Effect of exercise training on estimated GFR, vascular health, and cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with CKD: a pilot randomized controlled trial.

Background: Exercise capacity, which is predictive of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease risk, is reduced significantly in patients with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease. This pilot study examined the effect of moderate-intensity exercise training on kidney function and indexes of cardiovascular risk in patients with progressive chronic kidney disease stages 3 to 4.

Study Design: Single-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel trial.

Effect of phylloquinone (vitamin K1) supplementation for 12 months on the indices of vitamin K status and bone health in adult patients with Crohn's disease.

Although epidemiological findings support a role for vitamin K status in the improvement of bone indices in adult patients with Crohn's disease (CD), this needs to be confirmed in double-blind, randomised controlled trials (RCT) with phylloquinone (vitamin K1). By conducting two RCT, the present study aimed to first establish whether supplementation with 1000 μg of phylloquinone daily near-maximally suppresses the percentage of undercarboxylated osteocalcin in serum (%ucOC; marker of vitamin K status) in adult patients with CD currently in remission as it does in healthy adults and second determine the effect of supplementation with phylloquinone at this dose for 12 months on the indices of bone turnover and bone mass. The initial dose-ranging RCT was conducted in adult patients with CD (n 10 per group) using 0 (placebo), 1000 or 2000 μg of phylloquinone daily for 2 weeks.

Behavioral counseling to promote a healthy lifestyle in persons with cardiovascular risk factors: a systematic review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Background: Most Americans do not meet diet and physical activity recommendations despite known health benefits.

Purpose: To systematically review the benefits and harms of lifestyle counseling interventions in persons with cardiovascular risk factors for the U.S.

Hemodynamic responses during graded and constant-load plantar flexion exercise in middle-aged men and women with type 2 diabetes.

We tested the hypotheses that type 2 diabetes (T2D) impairs the 1) leg hemodynamic responses to an incremental intermittent plantar-flexion exercise and 2) dynamic responses of leg vascular conductance (LVC) during low-intensity (30% maximal voluntary contraction, MVC) and high-intensity (70% MVC) constant-load plantar-flexion exercise in the supine posture. Forty-four middle-aged individuals with T2D (14 women), and 35 healthy nondiabetic (ND) individuals (18 women) were tested. Leg blood flow (LBF) was measured between each contraction using venous occlusion plethysmography.

Intra-dialytic exercise training: a pragmatic approach.

Unlabelled: This continuing education paper outlines the skills and knowledge required to plan, implement and evaluate a pragmatic approach to intra-dialytic exercise training.

Aim: The aim of this continuing education article is to enable the nephrology multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to plan, implement and evaluate the provision of intra-dialytic exercise training for patients receiving haemodialysis therapy.

Learning Outcomes: After reading this article the reader should be able to: Appreciate the level of evidence base for the clinical effectiveness of renal exercise rehabilitation and locate credible sources of research and educational information Understand and consider the need for appropriate evaluation and assessment outcomes as part of a renal rehabilitation plan Understand the components of exercise programming and prescription as part of an integrated renal rehabilitation plan Develop a sustainable longer term exercise and physical activity plan.

Next generation ligand binding assays-review of emerging real-time measurement technologies.

Over the last few years, numerous ligand binding assay technologies that utilize real-time measurement have been introduced; however, an assemblage and evaluation of these technologies has not previously been published. Herein, we describe six emerging real-time measurement technologies: Maverick™, MX96 SPR™, NanoDLSay™, AMMP®/ViBE®, SoPrano™, and two Lab-on-a-Chip (LoC) microfluidic devices. The development stage gate of these technologies ranges from pre-commercial to commercially available.

Early mother-child attachment and behavior problems in middle childhood: the role of the subsequent caregiving environment.

The current study investigated associations between early mother-child attachment, as well as mother-child and teacher-child relationships, and internalizing and externalizing behaviors in middle childhood. Data from the NICHD Study of Early Child Care and Youth Development were used. Findings from a series of individual growth curve analyses revealed that attachment security was negatively related to internalizing and externalizing behaviors, while insecure/other and avoidant attachment were positively related to internalizing behaviors.

Dietary glycaemic load associated with cognitive performance in elderly subjects.

Purpose: Ageing is associated with loss of cognitive function and an increased risk of dementia which is expected to place growing demands on health and long-term care providers. Among multiple causative factors, evidence suggests that cognitive impairment in older subjects may be influenced by diet. The objective of this study was to examine the association between dietary patterns, dietary glycaemic load (GL) and cognition in older Irish adults.

Randomized Comparison of Mobile and Web-Tools to Provide Dementia Risk Reduction Education: Use, Engagement and Participant Satisfaction.

