identity factors (identity disclosure and internalized stigma), social resources, and socioeconomic status (SES). Results: Bisexual older adults reported significantly poorer health compared with lesbian and gay older adults. Indirect effects involving sexual identity factors, social resources, and SES explained the association between bisexual identity and poorer health. A potentially protective pathway was also identified wherein bisexuals had larger social networks after adjusting for other factors. Discussion: Bisexual older adults face distinct challenges and health risks relative to other older adults, likely because of the accumulation of socioeconomic and psychosocial disadvantages across the life course. Interventions taking into account older bisexuals’ unique risk and protective factors may be helpful in reducing health inequities. PMID:27815302

Childhood Conduct Problems and Other Early Risk Factors in Rural Adult Stimulant Users

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kramer, Teresa L.; Han, Xiaotong; Leukefeld, Carl; Booth, Brenda M.; Edlund, Carrie

2009-01-01

Context: Understanding childhood risk factors associated with adult substance use and legal problems is important for treatment and prevention. Purpose: To examine the relationship of early substance use, conduct problems before age 15, and family history of substance abuse on adult outcomes in rural, stimulant users. Methods: Adult cocaine and…

Multifactorial screening for fall risk in community-dwelling older adults in the primary care office: development of the fall risk assessment & screening tool.

PubMed

Renfro, Mindy Oxman; Fehrer, Steven

2011-01-01

Unintentional falls is an increasing public health problem as incidence of falls rises and the population ages. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 1 in 3 adults aged 65 years and older will experience a fall this year; 20% to 30% of those who fall will sustain a moderate to severe injury. Physical therapists caring for older adults are usually engaged with these patients after the first injury fall and may have little opportunity to abate fall risk before the injuries occur. This article describes the content selection and development of a simple-to-administer, multifactorial, Fall Risk Assessment & Screening Tool (FRAST), designed specifically for use in primary care settings to identify those older adults with high fall risk. Fall Risk Assessment & Screening Tool incorporates previously validated measures within a new multifactorial tool and includes targeted recommendations for intervention. Development of the multifactorial FRAST used a 5-part process: identification of significant fall risk factors, review of best evidence, selection of items, creation of the scoring grid, and development of a recommended action plan. Fall Risk Assessment & Screening Tool has been developed to assess fall risk in the target population of older adults (older than 65 years) living and ambulating independently in the community. Many fall risk factors have been considered and 15 items selected for inclusion. Fall Risk Assessment & Screening Tool includes 4 previously validated measures to assess balance, depression, falls efficacy, and home safety. Reliability and validity studies of FRAST are under way. Fall risk for community-dwelling older adults is an urgent, multifactorial, public health problem. Providing primary care practitioners (PCPs) with a very simple screening tool is imperative. Fall Risk Assessment & Screening Tool was created to allow for safe, quick, and low-cost administration by minimally trained office staff with interpretation and

Gender Differences in Risk for Intimate Partner Violence among South African Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gass, Jesse D.; Stein, Dan J.; Williams, David R.; Seedat, Soraya

2011-01-01

Despite a high prevalence of intimate partner violence in South Africa, few epidemiological studies have assessed individual risk factors and differential vulnerability by gender. This study seeks to analyze gender differences in risk for intimate partner violence victimization and perpetration according to childhood and adult risk factors in a…

Cross-cultural differences and sexual risk behavior of emerging adults.

PubMed

Thomas, Tami L; Yarandi, Hossein N; Dalmida, Safiya George; Frados, Andrew; Klienert, Kathleen

2015-01-01

The authors examined population-specific risk factors that increase emerging adults' risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including the human papillomavirus (HPV). A cross-sectional sample of 335 diverse, emerging adults ages 18 to 24 years was recruited from a health center at a large university in the Southeastern United States. The mean age was 20.6 ± 1.9 years, majority were females (74.0%), and 61.0% were Hispanic. Findings revealed inconsistent condom use, reasons for not using condoms, and a need for more culturally specific intervention strategies. Healthcare providers should identify culturally specific reasons for inconsistent condom use, examine cultural and geographic differences in sexual risk behaviors among groups and communities, and modify communication, educational programs, and interventions accordingly. By adopting a multicultural approach to the control of STIs, nurses can address specific cultural attitudes and behaviors that may influence exposure to STIs, including HPV. © The Author(s) 2014.

Age-differentiated Risk Factors of Suicidal Ideation among Young and Middle-aged Korean Adults

PubMed Central

Jo, Ahra; Jeon, Minho; Oh, Heeyoung

2017-01-01

Objectives This study aimed to determine the prevalence of suicidal ideation among young and middle-aged adults, and explore the risk factors that affect suicidal ideation. Methods A descriptive study design was used for secondary data analysis. A total sample of 5,214 was drawn from two waves (2012–2013) of the 7th Korea Health Panel (KHP) survey. The KHP data were collected by a well-trained interviewer using the face-to-face method during home visits as well as self-report method. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis were performed using SPSS 22.0. Results The prevalence of suicidal ideation in young and middle-aged adults was 4.4% and 5.6%, respectively. For young adults, suicidal ideation risk was higher among those with low income or heavy drinking habits. In middle-aged adults, low income, poor perceived health status, negative perception of peer-compared health status, and negative social perspective were the major risk factors. Conclusion There is considerable risk of suicidal ideation in adulthood. Opportunities for increased income, avoidance of heavy drinking, and the construction of positive subjective health status and social perspective should be considered in suicide prevention interventions for Korean young and middle-aged adults. PMID:28781943

Gender Differences in Deviance and Health Risk Behaviors Among Young-Adults Undergraduate Students.

PubMed

Korn, Liat; Bonny-Noach, Hagit

2018-01-02

Deviant and health risk behaviors among young-adults are associated with many adverse outcomes. This study aims to evaluate a broad variety of behaviors by gender differences and their contribution to predicting cannabis use in undergraduate students. This research is based on a structured, self-reported anonymous questionnaire distributed to 1,432 young adult undergraduate students at an Israeli University, 533 males and 899 females (mean age 27.4; SD 6.01). The findings demonstrate a significant proportion of sampled young adults reported to be involved in deviant and health risk behaviors and that all risky behaviors were more frequently significant in males than in females. Among drivers 72% reported speeding, 60% reported failure to keep distance, 44% reported being involved at a car accident as a driver, 40% reported not stopping at a stop sign, and quarter reported driving after drinking alcohol. These findings also expand how certain risk behaviors contribute to predicting cannabis use. The relatively high prevalence of some of these risky behaviors among normative young adults suggests that risky behaviors are considered as normative behavior for this group, especially among man, and therefore, policymakers need to consider prevention and harm reduction interventions relevant to this risk group.

Differences in Functional Fitness Among Older Adults With and Without Risk of Falling.

PubMed

Zhao, Yanan; Chung, Pak-Kwong

2016-03-01

This study aimed to identify the differences in functional fitness between older adults who were at risk of falling and those who were not. A total of 104 older adults aged 65-74 years were recruited from a local community senior center. They were independent older adults without a history of falls in the preceding 12 months. Falling risk status was assessed using the Fall Risk Test. Five dimensions of functional fitness with seven testing parameters (i.e., 30-second chair stand test, 30-second arm curl test, 2-minute step test, chair sit and reach test, back scratch test, 8-foot up and go test, and body mass index) were evaluated by the Senior Fitness Test. Only 78 participants completed all the tests, of which 48 participants were identified with risk of falling, and 30 participants were free from risk of falling. Results from multivariate analysis of variance found significant differences on the combined outcome variables, especially in the 8-foot up and go test, 2-minute step test, and 30-second arm curl test. Results from discriminant analysis found a significant discriminant function among all the seven testing parameters, where the 8-foot up and go test, and the 2-minute step test contributed most. Older adults who are at the early stage of risk of falling tend to have lower functional fitness capacities, especially in agility and dynamic balance, aerobic endurance as well as in a combined relationship among all the testing parameters. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Older adult awareness of the influence of cardiovascular disease risk factors on cognitive function.

PubMed

Wright, Regina S; Ford, Cassandra; Sniscak, Courtney R

2017-03-01

The aims of the current study were to (i) assess older people's awareness of the association between CVD risk factors and cognitive function; and (ii) examine whether awareness varies as a function of demographic factors. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors have been linked to subtle deficits in cognitive function. CVD risk factors increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia. The association between cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and cognitive decrements has been well documented among older people; however, we are unaware of any studies that have measured older people's awareness of this relationship in an effort to assess educational needs. A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was employed. Community-based older adults aged 60 and older completed a survey that assessed their knowledge of the association between CVD risk factors and cognitive function. One hundred fifty older adults, with a mean age of 72.88 years, completed the survey. Results showed that over 75% of the sample was aware that CVD risk factors affect cognitive function. White older adults and older adults with greater perceived financial well-being tended to be more aware of these relationships than non-White participants with less perceived financial well-being. Results suggest that many, but not all older people have awareness of this relationship. As such, there is a need for increased education about the cognitive effects of CVD risk factors, particularly among older people who are already at risk for developing CVD and those with lesser financial well-being. Appropriate educational strategies can expose older patients to the importance of healthy lifestyle and self-care to maintain cognitive function. Nurses can incorporate education into care by identifying patients that would benefit from tailored interventions and providing information to at-risk patients about how to maintain their cognitive function through management of specific CVD risk factors. © 2016

Gout in Older Adults: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study.

PubMed

Burke, Bridget Teevan; Köttgen, Anna; Law, Andrew; Grams, Morgan; Baer, Alan N; Coresh, Josef; McAdams-DeMarco, Mara A

2016-04-01

It is unclear whether traditional and genetic risk factors in middle age predict the onset of gout in older age. We studied the incidence of gout in older adults using the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study, a prospective U.S. population-based cohort of middle-aged adults enrolled between 1987 and 1989 with ongoing follow-up. A genetic urate score was formed from common urate-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms for eight genes. The adjusted hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval of incident gout by traditional and genetic risk factors in middle age were estimated using a Cox proportional hazards model. The cumulative incidence from middle age to age 65 was 8.6% in men and 2.5% in women; by age 75 the cumulative incidence was 11.8% and 5.0%. In middle age, increased adiposity, beer intake, protein intake, smoking status, hypertension, diuretic use, and kidney function (but not sex) were associated with an increased gout risk in older age. In addition, a 100 µmol/L increase in genetic urate score was associated with a 3.29-fold (95% confidence interval: 1.63-6.63) increased gout risk in older age. These findings suggest that traditional and genetic risk factors in middle age may be useful for identifying those at risk of gout in older age. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Early Educational Intervention, Early Cumulative Risk, and the Early Home Environment as Predictors of Young Adult Outcomes within a High-Risk Sample

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pungello, Elizabeth P.; Kainz, Kirsten; Burchinal, Margaret; Wasik, Barbara H.; Sparling, Joseph J.; Ramey, Craig T.; Campbell, Frances A.

2010-01-01

The extent to which early educational intervention, early cumulative risk, and the early home environment were associated with young adult outcomes was investigated in a sample of 139 young adults (age 21) from high-risk families enrolled in randomized trials of early intervention. Positive effects of treatment were found for education attainment,…

Audit of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors among Supported Adults with Intellectual Disability Attending an Ageing Clinic

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wallace, Robyn A.; Schluter, Philip

2008-01-01

Background: Little is known about the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor profile for older adults with intellectual disability (ID). As many CVD risk factors are treatable by lifestyle changes, confirmation of the risk factor profile for older adults with ID could substantially impact upon preventive health practices for this group. Method:…

Is independence of older adults safe considering the risk of falls?

PubMed

Talarska, Dorota; Strugała, Magdalena; Szewczyczak, Marlena; Tobis, Sławomir; Michalak, Michał; Wróblewska, Izabela; Wieczorowska-Tobis, Katarzyna

2017-03-14

Falls affect approx. 30% of elderly population per year. They cause major injuries and reduce independence of the older adults' functioning. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the degree of independence and find the fall risk factors in the study group. The study included 506 - older adults. The study group included patients from GP clinics and members of two senior centers. The study duration was 12 months. Our study tools included EASY- Care Standard 2010 questionnaire, Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS), Index Barthel, Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL), Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), Timed Up and Go (TUG). The study included 357 (70.6%) female and 149 (29.4%) male subjects. The mean age of the study group patients was 75.7 years ± 8.0. Most of the older adult subjects were independent in both basic (Index Barthel) and instrumental (IADL) activities. Gait fluency evaluated in TUG scale found slow and unsteady gait in 33.7% of the subjects. 27.5% of the subjects used mobility aids when walking. In the Risk of falls scale, 131 subjects (25.89%) were at risk of falls. According to logistic regression the main risk of fall determinants (p <0.05) in the study group were: age, previous falls, feet problems, lack of regular care, impaired vision, urinary incontinence, pain, sleeping disorders, and lowered mood. Risk of falls increases in people less independent in terms of basic and complex life activities and in people with depression. Most of the risk factors can be modified. It is necessary to develop a standard procedure aimed at preventing falls in the elderly.

Nutritional Status and Tuberculosis Risk in Adult and Pediatric Household Contacts.

PubMed

Aibana, Omowunmi; Acharya, Xeno; Huang, Chuan-Chin; Becerra, Mercedes C; Galea, Jerome T; Chiang, Silvia S; Contreras, Carmen; Calderon, Roger; Yataco, Rosa; Velásquez, Gustavo E; Tintaya, Karen; Jimenez, Judith; Lecca, Leonid; Murray, Megan B

2016-01-01

Studies show obesity decreases risk of tuberculosis (TB) disease. There is limited evidence on whether high body mass index also protects against TB infection; how very high body mass indices influence TB risk; or whether nutritional status predicts this risk in children. We assessed the impact of body mass index on incident TB infection and disease among adults and children. We conducted a prospective cohort study among household contacts of pulmonary TB cases in Lima, Peru. We determined body mass index at baseline and followed participants for one year for TB infection and disease. We used Cox proportional regression analyses to estimate hazard ratios for incident TB infection and disease. We enrolled 14,044 household contacts, and among 6853 negative for TB infection and disease at baseline, 1787 (26.1%) became infected. A total of 406 contacts developed secondary TB disease during follow-up. Body mass index did not predict risk of TB infection but overweight household contacts had significantly decreased risk of TB disease (HR 0.48; 95% CI 0.37-0.64; p <0.001) compared to those with normal weight. Among adults, body mass index ≥ 35 kg/m2 continued to predict a lower risk of TB disease (HR 0.30; 95% CI 0.12-0.74; p 0.009). We found no association between high body mass index and TB infection or disease among children under 12 years of age. High body mass index protects adults against TB disease even at levels ≥ 35 kg/m2. This protective effect does not extend to TB infection and is not seen in children.

Testing the efficacy of a brief sexual risk reduction intervention among high-risk American Indian adults: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Chambers, Rachel; Tingey, Lauren; Beach, Anna; Barlow, Allison; Rompalo, Anne

2016-04-29

American Indian adults are more likely to experience co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders than adults of other racial/ethnic groups and are disproportionately burdened by the most common sexually transmitted infections, namely chlamydia and gonorrhea. Several behavioral interventions are proven efficacious in lowering risk for sexually transmitted infection in various populations and, if adapted to address barriers experienced by American Indian adults who suffer from mental health and substance use problems, may be useful for dissemination in American Indian communities. The proposed study aims to examine the efficacy of an adapted evidence-based intervention to increase condom use and decrease sexual risk-taking and substance use among American Indian adults living in a reservation-based community in the Southwestern United States. The proposed study is a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of an adapted evidence-based intervention compared to a control condition. Participants will be American Indian adults ages 18-49 years old who had a recent episode of binge substance use and/or suicide ideation. Participants will be randomized to the intervention, a two-session risk-reduction counseling intervention or the control condition, optimized standard care. All participants will be offered a self-administered sexually transmitted infection test. Participants will complete assessments at baseline, 3 and 6 months follow-up. The primary outcome measure is condom use at last sex. This is one of the first randomized controlled trials to assess the efficacy of an adapted evidence-based intervention for reducing sexual risk behaviors among AI adults with substance use and mental health problems. If proven successful, there will be an efficacious program for reducing risk behaviors among high-risk adults that can be disseminated in American Indian communities as well as other rural and under-resourced health systems. Clinical Trials NCT02513225.

Evidence for a link between changes to gaze behaviour and risk of falling in older adults during adaptive locomotion.

PubMed

Chapman, G J; Hollands, M A

2006-11-01

There is increasing evidence that gaze stabilization with respect to footfall targets plays a crucial role in the control of visually guided stepping and that there are significant changes to gaze behaviour as we age. However, past research has not measured if age-related changes in gaze behaviour are associated with changes to stepping performance. This paper aims to identify differences in gaze behaviour between young (n=8) adults, older adults determined to be at a low-risk of falling (low-risk, n=4) and older adults prone to falling (high-risk, n=4) performing an adaptive locomotor task and attempts to relate observed differences in gaze behaviour to decline in stepping performance. Participants walked at a self-selected pace along a 9m pathway stepping into two footfall target locations en route. Gaze behaviour and lower limb kinematics were recorded using an ASL 500 gaze tracker interfaced with a Vicon motion analysis system. Results showed that older adults looked significantly sooner to targets, and fixated the targets for longer, than younger adults. There were also significant differences in these measures between high and low-risk older adults. On average, high-risk older adults looked away from targets significantly sooner and demonstrated less accurate and more variable foot placements than younger adults and low-risk older adults. These findings suggest that, as we age, we need more time to plan precise stepping movements and clearly demonstrate that there are differences between low-risk and high-risk older adults in both where and when they look at future stepping targets and the precision with which they subsequently step. We propose that high-risk older adults may prioritize the planning of future actions over the accurate execution of ongoing movements and that adoption of this strategy may contribute to an increased likelihood of falls. Copyright 2005 Elsevier B.V.

Prevalence of High-Risk Sexual Behaviors Among Monoracial and Multiracial Groups from a National Sample: Are Multiracial Young Adults at Greater Risk?

PubMed

Landor, Antoinette M; Halpern, Carolyn Tucker

2016-02-01

The present study compared the prevalence and variation in high-risk sexual behaviors among four monoracial (i.e., White, African American, Asian, Native American) and four multiracial (i.e., White/African American, White/Asian, White/Native American, African American/Native American) young adults using Wave IV data (2008-2009) from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N = 9724). Findings indicated differences in the sexual behavior of monoracial and multiracial young adults, but directions of differences varied depending on the monoracial group used as the referent and gender. Among males, White/African Americans had higher risk than Whites; White/Native Americans had higher risk than Native Americans. Otherwise, multiracial groups had lower risk or did not differ from the single-race groups. Among females, White/Native Americans had higher risk than Whites; White/African Americans had higher risk than African Americans. Other comparisons showed no differences or had lower risk among multiracial groups. Variations in high-risk sexual behaviors underscore the need for health research to disaggregate multiracial groups to better understand health behaviors and outcomes in the context of experiences associated with a multiracial background, and to improve prevention strategies.

Formaldehyde activation of mitoxantrone yields CpG and CpA specific DNA adducts

PubMed Central

Parker, Belinda S.; Cutts, Suzanne M.; Cullinane, Carleen; Phillips, Don R.

2000-01-01

Recently we have found that mitoxantrone, like Adriamycin, can be activated by formaldehyde and subsequently form adducts which stabilise double-stranded DNA in vitro. This activation by formaldehyde may be biologically relevant since formaldehyde levels are elevated in those tumours in which mitoxantrone is most cytotoxic. In vitro transcription analysis revealed that these adducts block the progression of RNA polymerase during transcription and cause truncated RNA transcripts. There was an absolute requirement for both mitoxantrone and formaldehyde in transcriptional blockage formation and the activated complex was found to exhibit site specificity, with blockage occurring prior to CpG and CpA sites in the DNA (non-template strand). The stability of the adduct at 37°C was site dependent. The half-lives ranged from 45 min to ~5 h and this was dependent on both the central 2 bp blockage site as well as flanking sequences. The CpG specificity of mitoxantrone adduct sites was also confirmed independently by a λ exonuclease digestion assay. PMID:10648792

Social and financial resources and high-risk alcohol consumption among older adults.

PubMed

Moos, Rudolf H; Brennan, Penny L; Schutte, Kathleen K; Moos, Bernice S

2010-04-01

This study examined long-term mutual predictive associations between social and financial resources and high-risk alcohol consumption in later life. A sample of 55- to 65-year-old older adults (n = 719) was surveyed at baseline and 10 years and 20 years later. At each contact point, participants completed an inventory that assessed social and financial resources and alcohol consumption. Over the 20-year interval, there was evidence of both social causation and social selection processes in relation to high-risk alcohol consumption. In support of a social causation perspective, higher levels of some social resources, such as participation in social activities, friends' approval of drinking, quality of relationship with spouse, and financial resources, were associated with a subsequent increased likelihood of high-risk alcohol consumption. Conversely, indicating the presence of social selection, high-risk alcohol consumption was associated with subsequent higher levels of friends' approval of drinking and quality of the spousal relationship, but lower quality of relationships with extended family members. These findings reflect mutual influence processes in which older adults' social resources and high-risk alcohol consumption can alter each other. Older adults may benefit from information about how social factors can affect their drinking habits; accordingly, information about social causation effects could be used to guide effective prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing the risk that late-life social factors may amplify their excessive alcohol consumption.

Dietary considerations for reducing cardiometabolic risk in older adults

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The aim of dietary guidance specifically targeted for older adults to minimize the risk of developing cardiometabolic disorders is, for the most part, consistent with that associated with optimal health outcomes throughout adulthood. Evidence suggests that there is a direct link between healthy diet...

Risk Factors for Falls and Fall-Related Injuries in Adults 85 Years of Age and Older

PubMed Central

Grundstrom, Anna C.; Guse, Clare E.; Layde, Peter M.

2011-01-01

Background Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. No previous studies on risk factors for falls have focused on adults 85 years and older, the most rapidly growing segment of adults. Methods We examined demographic, health, and behavioral risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries in adults 65 years and older, with a particular focus on adults 85 years and older. We analyzed self-reported information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 2008. Results Data was available for 120,923 people aged 65 or older and 12,684 people aged 85 or older. Of those aged 85 or older, 21.3% reported at least one fall in the past 3 months and 7.2% reported at least one fall related injury requiring medical care or limiting activity for a day or longer. Below average general health, male sex, perceived insufficient sleep, health problems requiring assistive devices, alcohol consumption, increasing body mass index and history of stroke were all independently associated with a greater risk of falls or fall related injuries. The greater risk of falling in those 85 years and older appeared to be due to the deterioration of overall health status with age; among those with excellent overall health status, there was no greater risk of falling in adults 85 years and older compared to those 65–84 years of age. Conclusions Our results suggest that those with risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries may be appropriate targets for evidence-based fall prevention programs. PMID:21862143

Risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries in adults 85 years of age and older.

