Can occupational therapy intervention play a part in maintaining independence and quality of life in older people? A randomised controlled trial Jeannine Liddle 1 , 2 , Lyn March 3 , Barbara Carfrae 4 , Terence Finnegan 5 , Jane Druce 6 , Jennifer Schwarz 7 Peter Brooks

The main objective of this study was to see if older people could maintain their quality of life and independence after their homes had been modified and they were using community services as recommended by an occupational therapist. There were 167 study participants aged 69 to 94 years from the Northern Sydney Area, After being assessed at home by an occupational therapist, 105 were randomly allocated to one of two groups, to either have or not have the occupational therapist's recommendations carried out, They were assessed again after six months, A third group did not require any intervention, This group was followed up by telephone and postal questionnaire at six months. The main outcome measures used were the Sickness Impact Profile, the Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale, the Life Satisfaction Index, assessment of Activities of Daily Living, the Health Assessment Questionnaire and change in residence. After six months there were no difference in outcomes among the three groups. Most study participants remained at a satisfactory level on each measure. Three people had died, One had moved to hostel care and one had moved to a nursing home. A further 14 from the group having no intervention had withdrawn from the study, A secondary objective of this study was to indicate the responsiveness of these outcome measures to change in the short term (over six months) in an elderly population. Twelve-month assessments are in progress and may indicate what to expect from these outcome measures in the medium term.

On the extent of genetic variation for transpiration efficiency in sorghum

A glasshouse study examined 49 diverse sorghum lines for variation in transpiration efficiency. Three of the 49 lines grown were Sorghum spp, native to Australia; one was the major weed Johnson grass (Sorghum halepense), and the remaining 45 lines were cultivars of Sorghum bicolor. All plants were grown under non-limiting water and nutrient conditions using a semi-automatic pot watering system designed to facilitate accurate measurement of water use. Plants were harvested 56-58 days after sowing and dry weights of plant parts were determined. Transpiration efficiency differed significantly among cultivars. The 3 Australian native sorghums had much lower transpiration efficiency than the other 46 cultivars, which ranged from 7.7 to 6.0 g/kg. For the 46 diverse cultivars, the ratio of range in transpiration efficiency to its l.s.d. was 2.0, which was similar to that found among more adapted cultivars in a previous study. This is a significant finding as it suggests that there is likely to be little pay-off from pursuing screening of unadapted material for increased variation in transpiration efficiency. It is necessary, however, also to examine absolute levels of transpiration efficiency to determine whether increased levels have been found. The cultivar with greatest transpiration efficiency in this study (IS9710) had a value 9% greater (P < 0.05) than the accepted standard for adapted sorghum cultivars. The potential impact of such an increase in transpiration efficiency warrants continued effort to capture it. Transpiration efficiency has been related theoretically and experimentally to the degree of carbon isotope discrimination in leaf tissue in sorghum, which thus offers a relatively simple selection index. In this study, the variation in transpiration efficiency was not related simply to carbon isotope discrimination. Significant associations of transpiration efficiency with ash content and indices of photosynthetic capacity were found. However, the associations were not strong. These results suggest that a simple screening technique could not be based on any of the measures or indices analysed in this study. A better understanding of the physiological basis of the observed genetic differences in transpiration efficiency may assist in developing reliable selection indices. It was concluded that the potential value of the improvement in transpiration efficiency over the accepted standard and the degree of genetic variation found warrant further study on this subject. It was suggested that screening for genetic variation under water-limiting conditions may provide useful insights and should be pursued.

