A growing aging population leads to a gradual increase in the number of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). This study examines how perceived health, psychological distress, and subjective well-being evolve in older adults with PD. A cross-lagged study design was employed using data from Waves 4 and 6 of the Survey of Health, Aging and Retirement in Europe (SHARE). In total, 421 older adults diagnosed with PD at baseline (46% women; mean age 74.98 ± 9.05 years) were included in the study and were followed up after a four-year lag. Auto-regressive and cross-lagged associations between the measured variables were examined in reciprocal models. Individual differences in perceived health, psychological distress, and subjective well-being were relatively stable over the 4-year lag. A final reciprocal model with significant cross-lagged effects explained the underlying structure of the sample data well: χ2 (49) = 101.876, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.953, NFI = 0.935, RMSEA = 0.050, and AIC = 241.876. Increased difficulties in fulfilling instrumental activities and a lowered level of subjective well-being were particularly noticeable in older adults with PD during the four-year follow-up. Additional attention should be paid to helping older patients with PD cope better with their functional limitations and improve their sense of well-being.
- MeSH
- Retirement MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Parkinson Disease * epidemiology MeSH
- Psychological Distress * MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Aging MeSH
- Health Status MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Aged, 80 and over MeSH
- Aged MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
Circadian clock plays an essential role in orchestrating daily physiology, and its disruption can evoke metabolic diseases such as obesity. L-Carnitine can reduce blood lipid levels, and ameliorate fatty liver through regulating lipid metabolism. However, whether L-Carnitine administration may affect the disturbance of lipid metabolism and circadian rhythm of mice induced by prolonged circadian disruption is still unknown. Herein, we investigated the effects of L-Carnitine on conditions of circadian clock and lipid metabolism through a chronic jet-lag mice model which was developed by reversing 12 h light/12 h dark cycle every 4 days for a continuous 12 weeks. Results showed that L-Carnitine administration significantly decreased levels of serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and triglycerides (TG), which were remarkably elevated by chronic jet-lag. More importantly, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis indicated that L-Carnitine supplementation would effectively counteract the negative alterations in gene expression which related to lipid metabolism (Srebp1, Acaca, Fasn, and Scd1), metabolic regulator (mTOR) and circadian rhythm (Bmal1, Per1, Cry1 and Dec1) in the liver of mice subjected to the chronic jet-lag. As a conclusion, L-Carnitine was partly effective in preventing the disruption of circadian clock and lipid metabolic disorders induced by the chronic jet-lag.
- MeSH
- Chronic Disease MeSH
- Circadian Clocks drug effects physiology MeSH
- Circadian Rhythm drug effects physiology MeSH
- Jet Lag Syndrome blood drug therapy genetics MeSH
- Carnitine pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Lipid Metabolism drug effects physiology MeSH
- Mice, Inbred C57BL MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Random Allocation MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Male MeSH
- Mice MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
BACKGROUND: People with depression tend to have lower heart rate variability (HRV), but the temporal sequence is poorly understood. In a sample of the general population, we prospectively examined whether HRV measures predict subsequent depressive symptoms or whether depressive symptoms predict subsequent levels of HRV. METHOD: Data from the fifth (1997-1999) and ninth (2007-2009) phases of the UK Whitehall II longitudinal population-based cohort study were analysed with an average follow-up of 10.5 years. The sample size for the prospective analysis depended on the analysis and ranged from 2334 (644 women) to 2276 (602 women). HRV measures during 5 min of supine rest were obtained. Depressive symptoms were evaluated by four cognitive symptoms of depression from the General Health Questionnaire. RESULTS: At follow-up assessment, depressive symptoms were inversely associated with HRV measures independently of antidepressant medication use in men but not in women. Prospectively, lower baseline heart rate and higher HRV measures were associated with a lower likelihood of incident depressive symptoms at follow-up in men without depressive symptoms at baseline. Similar but statistically insignificant associations were found in women. Adjustments for known confounders including sociodemographic and lifestyle factors, cardiometabolic conditions or medication did not change the predictive effect of HRV on incident depressive symptoms at follow-up. Depressive symptoms at baseline were not associated with heart rate or HRV at follow-up in either sex. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with an aetiological role of the autonomic nervous system in depression onset.
