Immunomodulatory Effects in Healthy Individuals Following a 4-Week Taoist Qigong Intervention: A Comparative Study.

BACKGROUND Qigong, an ancient health preservation technique forming part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, combines slow body movements, breathing, and meditation. While this meditative movement system has been reported to offer various physical and psychological benefits, studies on the Taoist school of qigong are sparse. This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the effects of Taoist qigong on white blood cells and other immune parameters in healthy individuals. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirty-eight participants were recruited for the study, with 21 assigned to the experimental group and 17 to the control group. Participants in the experimental group engaged in a four-week Taoist qigong program. Blood samples for immune parameter quantification, including leukocyte count, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil, lymphocyte, and large unstained cell (LUC) counts, as well as concentrations of IgG, IgA, IgM, C3, and C4, were collected one day before the experiment started and one day after it ended. RESULTS Post-program, the experimental group exhibited significantly lower total leukocyte counts, and reduced numbers of lymphocytes and LUCs. Additionally, a higher percentage of monocytes was noted in this group. CONCLUSIONS Taoist qigong practice induced a distinct immunomodulatory profile, characterized by decreased counts of several white blood cell parameters and increased percentages of certain agranulocytes. This outcome presents intriguing implications from a psychobiological perspective and highlights the need for further research into the immune effects of Taoist mind-body practice.

Evaluating natural and anthropogenic inputs on the distribution of potentially toxic elements in urban soil of Valdivia, Chile.

The increasing population in urban areas in the last decades requires an effort to understand the geochemistry of contaminant elements in urban soil. Topsoil plays a crucial role in the exposure of Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) to humans through ingestion, dermal contact, and inhalation. In Chile, the last census revealed that 88.6% of people live in cities or towns and only 11.4% in rural areas. This study presents the first systematic geochemical survey of urban soil in the city of Valdivia, in the South of Chile. Topsoil samples (0-10 cm depth) were collected in less disturbed locations within the city at 130 sampling sites using a grid of 0.25 km2 squares covering a total area of approximately 30 km2. The concentrations of Al, Fe, Na, Ca, Mg, K, Ti, Be, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, Sn, Cd, Se, Pb and Hg were measured. The results showed that high concentrations of Cu, V, Zn and Pb are located mainly in the city's northern area and exceed international soil quality legislation for agricultural use. Data processing comprised plotting of individual spatial distribution maps and the use of a combination of multivariate statistical methods. Hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis identified three element associations. The two element groups V-Al-Ti-Fe-Cr-Co-Mn-Be-Ni and Ca-Na-K-As-Mg are interpreted as a dominant lithological origin related to the most pristine soil conditions in less populated areas. By contrast, the Sn-Pb-Zn-Mo-(Cu-Hg) association presents a significant correlation with urbanization indicators, including vehicular traffic and industrial activities developed since the end of the nineteenth century in Valdivia.

Calidad de los cuidados de enfermería en unidades de pacientes críticos: una revisión de literatura / Nursing care quality in critical patient units: a literature review

Objetivo: Identificar factores que influyen en la calidad de los cuidados entregados en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos. Material y método: Revisión de literatura que se llevó en las bases de datos Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus, PubMed y Biblioteca Virtual en Salud, además de buscador de académico de Google Scholar. Se utilizaron descripto res normalizados en MeSH y DeCS, es tableciendo las estrategias de búsqueda “nursing care AND icu AND quality NOT pediatrics” y “nursing AND icu AND qua lity of health care”. Los criterios de elegi bilidad utilizados fueron: estudios cualita tivos, cuantitativos y/o de revisión y que se relacionen con la temática a estudiar. Se realiza un primer cribado por título y resumen eliminando referencias que no se ajustan a los criterios de elegibilidad, posteriormente se eliminan duplicados y se realiza cribado final para la selección a texto completo con herramientas de lectura crítica de la Critical Appraisal Ski lls Programme (CASPe). Resultados: Se identificaron factores que influyen de manera directa y/o indirecta en la calidad de los cuidados entregados en las Uni dades de Cuidados Intensivos, donde destaca la carga laboral, fatiga moral y desgaste psicológico. Conclusiones: La carga laboral, la fatiga moral y el desgas te psicológico influyen de manera directa e indirecta en la aplicación de cuidados en las unidades de cuidados intensivos (AU)

