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Healthy eating, exercise, and weight: impressions of sexual minority women.

Obesity is a risk factor for multiple disease outcomes, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. A healthy diet and physically active lifestyle can prevent obesity. Sexual orientation is an important demographic factor that has been suggested to affect engagement in health-related behaviors, and interventions developed for the general population of women are likely to be less effective in assisting sexual minority women to make healthy choices. We conducted seven focus groups with sexual minority women (i.e., lesbians and bisexual women) to explore issues, including barriers and motivations, regarding healthy eating, physical activity, and weight in this population. The participants reported a wide range of levels of engagement in health-related behaviors. While nearly all of the participants reported some awareness of the importance of good dietary choices, the majority reported some confusion about what constitutes a healthy diet. In contrast, the majority of participants seemed clearly aware that regular exercise was important for good health. These data can guide the design of effective intervention strategies to improve health behaviors in sexual minority women.

Adult↗

Serving elders in greatest social and economic need: the challenge to the Elderly Nutrition Program.

The federally funded Elderly Nutrition Program is mandated to serve elders in greatest social and economic need. Yet researchers have concluded that the program underserves certain groups of elders, including those who are socially impaired and homeless and members of ethnic and other minority groups. This paper reviews the issues involved in serving elders in greatest social and economic need and suggests that reaching all of these elders with program services is not only a laudable goal but also, based on innovative models briefly described, is clearly achievable.

Aged↗

Foodservice trends in the elderly nutrition program.

The foodservice delivery aspects of the federally-funded Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) were examined via an original survey instrument sent to a random sample of nutrition projects nationally. In comparison to a similar survey conducted a decade ago, projects were more apt to rely on a combination of foodservice mechanisms including caterer contracts, on-site preparation, and use of central kitchens.

Aged↗

Project director characteristics in the Elderly Nutrition Program.

The federally funded Elderly Nutrition Program (ENP) began in 1972, authorized under Title 7 of the Older Americans Act. Its purpose was to serve elders, targeting those in greatest social and economic need. This article describes the characteristics of the Nutrition Project Directors in the ENP through data gathered by a questionnaire completed by a random sample of 430 directors across the nation. One important finding was that directors of programs serving large numbers of low-income or minority elders tended to have less education and commanded lower salaries than directors serving fewer poor and minority elders. In addition, while a higher proportion of these directors were minority members, numbers of nonwhite Nutrition Project Directors remains low.

Educational Status↗

Food habits and nutritional knowledge of Portuguese participants in an elderly nutrition program.

Massachusetts has the largest population of immigrant Portuguese in the United States, yet few elder service programs specifically designed to meet their needs exist. Therefore, a special nutrition program was developed in Somerville, Massachusetts to provide culturally appropriate lunches twice a week, followed by socialization activities. A survey of the participants showed that only 11% of respondents met recommended intake of dairy, protein, fruits and vegetables, as determined by the Basic Four Scoring System. The most frequently lacking food among the remaining participants were fruits and vegetables, followed by grains, as well as dairy products. The recommended protein intake was met by all but two respondents. The majority of respondents were able to identify a high sodium food, a food high in Vitamin C, a nutritionally balanced meal, and identified calcium as a necessary nutrient throughout the lifespan. Fewer respondents were able to identify foods high in protein, high in calories, and high in fiber, although their diets contained substantial amounts of these nutrients.

Aged↗

The farmers' market coupon program for low-income elders.

The Massachusetts Farmers' Market Coupon Program provides coupons to low-income elders redeemable for fresh produce at farmers' markets. The program was conceived to create new direct marketing opportunities for small farmers, while at the same time introducing people at nutritional risk to farmers' markets. This article reports on the results of an evaluation of the program by participating elders and draws conclusions regarding program successes based on the data.

Aged↗

Sulfated polysaccharides from red microalgae have antiinflammatory properties in vitro and in vivo.

The primary goal of the present research was to determine whether sulfated polysaccharides derived from red microalgae possess antiinflammatory properties when directed against specific parameters of human skin inflammation. These unique biopolymers were studied in both in vitro and in vivo models of skin inflammation. Human subjects were recruited to participate in a study in which the polysaccharide material was applied topically and shown to inhibit cutaneous erythema induced by a known irritant. Leukocyte migration from capillary blood into sites of inflammation is an essential component of the inflammatory process and occurs in a series of steps, two of which are adhesion and chemotaxis. In vitro, the polysaccharide material primarily inhibited the migration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) toward a standard chemoattractant molecule and also partially blocked adhesion of PMNs to endothelial cells. The data obtained strongly suggest that sulfated polysaccharides derived from red microalgae have significant beneficial potential for use in topical products. In addition, the data suggested that the antiinflammatory mechanism for the polysaccharide was, at least in part, due to inhibition of circulating immune cell recruitment toward inflammatory stimuli.

