Biological research for nursing最新文献

Use of wearables, which can be considered as devices worn on the body that capture dimensions of health, are common in research. Wearables are useful as they can be employed in a number of environments for a variety of populations and can record over short or long time periods. Recent advancements in technology have significantly improved the accuracy of sensors and the algorithms used to interpret their data. Commercial wearables, such as fitness trackers, smartwatches, and smart rings have seen parallel advancements. Perhaps the most common application of wearables in research is for the assessment of sleep and rest-activity rhythms as most wearables include accelerometers, a sensor commonly used to infer sleep and activity from movement patterns. Commercial wearables are appealing for use in research due to their widespread use in the general population, real-time data syncing capabilities, affordability, and their user-friendly, consumer-oriented design and interfaces. There are, however, several important factors to consider when selecting a commercial wearable for use in research. These include device specifications (durability, price, unique features, etc.), data accessibility, and participant factors. Keeping these considerations in mind can assist in the collection of high-quality data that can ultimately be used to improve population outcomes. The purpose of this methodological review is to describe considerations for the use of commercially available wearables in research for the purposes of assessing sleep and rest-activity patterns.

Objective: Frailty and chronic pain are closely related, but the causal relationship between them needs to be further explored with high-level evidence. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to analyse the bidirectional causal relationship between nine chronic pain disorders and two frailty indicators in this study. Methods: We used Causal Analysis Using Summary Effect Estimates (CAUSE) as the primary method of analysis. The inverse-variance-weighted, simple model, weighted model, penalized weighted median and MR‒Egger regression methods were used to evaluate the robustness of the results. Results: The frailty index (FI) was significantly associated with the number of chronic pain sites (multisite chronic pain, MCP, p_adjust < .001) and the risk of chronic widespread pain (CWP, p_adjust < .001). The Fried frailty score (FFS) was significantly associated with MCP (p_adjust < .001), the risk of CWP (p_adjust < .001) and chronic back pain (p_adjust = .031). In the reverse analysis, both MCP and CWP were significantly positively associated with the FI (p_adjust < .001; p_adjust = .003) and FFS (p_adjust < .001; p_adjust = .009). Conclusions: This study revealed a bidirectional causal relationship between frailty and chronic pain, with the number of pain sites playing a key role. This finding has significant implications for effectively managing frailty and chronic pain in older adults.

Purpose: To examine four dimensions of sleep (timing, quality, quantity, and variability) and their association with adiposity outcomes in a community sample of school-age children with overweight and obesity. Design: A cross-sectional actigraphic study. Methods: 246 school-age children aged 6-9 years with overweight or obesity were recruited from 10 public elementary schools in Taipei, Taiwan. Children's sleep was objectively assessed over a 7-day period using a wrist actigraph. Adiposity outcomes, including BMI, BMI-for-age z-score, and percent body fat, were computed based on measured weight, height, and skinfold thickness following standardized procedures. Associations between sleep and child adiposity outcomes were examined using bivariate and multiple linear regression analyses. Results: In the bivariate analyses, later sleep onset time was correlated with greater percent body fat (p = .01); shorter daily sleep duration was correlated with higher BMI and percent body fat (both p < .05); greater variability in daily sleep duration was correlated with higher BMI, BMI-for-age z-score, and percent body fat (all p < .05). In multiple linear regression analyses, variability in daily sleep duration was the only sleep characteristic that showed a statistically significant association with percent body fat in children (b = 2.36; 95% CI: 0.28 to 4.43; p = .02). Conclusions: Overweight and obesity treatment interventions targeting child weight management should prioritize the assessment and promotion of children's sleep regularity. Future randomized controlled trials are needed to investigate the impact of maintaining a more consistent sleep pattern on measures of adiposity in school-age children with overweight and obesity.

