Intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) and field beans (Vicia faba L.) for forage, increases protein production.

In 2005-2007, a field study was conducted into intercropping of maize with faba bean at Pawlowice research station, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences. The main aim of the multi-year field research was an investigation into the reactions of differing maize hybrid earliness to intercropping cultivation with faba bean. The field research evaluated the effect of three maize hybrids-Wilga (early-E), Blask (medium-M) and Iman (late-L)-and the sowing rate of faba bean-18 (Fb1), 27 (Fb2) and 36 (Fb3) seeds per 1 m2-on growth dynamics and yield structure, and biomass, protein, and energy yield. Cultivation of faba bean in maize inter-rows led to significant competition with maize and affected yields, causing a decrease in maize dry matter yield from 14.1 (Fb1) to 20.6% (FB3) compared with maize sown alone. In terms of total biomass yield from maize and faba beans, no significant differences were found, but a slight increase in yield of 1.1-4.2% (repective to Fb1 and Fb3) was noted compared to maize sown alone. The early maize hybrid had a significantly lower yield but was most suitable for intercropping with faba bean. The dry biomass yield of early hybrids increased in intercropping by 25% compared to pure maize cultivation. Total protein yield from both intercropping components was higher than in the pure sowing of maize: from 24 (Fb1) to 39% (Fb3). The increase in protein production resulted in an improvement in the energy-protein ratio. The number of UFL per kg of total protein decreased from 13.2 in pure maize cultivation (M-P) to 9.3 (Fb3). A more balanced forage biomass was produced from intercropping maize with faba bean, especially when an early maize hybrid was sown with faba beans.

Associations between the oxidative balance score and constipation: a cross-sectional study of the NHANES, 2005-2010.

OBJECTIVE: The oxidative balance score (OBS) reflects the overall burden of oxidative stress in an individual, with a higher OBS indicating greater antioxidant exposure. This study aimed to explore the association between constipation and OBS. METHODS: Variables were extracted from participants who completed a constipation questionnaire as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2010. The OBS was developed based on dietary and lifestyle factors, encompassing 16 nutrients and 4 lifestyle variables. Weighted logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) analyses were employed to evaluate the association between OBS and constipation. RESULTS: After adjusting for all covariates, weighted multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a 4% reduction in the incidence of constipation for each additional unit of OBS (OR: 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95-0.97, p < 0.001). In the OBS subgroup, the risk of constipation significantly decreased compared to that in the lowest quartile (Q2: 0.72, P = 0.024; Q3: 0.59, P < 0.001; Q4: 0.54, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated a significant association between constipation and the oxidative balance score (OBS), particularly dietary OBS, and that an increase in OBS may reduce the risk of developing constipation, in which oxidative stress may play an important role. This finding suggested that dietary modification could be an important approach for preventing constipation.

I-BaR: integrated balance rehabilitation framework.

Neurological diseases are observed in approximately 1 billion people worldwide. A further increase is foreseen at the global level as a result of population growth and aging. Individuals with neurological disorders often experience cognitive, motor, sensory, and lower extremity dysfunctions. Thus, the possibility of falling and balance problems arise due to the postural control deficiencies that occur as a result of the deterioration in the integration of multi-sensory information. We propose a novel rehabilitation framework, Integrated Balance Rehabilitation (I-BaR), to improve the effectiveness of the rehabilitation with objective assessment, individualized therapy, convenience with different disability levels and adoption of assist-as-needed paradigm and, with integrated rehabilitation process as whole, that is, ankle-foot preparation, balance, and stepping phases, respectively. Integrated Balance Rehabilitation allows patients to improve their balance ability by providing multi-modal feedback: visual via utilization of virtual reality; vestibular via anteroposterior and mediolateral perturbations with the robotic platform; proprioceptive via haptic feedback.

A Comprehensive Management of Devic's Disease: A Pediatric Case Study.

