Identification of S100A8/A9 involved in thromboangiitis obliterans development using tandem mass tags-labeled quantitative proteomics analysis.

Thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) is characterized by inflammation and obstruction of small-and medium-sized distal arteries, with limited pharmacotherapies and surgical interventions. The precise pathogenesis of TAO remains elusive. By utilizing the technology of tandem mass tags (TMT) for quantitative proteomics and leveraging bioinformatics tools, a comparative analysis of protein profiles was conducted between normal and TAO rats to identify key proteins driving TAO development. The results unveiled 1385 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in the TAO compared with the normal group-comprising 365 proteins with upregulated expression and 1020 proteins with downregulated expression. Function annotation through gene ontology indicated these DEPs mainly involved in cell adhesion, positive regulation of cell migration, and cytosol. The principal signaling pathways involved regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, vascular smooth contraction, and focal adhesion. The roles of these DEPs and associated signaling pathways serve as a fundamental framework for comprehending the mechanisms underpinning the onset and progression of TAO. Furthermore, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the effects of S100A8/A9 and its inhibitor, paquinimod, on smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and in TAO rats. We observed that paquinimod reduces SMCs proliferation and migration, promotes phenotype switching and alleviates vascular stenosis in TAO rats. In conclusion, our study revealed that the early activation of S100A8/A9 in the femoral artery is implicated in TAO development, targeting S100A8/A9 signaling may provide a novel approach for TAO prevention and treatment.

Modified lumbo-pelvic exercise to alleviate mild stress urinary incontinence in middle-aged females.

Urinary incontinence is one of the common clinical problems of females passing middle age. Traditional pelvic floor muscle training to alleviate urinary incontinence is too dull and unpleasant. Therefore, we were motivated to purpose a modified lumbo-pelvic exercise training incorporating simplified dancing components with pelvic floor muscle training. The objective of this study was to evaluate the 16-week modified lumbo-pelvic exercise program that incorporated dance and abdominal drawing-in maneuvers. Middle-aged females were randomly assigned into the experimental (n = 13) and control (n = 11) groups. Compared to the control group, the exercise group significantly reduced body fat, visceral fat index, waistline, waist-hip ratio, perceived incontinence score, frequency of urine leakage, and pad testing index (p < 0.05). In addition, there were significant improvements in pelvic floor function, vital capacity, and muscle activity of the right rectus abdominis (p < 0.05). This indicated that the modified lumbo-pelvic exercise program can promote benefits of physical training and alleviate urinary incontinence in middle-aged females.

Pilot testing of a simplified dance intervention for cardiorespiratory fitness and blood lipids in obese older women.

INTRODUCTION: Dance interventions require long learning periods and exert high joint loading. Therefore, a simple dance intervention is required. AIMS: To examine the effects of simplified dance on body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, and blood lipid levels in obese older women. METHOD: Twenty-six obese older women were randomly assigned to exercise and control groups. The dance exercise involved pelvic tilt and rotation with basic breathing techniques. Anthropometry, cardiorespiratory fitness, and blood lipid levels were measured at baseline and after the 12-week training. RESULTS: The exercise group had lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and improved VO2max after the 12-week training than at baseline; however, no significant difference was observed for the control group. Additionally, the exercise group had lower triglycerides and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Simplified dance interventions have the potential to improve blood composition and aerobic fitness in obese older women.

Training and retention effects of paced and music-synchronised walking exercises on pre-older females: an interventional study.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity at pre-older ages (55-64 years) can greatly affect one's physical fitness, health, physical-activity behaviour, and quality of life at older ages. The objective of this study was to conduct a 24-week walking-exercise programme among sedentary pre-older females and investigate the influence of different walking cadences on cardiorespiratory fitness and associated biomarkers. METHODS: A total of 78 pre-older sedentary female participants were recruited and randomly assigned to normal (n = 36), paced (n = 15), music-synchronised (n = 15) walking, and no-exercise control (n = 12) groups, respectively. The normal, paced, and music-synchronised walking groups walked at a cadence of 120 steps/min, 125 steps/min, and 120-128 steps/min, respectively, under supervised conditions. Anthropometric characteristics, step length, nutrient intake, blood pressure and composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness were measured at baseline, the 12th week of the programme, the 24th week of the programme (completion), and after a 12-week retention period, which began immediately upon completion of the programme and did not feature any supervised exercises. RESULTS: All walking conditions improved high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, step length, maximum oxygen consumption (VO2max), and oxidative capacity at anaerobic threshold (all P < 0.001); however, after the 12-week retention period only the training effects of HDL-C (P < 0.05) and VO2max (P < 0.05) remained robust. Additionally, music-synchronised walking was found to reduce the fat ratio (P = 0.031), while paced walking was found to reduce body mass (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: The significant pre-post changes in health-related outcomes across the 24-week walking intervention, including improved blood composition, longer step length, and better cardiorespiratory capacity, show that this intervention is promising for improving health and fitness. When, during the retention period, the participants resumed their usual lifestyles without supervised exercise, most physiological biomarkers deteriorated. Thus, for sedentary middle-aged females, persistent behavioural change is necessary to retain the health benefits of physical exercise.