Global Analysis of Protein Palmitoylation in African Trypanosomes

Many eukaryotic proteins are posttranslationally modified by the esterification of cysteine thiols to long-chain fatty acids. This modification, protein palmitoylation, is catalyzed by a large family of palmitoyl acyltransferases that share an Asp-His-His-Cys Cys-rich domain but differ in their subcellular localizations and substrate specificities. In Trypanosoma brucei, the flagellated protozoan parasite that causes African sleeping sickness, protein palmitoylation has been observed for a few proteins, but the extent and consequences of this modification are largely unknown. We undertook the present study to investigate T. brucei protein palmitoylation at both the enzyme and substrate levels. Treatment of parasites with an inhibitor of total protein palmitoylation caused potent growth inhibition, yet there was no effect on growth by the separate, selective inhibition of each of the 12 individual T. brucei palmitoyl acyltransferases. This suggested either that T. brucei evolved functional redundancy for the palmitoylation of essential palmitoyl proteins or that palmitoylation of some proteins is catalyzed by a noncanonical transferase. To identify the palmitoylated proteins in T. brucei, we performed acyl biotin exchange chemistry on parasite lysates, followed by streptavidin chromatography, two-dimensional liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry protein identification, and QSpec statistical analysis. A total of 124 palmitoylated proteins were identified, with an estimated false discovery rate of 1.0%. This palmitoyl proteome includes all of the known palmitoyl proteins in procyclic-stage T. brucei as well as several proteins whose homologues are palmitoylated in other organisms. Their sequences demonstrate the variety of substrate motifs that support palmitoylation, and their identities illustrate the range of cellular processes affected by palmitoylation in these important pathogens.

The Association Between Physical Activity, Productivity, and Health Care Utilization Among Employees in Brazil

Objective: To document the relationship between physical activity, absenteeism, presenteeism, health care utilization, and morbidity among Brazilian automotive workers. Methods: Eligible employees (N = 620) completed a questionnaire. Univariate correlations, multivariate logistic regression, and Pearson`s product-moment correlation coefficient were used. Results: Work absenteeism was associated with physical activity at work (OPA) (odds ratio, [OR] = 1.63, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31 to 2.02) and leisure physical activity time excluding sport (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.58 to 1.00). Health care utilization was associated with OPA (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.99 to 1.58) and leisure physical activity time excluding sport (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.57 to 1.02). Presenteeism showed an indirect relationship with OPA (r = 0.099, P = 0.014). Referred morbidity was associated with OPA (OR = 1.3, 95% CI = 1.06 to 1.61) and sports during leisure time (OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.54 to 0.82). Conclusions: Physical activity components seem to have differential relationships to the studied outcomes. Associations measured indicate negative impacts of OPA on absenteeism, health care utilization, and morbidity, although overall physical activity did not show these relationships.

Sensitisation to aeroallergens in Brazilian adolescents living at the periphery of large subtropical urban centres

Objectives: To evaluate the sensitization to aeroallergens determined by skin prick test (SPT) in Brazilian adolescents, and to correlate its positivity with the diagnosis of asthma and/or rhinitis based on the written questionnaire (WQ) of ISAAC phase III study. Patients and Methods: A total of 996 adolescents (387 boys) were selected by systematic samples. A standard allergen extracts panel (positive/negative control, D pteronyssinus [Dpt], P americana [Pal, B germanica [Bg], dog, cat, fungal and grass mix) was used and its positivity compared with positive responses to asthma, rhinitis or both. Results: Positive SPT to at least one allergen was observed in 466 adolescents (46.8 %), with sensitisation to Dpt in 79.1 %. Positivity to more than one allergen occurred in 232 students (49.8 %). The frequency of positive SPTs was significantly higher among adolescents with asthma (OR = 2.16), rhinitis (OR = 1.69), and asthma and rhinitis (OR = 2.03). Positive SPT to four or more allergens were higher among asthmatics (OR = 2.6) and among adolescents with asthma and rhinitis (OR = 3). Conclusions: A high sensitisation rate to aeroallergens was observed, significantly higher among those with asthma, rhinitis or a combination of both, especially in multiple sensitisations.