Devic's disease, also known as neuromyelitis optica (NMO), is an uncommon autoimmune condition that affects the optic nerves and spinal cord. It is characterized by recurrent optic neuritis and myelitis, which can cause paralysis and visual impairment. Because NMO mimics multiple sclerosis, diagnosing it is difficult and necessitates particular testing, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and aquaporin-4 antibody detection. Patients with NMOs are susceptible to severe, erratic episodes that can result in rapid impairment. As such, timely and efficient therapy with immunosuppressive medicines and continued supportive care are crucial. Improving mobility, strength, coordination, and quality of life while treating the functional deficiencies associated with NMOs requires the use of physiotherapy. This case study emphasizes how crucial it is to manage a young NMO patient using a multidisciplinary strategy in order to maximise results. This case report discusses a 16-year-old male presenting with a sudden onset of balance impairment, slurred speech, difficulty walking and breathing, and weakness in limbs, with the right side more affected. Over three months, he experienced increasing eyesight issues, fatigue, tremors during activities of daily living, difficulty swallowing, and night cramps. Diagnostic investigations including MRI, angiography, visual evoked potentials (VEP) study, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis confirmed demyelinating changes consistent with NMO, also known as Devic's disease. The patient received management with steroidal medications, immunosuppressants, and plasma therapy, along with physiotherapy rehabilitation. The physiotherapy protocol aimed to address muscle weakness, coordination impairment, balance issues, fine motor deficits, fatigue, sensory impairment, and dependence on activities of daily living. Motor, sensory, and cranial nerve assessments were conducted, revealing impairments consistent with NMO. Outcome measures pre- and post-intervention showed improvements in functional independence, balance, and fatigue severity. The medical management included a combination of medications and investigations to manage NMO symptoms and monitor disease progression. The physiotherapeutic approach employed a multidisciplinary strategy focusing on education, exercise, and functional tasks to improve the patient's quality of life and independence.

Proof of a LOD Prediction Model with Orthogonal PAT Methods in Continuous Wet Granulation and Drying.

Real-time monitoring of critical quality attributes, such as residual water in granules after drying which can be determined through loss-on-drying (LOD), during wet granulation and drying is essential in continuous manufacturing. Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has been widely used as process analytical technology (PAT) for in-line LOD monitoring. This study aims to develop and apply a model for predicting the LOD based on process parameters. Additionally, the efficacy of an orthogonal PAT approach using NIR and mass balance (MB) for a vibrating fluidized bed dryer (VFBD) is demonstrated. An in-house-built, cost-effective NIR sensor was utilized for measurements and exhibited good correlation compared to standard method via infrared drying. The combination of NIR and MB, as independent methods, has demonstrated their applicability. A good correlation, with a Pearson r above 0.99, was observed for LOD up to 16 % (w/w). The use of an orthogonal PAT method mitigated the risk of false process adaption. In some experiments where the NIR sensor might have been covered by powder and therefore did not measure accurately, LOD monitoring via MB remained feasible. The developed model effectively predicted LOD or process parameters, resulting in an R2 of 0.882 and a RMSE of 0.475 between predicted and measured LOD using the standard method.

Watershed hydrology mediates the recovery of an arsenic impacted subarctic landscape.

A holistic understanding of the chemical recovery of lakes from arsenic (As) pollution requires consideration of within-lake biogeochemical cycling of As and processes occurring in the surrounding catchment. This study used a watershed mass balance approach, complemented by experimental sediment incubations, to assess the mobility and transport of As within a subarctic watershed (155 km2) impacted by more than 60 years of atmospheric mining emissions. The period of record spanned a transition from drought to high streamflow between September 2017 and September 2019, which yielded insights into the interacting effects of hydrology and within-lake biogeochemical cycling of As. Internal loading of As from contaminated lake sediments (25-46 kg As year-1) and contributions from terrestrial sources (16-56 kg As yr-1) continue to negatively impact lake water quality (19-144 µg As L-1), but the relative importance of these loads varies seasonally and inter-annually in response to changing hydrological conditions. Wet conditions resulted in greater transport of As from terrestrial reservoirs and upstream areas, shorter lake water retention time, and increased the downstream export of As. During dry periods, the lake was disconnected from the surrounding watershed resulting in limited terrestrial contributions and longer lake water residence time, which delayed recovery due to the greater relative influence of internal loading from contaminated sediments. This study highlights that changing hydroclimatic regimes will alter trajectories of chemical recovery for arsenic impacted lakes through the coupling of within-lake and watershed transport processes.

