Effect of Moderate Versus Vigorous Exercise Intensity on Body Composition in Young Untrained Adults: The Activating Brown Adipose Tissue Through Exercise (ACTIBATE) Randomized Controlled Trial.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of a 24-week aerobic + resistance training programs at moderate versus vigorous intensity on body composition, and the persistence of the changes after a 10-month free-living period, in young untrained adults. This report is based on a secondary analysis from the activating brown adipose tissue through exercise (ACTIBATE) single-center unblinded randomized controlled trial. A total of 144 young adults (65.6% women) aged 18-25 years were randomly allocated to three different groups: (a) aerobic + resistance exercise training program based on the international physical activity recommendations at vigorous intensity (Ex-Vigorous group), (b) at moderate intensity (Ex-Moderate group), and (c) control group (no exercise). Body composition outcomes were determined by a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scanner. Both Ex-Vigorous and Ex-Moderate decreased body weight, fat mass, and visceral adipose tissue mass in a similar manner (all p < .04). After a 10-month free-living period, these parameters returned to baseline levels in both exercise groups (all ps < .03). No differences between the exercise groups and the control group were noted in lean mass changes (all ps > .1). A 24-week aerobic + resistance training intervention based on the international physical activity recommendations was enough to improve body weight, fat mass, and visceral adipose tissue mass in untrained young adults, independently of the exercise intensity (moderate vs. vigorous).

Asociación del signo de Moore con la presencia de absceso profundo de cuello de espacio retrofaríngeo.

BACKGROUND: Deep neck abscesses can cause life-threatening complications. They are diagnosed by physical examination, and contrasted tomography as the gold standard. There are no studies about the association of Moore's sign with infections of the retropharyngeal space. OBJECTIVE: To determine the usefulness of Moore's sign in the diagnosis of deep retropharyngeal abscess. METHOD: Observational, analytical, cross-sectional, study of patients with deep neck abscess, from May 1, 2019, to August 30, 2021, with report of Moore's sign. RESULTS: 87 patients were included, 49 (56.3%) males (p = 0.45). Of those who developed complications, 77.8% had a negative Moore's sign (p = 0.001). Of those admitted to the ICU, 72% had a negative Moore's sign (p = 0.001). The sensitivity of the absence of the sign with retropharyngeal involvement was 95.4%, and the specificity was 86.3%. By logistic regression, it was found that those with retropharyngeal involvement are 467 times more likely to present a negative sign (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of abscess in the retropharynx is associated with complications and a worse prognosis. The evaluation of Moore's sign can be a useful tool to suspect compromise of this space.

ANTECEDENTES: Los abscesos profundos de cuello pueden ocasionar complicaciones letales. Se diagnostican por exploración física, y la tomografía contrastada es el método de referencia. No existen estudios de asociación del signo de Moore con infecciones del espacio retrofaríngeo. OBJETIVO: Determinar la utilidad del signo de Moore en el diagnóstico de absceso profundo en el espacio retrofaríngeo. MÉTODO: Estudio observacional, transversal y analítico, de pacientes con absceso profundo de cuello, del 1 de mayo de 2019 al 30 de agosto de 2021, con reporte de signo de Moore. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron 87 pacientes, de los cuales 49 (56.3%) eran de sexo masculino (p = 0.45). De los que desarrollaron complicaciones, el 77.8%, tenían el signo de Moore negativo (p = 0.001). De los que ingresaron a la unidad de cuidados intensivos, el 72% tenían negativo el signo de Moore (p = 0.001). La sensibilidad de la ausencia del signo con afección del espacio retrofaríngeo fue del 95.4%, y la especificidad del 86.3%. Por regresión logística se encontró que aquellos con afección del espacio retrofaríngeo tienen 467 veces más posibilidades de presentar signo negativo (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONES: La presencia de un absceso en el espacio retrofaríngeo se asocia a complicaciones y peor pronóstico. La evaluación del signo de Moore puede ser una herramienta útil para sospechar compromiso de ese espacio.