Adrenalectomy enhances endotoxemia-induced hypophagia: higher activation of corticotrophin-releasing-factor and proopiomelanocortin hypothalamic neurons

Inflammatory and infectious processes evoke neuroendocrine and behavioral changes known as acute-phase response that includes activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and reduction of food intake. Besides its action as the most important ACTH secretagogue, corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF), synthesized in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN), is also involved in the control of food intake. Alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH) in the arcuate nucleus also plays a role in the energy homeostasis, possessing anorexigenic effects. To investigate the participation of neuropeptides involved in the regulation of food intake during endotoxemia, we administrated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in sham-operated and adrenalectomized (ADX) male Wistar rats to evaluate food intake, hormone responses and Fos-CRF and Fos-alpha-MSH immunoreactivity in the PVN and arcuate nucleus, as well as CRF and POW mRNA expression in these hypothalamic nuclei. In sham-operated rats, treatment with LPS (100 mu g/kg) showed lower food intake, higher plasma ACTH and corticosterone levels, as well as an increase in Fos-CRF double labeled neurons and CRF mRNA expression in the PVN, with no changes in Fos-alpha-MSH immunoreactivity and POW mRNA expression in the arcuate nucleus, compared to saline treated rats. After LPS treatment, ADX rats showed further increase in plasma ACTH levels, marked decrease of food intake, higher Fos-CRF immunoreactive neurons in the PVN and CRF mRNA expression, as well as an increase in Fos-alpha-MSH immunoreactivity and POW mRNA expression in the arcuate nucleus, compared to sham-operated rats treated with LPS. In conclusion, the present data indicate that the marked hypophagia during endotoxemia following ADX is associated with an increased activation of CRF and POW neurons in the hypothalamus and an increased mRNA expression of these neuropeptides. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Impact of specific sensitization on asthma and rhinitis in young Brazilian and Chilean adults

Background The pattern of associations and the attributable fractions (AF) of atopic conditions due to specific sensitizations vary between countries. Objective To assess the level of associations and AF between sensitization to five allergens and atopic conditions in two settings. Methods We studied 2063 Brazilians and 1231 Chileans of both sexes using representative samples selected at birth in the 1970s. Information on asthma and rhinitis was based on the European Community Respiratory Health Survey questionnaire. We assessed bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) to methacholine and sensitization to Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, cat, dog, grass blend and Alternaria alternata. Results The prevalence of sensitization to one or more allergens was 50% in Brazilians and 22% in Chileans. The level of associations varied according to the outcome used. Strong associations between sensitization and asthma, defined as wheeze or awakening with breathlessness at night and positive BHR, were found for each of the five allergens in Chileans [varying from odds ratio (OR) 3.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.47, 7.15 for D. pteronyssinus to 8.44, 95% CI 3.82, 18.66 for cat], whereas the level of associations was restricted to D. pteronyssinus, cat and dog in Brazilians and was somewhat weaker (highest OR 3.90, 95% CI 2.80-5.44). The AF of sensitization on asthma was 54% in Brazil and 44% in Chile. D. pteronyssinus and cat made an independent contribution to asthma in the two samples. The patterns of associations between sensitization and rhino-conjunctivitis were similar to those for asthma. Conclusion The associations between sensitization, and asthma and rhinitis were high in Chile and moderately high in Brazil, but the AF were higher in Brazil, reflecting a higher prevalence of sensitization. In Brazil, dust mite had the greatest impact on atopic conditions while in Chile several allergens had an impact. Sensitization is as serious a problem in Chile and Brazil as in developed countries.

Influence of Photoperiod and Temperature on the Larval Behavioral Diapause of Amblyomma cajennense (Acari: Ixodidae)