Objective: To identify factors that influence the quality of care provided in the Intensive Care Unit. Methodology: Literature review was carried out in the databases Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus, PubMed and Virtual Health Li brary, in addition to Google Scholar search engine. Standardized descriptors were used in MeSH and DeCS, establis hing the search strategies "nursing care AND icu AND quality NOT pediatrics" and "nursing AND icu AND quality of health care". The eligibility criteria used were: qualitative, quantitative and/or re view studies related to the topic to be studied. A first screening was performed by title and abstract, eliminating referen ces that did not meet the eligibility crite ria, then duplicates were eliminated and a final screening was performed for full text selection with critical reading tools of the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASPe). Results: Factors that directly and/or indirectly influence the quality of care provided in Intensive Care Units were identified, in which workload, moral fatigue and psychological wear and tear stand out. Conclusions: Workload, moral fatigue and psychological burnout directly and indirectly influence the delivery of care in intensive care units (AU)

Assessment of hormonal parameters and psychological well-being in healthy subjects after a Taoist qigong program: An exploratory study.

Qigong is an ancient form of health maintenance, which is part of Traditional China Medicine. Numerous beneficial mental and physical effects have been classically ascribed to this traditional psychosomatic method. The purpose of this work has been to assess the effects of Taoist qigong practice on several hormonal parameters of the Hipotalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis and specific measures of psychological well-being in healthy subjects. Forty-three healthy volunteers participated in the study, of whom 22 were randomly allocated to the experimental group, and 21 were assigned to the control group. Experimental participants underwent a qigong training program for one month. Blood samples for the quantification of hormonal parameters, and several instruments to assess anxiety and depression symptoms as well as subjective sleep quality, were obtained before and after the program. Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group showing lower blood levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This study shows that Taoist qigong is a psychosomatic method able to exert a modulatory action on ACTH levels in healthy subjects. We consider the need to continue exploring the psychobiological modulation of this qigong method and its possible repercussion for human health care.

Endocrine Modulation in Long-Term Karate Practitioners.

PURPOSE: Karate is a martial arts discipline which is widely practiced in the Western world as a form of self-defense, as well as a discipline to achieve physical and mental balance. However, little is known with respect to its specific psychobiological effects, particularly in relation to the influence that it may exert on the endocrine system. Thus, in the present study, we examined the effects of karate on several hormonal parameters of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal and Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid axes in long-time practitioners. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy volunteer subjects (12 experimental and 10 controls) participated in the study. Experimental subjects were karate players with a minimum of 3 years of practice in this discipline. Blood samples for the quantification of hormonal parameters were taken in both groups. The Mann-Whitney U test was performed for each variable in order to analyze the differences between groups. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found in cortisol and thyroid hormones, with the karate group showing lower levels of these hormones as compared to control. CONCLUSIONS: These findings, therefore, reveal that long-term karate practice is associated with a significant endocrine modulation, which suggests interesting psychobiological and clinical implications. Further research is needed to verify these preliminary results, as well as properly assessing its possible use as a psychosomatic intervention tool.

Immunological Modulation in Long-Term Karate Practitioners.

Karate is a Japanese martial arts system with potential physical and psychological benefits. However, karate has been scarcely investigated from a psychobiological perspective, and its effects on the immune system remain virtually unknown. We designed the present study with the aim of analyzing the effects of karate practice on immunological parameters. 27 healthy male volunteer subjects participated in the study, 15 in the experimental group and 12 in the control. Experimental subjects were all karate players who had practiced this martial art for a minimum of three years attending regular lessons at a karate training center, in the evening, two to three days per week. Blood samples for the quantification of immunological parameters (total leukocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils, lymphocytes, IgG, IgA, and IgM) were taken in both groups. A t-test for independent groups was performed in each dependent variable; a value of p<0.05 was considered to be significant. Karate practitioners exhibited a significantly higher number of total leukocytes (p<0.02), monocytes (p<0.01), and lymphocytes (p<0.01), a higher percentage of monocytes (p<0.01), and greater serum concentrations of IgG (p<0.02) and IgM (p<0.01). Our findings show that long-term karate practice is related to a broad modulation of immune parameters, including total and specific leukocyte counts, as well as immunoglobulin concentrations. This peculiar immunomodulatory profile, apart from its psychobiological relevance, may have noteworthy clinical implications.

