Impact of a wearable-based physical activity and sleep intervention in multimorbidity patients: protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The benefits of physical activity (PA) and adequate sleep are well documented, and their importance strengthens with the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases and multimorbidity (MM). Interventions to promote physical activity and sleep that use commercial activity trackers may be useful non-pharmacological approaches to managing individual health; however, limited evidence exists on their use to improve physical activity in older adult patients with MM. METHODS: This study aims to measure the effects of behavioral change techniques (BCTs) delivered by a wearable device on physical activity and quality of sleep (QS) in older adult patients with MM. We designed an open-label randomized controlled trial with participants recruited through primary care and a specialist outpatient clinic. Participants must be more than 65 years old, have MM, and have access to smartphones. All eligible participants will receive PA promotion content and will be randomly assigned to wear a smartwatch. The primary outcome will be the participants' PA measurement at baseline and at six months using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF). Secondary outcomes will include changes in the participants' frailty status, biometric measurements, quality of life, and biopsychosocial assessments. A sample size of 40 participants per arm was calculated to detect group differences, with 50 participants planned to recruit and randomize into each arm. DISCUSSION: This study aims to contribute to a better understanding of PA patterns and the impact of wearable-based PA interventions in patients with MM. In addition, we aim to contribute to more knowledge about the relationship between PA patterns, Patient Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs), and healthcare resource utilization in patients with MM. To achieve this, the study will leverage a locally developed PROMs registry and assess data from participants' medical records, in order to understand the added impact of wearable data and medical information data on predicting PROMs and unplanned hospital admissions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05777291.

Physicochemical properties and transcriptional changes underlying the quality of 'Gala' apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) under atmosphere manipulation in long-term storage.

BACKGROUND: The year-round availability of apples (Malus × domestica Borkh.) depends on post-harvest technologies, which are essential for the retention of fruit sensory and chemical properties by delaying senescence. The effectiveness of strategies for preserving the quality of apples depends on complex interactions between the storage environment and endogenous biological factors. In the current work, we integrated instrumental, sensory, and transcriptional data to determine the role of conservation technologies cold storage, controlled atmosphere, and 1-methylcyclopropene-mediated ethylene blockage on the long-term conservation of apples. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that inhibition of the consumer's perception of the apples' ethylene content is essential for long-term cold storage, and such quality conservation can be achieved by reducing oxygen pressure. Overall appreciation of apples after storage was determined mainly by their texture, with crispness and juiciness contributing favorably, and mealiness contributing negatively. Reduced oxygen pressure and inhibition of ethylene perception exerted distinct effects on the transcription of candidate genes associated with ripening in apple. Hexose and cell-wall carbohydrate metabolism genes exhibit distinct expression patterns under storage. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of ethylene perception and reduction of relative oxygen pressure under cold storage both promote similar conservation of apple sensory traits under long-term cold storage. Texture was the main contributor to global appreciation of apples subjected to long-term storage. The conditions that were investigated were able to delay, but not fully prevent, senescence, as evidenced by physicochemical and gene expression analyses. The expression of gene-encoding enzymes involved in hexose metabolism was mainly developmentally regulated, whereas storage conditions exerted a stronger effect on the expression of genes associated with cell-wall metabolism. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Pelvic Sagittal Torsion Caused by Induced Leg Length Discrepancy: Geometrical Illusion May Influence Measures Based on Superior-iliac Spines Positions.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether a common measure of sagittal pelvic torsion based on the superior iliac spines behave similarly to predictions of a rigid (non-torsioned) plane, when leg length discrepancies (LLD) are induced. METHOD: Twenty-four young asymptomatic participants were subjected to pelvic posture measurements that use the anterior-superior iliac spines (ASISs) and posterior-superior iliac spines (PSISs) as references, while standing on level ground and with a one-, two- and three-centimeter lifts under the left foot. A special caliper with digital inclinometers was used. The following angles were measured: angles of the right and left PSIS-to-ASIS lines; right-left relative angle (RLRA), as the angle between the right and left PSIS-to-ASIS lines, which is a traditional lateral-view measure intended to detect sagittal torsions; angle of the inter-ASISs line; angle of the inter-PSISs line; anterior-posterior relative angle (APRA), as the angle between the inter-ASISs and inter-PSISs lines. According to trigonometric predictions based on the geometry given by the lines linking the superior iliac spines (i.e. a trapezoid plane), a pure lateral tilt of the pelvis, without interinnominate sagittal motion, would change RLRA in a specific direction and would not change APRA. RESULTS: Repeated-measures ANOVAs revealed that RLRA (p<0.001) and right and left PSIS-to-ASIS angles (p≤0.001) changed, and APRA did not change (p=0.33), as predicted. CONCLUSIONS: At least part of the sagittal torsion detected by measures that assume the PSIS-to-ASIS angles as the sagittal angles of the innominates is due to pelvic geometry and not to the occurrence of actual torsion, when LLDs are induced.