PubMed

Grundstrom, Anna C; Guse, Clare E; Layde, Peter M

2012-01-01

Falls are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. No previous studies on risk factors for falls have focused on adults 85 years and older, the most rapidly growing segment of adults. We examined demographic, health, and behavioral risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries in adults 65 years and older, with a particular focus on adults 85 years and older. We analyzed self-reported information from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) for 2008. Data was available for 120,923 people aged 65 or older and 12,684 people aged 85 or older. Of those aged 85 or older, 21.3% reported at least one fall in the past 3 months and 7.2% reported at least one fall related injury requiring medical care or limiting activity for a day or longer. Below average general health, male sex, perceived insufficient sleep, health problems requiring assistive devices, alcohol consumption, increasing body mass index and history of stroke were all independently associated with a greater risk of falls or fall related injuries. The greater risk of falling in those 85 years and older appeared to be due to the deterioration of overall health status with age; among those with excellent overall health status, there was no greater risk of falling in adults 85 years and older compared to those 65-84 years of age. Our results suggest that those with risk factors for falls and fall-related injuries may be appropriate targets for evidence-based fall prevention programs. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Prevalence of Falls and Risk Factors in Adults with Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hsieh, Kelly; Rimmer, James; Heller, Tamar

2012-01-01

The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of falls and risk factors for falls in 1,515 adults (greater than or equal to 18 years) with intellectual disability using baseline data from the Longitudinal Health and Intellectual Disability Study. Nearly 25% of adults from the study were reported to have had one or more falls in the past…

Awareness of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in U.S. Young Adults Aged 18–39 Years

PubMed Central

Bucholz, Emily M.; Gooding, Holly C.; de Ferranti, Sarah D.

2018-01-01

Introduction Young adults with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes are at increased risk of developing heart disease later in life. Despite emphasis on early screening, little is known about awareness of these risk factors in young adulthood. Methods Data from the nationally representative cross-sectional survey National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2014 were analyzed in 2017 to estimate the prevalence of self-reported awareness of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes in U.S. young adults aged 18–39 years (n=11,083). Prevalence estimates were weighted to population estimates using survey procedures, and predictors of awareness were identified using weighted logistic regression. Results Among U.S. young adults, the prevalence of hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, and diabetes was 8.8% (SE=0.4%), 7.3% (SE=0.3%), and 2.6% (SE=0.2%), respectively. The prevalence of borderline high cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose were substantially higher (21.6% [SE= 0.6%], 26.9% [SE=0.7%], and 18.9% [SE=0.6%], respectively). Awareness was low for hypercholesterolemia (56.9% [SE=2.4%]) and moderate for hypertension and diabetes (62.7% [SE=2.4%] and 70.0% [SE=2.7%]); <25% of young adults with borderline levels of these risk factors were aware of their risk. Correlates of risk factor awareness included older age, insurance status, family income above the poverty line, U.S. origin, having a usual source of health care, and the presence of comorbid conditions. Conclusions Despite the high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in U.S. young adults, awareness remains less than ideal. Interventions that target access may increase awareness and facilitate achieving treatment goals in young adults. PMID:29433955

Screen Time, Other Sedentary Behaviours, and Obesity Risk in Adults: A Review of Reviews.

PubMed

Biddle, Stuart J H; García Bengoechea, Enrique; Pedisic, Zeljko; Bennie, Jason; Vergeer, Ineke; Wiesner, Glen

2017-06-01

The aim of this paper is to assess the association between sedentary behaviours, including screen time, and risk of obesity in adults. A review of 10 systematic reviews was undertaken. Available evidence is generally not supportive of associations between sedentary behaviour and obesity in adults. Most studies that found significant associations indicated mostly small effect sizes. Somewhat more consistent associations were shown for screen time (mainly TV viewing), among older adults, and for pre-adult sedentary behaviour to increase the risk of obesity in adulthood. Some evidence also exists for breaks in sedentary time to be associated with a more favourable BMI, and for use of a car to be associated with greater risk of obesity. There is limited evidence for an association between sedentary behaviour in adulthood and obesity and any association that exists does not seem to be causal. Future research is required investigating potentially positive effects for frequent breaks from sitting, less car use, and an uncoupling of TV viewing and dietary intake.

Parental Responses to Infant Crying: The Influence of Child Physical Abuse Risk and Hostile Priming

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crouch, Julie L.; Skowronski, John J.; Milner, Joel S.; Harris, Benjamin

2008-01-01

Objective: Managing a crying infant is a challenge universally faced by new parents. This study examined whether parental interpretations, feelings, and behaviors following exposure to a 2-minute videotaped segment of a crying infant varied as a function of child physical abuse (CPA) risk and exposure to cues of hostility (i.e., hostile priming).…

Associations between adult attachment style and health risk behaviors in an adult female primary care population

PubMed Central

Ahrens, Kym R.; Ciechanowski, Paul; Katon, Wayne

2013-01-01

Objective To examine the relationship between adult attachment style and health risk behaviors among adult women in a primary care setting. Methods In this analysis of a population of women enrolled in a large health maintenance organization (N=701), we examined the relationship between anxious and avoidant dimensions of adult attachment style and a variety of sexual, substance-related, and other health risk behaviors. After conducting descriptive statistics of the entire population, we determined the relationships between the two attachment dimensions and health behaviors using multiple regression analyses in which we controlled for demographic and socioeconomic factors. Results After adjustment for covariates, the anxious dimension of attachment style was significantly associated with increased odds of self-report of having sex without knowing a partner’s history, having multiple (≥2) male partners in the past year, and history of having a sexually transmitted infection (ORs [95% CIs]=1.11 [1.03, 1.20], 1.23 [1.04, 1.45]; and 1.17 [1.05, 1.30], respectively). The avoidant attachment dimension was associated with increased odds of being a smoker and not reporting regular seatbelt use (ORs [95% CIs]=1.15 [1.01, 1.30] and 1.16 [1.01, 1.33], respectively). Conclusions Both anxious and avoidant dimensions of attachment were associated with health risk behaviors in this study. This framework may be a useful tool to allow primary care clinicians to guide screening and intervention efforts. PMID:22469278

Associations between adult attachment style and health risk behaviors in an adult female primary care population.

PubMed

Ahrens, Kym R; Ciechanowski, Paul; Katon, Wayne

2012-05-01

To examine the relationship between adult attachment style and health risk behaviors among adult women in a primary care setting. In this analysis of a population of women enrolled in a large health maintenance organization (N=701), we examined the relationship between anxious and avoidant dimensions of adult attachment style and a variety of sexual, substance-related, and other health risk behaviors. After conducting descriptive statistics of the entire population, we determined the relationships between the two attachment dimensions and health behaviors using multiple regression analyses in which we controlled for demographic and socioeconomic factors. After adjustment for covariates, the anxious dimension of attachment style was significantly associated with increased odds of self-report of having sex without knowing a partner's history, having multiple (≥2) male partners in the past year, and history of having a sexually transmitted infection (ORs [95% CIs]=1.11 [1.03, 1.20], 1.23 [1.04, 1.45]; and 1.17 [1.05, 1.30], respectively). The avoidant attachment dimension was associated with increased odds of being a smoker and not reporting regular seatbelt use (ORs [95% CIs]=1.15 [1.01, 1.30] and 1.16 [1.01, 1.33], respectively). Both anxious and avoidant dimensions of attachment were associated with health risk behaviors in this study. This framework may be a useful tool to allow primary care clinicians to guide screening and intervention efforts. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Trends in Prehypertension and Hypertension Risk Factors in US Adults: 1999-2012.

PubMed

Booth, John N; Li, Jiexiang; Zhang, Lu; Chen, Liwei; Muntner, Paul; Egan, Brent

2017-08-01

Prehypertension is associated with increased risk for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Data are limited on the temporal changes in the prevalence of prehypertension and risk factors for hypertension and cardiovascular disease among US adults with prehypertension. We analyzed data from 30 958 US adults ≥20 years of age who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys between 1999 and 2012. Using the mean of 3 blood pressure (BP) measurements from a study examination, prehypertension was defined as systolic BP of 120 to 139 mm Hg and diastolic BP <90 mm Hg or diastolic BP of 80 to 89 mm Hg and systolic BP <140 mm Hg among participants not taking antihypertensive medication. Between 1999-2000 and 2011-2012, the percentage of US adults with prehypertension decreased from 31.2% to 28.2% ( P trend=0.007). During this time period, the prevalence of several risk factors for cardiovascular disease and incident hypertension increased among US adults with prehypertension, including prediabetes (9.6% to 21.6%), diabetes mellitus (6.0% to 8.5%), overweight (33.5% to 37.3%), and obesity (30.6% to 35.2%). There was a nonstatistically significant increase in no weekly leisure-time physical activity (40.0% to 43.9%). Also, the prevalence of adhering to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension eating pattern decreased (18.4% to 11.9%). In contrast, there was a nonstatistically significant decline in current smoking (25.9% to 23.2%). In conclusion, the prevalence of prehypertension has decreased modestly since 1999-2000. Population-level approaches directed at adults with prehypertension are needed to improve risk factors to prevent hypertension and cardiovascular disease. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Overweight Status, Obesity, and Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease in Adults with Intellectual Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Henderson, C. Michael; Robinson, Laura M.; Davidson, Philip W.; Haveman, Meindert; Janicki, Matthew P.; Albertini, Giorgio

2008-01-01

Research indicates that adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) have high rates of overweight status/obesity (OSO). OSO is associated with several important risk factors for coronary heart disease (CHD). This study focused on assessing whether such risk factors are being identified in adults with ID who are receiving their healthcare in…

Novel sensing technology in fall risk assessment in older adults: a systematic review.

PubMed

Sun, Ruopeng; Sosnoff, Jacob J

2018-01-16

Falls are a major health problem for older adults with significant physical and psychological consequences. A first step of successful fall prevention is to identify those at risk of falling. Recent advancement in sensing technology offers the possibility of objective, low-cost and easy-to-implement fall risk assessment. The objective of this systematic review is to assess the current state of sensing technology on providing objective fall risk assessment in older adults. A systematic review was conducted in accordance to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA). Twenty-two studies out of 855 articles were systematically identified and included in this review. Pertinent methodological features (sensing technique, assessment activities, outcome variables, and fall discrimination/prediction models) were extracted from each article. Four major sensing technologies (inertial sensors, video/depth camera, pressure sensing platform and laser sensing) were reported to provide accurate fall risk diagnostic in older adults. Steady state walking, static/dynamic balance, and functional mobility were used as the assessment activity. A diverse range of diagnostic accuracy across studies (47.9% - 100%) were reported, due to variation in measured kinematic/kinetic parameters and modelling techniques. A wide range of sensor technologies have been utilized in fall risk assessment in older adults. Overall, these devices have the potential to provide an accurate, inexpensive, and easy-to-implement fall risk assessment. However, the variation in measured parameters, assessment tools, sensor sites, movement tasks, and modelling techniques, precludes a firm conclusion on their ability to predict future falls. Future work is needed to determine a clinical meaningful and easy to interpret fall risk diagnosis utilizing sensing technology. Additionally, the gap between functional evaluation and user experience to technology should be addressed.

Cardiovascular Risk and Statin Eligibility of Young Adults After an MI

PubMed Central

Singh, Avinainder; Collins, Bradley L.; Gupta, Ankur; Fatima, Amber; Qamar, Arman; Biery, David; Baez, Julio; Cawley, Mary; Klein, Josh; Hainer, Jon; Plutzky, Jorge; Cannon, Christopher P.; Nasir, Khurram; Di Carli, Marcelo F.; Bhatt, Deepak L.; Blankstein, Ron

2018-01-01

BACKGROUND Despite significant progress in primary prevention, the rate of MI has not declined in young adults. OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to evaluate statin eligibility based on the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines for treatment of blood cholesterol and 2016 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for statin use in primary prevention in a cohort of adults who experienced a first-time myocardial infarction (MI) at a young age. METHODS The YOUNG-MI registry is a retrospective cohort from 2 large academic centers, which includes patients who experienced an MI at age ≤50 years. Diagnosis of type 1 MI was adjudicated by study physicians. Pooled cohort risk equations were used to estimate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score based on data available prior to MI or at the time of presentation. RESULTS Of 1,685 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 210 (12.5%) were on statin therapy prior to MI and were excluded. Among the remaining 1,475 individuals, the median age was 45 years, there were 294 (20%) women, and 846 (57%) had ST-segment elevation MI. At least 1 cardiovascular risk factor was present in 1,225 (83%) patients. The median 10-year atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk score of the cohort was 4.8% (interquartile range: 2.8% to 8.0%). Only 724 (49%) and 430 (29%) would have met criteria for statin eligibility per the 2013 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines and 2016 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations, respectively. This finding was even more pronounced in women, in whom 184 (63%) were not eligible for statins by either guideline, compared with 549 (46%) men (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS The vast majority of adults who present with an MI at a young age would not have met current guideline-based treatment thresholds for statin therapy prior to their MI. These findings highlight the need for better risk assessment tools among young

Connection between competence, usability, environment and risk of falls in elderly adults.

PubMed

Leiva-Caro, José Alex; Salazar-González, Bertha Cecilia; Gallegos-Cabriales, Esther Carlota; Gómez-Meza, Marco Vinicio; Hunter, Kathleen F

2015-01-01

To determine connections between competence, usability, environment and risk of falls in elderly adults. Correlational descriptive study, 123 elderly adults, both male and female, aged 70 years and older were included. Data was collected via the Tinetti Scale, CESD-7 Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Usability Questionnaire on Housing and Housing Enabler; and sociodemographic and health background certificate data. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were used, multivariate linear and logistic regression models were adjusted. 42.0% of the elderly adults had presented with falls, with a higher prevalence in women, and in the group of 70-75 years. The physical environment of the house, gait, and usability were set as risk factors for falls. A negative relationship between usability and depressive symptoms, cognitive health, balance, gait, the social and physical environment was found, p <0.05; and a strong positive correlation between walking and balance, p <0.05. This study helps to better understand the phenomenon of falling, to find a connection between usability with the risk of falls, and other variables.

Connection between competence, usability, environment and risk of falls in elderly adults

PubMed Central

Leiva-Caro, José Alex; Salazar-González, Bertha Cecilia; Gallegos-Cabriales, Esther Carlota; Gómez-Meza, Marco Vinicio; Hunter, Kathleen F.

2015-01-01

Objective: to determine connections between competence, usability, environment and risk of falls in elderly adults. Method: correlational descriptive study, 123 elderly adults, both male and female, aged 70 years and older were included. Data was collected via the Tinetti Scale, CESD-7 Scale, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Usability Questionnaire on Housing and Housing Enabler; and sociodemographic and health background certificate data. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were used, multivariate linear and logistic regression models were adjusted. Results: 42.0% of the elderly adults had presented with falls, with a higher prevalence in women, and in the group of 70-75 years. The physical environment of the house, gait, and usability were set as risk factors for falls. A negative relationship between usability and depressive symptoms, cognitive health, balance, gait, the social and physical environment was found, p <0.05; and a strong positive correlation between walking and balance, p <0.05. Conclusion: this study helps to better understand the phenomenon of falling, to find a connection between usability with the risk of falls, and other variables. PMID:26626006

Childhood Poverty, Cumulative Risk Exposure, and Mental Health in Emerging Adults

PubMed Central

Evans, Gary W.; Cassells, Rochelle C.

2014-01-01

One out of four American children are born into poverty, but little is known about the long-term, mental health implications of early deprivation. The more time in poverty from birth-age-9, the worse mental health as emerging adults (n = 196, M = 17.30 years, 53% male). These results maintain independently of concurrent, adult income levels for self-reported externalizing symptoms and a standard learned helplessness behavioral protocol, but internalizing symptoms were unaffected by childhood poverty. We then demonstrate that part of the reason why early poverty exposure is harmful to mental health among emerging adults is because of elevated cumulative risk exposure assessed at age 13. The significant, prospective, longitudinal relations between early childhood poverty and externalizing symptoms plus learned helplessness behavior are mediated, in part, by exposure to a confluence of psychosocial (violence, family turmoil, child separation from family) and physical (noise, crowding, substandard housing) risk factors during adolescence. PMID:26609499

Cognitive Function and Vascular Risk Factors Among Older African American Adults

PubMed Central

Park, Moon Ho; Tsang, Siny; Sperling, Scott A.; Manning, Carol

2017-01-01

To evaluate the association between vascular risk factors and cognitive impairment among older African American (AA) adults in a primary care clinic. Participants included 96 AA adults aged 60 years or older who were evaluated for global and domain-specific cognition. Participants were interviewed using the Computerized Assessment of Memory and Cognitive Impairment (CAMCI). The relationship between CAMCI cognitive domain scores and vascular risk factors were examined using hierarchical regression models. Patients who smoked, those with higher SBP/DBP values had lower accuracy rates on CAMCI cognitive domains (attention, executive, memory).Those with higher BMI had better attention scores. Patients with higher HbA1C values had worse verbal memory. Patients with higher blood pressure were significantly faster in responding to tasks in the executive domain. Primary care providers working with older AA adults with these VRFs could implement cognitive screening earlier into their practice to reduce barriers of seeking treatment. PMID:28417319

Childhood physical, environmental, and genetic predictors of adult hypertension: the cardiovascular risk in young Finns study.

PubMed

Juhola, Jonna; Oikonen, Mervi; Magnussen, Costan G; Mikkilä, Vera; Siitonen, Niina; Jokinen, Eero; Laitinen, Tomi; Würtz, Peter; Gidding, Samuel S; Taittonen, Leena; Seppälä, Ilkka; Jula, Antti; Kähönen, Mika; Hutri-Kähönen, Nina; Lehtimäki, Terho; Viikari, Jorma S A; Juonala, Markus; Raitakari, Olli T

2012-07-24

Hypertension is a major modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. The present longitudinal study aimed to examine the best combination of childhood physical and environmental factors to predict adult hypertension and furthermore whether newly identified genetic variants for blood pressure increase the prediction of adult hypertension. The study cohort included 2625 individuals from the Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study who were followed up for 21 to 27 years since baseline (1980; age, 3-18 years). In addition to dietary factors and biomarkers related to blood pressure, we examined whether a genetic risk score based on 29 newly identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms enhances the prediction of adult hypertension. Hypertension in adulthood was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥ 130 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mm Hg or medication for the condition. Independent childhood risk factors for adult hypertension included the individual's own blood pressure (P<0.0001), parental hypertension (P<0.0001), childhood overweight/obesity (P=0.005), low parental occupational status (P=0.003), and high genetic risk score (P<0.0001). Risk assessment based on childhood overweight/obesity status, parental hypertension, and parental occupational status was superior in predicting hypertension compared with the approach using only data on childhood blood pressure levels (C statistics, 0.718 versus 0.733; P=0.0007). Inclusion of both parental hypertension history and data on novel genetic variants for hypertension further improved the C statistics (0.742; P=0.015). Prediction of adult hypertension was enhanced by taking into account known physical and environmental childhood risk factors, family history of hypertension, and novel genetic variants. A multifactorial approach may be useful in identifying children at high risk for adult hypertension.

Sexting, substance use, and sexual risk behavior in young adults

PubMed Central

Benotsch, Eric G.; Snipes, Daniel J.; Martin, Aaron M.; Bull, Sheana S.

2012-01-01

Purpose Cell phone use has become more widespread over the past decade. Young adults are frequently early adopters of new technologies, including cell phones. Most prior research examining sexting, the act of sending sexually explicit or suggestive images via text message, has focused on the legal or social consequences of this behavior. The current study focused on the public health implications of sexting by examining associations between sexting, substance use, and sexual risk behavior in youth. Methods Young adults (N=763) completed online questionnaires assessing demographics, cell phone use (e.g., texting, sexting), substance use, and sexual risk behaviors. Results Sexting was reported by a substantial minority of participants (44%). Compared to their non-sexting counterparts, participants who engaged in sexting were more likely to report recent substance use and high-risk sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex and sex with multiple partners. Of those who engaged in sexting, a considerable percentage (31.8%) reported having sex with a new partner for the first time after sexting with that person. In multivariate analyses, sexting was associated with high-risk sexual behavior after accounting for demographic factors, total texting behaviors, and substance use. Conclusions Results suggest that sexting is robustly associated with high-risk sexual behavior. Many individuals exchange explicit or provocative photos with long-term sexual partners, but at least some participants in this study were incurring new sexual risks subsequent to sexting. Additional research is needed to understand the contexts in which sexting occurs, motivations for sexting, and relationship of sexting to risk behavior. PMID:23299017

Quantitative Gait Markers and Incident Fall Risk in Older Adults

PubMed Central

Holtzer, Roee; Lipton, Richard B.; Wang, Cuiling

2009-01-01

Background Identifying quantitative gait markers of falls in older adults may improve diagnostic assessments and suggest novel intervention targets. Methods We studied 597 adults aged 70 and older (mean age 80.5 years, 62% women) enrolled in an aging study who received quantitative gait assessments at baseline. Association of speed and six other gait markers (cadence, stride length, swing, double support, stride length variability, and swing time variability) with incident fall rate was studied using generalized estimation equation procedures adjusted for age, sex, education, falls, chronic illnesses, medications, cognition, disability as well as traditional clinical tests of gait and balance. Results Over a mean follow-up period of 20 months, 226 (38%) of the 597 participants fell. Mean fall rate was 0.44 per person-year. Slower gait speed (risk ratio [RR] per 10 cm/s decrease 1.069, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001–1.142) was associated with higher risk of falls in the fully adjusted models. Among six other markers, worse performance on swing (RR 1.406, 95% CI 1.027–1.926), double-support phase (RR 1.165, 95% CI 1.026–1.321), swing time variability (RR 1.007, 95% CI 1.004–1.010), and stride length variability (RR 1.076, 95% CI 1.030–1.111) predicted fall risk. The associations remained significant even after accounting for cognitive impairment and disability. Conclusions Quantitative gait markers are independent predictors of falls in older adults. Gait speed and other markers, especially variability, should be further studied to improve current fall risk assessments and to develop new interventions. PMID:19349593

The implementation of the Care Programme Approach for service users with a learning disability. Building Bridges to the same Old Horizons?