Acute Effects on the Counts of Innate and Adaptive Immune Response Cells After 1 Month of Taoist Qigong Practice.

BACKGROUND: Qigong is an ancient form of health maintenance, dating back thousands of years, which is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Numerous physical as well as mental benefits have been classically ascribed to this traditional mind-body method which integrates slow body movements, breathing, and meditation. Albeit we have already reported an immunomodulatory action of qigong in other investigations, measures were then assessed 1 day after the qigong program ended. PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to assess the acute effects of Taoist qigong practice on immune cell counts in healthy subjects 1 h after training. METHOD: Forty-three healthy subjects participated in the study of whom 25 were randomly allocated to the experimental group and 18 to the control group. The experimental subjects underwent daily qigong training for 1 month. Blood samples for the quantification of immune parameters (number and percentage of monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, total lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells) were taken the day before the experiment commenced and 1 h after the last session of the training program ended. As statistical analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was performed. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the experimental and control groups, with the experimental group showing higher values in the number (p = 0.006) and the percentage (p = 0.04) of B lymphocytes, as well as lower values in the percentage of NK cells (p = 0.05), as compared to control. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that Taoist qigong is able to exert acute immunomodulatory effects on components of both innate as well as adaptive immune response.

Draft Genome Sequences of Four Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis Strains Associated with Walnut Blight in Chile.

Xanthomonas arboricola pv. juglandis is an important pathogen responsible for walnut blight outbreaks globally. Here, we report four draft genome sequences of X. arboricola pv. juglandis strains isolated from Chilean walnut trees.

Valoración de parámetros inmunitarios en pacientes con síntomas de ansiedad y depresión tras un programa de meditación "mindfulness" un estudio piloto / Assessment of immune parameters in anxious and depressive patients after a "mindfulness" meditation program: A pilot study

La meditación mindfulness implica concentrarse en el momento presente de forma activa y reflexiva. El objetivo del presente estudio fue investigar los efectos de esta forma de meditación sobre parámetros inmunitarios en pacientes con síntomas de ansiedad y depresión. Dieciséis pacientes fueron sometidos a un programa de meditación mindfulness de dos meses de duración. Diversos parámetros inmunitarios, como el recuento de leucocitos, linfocitos, monocitos, neutrófilos, eosinófilos y basófilos, así como los niveles de inmunoglobulinas (IgA, IgG, e IgM) y del complemento (C3 y C4), fueron evaluados antes y después del programa. Los resultados en el post-test revelaron un aumento significativo de las concentraciones de IgG, IgM, C3 y C4, así como un descenso en el recuento de monocitos. Estos hallazgos indican, por tanto, que la práctica de la meditación mindfulness parece ejercer una acción inmunomoduladora en pacientes con ansiedad y depresión, lo que sugiere interesantes implicaciones psicobiológicas y clínicas

Mindfulness meditation involves concentrating on the present moment in an active and reflexive way. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of this form of meditation on immune parameters in a sample of patients with depressive and anxious symptoms. Sixteen patients practiced mindfulness meditation for two months. Several immune parameters, including the total number of leucocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, basophils, as well as the levels of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) and complement (C3, C4), were measured before and after the program. At post-test, results revealed a significant increase in the concentrations of IgG, IgM, C3 and C4, as well as a decreased monocyte count. Therefore, these findings indicate that mindfulness meditation appears to exert an immunomodulatory action in patients with anxious and depressive symptoms, which suggests interesting psychobiological and clinical implications

Subjective Sleep Quality and hormonal modulation in long-term yoga practitioners.

