Effect of horticultural therapy on apathy in nursing home residents with dementia: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Objectives: This study aimed to examine (1) the feasibility of the study procedures (i.e. recruitment, retention, attendance, and assessment completion rates), and (2) the effects of horticultural therapy (HT) on apathy, cognitive ability, quality of life, and functional capacity.Methods: This was a parallel-group, match-paired, randomized controlled trial. Thirty-two participants were allocated to either the experimental or the control group. Data were collected at baseline (T0), immediately postintervention (T1), and 3 months postintervention (T2). The Apathy Evaluation Scale-informant version (AES-I); Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); Quality of Life in Alzheimer's disease (QoL-AD) scale; Barthel index (BI) were used to measure apathy, cognitive ability, quality of life, and functional capacity, respectively.Results: The recruitment, retention, attendance and assessment completion rates were 22.7%, 87.5%, 100% and 100%, respectively. The between-group differences in AES-I (p = 0.007) and MMSE (p = 0.034) scores were statistically significant at T1. In the experimental group, the AES-I (p = 0.001), MMSE (p = 0.010), and QoL-AD (p = 0.017) scores were significantly different over time. In the post hoc pair-wise analysis, the AES-I scores of the experimental group observed at T1 were significantly lower than that at T0 (p = 0.032). In the control group, the MMSE scores (p = 0.001) were significantly different over time.Conclusion: HT is feasible for residents with dementia and apathy. The HT program effectively reduced apathy and promoted cognitive function, but its effects on quality of life and functional capacity were not observed.

The association among apathy, leisure activity participation, and severity of dementia in nursing home residents with Alzheimer's disease: A cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study was to examine 1) the relationship between apathy and leisure activity participation in nursing home residents with Alzheimer disease (AD) and 2) the moderator effect of the severity of dementia on this relationship. Data were collected from 290 residents with AD using the Apathy Evaluation Scale-informant version (AES-I), Leisure Activities Questionnaire (LAQ), and Clinical Dementia Rating scale (CDR). The multiple linear regression model showed that leisure activity participation (ß=-0.452, p<0.001) was negatively associated with apathy, while the severity of dementia (ß=0.515, p<0.001) was positively associated with apathy. The severity of dementia moderated the effect of leisure activity participation on apathy (ß=-0.108, p=0.015). The results indicate that the effects of leisure activity participation on apathy diminish with the aggravation of AD. The severity of dementia should be considered when designing and delivering leisure activity interventions to manage apathy in nursing home residents with AD.

Cr speciation analysis based on electrokinetic sample pretreatment with a paper based analytical device.

This work presents a new method of Cr speciation analysis based on micro sample pretreatment with a paper-based analytical device (PAD). By using electrokinetic separation and stacking on the PAD, Cr (VI) and Cr (III) can be separated and the recovered to achieve speciation analysis without have to be subjected to subtraction treatment. The separation and recovery properties of Cr (VI) and Cr (III) were characterized and optimized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, with which the LOQ of 19.0 µg L-1 and 28.7 µg L-1, and the recoveries of 88-108% and 90-110%, were obtained for Cr (VI) and Cr (III), respectively. In addition, direct analysis of Cr (VI)/Cr (III) from an electroplating wastewater sample was also demonstrated with this method combined with atomic spectroscopy (GF-AAS and ICP-OES). This sample pretreatment method is fast, cheap and easy to be used. Combined with the high sensitivity and elemental selectivity of atomic spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, this PAD sample pretreatment method could be a compensation to their lack in speciation discrimination, and may play an important role in the speciation analysis of Cr.

Colorimetric speciation of Cr on paper-based analytical devices based on field amplified stacking.