Anestesia para lavagem pulmonar em paciente pediátrico portador de proteinose alveolar pulmonar / Anesthesia for lung lavage in pediatric patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis / Anestesia para el lavado pulmonar en paciente pediátrico portador de proteinosis alveolar pulmonar

JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: A proteinose alveolar pulmonar (PAP) é um transtorno raro, descrito inicialmente em 1958. A lavagem pulmonar total (LPT), proposta na década de 1960 ainda é o tratamento de escolha. Diversas técnicas foram descritas para realizar a lavagem pulmonar em pediatria, no entanto, todas apresentam limitações e riscos. RELATO DO CASO: Paciente de 6 anos e 8 meses, sexo feminino, 25 kg com o diagnóstico de proteinoise alveolar pulmonar submetida a lavagem pulmonar total por fibrobroncoscopia lobar sequencial sob anestesia geral em ventilação espontânea.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder first described in 1958. The Whole-Lung Lavage (WLL) proposed in the 1960s, remains the treatment of choice. Several techniques have been described to perform lung lavage in pediatric patients; however, all have limitation and risks. CASE REPORT: Female patient, aged 6 years and 8 months, 25 kg, diagnosed with pulmonary alveolar proteinoisis, who underwent whole-lung lavage by sequential lobar fiberoptic bronchoscopy under general anesthesia and spontaneous ventilation.

JUSTIFICATIVA Y OBJETIVOS: La proteinosis alveolar pulmonar (PAP) es un transtorno raro, descrito inicialmente en 1958. El lavado pulmonar total (LPT), propuesto en la década de 1960, es actualmente el tratamiento de elección. Diversas técnicas fueron descritas para realizar el lavado pulmonar en pediatría pero sin embargo, todas tienen limitaciones y riesgos. RELATO DEL CASO: Paciente de seis años y ocho meses, del sexo femenino, 25 kg con el diagnóstico de proteinosis alveolar pulmonar, que fue sometida al lavado pulmonar total por fibrobroncoscopia lobar secuencial bajo anestesia general en ventilación espontánea.

Anesthesia for lung lavage in pediatric patient with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis (PAP) is a rare disorder first described in 1958. The Whole-Lung Lavage (WLL) proposed in the 1960s, remains the treatment of choice. Several techniques have been described to perform lung lavage in pediatric patients; however, all have limitation and risks. CASE REPORT: Female patient, aged 6 years and 8 months, 25 kg, diagnosed with pulmonary alveolar proteinosis, who underwent whole-lung lavage by sequential lobar fiberoptic bronchoscopy under general anesthesia and spontaneous ventilation.

MicroRNAs e seu papel no desenvolvimento embrionário / MicroRNAs and its role in embryonic development

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) são pequenas moléculas de RNA com aproximadamente 22 nucleotídeos incapazes de codificar proteínas e que apresentam função na regulação pós-transcricional da expressão gênica. Vários estudos vêm demonstrando o importante papel dos miRNAs na regulação do desenvolvimento embrionário de diferentes espécies, desde o controle da expressão de RNAs mensageiros durante o desenvolvimento inicial embrionário até a determinação de linhagens celulares durante a organogênese. Esta revisão irá abordar os principais miRNAs e seu papel na biologia reprodutiva, com ênfase no desenvolvimento embrionário de mamíferos.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNA molecules with around 22 nucleotides that are unable to encode proteins and play a key role on post-transcription regulation process. Several studies have demonstrated the relevant role of miRNAs on the regulation of embryonic development on different species, from the control of gene expression during the early embryo development to determination of cellular lineages over the organogenesis. This review will present the miRNAs and its role on reproductive biology focusing on the mammalian embryo development.