PubMed

Kelly, M

2017-08-01

WHAT IS KNOWN ON THE SUBJECT?: People with mental health problems and learning disabilities often do not receive the care they require. The Care Programme Approach (CPA) is meant to help with this. However, there have been many problems in the past with the introduction of the CPA into mental health services. There is no literature which explores what factors help or hinder the introduction of the CPA for service users with a mental health and learning disability, especially from the perspective of those responsible for overseeing this process. WHAT DOES THIS ARTICLE ADD TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE?: The implementation of the CPA for this service user group is fragmented, and services are not working together in partnership. The CPA is being effectively implemented for people who are deemed to present with a risk to themselves or others. If a service user does not present with a high risk, they are not provided care through the CPA. Service users were not involved in the development or introduction of the policy in practice. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE?: Services need to work better at engaging service users when they are developing and introducing new policies. Rather than applying the CPA for all service users, across all services, it should only be considered for those deemed to present with a high risk. It is effectively implemented for these people. For those not deemed to present with a high risk, services should consider using alternative service user led care planning frameworks. Introduction The Care Programme Approach was introduced in England to ensure services met the needs of people with mental health problems and a concurrent learning disability (dual diagnosis). The CPA implementation was patchy and services failed to work in partnership. Aim This study aimed to explore the factors shaping the recent implementation of the CPA for service users with a dual diagnosis. Method A single case study approach was undertaken. Data were collected through

Volunteering by older adults and risk of mortality: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Okun, Morris A; Yeung, Ellen WanHeung; Brown, Stephanie

2013-06-01

Organizational volunteering has been touted as an effective strategy for older adults to help themselves while helping others. Extending previous reviews, we carried out a meta-analysis of the relation between organizational volunteering by late-middle-aged and older adults (minimum age = 55 years old) and risk of mortality. We focused on unadjusted effect sizes (i.e., bivariate relations), adjusted effect sizes (i.e., controlling for other variables such as health), and interaction effect sizes (e.g., the joint effect of volunteering and religiosity). For unadjusted effect sizes, on average, volunteering reduced mortality risk by 47%, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 38% to 55%. For adjusted effect sizes, on average, volunteering reduced mortality risk by 24%, with a 95% confidence interval ranging from 16% to 31%. For interaction effect sizes, we found preliminary support that as public religiosity increases, the inverse relation between volunteering and mortality risk becomes stronger. The discussion identifies several unresolved issues and directions for future research. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2013 APA, all rights reserved.

Predicting Two-Year Risk of Developing Pneumonia in Older Adults Without Dementia

PubMed Central

Jackson, Michael L.; Walker, Rod; Lee, Sei; Larson, Eric; Dublin, Sascha

2016-01-01

Background Pneumonia is a common cause of illness and death in older adults (≥65 years of age). Pneumonia prediction models could be used by clinicians in counseling patients and by policy makers and researchers for risk adjustment. Objectives To develop three prognostic indices, which vary in degree of detail required, for two-year pneumonia risk in older adults. Setting Community-dwelling enrollees in Group Health (GH), an integrated healthcare delivery system. Participants The study included 3,375 subjects enrolled in the Adult Changes in Thought study. Participants were ≥65 years of age, dementia-free, and enrolled in GH for at least two years prior to start of follow-up. Subjects were divided into development (n=2,250) and validation (n=1,125) cohorts. Exposures Questionnaire data and interviewer assessments on functional status, medical history, smoking and alcohol use, cognitive function, personal care, problem solving, physical measures including grip strength and gait speed, and administrative database information on comorbid illnesses, laboratory tests, and prescriptions dispensed. Main outcome Incident community-acquired pneumonia, defined presumptively from administrative data and validated by medical record review. Results Participants (59% female) contributed 12,998 visits at which risk factors were assessed; 642 pneumonia events were observed during follow-up. Age, sex, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure, body mass index, and use of inhaled or oral corticosteroids were key predictors in all prognostic indices. A risk score based on these seven variables, which are commonly available in electronic medical records, had equal or better performance (c-index, 0.69 in the validation cohort) than scores including more detailed data such as functional status. Conclusion Data commonly available in electronic medical records can stratify older adults into groups with varying subsequent two-year pneumonia risk. PMID:27401847

Risk of seizure relapse after antiepileptic drug withdrawal in adult patients with focal epilepsy.

PubMed

He, Ru-Qian; Zeng, Qing-Yi; Zhu, Pan; Bao, Yi-Xin; Zheng, Rong-Yuan; Xu, Hui-Qin

2016-11-01

The objective of this study was to estimate the risk of a seizure relapse and the high-risk period of recurrence after antiepileptic drug (AED) withdrawal and to determine the predictive factors for a seizure relapse in adult patients with focal epilepsy who were seizure-free for more than 2years. Using the Wenzhou Epilepsy Follow-Up Registry Database, 200 adult patients with focal epilepsy were recruited, who were undergoing follow-up, met the inclusion criteria of this study, were seizure-free for more than 2years, began withdrawing between June 2003 and June 2014, and were followed up prospectively for at least 1year or until a seizure relapse. The risk of recurrence and the time to seizure relapse were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method, and the predictive factors were identified by the Cox proportional hazard regression model. A total of 99 patients had an unprovoked relapse during the follow-up period. The relapse rate was 49.5%, and each year, the recurrence probability of 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72, and 84months after AED withdrawal was 24.0%, 20.4%, 8.3%, 2.7%, 4.6%, 0.97%, and 0.98%, respectively. The two independent risk factors for recurrence after withdrawal in adult patients with focal epilepsy were a longer duration of active epilepsy and a shorter seizure-free period before withdrawal. The high-risk period of a seizure relapse in adult patients with focal epilepsy is the first 2years after withdrawal, and beyond 5years after withdrawal, seizures rarely relapse (relapse rate<1%). A seizure-free period for less than 4years before withdrawal is a predictive factor of risk for seizure recurrence after AED withdrawal in adult patients with focal epilepsy. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Patterns of justice involvement among adults with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: key risk factors.

PubMed

Robertson, Allison G; Swanson, Jeffrey W; Frisman, Linda K; Lin, Hsiuju; Swartz, Marvin S

2014-07-01

Adults with serious mental illness have a relatively high risk of criminal justice involvement. Some risk factors for justice involvement are known, but the specific interaction of these risk factors has not been examined. This study explored the interaction of gender, substance use disorder, and psychiatric diagnosis among patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder to identify subgroups at higher risk of justice involvement. Administrative service records of 25,133 adults with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder who were clients of Connecticut's public behavioral health system during 2005-2007 were merged with state records of criminal convictions, incarceration, and other measures of justice involvement. The main effects and the effects of interactions of gender, substance use disorder, and psychiatric diagnosis on risk of justice involvement ("offending") were estimated by using multivariable logistic regression. Men with bipolar disorder and co-occurring substance use disorder had the highest absolute risk of offending in every category of justice involvement. For both men and women, bipolar disorder was associated with an increased risk of offending versus schizophrenia, but the increase was significantly greater for women. Substance use disorder also increased risk of offending more among women than men, especially among those with schizophrenia. Men and women with bipolar disorder and substance use disorders have much higher risk of justice involvement than those with schizophrenia, especially those without a substance use disorder. Research is needed to validate these effects in other populations and specify risk factors for justice involvement among adults with mental illness.

Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults and Risk of Dementia.

PubMed

Kaup, Allison R; Byers, Amy L; Falvey, Cherie; Simonsick, Eleanor M; Satterfield, Suzanne; Ayonayon, Hilsa N; Smagula, Stephen F; Rubin, Susan M; Yaffe, Kristine

2016-05-01

Depression has been identified as a risk factor for dementia. However, most studies have measured depressive symptoms at only one time point, and older adults may show different patterns of depressive symptoms over time. To investigate the association between trajectories of depressive symptoms and risk of dementia in older adults. This was a prospective cohort investigation of black and white community-dwelling older adults in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Participants were enrolled between May 1997 and June 1998 and followed up through 2001-2002. The dates of this analysis were September 2014 to December 2015. The setting was community research centers in Memphis, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Trajectories of depressive symptoms were assessed from baseline to year 5. Symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Short Form, and trajectories were calculated using latent class growth curve analysis. Incident dementia through year 11, determined by dementia medication use, hospital records, or significant cognitive decline (≥1.5 SD race-specific decline on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination). We examined the association between depressive symptom trajectories and dementia incidence using Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for demographics, health factors that differed between groups, and cognition during the depressive symptom assessment period (baseline to year 5). The analytic cohort included 2488 black and white older adults with repeated depressive symptom assessments from baseline to year 5 who were free of dementia throughout that period. Their mean (SD) age at baseline was 74.0 (2.8) years, and 53.1% (n = 1322) were female. The following 3 depressive symptom trajectories were identified: consistently minimal symptoms (62.0% [n = 1542] of participants), moderate and increasing symptoms (32.2% [n = 801] of participants), and high and increasing symptoms (5

Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults and Risk of Dementia

PubMed Central

Kaup, Allison R.; Byers, Amy L.; Falvey, Cherie; Simonsick, Eleanor M.; Satterfield, Suzanne; Ayonayon, Hilsa N.; Smagula, Stephen F.; Rubin, Susan M.; Yaffe, Kristine

2016-01-01

IMPORTANCE Depression has been identified as a risk factor for dementia. However, most studies have measured depressive symptoms at only one time point, and older adults may show different patterns of depressive symptoms over time. OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between trajectories of depressive symptoms and risk of dementia in older adults. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This was a prospective cohort investigation of black and white community-dwelling older adults in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition study. Participants were enrolled between May 1997 and June 1998 and followed up through 2001–2002. The dates of this analysis were September 2014 to December 2015. The setting was community research centers in Memphis, Tennessee, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Trajectories of depressive symptoms were assessed from baseline to year 5. Symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale Short Form, and trajectories were calculated using latent class growth curve analysis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Incident dementia through year 11, determined by dementia medication use, hospital records, or significant cognitive decline (≥1.5 SD race-specific decline on the Modified Mini-Mental State Examination). We examined the association between depressive symptom trajectories and dementia incidence using Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusted for demographics, health factors that differed between groups, and cognition during the depressive symptom assessment period (baseline to year 5). RESULTS The analytic cohort included 2488 black and white older adults with repeated depressive symptom assessments from baseline to year 5 who were free of dementia throughout that period. Their mean (SD) age at baseline was 74.0 (2.8) years, and 53.1% (n = 1322) were female. The following 3 depressive symptom trajectories were identified: consistently minimal symptoms (62.0% [n = 1542] of participants), moderate and increasing

Assessment of Interpersonal Risk (AIR) in Adults with Learning Disabilities and Challenging Behaviour--Piloting a New Risk Assessment Tool

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Campbell, Martin; McCue, Michael

2013-01-01

A new risk assessment tool, "Assessment of Interpersonal Risk" (AIR), was piloted and evaluated to measure risk factors and compatibility between individuals living in an assessment and treatment unit in one NHS area. The adults with learning disabilities in this unit had severe and enduring mental health problems and/or behaviour that is severely…

High resource use among adult congenital heart surgery admissions in adult hospitals: risk factors and association with death and comorbidities.

PubMed

Bhatt, Ami B; Rajabali, Alefiyah; He, Wei; Benavidez, Oscar J

2015-01-01

Adult hospitals are a common location of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) admissions, including cardiac surgical admissions. Understanding the patterns and predictors of resource use could aid these institutions by identifying and targeting potentially modifiable determinants of high resource use (HRU). Our objectives were to examine resource use during adult congenital heart surgical admissions in adult hospitals, determine the association of HRU with mortality, and identify risk factors for HRU. Population-based retrospective study We obtained data from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample 2005-2009 and examined ACHD surgical admissions ages 18-49 years (n = 16 231). We defined HRU as admissions with >90th percentile for total hospital charges. Despite representing 10% of admissions, HRU admissions accounted for 32% of total charges. HRU admissions had a higher mortality rate (9.7% vs. 1.8%, P < .001). Multivariable analysis demonstrated that HRU is associated with government insurance adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 2.0 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6,2.4), emergency admissions AOR 3.9 (95% CI 3.1,4.8), complications AOR 4.2 (95% CI 3.3,5.2), renal failure AOR 1.8 (95% CI 1.4,2.2), congestive heart failure AOR 1.2 (95% CI 1,1.4), surgical complexity risk category-2 AOR 2.0 (95% CI 1.0,3.6), and category-3+ AOR 2.3 (95% CI 1.4,3.8). HRU admissions for adult congenital heart surgery consumed a disproportionate amount of resources and were associated with higher mortality. HRU risk factors included nonelective admissions, government insurance, heart failure, surgical complexity, renal failure, and complications. Complications, if preventable, may be a target for improvement strategies to decrease resource use. Other risk factors may require a broader patient care approach. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Pathways to Adult Sexual Revictimization: Direct and Indirect Behavioral Risk Factors across the Lifespan

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fargo, Jamison D.

2009-01-01

The purpose of this study is to investigate direct and indirect social and behavioral risk factors for adult sexual revictimization. Participants include 147 adult, predominantly African American (88%) women, 59% of whom had a documented history of child sexual abuse. Participants are interviewed in adulthood about adolescent and adult sexual…

Health Equity and Aging of Bisexual Older Adults: Pathways of Risk and Resilience.

PubMed

Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I; Shiu, Chengshi; Bryan, Amanda E B; Goldsen, Jayn; Kim, Hyun-Jun

2017-05-01

Bisexual older adults are a growing yet largely invisible, underserved, and understudied population. Utilizing the Health Equity Promotion Model, we examined hypothesized mechanisms accounting for health disparities between bisexual older adults and lesbian and gay older adults. Based on data from Caring and Aging with Pride, the largest national survey of LGBT older adults, this study (N = 2,463) utilized structural equation modeling to investigate direct and indirect associations between sexual identity (bisexual vs. lesbian and gay) and health via sexual identity factors (identity disclosure and internalized stigma), social resources, and socioeconomic status (SES). Bisexual older adults reported significantly poorer health compared with lesbian and gay older adults. Indirect effects involving sexual identity factors, social resources, and SES explained the association between bisexual identity and poorer health. A potentially protective pathway was also identified wherein bisexuals had larger social networks after adjusting for other factors. Bisexual older adults face distinct challenges and health risks relative to other older adults, likely because of the accumulation of socioeconomic and psychosocial disadvantages across the life course. Interventions taking into account older bisexuals' unique risk and protective factors may be helpful in reducing health inequities. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Adolescent and Young Adult Perceptions of Hookah and Little Cigars/Cigarillos: Implications for Risk Messages

PubMed Central

Cornacchione, Jennifer; Wagoner, Kimberly G.; Wiseman, Kimberly D.; Kelley, Dannielle; Noar, Seth M.; Smith, Margaret H.; Sutfin, Erin L.

2016-01-01

Use of hookah and little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs) is high among adolescents and young adults. Although these products have health effects similar to cigarettes, adolescents and young adults believe them to be safer. This study examined adolescent and young adult perceptions of hookah and LCCs to develop risk messages aimed at discouraging use among users and at-risk nonusers. Ten focus groups with 77 adolescents and young adults were conducted to explore their perceptions about the perceived risks and benefits of hookah and LCC use. Participants were users of other (non-cigarette) tobacco products (n=47) and susceptible nonusers (n=30). Transcripts were coded for emergent themes on participants’ perceptions of hookah and LCCs. Participants did not perceive health effects associated with hookah and LCC use to be serious or likely to happen given their infrequency of use and perceptions that they are less harmful than cigarettes. Participants generally had positive associations with smoking hookah and LCCs for several reasons, including that they are used in social gatherings, come in various flavors, and can be used to perform smoke tricks. Because adolescents and young adults underestimate and discount the long-term risks associated with hookah and LCC use, effective messages may be those that focus on the acute/immediate health and cosmetic effects. PMID:27337629

Early life adversity and adult biological risk profiles.

PubMed

Friedman, Esther M; Karlamangla, Arun S; Gruenewald, Tara L; Koretz, Brandon; Seeman, Teresa E

2015-01-01

To determine whether there is a relationship between early life adversity (ELA) and biological parameters known to predict health risks and to examine the extent to which circumstances in midlife mediate this relationship. We analyzed data on 1180 respondents from the biomarker subsample of the second wave of the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States. ELA assessments were based on childhood socioeconomic disadvantage (i.e., on welfare, perceived low income, and less educated parents) and other stressors (e.g., parental death, parental divorce, and parental physical abuse). The outcome variable was cumulative allostatic load (AL), a marker of biological risk. We also incorporate information on adult circumstances, including than following: education, social relationships, and health behaviors. Childhood socioeconomic adversity and physical abuse were associated with increased AL (B = 0.094, standard error = 0.041, and B = 0.263, standard error = 0.091 respectively), with nonsignificant associations for parental divorce and death with AL. Adult education mediated the relationship between socioeconomic ELA and cumulative AL to the point of nonsignificance, with this factor alone explaining nearly 40% of the relationship. The association between childhood physical abuse and AL remained even after adjusting for adult educational attainments, social relationships, and health behaviors. These associations were most pronounced for secondary stress systems, including inflammation, cardiovascular function, and lipid metabolism. The physiological consequences of early life socioeconomic adversity are attenuated by achieving high levels of schooling later on. The adverse consequences of childhood physical abuse, on the other hand, persist in multivariable-adjusted analysis.

Dental health care providers' views on child physical abuse in Malaysia.

PubMed

Hussein, A S; Ahmad, R; Ibrahim, N; Yusoff, A; Ahmad, D

2016-10-01

To assess the knowledge, attitudes and experience of a group of Malaysian dental health care providers regarding child physical abuse (CPA) cases in terms of frequency of occurrence, diagnosis, risk factors and reporting. A questionnaire was distributed to all dental health care providers attending a national paediatric dentistry conference in Kuantan, Malaysia, and demographical variables, knowledge, attitudes and experience about CPA, risk factors and the reasons for not reporting abuse cases were collected. Descriptive statistics and bivariance analysis were performed. A 5 % level of statistical significance was applied for the analyses (p ≤ 0.05). The response rate was 74.7 %. Half of the respondents (52.8 %) stated that the frequency of occurrence of CPA is common in Malaysia. Full agreement between dental health care providers was not determined concerning the identification of signs of CPA and its risk factors. Although 83.3 % were aware that reporting CPA is a legal requirement in Malaysia, only 14.8 % have reported such cases. Lack of adequate history was the main reason for not reporting. Virtually two-thirds of the respondents (62 %) indicated that they had not received sufficient information about CPA and were willing to be educated on how to diagnose and report child abuse cases (81.5, 78.7 %, respectively). There were considerable disparities in respondents' knowledge and attitudes regarding the occurrence, signs of suspected cases, risk factors and reporting of CPA. Despite being aware of such cases, only a handful was reported. Enhancement in the education of Malaysian dental health care providers on recognising and reporting CPA is recommended.

None of Us Will Get Out of Here Alive: The Intersection of Perceived Risk for HIV, Risk Behaviors and Survival Expectations among African American Emerging Adults.

PubMed

Edwards, Lorece V; Lindong, Ian; Brown, Lawrence; Hawkins, Anita S; Dennis, Sabriya; Fajobi, Olaoluwa; Rowel, Randolph; Braithwaite, Ronald; Sydnor, Kim D

2017-01-01

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) significantly affects minority emerging adults, among whom the rate of new diagnoses is high and health disparities are more pronounced. Importantly, emerging adults today have limited knowledge of the earlier toll of the virus when it was identified as a killer. Among this population, perceptions of risk for HIV are low and sexual risk taking behaviors are high. The Get SMART Project is a behavioral intervention aimed to provide re-purposed HIV, alcohol, and substance abuse prevention education and HIV testing to African American emerging adults ages 18-24. The project was guided by the Health Belief Model, Community Promise, and Training for Institutional Procedures. Findings revealed that HIV testing is low. Marijuana and alcohol are drugs of choice. Emerging adults do not see themselves at risk for HIV, although they engaged in high-risk behaviors. Additionally, survival expectations influence behavior risk.

RANDOMISED ASPIRIN ASSIGNMENT AND RISK OF ADULT-ONSET ASTHMA IN THE WOMEN'S HEALTH STUDY

PubMed Central

Kurth, Tobias; Barr, R. Graham; Gaziano, J. Michael; Buring, Julie E.

2008-01-01

Rationale Randomised data in men showed a small but significant reduction in risk of adult-onset asthma among those assigned to aspirin. Results from an observational study in women suggest that frequent use of aspirin decreased the risk of adult-onset asthma. Randomised data in women are lacking. Objective To test the effect of 100 mg of aspirin on alternate days or placebo on the risk of adult-onset asthma in the Women's Health Study. Methods Post-hoc analyses from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of aspirin and vitamin E in apparently healthy US women with no indication or contraindication to aspirin therapy and free of a history of asthma at study entry. Measurements Female health professionals could self-report an asthma diagnosis on yearly questionnaires. Results Among 37,270 women without reported history of asthma prior to randomisation and during 10 years of follow-up, there were 872 new reports of asthma diagnosis in the aspirin group and 963 in the placebo group (hazard ratio=0.90; 95% confidence interval=0.82−0.99; P=0.027). This apparent 10% lower relative risk of incident adult-onset asthma among those assigned to aspirin was significantly modified by body mass index, indicating no effect among women with a body mass index of ≥30 kg/m2. There was no significant effect modification by age, smoking status, exercise levels, postmenopausal hormone use, or randomised vitamin E assignment. Conclusions In this large, randomised clinical trial of apparently healthy adult women, assignment of 100 mg of aspirin on alternate days reduced the relative risk of newly reported diagnosis of asthma. PMID:18339679

The impact of delinquency on young adult sexual risk behaviors and sexually transmitted infections.

