An Education-Counseling Program for Young Prehypertensive Adults.

In this non-equivalent control group, non-synchronized study, we assessed the effects of an education-counseling program for young prehypertensive adults. We included 40 and 47 prehypertensive individuals in the experimental and control groups, respectively. A structured questionnaire (pretest) was used to assess prehypertension-related knowledge, attitudes, health-promoting behavior, and self-efficacy. The experimental group underwent the 8-week program, while the control group received basic prehypertension and self-management education. Subsequently, blood pressure (BP) was measured, and prehypertension-related knowledge, attitudes, health-promoting behavior, and self-efficacy were evaluated using a questionnaire (posttest). There were significant intergroup differences in knowledge (t = 3.04, p = .003), attitudes (t = 6.41, p < .001), behavior (t = 11.60, p < .001), self-efficacy (t = 11.76, p < .001), and systolic BP (t = -5.49, p < .001); however, diastolic BP was not significantly different (t = -0.73, p = .473). Our findings demonstrated that the program is effective in improving knowledge, attitudes, behavior, self-efficacy, and systolic BP. Therefore, it can be used to prevent progression to hypertension.

NCM 1921, a Mixture of Several Ingredients, Including Fatty Acids and Choline, Attenuates Atopic Dermatitis in 1-Chloro-2,4-Dinitrobenzene-Treated NC/Nga Mice.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease in humans. In this study, we evaluated the effects of a mixture (NCM 1921) of omega-3 butter, omega-3 beef tallow oil, omega-3 lard oil, caprylic acid, lauric acid, choline, and Fe on AD in 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-treated NC/Nga mice. NCM 1921 significantly ameliorated the macroscopic and microscopic signs and reduced skin thickness and mast cell incorporation in the skin lesions of mice with DNCB-induced AD. Furthermore, it reduced serum immunoglobulin E levels; reduced the number of IgE-producing B cells, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, white blood cells, and differential white blood cells; and increased the number of lymphocytes. NCM 1921 normalized the total cell number in dorsal skin tissue, the axillary lymph node, and spleen following DNCB exposure and reduced the number of CD23+/B220+ cells in the axillary lymph node and CD3+ cells in dorsal skin tissue. Moreover, it reduced the levels of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 but increased the levels of interferon-γ in anti-CD3-stimulated splenocytes. Immunohistofluorescence staining showed that NCM 1921 treatment significantly increased claudin1, filaggrin, and Sirt1 protein expressions in AD skin lesions. These results suggest that NCM 1921 could be a valuable remedy for the treatment of AD.

Predictive model for quality of life in patients with recurrent coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: The aims of this study were to construct and verify a model that explains the quality of life in patients with recurrent coronary artery disease. METHODS: Participants were 212 patients with recurrent coronary artery disease undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. Data were collected through structured questionnaires from 21 December 2016-30 April 2017, and were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 and AMOS 23.0. RESULTS: The model's fit indices were adequate. Type D personality, symptom experience, and resilience had a direct effect on quality of life, while type D personality, cardiac function status, social support, and resilience had an indirect effect on quality of life. Type D personality, cardiac function status, social support, symptom experience, and resilience explained 55% of the total variance in quality of life. Thus, type D personality, cardiac function status, social support, symptom experience, and resilience affected the quality of life in patients with recurrent coronary artery disease. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic and integrated intervention programs considering factors related to quality of life may be useful for improving quality of life for patients with recurrent coronary artery disease.

Crystal structure and electronic properties of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP) carbamate.

A crystal structure of a carbamate of 2-amino-2-methyl-1-propanol (AMP-carbamate) has been elucidated and its structural and electronic properties investigated by density functional theory calculations and natural bond orbital analyses.