- MeSH
- Depression epidemiology physiopathology MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Longitudinal Studies MeSH
- Sex Factors MeSH
- Heart Rate physiology MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
- Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. MeSH
- Geographicals
- London epidemiology MeSH
Cessation lag and lingering effect are two important aspects of risk assessment, and have potential applications to dose-response analysis in risk assessment. In addition to providing insight into biological mode of action, the concept of cessation lag is useful for economic benefit analy- sis. Concept of effect lingering can be used to analyze epidemiological data by uncovering the hidden biological implications related to disease endpoints, thereby advancing current efforts to characterize and reduce risk assessment uncertainties. Multicentre study design is proposed as a way to increase study size and to mitigate criticism of meta-analysis of independent studies. Individual studies from a multicentre study can be either pooled using original data, or combined by meta-analysis of summarized results. A multicentre study of large cohort or case-control study also offers an exciting opportunity to study the contribution of epigenetic events that may be associated with life-style and environmental risk factors for human health. Methods for optimizing exposure assessment and reducing exposure misclassification represent important but difficult components in epidemiological studies. Biomarkers present a potentially useful approach for improving exposure estimates.
- MeSH
- Time Factors MeSH
- Diet adverse effects MeSH
- Epidemiologic Research Design * MeSH
- Risk Assessment MeSH
- Carcinogens toxicity MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Multicenter Studies as Topic MeSH
- Neoplasms chemically induced MeSH
- Environmental Exposure adverse effects analysis MeSH
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is a widespread tolerant forest tree-species; however, its adaptability to environmental change differs among sites with various buffering capacity. In this study, we compared the spatial effects of aridity index (AI) and nitrogen deposition (ND) on biomass density in natural and man-made pine stands of differing soil fertility using geographically weighted multiple lag regression. Soil fertility was defined using soil series as zonal trophic (27.9%), acidic (48.2%), gleyed (15.2%) and as azonal exposed (2.5%), maple (2.4%), ash (0.8%), wet (2.1%) and peat (0.9%) under pine stands in the Czech Republic (Central Europe; 4290.5 km2; 130-1298 m a.s.l.). Annual AI and ND in every pine stand were estimated by intersection between raster and vector from 1 × 1 km grid for years 2000, 2003, 2007 and 2010 of severe non-specific forest damage spread. Biomass density was obtained from a MODIS 250 × 250 m raster using the enhanced vegetation index (EVI) for years 2000-2015, with a decrease in EVI indicating non-specific damage. Environmental change was assessed by comparing predictor values at EVI time t and t+λ. Non-specific damage was registered over 51.9% of total forest area. Less than 8.8% of damaged stands were natural and the rest (91.2%) of damaged stands were man-made. Pure pine stands were more damaged than mixed. The ND effect prevailed up to 2007, while AI dominated later. Temporal increasing ND effect under AI effectiveness led to the most significant pine stand damage in 2008 and 2014. Predictors from 2000 to 2007 afflicted 58.5% of non-specifically damaged stands at R2 0.09-0.76 (median 0.38), but from 2000 to 2010 afflicted 57.1% of the stands at R2 0.16-0.75 (median 0.40). The most damaged stands occurred on acidic sites. Mixed forest and sustainable management on natural sites seem as effective remediation reducing damage by ND.