PubMed

Aalsma, Matthew C; Tong, Yan; Wiehe, Sarah E; Tu, Wanzhu

2010-01-01

Youth in the juvenile justice system have increased sexual risk behavior and sexually transmitted infections (STI). However, research exploring the effect of self-reported delinquency on sexual risk behavior and STI is limited, and results vary depending on the populations studied. Therefore, we used nationally representative data to examine the longitudinal association between delinquent behavior, sexual risk behavior, and STI among adolescents and young adults. We used a sample of 10,828 participants from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent and Health. Outcomes included STI and sexual risk behavior from Wave III (17-27-year-olds). Predictors for the generalized linear regression models (stratified by gender) include race, age, education, relationship status at Wave III, and delinquent behavior groups (life-course persistent, adolescence-limited, late-onset and nondelinquency). None of the delinquency groups were associated with young adult STI. Only life-course persistent delinquency was associated consistently with sexual risk behavior (except for condom use). The adolescence-limited and late-onset groups had limited effects on sexual risk outcomes. Life-course persistent delinquency influences the expression of young adult sexual risk behavior. However, delinquent behavior does not predict STI in a population-based sample of youth. Programs and interventions that address the sexual health of youth need to consider the role of delinquency in shaping sexual risk behaviors, and future research should explore broader societal and environmental risk factors on STIs. Copyright 2010 Society for Adolescent Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Risk factors for adult interpersonal violence in suicide attempters

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Suicidal and violent behaviours are interlinked and share common biological underpinnings. In the present study we analysed the association between violent behaviour as a child, childhood trauma, adult psychiatric illness, and substance abuse in relation to interpersonal violence as an adult in suicide attempters with mood disorders. Methods A total of 161 suicide attempters were diagnosed with Structured Clinical Interviews and assessed with the Karolinska Interpersonal Violence Scale (KIVS) measuring exposure to violence and expressed violent behaviour in childhood (between 6-14 years of age) and during adult life (15 years or older). Ninety five healthy volunteers were used as a comparison group. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with the two KIVS subscales, expressed violent behaviour as a child and exposure to violence in childhood together with substance abuse, personality disorder diagnoses and age as possible predictors of adult interpersonal violence in suicide attempters. Results Violent behaviour as a child, age and substance abuse were significant predictors of adult interpersonal violence. ROC analysis for the prediction model for adult violence with the KIVS subscale expressed violence as a child gave an AUC of 0.79. Using two predictors: violent behaviour as a child and substance abuse diagnosis gave an AUC of 0.84. The optimal cut-off for the KIVS subscale expressed violence as a child was higher for male suicide attempters. Conclusions Violent behaviour in childhood and substance abuse are important risk factors for adult interpersonal violent behaviour in suicide attempters. PMID:25001499

Young Adults' Risk Perceptions of Various Tobacco Products Relative to Cigarettes: Results from the National Young Adult Health Survey

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wackowski, Olivia A.; Delnevo, Cristine D.

2016-01-01

Objectives: Tobacco product risk perceptions may influence whether individuals use those products instead of or in addition to regular cigarettes. This study aimed to explore risk perceptions of various tobacco products relative to traditional cigarettes with young adults, a group with higher rates of tobacco use. Method: We examined risk…

More Young Adults at Risk for High Blood Pressure | NIH MedlinePlus the Magazine

MedlinePlus

... young adults have high blood pressure. NIH-funded analysis indicates higher risk for young adults than previously ... DASH) clinical study, which tested the effects of food nutrients on blood pressure. It emphasizes consumption of ...

Tobacco use in older adults in Ghana: sociodemographic characteristics, health risks and subjective wellbeing.

PubMed

Yawson, Alfred E; Baddoo, Akosua; Hagan-Seneadza, Nana Ayegua; Calys-Tagoe, Benedict; Hewlett, Sandra; Dako-Gyeke, Phyllis; Mensah, George; Minicuci, Nadia; Naidoo, Nirmala; Chatterji, Somnath; Kowal, Paul; Biritwum, Richard

2013-10-20

Tobacco use over the life-course threatens to increase disease burden in older adulthood, including lower income countries like Ghana. This paper describes demographic, socioeconomic, health risks and life satisfaction indices related to tobacco use among older adults in Ghana. This work was based on the World Health Organization's multi-country Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE), conducted in six countries including Ghana. Wave one of SAGE in Ghana was conducted in 2007-2008 as collaboration between WHO and the University of Ghana Medical School through the Department of Community Health. A nationally representative sample of 4305 older adults aged 50 years and above were interviewed. Associations between tobacco consumption and sociodemographic, socioeconomic, health risk and life satisfaction were evaluated using chi-square and odds ratio (OR). Logistic regression analyses, adjusted for age, sex and other variables, were conducted to determine predictors of tobacco consumption in older persons. Overall prevalence of current daily smokers among older adults in Ghana was 7.6%. Tobacco use (i.e. ever used tobacco) was associated with older males, (AOR = 1.10, CI 1.05-1.15), older adults residing in rural locations (AOR = 1.37, CI 1.083-1.724), and older adults who used alcohol (AOR = 1.13, CI 0.230-2.418). Tobacco use was also associated (although not statistically significant per p-values) with increased self-reporting of angina, arthritis, asthma, chronic lung disease, depression, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke. Older adults who used tobacco and with increased health risks, tended to be without health insurance (AOR = 1.41, CI 1.111-1.787). Satisfaction with life and daily living was much lower for those who use tobacco. Regional differences existed in tobacco use; the three northern regions (Upper East, Northern and Upper West) had higher proportions of tobacco use among older adults in the country. Quitting tobacco use was higher

Energy drinks and alcohol-related risk among young adults.

PubMed

Caviness, Celeste M; Anderson, Bradley J; Stein, Michael D

2017-01-01

Energy drink consumption, with or without concurrent alcohol use, is common among young adults. This study sought to clarify risk for negative alcohol outcomes related to the timing of energy drink use. The authors interviewed a community sample of 481 young adults, aged 18-25, who drank alcohol in the last month. Past-30-day energy drink use was operationalized as no-use, use without concurrent alcohol, and concurrent use of energy drinks with alcohol ("within a couple of hours"). Negative alcohol outcomes included past-30-day binge drinking, past-30-day alcohol use disorder, and drinking-related consequences. Just over half (50.5%) reported no use of energy drinks,18.3% reported using energy drinks without concurrent alcohol use, and 31.2% reported concurrent use of energy drinks and alcohol. Relative to those who reported concurrent use of energy drinks with alcohol, and controlling for background characteristics and frequency of alcohol consumption, those who didn't use energy drinks and those who used without concurrent alcohol use had significantly lower binge drinking, negative consequences, and rates of alcohol use disorder (P < .05 for all outcomes). There were no significant differences between the no-use and energy drink without concurrent alcohol groups on any alcohol-related measure (P > .10 for all outcomes). Concurrent energy drink and alcohol use is associated with increased risk for negative alcohol consequences in young adults. Clinicians providing care to young adults could consider asking patients about concurrent energy drink and alcohol use as a way to begin a conversation about risky alcohol consumption while addressing 2 substances commonly used by this population.

Association between cumulative social risk and ideal cardiovascular health in US adults: NHANES 1999-2006.

PubMed

Caleyachetty, Rishi; Echouffo-Tcheugui, Justin B; Muennig, Peter; Zhu, Wenyi; Muntner, Paul; Shimbo, Daichi

2015-07-15

The American Heart Association developed the Life's Simple 7 metric for defining cardiovascular health. Little is known about the association of co-occurring social risk factors on ideal cardiovascular health. Using data on 11,467 adults aged ≥25 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999-2006, we examined the association between cumulative social risk and ideal cardiovascular health in US adults. A cumulative risk score (range 0 to 3 or 4) was created by summing four social risk factors (low family income, low education level, minority race, and single-living status). Ideal levels for each component in Life's Simple 7 (blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, BMI, smoking, physical activity, and diet) were used to create an ideal Life's Simple 7 score [0-1 (low), 2, 3, 4, and 5-7 (high)]. Adults with low income (odds ratio [OR]=0.30 [95% CI 0.23-0.39]), low education [0.22 (0.16-0.28)], who are non-white (0.44 [0.36-0.54]) and single-living [0.79 (0.67-0.95)] were less likely to have 5-7 versus 0 ideal Life's Simple 7 scores after adjustment for age and sex. Adults were less likely to attain 5-7 versus 0 ideal Life's Simple 7 scores as exposure to the number of social risk factors increased [OR (95% CI) of 0.58 (0.49-0.68); 0.27 (0.21-0.35); and 0.19 (0.14-0.27) for cumulative social risk scores of 1, 2, and 3 or 4, respectively, each versus 0]. US adults with an increasing number of socially risk factors, were progressively less likely to attain ideal levels of cardiovascular health factors. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Risk score for identifying adults with CSF pleocytosis and negative CSF Gram stain at low risk for an urgent treatable cause.

PubMed

Hasbun, Rodrigo; Bijlsma, Merijn; Brouwer, Matthijs C; Khoury, Nabil; Hadi, Christiane M; van der Ende, Arie; Wootton, Susan H; Salazar, Lucrecia; Hossain, Md Monir; Beilke, Mark; van de Beek, Diederik

2013-08-01

We aimed to derive and validate a risk score that identifies adults with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and a negative CSF Gram stain at low risk for an urgent treatable cause. Patients with CSF pleocytosis and a negative CSF Gram stain were stratified into a prospective derivation (n = 193) and a retrospective validation (n = 567) cohort. Clinically related baseline characteristics were grouped into three composite variables, each independently associated with a set of predefined urgent treatable causes. We subsequently derived a risk score classifying patients into low (0 composite variables present) or high (≥ 1 composite variables present) risk for an urgent treatable cause. The sensitivity of the risk score was determined in the validation cohort and in a prospective case series of 214 adults with CSF-culture proven bacterial meningitis, CSF pleocytosis and a negative Gram stain. A total of 41 of 193 patients (21%) in the derivation cohort and 71 of 567 (13%) in the validation cohort had an urgent treatable cause. Sensitivity of the dichotomized risk score to detect an urgent treatable cause was 100.0% (95% CI 93.9-100.0%) in the validation cohort and 100.0% (95% CI 97.8-100.0%) in bacterial meningitis patients. The risk score can be used to identify adults with CSF pleocytosis and a negative CSF Gram stain at low risk for an urgent treatable cause. Copyright © 2013 The British Infection Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

RISK SCORE FOR IDENTIFYING ADULTS WITH CSF PLEOCYTOSIS AND NEGATIVE CSF GRAM STAIN AT LOW RISK FOR AN URGENT TREATABLE CAUSE

PubMed Central

Hasbun, Rodrigo; Bijlsma, Merijn; Brouwer, Matthijs C; Khoury, Nabil; Hadi, Christiane M; van der Ende, Arie; Wootton, Susan H.; Salazar, Lucrecia; Hossain, Md Monir; Beilke, Mark; van de Beek, Diederik

2013-01-01

Background We aimed to derive and validate a risk score that identifies adults with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pleocytosis and a negative CSF Gram stain at low risk for an urgent treatable cause. Methods Patients with CSF pleocytosis and a negative CSF Gram stain were stratified into a prospective derivation (n=193) and a retrospective validation (n=567) cohort. Clinically related baseline characteristics were grouped into three composite variables, each independently associated with a set of predefined urgent treatable causes. We subsequently derived a risk score classifying patients into low (0 composite variables present) or high ( ≥ 1 composite variables present) risk for an urgent treatable cause. The sensitivity of the risk score was determined in the validation cohort and in a prospective case series of 214 adults with CSF-culture proven bacterial meningitis, CSF pleocytosis and a negative Gram stain. Findings A total of 41 of 193 patients (21%) in the derivation cohort and 71 of 567 (13%) in the validation cohort had an urgent treatable cause. Sensitivity of the dichotomized risk score to detect an urgent treatable cause was 100.0% (95%CI 93.9-100.0%) in the validation cohort and 100.0% (95%CI 97.8-100.0%) in bacterial meningitis patients. Interpretation The risk score can be used to identify adults with CSF pleocytosis and a negative CSF Gram stain at low risk for an urgent treatable cause. PMID:23619080

Sexting, substance use, and sexual risk behavior in young adults.

PubMed

Benotsch, Eric G; Snipes, Daniel J; Martin, Aaron M; Bull, Sheana S

2013-03-01

Cell phone use has become more widespread over the past decade. Young adults are frequently early adopters of new technologies, including cell phones. Most previous research examining sexting, the act of sending sexually explicit or suggestive images via text message, has focused on the legal or social consequences of this behavior. The current study focused on the public health implications of sexting by examining associations between sexting, substance use, and sexual risk behavior in youth. Young adults (N = 763) completed online questionnaires assessing demographics, cell phone use (e.g., texting, sexting), substance use, and sexual risk behaviors. Sexting was reported by a substantial minority of participants (44%). Compared with their nonsexting counterparts, participants who engaged in sexting were more likely to report recent substance use and high-risk sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex and sex with multiple partners. Of those who engaged in sexting, a considerable percentage (31.8%) reported having sex with a new partner for the first time after sexting with that person. In multivariate analyses, sexting was associated with high-risk sexual behavior, after accounting for demographic factors, total texting behaviors, and substance use. Results suggest that sexting is robustly associated with high-risk sexual behavior. Many individuals exchange explicit or provocative photos with long-term sexual partners, but at least some participants in this study were incurring new sexual risks after sexting. Additional research is needed to understand the contexts in which sexting occurs, motivations for sexting, and relationship of sexting to risk behavior. Copyright © 2013 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Group Cognitive Behavioral Treatment for Parents and Children At-Risk for Physical Abuse: An Initial Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Runyon, Melissa K.; Deblinger, Esther; Steer, Robert A.

2010-01-01

To compare the relative efficacy of two types of group cognitive-behavioral therapy for treating the traumatized child and at-risk or offending parent in cases of child physical abuse (CPA), 24 parents and their children were treated with Combined Parent-Child Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CPC-CBT) and 20 parents were treated with Parent-Only CBT.…

Risk factors for mobility limitation in community-dwelling older adults: a social ecological perspective.

PubMed

Yeom, Hye A; Fleury, Julie; Keller, Colleen

2008-01-01

Although a variety of risk factors for mobility limitation in older adults have been examined, a collective review of relevant literature has not been reported. The purposes of this review are to report the intrapersonal, interpersonal, environmental, and organizational risk factors related to mobility limitation using a social ecological perspective and to discuss the direction of future clinical practice consistent with current literature on mobility limitation of community-dwelling older adults. Intrapersonal risk factors related to mobility limitation include advanced age, female gender, low socioeconomic status, comorbidity, lack of motivation (i.e., dependent personality, decreased self-efficacy), lifestyle factors (i.e., sedentary lifestyle, smoking, obesity), and physiological factors (i.e., vitamin D deficiency, inflammation, poor nutritional status). Interpersonal risk factors related to mobility limitation include weak social networks and limited social activities. Geriatric clients may also experience a decline in mobility when they encounter environmental challenges such as an inconvenient home environment and lack of availability of services in their community, as well as lack of organizational resources stemming from social policy. Potential intervention strategies focused on modifiable risk factors may include lifestyle modifications, social networking programs, and enhancing awareness of environmental and organizational resources in the community for older adults at risk for mobility limitation.

Utility of existing diabetes risk prediction tools for young black and white adults: Evidence from the Bogalusa Heart Study.

PubMed

Pollock, Benjamin D; Hu, Tian; Chen, Wei; Harville, Emily W; Li, Shengxu; Webber, Larry S; Fonseca, Vivian; Bazzano, Lydia A

2017-01-01

To evaluate several adult diabetes risk calculation tools for predicting the development of incident diabetes and pre-diabetes in a bi-racial, young adult population. Surveys beginning in young adulthood (baseline age ≥18) and continuing across multiple decades for 2122 participants of the Bogalusa Heart Study were used to test the associations of five well-known adult diabetes risk scores with incident diabetes and pre-diabetes using separate Cox models for each risk score. Racial differences were tested within each model. Predictive utility and discrimination were determined for each risk score using the Net Reclassification Index (NRI) and Harrell's c-statistic. All risk scores were strongly associated (p<.0001) with incident diabetes and pre-diabetes. The Wilson model indicated greater risk of diabetes for blacks versus whites with equivalent risk scores (HR=1.59; 95% CI 1.11-2.28; p=.01). C-statistics for the diabetes risk models ranged from 0.79 to 0.83. Non-event NRIs indicated high specificity (non-event NRIs: 76%-88%), but poor sensitivity (event NRIs: -23% to -3%). Five diabetes risk scores established in middle-aged, racially homogenous adult populations are generally applicable to younger adults with good specificity but poor sensitivity. The addition of race to these models did not result in greater predictive capabilities. A more sensitive risk score to predict diabetes in younger adults is needed. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Low Bone Mineral Density Risk Factors and Testing Patterns in Institutionalized Adults with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hess, Mailee; Campagna, Elizabeth J.; Jensen, Kristin M.

2018-01-01

Background: Adults with intellectual or developmental disability (ID/DD) have multiple risks for low bone mineral density (BMD) without formal guidelines to guide testing. We sought to identify risk factors and patterns of BMD testing among institutionalized adults with ID/DD. Methods: We evaluated risk factors for low BMD (Z-/T-score < -1) and…

Early Educational Intervention, Early Cumulative Risk, and the Early Home Environment as Predictors of Young Adult Outcomes Within a High-Risk Sample

PubMed Central

Pungello, Elizabeth P.; Kainz, Kirsten; Burchinal, Margaret; Wasik, Barbara H.; Sparling, Joseph J.; Ramey, Craig T.; Campbell, Frances A.

2009-01-01

The extent to which early educational intervention, early cumulative risk, and the early home environment were associated with young adult outcomes was investigated in a sample of 139 young adults (age 21) from high-risk families enrolled in randomized trials of early intervention. Positive effects of treatment were found for education attainment, attending college, and skilled employment; negative effects of risk were found for education attainment, graduating high school, being employed and avoiding teen parenthood. The home mediated the effects of risk for graduating high school, but not being employed or teen parenthood. Evidence for moderated mediation was found for educational attainment; the home mediated the association between risk and educational attainment for the control group, but not the treated group. PMID:20331676

Risk factors for adverse driving outcomes in Dutch adults with ADHD and controls.

PubMed

Bron, Tannetje I; Bijlenga, Denise; Breuk, Minda; Michielsen, Marieke; Beekman, Aartjan T F; Kooij, J J Sandra

2018-02-01

To identify risk factors for adverse driving outcomes and unsafe driving among adults with and without ADHD in a Dutch sample. In this cross-sectional study, validated self-report questionnaires were used to compare driving history and current driving behavior between 330 adults diagnosed with ADHD and 330 controls. Adults with ADHD had significantly more adverse driving outcomes when compared to controls. Having an ADHD diagnosis significantly increased the odds for having had 3 or more vehicular crashes (OR = 2.72; p = .001). Driving frequency, male gender, age, high anxiety levels, high hostility levels, and alcohol use all significantly influenced the odds for unsafe driving behavior, for having had 12 or more traffic citations, and/or for having had 3 or more vehicular crashes. Alcohol use, and high levels of anxiety and hostility are highly prevalent among adults with ADHD, and they mediate the risk for negative driving outcomes in this group. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Two Alzheimer’s disease risk genes increase entorhinal cortex volume in young adults

PubMed Central

DiBattista, Amanda Marie; Stevens, Benson W.; Rebeck, G. William; Green, Adam E.

2014-01-01

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) risk genes alter brain structure and function decades before disease onset. Apolipoprotein E (APOE) is the strongest known genetic risk factor for AD, and a related gene, apolipoprotein J (APOJ), also affects disease risk. However, the extent to which these genes affect brain structure in young adults remains unclear. Here, we report that AD risk alleles of these two genes, APOE-ε4 and APOJ-C, cumulatively alter brain volume in young adults. Using voxel-based morphometry (VBM) in 57 individuals, we examined the entorhinal cortex, one of the earliest brain regions affected in AD pathogenesis. Apolipoprotein E-ε4 carriers exhibited higher right entorhinal cortex volume compared to non-carriers. Interestingly, APOJ-C risk genotype was associated with higher bilateral entorhinal cortex volume in non-APOE-ε4 carriers. To determine the combined disease risk of APOE and APOJ status per subject, we used cumulative odds ratios as regressors for volumetric measurements. Higher disease risk corresponded to greater right entorhinal cortex volume. These results suggest that, years before disease onset, two key AD genetic risk factors may exert influence on the structure of a brain region where AD pathogenesis takes root. PMID:25339884

Childhood obesity and adult cardiovascular disease risk factors: a systematic review with meta-analysis.

PubMed

Umer, Amna; Kelley, George A; Cottrell, Lesley E; Giacobbi, Peter; Innes, Kim E; Lilly, Christa L

2017-08-29

Overweight and obesity is a major public health concern that includes associations with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors during childhood and adolescence as well as premature mortality in adults. Despite the high prevalence of childhood and adolescent obesity as well as adult CVD, individual studies as well as previous systematic reviews examining the relationship between childhood obesity and adult CVD have yielded conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to use the aggregate data meta-analytic approach to address this gap. Studies were included if they met the following criteria: (1) longitudinal and cohort studies (including case-cohort), (2) childhood exposure and adult outcomes collected on the same individual over time, (3) childhood obesity, as defined by the original study authors, (4) English-language articles, (5) studies published up to June, 2015, (6) one or more of the following CVD risk factors [systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL), and triglycerides (TG)], (7) outcome(s) not self-reported, and (8) exposure measurements (child's adiposity) assessed by health professionals, trained investigators, or self-reported. Studies were retrieved by searching three electronic databases as well as citation tracking. Fisher's r to z score was calculated for each study for each outcome. Pooled effect sizes were calculated using random-effects models while risk of bias was assessed using the STROBE instrument. In order to try and identify sources of heterogeneity, random-effects meta-regression was also performed. Of the 4840 citations reviewed, a total of 23 studies were included in the systematic review and 21 in the meta-analysis. The findings suggested that childhood obesity is significantly and positively associated with adult SBP (Zr

EDUCATIONAL DEGREES AND ADULT MORTALITY RISK IN THE UNITED STATES*

PubMed Central

Rogers, Richard G.; Everett, Bethany G.; Zajacova, Anna; Hummer, Robert A.