Administration, Topical↗

Extended habit training reduces dopamine mediation of appetitive response expression.

A wide range of behaviors is impaired after disruption of dopamine (DA) transmission, yet behaviors that are reflexive, automatic, or elicited by salient cues often remain intact. Responses triggered by strong external cues appear to be DA independent. Here, we examined the possibility that a single behavior may become DA independent as a result of extended training. Rats were trained to execute a head-entry response to a cue signaling food delivery. Vulnerability of the response to D1 or D2 receptor blockade was assessed on day 3, 7, or 17 of 28-trial-per-day training. During the early stages of training, the D1 receptor antagonist R(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride (SCH 23390) increased response latencies; however, the same behavior was unaffected by SCH 23390 in animals tested during the later stages of training. Other aspects of behavior such as locomotion and head-entry responses during the uncued intertrial interval remained vulnerable to SCH 23390 throughout the experiment. This D1-mediated response was unaffected by the D2 antagonist raclopride, even at a dose that strongly suppressed locomotion. The results provide strong evidence that a D1-dependent behavior becomes less dependent on DA with extended training. A number of fundamental neurobiological changes occur as behaviors become learned habits; at least for some responses, this change involves a shift from D1-mediated to D1-independent responding.

Animals↗

Presacral neuroenteric fistula in a newborn presenting with an epidural abscess: case report and review of the literature.

We describe a newborn infant (<24 hours of age) who presented with mild swelling on the back and buttocks attributable to a neuroenteric fistula complicated by an epidural parasacral abscess infected with mixed coliforms. Epidural abscesses in infancy are extremely rare, and one has not been observed previously in the newborn period. The infant was surprisingly mildly affected. Prompt intervention led to an excellent outcome. Coliforms may colonize the infant gut in <24 hours, even in the developed world. Unexplained swellings on the backs of infants should lead to a search for underlying malformations and an early surgical review, which is best conducted with a combined pediatric surgical and neurosurgical approach.

Enterococcus↗

[Copaiba oil effect on aminotransferases of rats with hepatic ischemia and reperfusion with and without ischemic preconditioning].

PURPOSE: To study the copaiba oil effect in rats' aminotrasnferases submitted to hepatic ischemic and reperfusion with and without preconditioning. METHODS: 24 male and adults rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus, Wistar) were distributed into six groups: Standard Group (SG); Copaiba Group (CG), Ischemic-reperfusion Group (IRG), Ischemic-reperfusion + Copaiba Group (IRCG), Ischemic Preconditioning Group (IPCG) and Ischemic Preconditioning + Copaiba Group (IPCCG). The animals of CG, IRCG and IPCCG received copaiba oil, 0.63 ml/kg/day by gavage, during 7 days. It was realized total hepatic ischemic by 30 minutes and, in animals subbimited to ischemic preconditioning, it was realized 10 minutes of ischemia, following by 5 minutes of reperfusion and other ischemia by 30 minutes. All animals were subbmited to 24 hours of reperfusion. To realize surgery procedure, animals were anesthezied through ethilic eter breathing. On first post-operating day, blood was collected to dose aminotransferases. RESULTS: It was not observe alterations in AST level in animals which received copaiba oil. There was no statistic difference between IRCG and IRG ALT levels, however, this enzyme was increased in IPCCG when compared with IPCG. CONCLUSION: Copaiba oil did not change AST levels in groups studied. Analysing ALT, this oil did not change its values in animals were realized just hepatic ischemic-reperfusion, however, it had levels increase in IPCCG when compared to IPCG Between IRCG and IPCCG, ALT levels were not statistical different.