Plaat1l1 controls feeding induced NAPE biosynthesis and contributes to energy balance regulation in zebrafish.

Dysregulation of energy balance leading to obesity is a significant risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and atherosclerosis. In rodents and several other vertebrates, feeding has been shown to induce a rapid rise in the intestinal levels of N-acyl-ethanolamines (NAEs) and the chronic consumption of a high fat diet abolishes this rise. Administering NAEs to rodents consuming a high fat diet reduces their adiposity, in part by reducing food intake and enhancing fat oxidation, so that feeding-induced intestinal NAE biosynthesis appears to be critical to appropriate regulation of energy balance. However, the contribution of feeding-induced intestinal NAE biosynthesis to appropriate energy balance remains poorly understood in part because there are multiple enzymes that can contribute to NAE biosynthesis and the specific enzyme(s) that are responsible for feeding-induced intestinal NAE biosynthesis have not been identified. The rate-limiting step in the intestinal biosynthesis of NAEs is formation of their immediate precursors, the N-acyl-phosphatidylethanolamines (NAPEs), by phosphatidylethanolamine N-acyltransferases (NATs). At least six NATs are found in humans and multiple homologs of these NATs are found in most vertebrate species. In recent years, the fecundity and small size of zebrafish (Danio rerio), as well as their similarities in feeding behavior and energy balance regulation with mammals, have led to their use to model key features of cardiometabolic disease. We therefore searched the Danio rerio genome to identify all NAT homologs and found two additional NAT homologs besides the previously reported plaat1, rarres3, and rarres3l, and used CRISPR/cas9 to delete these two NAT homologs (plaat1l1 and plaat1l2). While wild-type fish markedly increased their intestinal NAPE levels in response to a meal after fasting, this response was completely ablated in plaat1l1-/-fish. Furthermore, plaat1l1-/- fish fed a standard flake diet had increased weight gain and glucose intolerance compared to wild-type fish. The results support a critical role for feeding-induced NAPE and NAE biosynthesis in regulating energy balance and suggest that restoring this response in obese animals could potentially be used to treat obesity and cardiometabolic disease.

Synbiotics containing sea buckthorn polysaccharides ameliorate DSS-induced colitis in mice via regulating Th17/Treg homeostasis through intestinal microbiota and their production of BA metabolites and SCFAs.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is a chronic condition whose incidence has been rising globally. Synbiotic (SYN) is an effective means of preventing IBD. This study investigated the preventive effects and potential biological mechanisms of SYN (Bifidobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, and sea buckthorn polysaccharides) on DSS-induced colitis in mice. The results indicated that dietary supplementation with SYN has a significant improvement effect on DSS mice. SYN ameliorated disease activity index (DAI), colon length, and intestinal barrier permeability in mice. In addition, RT-qPCR results indicated that after SYN intervention, the expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IL-17F) and transcription factor RORγt secreted by Th17 cells were significantly reduced, and the expression levels of anti-inflammatory factors (IL-10 and TGF-ß) and transcription factor Foxp3 secreted by Treg cells were robustly increased. 16S rDNA sequencing analysis revealed that key intestinal microbiota related to Th17/Treg balance (Ligilactobacillus, Lactobacillus, Bacteroides, and Akkermansia) was significantly enriched. At the same time, a significant increase in microbial metabolites SCFAs and BAs was observed. We speculate that SYN may regulate the Th17/Treg balance by restructuring the structure and composition of the intestinal microbiota, thereby mitigating DSS-induced colitis.

Fgf9 regulates bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell fate and bone-fat balance in osteoporosis by PI3K/AKT/Hippo and MEK/ERK signaling.