In this work, a paper-based analytical device (PAD) for sensitive speciation detection of chromium (Cr) by smartphone camera was introduced. In anion electrokinetic stacking mode, Cr (VI) in the form of CrO42- was firstly enriched into a narrow band on a paper fluidic channel, and then the band was visualized by 1,5-diphenylcarbazide (DPC). Colorimetric detection of Cr (VI) was based on the gray intensity of stacking bands. Detection of Cr (III) was achieved by subtraction of the detection results of Cr (VI) before and after the sample was oxidized. Under optimized conditions, the detection limit of Cr (VI) and Cr (III) of 0.20 µM (~10.4 µg L-1) and 0.30 µM (~14.6 µg L-1) were achieved with a linear response in the range of 0.67-5.00 µM and 0.93-6.00 µM, respectively. The detection performance of PAD is close to that obtained by desktop spectrophotometry, thanks to the online stacking effect. Meanwhile, this PAD also exhibited a good selectivity over coexisting cations and anions, thanks to the charge selectivity of the stacking mode and the selective visualization reaction of DPC. Speciation detection of Cr from tap water, river water, surface water, and electroplating wastewater was demonstrated. This work shows the potential of PADs for on-site detection of Cr (VI) in environmental water samples.

[Chlorination characteristic and disinfection by-product formation potential of dissolved organic nitrogen compounds in municipal wastewater].

In order to explore the chlorinated disinfection by-product formation potential and chemical structure of dissolved organic nitrogen compounds in municipal wastewater, the water quality parameters, such as DON, DOC, NH4(+) -N and UV254 etc, were determined in the secondary effluent and the molecular weight distribution of the DON was investigated before and after the reaction with chlorine. DBPs were determined by gas chromatography, and the changes of DON were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy before and after the reaction with chlorine. The results showed that DON, DOC, NH4(+) -N and UV254 were 2.47 mg x L(-1), 14.45 mg x L(-1), 5.42 mg x L(-1) and 15.88 m(-1), and m(DOC)/m(DON) and SUVA were 5.85 mg x mg(-1) and 1.09 L x (m x mg)(-1) in the secondary effluent. After the reaction with chlorine, the proportion of small molecular weight (M(r) < 6 000) DON increased from 78% to 70% , and the proportion of large molecular weight (M(r) > 20 000) DON decreased from 21% to 14%. The medium molecular weight (M(r)6000-20000) DON accounted for a small proportion and was unchanged. Among the DBPs, the concentration of bromochloroacetonitrile was the highest, which was 6.887 microg x L(-1), and the concentration of trichloroacetonitrile was the lowest, which was only 0.217 microg x L(-1). In FTIR spectrum, the dominating bands were at 3 500-3 400, 2 260-2 200, 1 700-1 640, 1 500-1 450, 1 150-1 100 and 850-800 cm(-1) respectively before the reaction, and the 1 380-1 350 cm(-1) and 600-550 cm(-1) bands were the dominating bands in addition to the original absorbing regions after the reaction. 3DEEM revealed that the variation of DON depends intimately on tryptophan protein-like substances, aromatic protein-like substances and fulvic acid-like substances.

[Removal of DON in micro-polluted raw water by coagulation and adsorption using activated carbon].

Dissolved organic nitrogen as a precursor of new type nitrogenous disinfection by-products in drinking water attracted gradually the attention of scholars all over the world. In order to explore the mechanism of DON removal in micro-polluted raw water by coagulation and adsorption, water quality parameters, such as DON, DOC, NH4(+) -N, UV254, pH and dissolved oxygen, were determined in raw water and the molecular weight distribution of the DON and DOC was investigated. The variations in DON, DOC and UV254 in the coagulation and adsorption tests were investigated, and the changes of DON in raw water were characterized using three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy. The results showed that DON, DOC and UV254 were 1.28 mg x L(-1), 8.56 mg x L(-1), 0.16 cm(-1), and DOC/DON and SUVA were 6.69 mg x mg(-1), 1.87 m(-1) x (mg x L(-1))(-1) in raw water, respectively. The molecular weight distribution of the DON in raw water showed a bimodal distribution. The small molecular weight (< 6 000) fractions accounted for a high proportion of 68% and the large (> 20 000) fractions accounted for about 22%. The removal of DON, DOC and UV254 was about 20%, 26% and 70%, respectively, in the coagulation test and the dosage of coagulant was 10 mg x L(-1). The removal of DON, DOC and UV254 was about 60%, 35% and 100%, respectively, in the adsorption test and the dosage of activated carbon was 1.0 g. In the combination of coagulation and adsorption, the removal of DON and DOC reached approximately 82% and 64%, respectively. 3DEEM revealed that the variation of DON in the coagulation and adsorption tests depended intimately on tryptophan protein-like substances, aromatic protein-like substances and fulvic acid-like substances.