Yoga represents a fascinating mind-body approach, wherein body movements (asana), breathing exercises (pranayama) and meditation are integrated into a single multidimensional practice. Numerous beneficial mental and physical effects have been classically ascribed to this holistic ancient method. The purpose of the present study has been to examine the effects of long-term yoga practice on Subjective Sleep Quality (SSQ) and on several hormonal parameters of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Twenty-six subjects (16 experimental and 10 controls) were recruited to be part of the study. Experimental subjects were regular yoga practitioners with a minimum of 3 years of practice. Blood samples for the quantification of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEA-S) were drawn from all subjects. Likewise, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) was employed to assess SSQ. As statistical analysis, Mann-Whitney U-test was performed. The yoga group displayed lower PSQI scores and higher blood cortisol levels than control subjects. Therefore, it can be concluded that long-term yoga practice is associated with significant psycho-biological differences, including better sleep quality as well as a modulatory action on the levels of cortisol. These preliminary results suggest interesting clinical implications which should be further researched.

Serum cytokines, mood and sleep after a qigong program: is qigong an effective psychobiological tool?

Qigong is an ancient Chinese psychosomatic exercise that integrates movement, breathing and meditation into a single multifaceted practice. The present study was designed to assess the effects of qigong practice on serum cytokines, mood and subjective sleep quality. Experimental participants underwent a qigong training program for one month. Blood samples for the quantification of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma, and several instruments to assess anxiety and depression symptoms as well as SSQ, were obtained before and after the program. Our findings revealed that while the practice of qigong for one month did not alter serum cytokines, it enhanced psychological well-being, including sleep duration.

Biochemical changes after a qigong program: lipids, serum enzymes, urea, and creatinine in healthy subjects.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of a qigong training program on blood biochemical parameters. MATERIAL/METHODS: Twenty-nine healthy subjects participated in the study of whom 16 were randomly assigned to the experimental group and 13 to the control. The experimental subjects underwent daily qigong training for one month. Blood samples for the quantification of biochemical parameters (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, phospholipids, GOT, GPT, GGT, urea, creatinine) were taken before and after the training program. As statistical analysis, ANCOVA was performed. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found showing that the experimental group had lower serum levels of GOT (glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase), GPT (glutamic-pyruvic transaminase), and urea and that there was a trend towards significance in GGT (gamma-glutamyltransferase). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that after practicing qigong for the short period of one month, noteworthy changes in several blood biochemical parameters were induced. While it is tempting to speculate on the relevance and implications of these biochemical variations, further investigation is needed to elucidate the scope of these findings.

Assessment of immunological parameters following a qigong training program.

BACKGROUND: Qigong is a type of Chinese psychosomatic exercise that integrates meditation, slow physical movements, and breathing, and to which numerous physical as well as mental benefits have been classically ascribed. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of a qigong program on various immunological parameters. MATERIAL/METHODS: 29 naive subjects participated in the study, of whom 16 were allocated to the experimental group and the rest to the control group. The experimental subjects underwent a qigong training program, conducted by a qualified instructor, consisting of half an hour of daily practice for one month. The day before the experiment commenced and the day after it finished, blood samples were drawn from all subjects for the quantification of immunological parameters (leukocytes, immunoglobulins, and complement). As statistical analysis, analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was carried out. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were found between the control and experimental groups, with the experimental group showing lower numbers of total leukocytes and eosinophils, number and percentage of monocytes, as well as complement C3 concentration. In addition, a similar result with a trend towards significance was observed in the number of eosinophils. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrate that after one month of practicing qigong, significant immunological changes occurred between the experimental and control groups, with a consistently lower and broadly significant profile of these measures within the qigong practitioner group.

Residual effects of benzodiazepine and non-benzodiazepine hypnotics on diurnal attention in a reaction time task / Efectos residuales de hipnóticos benzodiacepínicos y no-benzodiacepínicos sobre la tención diurna en una tarea de tiempo de reacción

