Search results for " CAP"
showing 10 items of 3409 documents
Effects of allergen exposure on methacholine and AMP-induced air trapping in pollen-sensitive subjects
2011
Summary Background The effect of pro-inflammatory stimuli on bronchoconstrictor-induced air trapping has not been studied. Objective To determine the effect of natural allergen exposure, a pro-inflammatory stimulus, on methacholine- and adenosine 5′-monophospate (AMP)-induced air trapping. Methods Airway responsiveness to methacholine and AMP before and during the pollen season was obtained in 25 subjects with pollen allergy and in 10 healthy controls. The response was expressed by the sensitivity (PC 20 value) and by the slope and intercept of the FVC values recorded at each step of the challenge against the corresponding FEV 1 values. Results The slope and intercept FVC versus FEV 1 value…
The Particular Story of Italians' Relation with Alcohol: Trends in Individuals' Consumption by Age and Beverage Type.
2015
Aims In Italy, sales data show a dramatic fall in alcohol consumption between 1970 and 2010. The aim of our study is to provide updated information on trends, prevalence and determinants of alcohol drinking in Italy, using individual-level data. Methods Seven nationally representative cross-sectional surveys were conducted in Italy between 2006 and 2014, on a total sample of 21,416 participants aged ≥15 years, with available information on weekly consumption of wine, beer and spirits. Results Per capita alcohol consumption decreased by 23% between 2006 and 2014 (from 5.6 to 4.4 drinks/week), due to the fall in wine drinking. Overall, the prevalence of alcohol drinkers was 61.6%. Individuals…
The effects of instrumental reminiscence on resilience and coping in elderly
2014
A B S T R A C T Objectives: Aging, as a stage of development is marked by major changes to which the subject must adapt. Instrumental reminiscence is based on recalling times one coped with stressful circumstances, and analyzing what it took to adapt in those situations. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the effectiveness of an instrumental reminiscent program to enhance adaptive capacity (problemfocused coping and emotion-focused) and resilience in older adults. Method: Thirty participants noninstitutionalized conducted a pre and post assessment on a treatment consisting of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Brief Resilient Coping Scale and Stress Coping Questionnaire …
Impaired plasma nitric oxide availability and extracellular superoxide dismutase activity in healthy humans with advancing age
2006
This study is aimed to verify the modifications of extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) activity and its potential involvement on the mechanism responsible for the impairment of plasma nitric oxide (NO) availability occurring with advancing age in healthy humans. For this purpose, plasma samples were drawn from 40 healthy men, aged 20-92 years, in fasting state and used for measurements of stable end-product nitrite/nitrate (NOx), as expression of NO availability, EC-SOD activity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as marker of lipid peroxidation, Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) as a measure of plasma total antioxidant capacity, and in vitro susceptibility …
Physical Activity Predicts Population-Level Age-Related Differences in Frontal White Matter
2018
Physical activity has positive effects on brain health and cognitive function throughout the life span. Thus far, few studies have examined the effects of physical activity on white matter microstructure and psychomotor speed within the same, population-based sample (critical if conclusions are to extend to the wider population). Here, using diffusion tensor imaging and a simple reaction time task within a relatively large population-derived sample (N = 399; 18–87 years) from the Cambridge Centre for Ageing and Neuroscience (Cam-CAN), we demonstrate that physical activity mediates the effect of age on white matter integrity, measured with fractional anisotropy. Higher self-reported daily ph…
Reaction and Movement Times in Men of Different Ages: A Population Study
1986
Tests of psychomotor and motor speed at different levels of complexity were studied in random samples of men aged 31 to 35, 51 to 55, and 71 to 75 yr. The study was performed as a part of a larger research project on health and functional aging. Analyses indicated significantly slower responses among older men at all levels of test complexity (maximal knee extension velocity, tapping rate, simple and choice reaction and movement times). There were marked differences both between the youngest and the middle-aged groups and between the middle-aged and the oldest groups. Within the age groups high psychomotor and motor speed were associated with a favourable functioning of certain senses (vib…
Maximal force, force/time and activation/coactivation characteristics of the neck muscles in extension and flexion in healthy men and women at differ…
2002
This study examined the force production characteristics, activation/coactivation and endurance capacity of the neck extension and flexion muscles in healthy men (n=29) and women (n=28) divided into three age groups (18–26 years, 30–37 years and 45–55 years). Force and electromyography (EMG) measurements were performed during the maximal voluntary isometric extension and flexion actions. This was followed by an endurance test (ET; 60% force level of maximal voluntary contraction sustained until exhaustion), after which the force and EMG recordings were repeated. Men were both stronger and had higher values (P<0.001) for explosive force (rate of force development, RFD) than women in both act…
Bemiparin improves the total antioxidant status in plasma
2008
The aim of this work is to test the protective effect of bemiparin (3500 I.U., s.c.) against oxidative stress in plasma from healthy volunteers. We have evaluated the total antioxidant activity in plasma, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, and oxidized glutathione and malondialdehyde levels, in two groups: treated (n=20) and control (n=15). Blood samples were collected at: basal, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 h. Total antioxidant activity and antioxidant enzymes activity were higher in the treated group at 2-6 h. However, oxidized glutathione and malondialdehyde levels were lower in the treated group at same times. The results suggest that bemiparin exerts an early beneficial e…
Determination of ethyl sulfate – a marker for recent ethanol consumption – in human urine by CE with indirect UV detection
2006
A CE method for the determination of the ethanol consumption marker ethyl sulfate (EtS) in human urine was developed. Analysis was performed in negative polarity mode with a background electrolyte composed of 15 mM maleic acid, 1 mM phthalic acid, and 0.05 mM cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) at pH 2.5 and indirect UV detection at 220 nm (300 nm reference wavelength). This buffer system provided selective separation conditions for EtS and vinylsulfonic acid, employed as internal standard, from urine matrix components. Sample pretreatment of urine was minimized to a 1:5 dilution with water. The optimized CE method was validated in the range of 5-700 mg/L using seven lots of urine. Intra-…
How University Students With Reading Difficulties Are Supported in Achieving Their Goals
2015
We examine (a) what social ties university students with a history of reading difficulty (RD) report assisting them to achieve their goals, (b) outlets available for developing social ties, (c) resources mobilized within these relationships, and (d) the impact of social ties’ status on academic achievement. Participants were 107 university students with RD who were currently completing or had recently completed a university degree. Results showed that university students with RD named friends, parents, and significant others (e.g., boy/girlfriend, spouse) as social ties most often. Personal social ties were developed through social media networking sites and within close relationships, and…