2011-01-01

We present the first published estimates of U.S. adult mortality risk by detailed educational degree, including advanced postsecondary degrees. We use the 1997–2002 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Linked Mortality Files and Cox proportional hazards models to reveal wide graded differences in mortality by educational degree. Compared to adults who have a professional degree, those with an MA are 5 percent, those with a BA 26 percent, those with an AA 44 percent, those with some college 65 percent, HS graduates 80 percent, and those with a GED or 12 or fewer years of schooling are at least 95 percent more likely to die during the follow-up period, net of sociodemographic controls. These differentials vary by gender and cohort. Advanced educational degrees are not only associated with increased workforce skill level, but also with a reduced risk of death. PMID:20589989

Association between physiological falls risk and physical performance tests among community-dwelling older adults

PubMed Central

Singh, Devinder KA; Pillai, Sharmila GK; Tan, Sin Thien; Tai, Chu Chiau; Shahar, Suzana

2015-01-01

Background Physical performance and balance declines with aging and may lead to increased risk of falls. Physical performance tests may be useful for initial fall-risk screening test among community-dwelling older adults. Physiological profile assessment (PPA), a composite falls risk assessment tool is reported to have 75% accuracy to screen for physiological falls risk. PPA correlates with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. However, the association between many other commonly used physical performance tests and PPA is not known. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between physiological falls risk measured using PPA and a battery of physical performance tests. Methods One hundred and forty older adults from a senior citizens club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (94 females, 46 males), aged 60 years and above (65.77±4.61), participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were screened for falls risk using PPA. A battery of physical performance tests that include ten-step test (TST), short physical performance battery (SPPB), functional reach test (FRT), static balance test (SBT), TUG, dominant hand-grip strength (DHGS), and gait speed test (GST) were also performed. Spearman’s rank correlation and binomial logistic regression were performed to examine the significantly associated independent variables (physical performance tests) with falls risk (dependent variable). Results Approximately 13% older adults were at high risk of falls categorized using PPA. Significant differences (P<0.05) were demonstrated for age, TST, SPPB, FRT, SBT, TUG between high and low falls risk group. A significant (P<0.01) weak correlation was found between PPA and TST (r=0.25), TUG (r=0.27), SBT (r=0.23), SPPB (r=−0.33), and FRT (r=−0.23). Binary logistic regression results demonstrated that SBT measuring postural sways objectively using a balance board was the only significant predictor of physiological falls risk (P<0.05, odds ratio of 2.12). Conclusion The

Association between physiological falls risk and physical performance tests among community-dwelling older adults.

PubMed

Singh, Devinder K A; Pillai, Sharmila G K; Tan, Sin Thien; Tai, Chu Chiau; Shahar, Suzana

2015-01-01

Physical performance and balance declines with aging and may lead to increased risk of falls. Physical performance tests may be useful for initial fall-risk screening test among community-dwelling older adults. Physiological profile assessment (PPA), a composite falls risk assessment tool is reported to have 75% accuracy to screen for physiological falls risk. PPA correlates with Timed Up and Go (TUG) test. However, the association between many other commonly used physical performance tests and PPA is not known. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between physiological falls risk measured using PPA and a battery of physical performance tests. One hundred and forty older adults from a senior citizens club in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (94 females, 46 males), aged 60 years and above (65.77±4.61), participated in this cross-sectional study. Participants were screened for falls risk using PPA. A battery of physical performance tests that include ten-step test (TST), short physical performance battery (SPPB), functional reach test (FRT), static balance test (SBT), TUG, dominant hand-grip strength (DHGS), and gait speed test (GST) were also performed. Spearman's rank correlation and binomial logistic regression were performed to examine the significantly associated independent variables (physical performance tests) with falls risk (dependent variable). Approximately 13% older adults were at high risk of falls categorized using PPA. Significant differences (P<0.05) were demonstrated for age, TST, SPPB, FRT, SBT, TUG between high and low falls risk group. A significant (P<0.01) weak correlation was found between PPA and TST (r=0.25), TUG (r=0.27), SBT (r=0.23), SPPB (r=-0.33), and FRT (r=-0.23). Binary logistic regression results demonstrated that SBT measuring postural sways objectively using a balance board was the only significant predictor of physiological falls risk (P<0.05, odds ratio of 2.12). The reference values of physical performance tests

Potassium intake and risk of incident type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

PubMed Central

Colangelo, L. A.; Yeh, H. C.; Anderson, C. A.; Daviglus, M. L.; Liu, K.; Brancati, F. L.

2014-01-01

Aims/hypothesis Serum potassium has been found to be a significant predictor of diabetes risk, but the effect of dietary potassium on diabetes risk is not clear. We sought to determine if dietary potassium is associated with risk of incident type 2 diabetes in young adults. Methods We used data from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study. Potassium intake was measured by (1) an average of three 24 h urinary potassium collections at the 5-year study visit, and (2) the CARDIA dietary assessment instrument at baseline. Incident type 2 diabetes cases were ascertained on the basis of use of diabetes medication and laboratory measurements. Analyses were adjusted for relevant confounders including intake of fruit and vegetables and other dietary factors. Results Of 1,066 participants with urinary potassium measurements, 99 (9.3%) developed diabetes over 15 years of follow-up. In multivariate models, adults in the lowest urinary potassium quintile were more than twice as likely to develop diabetes as their counterparts in the highest quintile (HR 2.45; 95% CI 1.08, 5.59). Of 4,754 participants with dietary history measurements, 373 (7.8%) developed diabetes over 20 years of follow-up. In multivariate models, African-Americans had a significantly increased risk of diabetes with lower potassium intake, which was not found in whites. Conclusions/interpretation Low dietary potassium is associated with increased risk of incident diabetes in African-Americans. Randomised clinical trials are needed to determine if potassium supplementation, from either dietary or pharmacological sources, could reduce the risk of diabetes, particularly in higher-risk populations. PMID:22322920

Adolescent and Young Adult Perceptions of Hookah and Little Cigars/Cigarillos: Implications for Risk Messages.

PubMed

Cornacchione, Jennifer; Wagoner, Kimberly G; Wiseman, Kimberly D; Kelley, Dannielle; Noar, Seth M; Smith, Margaret H; Sutfin, Erin L

2016-07-01

Use of hookah and little cigars/cigarillos (LCCs) is high among adolescents and young adults. Although these products have health effects similar to cigarettes, adolescents and young adults believe them to be safer. This study examined adolescent and young adult perceptions of hookah and LCCs to develop risk messages aimed at discouraging use among users and at-risk nonusers. Ten focus groups with 77 adolescents and young adults were conducted to explore their perceptions about the perceived risks and benefits of hookah and LCC use. Participants were users of other (non-cigarette) tobacco products (n = 47) and susceptible nonusers (n = 30). Transcripts were coded for emergent themes on participants' perceptions of hookah and LCCs. Participants did not perceive health effects associated with hookah and LCC use to be serious or likely to happen given their infrequency of use and perceptions that they are less harmful than cigarettes. Participants generally had positive associations with smoking hookah and LCCs for several reasons, including that they are used in social gatherings, come in various flavors, and can be used to perform smoke tricks. Because adolescents and young adults underestimate and discount the long-term risks associated with hookah and LCC use, effective messages may be those that focus on the acute/immediate health and cosmetic effects.

Psychosocial risk factors and asthma among adults in Puerto Rico.

PubMed

Han, Yueh-Ying; Forno, Erick; Canino, Glorisa; Celedón, Juan C

2018-05-08

Asthma and psychosocial stressors are common among Puerto Rican adults living in the United States. We estimated the prevalence of current asthma, and examined potential psychosocial risk factors and current asthma, among adults in Puerto Rico. Cross-sectional study of 3,049 Puerto Ricans aged 18-64 years living in Puerto Rico between May 2014 and June 2016. A structured interview was conducted to obtain information on demographics, lifestyle, mental disorders, and respiratory health. Current asthma was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma and still having asthma. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine psychosocial risk factors and current asthma. The estimated prevalence of current asthma was 10.2%. In a multivariable analysis, exposure to violence (odds ratio [OR] for each 1-point increment in a validated scale = 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.07 to 1.21) and a lifetime history of at least one suicide attempt (OR = 3.01, 95% CI = 1.80 to 5.01) were significantly associated with current asthma, independently of major depressive disorder. Moreover, a lifetime history of at least one suicide attempt was associated with co-existing asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (i.e., asthma-COPD overlap syndrome or ACOS (OR = 9.05, 95% CI = 3.32-24.67). Our findings suggest that asthma is a major health problem among adults in Puerto Rico, with psychosocial risk factors playing a significant role in asthma and ACOS. Addressing chronic stressors and mental illness should be part of comprehensive strategies to reduce asthma burden in this population.

Contribution of Established Stroke Risk Factors to the Burden of Stroke in Young Adults.

PubMed

Aigner, Annette; Grittner, Ulrike; Rolfs, Arndt; Norrving, Bo; Siegerink, Bob; Busch, Markus A

2017-07-01

As stroke in young adults is assumed to have different etiologies and risk factors than in older populations, the aim of this study was to examine the contribution of established potentially modifiable cardiovascular risk factors to the burden of stroke in young adults. A German nationwide case-control study based on patients enrolled in the SIFAP1 study (Stroke In Young Fabry Patients) 2007 to 2010 and controls from the population-based GEDA study (German Health Update) 2009 to 2010 was performed. Cases were 2125 consecutive patients aged 18 to 55 years with acute first-ever stroke from 26 clinical stroke centers; controls (age- and sex-matched, n=8500, without previous stroke) were from a nationwide community sample. Adjusted population-attributable risks of 8 risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, smoking, heavy episodic alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and obesity) and their combinations for all stroke, ischemic stroke, and primary intracerebral hemorrhage were calculated. Low physical activity and hypertension were the most important risk factors, accounting for 59.7% (95% confidence interval, 56.3-63.2) and 27.1% (95% confidence interval, 23.6-30.6) of all strokes, respectively. All 8 risk factors combined explained 78.9% (95% confidence interval, 76.3-81.4) of all strokes. Population-attributable risks of all risk factors were similar for all ischemic stroke subtypes. Population-attributable risks of most risk factors were higher in older age groups and in men. Modifiable risk factors previously established in older populations also account for a large part of stroke in younger adults, with 4 risk factors explaining almost 80% of stroke risk. URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00414583. © 2017 American Heart Association, Inc.

Walking-Induced Fatigue leads to Increased Falls Risk in Older Adults

PubMed Central

Morrison, S.; Colberg, S. R.; Parson, H. K.; Neumann, S.; Handel, R.; Vinik, E. J.; Paulson, J.; Vinik, A. I.

2016-01-01

Background For older adults, falls are a serious health problem with over 30% of people over 65 suffering a fall at least once a year. One element often overlooked in the assessment of falls is whether a person’s balance, walking ability and overall falls risk is affected by performing activities of daily living such as walking. Objective This study assessed the immediate impact of incline walking at a moderate pace on falls risk, leg strength, reaction time, gait and balance in 75 healthy adults from 30 to 79 years of age. Subjects were subdivided into five equal groups based upon their age (Group 1, 30–39 years; Group 2, 40–49 years; Group 3, 50–59 years; Group 4, 60–69 years; Group 5, 70–79 years). Methods Each person’s falls risk (using the Physiological Profile Assessment), simple reaction time, leg strength, walking ability and standing balance were assessed prior to and following a period of incline walking on an automated treadmill. The walking task consisted of three 5-minute trials at a faster than preferred pace. Fatigue during walking was elicited by increasing the treadmill incline in increments of 20 (from level) every minute to a maximum of 80. Results As predicted, significant age-related differences were observed prior to the walking activity. In general, increasing age was associated with declines in gait speed, lower limb strength, slower reaction times and increases in overall falls risk. Following the treadmill task, older adults exhibited increased sway (path length 60–69 yrs; 10.2±0.7 to 12.1±0.7 cm: 70–79 yrs; 12.8±1.1 to 15.1±0.8 cm), slower reaction times (70–79 yrs; 256±6 to 287±8 ms), and declines in lower limb strength (60–69 yrs; 36±2 to 31±1 kg: 70–79 yrs; 32.3±2 to 27±1 kg). However, a significant increase in overall falls risk (pre; 0.51±0.17: post; 1.01±0.18) was only seen in the oldest group (70–79 years). For all other persons (30–69 years), changes resulting from the treadmill-walking task

Risk Indicators for Periodontitis in US Adults: NHANES 2009 to 2012.

PubMed

Eke, Paul I; Wei, Liang; Thornton-Evans, Gina O; Borrell, Luisa N; Borgnakke, Wenche S; Dye, Bruce; Genco, Robert J

2016-10-01

Through the use of optimal surveillance measures and standard case definitions, it is now possible to more accurately determine population-average risk profiles for severe (SP) and non-severe periodontitis (NSP) in adults (aged 30 years and older) in the United States. Data from the 2009 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used, which, for the first time, used the "gold standard" full-mouth periodontitis surveillance protocol to classify severity of periodontitis following suggested Centers for Disease Control/American Academy of Periodontology case definitions. Probabilities of periodontitis by: 1) sociodemographics, 2) behavioral factors, and 3) comorbid conditions were assessed using prevalence ratios (PRs) estimated by predicted marginal probability from multivariable generalized logistic regression models. Analyses were further stratified by sex for each classification of periodontitis. Likelihood of total periodontitis (TP) increased with age for overall and NSP relative to non-periodontitis. Compared with non-Hispanic whites, TP was more likely in Hispanics (adjusted [a]PR = 1.38; 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.26 to 1.52) and non-Hispanic blacks (aPR = 1.35; 95% CI: 1.22 to 1.50), whereas SP was most likely in non-Hispanic blacks (aPR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.44 to 2.31). There was at least a 50% greater likelihood of TP in current smokers compared with non-smokers. In males, likelihood of TP in adults aged 65 years and older was greater (aPR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.76 to 2.43) than adults aged 30 to 44 years. This probability was even greater in women (aPR = 3.15; 95% CI: 2.63 to 3.77). Likelihood of TP was higher in current smokers relative to non-smokers regardless of sex and periodontitis classification. TP was more likely in men with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM) compared with adults without DM. Assessment of risk profiles for periodontitis in adults in the United States based on gold standard periodontal measures show important

Characterization of carboxypeptidase A6, an extracellular matrix peptidase.

PubMed

Lyons, Peter J; Callaway, Myrasol B; Fricker, Lloyd D

2008-03-14

Carboxypeptidase A6 (CPA6) is a member of the M14 metallocarboxypeptidase family that is highly expressed in the adult mouse olfactory bulb and broadly expressed in embryonic brain and other tissues. A disruption in the human CPA6 gene is linked to Duane syndrome, a defect in the abducens nerve/lateral rectus muscle connection. In this study the cellular distribution, processing, and substrate specificity of human CPA6 were investigated. The 50-kDa pro-CPA6 is routed through the constitutive secretory pathway, processed by furin or a furin-like enzyme into the 37-kDa active form, and secreted into the extracellular matrix. CPA6 cleaves the C-terminal residue from a range of substrates, including small synthetic substrates, larger peptides, and proteins. CPA6 has a preference for large hydrophobic C-terminal amino acids as well as histidine. Peptides with a penultimate glycine or proline are very poorly cleaved. Several neuropeptides were found to be processed by CPA6, including Met- and Leu-enkephalin, angiotensin I, and neurotensin. Whereas CPA6 converts enkephalin and neurotensin into forms known to be inactive toward their receptors, CPA6 converts inactive angiotensin I into the biologically active angiotensin II. Taken together, these data suggest a role for CPA6 in the regulation of neuropeptides in the extracellular environment within the olfactory bulb and other parts of the brain.

Older age at the completion of linear growth is associated with an increased risk of adult glioma.

PubMed

Little, Rebecca B; Nabors, L Burt; Olson, Jeffrey J; Thompson, Zachary J; Rozmeski, Carrie M; LaRocca, Renato V; Forsyth, Peter A; Thompson, Reid C; Oster, Robert A; Chowdhary, Sajeel A; Egan, Kathleen M

2017-07-01

To examine the association of age when adult height was attained with glioma risk. We analyzed data from a US-based case-control study of glioma risk factors. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated between age at attainment of adult height and glioma risk. Multivariate models were adjusted for age, race, sex, education, and state of residence. We examined associations overall, and according to glioma grade, sex, and final adult height. The study set included n = 951 controls and n = 776 cases, with a median age of 56 (18-92); the majority was male (53.8%) and identified as Caucasian. Older age at height completion was associated with an increased risk of glioma. A significant positive trend was observed both for glioblastoma (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.04-1.17 per 1-year increase in age) and lower grade non-glioblastoma subtypes combined (OR 1.18; 95% CI 1.10-1.28 per year increase in age). The association was observed in men and women, and in all categories of final adult height. We observed for the first time a positive association between glioma risk and a prolonged adolescent growth phase. Our results suggest a role for factors governing the timing and intensity of growth in adolescence as risk-determining exposures in adult glioma.

Risk Factors for Unidirectional and Bidirectional Intimate Partner Violence among Young Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Renner, Lynette M.; Whitney, Stephen D.

2012-01-01

Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify common and unique risk factors for intimate partner violence (IPV) among young adults in relationships. Guided by two models of IPV, the same set of risk factors was used to examine outcomes of unidirectional (perpetration or victimization) and bidirectional (reciprocal) IPV separately for males…

Chronic Disease Risk Typologies among Young Adults in Community College.

PubMed

Jeffries, Jayne K; Lytle, Leslie; Sotres-Alvarez, Daniela; Golden, Shelley; Aiello, Allison E; Linnan, Laura

2018-03-01

To address chronic disease risk holistically from a behavioral perspective, insights are needed to refine understanding of the covariance of key health behaviors. This study aims to identify distinct typologies of young adults based on 4 modifiable risk factors of chronic disease using a latent class analysis approach, and to describe patterns of class membership based on demographic characteristics, living arrangements, and weight. Overall, 441 young adults aged 18-35 attending community colleges in the Minnesota Twin Cities area completed a baseline questionnaire for the Choosing Healthy Options in College Environments and Settings study, a RCT. Behavioral items were used to create indicators for latent classes, and individuals were classified using maximum-probability assignment. Three latent classes were identified: 'active, binge-drinkers with a healthy dietary intake' (13.1%); 'non-active, moderate-smokers and non-drinkers with poor dietary intake' (38.2%); 'moderately active, non-smokers and non-drinkers with moderately healthy dietary intake' (48.7%). Classes exhibited unique demographic and weight-related profiles. This study may contribute to the literature on health behaviors among young adults and provides evidence that there are weight and age differences among subgroups. Understanding how behaviors cluster is important for identifying groups for targeted interventions in community colleges.

Correlates of Heterosexual Anal Intercourse Among At-Risk Adolescents and Young Adults

PubMed Central

Houck, Christopher D.; Brown, Larry K.; Doherty, Glenn; DiClemente, Ralph J.; Fernandez, M. Isabel; Pugatch, David; Schlenger, William E.; Silver, Barbara J.

2009-01-01

Objectives. We sought to learn what factors are associated with anal intercourse among adolescents and young adults. We examined demographic, behavioral, relationship context, attitudinal, substance use, and mental health correlates of recent heterosexual anal intercourse among adolescents and young adults who reported engaging in recent unprotected sex. Methods. Among 1348 at-risk adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 21 years in 3 US cities, we assessed sexual risk behavior with each sexual partner in the past 90 days. Data were collected from 2000 to 2001. Results. Recent heterosexual anal intercourse was reported by 16% of respondents. Females who engaged in anal intercourse were more likely to be living with a sexual partner, to have had 2 or more partners, and to have experienced coerced intercourse. For males, only a sexual orientation other than heterosexual was a significant predictor of engaging in heterosexual anal intercourse. Conclusions. Our findings document the prevalence of heterosexual anal intercourse among adolescents and young adults who had recent unprotected sex. Among females, the variables associated with anal intercourse relate to the context and power balance of sexual relationships. Different influences for males and females suggest different foci for interventions. PMID:19008522

Childhood stature and adult cancer risk: the Boyd Orr cohort.

PubMed

Whitley, Elise; Martin, Richard M; Smith, George Davey; Holly, Jeff M P; Gunnell, David

2009-03-01

Cancer risk in adulthood may be influenced by aspects of childhood diet. In the absence of direct dietary data, indirect measures of childhood diet and nutritional status, such as anthropometric measurements, may be useful in investigating diet-cancer associations. Previous studies suggest that taller adults may have increased cancer risk. Peak growth for different anthropometric measures occurs at different times and so differential associations with cancer risk may indicate periods of development that are particularly important in determining future risk. 2,642 traced members of the Boyd Orr cohort had measures of foot length, shoulder breadth, height, and leg length made when they were aged 2-14 years; trunk length was derived from the difference between overall height and leg length. Subjects were followed-up over 59 years to determine all-cause (n = 547) and site-specific (n = 97 for lung, 69 breast, 59 colorectal, 33 prostate, 320 not related to smoking) cancer deaths and registrations. There were no strong associations between childhood anthropometric measurements and adult cancer risk. Odds ratios (ORs) were broadly consistent with a slight increase in risk with increasing childhood stature but no single measure was of particular importance. The strongest associations were seen for breast cancer (OR per standard deviation increase in foot length: 1.16 (95% CI: 0.90, 1.51), shoulder breadth: 1.16 (0.91, 1.49) and trunk: 1.26 (1.00, 1.60), and prostate cancer (OR for foot length: 1.22 (0.86, 1.75)). There was little effect of adjustment for confounding factors and very limited evidence that associations differed with measures made prior to the onset of puberty (comparing the associations in children aged <8 vs. 8+ years). There was no evidence that any of the five indicators of childhood growth was more strongly related to cancer risk than the other measures.

Adolescent and adult risk factors for testicular cancer.

PubMed

McGlynn, Katherine A; Trabert, Britton

2012-04-17

The incidence of testicular cancer has been increasing over the past several decades in many developed countries. The reasons for the increases are unknown because the risk factors for the disease are poorly understood. Some research suggests that in utero exposures, or those in early childhood, are likely to be important in determining an individual's level of risk. However, other research suggests that exposure to various factors in adolescence and adulthood is also linked to the development of testicular cancer. Of these, two adult occupational exposures-fire fighting and aircraft maintenance--and one environmental exposure (to organochlorine pesticides) are likely to be associated with increased risk of developing testicular cancer. By contrast, seven of the identified factors--diet, types of physical activity, military service, police work as well as exposure to ionizing radiation, electricity and acrylamide--are unlikely to increase the risk of developing testicular cancer. Finally, seven further exposures--to heat, polyvinyl chloride, nonionizing radiation, heavy metals, agricultural work, pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls as well as marijuana use--require further study to determine their association with testicular cancer.