Bone-fat balance is crucial to maintain bone homeostasis. As common progenitor cells of osteoblasts and adipocytes, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) are delicately balanced for their differentiation commitment. However, the exact mechanisms governing BMSC cell fate are unclear. In this study, we discovered that fibroblast growth factor 9 (Fgf9), a cytokine expressed in the bone marrow niche, controlled bone-fat balance by influencing the cell fate of BMSCs. Histomorphology and cytodifferentiation analysis showed that Fgf9 loss-of-function mutation (S99N) notably inhibited bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) formation and alleviated ovariectomy-induced bone loss and BMAT accumulation in adult mice. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo investigations demonstrated that Fgf9 altered the differentiation potential of BMSCs, shifting from osteogenesis to adipogenesis at the early stages of cell commitment. Transcriptomic and gene expression analyses demonstrated that FGF9 upregulated the expression of adipogenic genes while downregulating osteogenic gene expression at both mRNA and protein levels. Mechanistic studies revealed that FGF9, through FGFR1, promoted adipogenic gene expression via PI3K/AKT/Hippo pathways and inhibited osteogenic gene expression via MAPK/ERK pathway. This study underscores the crucial role of Fgf9 as a cytokine regulating the bone-fat balance in adult bone, suggesting that FGF9 is a potentially therapeutic target in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Postural Stability as a Measure of Fall Risk in Older People with and without HIV.

As the number of older people with HIV (PWH) grows, accidental falls and their associated negative health outcomes are of increasing concern. Fall risk can be measured using novel screening tools such as evaluating postural stability using force plate technology. The aims of this study were to test this technology to assess fall risk among older PWH. In a cross-sectional, observational study of people without HIV (PWoH) with a range of fall risk, participants underwent balance assessment using the validated BTrackS balance plate. Postural stability was compared by HIV serostatus. Multivariable linear regressions were used to examine the relationship between postural stability and validated measures of fall risk balance and frailty status. Among 34 PWH and 30 PWoH, all ≥50 years, postural stability was worse among PWH (35.4 cm vs. 28.3 cm, p = .07). In multivariable models, worse postural stability was associated with reporting a fall in the past 6 months (ß = 0.32, p = .004), worse fall efficacy (ß = 0.45, p < .001), and being frail or prefrail (ß = 0.26, p = .027). In multivariable models stratified by HIV serostatus, worse postural stability was significantly associated with worse fall efficacy (ß = 0.53, p < .01) and lower balance confidence (ß = -0.33, p =. 04) among PWH but not PWoH. Among older PWH and PWoH, worse postural stability was associated with validated measures of fall risk, including history of falls and poorer fall efficacy. Assessment of postural sway is a promising objective screening test for fall risk among older PWH.

Assessing the performance of blue-green solutions through a fine-scale water balance model for an urban area.

Blue and Green Infrastructures (BGIs) are natural or semi-natural systems that are considered an efficient solution to enhance stormwater management. To assess the performance of BGIs in mitigating floods and droughts in an urban area, a water balance model was developed in this study to simulate runoff formation and propagation. The developed model features fine spatial and temporal resolutions and flexibly integrates BGIs. Combining the conceptual single reservoir approach and the empirical continuous Soil Conservation Service Curve Number (SCS-CN) method, the model achieves computational efficiency, enabling long-term simulations that capture both short-term extreme events and long-term water balance. Its high transferability allows for easy incorporation of local datasets, making it adaptable to various urban contexts. Applied on a university campus located in Belgium, the model was used to simulate the water balance components of feasible BGIs for the study area, which were green roofs, permeable surfaces and rainwater tanks. Scenario analysis of both single BGI and combined BGI implementations was conducted, and all BGI scenarios were evaluated based on peak flow and runoff volume reduction and water balance analysis. Results demonstrate that the implementation of a combination of several BGIs with different functions is an effective solution for both flood control and drought mitigation, as these solutions can significantly reduce runoff flows, increase infiltration and provide considerable rainwater reuse.