Animals↗

[Copaiba oil effect on urea and creatinine serum levels in rats submitted to kidney ischemia and reperfusion syndrome].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the copaiba oil effect on urea and creatinine levels in rats submitted to kidney ischemia and reperfusion syndrome. METHODS: Eighteen Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus albinus), aged between 90 and 120 days, weight between 200 g and 250 g, were allocated in 2 groups (n=9) and submitted to 50 minutes of renal ischemia and reperfusion and treated or not with copaiba oil (0.63 ml/kg daily seven days before ischemia). The nitrogen excrements were assessed at 24, 48 and 72 hours after ischemia period. RESULTS: The urea serum level was smaller (p d" 0,05) at 24 and 48 hours, and the creatinine serum level was smaller at 48 hours in animals treated with copaiba oil (GIRC) than the GIR. CONCLUSION: The copaiba oil decreased significantly the urea serum level at 24 and 48 hours and the creatinine level at 48 hours after kidney ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

Animals↗

Insulin-like growth factor promotes engraftment, differentiation, and functional improvement after transfer of embryonic stem cells for myocardial restoration.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) promotes myocyte proliferation and can reverse cardiac abnormalities when it is administered in the early fetal stage. Supplementation of a mouse embryonic stem cell (ESC) suspension with IGF-1 might enhance cellular engraftment and host organ-specific differentiation after injection in the area of acute myocardial injury. In the study reported here, we sought to enhance the restorative effect of ESCs in the injured heart by adding IGF-1 to the injected cell population. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled sv129 ESCs (2.5 x 10(5)) were injected into the ischemic area after left anterior descending (LAD) artery ligation in BalbC mice. Recombinant mouse IGF-1 (25 ng) was added to the cell suspension prior to the injection (n = 5). Echocardiography was performed before organ harvest 2 weeks later. The degree of restoration (ratio of GFP+ to infarct area), expression of cardiac markers by GFP+ cells, inflammatory response, and tumorigenicity were evaluated. Mice with LAD ligation only (n = 5) and ESC transfer without IGF-1 (n = 5) served as controls. ESCs formed viable grafts and improved cardiac function. Left ventricular wall thickness was higher in the IGF-1 group (p = .025). There was a trend toward higher fractional shortening in the IGF-treated group. Histological analysis demonstrated that IGF-1 promoted expression of alpha-sarcomeric actin (p = .015) and major histocompatibility complex class I (p = .01). IGF did not affect the cellular response to the donor cells or tumorigenicity. IGF-1 promotes expression of cardiomyocyte phenotype in ESCs in vivo. It should be considered as an adjuvant to cell transfer for myocardial restoration.

Actins↗

The negative side effects of reward.

The negative side effects of aversive control have been extensively discussed in clinical literature and textbooks. The symmetry between aversive and appetitive control in basic experimental research implies that parallel negative side effects of reward exist. These negative side effects are described and their implications for clinical practice and research are discussed.

Animals↗

Effect of varying the duration of grain presentation on automaintenance.

In a series of three experiments the effects of variation in grain duration on automaintenance were evaluated. In the first experiment, key illumination was followed by grain only when pigeons did not peck the key. Each subject was exposed to 2-, 4-, and 8-second feeder durations in blocks of 10 sessions. Subjects pecked on a high percentage of trials at all feeder durations. The mean peck latency was shorter in the 8-second condition than in the two other conditions in five of six subjects. The conditional probability of pecking given successive keylight-grain pairings did not increase as the number of pairings increased. The second experiment was identical to the first, except that key pecking had no scheduled consequence. Under these conditions, all three subjects showed substantial responding. The recorded measures showed no systematic relationship to feeder duration in this study. In the third experiment, two different stimuli were followed by feeder presentations of either identical (2- or 8-second) or different (2- and 8-second) durations within each session. Subjects tended to respond sooner and with a higher overall rate in the presence of the stimulus associated with the longer feeder duration only when different feeder durations were presented within the same session. This result was confirmed by direct observation of the pigeons. The results of these experiments suggest that the effects of varying grain duration may be small, compared to the effects of varying other variables. The results also suggest that the location as well as the frequency of pecking may be an important measure in the analysis of factors controlling the pigeon's key peck.

Journal Article↗

Effects of reinforcing preselected approximations on the topography of the rat's bar press.

The effects of different shaping approximations on the topography of the rat's bar press were investigated in two experiments. Behavior was classified into discrete components, and changes in components and their sequential organization were analyzed. Experiment 1 examined response form early in training and found that specific components reinforced during shaping were incorporated into press sequences. Experiment 2 investigated how response form changed when a shaping contingency was relaxed later in training. Two topographies were selected for reinforcement, and both appeared in the press sequences of all subjects by the end of shaping. Subsequently, all variations of bar pressing were reinforced, and neither topography was necessary to satisfy the contingency. Although the frequency of the topographies reinforced during shaping declined for 3 of 4 subjects during this phase, the most frequent press sequence for 2 rats at the end of training included both unnecessary topographies. Variability in press topographies declined when all emitted variants were reinforced. However, all subjects emitted novel response forms throughout training. The results demonstrate that specific response-reinforcer contingencies influence response form by modulating component availability and organization.

Journal Article↗