Subjective quality of life of people with MS and their partners

The findings of this thesis supported a model proposed to explain the influence of psychological factors on subjective quality of life. In comparison with their partners, and with a control group, people with MS reported a lowered subjective quality of life and self-esteem, an increased need for social support, and maladaptive use of control. Recommendations for interventions were made based on these findings.

Volunteering and quality of life of the older age population

The contribution of volunteers to society and economy is substantial. The participation in voluntary work is on the increase, particularly by the over 55 age group. Given the aging of the Australian population, this growth has an important social consequence. The aim of this conceptual study is to review the influences of older age Australian volunteering practice, its growth pattern and the types of voluntary work undertaken. The study uses the expectancy theory of motivation to argue that volunteers participate for the perceived benefits they get from their interaction with others, by experiencing self-esteem from being useful, being connected, gaining self-satisfaction, and by focusing on giving. It reviews the issue of quality of life (QOL) in relation to voluntary social engagement and suggests that there is an association between the older age group voluntarism and improvement in their QOL. The role of policy makers in further motivating larger participation by the older age groups and the social benefits emerging from this strategy is briefly reviewed.

The health-related quality of life of overweight and obese adolescents - a study measuring body mass index and adolescent-reported perceptions

Objective. To determine whether the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of overweight and obese adolescents is significantly lower than that of their healthy weight counterparts, and if so, whether any demographic trends exist and the relative contribution of each HRQOL dimension.

Methods. Cross-sectional analysis of 2,890 students participating in the Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities Project, Australia. HRQOL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) adolescent module. Adolescent height and weight were measured by trained field workers and weight categories assigned according to the International Obesity Task Force BMI cut-off points for adolescents. Multivariate linear regression analyses were undertaken to estimate the mean differences in HRQOL scores between (i) overweight and healthy weight, and (ii) obese and healthy weight adolescents, whilst adjusting for gender, age and socioeconomic status quartile.

Results. The sample had a mean age of 14.6 years (range 11–18), 56.2% boys, 20.2% overweight and 6.3% obese. Higher weight status categories were associated with lower HRQOL scores (mean PedsQL scores: healthy weight: 79.1, overweight: 77.7 and obese: 73.7). Relative to the healthy weight group, and after adjustments, overweight and obese adolescents reported 1.44 (p = 0.005) and 5.55 (p < 0.001) lower HRQOL summary scores, respectively. Overweight adolescents reported significantly lower scores in physical and social functioning, whilst obese adolescents reported significantly lower scores in the same dimensions plus emotional functioning. Girls and younger (< 15 years) adolescents reported greater mean negative HRQOL differences associated with excess weight.

Conclusions. Overweight and obesity in adolescents are associated with significantly lower HRQOL scores.

Utility-based quality of life of overweight and obese adolescents

Objective : To explore the relationship between overweight/obesity and utility in adolescents.

Methods : Data were collected from 2890 adolescents attending 13 secondary schools in the state of Victoria, Australia. The Assessment of Quality of Life 6-Dimension (AQoL-6D) questionnaire was used to measure individual utility. Adolescent's height and weight were measured and weight status categories assigned according to the World Health Organization adolescent growth standards. Multivariate linear regression analyses were undertaken for the whole population and subpopulations of boys and girls to estimate the mean differences in utility scores between 1) overweight and healthy weight and 2) obese and healthy weight adolescents, while controlling for demographic and socioeconomic status variables.

Results : The mean age of adolescents was 14.6 years, 56.2% were boys, 22.2% were overweight, and 9.4% were obese. The mean utility of healthy weight adolescents was 0.860. After adjustments, the overweight and obese groups reported significantly lower mean utility scores (differences: −0.018 and −0.059, respectively, relative to the healthy weight group). This can be interpreted as equivalent to a stated willingness to sacrifice 1.8% and 5.9% of a life in perfect health or 2.3% and 6.8% of a life at healthy weight. A significant utility difference associated with overweight was only experienced by girls (−0.039, P = 0.003). Both sexes experienced significant utility differences associated with obesity, but the magnitude was double for girls (−0.084, P < 0.001) relative to boys (−0.041, P = 0.022).

Conclusion : Utility is lower among overweight and more so among obese adolescents.

The long life of birds : the rat-pigeon comparison revisited

The most studied comparison of aging and maximum lifespan potential (MLSP) among endotherms involves the 7-fold longevity difference between rats (MLSP 5y) and pigeons (MLSP 35y). A widely accepted theory explaining MLSP differences between species is the oxidative stress theory, which purports that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during mitochondrial respiration damage bio-molecules and eventually lead to the breakdown of regulatory systems and consequent death. Previous rat-pigeon studies compared only aspects of the oxidative stress theory and most concluded that the lower mitochondrial superoxide production of pigeons compared to rats was responsible for their much greater longevity. This conclusion is based mainly on data from one tissue (the heart) using one mitochondrial substrate (succinate). Studies on heart mitochondria using pyruvate as a mitochondrial substrate gave contradictory results. We believe the conclusion that birds produce less mitochondrial superoxide than mammals is unwarranted. We have revisited the rat-pigeon comparison in the most comprehensive manner to date. We have measured superoxide production (by heart, skeletal muscle and liver mitochondria), five different antioxidants in plasma, three tissues and mitochondria, membrane fatty acid composition (in seven tissues and three mitochondria), and biomarkers of oxidative damage. The only substantial and consistent difference that we have observed between rats and pigeons is their membrane fatty acid composition, with rats having membranes that are more susceptible to damage. This suggests that, although there was no difference in superoxide production, there is likely a much greater production of lipid-based ROS in the rat. We conclude that the differences in superoxide production reported previously were due to the arbitrary selection of heart muscle to source mitochondria and the provision of succinate. Had mitochondria been harvested from other tissues or other relevant mitochondrial metabolic substrates been used, then very different conclusions regarding differences in oxidative stress would have been reached. ©