Exercise perspective: Benefits and mechanisms of gut microbiota on the body. / è¿åŠ¨è§’åº¦ï¼šè‚ é“èŒç¾¤å¯¹æœºä½“çš„ç›Šå¤„åŠå ¶æœºåˆ¶.

Gut microbiota refers to the vast and diverse community of microorganisms residing in the intestines. Factors such as genetics, environmental influences (e.g., exercise, diet), and early life experiences (e.g., infant feeding methods) can all affect the ecological balance of gut microbiota within the body. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is associated with extra-intestinal diseases such as Parkinson's syndrome, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases, suggesting that disturbances in gut microbiota may be one of the causes of these diseases. Exercise benefits various diseases, with gut microbiota playing a role in regulating the nervous, musculoskeletal, and immune systems. Gut microbiota can impact the body's health status through the gut-brain axis, gut-muscle axis, and immune pathways. Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise can increase the quantity of gut microbiota and change microbial abundance, although short-term exercise does not significantly affect the alpha diversity of the microbiota. Resistance exercise also does not have a significant regulatory effect on gut microbiota.

Reflections on the challenges of conducting an international multicentre randomized controlled trial of balance training in addition to pulmonary rehabilitation and its impact on fall incidence in people with COPD.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is accepted as standard care for individuals with COPD. We conducted an international, multi-centred randomized controlled trial (RCT) to determine if adding balance training to PR would reduce the incidence of falls in people with COPD. While there have been many trials investigating the effectiveness of PR, few have involved international collaboration. Successful execution of rehabilitation trials requires a significant investment of time, staffing, and resources. With the recent completion of the Balance Training for Fall Reduction in COPD RCT, we report on the design, implementation, and execution of our trial using project management phases. We also highlight our lessons learned for consideration in future multi-centre rehabilitation trials. METHODS: This was a retrospective review of the planning, preparation, timelines, and personnel training involved in the execution of this study using four of the five project management phases described by Farrell et al. in 2010: (1) initiation, (2) planning, (3) execution, and (4) monitoring and controlling. We report descriptive statistics as percentages and counts and summarize our lessons learned. RESULTS: Ten outpatient PR programs in three continents participated. Thirty-one personnel worked on the trial across all sites. Enrolment began in January 2017 and was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 1275 patients were screened, 455 (36%) were eligible, 258 (57%) consented, 243 (53%) participated, and 130 (61%) completed the 12-month follow-up assessment. Lessons learned through our experience included (1) ensuring awareness of funder policies and considering the impact on collaborating sites; (2) preparing for the possibility of human resource and program disruptions; (3) anticipating site dropout and having a contingency plan in place; (4) planning and monitoring process measure data before, during, and after trial initiation; (5) ensuring frequent and consistent communication with and between collaborating sites; (6) maximizing features of database platform to ensure data set completeness and controlled data access; and (7) identifying strategies for increasing patient engagement in a high-demand study. CONCLUSIONS: We identify seven lessons learned through our experience conducting an international, multicentre rehabilitation-based RCT. These lessons can provide guidance to other trialists conducting studies with similar logistics and may assist with future trial planning and implementation.

Do Combined Oculomotor and Bimanual Coordination Exercises Instantly Stabilize Balance in Athletes?

Purpose: This study examined the immediate effects of oculomotor and bimanual coordination exercises, as well as a combination of the two, on stability of balance in athletes. Patients and Methods: Changes in center-of-gravity sway were measured in 30 college student athletes before and after the following three exercise conditions: 1) oculomotor exercises, 2) bimanual coordination exercises, and 3) a combination of oculomotor and bimanual coordination exercises (1+2). The order of these exercises was counterbalanced. Results: The combination of exercises (condition 3) reduced large swaying during balancing and immediately increased postural stability. Moreover, the oculomotor and bimanual coordination exercises (conditions 1 and 2) immediately reduced large sway during balancing when performed independently. Thus, the present study revealed that the combination of oculomotor and bimanual coordination exercises immediately reduced accidental swaying during balancing and also improved postural stability. Conclusion: This combination could be effective as an immediate balance adjustment method for athletes.