Risk Factors for Malnutrition among Older Adults in the Emergency Department: A Multicenter Study.

PubMed

Burks, Collin E; Jones, Christopher W; Braz, Valerie A; Swor, Robert A; Richmond, Natalie L; Hwang, Kay S; Hollowell, Allison G; Weaver, Mark A; Platts-Mills, Timothy F

2017-08-01

Among older adults, malnutrition is common, often missed by healthcare providers, and influences recovery from illness or injury. To identify modifiable risk factors associated with malnutrition in older patients. Prospective cross-sectional multicenter study. 3 EDs in the South, Northeast, and Midwest. Non-critically ill, English-speaking adults aged ≥65 years. Random time block sampling was used to enroll patients. The ED interview assessed malnutrition using the Mini Nutritional Assessment Short-Form. Food insecurity and poor oral health were assessed using validated measures. Other risk factors examined included depressive symptoms, limited mobility, lack of transportation, loneliness, and medication side effects, qualified by whether the patient reported the risk factor affected their diet. The population attributable risk proportion (PARP) for malnutrition was estimated for each risk factor. In our sample (n = 252), the prevalence of malnutrition was 12%. Patient characteristics associated with malnutrition included not having a college degree, being admitted to the hospital, and residence in an assisted living facility. Of the risk factors examined, the PARPs for malnutrition were highest for poor oral health (54%; 95% CI 16%, 78%), food insecurity (14%; 95% CI 3%, 31%), and lack of transportation affecting diet (12%; 95% CI 3%, 28%). Results of this observational study identify multiple modifiable factors associated with the problem of malnutrition in older adults. © 2017, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2017, The American Geriatrics Society.

Prevalence, awareness, characteristics, and health outcomes associated with COPD at-risk status among adults in Japan.

PubMed

Omori, Hisamitsu; Yoshimoto, Daisuke; Kumar, Maya; Goren, Amir

2016-08-01

We examined the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnosed and at-risk status, and public awareness of COPD among adults in Japan, as well as respondent characteristics and health outcomes compared with controls. Regression models used 2012 National Health and Wellness Survey in Japan data to compare COPD-diagnosed, at-risk, and healthy adults (aged ≥18) on demographics, health behaviors, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), productivity and healthcare resource use. Among n = 29,978 respondents, diagnosed COPD prevalence was 0.9%; 26.9% were at-risk. Relative to controls, those at-risk and diagnosed with COPD had significantly greater healthcare resource use, with lower productivity and HRQoL. Fewer than 20% of respondents were aware of COPD. Over 25% of adult Japanese respondents were at-risk for COPD and had health outcomes impairments relative to controls. Efforts to increase awareness among the general public are needed.

Genetic moderation of multiple pathways linking early cumulative socioeconomic adversity and young adults' cardiometabolic disease risk.

PubMed

Wickrama, Kandauda A S; Lee, Tae Kyoung; O'Neal, Catherine Walker

2018-02-01

Recent research suggests that psychosocial resources and life stressors are mediating pathways explaining socioeconomic variation in young adults' health risks. However, less research has examined both these pathways simultaneously and their genetic moderation. A nationally representative sample of 11,030 respondents with prospective data collected over 13 years from the National Study of Adolescent to Adult Health was examined. First, the association between early cumulative socioeconomic adversity and young adults' (ages 25-34) cardiometabolic disease risk, as measured by 10 biomarkers, through psychosocial resources (educational attainment) and life stressors (accelerated transition to adulthood) was examined. Second, moderation of these pathways by the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region gene (5-HTTLPR) was examined. There was evidence for the association between early socioeconomic adversity and young adults' cardiometabolic disease risk directly and indirectly through educational attainment and accelerated transitions. These direct and mediating pathways were amplified by the 5-HTTLPR polymorphism. These findings elucidate how early adversity can have an enduring influence on young adults' cardiometabolic disease risk directly and indirectly through psychosocial resources and life stressors and their genetic moderation. This information suggests that effective intervention and prevention programs should focus on early adversity, youth educational attainment, and their transition to young adulthood.

Olfaction and risk of dementia in a biracial cohort of older adults.

PubMed

Yaffe, Kristine; Freimer, Daniel; Chen, Honglei; Asao, Keiko; Rosso, Andrea; Rubin, Susan; Tranah, Greg; Cummings, Steve; Simonsick, Eleanor

2017-01-31

Prior studies indicate that olfactory function may be an early marker for cognitive impairment, but the body of evidence has been largely restricted to white populations. We studied 2,428 community-dwelling black and white older adults (baseline age 70-79 years) without dementia enrolled in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition (Health ABC) study. Olfaction was measured as odor identification (OI) with the 12-item Cross Cultural Smell Identification Test in year 3. We defined incident dementia over 12 years on the basis of hospitalization records, prescription for dementia medication, or 1.5-SD decline in race-stratified global cognition score. We assessed dementia risk associated with OI score (by tertile) using Cox proportional hazards models. All analyses were stratified by race. Poorer OI in older adults without dementia was associated with increased risk of dementia. After adjustment for demographics, medical comorbidities, and lifestyle characteristics, white participants in the poor or moderate OI tertile had greater risk of dementia (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 3.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.45-4.54; and HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.33-2.54, respectively) compared to those in the good tertile of function. Among blacks, worse OI was associated with an increased risk of dementia, but the magnitude of the effect was weaker (p for interaction = 0.04) for the poor OI tertile (adjusted HR 2.03, 95% CI 1.44-2.84) and for the moderate tertile (adjusted HR 1.42, 95% CI 0.97-2.10). There was no interaction between OI and APOE ε4 and risk of dementia. While the magnitude of the association was stronger in whites, we found that poor OI was associated with increased risk of dementia among both black and white older adults. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

Chronic Disease Risks in Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Forewarned Is Forearmed

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tyler, Carl V.; Schramm, Sarah C.; Karafa, Matthew; Tang, Anne S.; Jain, Anil K.

2011-01-01

An emerging, cost-effective method to examine prevalent and future health risks of persons with disabilities is electronic health record (EHR) analysis. As an example, a case-control EHR analysis of adults with autism spectrum disorder receiving primary care through the Cleveland Clinic from 2005 to 2008 identified 108 adults with autism spectrum…

Including Adults with Intellectual Disabilities in Research: Scientists' Perceptions of Risks and Protections

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McDonald, Katherine E.; Kidney, Colleen A.; Nelms, Sandra L.; Parker, Michael R.; Kimmel, Ali; Keys, Christopher B.

2009-01-01

Social and cognitive characteristics of adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) place them at risk for inappropriate inclusion in or exclusion from research participation. As we grapple with how to include adults with ID in research in order to secure their right to contribute to scientific advancements and be positioned to derive benefit from…

Adolescent booster with hepatitis B virus vaccines decreases HBV infection in high-risk adults.

PubMed

Wang, Yuting; Chen, Taoyang; Lu, Ling-Ling; Wang, Minjie; Wang, Dongmei; Yao, Hongyu; Fan, Chunsun; Qi, Jun; Zhang, Yawei; Qu, Chunfeng

2017-02-15

Neutralizing antibodies (anti-HBs) after immunization with hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines against HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) wane after 10-15years. We analyzed the effect of an adolescent booster given to vaccination-protected children born to mothers with different HBsAg-carrying status against HBV infection in their mature adulthood. A total of 9793 individuals, who were HBsAg-negative at childhood (baseline) and donated blood samples, both during childhood and adulthood, from the vaccination group in "Qidong Hepatitis B Intervention Study", were enrolled. Among them 7414 received a one-dose, 10μg-recombinant HBV vaccine booster at 10-14years of age. At endpoint (23-28years of age), we determined the HBV serological markers and quantified their serum HBV-DNA in each of the chronic HBV-infected adults. Fifty-seven adults were identified as chronic HBV infection, indicated by HBsAg(+)&anti-HBc(+) for more than 6months. The individuals who were born to HBsAg-positive mothers (high-risk adults) had significantly increased risk of developing chronic HBV infections in adulthood compared with those who were born to HBsAg-negative mothers; the adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 12.56, 95%CI:7.14-22.08. The seronegative status of anti-HBs at 10-11years of age significantly increased the risk of HBV infections among the high-risk adults. When HBsAg(-)&anti-HBc(+) children who were born to HBsAg-positive mothers 70% of them remained as the status and 10% of them developed HBsAg(+)&anti-HBc(+). While when they were born to HBsAg-negative mothers 1.05% HBsAg(-)&anti-HBc(+) children developed HBsAg(+)&anti-HBc(+) and 24.74% of them remained as the status in 12-18years. One dose of adolescent booster showed significant protection on high-risk adults from chronic HBV infection; P for trend was 0.015. Maternal HBsAg-positive status was an independent risk factor for vaccination-protected children to develop HBV breakthrough infection in adulthood. Adolescent boosters might be

[Suicidal behaviors among young adults: risk factors during development from early childhood to adolescence].

PubMed

Buchmann, Arlette F; Blomeyer, Dorothea; Laucht, Manfred

2012-01-01

Suicidal behaviors are prevalent among young people. Numerous risk factors have been implicated in their development. In the framework of the longitudinal Mannheim Study of Children at Risk, 311 young adults (143 males, 168 females) aged 19-23 years were investigated in order 1) to determine the significance of different risk factors during development in predicting suicidal behaviors in young adulthood, 2) to identify potential risk factors discriminating between suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, and 3) to examine whether the effect of early risk factors was mediated by later occurring predictors. Young adults with suicidal behaviors displayed a number of abnormalities during development, including high load of early family adversity, suicidal ideation and psychiatric problems in childhood and adolescence, as well as low self esteem, poor school functioning, higher levels of novelty seeking, and enhanced affiliations with deviant peers in adolescence. Independent contributions to predicting suicidal behaviors in young adults were provided by early family adversity, suicidal ideation during childhood and adolescence, and low self esteem (with regard to suicidal ideation) and novelty seeking (with regard to suicide attempt), respectively. The impact of early adversity was mediated by child and adolescent externalizing disorders and low self esteem in adolescence. Possible implications of these findings for the prevention and treatment of suicidal behaviors are discussed.

Capturing the Data: Nutrition Risk Screening of Adults in Hospital

PubMed Central

Frew, Elizabeth; Cant, Robyn; Sequeira, Jennifer

2010-01-01

This study aims to explore limitations with the Malnutrition Screening Tool in identifyingmalnutrition risk, in a cohort of 3,033 adult Australian medical and surgical hospital inpatients. Seventy-two percent of patients were screened; illness and medical care limited access to others. Malnutrition risk (16.5%; n = 501) was found in all age groups with a trend to higher risk in medical wards; 10% (n = 300) of patients with communication barriers were excluded. Systematic screening increased dietitians’ referrals by 39%. Further research is required to enable screening of all patients, including those with communication issues with an easy to use valid tool. PMID:22254032

[Benefits and risks of growth hormone in adults with growth hormone deficiency].

PubMed

Díez, Juan J; Cordido, Fernando

2014-10-21

Adult growth hormone (GH) deficiency is a well-recognized clinical syndrome with adverse health consequences. Many of these may improve after replacement therapy with recombinant GH. This treatment induces an increase in lean body mass and a decrease in fat mass. In long-term studies, bone mineral density increases and muscle strength improves. Health-related quality of life tends to increase after treatment with GH. Lipid profile and markers of cardiovascular risk also improve with therapy. Nevertheless, GH replacement therapy is not without risk. According to some studies, GH increases blood glucose, body mass index and waist circumference and may promote long-term development of diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Risk of neoplasia does not appear to be increased in adults treated with GH, but there are some high-risk subgroups. Methodological shortcomings and difficulties inherent to long-term studies prevent definitive conclusions about the relationship between GH and survival. Therefore, research in this field should remain active. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Behavioral Counseling to Promote a Healthful Diet and Physical Activity for CVD Prevention in Adults with Risk Factors

MedlinePlus

... Promote a Healthful Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in Adults with Cardiovascular Risk Factors The ... Promote a Healthful Diet and Physical Activity for Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Prevention in Adults with Cardiovascular Risk Factors. ...

Adapting Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Older Adults at Risk for Suicide: Preliminary Findings

PubMed Central

Heisel, Marnin J.; Duberstein, Paul R.; Talbot, Nancy L.; King, Deborah A.; Tu, Xin M.

2010-01-01

We report preliminary findings of the first ever study testing a 16-week course of Interpersonal Psychotherapy (IPT) modified for older outpatients at elevated risk for suicide. Participants were referred from inpatient and outpatient medicine and mental health services. Psychotherapy sessions took place in a therapist’s office in a teaching hospital. Twelve adults 60 years or older (M=70.5, SD=6.1) with current thoughts of suicide (suicide ideation) or a wish to die (death ideation) or with recent self-injurious behavior were recruited into weekly sessions of IPT; one was subsequently excluded due to severe cognitive impairment. Participants completed measures of suicide ideation, death ideation, and depressive symptom severity at pre-treatment, mid-treatment, post-treatment, and at 3-month follow-up periods, and measures of therapeutic process variables. Preliminary findings of this uncontrolled pre-post-treatment study support the feasibility of recruiting and retaining older adults at-risk for suicide into psychotherapy research and suggest that adapted IPT is tolerable and safe. Findings indicate a substantial reduction in participant suicide ideation, death ideation, and depressive symptoms; controlled trials are needed to further evaluate these findings. We discuss implications for clinical care with at-risk older adults. PMID:20574546

Falls in Cognitively Impaired Older Adults: Implications for Risk Assessment And Prevention.

PubMed

Montero-Odasso, Manuel; Speechley, Mark

2018-02-01

To provide an overview of the role of cognition in falls, with potential implications for managing and preventing falls in older adults. Review. Observational and interventional studies addressing the role of cognition on falls. Community-dwelling older adults (65 years and older). The relationship between gait and cognition in aging and neurodegeneration was reviewed in the medical literature to highlight the role of brain motor control deficits in fall risk. The benefits of dual-task gait assessments as a marker of fall risk were reviewed. Therapeutic approaches for reducing falls by improving certain aspects of cognition were appraised. Low performance in attention and executive function are associated with gait slowing, instability, and future falls. Drug-enhancement of cognition may reduce falls in Parkinson's disease, and cognitive training, dual-task training, and virtual reality modalities are promising to improve mobility in sedentary older adults and in those with cognitive impairment and dementia. Falls remain common in older people, with higher prevalence and morbidity in those who are cognitively impaired. Disentangling the mechanism and contribution of cognitive deficits in fall risk may open new treatment approaches. Mounting evidence supports that cognitive therapies help reduce falls. © 2017, Copyright the Authors Journal compilation © 2017, The American Geriatrics Society.

Use of screening tests to assess cancer risk and to estimate the risk of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

PubMed Central

Yanagawa, T; Tokudome, S

1990-01-01

We developed methods to assess the cancer risks by screening tests. These methods estimate the size of the high risk group adjusted for the characteristics of screening tests and estimate the incidence rates of cancer among the high risk group adjusted for the characteristics of the tests. A method was also developed for selecting the cut-off point of a screening test. Finally, the methods were applied to estimate the risk of the adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. PMID:2269244

Syndemic Risk Classes and Substance Use Problems among Adults in High-Risk Urban Areas: A Latent Class Analysis.

PubMed

Cleland, Charles M; Lanza, Stephanie T; Vasilenko, Sara A; Gwadz, Marya

2017-01-01

Substance use problems tend to co-occur with risk factors that are especially prevalent in urban communities with high rates of poverty. The present study draws on Syndemics Theory to understand profiles of risk and resilience and their associations with substance use problems in a population at risk for adverse outcomes. African-American/Black and Hispanic heterosexual adults ( N  = 2,853) were recruited by respondent-driven sampling from an urban area with elevated poverty rates, and completed a structured assessment battery covering sociodemographics, syndemic factors (that is, multiple, co-occurring risk factors), and substance use. More than one-third of participants (36%) met criteria for either an alcohol or a drug problem in the past year. Latent class analysis identified profiles of risk and resilience, separately for women and men, which were associated with the probability of a substance use problem. Almost a third of women (27%) and 38% of men had lower risk profiles-patterns of resilience not apparent in other types of analyses. Profiles with more risk and fewer resilience factors were associated with an increased probability of substance use problems, but profiles with fewer risk and more resilience factors had rates of substance use problems that were very similar to the general adult population. Relative to the lowest risk profile, profiles with the most risk and fewest resilience factors were associated with increased odds of a substance use problem for both women [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 8.50; 95% CI: 3.85-18.74] and men (aOR = 11.68; 95% CI: 6.91-19.74). Addressing syndemic factors in substance use treatment and prevention may yield improved outcomes.

Comparison of effects of 3 mg drospirenone plus 20 μg ethinyl estradiol alone or combined with metformin or cyproterone acetate on classic metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in nonobese women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

PubMed

Fruzzetti, Franca; Perini, Daria; Lazzarini, Veronica; Parrini, Donatella; Gambacciani, Marco; Genazzani, Andrea Riccardo

2010-10-01

To evaluate the effects of a pill with drospirenone (3 mg) plus ethinyl E(2) (20 μg) (DRP/20EE) alone or associated with metformin or cyproterone acetate (CPA) on some metabolic cardiovascular risk factors in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Randomized, open-label clinical trial. Academic medical clinic. Forty-eight hirsute women with PCOS. Patients were randomized to treatment with DRP/20EE or with DRP/20EE plus metformin (1,500 mg/d) or with DRP/20EE plus CPA (12.5 mg/d, 10 days per cycle) for 6 months. Blood pressure, lipid profile, and indexes of glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity were assessed before and after 6 months of treatment. Body mass index and blood pressure were not modified by any treatment. Treatment with DRP/EE20 did not change the lipid profile; DRP/EE20 plus metformin significantly increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations; DRP/EE20 plus CPA significantly increased triglycerides and total cholesterol. The area under the curve for insulin was significantly decreased by DRP/EE20 and DRP/EE20 plus metformin, but it was significantly increased by DRP/EE20 plus CPA. Treatment with DRP/EE20 plus CPA significantly increased the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance index and significantly reduced the glucose to insulin ratio index. Treatment with DRP/EE20 significantly increased the glucose to insulin ratio index. Treatment with DRP/EE20 improved insulin sensitivity in hirsute women with PCOS, with no deterioration of lipid profile. This effect was not ameliorated by the addition of metformin. The positive metabolic effects of DRP are abolished by the concomitant use of CPA. Copyright © 2010 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Statin therapy and the risk for diabetes among adult women: do the benefits outweigh the risk?

PubMed

Ma, Yunsheng; Culver, Annie; Rossouw, Jacques; Olendzki, Barbara; Merriam, Philip; Lian, Bill; Ockene, Ira

2013-02-01

The purpose of this review was to examine statin therapy and the risk for diabetes among adult women using a selective review. The literature contains reports of new-onset diabetes associated with statin use. While many studies do not report sex-specific results, there is evidence indicating the risk to benefit ratio may vary by gender. However, the absolute effects are not clear because women have historically been under-represented in clinical trials. A review of the literature indicates that the cardiovascular benefits of statins appear to outweigh the risk for statin-related diabetes. However, the effect may depend upon baseline diabetes risk, dose, and statin potency. Rigorous, long-term studies focused on the risks and benefits of statins in women are unavailable to sort for gender-specific differences. Until this changes, individualized attention to risk assessment, and strong prevention with lifestyle changes must prevail.

Exposure to Childhood Sexual and Physical Abuse and Adjustment in Early Adulthood

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fergusson, David M.; Boden, Joseph M.; Horwood, L. John

2008-01-01

Objective: This research examined linkages between exposure to childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and childhood physical punishment/abuse (CPA) and mental health issues in early adulthood. Method: The investigation analyzed data from a birth cohort of over 1,000 New Zealand young adults studied to the age of 25. Results: Exposure to CSA and CPA was…

Dying in their prime: determinants and space-time risk of adult mortality in rural South Africa

PubMed Central

Sartorius, Benn; Kahn, Kathleen; Collinson, Mark A.; Sartorius, Kurt; Tollman, Stephen M.

2013-01-01

A longitudinal dataset was used to investigate adult mortality in rural South Africa in order to determine location, trends, high impact determinants and policy implications. Adult (15-59 years) mortality data for the period 1993-2010 were extracted from the health and socio-demographic surveillance system (HDSS) in the rural sub-district of Agincourt. A Bayesian geostatistical frailty survival model was used to quantify significant associations between adult mortality and various multilevel (individual, household and community) variables. It was found that adult mortality significantly increased over time with a reduction observed late in the study period. Non-communicable disease mortality appeared to increase and decrease in parallel with communicable mortality, whilst deaths due to external causes remained constant. Male gender, unemployment, circular (labour) migrant status, age and gender of household heads, partner and/or other household death, low education and low household socioeconomic status (SES) were identified as significant and highly attributable determinants of adult mortality. Health facility remoteness was also a risk for adult mortality and households falling outside a critical buffering zone were identified. Spatial foci of higher adult mortality risk were observed indicating a strong non-random pattern. Communicable diseases differed from non-communicable diseases with respect to spatial distribution of mortality. Areas with significant excess mortality risk (hotspots) were found to be part of a complex interaction of highly attributable factors that continues to drive differential space-time risk patterns of communicable (HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis) mortality in Agincourt. The impact of HIV mortality and its subsequent lowering due to the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was found to be clearly evident in this rural population. PMID:23733287

Dying in their prime: determinants and space-time risk of adult mortality in rural South Africa.

PubMed

Sartorius, Benn; Kahn, Kathleen; Collinson, Mark A; Sartorius, Kurt; Tollman, Stephen M

2013-05-01

A longitudinal dataset was used to investigate adult mortality in rural South Africa in order to determine location, trends, high impact determinants and policy implications. Adult (15-59 years) mortality data for the period 1993-2010 were extracted from the health and demographic surveillance system in the rural sub-district of Agincourt. A Bayesian geostatistical frailty survival model was used to quantify significant associations between adult mortality and various multilevel (individual, household and community) variables. It was found that adult mortality significantly increased over time with a reduction observed late in the study period. Non-communicable disease mortality appeared to increase and decrease in parallel with communicable mortality, whilst deaths due to external causes remained constant. Male gender, unemployment, circular (labour) migrant status, age and gender of household heads, partner and/or other household death, low education and low household socio-economic status were identified as significant and highly attributable determinants of adult mortality. Health facility remoteness was a risk for adult mortality and households falling outside a critical buffering zone were identified. Spatial foci of higher adult mortality risk were observed, indicating a strong non-random pattern. Communicable diseases differed from non-communicable diseases with respect to spatial distribution of mortality. Areas with significant excess mortality risk (hot spots) were found to be part of a complex interaction of highly attributable factors that continues to drive differential space-time risk patterns of communicable (HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis) mortality in Agincourt. The impact of HIV mortality and its subsequent lowering due to the introduction of antiretroviral therapy was found to be clearly evident in this rural population.