The residual effects of benzodiazepines on attention and psychomotor performance have been extensively documented. However, there are very few studies comparing the action of benzodiazepines and non-benzodiazepine (imidazopiridines and cyclopirrolones) compounds on these parameters. The aim of this work was to assess the residual effects on diurnal wakefulness in healthy volunteers after nocturnal administration of a single dose of diazepam (10 mg), zolpidem (10 mg), zopiclone (7.5 mg), gamma-amino-ß-hydroxybutyrate (500 mg), or placebo. Drugs were given at 22 h (half-hour before bedtime), in a double-blind fashion according to an extended Youden Square design. Subjects slept for six consecutive nights in the sleep laboratory (habituation, baseline, drug 1, placebo, drug 2, placebo). The morning after nocturnal dosing, psychomotor performance was measured using a simple visuomotor reaction time (RT) task, with two stimulation patterns (isochronus and stochastic). The results indicated an absence of residual effects on attention after zopiclone and zolpidem intake. Likewise, administration of diazepam did not provoke a significant deterioration in the attention level. GABOB was the only drug which produced a marked decrease in the isochronus RT after 9 hours of its administration, in comparison to its baseline, not appreciating any significant modification in the stochastic RT. It is emphasized that residual impairment on RT following intake of hypnotics should be considered on the basis of the stimulation pattern used (stochastic vs isochronus) during vigilance assessment (AU)

Los efectos residuales de las benzodiacepinas sobre la atención y el rendimiento psicomotor han sido extensamente documentados. Sin embargo, existen muy pocos estudios que hayan comparado el efecto de compuestos benzodiacepínicos y no benzodiacepínicos (imidazopirinas y ciclopirrolonas) sobre dichos parámetros. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar los efectos residuales sobre la atención diurna de una dosis aguda de diazepam (10 mg.), zolpidem (10 mg), zoplicona (7,5 mg), GABOB (500 mg) o placebo, administrada la noche anterior en sujetos voluntarios sanos. Los fármacos fueron administrados a las 22 h (media hora de acostarse), utilizando un diseño doble-ciego de cuadrado latino extendido. Los sujetos pasaron seis noches consecutivas en el laboratorio de sueño (habituación, línea-base, fármaco 1, lavado, fármaco 2, lavado). A la mañana siguiente, se examinó el rendimiento psicomotor utilizando una tarea de tiempo de reacción visomotor simple, con dos patrones de estimulación (isócrono y estocástico). Los resultados indicaron una ausencia de efectos residuales sobre la atención tras la administración de zoplicona y solpidem. Asimismo, la administración de diazepam no provocó un deterioro significativo en el nivel de atención. GABOB fue la única sustancia que produjo un marcado descenso en el tiempo de reacción isócrono, a las 9 horas de su administración, en comparación con la línea-base, no apreciándose ningúncambio significativo en el tiempo de reacción estocástico. Se subraya que los efectos residuales sobre el tiempo de reaación tras la ingesta de hispnótico deben ser considerados sobre la base del patrón de estimulación (estocástico vs isócrono) durante la evaluación de la vigilancia (AU)

Effect of the administration of gabaergic agonists of the GABA A/BDZ receptor on sleep in human subjects

El objetivo de este estudio ha sido evaluar los efectos de la administración aguda de una única dosis de una benzodiacepina de acción prolongada (diacepam, 10 mg), una imidazopiridina (zolpidem, 10 mg), una ciclopirrolona (zopiclona, 7.5 mg), un agonista del complejo molecular GABA A/BDZ (Gabob, 500 mg), y un placebo, sobre el sueño en diez sujetos sanos, utilizando un diseño doble-ciego de cuadrado latino de bloques incompletos. Para ello, se hizo un registro polisomnográfico nocturno (de ocho horas de duración) de cada sujeto durante seis noches consecutivas, en donde se evaluaban variables polisomnográficas relacionadas con la cantidad y la calidad de sueño. Nuestros resultados indicaron que no hubo ningún cambio significativo en las variables polisomnográficas relacionadas con la cantidad de sueño tras la administración de las sustancias. En cambio, los fármacos afectaron tres variables relacionadas con la calidad de sueño; en concreto, al porcentaje de la fase I de sueño, al de sueño; en concreto, al porcentaje de la fase I de sueño, al de sueño MOR (Movimientos Oculares Rápidos) y al de los episodios de la fase II. Por otra parte, nuestros resultados pusieron de manifiesto que la zopiclona fue la sustancia que produjo una mejoría significativa en las variables polisomnográficas relacionadas con la cantidad de sueño, cuando las comparaciones estadísticas se establecieron entre la línea base, la administración del fármaco y el periodo de levado del fármaco. No obstante, el placebo produjo un empeoramiento de las variables polisomnográficas relacionadas con la cantidad de sueño, evidenciándose un claro "efecto placebo" sobre las variables polisomnográficas