Exploring the role of anticipatory postural adjustment duration within APA2 subphase as a potential mediator between clinical disease severity and fall risk in Parkinson's disease.

Introduction: People with Parkinson's Disease (PD) often show reduced anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs) before voluntary steps, impacting their stability. The specific subphase within the APA stage contributing significantly to fall risk remains unclear. Methods: We analyzed center of pressure (CoP) trajectory parameters, including duration, length, and velocity, throughout gait initiation. This examination encompassed both the postural phase, referred to as anticipatory postural adjustment (APA) (APA1, APA2a, APA2b), and the subsequent locomotor phases (LOC). Participants were instructed to initiate a step and then stop (initiating a single step). Furthermore, we conducted assessments of clinical disease severity using the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and evaluated fall risk using Tinetti gait and balance scores during off-medication periods. Results: Freezing of gait (FOG) was observed in 18 out of 110 participants during the measurement of CoP trajectories. The Ramer-Douglas-Peucker algorithm successfully identified CoP displacement trajectories in 105 participants (95.5%), while the remaining 5 cases could not be identified due to FOG. Tinetti balance and gait score showed significant associations with levodopa equivalent daily dose, UPDRS total score, disease duration, duration (s) in APA2a (s) and LOC (s), length in APA1 (cm) and APA2b (cm), mediolateral velocity in APA1 (X) (cm/s), APA2a (X) (cm/s), APA2b (X) (cm/s) and LOC (X) (cm/s), and anterior-posterior velocity in APA2a (Z) (cm/s) and APA2b (Z) (cm/s). Multiple linear regression revealed that only duration (s) in APA2a and UPDRS total score was independently associated with Tinetti gait and balance score. Further mediation analysis showed that the duration (s) in APA2a served as a mediator between UPDRS total score and Tinetti balance and gait score (Sobel test, p = 0.047). Conclusion: APA2 subphase duration mediates the link between disease severity and fall risk in PD, suggesting that longer APA2a duration may indicate reduced control during gait initiation, thereby increasing fall risk.

Association between oxidative balance score and skeletal muscle mass and strength: NHANES from 2011 to 2018.

Objective: Oxidative stress is a risk factor for sarcopenia. The Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) is a widely employed tool for evaluating the oxidative stress-related exposures from dietary and lifestyle factors. In this study, we aimed to conducted to explore the relationship between OBS and skeletal muscle mass and strength. Methods: 6,438 subjects from 2011 to 2018 and 5,414 from 2011 to 2014 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were selected for analysis. The correlations between OBS and skeletal muscle mass and handgrip strength were investigated using multivariate logistic regression and linear regression analysis. Results: Compared with lowest OBS, participants with OBS in the highest quartile had lower risk of low skeletal muscle mass (OR = 0.173 (0.120 ~ 0.248), p < 0.0001) and low handgrip strength (ß = 0.173 (0.120 ~ 0.248), p = 0.011). The negative association also were found between dietary/lifestyle OBS and skeletal muscle mass (OR = 0.268 (0.178 ~ 0.404), p < 0.0001; OR = 0.231 (0.130 ~ 0.410), p < 0.0001) and handgrip strength (ß = 1.812 (0.555 ~ 3.071), p = 0.008; ß = -2.255 (-3.430 ~ -1.079), p < 0.001) independently. The positive association remains significant, especially among men and those with higher education levels by subgroup analysis. Conclusion: All of these results indicated a negative association between OBS and low skeletal muscle mass and handgrip strength. An antioxidant-rich diet and healthy lifestyle are crucial for enhancing skeletal muscle mass and strength.

Associations of oxidative balance score with hyperuricemia and gout among American adults: a population-based study.

