Search results for "DF"
showing 10 items of 1699 documents
Serum Concentration of Growth Differentiation Factor-15 Is Independently Associated with Global Platelet Function and Higher Fibrinogen Values in Adu…
2017
AbstractGrowth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) has recently emerged as a strong and independent predictor of cardiovascular events and mortality. However, the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this important association remain speculative. This study was aimed to investigate the potential associations between the serum concentration of GDF-15 and clinical or laboratory parameters in a population of ostensibly healthy subjects. The study population consisted of 44 healthy volunteers enrolled from the laboratory staff (14 males and 30 females; mean age, 47 ± 11 years), who had their blood collected for assessing complete blood cell count, GDF-15, serum creatinine, albumin, cardiac t…
Correlation between the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and sperm morphology of infertile patients
2020
Abstract Purpose To evaluate the correlation between the DNA Fragmentation Index (DFI) and sperm morphology in patients undergoing ICSI, as a predictive parameter in reproductive outcomes. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 125 infertile patients enrolled in a fertility clinic. Seminal characteristics were measured following the WHO guidelines (2010) for the examination of the seminal fluid. After collecting motile sperm population by pellet swim up, DFI was calculated and simultaneously associated with sperm morphology using in situ TUNEL assay and an image analyzer software in at least 250 spermatozoa for each patient. Results All subjects were divided into two groups accordin…
An online guided ACT intervention for enhancing the psychological wellbeing of university students: A randomized controlled clinical trial.
2015
Stress, anxiety and depression are relatively common problems among university students. This study examined whether an online psychological intervention aiming at enhancing the wellbeing of university students could be an effective and practical alternative for meeting the needs of a university population. University students (N = 68; 85% female; 19-32 years old) were randomly assigned to either a guided seven-week online Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (iACT) intervention or a waiting list control condition (WLC). A between-groups pre-post (iACT vs WLC) design with 12-month follow-up for the iACT participants was conducted. The intervention participants were offered two face-to-face mee…
Exploring relations among mindfulness facets and various meditation practices: Do they work in different ways?
2017
Several meditation practices are associated with mindfulness-based interventions but little is known about their specific effects on the development of different mindfulness facets. This study aimed to assess the relations among different practice variables, types of meditation, and mindfulness facets. The final sample was composed of 185 participants who completed an on-line survey, including information on the frequency and duration of each meditation practice, lifetime practice, and the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire. A Multiple Indicators Multiple Causes structural model was specified, estimated, and tested. Results showed that the Model's overall fit was adequate: chi(2) (1045) =…
The effects of mindfulness training on weight-loss and health-related behaviours in adults with overweight and obesity: A systematic review and meta-…
2016
International audience; The aim of this study was to conduct a comprehensive quantitative synthesis of the effects of mindfulness training interventions on weight-loss and health behaviors in adults with overweight and obesity using meta-analytic techniques. Studies included in the analysis (n = 12) were randomized controlled trials investigating the effects of any form of mindfulness training on weight loss, impulsive eating, binge eating, or physical activity participation in adults with overweight and obesity. Random effects meta-analysis revealed that mindfulness training had no significant effect on weight loss, but an overall negative effect on impulsive eating (d = –1.13) and binge e…
Contingent biofeedback outperforms other methods to enhance the accuracy of cardiac interoception: A comparison of short interventions.
2019
Abstract Background and objectives Deviations in interoception might contribute to the development and maintenance of mental disorders. The improvement of interoceptive accuracy (IA) is desirable but assessment and training methods remain controversial. For instance, it was assumed that performance increases in heartbeat counting paradigms after cardiac feedback were due to an improvement of knowledge with regard to heart rate rather than due to an actual improvement in IA. Methods Here, we examined effects of contingent cardiac feedback training, non-contingent cardiac feedback, mindfulness practice, and a waiting period with external attentional focus on IA. 100 healthy participants under…
Rapid Weight Loss Habits before a Competition in Sambo Athletes
2021
Background: Like other combat sports, sambo has competition rules that divide athletes into categories based on gender, age and weight. Athletes in combat sports often resort to rapid weight loss (RWL) methods to be more competitive in lower weight categories and gain an advantage against lighter, smaller and weaker competitors. The aim of this study was to examine the methodology implemented by two different sambo age categories, junior and senior athletes, in order to attain RWL. Methods: The sample consisted of 103 male sambo elite athletes (seniors/juniors: age 28.5 ± 4.3/18.9 ± 0.8
GDF 15 as an anti-apoptotic, diagnostic and prognostic marker in oral squamous cell carcinoma
2011
Growth-differentiation factor 15 (GDF 15) is involved in tumor pathogenesis and its expression is increased in many types of cancers. Functional effects of GDF 15 on oncogenesis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the apoptotic characteristics of GDF 15 in OSCC cell lines in vitro and to analyze serum GDF 15 concentrations as a diagnostic and prognostic tumor marker for OSCC in vivo. Caspase activity was assessed in OSCC cell lines with the Caspase-Glo 3/7 system. Serum GDF 15 concentrations from 64 patients with histopathological proven OSCC and from 30 healthy volunteers were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent a…
Handgrip strength: a predictive indicator of upper body maximal strength?
2013
In the last few years, Handgrip strength has been widely recognized as a relevant indicator of physical function, nutritional status and quality of life in a clinical population. The validity of this indicator has been reported in many experimental and epidemiological investigations, showing a significant association of this value with several physiological and not physiological parameters. Bone health, functional capacity, nutritional status as well as postoperative complications, increased length of hospitalization and higher rehospitalisation rate are all elements found to be strongly associated with an acceptable or with an impaired grip strength. These outcomes, as well as the possibil…
Colour Constancy in Goldfish and Man: Influence of Surround Size and Lightness
2002
Colour constancy was investigated by using a series of 10 simultaneously presented surface colours ranging in small steps from green through gray to red – purple. Goldfish were trained to select one medium test field when the entire setup was illuminated with white light. In the tests, either red or green illumination was used. Colour constancy, as inferred from the choice behaviour, was perfect under green illumination when the test fields were presented on a gray or a white background, but imperfect on a black background. Under red illumination and a white background, however, colour constancy was overcompensated. Here, a colour contrast effect was observed. The influence of background l…