The effect of giving global coronary risk information to adults: a systematic review.

PubMed

Sheridan, Stacey L; Viera, Anthony J; Krantz, Mori J; Ice, Christa L; Steinman, Lesley E; Peters, Karen E; Kopin, Laurie A; Lungelow, Danielle

2010-02-08

Global coronary heart disease (CHD) risk estimation (ie, a quantitative estimate of a patient's chances of CHD calculated by combining risk factors in an empirical equation) is recommended as a starting point for primary prevention efforts in all US adults. Whether it improves outcomes is currently unknown. To assess the effect of providing global CHD risk information to adults, we performed a systematic evidence review. We searched MEDLINE for the years 1980 to 2008, Psych Info, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Database and included English-language articles that met prespecified inclusion criteria. Two reviewers independently reviewed titles, abstracts, and articles for inclusion and assessed study quality. We identified 20 articles, reporting on 18 unique fair or good quality studies (including 14 randomized controlled studies). These showed that global CHD risk information alone or with accompanying education increased the accuracy of perceived risk and probably increased intent to start therapy. Studies with repeated risk information or risk information and repeated doses of counseling showed small significant reductions in predicted CHD risk (absolute differences, -0.2% to -2% over 10 years in studies using risk estimates derived from Framingham equations). Studies providing global risk information at only 1 point in time seemed ineffective. Global CHD risk information seems to improve the accuracy of risk perception and may increase intent to initiate CHD prevention among individuals at moderate to high risk. The effect of global risk presentation on more distal outcomes is less clear and seems to be related to the intensity of accompanying interventions.

Parental intermittent claudication as risk factor for claudication in adults.

PubMed

Prushik, Scott G; Farber, Alik; Gona, Philimon; Shrader, Peter; Pencina, Michael J; D'Agostino, Ralph B; Murabito, Joanne M

2012-03-01

Little is known about the familial aggregation of intermittent claudication (IC). Our objective was to examine whether parental IC increased the risk of IC in adult offspring, independent of the established cardiovascular risk factors. We evaluated the Offspring Cohort Participants of the Framingham Heart Study who were ≥30 years old, cardiovascular disease free, and had both parents enrolled in the Framingham Heart Study (n = 2,970 unique participants, 53% women). Pooled proportional hazards regression analysis was used to examine whether the 12-year risk of incident IC in offspring participants was associated with parental IC, adjusting for age, gender, diabetes, smoking, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and antihypertensive and lipid treatment. Of the 909 person-examinations in the parental IC history group and 5,397 person-examinations in the no-parental IC history group, there were 101 incident IC events (29 with parental IC history and 72 without a parental IC history) during follow-up. The age- and gender-adjusted 12-year cumulative incidence rate per 1,000 person-years was 5.08 (95% confidence interval [CI] 2.74 to 7.33) and 2.34 (95% CI 1.46 to 3.19) in participants with and without a parental IC history. A parental history of IC significantly increased the risk of incident IC in the offspring (multivariable adjusted hazard ratio 1.81, 95% CI 1.14 to 2.88). The hazard ratio was unchanged, with an adjustment for the occurrence of cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio 1.83, 95% CI 1.15 to 2.91). In conclusion, IC in parents increases the risk of IC in adult offspring, independent of the established risk factors. These data suggest a genetic component of peripheral artery disease and support future research into genetic causes. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of risk of atherosclerosis in Indian adults.

PubMed

Pandit, Deepa; Chiplonkar, Shashi; Khadilkar, Anuradha; Kinare, Arun; Khadilkar, Vaman; Divate, Uma

2013-05-01

To investigate interrelationship of arterial measurements with metabolic syndrome (MS) components and zinc status in apparently healthy Indian adults. Anthropometry and biochemical data were recorded in 110 men and 139 women (25-50 yr). Carotid Intima media thickness (CIMT), stiffness (beta), pulse wave velocity (PWV), elasticity modulus (Ep), and arterial compliance (AC) of the right carotid artery were evaluated ultrasonically. According to definition of MS, subjects were categorized as MS-1, MS-2, MS-3. Further, normal and MS subjects were divided as zinc sufficient and deficient. In all, 12.1% subjects had 3 risk factors for MS. Mean CIMT, beta, Ep and PWV were significantly higher by 6%, 11.6%, 29.5% and 12.4% in subjects with MS than normal (p < 0.05). AC showed significant decline in MS subjects by only 3% than normal (p < 0.05). Serum zinc was inversely correlated with beta, Ep and PWV in both the genders in subjects with MS (p < 0.05). A synergistic effect of serum zinc deficiency with MS further envisages the elevated risk of arterial stiffness. Risk of atherosclerosis is marked by increase in stiffness parameters even in presence of a single MS risk and zinc deficiency may further aggravate the risk indicating need for early diagnosis.

Falling and fall risk in adult patients with severe haemophilia.

PubMed

Rehm, Hanna; Schmolders, Jan; Koob, Sebastian; Bornemann, Rahel; Goldmann, Georg; Oldenburg, Johannes; Pennekamp, Peter; Strauss, Andreas C

2017-05-10

The objective of this study was to define fall rates and to identify possible fall risk factors in adult patients with severe haemophilia. 147 patients with severe haemophilia A and B were evaluated using a standardized test battery consisting of demographic, medical and clinical variables and fall evaluation. 41 (27.9 %) patients reported a fall in the past 12 months, 22 (53.7 %) of them more than once. Young age, subjective gait insecurity and a higher number of artificial joints seem to be risk factors for falling. Falls seem to be a common phenomenon in patients with severe haemophilia. Fall risk screening and fall prevention should be implemented into daily practice.

A culture of future planning: perceptions of sexual risk among educated young adults.

PubMed

Cheney, Ann M; Ostrach, Bayla; Marcus, Ruthanne; Frank, Cynthia; Ball, Cassandra; Erickson, Pamela I

2014-10-01

In this study we examined how social processes, specifically the acquisition of postsecondary education and capital, shaped perceptions of sexual risk and impacted sexual practices and sexual health among young adults. Using qualitative research methods we collected and analyzed data among students attending a 4-year university in the northeastern region of the United States over a 1-year period. By analyzing participants' narratives, we found that the reproduction of shared norms and values encouraged educated young adults to focus on educational and professional success, pressing many of them to be concerned about preventing pregnancy rather than preventing disease transmission, and increasing their risk for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. Sexual-health educators need to address how social processes shape sexual practices, encourage educated young adults to challenge unequal gender expectations, and consider how sexually transmitted infections might also interfere with life plans. © The Author(s) 2014.

Modifiable cardiovascular risk factors among adults in Aleppo, Syria.

PubMed

Al Ali, Radwan; Rastam, Samer; Fouad, Fouad M; Mzayek, Fawaz; Maziak, Wasim

2011-12-01

This report provides the first comprehensive and standardized assessment of the distribution of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in Syria, where such data are still scarce. A population-based household survey was conducted in Aleppo (population >2.5 million), involving 1,168 subjects ≥25 years old (47.7% men; mean age 44.7 ± 12.7 years). Information about socio-demographics, personal behavior, and other CVD risk factors was collected. Anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were obtained. The prevalence of clinical risk factors of CVD (ClinRFs) was 45.6% for hypertension, 43.2% for obesity, 21.9% for hypercholesterolemia and 15.6% for diabetes. The prevalence of behavioral risk factors (BehRFs) was 82.3% for physical inactivity, 39.0% for smoking, and 33.4% for unhealthy diet. All ClinRFs increased with age, while gender was associated only with obesity and smoking. Education was associated with obesity and diabetes (P < 0.05 for all). Adults in Syria have some of the world's highest prevalence of CVD risk factors. Unhealthy behaviors and social norms unfavorable to women may explain some of such risk profiles.

Eczema and cardiovascular risk factors in 2 US adult population studies.

PubMed

Silverberg, Jonathan I; Greenland, Philip

2015-03-01

Eczema is associated with high rates of sleep disturbance and quality-of-life impairment. These factors might have a negative impact on psychosocial development and behavior and could increase cardiovascular risk. We sought to determine whether adults with eczema have increased cardiovascular risk factors. We analyzed data for 27,157 and 34,525 adults aged 18 to 85 years from the 2010 and 2012 National Health Interview Survey. Adults with eczema had higher odds of ever smoking 100 cigarettes in their lifetime (survey logistic regression; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.32; 95% CI, 1.18-1.47) and current smoking history (aOR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12-1.45), with significantly younger age of onset (survey linear regression; adjusted β, -0.58; 95% CI, -0.95 to -0.21). Eczema was also associated with greater odds of ever drinking 12 or more alcoholic beverages annually (aOR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.31), including current intake of moderate (aOR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.09-1.62) and heavier (aOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.23-2.03) amounts. Adults with a history of eczema had lower odds of daily vigorous activity (aOR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63-0.99) and lower frequency of vigorous activity in the past week (adjusted β, -0.46; 95% CI, -0.72 to -0.21) than did adults without a history of eczema. Those with eczema had a higher body mass index than did those without eczema (adjusted β, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.37-1.36), particularly a body mass index of 35 or more (aOR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.16-2.05), and higher odds of hypertension (aOR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.18-1.85), hypertension on 2 visits (aOR, 1.56; 1.22-1.99), and lifetime prediabetes (aOR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.19-2.45). Finally, there were significant interactions between eczema and sleep disturbances such that eczema associated with fatigue, daytime sleepiness, or insomnia was associated with even higher odds of obesity, hypertension, hypertension on 2 visits, prediabetes, diabetes, and high cholesterol than eczema alone. We found that eczema in adults is a marker for

Body Size, Adult BMI Gain and Endometrial Cancer Risk: The Multiethnic Cohort

PubMed Central

Park, Sungshim Lani; Goodman, Marc T.; Zhang, Zuo-Feng; Kolonel, Laurence N.; Henderson, Brian E.; Setiawan, Veronica Wendy

2009-01-01

The effect of body size and change in BMI on endometrial cancer risk across different racial/ethnic groups has not been studied. We examined the association between body size and endometrial cancer risk and potential effect modification of other risk factors among 50,376 women in the Multiethnic Cohort Study. During 10.3 years of follow-up, 463 endometrial cancer cases were identified. Epidemiologic data were collected from the baseline questionnaire. “BMI change” was defined as the percentage of body mass index change from age 21 to the time of recruitment. Women who were heavier at age 21 or at baseline (weight ≥ 53.5kg or ≥ 63.9 kg, respectively) had an increased endometrial cancer risk compared to the lowest quartile of weight during the respective periods. BMI gain ≥ 35% had a RR of 4.12 (95% CI: 2.69, 6.30) compared to the reference group (−5% ≤ BMI change <+5%). Women who averaged an annual BMI gain ≥ 1% had a >3.20-fold (95% CI: 2.37, 4.33) increased risk compared to women who maintained a stable adult BMI (−0.25 to <+0.25%). The highest risk associated with BMI gain was observed among nulliparous women and postmenopausal women who never used hormone therapy. While African Americans and Whites showed an increase in risk after ≥ 35% BMI gain, Japanese Americans showed an increase in risk with much smaller gain (≥ 5%). In conclusion, adult obesity and increase in adiposity are risk factors for endometrial cancer; and the risk associated with these factors may vary across racial/ethnic groups. PMID:19585578

Correlation effects in fcc-Fe(x)Ni(1-x) alloys investigated by means of the KKR-CPA.

PubMed

Minár, J; Mankovsky, S; Šipr, O; Benea, D; Ebert, H

2014-07-09

The electronic structure and magnetic properties of the disordered alloy system fcc-FexNi1-x (fcc: face centered cubic) have been investigated by means of the KKR-CPA (Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker coherent potential approximation) band structure method. To investigate the impact of correlation effects, the calculations have been performed on the basis of the LSDA (local spin density approximation), the LSDA + U as well as the LSDA + DMFT (dynamical mean field theory). It turned out that the inclusion of correlation effects hardly changed the spin magnetic moments and the related hyperfine fields. The spin-orbit induced orbital magnetic moments and hyperfine fields, on the other hand, show a pronounced and element-specific enhancement. These findings are in full accordance with the results of a recent experimental study.

Green tea consumption and glutathione S-transferases genetic polymorphisms on the risk of adult leukemia.

PubMed

Liu, Ping; Zhang, Min; Xie, Xing; Jin, Jie; Holman, C D'Arcy J

2017-03-01

Green tea may have a beneficial role of inhibiting leukemia. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are known to detoxify certain carcinogens. We investigated the roles of green tea consumption and polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 on the risk of adult leukemia, and to determine whether the associations varied within GSTs genotypes. A multicenter case-control study was conducted in China, 2008-2013. It comprised 442 incident, hematologically confirmed adult leukemia cases and 442 outpatient controls, individually matched to cases by gender, birth quinquennium and study site. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using a validated questionnaire. Genetic polymorphisms were assayed by PCR. An inverse association between green tea consumption and adult leukemia risk was observed. Compared with non-tea drinkers, the adjusted odds ratios (95 % confidence intervals) were 0.50 (0.27-0.93), 0.31 (0.17-0.55) and 0.53 (0.29-0.99) for those who, respectively, consumed green tea >20 years, ≥2 cups daily and dried tea leaves >1000 g annually. In assessing the associations by GSTs genotypes, risk reduction associated with green tea consumption was stronger in individuals with the GSTT1-null genotype (OR 0.24; 95 % CI 0.11-0.53) than GSTT1-normal carriers (OR 0.67; 95 % CI 0.42-1.05; P interaction = 0.02). GSTM1 and GSTP1 did not significantly modify the inverse association of leukemia with green tea. The results suggest that regular daily green tea consumption may reduce leukemia risk in Chinese adults regardless of GSTM1 and GSTP1 polymorphic status. The association between green tea and adult leukemia risk varied with GSTT1 genotype and highlights further study.

Risk taking and adult attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A gap between real life behavior and experimental decision making.

PubMed

Pollak, Yehuda; Shalit, Reut; Aran, Adi

2018-01-01

Adults with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are prone to suboptimal decision making and risk taking. The aim of this study was to test performance on a theoretically-based probabilistic decision making task in well-characterized adults with and without ADHD, and examine the relation between experimental risk taking and history of real-life risk-taking behavior, defined as cigarette, alcohol, and street drug use. University students with and without ADHD completed a modified version of the Cambridge Gambling Test, in which they had to choose between alternatives varied by level of risk, and reported their history of substance use. Both groups showed similar patterns of risk taking on the experimental decision making task, suggesting that ADHD is not linked to low sensitivity to risk. Past and present substance use was more prevalent in adults with ADHD. These finding question the validity of experimental probabilistic decision making task as a valid model for ADHD-related risk-taking behavior. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Fuel poverty increases risk of mould contamination, regardless of adult risk perception & ventilation in social housing properties.

PubMed

Sharpe, Richard A; Thornton, Christopher R; Nikolaou, Vasilis; Osborne, Nicholas J

2015-06-01

Fuel poverty affects 2.4 million UK homes leading to poor hygrothermal conditions and risk of mould and house dust mite contaminations, which in turn increases risk of asthma exacerbation. For the first time we assess how fuel poverty, occupants' risk perception and use of mechanical ventilation mediate the risk of mould contamination in social housing. Postal questionnaires were sent to 3867 social housing properties to collect adult risk perception, and demographic and environmental information on occupants. Participant details were linked to data pertaining to the individual properties. Multiple logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals while allowing for clustering of individuals coming from the same housing estate. We used Structured Equation Modelling and Goodness of Fit analysis in mediation analyses to examine the role of fuel poverty, risk perception, use of ventilation and energy efficiency. Eighteen percent of our target social housing populations (671 households) were included into our study. High risk perception (score of 8-10) was associated with reduced risk of mould contamination in the bedrooms of children (OR 0.5 95% CI; 0.3-0.9) and adults (OR 0.4 95% CI; 0.3-0.7). High risk perception of living with inadequate heating and ventilation reduced the risk of mould contamination (OR 0.5 95% CI; 0.3-0.8 and OR 0.5 95% CI; 0.3-0.7, respectively). Participants living with inadequate heating and not heating due to the cost of fuel had an increased risk of mould contamination (OR 3.4 95% CI; 2.0-5.8 and OR 2.2 95% CI; 1.5-3.2, respectively). Increased risk perception and use of extractor fans did not mediate the association between fuel poverty behaviours and increased risk of mould contamination. Fuel poverty behaviours increased the risk of mould contamination, which corresponds with existing literature. For the first time we used mediation analysis to assess how this association maybe modified by occupant behaviours

Risk factors for invasive fungal disease in critically ill adult patients: a systematic review.

PubMed

Muskett, Hannah; Shahin, Jason; Eyres, Gavin; Harvey, Sheila; Rowan, Kathy; Harrison, David

2011-01-01

Over 5,000 cases of invasive Candida species infections occur in the United Kingdom each year, and around 40% of these cases occur in critical care units. Invasive fungal disease (IFD) in critically ill patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality at a cost to both the individual and the National Health Service. In this paper, we report the results of a systematic review performed to identify and summarise the important risk factors derived from published multivariable analyses, risk prediction models and clinical decision rules for IFD in critically ill adult patients to inform the primary data collection for the Fungal Infection Risk Evaluation Study. An internet search was performed to identify articles which investigated risk factors, risk prediction models or clinical decisions rules for IFD in critically ill adult patients. Eligible articles were identified in a staged process and were assessed by two investigators independently. The methodological quality of the reporting of the eligible articles was assessed using a set of questions addressing both general and statistical methodologies. Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria, of which eight articles examined risk factors, four developed a risk prediction model or clinical decision rule and one evaluated a clinical decision rule. Studies varied in terms of objectives, risk factors, definitions and outcomes. The following risk factors were found in multiple studies to be significantly associated with IFD: surgery, total parenteral nutrition, fungal colonisation, renal replacement therapy, infection and/or sepsis, mechanical ventilation, diabetes, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) or APACHE III score. Several other risk factors were also found to be statistically significant in single studies only. Risk factor selection process and modelling strategy also varied across studies, and sample sizes were inadequate for obtaining reliable estimates. This review

Risk factors for invasive fungal disease in critically ill adult patients: a systematic review

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Introduction Over 5,000 cases of invasive Candida species infections occur in the United Kingdom each year, and around 40% of these cases occur in critical care units. Invasive fungal disease (IFD) in critically ill patients is associated with increased morbidity and mortality at a cost to both the individual and the National Health Service. In this paper, we report the results of a systematic review performed to identify and summarise the important risk factors derived from published multivariable analyses, risk prediction models and clinical decision rules for IFD in critically ill adult patients to inform the primary data collection for the Fungal Infection Risk Evaluation Study. Methods An internet search was performed to identify articles which investigated risk factors, risk prediction models or clinical decisions rules for IFD in critically ill adult patients. Eligible articles were identified in a staged process and were assessed by two investigators independently. The methodological quality of the reporting of the eligible articles was assessed using a set of questions addressing both general and statistical methodologies. Results Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria, of which eight articles examined risk factors, four developed a risk prediction model or clinical decision rule and one evaluated a clinical decision rule. Studies varied in terms of objectives, risk factors, definitions and outcomes. The following risk factors were found in multiple studies to be significantly associated with IFD: surgery, total parenteral nutrition, fungal colonisation, renal replacement therapy, infection and/or sepsis, mechanical ventilation, diabetes, and Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) or APACHE III score. Several other risk factors were also found to be statistically significant in single studies only. Risk factor selection process and modelling strategy also varied across studies, and sample sizes were inadequate for obtaining

Household Structure, Coupling Constraints, and the Nonpartner Victimization Risks of Adults

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Yule, Carolyn; Griffiths, Elizabeth

2009-01-01

Victimization studies consistently find that household structure influences the risk of personal and property victimization among adult household members, with those in "traditional" homes enjoying the most protection from victimization and lone parents experiencing the greatest vulnerability. Drawing on the concept of "coupling…

Exercise for Fall Risk Reduction in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Systematic Review

PubMed Central

Arnold, Catherine M.; Sran, Meena M.; Harrison, Elizabeth L.