Larval behavioral diapause was shown to be the major factor controlling the 1-yr generation pattern of Amblyomma cajennense (F.) (Acari: Ixodidae) in Brazil. During fieldwork, this behavior was shown to coincide with long daylength (>12 h) and high mean ground temperature (approximate to 25 degrees C), which prevail during spring-summer in Brazil. The current study evaluated biological parameters of engorged females, their eggs, and the resultant larvae inside plastic pots planted with the grass Brachiaria decumbens Stapf. held in incubators set with different combinations of temperature and photoperiod. Both the long daylength (photoperiod 14:10 [L:D]h) and high temperature (25 degrees C) during larval hatching induced larval behavioral diapause, characterized by the confinement of hatched larvae on the ground below the vegetation for many weeks. When long daylength was present during hatching, but temperature was low (15 degrees C), larvae did not enter diapause. Similarly, when short daylength (10:14 or 12:12) was present during larval hatching, larvae did not enter diapause regardless whether temperature was high (25 degrees C). Termination of diapause was induced by shifting photoperiod from 14:10 to 12:12 or the temperature from 25 to 15 degrees C. When applied to field conditions, the present results indicate that both high ground mean temperature (approximate to 25 degrees C) and long daylength (>12 h) during spring-summer (October-March) are responsible for the induction and maintenance of A. cajennense larval behavioral diapause in the field. Furthermore, both the low ground mean temperature (-20 degrees C) and the short daylength (<12h) during autumn (April-May) are responsible for termination of larval behavioral diapause in the field.

Prenatal lipopolysaccharide reduces motor activity after an immune challenge in adult male offspring

Prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure causes reproductive, behavioral and neurochemical injuries in both the mother and pups. Previous investigations by our group showed that prenatal LPS administration (100 mu g/kg, i.p.) on gestational day 9.5 impaired the male offspring`s social behavior in infancy and adulthood. In the present study, we investigated whether these social behavioral changes were associated with motor activity impairment. Male rat pups treated prenatally with LPS or not were tested for reflexological development and open field general activity during infancy. In adulthood, animals were tested for open field general activity, haloperidol-induced catalepsy and apomorphine-induced stereotypy; striatal dopamine levels and turnover were also measured. Moreover, LPS-treated or untreated control pups were challenged with LPS in adulthood and observed for general activity in the open field. In relation to the control group, the motor behavior of prenatally treated male pups was unaffected at basal levels, both in infancy and in adulthood, but decreased general activity was observed in adulthood after an immune challenge. Also, striatal dopamine and metabolite levels were decreased in adulthood. In conclusion, prenatal LPS exposure disrupted the dopaminergic system involved with motor function, but this neurochemical effect was not accompanied by behavioral impairment, probably due to adaptive plasticity processes. Notwithstanding, behavioral impairment was revealed when animals were challenged with LPS, resulting in enhanced sickness behavior. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Prenatal Lipopolysaccharide Reduces Social Behavior in Male Offspring

Objective: This study investigated the relationship between maternal sickness behavior during pregnancy and offspring development and behavior. Methods: Pregnant Wistar rats were administered with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 100 mu g/kg, i.p.) on gestation day (GD) 9.5. Dams` sickness behavior was analyzed, and at birth, offspring number and weight were evaluated. Male offspring was evaluated through physical development, play behavior, adult social interaction, plus maze studies and morphological analysis of the brain. Results: Results, with respect to the control group, showed that: (1) LPS decreased general activity, food intake, and weight gain in dams, but no pyrexia was observed following treatment; (2) LPS reduced litter size, but no alterations in physical development were observed; (3) LPS reduced play behavior parameters in baby rats; (4) LPS decreased adult social interaction; (5) no alterations were observed between groups on plus maze studies; (6) no differences were observed between groups on morphological analyses of the brain. Conclusion: These data reveal that LPS administered on GD 9.5 impaired male offspring`s social behavior in infancy and adulthood. These results may be related to an alteration in motivational states or/and increased anxiety. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel

Prenatal Lipopolysaccharide Exposure Affects Maternal Behavior and Male Offspring Sexual Behavior in Adulthood