Background: Encouraging middle-aged adults to maintain their physical and cognitive health may have a significant impact on reducing the prevalence of dementia in the future. Mobile phone apps and interactive websites may be one effective way to target this age group. However, to date there has been little research investigating the user experience of dementia risk reduction tools delivered in this way.

Food and nutrient intake of Irish community-dwelling elderly subjects: who is at nutritional risk?

Objectives: To assess the dietary intakes of Irish community-dwelling elderly individuals, participating in the ELDERMET project.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Cork city and county region of southern Ireland.

Evaluating the effect of emergency department crowding on triage destination.

Background: Emergency Department (ED) crowding has been studied for the last 20 years, yet many questions remain about its impact on patient care. In this study, we aimed to determine if ED crowding influenced patient triage destination and intensity of investigation, as well as rates of unscheduled returns to the ED. We focused on patients presenting with chest pain or shortness of breath, triaged as high acuity, and who were subsequently discharged home.

Contrasting forms of cocaine-evoked plasticity control components of relapse.

Nucleus accumbens neurons serve to integrate information from cortical and limbic regions to direct behaviour. Addictive drugs are proposed to hijack this system, enabling drug-associated cues to trigger relapse to drug seeking. However, the connections affected and proof of causality remain to be established.

Dual language profiles of Latino children of immigrants: Stability and change over the early school years.

Dual language children enter school with varying levels of proficiencies in their first and second language. This study of Latino children of immigrants ( = 163) analyzes their dual language profiles at kindergarten and second grade, derived from the direct assessment of Spanish and English proficiencies (Woodcock Language Proficiency Batteries-Revised). Children were grouped based on the similarity of language profiles (competent profiles, such as dual proficient, Spanish proficient, and English proficient; and low-performing profiles, including borderline proficient and limited proficient).

Gut microbiota in older subjects: variation, health consequences and dietary intervention prospects.

Alterations in intestinal microbiota composition and function have been linked to conditions including functional gastrointestinal disorders, obesity and diabetes. The gut microbiome encodes metabolic capability in excess of that encoded by the human genome, and bacterially produced enzymes are important for releasing nutrients from complex dietary ingredients. Previous culture-based studies had indicated that the gut microbiota of older people was different from that of younger adults, but the detailed findings were contradictory.

Do children who experience regret make better decisions? A developmental study of the behavioral consequences of regret.

Although regret is assumed to facilitate good decision making, there is little research directly addressing this assumption. Four experiments (N = 326) examined the relation between children's ability to experience regret and the quality of their subsequent decision making. In Experiment 1 regret and adaptive decision making showed the same developmental profile, with both first appearing at about 7 years.

Synaptic basis of social dysfunction: a focus on postsynaptic proteins linking group-I mGluRs with AMPARs and NMDARs.

Most of us engage in social interactions on a daily basis and the repertoire of social behaviors we acquire during development and later in life are incredibly varied. However, in many neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), social behavior is severely compromised and indeed this represents a key diagnostic component for such conditions. From genetic association studies, it is increasingly apparent that genes identified as altered in individuals with ASDs often encode synaptic proteins.

Low-dose aspirin for prevention of morbidity and mortality from preeclampsia: a systematic evidence review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Background: Preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.

Purpose: To systematically review benefits and harms of low-dose aspirin for preventing morbidity and mortality from preeclampsia.

Data Sources: MEDLINE, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, PubMed, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (January 2006 to June 2013); previous systematic reviews, clinical trial registries, and surveillance searches for large studies (June 2013 to February 2014).

Primary care behavioral interventions to prevent or reduce illicit drug use and nonmedical pharmaceutical use in children and adolescents: a systematic evidence review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

Background: Drug use among youths is associated with negative health and social consequences. Even infrequent use increases the risk for serious adverse events by increasing risk-taking behaviors in intoxicated or impaired persons.

Purpose: To systematically review the benefits and harms of primary care-relevant interventions designed to prevent or reduce illicit drug use or the nonmedical use of prescription drugs among youths.

Challenges in the management of bilateral single-system ectopic ureters in male infants.

Objective: To describe our experience of managing bilateral single-system ectopic ureters in boys.

Methods: We discuss difficulties in diagnosis, importance of appropriate preoperative imaging, and the individualized surgical management for this rare congenital malformation.

Results: The first patient aged 3 months presented with urosepsis-subsequent imaging demonstrated bilateral single-system ectopic ureters, which were reimplanted at age 7 months.

The relationships among work stress, strain and self-reported errors in UK community pharmacy.

Background: Changes in the UK community pharmacy profession including new contractual frameworks, expansion of services, and increasing levels of workload have prompted concerns about rising levels of workplace stress and overload. This has implications for pharmacist health and well-being and the occurrence of errors that pose a risk to patient safety. Despite these concerns being voiced in the profession, few studies have explored work stress in the community pharmacy context.