Effects of different amounts of exercise on preventing depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study in Taiwan.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of four different amounts of exercise for preventing depressive symptoms in community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: A nationally representative sample in Taiwan. PARTICIPANTS: Four waves of the survey 'Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging (TLSA)' from 1996 to 2007 were analysed. A total of 2673 older adults aged 65 years and over were recruited. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Depressive symptoms were measured using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD). Four different types/amounts of exercise were examined including: (1) 3 times/week, 15 min/time; (2) 3 times/week, 30 min/time; (3) 6 times/week, 15 min/time; and (4) 6 times/week, 30 min/time. All exercise types were required to have at least moderate intensity. The impacts of different amounts of exercise on depressive symptoms were analysed using generalised linear mixed models. RESULTS: More than one-fifth of the elder individuals under consideration had depressive symptoms (CESD ≥10). About 38.6% of older adults met the lowest criteria for exercise type 1, and fewer (28.0%) met the highest criteria for type 4. Only exercise type 4 in the current survey was initially related to lower depressive symptoms (OR=0.8, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.95). However, after considering the interaction between time and changes in exercise patterns, the results showed that all persistent exercise models, even if a very low amount (3 times/week, 15 min/time), had significantly preventive effects on depressive symptoms (OR=0.56~0.67). CONCLUSION: Consistent exercise with at least 15 min per time, three times a week of moderate intensity is significantly associated with lower risk of depressive symptoms. This low amount of exercise may be easier to promote at the community and population level than other alternatives. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registry number 104040 of the Institutional Ethics Committee of Chia-Yi Christian Hospital.

Influence of medical nutrition therapy on borderline glucose intolerance in pregnant Taiwanese women.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) on borderline glucose intolerance (BGI) in pregnant Taiwanese women. METHODS: A total of 5194 singleton pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective, non-randomized study. The participants were subjected to the 50 g 1-h glucose challenge test (GCT) and 100 g 3-h oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) to screening gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). BGI was defined as a positive GCT and normal OGTT results. GDM was defined as a positive GCT and abnormal OGTT results. The women were categorized into the following groups: (1) GCT-negative, n = 3881; (2) BGI with MNT, n = 273; (3) BGI without MNT, n = 712; and (4) GDM, n = 328. Multiple logistic analyses were used to estimate the risks of pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS: The odds ratios (95% confidence interval) for total cesareans, third- or fourth-degree perineal lacerations, gestational hypertension or preeclampsia and macrosomia were 1.24 (1.04-1.49), 1.55 (1.06-1.28), 1.78 (1.21-2.61) and 2.50 (1.28-4.91) in the BGI without MNT group compared to the GCT-negative group. There was no difference between BGI with MNT and GCT-negative groups. CONCLUSIONS: Women with BGI who did not receive MNT had increased risks of adverse pregnancy outcomes, whereas who received MNT had no different risk with GCT-negative women.

A simple, safe, and efficient way to treat severe fluoride poisoning--oral calcium or magnesium.

PURPOSE: To examine the efficacy and safety of administration of calcium and magnesium orally and intraperitoneally to treat severe sodium fluoride intoxication. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were initially gavaged a lethal dose of sodium fluoride (NaF) or water. Then, mice were treated with water or varying concentrations of calcium chloride (CaCl2) or magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) via intraperitoneal (IP) route or via oral route. Mice were monitored for 24 h, and the time of death was recorded. RESULTS: IP injections of large amounts of CaCl2 or MgSO4 were dangerous. All mice gavaged with water and then treated with oral CaCl2 or MgSO4 survived and displayed normal activity during the experiment. The survival rate of mice gavaged with a lethal dose of NaF and then treated with a high dose of oral CaCl2 or MgSO4 was significantly higher than those of using low dose. CONCLUSION: Oral administration of a high dose of CaCl2 or MgSO4 is a simple, safe, and effective adjunctive method for treating severe oral fluoride poisoning.