- MeSH
- Pinus sylvestris * MeSH
- Pinus * MeSH
- Nitrogen MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
- Europe MeSH
BACKGROUND: Low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (LF-rTMS) diminishes auditory hallucinations (AHs). The aims of our study were a) to assess the efficacy of LF-rTMS in a randomized, sham-controlled double-blind alignment, b) to identify the electrophysiological changes accompanying the LF-rTMS, and c) to identify the influence of LF-rTMS on brain functional connectivity (FC). METHODS: Nineteen schizophrenia patients with antipsychotic-resistant AHs were randomized to either active (n = 10) or sham (n = 9) LF-rTMS administered over the left temporo-parietal region for ten days. The clinical effect was assessed by the Auditory Hallucination Rating Scale (AHRS). The localization of the differences in electrical activity was identified by standardized low resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (sLORETA) and FC was measured by lagged phase synchronization. RESULTS: AHRS scores were significantly improved for patients receiving active rTMS compared to the sham (median reduction: 40 % vs 12 %; p = 0.01). sLORETA revealed a decrease of alpha-2, beta-1,-2 bands in the left hemisphere in the active group. Active rTMS led to a decrease of the lagged phase connectivity in beta bands originating in areas close to the site of stimulation, and to a prevailing increase of alpha-2 FC. No significant differences in current density or FC were observed in the sham group. LIMITATIONS: Limitations to our study included the small group sizes, and the disability of LORETA to assess subcortical neuronal activity. CONCLUSIONS: LF-rTMS attenuated AHs and induced a decrease of higher frequency bands on the left hemisphere. The FC changes support the assumption that LF-rTMS is linked to the modulation of cortico-cortical coupling.
In multiple sclerosis, treatment start or switch is prompted by evidence of disease activity. Whilst immunomodulatory therapies reduce disease activity, the time required to attain maximal effect is unclear. In this study we aimed to develop a method that allows identification of the time to manifest fully and clinically the effect of multiple sclerosis treatments ('therapeutic lag') on clinical disease activity represented by relapses and progression-of-disability events. Data from two multiple sclerosis registries, MSBase (multinational) and OFSEP (French), were used. Patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, minimum 1-year exposure to treatment, minimum 3-year pretreatment follow-up and yearly review were included in the analysis. For analysis of disability progression, all events in the subsequent 5-year period were included. Density curves, representing incidence of relapses and 6-month confirmed progression events, were separately constructed for each sufficiently represented therapy. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to identify the first local minimum of the first derivative after treatment start; this point represented the point of stabilization of treatment effect, after the maximum treatment effect was observed. The method was developed in a discovery cohort (MSBase), and externally validated in a separate, non-overlapping cohort (OFSEP). A merged MSBase-OFSEP cohort was used for all subsequent analyses. Annualized relapse rates were compared in the time before treatment start and after the stabilization of treatment effect following commencement of each therapy. We identified 11 180 eligible treatment epochs for analysis of relapses and 4088 treatment epochs for disability progression. External validation was performed in four therapies, with no significant difference in the bootstrapped mean differences in therapeutic lag duration between registries. The duration of therapeutic lag for relapses was calculated for 10 therapies and ranged between 12 and 30 weeks. The duration of therapeutic lag for disability progression was calculated for seven therapies and ranged between 30 and 70 weeks. Significant differences in the pre- versus post-treatment annualized relapse rate were present for all therapies apart from intramuscular interferon beta-1a. In conclusion we have developed, and externally validated, a method to objectively quantify the duration of therapeutic lag on relapses and disability progression in different therapies in patients more than 3 years from multiple sclerosis onset. Objectively defined periods of expected therapeutic lag allows insights into the evaluation of treatment response in randomized clinical trials and may guide clinical decision-making in patients who experience early on-treatment disease activity. This method will subsequently be applied in studies that evaluate the effect of patient and disease characteristics on therapeutic lag.
- MeSH
- Time Factors MeSH
- Adult MeSH
- Immunologic Factors administration & dosage MeSH
- Immunosuppressive Agents administration & dosage MeSH
- Cohort Studies MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Follow-Up Studies MeSH
- Natalizumab administration & dosage MeSH
- Disease Progression * MeSH
- Prospective Studies MeSH
- Registries MeSH
- Multiple Sclerosis diagnostic imaging drug therapy physiopathology MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Check Tag
- Adult MeSH
- Middle Aged MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Female MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Multicenter Study MeSH
- Observational Study MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
BACKGROUND: Grounded in self-determination theory, the present study aimed to investigate whether daily changes in employee motivation depend on whether employees receive appreciation from various sources at work, using a 7-day diary design. Beyond general knowledge about the effects of appreciation as an important source of motivation, there is still a lack of knowledge about the intrapersonal effect of appreciation on different types of regulation/motivation in terms of self-determination theory over time. PARTICIPANTS AND PROCEDURE: The sample consisted of 104 employees in full-time employment. More than half were women (72%) and the mean age was 43.25 years (SD = 10.53). They completed trait-level measures and then daily records, in which they reported their motivation and whether they received appreciation. Sources of appreciation were leaders, followers, and clients. RESULTS: Multilevel random coefficient modeling showed that employees reported higher levels of motivation on days when they received appreciation from different sources, independent of gender, trait-level motivation, and the Big Five. Furthermore, introjected regulation moderated the positive association between daily motivation and daily appreciation by the client, and appreciation did not have a lagged effect for subsequent days. CONCLUSIONS: The current study has both practical and theoretical implications. The results show that employee motivation can be supported through simple but effective steps through appreciation regardless of the source, although appreciation may be more important for employees with introjected regulation than for others.
