ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Clinically significant weight loss is defined as a ≥5% of initial body weight loss within a 6-month period. The purpose of this study was to assess body weight change from a 12-week telehealth-based weight loss program that integrated health coaching via video conferencing. METHODS: A total of 25 obese participants (12 males, 13 females) were recruited for this fully online 12-week weight loss program. Participants were randomly assigned to either an intervention group or control group ( n = 13 intervention, body mass index (BMI) = 34.7 ± 4.5 kg/m2; n = 12 control, BMI = 34.4 ± 4.43 kg/m2). All participants were given access to a secure platform for data tracking and video conferencing with the research team. The intervention group met with the medical doctor once per month and with a registered dietitian, weekly. Control participants met with the research team at baseline and at 12 weeks. Independent samples t-tests and Chi-square tests were used via SPSS version 24 with significance set to p < 0.05. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between the intervention and control groups for body weight loss (7.3 ± 5.2 versus 1.2 ± 3.9 kg, respectively, p < 0.05) as well as for percent body weight loss (7.16 ± 4.4 versus 1.5 ± 4.1%, respectively, p < 0.05). Clinically significant weight loss was achieved in 9 out of 13 (69.2%) in the intervention group versus 1 out of 12 (8%) in the control group. DISCUSSION: Mobile phone-based health coaching may promote weight loss. Weekly video conferencing with education may be an applicable tool for inducing significant body weight loss in obese individuals.
Subject(s)
Mentoring , Obesity/therapy , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Videoconferencing/organization & administration , Weight Reduction Programs/organization & administration , Adult , Body Mass Index , Body Weight , Cell Phone , Female , Humans , Internet , Male , Middle Aged , Weight LossABSTRACT
Four medicinal plants--Tecoma stans, Ligusticum porteri, Monarda austromontana, and Poliomintha longiflora, which are distributed in tropical and subtropical countries of the American continent--are widely used in folk medicine to treat diseases such as diarrhea and dysentery. In addition, T. stans and P. longiflora are extensively used as hypoglycemic agents, and M. austromontana and P. longiflora are used as condiments. The plants were collected, identified, dried, and pulverized. Solvent extraction was prepared by maceration of the plant samples, and the phytochemical composition of the extracts was determined by using standard analysis procedures. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of triterpenoids/steroids, flavonoids, and phenols/tannins and, in L. porteri, traces of alkaloids. After the elimination of solvents in vacuo, the extracts were administrated to Drosophila larvae to test their toxicity and genotoxicity. Third instar larvae were chronically fed with the phytoextracts. The extract from L. porteri was toxic, whereas those from T. stans, P. longiflora, and M. austromontana were not. Genotoxic activities of the 4 plants were investigated by using the wing-spot assay of D. melanogaster. Mitomycin C was used as a positive control. No statistically significant increase was observed between treated sample series and a concurrent negative (water) or solvent control sample series.
Subject(s)
Medicine, Traditional/adverse effects , Mutagens/toxicity , Plant Extracts/toxicity , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Animals , Bignoniaceae/chemistry , Central America , Drosophila/drug effects , Drosophila/genetics , Female , Lamiaceae/chemistry , Larva/drug effects , Larva/genetics , Ligusticum/chemistry , Male , Mutagenicity Tests , Mutagens/analysis , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Plant Roots/chemistry , South America , Toxicity Tests, ChronicABSTRACT
Highly elevated partial pressures of oxygen achievable during hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) have been shown to reduce leukocyte sequestration following ischemia/reperfusion injury suggesting a clinical role for HBO in treatment of various disease states characterized by transient ischemia. Previous studies have suggested that this effect may be due to inhibition of beta2-integrin function. In this study the effect of HBO on various CD11b/CD18 (Mac-1) mediated neutrophil functions was investigated in healthy human subjects. HBO 3.0 ATA, 23 m reduced adhesion 50% at 2 h with return to pre-HBO levels by 6 h. Homotypic aggregation, a Mac-1 dependent function, under fluid shear following stimulation with f-MLP was reduced from 20+/-2.6 to 3.4+/-1.0% 2 h after HBO. However, HBO did not inhibit adhesion to IL-1beta stimulated HUVEC. Mac-1 mediated oxidative burst induced by opsonized zymosan was reduced 38.2+/-10.6% (P<0.05) by HBO. However, oxidative burst induced by PMA or f-MLP was not affected. HBO did not alter the distribution of neutrophils displaying morphologies associated with stimulation (ruffled, bipolar, uropod) over a 24 h period after HBO nor did HBO change the percentages of mature versus immature cells. Taken together these findings demonstrate that HBO specifically inhibits Mac-1 mediated functions.