[Effect of early nutritional support on plasma superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide in rats with burns in a hot and humid environment].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) in rats with combined stress of burn injury and hot and humid environment. METHODS: The rats with superficial second-degree scald were subjected to intragastric administration of double-distilled water for one week (control group) or treated with ascorbic acid and L-arginine mixed with a-Tocopherol for one week (treatment group). All the rats were exposed to the same hot and humid environment of Td 37+/-0.5 degrees C with relative humidity of 65%+/-5% for 1-2 h. Observation was performed at 1, 2, 4, and 10 h after the heat exposure, respectively. RESULTS: SOD and MDA changes were significantly different between the two groups (P<0.01, P<0.05). In the control group, NO levels at 1 h were significantly different from those measured at 2 and 6 h after the exposure (P<0.01, P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Early nutritional support can significantly reduce the stress organ injuries, and prevent complications following injury in a hot and humid environment.

[Effects of combined stress on rabbit serum and gastroduodenal mucosa motilin and its mechanism].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of heat exposure and trauma stress on the level of motilin (MTL) in plasma and the distribution of MTL gastroduodenal mucosa and its mechanism in rabbits. METHODS: The rabbits were randomly divided into four groups, control group, trauma group (23 centigrade degree), heat exposure group (38 centigrade degree) and heat exposure combined trauma group. The MTL was measured by radioimmunoassay (RIA). The rabbit model of heat exposure with trauma was established. The levels of the MTL were measured at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 hours during experiment. RESULTS: In control group, the concentration of MTL was highest in gastric corpus, and then were gastric fundus, pylorus and Duodenal mucous membrane. The concentration of MTL was higher in plasma than that in tissues. After heat exposure and trauma, the concentration of MTL decreased in tissues and increased in plasma. CONCLUSION: The concentration of MTL was different in different parts of gastroduodenal mucosa. The heat exposure and trauma stress may result in the converse changes of the level of MTL in plasma and tissues. The mechanism might be that the destroyed Mo cells released MTL and increasing level of bombesin stimulated by stress induced the release of MTL.

[Effect of hyperthermia combined with trauma on serum nitric oxide and mean arterial pressure in rabbits].

OBJECTIVE: To study the early change of serum nitric oxide (NO) after acute heat exposure with trauma and the effect of NO on mean arterial pressure (MAP), thus to provide theoretical basis for studying the mechanism of NO effect in acute stress. METHODS: The rabbit model of acute heat exposure combined with trauma was established. The animals were divided into four groups, including control, trauma, hyperthermia and hyperthermia combined with trauma. The levels of NO were measured at different time points: 0 h, 1 h, 2 h and MAP was monitored throughout the whole experiment. RESULTS: The concentration of NO declined at first and then increased at 1 h or so after acute heat exposure and trauma. The levels of NO in hyperthermia with trauma group at 1 h, 2 h were (42.75 +/- 8.24), (59.54 +/- 9.05) micro mol/L respectively (P < 0.05), while those in control group were (56.63 +/- 3.79) and (55.22 +/- 7.15) micro mol/L, the difference at 1h between two groups was significant (P < 0.05). Under the circumstance of hyperthermia and trauma, the level of MAP declined to the lowest point at 60 - 70 min and then showed a transient rise, after that, the level declined rapidly. CONCLUSIONS: At the early stage of acute heat exposure and trauma, the concentration of serum NO declined at first and then increased, and had certain relationship with the change of MAP.