Objective: The current study aimed to assess the relationships between oxidative balance score (OBS) and OBS subclasses (dietary and lifestyle OBS) with risks of hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout among American adults. Methods: Participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2018 were initially recruited and then the final sample was restricted to adults without missing values about serum uric acid, gout, OBS, and covariates. Rao-Scott adjusted chi-square test and analysis of variance were utilized to compare the baseline characteristics in adults of different quartiles of OBS, while the weighted stepped logistic regression models were used to explore the associations of overall, dietary, and lifestyle OBS with the risks of HUA and gout. Weighted restricted cubic spline analyses were conducted to explore the nonlinear dose-response associations. Results: The final sample consisted of 22,705 participants aged 20 years and older, which was representative of approximately 197.3 million non-institutionalized American adults. HUA and gout prevalence decreased with OBS quartiles. Compared with adults in the first quartile of OBS, those in the second (OR: 0.85, 95% CI: 0.72-0.99), third (OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.58-0.85), and fourth (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.38-0.61) quartiles of OBS had reduced risks of hyperuricemia. Similarly, adults in the second (OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.51-0.97) quartile of OBS was associated with lower gout risk in comparison to adults in the lowest quartile. Regarding OBS subclasses, dietary and lifestyle OBS were both negatively correlated with the risk of HUA, and only higher lifestyle OBS was significantly associated with lower gout risk. Furthermore, the subgroup analyses and interaction effects also substantiated similar effects. Significant nonlinear dose-response relationships were observed between overall, dietary, and lifestyle OBS with HUA risk as well as that of lifestyle OBS with gout risk. Conclusion: This study strongly suggests the significant negative associations of OBS with HUA and gout in American adults and provides a dietary and lifestyle guideline to reduce the risks.

Ultrasound based estimate of central venous pressure: Are we any closer?

Central venous pressure (CVP) serves as a direct approximation of right atrial pressure and is influenced by factors like total blood volume, venous compliance, cardiac output, and orthostasis. Normal CVP falls within 8-12 mmHg but varies with volume status and venous compliance. Monitoring and managing disturbances in CVP are vital in patients with circulatory shock or fluid disturbances. Elevated CVP can lead to fluid accumulation in the interstitial space, impairing venous return and reducing cardiac preload. While pulmonary artery catheterization and central venous catheter obtained measurements are considered to be more accurate, they carry risk of complications and their usage has not shown clinical improvement. Ultrasound-based assessment of the internal jugular vein (IJV) offers real-time, non-invasive measurement of static and dynamic parameters for estimating CVP. IJV parameters, including diameter and ratio, has demonstrated good correlation with CVP. Despite significant advancements in non-invasive CVP measurement, a reliable tool is yet to be found. Present methods can offer reasonable guidance in assessing CVP, provided their limitations are acknowledged.

Acute effect of myofascial stretching exercise on spasticity, balance, ambulation status and mobility of posterior chain muscles in multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute effect of myofascial stretching exercises on spasticity, balance, ambulation status and mobility of posterior chain muscles in multiple sclerosis. METHOD: The study was conducted as a randomised controlled experimental study. The study included a total of 80 individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) with a mean age of 43.5 ± 9.62 years (experimental group) and 41.4 ± 10.4 years (control group). All individuals were treated once and evaluated before and after the session. After recording the sociodemographic characteristics, spasticity assessment was performed with the Modified Ashword Scale (MAS), balance assessment with the Berg Balance Scale (BBS), ambulation status with the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and posterior chain muscle mobility (PCMM) with finger-to-ground distance measurement. RESULTS: The TUG (time to complete the distance) measurements of the experimental group after treatment were lower than those of the control group (p < 0.05). The value of PCMM measurements of the experimental group before the treatment was lower than that of the control group (p < 0.001). The difference in positive increase in PCMM measurements in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05). After the treatment, the MAS value in the left knee of the experimental group was lower than that of the control group (p < 0.05). DISCUSSION: Myofascial stretching exercises applied to individuals with MS made an acute contribution to ambulation status and mobility of posterior chain muscles. There was no difference in the evaluation of spasticity and balance.