Objective: This study investigates the effects of prenatal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure on the maternal behavior of pregnant rats and the physical development and sexual behavior of their male offspring in adulthood. Methods: For two experiments, pregnant rats were injected with LPS (250 mu g/kg, i.p.) on gestation day (GD) 21. In the first experiment, the maternal behavior (postnatal day, PND, 6) and the dam`s open-field general activity (PND7) were evaluated. In the second experiment, the maternal pre- and postnatal parameters, the pup`s development, the offspring`s sexual behavior in adulthood, and the pup`s organ weights were assessed. Results: Compared to the control group, the LPS-treated dams presented reduced maternal behavior, decreased general activity, a smaller body weight difference between GD21 and PND1, a greater number of perinatal deaths, and smaller litters. For the male pups, LPS treatment resulted in a decreased body weight on PND2, whereas the anogenital distance and the day of testis descent were not modified. The male sexual behavior was impaired by prenatal LPS. Particularly the number of ejaculating animals was reduced. The testis weight was also lower in the prenatally LPS-treated rats than in the control rats. Conclusion: We propose that prenatal LPS exposure on GD21 acts as an imprinting factor that interferes with the programming of brain sexual determination in offspring. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel

Behavioral effects of LPS in adult, middle-aged and aged mice

Acute infections lead to alterations in behavior, collectively known as sickness behavior. which includes reduction in locomotion, food ingestion, sexual and social behavior, environmental exploration, and sleep profile. Although generally seen as undesired, sickness behavior represents a conserved strategy for animals to overcome disease. Aging process is associated with a variety of changes in immunity, which are referred to as immunosenescence, and include higher mortality by infectious diseases. Few works studied sickness behavior display in old animals. Thus, we sought to investigate the display of sickness related behaviors on aged mice. Adult(3-6 months old), middle-aged (12-15 m) and aged mice (18-22 m)were treated with i.p. LPS (200 mu g/kg) and their behaviors were assessed in the open field and in the elevated plus-maze. Exploratory activity was similar in aged mice treated or not with LPS in both apparati. In the open field, locomotion remained at baseline levels; in the elevated plus-maze, there was a time-dependent decrease in motor activity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Behavior: A Relevant Tool for Brain-immune System Interaction Studies

Neuroimmunomodulation describes the field focused on understanding the mechanisms by which the central nervous system interacts with the immune system, potentially leading to changes in animal behavior. Nonetheless, not many articles dealing with neuroimmunomodulation employ behavior as an analytical endpoint. Even fewer papers deal with social status as a possible modifier of neuroimmune phenomena. In the described sets of experiments, we tackle both, using a paradigm of social dominance and subordination. We first review data on the effects of different ranks within a stable hierarchical relationship. Submissive mice in this condition display more anxiety-like behaviors, have decreased innate immunity, and show a decreased resistance to implantation and development of melanoma metastases in their lungs. This suggests that even in a stable, social, hierarchical rank, submissive animals may be subjected to higher levels of stress, with putative biological relevance to host susceptibility to disease. Second, we review data on how dominant and submissive mice respond differentially to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), employing a motivational perspective to sickness behavior. Dominant animals display decreased number and frequency in several aspects of behavior, particularly agonistic social interaction, that is, directed toward the submissive cage mate. This was not observed in submissive mice that maintained the required behavior expected by its dominant mate. Expression of sickness behavior relies on motivational reorganization of priorities, which are different along different social ranks, leading to diverse outcomes. We suggest that in vitro assessment of neuroimmune phenomena can only be understood based on the behavioral context in which they occur.

PAHs, PCDD/Fs, PCBs and HCB in leaves from Brisbane, Australia

The concentrations of SOCs in leaves of an evergreen Australian native tree (Melaleuca leucadendra) and grass collected in Brisbane, Australia were determined. The concentrations of PCDD/Fs and PAHs in the leaf tissue were comparable to those reported for urbanised areas in other industrialised countries. A distinct difference in the compound profiles between the leaves of the two species was observed, with higher concentrations of the lower molecular mass PAHs and PCDD/Fs and lower concentrations of the higher molecular mass PAHs and PCDD/Fs in the Melaleuca leaves relative to the grass leaves. The interspecies differences are explained on the basis of the larger size of the lipophilic compartment (for compounds with low K-OA) and the lower ratio of surface area to volume in the Melaleuca leaves. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.