Loneliness among older adults in the Czech Republic: A socio-demographic, health, and psychosocial profile.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine demographic, health, and psychosocial correlates of loneliness in Czech older adults using Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) data. METHOD: Study builds on secondary data analysis. Nationally representative sample of 2129 Czech older adults, aged 65 and over, were drawn from the SHARE wave 6.0. Factors included socio-demographic variables, physical health, psycho-social and subjective well-being. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA provided information about prevalence and demographic correlates of loneliness. Regression analysis was performed to examine hypothesized relationships between loneliness and health, social network measures, subjective and psychological well-being. RESULTS: Demographic variation was substantial with the sample of the Czech elderly. The widowed, divorced, and young-old were significantly related to higher loneliness. A U-shaped association was identified between household size and loneliness. Loneliness was also significantly related to education levels and types of living area, but in a complex non-linear way. In contrast, there was no gender difference. Regression results indicated that poor health conditions and social environment were significantly associated with Czech elderly's loneliness. Loneliness appeared to be linked to subjective and psychological well-being among Czech older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provide greater information about loneliness in population aging in the Czech society. Political and cultural initiative to promote protection against loneliness and social isolation should put forward aimed at high-risk groups of loneliness.

Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Effects of Artemisinin Extracts from Artemisia annua L

The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties of artemisinin derived from water, methanol, ethanol, or acetone extracts of Artemisia annua L. were evaluated. All 4 artemisinin-containing extracts had anti-inflammatory effects. Of these, the acetone extract had the greatest inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and proinflammatory cytokine (IL-1beta , IL-6, and IL-10) production. Antioxidant activity evaluations revealed that the ethanol extract had the highest free radical scavenging activity, (91.0+/-3.2%), similar to alpha-tocopherol (99.9%). The extracts had antimicrobial activity against the periodontopathic microorganisms Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. animalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. polymorphum, and Prevotella intermedia. This study shows that Artemisia annua L. extracts contain anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial substances and should be considered for use in pharmaceutical products for the treatment of dental diseases.

The Effect of Polyphenols Isolated from Cynanchi wilfordii Radix with Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Anti-bacterial Activity

Recently, Cynanchi wilfordii Radix has gained wide use in Asian countries as a functional food effective for relieving fatigue, osteoporosis, and constipation, particularly in menopausal disorders. However, its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial activities have not been explored in detail to date. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial properties of the Cynanchi wilfordii Radix extracts obtained with water, methanol, ethanol, and acetone were compared. All 4 polyphenol-containing extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The ethanol extract was found to elicit the most potent reduction of nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and cytokine (IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha) levels, as well as inhibit the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in a concentration-dependent manner. The evaluation of antioxidant activity also revealed the ethanol extract to have the highest free radical scavenging activity, measured as 85.3+/-0.4%, which is equivalent to 99.9% of the activity of alpha -tocopherol. In the assessment of anti-bacterial activity, only ethanol extract was found to inhibit the growth of the Bacillus species Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis. These results show that polyphenols of Cynanchi wilfordii Radix have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-bacterial properties that can be exploited and further improved for use as a supplementary functional food, in cosmetics, and for pharmaceutical purposes.