2008-01-01

Purpose: To evaluate the influence of exercise on falls and fall risk reduction in community-dwelling older adults and to present an updated synthesis of outcome measures for the assessment of fall risk in community-dwelling older adults. Method: A systematic review was performed, considering English-language articles published from 2000 to 2006 and accessible through MEDLINE, CINAHL, PEDro, EMBASE, and/or AMED. Included were randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) that used an exercise or physical activity intervention and involved participants over age 50. Screening and methodological quality for internal validity were conducted by two independent reviewers. Results: The search retrieved 156 abstracts; 22 articles met the internal validity criteria. Both individualized and group exercise programmes were found to be effective in reducing falls and fall risk. The optimal type, frequency, and dose of exercise to achieve a positive effect have not been determined. A variety of outcome measures have been used to measure fall risk, especially for balance. Conclusions: Falls and fall risk can be reduced with exercise interventions in the community-dwelling elderly, although the most effective exercise variables are unknown. Future studies in populations with comorbidities known to increase fall risk will help determine optimal, condition-specific fall-prevention programmes. Poor balance is a key risk factor for falls; therefore, the best measure of this variable should be selected when evaluating patients at risk of falling. PMID:20145768

Self-esteem, propensity for sensation seeking, and risk behaviour among adults with tattoos and piercings

PubMed Central

Hong, Bo-Kyung; Lee, Hyo Young

2017-01-01

Background: In recent years, increasing numbers of adults and adolescents have opted to undergo tattoo and piercing procedures. Studies among adolescents with tattoo and piercing have usually explored the relationship between one factor and the decision to have tattoos and/or piercings. The aim of this study was to determine relationships between body cosmetic procedures and selfesteem, propensity for sensation seeking, and risk behaviours among adults. Materials and Methods: The subjects were divided into two groups, i.e., those with (n=429) and those without tattoos/piercings (n=237), and self-esteem, propensity for sensation seeking, and risk behaviour were compared between the two groups using self-report questionnaires. To analyse differences in self-esteem and the propensity for sensation seeking, general characteristics were statistically adjusted. In addition, general characteristics, self-esteem, and propensity for sensation seeking were statistically adjusted to determine differences in the propensity for risk behaviour between the two groups. Results: Significant differences were observed in age, marital status, income level, occupation, values or sensitivity to fashion, and educational level between the group with and that without tattoos/ piercings. There was no significant difference in self-esteem, whereas there were significant differences in the propensity for sensation seeking and risk behaviour between the two groups. Conclusions: Continuous attention to, and interest in, the increased incidence of tattooing and piercing are necessary, especially in terms of public interventions for health education and health promotion, as these forms of self-adornment are associated with behaviours that pose a risk to health. Significance for public health The age range and occupations of people who undergo tattoo procedures have diversified with their increasing popularity as cosmetic procedures. This study investigated general characteristics of adults with

Perceived Community Environmental Factors and Risk of Five-Year Participation Restriction Among Older Adults With or at Risk of Knee Osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Vaughan, Molly W; Felson, David T; LaValley, Michael P; Orsmond, Gael I; Niu, Jingbo; Lewis, Cora E; Segal, Neil A; Nevitt, Michael C; Keysor, Julie J

2017-07-01

Older adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA) who live in environments with mobility barriers may be at greater risk of developing participation restrictions, defined as difficulties in engagement in life situations. We investigated the risk of participation restriction over 5 years due to self-reported environmental features among older adults with knee OA. Participants from the Multicenter Osteoarthritis (MOST) Study self-reported participation at baseline, 30 months, and 60 months using the instrumental role subscale of the Late Life Disability Index (LLDI). Data on self-reported environmental features were from the Home and Community Environment questionnaire administered in the MOST Knee Pain and Disability study, an ancillary study of MOST. The relative risks (RRs) of developing participation restriction at 60 months, indicated by an LLDI score <67.6 out of a possible 100, due to reported high community mobility barriers and high transportation facilitators, were calculated using robust Poisson regression, adjusting for covariates. Sixty-nine of the 322 participants (27%) developed participation restriction by 60 months. Participants reporting high community mobility barriers at baseline had 1.8 times the risk (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.2-2.7) of participation restriction at 60 months, after adjusting for covariates. Self-report of high transportation facilitators at baseline resulted in a reduced but statistically nonsignificant risk of participation restriction at 60 months (RR 0.7, 95% CI 0.4-1.1). Higher perceived environmental barriers impact the risk of long-term participation restriction among older adults with or at risk of knee OA. Approaches aimed at reducing the development of participation restrictions in this population should consider decreasing environmental barriers. © 2017, American College of Rheumatology.

A multidimensional approach to understanding the potential risk factors and covariates of adult picky eating.

PubMed

Ellis, Jordan M; Schenk, Rebecca R; Galloway, Amy T; Zickgraf, Hana F; Webb, Rose Mary; Martz, Denise M

2018-06-01

Adult picky eating (PE) has received increased attention in the eating behavior literature due to its important association with adult avoidant-restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). The current study tested a model of potential risk factors of adult PE behavior, including perceived early parental feeding practices. An exploratory model was also utilized to understand associations with different aspects of adult PE behaviors. A sample of 1339 US adults recruited through Amazon's MTurk completed an online survey that included the recently developed Adult Picky Eating Questionnaire (APEQ), retrospective reports of parental feeding practices, and other measures of eating behavior and demographic variables. A structural equation modeling procedure tested a series of regression models that included BMI and disordered eating behaviors as covariates. SEM modeling indicated that retrospective reports of greater parental pressure to eat, higher disgust sensitivity, lower PE age of onset, and experiencing an aversive food event were associated with general adult PE behavior. Results also indicated parental encouragement of healthy eating may be a protective factor, and that men endorsed higher levels of adult PE. Exploratory analyses indicated that cross-sectional predictors and covariates were differentially related to specific aspects of PE as measured by the APEQ subscales. Early experiences, including parental approaches to feeding, appear to be potential risk factors of PE behavior in adults. A nuanced understanding of adult PE is important for the prevention and treatment of severe PE behaviors, related psychosocial impairment, and ARFID. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Multiple health behavior change in adults with or at risk for cancer: a systematic review.

PubMed

Green, Amanda C; Hayman, Laura L; Cooley, Mary E

2015-05-01

To identify components of efficacious interventions for multiple health behavior change (MHBC) in adult cancer survivors or adults at high risk for cancer. A systematic review of MHBC interventions was conducted using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework. Ten studies met inclusion criteria. Most studies changed at least 2 health behaviors. Diet, exercise, and smoking cessation were consistently changed with in-person interventions. Longer duration interventions using phone or mail contact had a positive association with changing diet and exercise. MHBC interventions positively influenced behavior change in adults with cancer and those at high risk for cancer. Future studies should focus on increasing dissemination and implementation of efficacious interventions.

Efficacy of Candida sake CPA-1 formulation for controlling Penicillium expansum decay on pome fruit from different Mediterranean regions.

PubMed

Torres, R; Teixidó, N; Viñas, I; Mari, M; Casalini, L; Giraud, M; Usall, J

2006-11-01

The effectiveness of a formulated product of the yeast Candida sake CPA-1 for controlling postharvest diseases on pome fruits was demonstrated in laboratory, semicommercial, and commercial trials carried out in the major pome fruit producing region of the European Union. First, one wettable powder and seven liquid formulations were tested in laboratory trials that involved two varieties of apples and two varieties of pears. In all cases, an efficacy similar to that of fresh cells was demonstrated in the control of artificial Penicillium expansum infection. After these trials, the formulated product chosen for semicommercial and commercial trials was LF1, a liquid formulation that is particularly suitable for commercial applications. In semicommercial trials, LF1 showed a performance similar to fresh cells in most trials, and the population dynamics of both fresh and formulated cells were quite stable throughout the storage period. This indicates the high viability of C. sake CPA-1 in this formulation and the absence of adverse effects during the formulation of the product, which may significantly affect both its ability to grow on fruit and its antagonistic activity. We evaluated the control of natural infection after applying the formulated product in a commercial drencher in different packinghouses. A significant reduction in the incidence of diseases was observed with a recommended dose of around 10(7) CFU/ml when natural infections were greater than 1%. In general, large quantities of yeast were observed on the surface of unwounded fruits of different pome fruit cultivars. Moreover, populations of this biocontrol agent increased rapidly on fruit surfaces and remained quite stable for a long time under commercial storage conditions. Commercial practices used in packinghouses were therefore successfully applied for this formulated product.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced sickness in adolescent female rats alters the acute-phase response and lithium chloride (LiCl)- induced impairment of conditioned place avoidance/aversion learning, following a homotypic LPS challenge in adulthood.

PubMed

Cloutier, Caylen J; Kavaliers, Martin; Ossenkopp, Klaus-Peter

2018-10-01

The multi-variable locomotor activity effects of LiCl treatment in female rats were examined in a conditioned place avoidance/aversion (CPA) paradigm. In addition, the sickness effects of an LPS injection (200 μg/kg), given during adolescents, on CPA learning in adulthood were examined, as were the effects of a homotypic LPS injection (200 μg/kg) just prior to CPA acquisition trials. Female rats were injected with LPS or saline during adolescents (6 weeks of age) and later pretreated with LPS again or saline in an automated two-chamber CPA paradigm with LiCl (95 mg/kg) treatments as the aversive toxin. Results showed that, while adolescent LPS treatment had no long-term effect on the establishment of CPA, it did interfere with the ability of a second LPS challenge in adulthood to impair CPA learning, an effect obtained in subjects pretreated with LPS in the CPA procedure in adulthood only. The results of this study demonstrate the importance of considering the adolescent stage of development when evaluating the effects of environmental challenges on adult behavior. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Associations of genetic risk scores based on adult adiposity pathways with childhood growth and adiposity measures.

PubMed

Monnereau, Claire; Vogelezang, Suzanne; Kruithof, Claudia J; Jaddoe, Vincent W V; Felix, Janine F

2016-08-18

Results from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) identified many loci and biological pathways that influence adult body mass index (BMI). We aimed to identify if biological pathways related to adult BMI also affect infant growth and childhood adiposity measures. We used data from a population-based prospective cohort study among 3,975 children with a mean age of 6 years. Genetic risk scores were constructed based on the 97 SNPs associated with adult BMI previously identified with GWAS and on 28 BMI related biological pathways based on subsets of these 97 SNPs. Outcomes were infant peak weight velocity, BMI at adiposity peak and age at adiposity peak, and childhood BMI, total fat mass percentage, android/gynoid fat ratio, and preperitoneal fat area. Analyses were performed using linear regression models. A higher overall adult BMI risk score was associated with infant BMI at adiposity peak and childhood BMI, total fat mass, android/gynoid fat ratio, and preperitoneal fat area (all p-values < 0.05). Analyses focused on specific biological pathways showed that the membrane proteins genetic risk score was associated with infant peak weight velocity, and the genetic risk scores related to neuronal developmental processes, hypothalamic processes, cyclicAMP, WNT-signaling, membrane proteins, monogenic obesity and/or energy homeostasis, glucose homeostasis, cell cycle, and muscle biology pathways were associated with childhood adiposity measures (all p-values <0.05). None of the pathways were associated with childhood preperitoneal fat area. A genetic risk score based on 97 SNPs related to adult BMI was associated with peak weight velocity during infancy and general and abdominal fat measurements at the age of 6 years. Risk scores based on genetic variants linked to specific biological pathways, including central nervous system and hypothalamic processes, influence body fat development from early life onwards.

Family Communication, Risk Perception and Cancer Knowledge of Young Adults from BRCA1/2 Families: a Systematic Review.

PubMed

Young, Alison L; Butow, Phyllis N; Vetsch, Janine; Quinn, Veronica F; Patenaude, Andrea F; Tucker, Katherine M; Wakefield, Claire E

2017-12-01

Understanding challenges in familial communication of cancer risk has informed genetic service delivery. Parent-child interactions have received considerable attention, but few studies focus on young adulthood experiences within BRCA1/2 families. Young adults are approaching, or at a life stage where awareness of hereditary cancer risk is vital for informed choice of risk management options. This review assesses family communication, risk perception and cancer knowledge held by 18-40 year old individuals who have a parent with a BRCA1/2 gene mutation or carry the gene mutation themselves. Thirteen papers met the inclusion criteria. One utilized a 'mixed methods' methodology and the remaining used a qualitative approach. Findings were synthesized into themes and reported narratively. In general, parents are communicating openly about genetic risk with young adult offspring, but there is evidence that some young adults are withholding information from their parents about their own test results. Risk perception is influenced by a family history of cancer, childbearing plans and health providers' advice. Misconceptions about genetic risk appear to be common and gaps in hereditary cancer knowledge are evident. It is unclear whether incorrect knowledge was passed from parents to offspring. Health providers need to provide developmentally appropriate services for emerging adults (18-25 years old), with particular support in navigating through risk management options.

Healthy Lifestyle Change and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Young Adults: Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) Study

PubMed Central

Spring, Bonnie; Moller, Arlen C.; Colangelo, Laura A.; Siddique, Juned; Roehrig, Megan; Daviglus, Martha L.; Polak, Joseph F.; Reis, Jared P.; Sidney, Stephen; Liu, Kiang

2015-01-01

Background The benefits of healthy habits are well-established, but it is unclear whether making health behavior changes as an adult can still alter coronary artery disease risk. Methods and Results The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) prospective cohort study (n = 3538) assessed 5 healthy lifestyle factors (HLFs) among young adults between ages 18–30 (Year 0 baseline) and 20 years later (Year 20): not overweight/obese, low alcohol intake, healthy diet, physically active, nonsmoker. We tested whether change from Year 0 to 20 in a continuous composite HLF score (HLF change; range: −5 to +5) is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis [coronary artery calcification (CAC) and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT)] at Year 20, after adjustment for demographics, medications, and baseline HLFs. By Year 20, 25·3% of the sample improved (HLF change ≥ +1); 40·4% deteriorated (had fewer HLFs); 34·4% stayed the same; 19·2% had CAC (>0). Each increase in HLFs was associated with reduced odds of detectable CAC (OR = .85, 95% CI: .74 – .98) and lower IMT (carotid bulb β = −.024, p = 0.001), and each decrease in HLFs was predictive to a similar degree of greater odds of CAC (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02 – 1.33) and greater IMT (β = +.020, p < 0.01). Conclusions Healthy lifestyle changes during young adulthood are associated with decreased, and unhealthy lifestyle changes with increased risk for subclinical atherosclerosis in middle age. PMID:24982115

Stressful life events, sexual orientation, and cardiometabolic risk among young adults in the United States.

PubMed

Hatzenbuehler, Mark L; Slopen, Natalie; McLaughlin, Katie A; McLaughlin, Kate A

2014-10-01

The goal of the present study was to examine whether sexual minority young adults are more vulnerable to developing cardiometabolic risk following exposure to stressful life events than heterosexual young adults. Data came from the National Longitudinal Study for Adolescent Health (Shin, Edwards, & Heeren, 2009; Brummett et al., 2013), a prospective nationally representative study of U.S. adolescents followed into young adulthood. A total of 306 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) respondents and 6,667 heterosexual respondents met inclusion criteria for this analysis. Measures of cumulative stressful life events were drawn from all 4 waves of data collection; sexual orientation and cardiometabolic biomarkers were assessed at Wave 4 (2008-2009). Gay/bisexual men exposed to 1-2 (β = 0.71, p = .01) and 5+ (β = 0.87, p = .01) stressful life events had a statistically significant elevation in cardiometabolic risk, controlling for demographics, health behaviors, and socioeconomic status. Moreover, in models adjusted for all covariates, lesbian/bisexual (β = 0.52, p = .046) women with 5+ stressful life events had a statistically significant elevation in cardiometabolic risk. There was no relationship between stressful life events and cardiometabolic risk among heterosexual men or women. Stressful life events during childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood place LGB young adults at heightened risk for elevated cardiometabolic risk as early as young adulthood. The mechanisms underlying this relationship require future study.

Association of objectively measured physical activity with cardiovascular risk in mobility-limited older adults

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: Data are sparse regarding the impacts of habitual physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior on cardiovascular (CV) risk in older adults with mobility limitations. Methods and Results: This study examined the baseline, cross-sectional association between CV risk and objectively measur...

Physical and Mental Health of Transgender Older Adults: An At-Risk and Underserved Population

PubMed Central

Fredriksen-Goldsen, Karen I.

2014-01-01

Purpose: This study is one of the first to examine the physical and mental health of transgender older adults and to identify modifiable factors that account for health risks in this underserved population. Design and Methods: Utilizing data from a cross-sectional survey of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults aged 50 and older (N = 2,560), we assessed direct and indirect effects of gender identity on 4 health outcomes (physical health, disability, depressive symptomatology, and perceived stress) based on a resilience conceptual framework. Results: Transgender older adults were at significantly higher risk of poor physical health, disability, depressive symptomatology, and perceived stress compared with nontransgender participants. We found significant indirect effects of gender identity on the health outcomes via fear of accessing health services, lack of physical activity, internalized stigma, victimization, and lack of social support; other mediators included obesity for physical health and disability, identity concealment for perceived stress, and community belonging for depressive symptomatology and perceived stress. Further analyses revealed that risk factors (victimization and stigma) explained the highest proportion of the total effect of gender identity on health outcomes. Implications: The study identifies important modifiable factors (stigma, victimization, health-related behaviors, and social support) associated with health among transgender older adults. Reducing stigma and victimization and including gender identity in nondiscrimination and hate crime statutes are important steps to reduce health risks. Attention to bolstering individual and community-level social support must be considered when developing tailored interventions to address transgender older adults’ distinct health and aging needs. PMID:23535500

Modeling multisystem biological risk in young adults: The Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study.

PubMed

Seeman, Teresa; Gruenewald, Tara; Karlamangla, Arun; Sidney, Steve; Liu, Kiang; McEwen, Bruce; Schwartz, Joseph

2010-01-01

Although much prior research has focused on identifying the roles of major regulatory systems in health risks, the concept of allostatic load (AL) focuses on the importance of a more multisystems view of health risks. How best to operationalize allostatic load, however, remains the subject of some debate. We sought to test a hypothesized metafactor model of allostatic load composed of a number of biological system factors, and to investigate model invariance across sex and ethnicity. Biological data from 782 men and women, aged 32-47, from the Oakland, CA and Chicago, IL sites of the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study (CARDIA) were collected as part of the Year 15exam in 2000. These include measures of blood pressure, metabolic parameters (glucose, insulin, lipid profiles, and waist circumference), markers of inflammation (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen), heart rate variability, sympathetic nervous system activity (12-hr urinary norepinephrine and epinephrine) and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis activity (diurnal salivary free cortisol). A "metafactor" model of AL as an aggregate measure of six underlying latent biological subfactors was found to fit the data, with the metafactor structure capturing 84% of variance of all pairwise associations among biological subsystems. There was little evidence of model variance across sex and/or ethnicity. These analyses extend work operationalizing AL as a multisystems index of biological dysregulation, providing initial support for a model of AL as a metaconstruct of inter-relationships among multiple biological regulatory systems, that varies little across sex or ethnicity.

I Want Your Sext: Sexting and Sexual Risk in Emerging Adult Minority Men.

PubMed

Davis, Mikaela Jessica; Powell, Adeya; Gordon, Derrick; Kershaw, Trace

2016-04-01

Sexting, sending, or receiving sexually suggestive or explicit messages/photos/videos, have not been studied extensively. The aims of this study is to understand factors associated with sexting among minority (e.g., African- American, Hispanic) emerging adult males and the association between sexting and sexual risk. We recruited 119 emerging adult heterosexual males and assessed sexting and sexual risk behaviors. Fifty-four percent of participants sent a sext, and 70% received a sext. Participants were more likely to sext with casual partners than with steady partners. Multiple regression analyses showed that participants who sent sexts to steady partners had significantly more unprotected vaginal intercourse and oral sex. Participants who sent sexts to casual partners had significantly more partners, and participants who received sexts from casual partners had significantly more unprotected oral sex and sex while on substances. We found that sexting is a frequent and reciprocal behavior among emerging adults, and there were different patterns of significance for sexts with casual and steady partners.

Relative Risks of Contributing Factors to Morbidity and Mortality in Adults With Craniopharyngioma on Growth Hormone Replacement.

PubMed

Yuen, Kevin C J; Mattsson, Anders F; Burman, Pia; Erfurth, Eva-Marie; Camacho-Hubner, Cecilia; Fox, Janet L; Verhelst, Johan; Geffner, Mitchell E; Abs, Roger

2018-02-01

In adults, craniopharyngioma (CP) of either childhood-onset (CO-CP) or adult-onset (AO-CP) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but data on the relative risks (RRs) of contributing factors are lacking. To assess the RRs of factors contributing to morbidity and mortality in adults with CO-CP and AO-CP. Data on 1669 patients with CP from KIMS (Pfizer International Metabolic Database) were analyzed using univariate and multiple Poisson and Cox regression methods. When CO-CP and AO-CP groups were combined, history of stroke and hyperlipidemia increased cardiovascular risk, higher body mass index (BMI) and radiotherapy increased cerebrovascular risk, and increased waist circumference increased the risk of developing diabetes mellitus (DM). Compared with patients with CO-CP, patients with AO-CP had a threefold higher risk of tumor recurrence, whereas being female and previous radiotherapy exposure conferred lower risks. Radiotherapy and older age with every 10 years from disease onset conferred a 2.3- to 3.5-fold risk for developing new intracranial tumors, whereas older age, greater and/or increasing BMI, history of stroke, and lower insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) standard deviation score measured at last sampling before death were related to increased all-cause mortality. Compared with the general population, adults with CP had 9.3-, 8.1-, and 2.2-fold risks of developing DM, new intracranial tumors, and early death, respectively. Conventional factors that increase the risks of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases and DM and risks for developing new intracranial tumors contributed to excess morbidity and mortality. In addition, lower serum IGF-I level measured from the last sample before death was inversely associated with mortality risk in patients with CP. Copyright © 2017 Endocrine Society

Effect of Area-Level Socioeconomic Deprivation on Risk of Cognitive Dysfunction in Older Adults.

PubMed

McCann, Adrian; McNulty, Helene; Rigby, Jan; Hughes, Catherine F; Hoey, Leane; Molloy, Anne M; Cunningham, Conal J; Casey, Miriam C; Tracey, Fergal; O'Kane, Maurice J; McCarroll, Kevin; Ward, Mary; Moore, Katie; Strain, J J; Moore, Adrian

2018-02-12

To investigate the relationship between area-level deprivation and risk of cognitive dysfunction. Cross-sectional analysis. The Trinity, Ulster, and Department of Agriculture (TUDA) study from 2008 to 2012. Community-dwelling adults aged 74.0 ± 8.3 without dementia (N = 5,186; 67% female). Adopting a cross-jurisdictional approach, geo-referenced address-based information was used to map and link participants to official socioeconomic indicators of deprivation within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Participants were assigned an individual deprivation score related to the smallest administrative area in which they lived. These scores were categorized into comparable quintiles, that were then used to integrate the datasets from both countries. Cognitive health was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); cognitive dysfunction was defined as a MMSE score of 24 or less. Approximately one-quarter of the cohort resided within the most-deprived districts in both countries. Greater area-level deprivation was associated with significantly lower MMSE scores; fewer years of formal education; greater anxiety, depression, smoking and alcohol use, and obesity; and more adverse outcomes, including higher blood pressure and diabetes risk. After adjustment for relevant covariates, area deprivation was associated with significantly higher risk of cognitive dysfunction (odds ratio =1.40, 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.87, P = .02, for most vs least deprived). This analysis combining data from two health systems shows that area deprivation is an independent risk factor for cognitive dysfunction in older adults. Adults living in areas of greatest socioeconomic deprivation may benefit from targeted strategies aimed at improving modifiable risk factors for dementia. Further cross-national analysis investigating the impact of area-level deprivation is needed to address socioeconomic disparities and shape future policy to improve health outcomes in older