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
Východisko. Oxidativní modifikace lipoproteinů, zvl. LDL, je považována za klíčový krok v rozvoji časné aterosklerotické léze. Náchylnost lipoproteinů k oxidaci (oxidabilita) určuje jejich aterogenní potenciál. Snížená odolnost LDL vůči oxidaci je pozorována např. u pacientů s hyperlipoproteinémií, hypertenzí a diabetes mellitus. Některé práce ukazují na možnost příznivého ovlivnění oxidability lipoproteinů hypolipidemickou léčbou. Metody a výsledky. 17 osob s primární hypercholesterolémií (fenotyp IIA/IIB) bylo po dobu 6 týdnů léčeno preparátem pravastatin (20 mg/den). Před nasazením a po skončení léčby byly stanoveny koncentrace plazmatických lipidů a lipoproteinů a zjištěny parametry lipoperoxidace lipoproteinů LDL hodnocené modifikovanou metodou stanovení kinetiky konjugovaných dienů LDL podle Esterbauera. Léčba vedla k příznivému ovlivnění profilu lipidů a lipoproteinů (pokles celkového cholesterolu o 24 %, P < 0,001, LDL-C o 33 %, P < 0,001, triglyceridů o 18 %, P < 0,05, apo B v plazmě o 16 %, P < 0,05 a v LDL o 28 %, P < 0,001, a vzestup koncentrace cholesterolu v HDL o 17 %, P < 0,05). Dále jsme pozorovali signifikantní prodloužení lag fáze o 23 % (P < 0,01) a pokles bazální absorbance o 10 % (P < 0,05). Závěry. Pravastatin podávaný po dobu 6 týdnů v denní dávce 20 mg prokázal v této studii vedle výrazného hypolipidemického účinku také významné snížení úrovně oxidace a oxidovatelnosti LDL u pacientů s hypercholes- terolémií.
Background. Oxidative modification of lipoproteins, in particular LDL, is considered a crucial step in the development of early atherosclerotic lesions. The oxidability of lipoproteins determines their atherogenic potential. A reduced resistance of LDL to oxidation is observed e.g. in patients with hyperlipoproteinaemia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus. Some work indicates the possibility to influence the oxidability of lipoproteins in a favourable way by hypolipidaemic treatment. Methods and Results. 17 subjects with primary hypercholesterolaemia (phenotype IIA/IIB) was treated for six weeks with pravastin (20 mg/day). Before onset and after termination of treatment concentrations of plasma lipids and lipoproteins were assessed and parameters of lipid peroxidation of LDL lipoproteins evaluated by a modified method of assessment of conjugated LDL dienes according to Esterbauer. Treatment had a favourable effect on the lipid and lipoprotein profile (decline of total cholesterol by 24%, P < 0.01, LDL-C by 33%, P < 0.001, triglycerides by 18%, P < 0.05, apo in plasma by 16%, P < 0.05 and in LDL by 28%, P < 0.001, and a rise of the cholesterol concentration in HDL by 17%, P < 0.05). The authors observed also is significant prolongation of the lag time by 23% (P < 0.01) and a decline of the basal absorbance by 10% (P < 0.05). Conclusions. Pravastin administered for a period of six weeks, 20 mg/day, caused a marked hypolipidaemic effect as well as significant reduction of oxidation and oxidability of LDL in patients with hypercholesterolaemia.