Mental health impacts of nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in Peru: Fear of contagion, generalized anxiety, and physical-cognitive fatigue.

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 has resulted in the physical and emotional deterioration of health personnel, especially nurses, whose emotional state is affected by the high risk of contagion, the high demands of health services, and the exhausting working hours. The objective of this research was to determine the relationship between fear, anxiety, and fatigue of nurses caring for patients with COVID-19 in a second level public hospital in Peru. This study presents a quantitative approach and correlational level, cross-sectional, and non-experimental design. The sample consisted of 145 nurses who attended patients with COVID-19 in health care areas. The results show a significant relationship between fear of contagion and physical-cognitive fatigue (p < 0.001; r = 317) and a significant relationship between generalized anxiety and physical-cognitive fatigue (p < 0.001; r = 480). It is concluded that in this context, both fear of contagion and generalized anxiety are related to physical-cognitive fatigue.

Human mesenchymal stem cells enhance the systemic effects of radiotherapy.

The outcome of radiotherapy treatment might be further improved by a better understanding of individual variations in tumor radiosensitivity and normal tissue reactions, including the bystander effect. For many tumors, however, a definitive cure cannot be achieved, despite the availablity of more and more effective cancer treatments. Therefore, any improvement in the efficacy of radiotherapy will undoubtedly benefit a significant number of patients. Many experimental studies measure a bystander component of tumor cell death after radiotherapy, which highlights the importance of confirming these observations in a preclinical situation. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been investigated for use in the treatment of cancers as they are able to both preferentially home onto tumors and become incorporated into their stroma. This process increases after radiation therapy. In our study we show that in vitro MSCs, when activated with a low dose of radiation, are a source of anti-tumor cytokines that decrease the proliferative activity of tumor cells, producing a potent cytotoxic synergistic effect on tumor cells. In vivo administration of unirradiated mesenchymal cells together with radiation leads to an increased efficacy of radiotherapy, thus leading to an enhancement of short and long range bystander effects on primary-irradiated tumors and distant-non-irradiated tumors. Our experiments indicate an increased cell loss rate and the decrease in the tumor cell proliferation activity as the major mechanisms underlying the delayed tumor growth and are a strong indicator of the synergistic effect between RT and MSC when they are applied together for tumor treatment in this model.

Synthesis of glycyrrhetinic acid derivatives for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

The effect of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) and GA-derivatives towards 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) was investigated. Novel compounds with modifications at positions C-3, C-11 and C-29 of the GA skeleton were prepared. Single crystal X-ray diffraction data of selected substances are reported and discussed.

Efficient synthesis of glycyrrhetinic acid glycoside/glucuronide derivatives using silver zeolite as promoter.

3-O-Glycopyranosides of glycyrrhetinic acid have been synthesized in good to high yields and excellent stereoselectivity using glycosyl bromide donors and silver zeolite as promoter. In addition to the preparation of glycosides containing beta-linked glucosyl, 2-deoxy-2-trichloroacetamido-glucosyl, galactosyl, cellobiosyl and lactosyl residues, also the deactivated acetylated methyl glucopyranosyluronate bromide donor could be coupled to triterpene aglycon ester derivatives in good yields. The ester protecting group located at C-30 of the oleanolic acid scaffold exerted an influence on the overall yield, with the methylester-protected glycosyl acceptor giving better yields compared to the allyl, benzyl as well as diphenylmethyl ester aglycon. The acetyl-protected glucuronides were differently deblocked in high yields via Zemplén deacetylation or via hydrogenolysis followed by Zemplén deacetylation, and alkaline hydrolysis, respectively, to allow for a selective liberation of the ester groups from either the glucuronide or the glycyrrhetinic acid unit, respectively. The target glycosides/glucuronides serve as probes for pharmaceutical studies aimed at defining structure-activity relationships of glycoside/glucuronide triterpenes.