Background: DNA methylation (DNAm) is an epigenetic process of addition or reduction of methyl groups to genes that modify gene expression and can alter the physiological response to psychological stress. DNAm associated with psychological stress is malleable, making it a prime target for psychobehavioral interventions. Research is beginning to examine changes in DNAm in response to psychobehavioral interventions, such as mindfulness-based stress reduction, cognitive behavioral therapy, and yoga. A better understanding of the current evidence may provide direction for future research. Objective: The purpose of this scoping review is to summarize current studies, identify knowledge gaps, and make recommendations for further research related to examining alterations in DNAm in response to psychobehavioral interventions. Methods: A scoping review was conducted based on the methods recommended by Arksey and O'Malley (2005). Studies examining response of blood or saliva DNAm to psychobehavioral interventions in adult humans were reviewed. Results: Twenty-one studies met the inclusion criteria. Although many studies were inadequately powered, several reported differences in DNAm in response to a psychobehavioral intervention across a variety of genes, including genes related to stress and inflammation. However, the studies varied with respect to participant health status, type and duration of psychobehavioral interventions evaluated, biospecimens examined, and method of DNA analysis. Conclusions: The evaluation of DNAm in response to psychobehavioral interventions is a growing area of research. Future research is needed to address design limitations of existing investigations, evaluate the biological importance of observations, and link the DNAm response to physiological and psychological outcomes of the interventions.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of eight weeks of aerobic exercise and spirulina supplementation on liver enzymes, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese women. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted involving 36 overweight and obese adult women (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 25 kg/m², aged 25-40 years) randomly assigned to four groups: placebo with aerobic exercise, spirulina with aerobic exercise, spirulina-only, and placebo-only. Interventions included aerobic training three times per week (40-50 minutes/session) and a twice-daily dose (each 500 mg) of Spirulina or placebo for eight weeks. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and post-intervention, including liver enzyme levels (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), body composition (BMI, body fat percentage, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR)), and VO_2max using validated protocols. Results: Significant within-group improvements in ALT, AST, body weight, BMI, WHR, and VO₂max were observed in the aerobic training and spirulina groups, either alone or combined (p < .001). The aerobic training + placebo group demonstrated the greatest reduction in body weight and BMI, while spirulina-alone showed significant ALT and AST reductions. VO_2max improved in all intervention groups, but post hoc analysis revealed no significant between-group differences. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise and spirulina supplementation independently and synergistically improve liver function, body composition, and cardiorespiratory fitness in overweight and obese women. Combining these interventions may offer a holistic approach to managing obesity-related health risks. Further research is essential to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize intervention strategies for diverse populations.

Background: Obesity is linked to impairments in motor control, cardiovascular fitness, and respiratory function. Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) aims to enhance core stability, diaphragmatic breathing, and neuromuscular coordination. This study investigated the effects of a 6-week DNS program on these functional outcomes in overweight and obese women. Methods: Thirty-six participants (aged 35-50 years, BMI: 25-34 kg/m²) were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (n = 18), which underwent DNS training, or a control group (n = 18), which received no intervention. The DNS program consisted of six weekly sessions (three supervised, three home-based), emphasizing core stabilization, diaphragmatic breathing, and neuromuscular coordination. Motor control (lumbar movement control tests), cardiovascular fitness (two-minute step test), and respiratory performance (breath-hold time, respiratory rate, and respiratory muscle strength) were assessed before and after the intervention. Results: The DNS group demonstrated significant improvements compared to the control group, with notable increases in motor control scores (p < .001) and cardiovascular fitness (p < .001). Additionally, inspiratory and expiratory breath-hold times (p < .001 for both), respiratory rate (p < .001), and maximum inspiratory and expiratory pressures (p < .001) showed substantial enhancements. No significant changes were observed in the control group. Conclusion: A 6-week DNS exercise program significantly improved motor control, cardiovascular fitness, and respiratory performance in overweight and obese women. These findings support DNS training as an effective intervention for enhancing core stability, breathing efficiency, and neuromuscular coordination, with potential applications in rehabilitation and health promotion.

The preterm birth rate and the maternal mortality rate are 1.6 and 2.6 times higher for Black women than for White women, respectively, in the United States. This disproportionate difference in maternal health outcomes is a notable health inequity. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of perceived stress, and glucocorticoid receptors (GR) on histone acetylation (HAT) of the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) gene between non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White women in their second trimester of pregnancy. This study used a cross-sectional design to analyze secondary, deidentified data including peripheral blood monocyte cells, from a prior study. The study sample consisted of 32 non-Hispanic Black women and 73 non-Hispanic White women from the parent study. A four-step hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to analyze the influence of race, perceived stress, and GR on the HAT of the CRH gene. The hierarchical linear regression analysis found that race, perceived stress, and GR significantly predicted the HAT of the CRH. GR explained 41.33% of the variation in HAT CRH of the gene, and age plus race explained an additional 3.56% of the variation in HAT CRH of the gene. The findings of this study suggest that perceived stress and GR among young Black women were associated with higher levels of HAT of the CRH gene, which may contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preeclampsia and preterm birth. These findings highlight stress-related factors contributing to maternal morbidity, and the need for a comprehensive approach to improving prenatal healthcare.

