Antioxidants, but not B-group vitamins increase the resistance of low-density lipoprotein to oxidation:a randomized, factorial design, placebo-controlled trial

We have conducted an intervention trial to assess the effects of antioxidants and B-group vitamins on the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation. A total of 509 men aged 30-49 from a local workforce were screened for total plasma homocysteine. The 132 selected (homocysteine concentration > or = 8.34 mumol/l) men were randomly assigned, using a factorial design, to one of four groups receiving supplementation with B group vitamins alone (1 mg folic acid, 7.2 mg pyridoxine, 0.02 mg cyanocobalamin), antioxidant vitamins (150 mg ascorbic acid, 67 mg alpha-tocopherol, 9 mg beta-carotene), B vitamins with antioxidant vitamins, or placebo. Intervention was double-blind. A total of 101 men completed the 8-week study. The lag time of LDL isolated ex vivo to oxidation (induced by 2 mumol/l cupric chloride) was increased in the two groups receiving antioxidants whether with (6.88 +/- 1.65 min) or without (8.51 +/- 1.77 min) B-vitamins, compared with placebo (-2.03 +/- 1.50) or B-vitamins alone (-3.34 +/- 1.08) (Mean +/- S.E., P <0.001). Antibodies to malondialdehyde (MDA) modified LDL were also measured, but there were no significant changes in titers of these antibodies in any group of subjects whether receiving antioxidants or not. Contrast analysis showed that there was no interaction between antioxidants and B-group vitamins. This study indicates that while B-group vitamins lower plasma homocysteine they do not have an antioxidant effect. Thus B-group vitamins and antioxidants appear to have separate, independent effects in reducing cardiovascular risk.

Effect of B-group vitamins and antioxidant vitamins on hyperhomocysteinemia:a double-blind, randomized, factorial-design, controlled trial

Mild hyperhomocysteinemia is accepted as a risk factor for premature cardiovascular disease. In a population with a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease, we screened a group of clinically healthy working men aged 30-49 y (n = 509) for plasma homocysteine and 5,10-methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genotype status. Those with mildly elevated homocysteine concentrations (> or = 8.34 micromol/L) were selected for intervention. In a randomized, factorial-design, controlled trial we assessed the effects of B-group vitamins and antioxidant vitamin supplementation on homocysteine concentrations. The 132 men were randomly assigned to one of four groups: supplementation with B-group vitamins alone (1 mg folic acid, 7.2 mg pyridoxine, and 0.02 mg cyanocobalamin), antioxidant vitamins alone (150 mg ascorbic acid, 67 mg RRR-alpha-tocopherol, and 9 mg beta-carotene), B-group vitamins with antioxidant vitamins, or placebo. Intervention was double-blind. A total of 101 men completed the 8-wk intervention. When homocysteine concentrations were analyzed by group, significant (P <0.001) decreases (32.0% and 30.0%, respectively) were observed in both groups receiving B-group vitamins either with or without antioxidants. The effect of B-group vitamins alone over 8 wk was a reduction in homocysteine concentrations of 27.9% (95% CI: 22.0%, 33.3%; P <0.001) whereas antioxidants alone produced a nonsignificant increase of 5.1% (95% CI: -2.8%, 13.6%; P = 0.21). There was no evidence of any interaction between the two groups of vitamins. The effect of B-group vitamin supplementation seemed to depend on MTHFR genotype. Supplementation with the B-group vitamins with or without antioxidants reduced homocysteine in the men with mildly elevated concentrations, and hence may be effective in reducing cardiovascular risk.

Perceptions of Gender Group Variability in Majority and Minority Contexts Two Field Studies with Nurses and Police Officers

Two field studies demonstrated that majority and minority size moderate perceived group variability. In Study 1 we found an outgroup homogeneity (OH) effect for female nurses in the majority, but an ingroup homogeneity (IH) effect for a token minority of male nurses. In Study 2 we found similar effects in a different setting - an OH effect for policemen in the majority and an IH effect for policewomen in the minority. Although measures of visibility, status, and, especially, familiarity tended to show the same pattern as perceived variability, there was no evidence that they mediated perceived dispersion. Results are discussed in terms of group size, rather than gender, being moderators of perceived variability, and with reference to Kanter's (1977a, 1977b) theory of group proportions.

Psycho-educational group intervention for family caregivers of hospitalized palliative care patients:pilot study

Family caregivers of patients requiring palliative care commonly experience physical, social, and psychological burdens. Although family caregivers are acknowledged as valid service recipients of palliative care, many have unmet needs, and systematic reviews have shown there are limited evidence-based supportive interventions.

Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and serum concentration in Alzheimer's disease in nine European centres:the ApoEurope study. ApoEurope group

As part of the ApoEurope Project, apolipoprotein E (apo E) common polymorphism and serum concentration were determined in 489 Alzheimer's disease patients and 429 controls. Patients and controls were recruited through nine centres in eight European countries. Age, sex ratios and education levels of both case and control populations were similar, although discrete differences appeared between centres. The prevalence of the epsilon4 allele was higher in Alzheimer's disease than in controls (increased by 140%), while serum apo E concentration was lower by 11.2% (p

Frequency and distribution of group I intron genotypes of Candida albicans colonising critically ill patients

A study is performed to examine the distribution and frequency of 25S rRNA intron genotypes of Candida albicans isolated from different anatomical sites of patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) setting. Germ-tube positive Candida isolates (n=65) from 65 patients are included and isolates are characterised by 25S intron genotyping, whereby all can be subdivided into four genotypes (A-D). Results demonstrated that there were no significant differences between the frequency and genotype distribution of the Candida isolates and the anatomical site of colonisation. Furthermore, analysis of the transposable intron region in the 25S rRNA gene demonstrated equal distribution, regardless of age and anatomical site of isolation (groin, throat, etc.). Therefore, there does not appear to be any selective pressure associated with any anatomical site, resulting in an ecological shift in the frequency of genotypes present. This suggests that C. albicans intron genotypes equally colonise those sites of the body examined in this study. Although such an ecological finding as this is interesting, it perpetuates the continued need to find a genotypic typing scheme that helps to identify the source (nosocomial or endogenous) and mode of entry of C. albicans into patients in the ICU setting, resulting in C. albicans bloodstream infection.

Economic vulnerability, multidimensional deprivation and social cohesion in an enlarged European community

In this article we have sought to combine regional and social exclusion perspectives on economic exclusion in the enlarged European Community. Our analysis, based on the European Quality of Life Survey, confirms that while the economically vulnerable, identified through latent class analysis, constitute substantially larger groups in the poorer economic clusters, they are much more sharply differentiated from others in the richer clusters. While the economically vulnerable are also disadvantaged in relation to measures of multidimensional deprivation and social cohesion, between economic clusters differences on these dimensions cannot be accounted for by corresponding variations in levels and intensity of economic vulnerability. In fact, the impact of such vulnerability on social cohesion is greater in the more affluent clusters. Copyright © 2005 SAGE Publications.

Protecting group and switchable pore-discriminating adsorption properties of a hydrophilic-hydrophobic metal-organic framework

Formed by linking metals or metal clusters through organic linkers, metal-organic frameworks are a class of solids with structural and chemical properties that mark them out as candidates for many emerging gas storage, separation, catalysis and biomedical applications. Important features of these materials include their high porosity and their flexibility in response to chemical or physical stimuli. Here, a copper-based metal-organic framework has been prepared in which the starting linker (benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid) undergoes selective monoesterification during synthesis to produce a solid with two different channel systems, lined by hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces, respectively. The material reacts differently to gases or vapours of dissimilar chemistry, some stimulating subtle framework flexibility or showing kinetic adsorption effects. Adsorption can be switched between the two channels by judicious choice of the conditions. The monoesterified linker is recoverable in quantitative yield, demonstrating possible uses of metal-organic frameworks in molecular synthetic chemistry as 'protecting groups' to accomplish selective transformations that are difficult using standard chemistry techniques.

Group Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy with Former Child Soldiers and other War-affected Boys in the DR Congo: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Background: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been home to the world’s deadliest con?ict since World War II and is reported to have the largest number of child soldiers in the world. Despite evidence of the debilitating impact of war, no group-based mental health or psychosocial intervention has been evaluated in a randomised controlled trial for psychologically distressed former child soldiers.

Method: A randomised controlled trial involving 50 boys, aged 13–17, including former child soldiers (n = 39) and other war-affected boys (n = 11). They were randomly assigned to an intervention group, or wait-list control group. The intervention group received a 15-session, group-based, culturally adapted Trauma-Focused Cognitive–Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) intervention. Assessment interviews were completed at baseline, postintervention and 3-month follow-up (intervention group).

Results: Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) demonstrated that, in comparison to the wait-list control group, the TF-CBT intervention group had highly signi?cant reductions in posttraumatic stress symptoms, overall psychosocial distress, depression or anxiety-like symptoms, conduct problems and a signi?cant increase in prosocial behaviour (p < .001 for all). Effect sizes were higher when former child soldier scores were separated for sub-analysis. Three-month follow-up of the intervention group found that treatment gains were maintained.

Conclusions: A culturally modi?ed, group-based TF-CBT intervention was effective in reducing posttraumatic stress and psychosocial distress in former child soldiers and other war-affected boys.

ALCOHOL-RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITUDES IN PEOPLE WITH A MILD LEARNING-DISABILITY - THE EFFECTS OF A SENSIBLE DRINKING GROUP

Alcohol-related knowledge and attitudes in people with a mild learning disability, who were either living, or being prepared to live, in relatively independent conditions in the community, were assessed through a structured interview format. Compared with non-learning-disabled teenagers, adults and a hospitalized patient sample, alcohol-related knowledge in the people with a learning disability was found to be significantly poorer, alcohol was reported as having particularly negative effects and susceptibility to social pressure to drink alcohol was greater. A 'sensible drinking' group, taking a social skills and influences approach to alcohol education, was conducted with a subgroup of the individuals with a learning disability. The group format and methods, including in vivo sessions in a public house, are described. Follow-up evaluations suggested some significant positive changes in knowledge, attitudes and sensible drinking skills. It is concluded that this population, which is increasingly living, or being moved into, independent conditions in the community, is at least as vulnerable to social influences on alcohol use and abuse as are young people. As with young people, the usefulness of making available such alcohol-education programmes as described in this study, is discussed.