The Effects of a Guided Mindful Walk on Mental Health in University Students.

College campuses in the United States are experiencing high levels of mental distress without adequate psychological resources to address the need. In addition, the majority of university students do not meet the physical activity guidelines for mental and physical health. Effective and time efficient resources are needed to address poor mental health and low physical activity among university students on college campuses. Mindful walking may be a promising solution. The purpose was to 1) measure change in mental health and 2) estimate physical activity from participation in a guided mindful walk in a diverse student sample. Students participated in a mindful walking route which included seven stops (0.85 miles) during the Spring 2022 semester. Undergraduate students (n = 44) were mean ± SD age 20.9 ± 3.8 years and 68% female. Validated surveys were given pre- and post-participation measuring mental health constructs of state mindfulness (Toronto Mindfulness Scale; TMS), state anxiety (visual analogue scale), and state stress (Short Stress State Questionnaire; SSSQ). Physical activity was estimated via steps on a Yamax pedometer worn at the hip. After the guided mindful walk, total state mindfulness score significantly improved (mean ± SD) (pre: 27.5 ± 8.2, post: 32.8 ± 9.5; p < 0.001); state anxiety significantly decreased (pre: 3.7 ± 2.4, post: 2.4 ± 2; p < 0.0001) and total state stress score was reduced (pre: 66.1 ± 10.7, post: 63.4 ± 8.3; p = 0.03). Physical activity averaged 1,726 ± 159 steps. Completion of a guided mindful walk can reduce anxiety and stress, while increasing mindfulness among university students.

Apolipoprotein E and age at onset of Alzheimer's disease in African American patients.

The authors examined whether the APOE-epsilon4 allele is associated with an earlier age at onset of AD in 71 African American patients with probable AD. The authors found a linear dose effect in which each copy of the epsilon4 allele was associated with a 3.6-year earlier onset of AD, indicating a dose-dependent relationship between APOE-epsilon4 and age at onset of AD in African Americans.

Delayed vaccination does not improve antibody responses in splenectomized rats experiencing hypovolemic shock.

Delayed vaccination after splenectomy has been shown to increase the antibody response in normotensive rats. The purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of timing of vaccination on antibody responses in rats undergoing splenectomy and experiencing hypovolemic shock. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 250 to 400 g underwent either a sham abdominal surgery or splenectomy after a 30-minute period of controlled hypovolemic shock. All rats then received pneumococcal vaccinations one day, 7 days, or 28 days postoperatively. Antibody levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay 3 weeks after vaccination. Results were compared by analysis of variance. Animals vaccinated one day postoperatively had similar or higher antibody responses than did rats receiving delayed vaccinations after 7 or 28 days. These results were similar for immunoglobulins G and M and more importantly were consistent for animals undergoing splenectomy and sham operations. Delayed vaccinations failed to improve antibody responses when hypovolemic shock preceded splenectomy. We propose that this is the result of complex cytokine responses to hypovolemic shock. These responses have been studied extensively in the setting of septic shock but not in the setting of hypovolemic or hemorrhagic shock.

Improved antibody responses to delayed pneumococcal vaccination in splenectomized rats.

Pneumococcal vaccination following splenectomy is widely used as prophylaxis against overwhelming postsplenectomy infection. There remains controversy however, over the timing of vaccination. We hypothesized that delaying vaccination would increase the antibody response. Pneumococcal vaccinations were given at designated intervals to rats that had undergone either a sham abdominal surgery or splenectomy. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats, 250 to 400 g, were divided into three groups for vaccination: I, 1 day postoperatively; II, 7 days postoperatively; and III, 28 days postsplenectomy/sham. Serum antibody levels were then determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at 5 and 21 days after vaccination. Immunoglobulin (Ig) levels after delayed vaccination at 1 week postoperatively and 1 month postoperatively were significantly higher than levels from rats vaccinated 1 day postoperatively. IgM levels after vaccinations 1 week and 1 month postoperatively were also significantly higher than levels of rats vaccinated 1 day postoperatively (P < 0.05 for both IgG and IgM). On the basis of these results, we conclude that delaying vaccination after splenectomy enhances antibody responses.

Hypertension and cognitive performance in African Americans with Alzheimer disease.

The authors examined the relationship between hypertension and cognitive performance in 34 African-American patients with probable Alzheimer disease. Multiple regression analyses indicated that hypertension was associated with poorer overall performance on the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale, particularly the Initiation/Perseveration and Conceptualization subscales, after controlling for gender, age, and education. The findings suggest that African-American patients with hypertension exhibit greater cognitive impairment, possibly reflecting executive dysfunction.