Objective: Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) present a significant challenge in neurosurgical settings. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical impact of HAIs in a neurosurgery department. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 5474 patients hospitalized in a neurosurgery department (2019-2023). HAIs were diagnosed in 93 patients (2.7%), accounting for 147 infections. The final cohort included 273 patients: 93 with HAIs and 181 matched controls (age, sex, mortality). Demographic, clinical, and microbiological data were analyzed. Nutritional status was assessed using the Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS, 2002) and consciousness was assessed using the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). Infections were classified according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) criteria. Results: The most frequent HAIs were pneumonia (PN, 18.3%), bloodstream infections (BSI, 16.2%), and surgical site infections (SSI, 16.3%). Malnutrition (NRS ≥3) was significantly more common in infected patients (65.6% vs. 11%, p < .001). Patients with GCS ≤8 had higher rates of PN (44.7%) and urinary tract infections (UTI, 32.5%) (p = .004), while GCS 13-15 was linked to SSI (91.7%). HAIs occurred more frequently after emergency procedures (57.8% vs. 30%, p < .0001). Hospital stay was significantly longer in infected patients (40 vs. 5.4 days, p = .001). Klebsiella pneumoniae (15.1%) and Staphylococcus aureus (11.5%) were the most common. Age and sex were not significant risk factors. Conclusion: HAIs in neurosurgical patients are associated with malnutrition and procedural urgency. Targeted infection control, early nutrition support, and antimicrobial stewardship are essential to improving outcomes.

BackgroundComplete blood count (CBC) is a commonly used and cost-effective blood test in health screenings; however, its potential as a biomarker for early detection of chronic diseases remains underutilized. Previous studies have shown that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with systemic inflammation and is correlated with cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs). Unhealthy lifestyles can trigger inflammatory responses and contribute to the progression of CMDs. This study aimed to explore the association between NLR levels, cardiometabolic risks, and health-related behaviors.MethodsA community-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in collaboration with a local hospital as part of an annual health screening for rural adults. The study outcomes included CMDs, health-related behaviors, and NLR levels. A multivariable quantile regression model, adjusted for confounding factors, was used to identify factors associated with NLR levels.ResultsA total of 11,220 participants were enrolled. CMDs prevalence was 25.8%, with hypertension and diabetes being most common. Nearly half of participants reported insufficient exercise, low water intake, and inadequate oral hygiene. Higher NLR was significantly associated with CMDs (p for trend <0.001). Older age (p < .01) and living alone (p < .01) were linked to higher NLR, while adequate water intake (p < .05) and regular exercise (p < .01) were associated with lower NLR levels.ConclusionsRural adults demonstrated a high prevalence of CMDs and inadequate health-related behaviors, which were associated with elevated NLR levels. Implementing NLR-guided lifestyle modifications and tailored health promotion programs may serve as innovative strategies to mitigate the progression of CMDs.

In this study, we aimed to investigate if the pace of biological aging serves as a critical mediator in the relationship between chronic pain resilience and chronic low back pain intensity and disability. Two hundred seven community-dwelling non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and non-Hispanic White (NHW) adults completed the Pain Resilience Scale (PRS) and Graded Chronic Pain Scale (GCPS). Blood genomic DNA was sequenced using Illumina's MethylationEPIC, and the pace of biological aging estimated using the DunedinPACE (the Dunedin Pace of Aging Calculated from the Epigenome) algorithm. In bivariate correlations, DunedinPACE significantly correlated with pain intensity (r = 0.40), and disability (r = 0.39), at p < .05. Pain resilience negatively correlated with pain intensity (rs = -0.22), pain disability (rs = -0.30), and DunedinPACE (r = -0.11). After controlling for chronological age, sex, race, and BMI, mediation analyses revealed a significant indirect association of pain resilience on pain intensity through the pace of biological aging (β = -0.66 (SE); Boot 95% CI [-1.06, -0.25]). Similarly, DunedinPACE partially mediated the relationship between resilience and pain disability (β = -0.82; 95% CI, [-1.20 to -0.44]). We found that higher levels of resilience correlate with a slower pace of biological aging, which in turn correlates with better pain outcomes. The pace of biological aging emerged as an important potential target for future interventions studies for pain management.