A study on knowledge, attitudes and health behaviours regarding Alzheimer's disease among community residents in Tianjin, China.

ACCESSIBLE SUMMARY: What is known on the subject? Several studies have measured the general public's knowledge and attitudes towards Alzheimer's disease; however, much of this work is based on western samples. Due to cultural differences, the western findings may be difficult to generalize to the Chinese general public. In addition, the few studies conducted in China were often restricted to a relatively narrow range of knowledge and attitudes. What this paper adds to existing knowledge? The general public had little knowledge of Alzheimer's disease, especially on the causes, symptoms and risk factors. In terms of attitudes, although the general public held positive attitudes towards persons with Alzheimer's disease, most of them were not sure whether or not to share a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease with the patient. In daily life, only a low proportion of people kept mentally active. What are the implications for practice? A popularization of a wide range of knowledge about Alzheimer's disease needs to be undertaken, especially focusing on persons with low educational level and emphasizing the causes, symptoms and risk factors. Besides, there is a significant need to draw up evidence-based dietary and lifestyle guidelines for Alzheimer's disease risk reduction. Moreover, health promotion agencies should identify priority groups for Alzheimer's disease risk reduction initiatives, especially those with lower income, a lower level of knowledge on Alzheimer's disease and with chronic diseases. AIM: The purpose of this descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was to assess the current level of knowledge, attitudes and health behaviours regarding Alzheimer's disease among community residents in Tianjin, China and to identify factors related to these attributes. METHOD: A convenience sample of 140 community-dwelling adults aged 20-75 years was selected to complete a researcher-designed questionnaire about Alzheimer's disease-related knowledge, attitudes and health behaviours. RESULTS: The findings revealed that 15.7% of the participants knew the risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. With regard to attitude, 138 participants (98.6%) believed that people with Alzheimer's disease should not be discriminated against, and 55.7% were not sure whether to share a diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease with the patient. In daily life, 28.6% of the participants pursued their interests and hobbies. A lower level of health behaviours was associated with lower income, presence of chronic diseases and a lower level of knowledge about Alzheimer's disease. DISCUSSION: These findings provide a strong case for population-level risk reduction initiatives to be undertaken, especially among people with lower income, a lower level of knowledge on Alzheimer's disease and with chronic diseases.

Localization of the Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases and their inhibitor in normal, fasted, and denervated rat skeletal muscle.

Immunofluorescence and immunogold localization studies show that the two Ca(2+)-dependent proteinases (mu-calpain for the micromolar Ca(2+)-requiring proteinase and m-calpain for the millimolar Ca(2+)-requiring proteinase) and their protein inhibitor (calpastatin) are located exclusively intracellularly in normal rat soleus muscle. Quantitative immunogold studies indicate that binding of antibodies to both calpains and to calpastatin is approximately two times greater at the Z-disk of myofibrils than it is at the I-band or A-band regions. Mitochondria and nuclei in muscle cells contain both calpains and calpastatin at concentrations approximately one-tenth and one-fifth, respectively, of the concentration at the Z-disk, as estimated by antibody binding. Very little calpain or calpastatin was seen in the cytoplasmic intermyofibrillar spaces, and most of the calpain and calpastatin in muscle cells is associated with intracellular structures. Immunofluorescence results suggest that concentration of m-calpain but not mu-calpain or calpastatin is, in some instances, slightly higher near the intracellular surface of the plasma membrane than elsewhere in the muscle cell. Most m-calpain, however, is distributed throughout the interior of mature rat skeletal muscle cells. Denervation, or fasting and refeeding increases the concentration of the calpains and calpastatin in the muscle cell but does not change their distribution. Some mu- and m-calpain and calpastatin is found extracellularly in denervated soleus muscle or soleus muscle from fasting rats, but the extracellular calpains and calpastatin seem to originate from "leakage" of these proteins out of the cell because serum creatine kinase levels are much higher than normal in denervated or fasting rats.

Activation of coagulation factor V by calcium-dependent proteinase.

Factor V is a key coagulation cofactor, regulating the rate of Factor Xa-catalyzed prothrombin conversion. Activation of Factor V markedly accelerates coagulation. This study describes a new class of Factor V activators, sulfhydryl proteinases. Of the enzymes studied, calcium-dependent proteinase was the most effective activator. Activation of Factor V by this enzyme was associated with cleavage of 125I-labeled Factor V to peptides distinct from those generated by previously described activators. Calcium-dependent proteinase-activated Factor Va peptides with molecular weights of 114,000 and 93,000 bound both to Factor Xa and to cultured endothelial cells. Calcium-dependent proteinase was identified in vascular endothelial cells, a tissue that also synthesizes Factor V. These findings suggest a previously unknown mechanism for cellular regulation of coagulation.