Healthy Habits Factors and Stress Associated with Health-Related Quality of Life in a Peruvian Adult Population: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Healthy habits contribute to the prevention of diseases and, therefore, improve the health-related quality of life of people. However, stress is one of the main risk factors associated with serious health problems in the individual. Therefore, the literature suggests a relationship between healthy habits, stress, and health-related quality of life. Objective: To assess the factors of healthy habits and stress associated with health-related quality of life in a Peruvian adult population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 540 Peruvian citizens aged between 18 and 60 years. A questionnaire was applied on the Google Forms platform to be completed online, using the "Healthy Lifestyle Questionnaire" and the PSS-4 to assess healthy habits and stress, respectively. Health-related quality of life was evaluated using the EuroQol-5D. Results: In the multivariate analysis, stress was the most associated factor with quality of life. Physical activity, drug consumption, tobacco consumption, rest habits, and a balanced diet were healthy habits associated with quality of life. Conclusion: Physical activity, rest habits, and a balanced diet improve health-related quality of life, while drug or tobacco consumption and stress are associated with a lower health-related quality of life.

Lip and tongue pressure and the functionality of oro-facial structures in healthy individuals.

BACKGROUND: With the ageing process changes in the musculature of oro-facial structures take place, consequently there is a reduction in the strength and mobility of the lips, tongue and cheeks. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to correlate oro-facial structures and chewing and swallowing functions among a group of senior citizens and young adults and check the influence of lip and tongue pressure of these functions. METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. Thirty seniors with an average age of 67.13 years and 30 young adults with an average age of 22.03 years participated in the study. The Oro-facial Myofunctional Assessment Protocol with Scores for the Elderly and the Oro-facial Myofunctional Assessment Protocol with Expanded Scores were also used. The evaluation of the force of pressure of the lips and tip and dorsum of the tongue was carried out using the Biofeedback device Pró-Fono: Lip and Tongue Pressure. RESULTS: Young adults had a higher evaluation score for the aspect/posture of the face, cheeks, lips, mentalis muscle, tongue, mobility of lips, tongue, jaw and cheeks, chewing and swallowing functions, total time and chewing strokes, and tip pressure and dorsum of tongue. According to the Structural Equation Modelling, a direct relationship was found between the tongue dorsum pressure force and the swallowing function. CONCLUSION: With healthy ageing changes occurring in the appearance, posture and mobility of the lips, tongue, jaw and cheeks, with the seniors and reduced performance of chewing and swallowing functions.

Masticatory function in elderly compared to young adults / Função mastigatória em idosos comparada a adultos jovens

ABSTRACT Purpose To characterize the masticatory function of the elderly and to compare total amount of time, masticatory strokes and total mastication score among the elderly and young adults. Methods It is an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. A total of 50 individuals participated, 25 elderly (mean age 66 years) and 25 young adults (mean age 22 years). The evaluation of mastication was performed by standardized filming of the usual mastication of a wheat flour biscuit. The masticatory type (alternated bilateral, simultaneous bilateral, preferential unilateral, chronic and anterior), masticatory score, total masticatory time and the total number of masticatory strokes were verified and compared between the elderly and young adults. Results The predominant masticatory pattern in the young adults was the alternated bilateral mastication (52%), while, in the elderly, the simultaneous bilateral mastication predominated (48%). The use of dental prostheses had a significant influence on the total mastication score; elderly presented greater masticatory time and greater amount of masticatory strokes; however, the total masticatory score was lower for this group. Conclusion The use of dental prosthesis has a significant influence on masticatory function. When compared to young adults, the elderly had a greater amount of time and masticatory strokes and a lower total mastication score.

RESUMO Objetivo Caracterizar a função mastigatória de idosos e comparar o total de tempo e golpes mastigatórios e o escore mastigatório total entre idosos e adultos jovens. Método Trata-se de um estudo observacional, transversal e analítico. Um total de 50 indivíduos participaram do estudo, 25 idosos (idade média de 66 anos) e 25 adultos jovens (idade média de 22 anos). A avaliação da função mastigatória foi realizada por meio da filmagem padronizada da mastigação habitual de um biscoito maisena. O tipo mastigatório (bilateral alternado, bilateral simultâneo, unilateral preferencial, crônica e anterior), o escore mastigatório, o total do tempo mastigatório e o número total de golpes mastigatórios foram verificados e comparados entre os idosos e os adultos jovens. Resultados O padrão mastigatório predominante nos adultos jovens foi a mastigação bilateral alternada (52%), enquanto que nos idosos predominou a mastigação bilateral simultânea (48%). O uso de prótese dentária apresentou influência significativa no escore total da mastigação; os idosos apresentaram maior tempo mastigatório e maior quantidade de golpes mastigatórios; contudo, o escore total da mastigação foi menor para este grupo. Conclusão O uso de prótese dentária apresenta influência significativa na função mastigatória. Quando comparados aos jovens, idosos apresentam maior quantidade de tempo e golpes mastigatórios e menor escore total da mastigação.