Pulmonary Capacity, Blood Composition and Metabolism among Coal Mine Workers in High- and Low-Altitude Aboveground and Underground Workplaces.

(1) Background: While previous studies revealed how underground mining might adversely affect the cardiopulmonary functions of workers, this study further investigated the differences between under- and aboveground mining at both high and low altitudes, which has received little attention in the literature. (2) Methods: Seventy-one healthy male coal mine workers were recruited, who had worked at least 5 years at the mining sites located above the ground at high (>3900 m; n = 19) and low (<120 m; n = 16) altitudes as well as under the ground at high (n = 20) and low (n = 16) altitudes. Participants' heart rates, pulmonary functions, total energy expenditure and metabolism were measured over a 5-consecutive-day session at health clinics. (3) Results: Combining the results for both above- and underground locations, workers at high-altitude mining sites had significantly higher peak heart rate (HR), minimum average HR and training impulse as well as energy expenditure due to all substances and due to fat than those at low-altitude sites. They also had significantly higher uric acid, total cholesterol, creatine kinase and N-osteocalcin in their blood samples than the workers at low-altitude mining sites. At underground worksites, the participants working at high-altitude had a significantly higher average respiratory rate than those at low-altitude regions. (4) Conclusion: In addition to underground mining, attention should be paid to high-altitude mining as working under a hypoxia condition at such altitude likely presents physiological challenges.

Clinical predictors of outcomes in patients undergoing emergency air medical transport from Kinmen to Taiwan.

Emergency air medical transport (EAMT) is indispensable for acutely or critically ill patients in remote areas. We determined patient-level and transport-specific factors associated with all-cause mortality after EAMT.We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study using a prospective registry consisting of clinical/medical records. Study inclusion criteria consisted of all adults undergoing EAMT from Kinmen hospital to the ED of Taipei Veterans General Hospital (TVGH) between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2012. The primary outcome assessments were 7-day and 30-day mortality.A total of 370 patients transported to TVGH were enrolled in the study with a mean age of 54.5 ±â€Š21.5 (SD) years and with a male predominance (71.6%). The average in-transit time was 1.4 ±â€Š0.4 hours. The 7-day, 30-day, and in-hospital mortality rates were 10.3%, 14.1%, and 14.9%. Among them 33.5% (124/370) were categorized under neurological etiologies, whereas 24.9% (90/370) cardiovascular, followed by 16.2% (60/370) trauma patients. Independent predictors associated with 7-day all-cause mortality were age (odds ratio [OR] 1.043, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.016-1.070), Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) (OR 0.730, 95% CI 0.650-0.821), and hematocrit level (OR 0.930, 95% CI 0.878-0.985). Independent predictors associated with 30-day all-cause mortality were age (OR 1.028, 95% CI 1.007-1.049), GCS (OR 0.686, 95% CI 0.600-0.785), hematocrit (OR 0.940, 95% CI 0.895-0.988), hemodynamic instability (OR 5.088 95% CI 1.769-14.635), and endotracheal intubation (OR 0.131 95% CI 0.030-0.569). The 7-day and 30-day mortality were not significantly related to transport-specific factors, such as length of flight, type of paramedic crew on board, or day and season of transport. Clinical patient-level factors, as opposed to transport-level factors, were associated with 7- and 30-day all-cause mortality in patients undergoing interfacility EAMT from Kinmen to Taiwan.

Emergency department critical care unit for critically ill cardiovascular patients: An observation study.

BACKGROUND: We investigated an intensive care model for acute critically cardiovascular emergency patients in the emergency department (ED) as compared with those in the coronary care unit (CCU) after ED visits. METHODS: We performed a retrospective cohort analysis of patients with acute cardiovascular emergency admitted to the intensive care unit in the ED (EICU) or CCU from January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011 in an university-affiliated medical center. All clinical characteristics or predictors possibly related to in-hospital mortality were documented, completed, and measured via electronic medical records review. The clinical independent variables with p < 0.1 in univariate analysis were further analyzed by using multiple logistic regression. Survival analysis of the predictors for hospital mortality was assessed by Kaplan-Meier survival curves. RESULTS: A total of 964 patients were recruited in this study. Of all patients, 328 were enrolled in the EICU group, whereas 636 were enrolled in the CCU group. Multiple regression analysis of both EICU and CCU mortality demonstrated that Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores were common predictors of mortality in both groups of patients. Based on these scores, Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed no statistically significant differences of cumulative survival rates in both the 7-day and in-hospital survival between both groups. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated a feasible and qualified model of intensive care delivery accomplished by collaboration of emergency physicians and cardiologists for acute critically ill cardiovascular emergency patients after initial ED management. Our results suggest that an expanded multicenter study should be conducted to further test and confirm this intriguing model.