Masticatory function in elderly compared to young adults.

PURPOSE: To characterize the masticatory function of the elderly and to compare total amount of time, masticatory strokes and total mastication score among the elderly and young adults. METHODS: It is an observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. A total of 50 individuals participated, 25 elderly (mean age 66 years) and 25 young adults (mean age 22 years). The evaluation of mastication was performed by standardized filming of the usual mastication of a wheat flour biscuit. The masticatory type (alternated bilateral, simultaneous bilateral, preferential unilateral, chronic and anterior), masticatory score, total masticatory time and the total number of masticatory strokes were verified and compared between the elderly and young adults. RESULTS: The predominant masticatory pattern in the young adults was the alternated bilateral mastication (52%), while, in the elderly, the simultaneous bilateral mastication predominated (48%). The use of dental prostheses had a significant influence on the total mastication score; elderly presented greater masticatory time and greater amount of masticatory strokes; however, the total masticatory score was lower for this group. CONCLUSION: The use of dental prosthesis has a significant influence on masticatory function. When compared to young adults, the elderly had a greater amount of time and masticatory strokes and a lower total mastication score.

Drug Resistance Assessment Following Administration of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Fusion Inhibitor Presatovir to Participants Experimentally Infected With RSV.

BACKGROUND: Presatovir is an oral respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) fusion inhibitor targeting RSV F protein. In a double-blind, placebo-controlled study in healthy adults experimentally infected with RSV (Memphis-37b), presatovir significantly reduced viral load and clinical disease severity in a dose-dependent manner. METHODS: Viral RNA from nasal wash samples was amplified and the F gene sequenced to monitor presatovir resistance. Effects of identified amino acid substitutions on in vitro susceptibility to presatovir, viral fitness, and clinical outcome were assessed. RESULTS: Twenty-eight treatment-emergent F substitutions were identified. Of these, 26 were tested in vitro; 2 were not due to lack of recombinant virus recovery. Ten substitutions did not affect presatovir susceptibility, and 16 substitutions reduced RSV susceptibility to presatovir (2.9- to 410-fold). No substitutions altered RSV susceptibility to palivizumab or ribavirin. Frequency of phenotypically resistant substitutions was higher with regimens containing lower presatovir dose and shorter treatment duration. Participants with phenotypic presatovir resistance had significantly higher nasal viral load area under the curve relative to those without, but substitutions did not significantly affect peak viral load or clinical manifestations of RSV disease. CONCLUSIONS: Emergence of presatovir-resistant RSV occurred during therapy but did not significantly affect clinical efficacy in participants with experimental RSV infection.

ASP2408 and ASP2409, novel CTLA4-Ig variants with CD86-selective ligand binding activity and improved immunosuppressive potency, created by directed evolution.

The CTLA4-Ig therapeutics abatacept and belatacept inhibit CD28-mediated T cell activation by binding CD80 (B7-1) and CD86 (B7-2) co-stimulatory ligands. Both compounds preferentially bind CD80, yet CD86 has been implicated as the dominant co-stimulatory ligand. Using directed evolution methods, novel CTLA4-Ig variants were created with selective CD86 binding affinity, a property that confers increased immunosuppressive potency and potentially improved efficacy and safety profiles. Relative to abatacept (wild-type CTLA4-Ig), ASP2408 and ASP2409 have 83-fold and 220-fold enhanced binding affinity to CD86 while retaining 1.5-fold and 5.6-fold enhanced binding affinity to CD80, respectively. Improvements in CD86 binding affinity correlates with increased immunosuppressive potencyin vitroandin vivo Our results highlight the power of directed evolution methods to obtain non-intuitive protein engineering solutions and represent the first examples of CD86-selective CTLA4-Ig compounds that have entered clinical trials.

Linking solubility and permeability assays for maximum throughput and reproducibility.

Solubility and permeability are intimately linked in drug absorption processes. They have, however, been traditionally assayed separately. To support this linkage, a combined solubility/permeability assay was developed for determining absorption properties of chemical entities. First, solubility is determined at 4 pH values by comparing the concentration of a saturated compound solution to its dilute, known concentration. The filtered, saturated solution from the solubility assay is then used as input material for the membrane permeability determination. The permeability assay is a parallel artificial membrane technique whereby a membrane is created on a solid support parallel artificial membrane permeation assay (PAMPA). The 2 artificial membranes presented here model the gastrointestinal tract and the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Data are presented for control compounds, which are well documented in the literature and exemplify a range of solubility and membrane permeability. The advantages of the combination method are 1) reduction of sample usage and preparation time, 2) elimination of interference from compound precipitation in membrane permeability determination, 3) maximization of input concentration to permeability assay for improved reproducibility, and 4) optimization of sample tracking by streamlining data entry and calculations. BBB permeability ranking of compounds correlates well with literature CNS activity.