Topic Review
Active and Assisted Living
Over the last decade, there has been considerable and increasing interest in the development of Active and Assisted Living (AAL) systems to support independent living. The demographic change towards an aging population has introduced new challenges to today’s society from both an economic and societal standpoint. AAL can provide an array of solutions for improving the quality of life of individuals, for allowing people to live healthier and independently for longer, for helping people with disabilities, and for supporting caregivers and medical staff. 
  • 1.8K
  • 19 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have more than one double bond between carbon atoms. Omega(ω) indicates the location of the first carbon double bond, counting from the" end "of the molecule (from the methyl group). Therefore, ω-3 fatty acids have a first double bond on the third last carbon. Those from the ω -6 family at the sixth carbon from the bottom. A of the ω -9 family at the ninth carbon atom from the terminal methyl group to the first C = C bond. The designations n – 3, n – 6, n – 9 are also used. The human body is unable to introduce the double bond further than at the ninth carbon.PUFAs can be synthesized in mammals and supplied with the diet, with the exception of α-linolenic (ALA) and linoleic (LA) acids, which must be systematically supplied with food. Therefore, they are referred to as Essential Unsaturated Fatty Acids or Exogenous Unsaturated Fatty Acids. LA and ALA acids are transformed into a family of unsaturated ω-3 and ω-6 acids as a result of elongation and desaturation processes. The following acids are obtained from ALA: stearidine (18: 4, ω – 3), eicosatetraenoic (20: 4, ω – 3), eicosapentaenoic (20: 5, ω – 3) and docosahexaenoic (22: 6, ω – 3). On the other hand, the family of ω-6 acids (LA) is formed, starting from gamma-linolenic acid (18: 3, ω-6), through dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (18: 3, ω-6), arachidonic acid (20: 4 ω – 6) and docosatetraenoic (22: 4 ω – 6), to docosapentaenoic acid (22: 5, ω – 6).In everyday diets, it is advisable to include sources of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which include vegetable oils (linseed oil, avocado, olive and rapeseed oil), fatty sea fish (herring, salmon, mackerel, halibut) and nuts. In the case of oils, attention should be paid whether they have too much ω-6 in relation to ω-3, because then the harmful pro-aggregating and pro-inflammatory effect may outweigh the anti-aggregation and anti-inflammatory effect. 
  • 1.8K
  • 15 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Massage Therapy for Post-Stroke
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term adult disability. The individuals that have suffered from a stroke present various upper motor neuron syndrome, signs and symptoms, including weakness, spasticity, lack of coordination and agonist antagonist co-contraction, with up to 50% of survivors being chronically disabled. They involve together in impairments and functional problems that can lead to costly complications. Physical therapy may contribute to the improvement of disabilities and quality of life in these individuals.
  • 1.8K
  • 30 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Sex Education
Sexual education can be defined as any combination of learning experiences aimed at facilitating voluntary behavior conducive to sexual health. Sex education during adolescence has centered on the delivery of content (abstinence-only vs. comprehensive instruction) by teachers, parents, health professionals or community educators, and on the context (within school and beyond) of such deliver.
  • 1.8K
  • 31 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Quantum Dot-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay
Point-of-care testing (POCT) technology has exhibited an outstanding capability for the detection of several disease biomarkers owing to the fact that such techniques are fast, easy to perform, efficient, and low cost. The lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) is one such strategy for POCT. LFIA is a well-established platform and a potent assay for fast and inexpensive testing, as this technology is instrumentation independent and allows the visualisation of test results by the naked eye. In order to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of the LFIAs, as well as to allow the quantitation of results, fluorescence immunochromatographic assays have been developed by utilising fluorescent reporters. Fluorescence immunochromatographic assays have advantages over conventional approaches in regard to sensitivity as it produces a higher intensity band on the test and control lines. One such promising fluorescent reporter is quantum dots (QDs). QDs are tiny semiconducting nanocrystals with diameters ranging from 2 to 10 nanometers. QDs have unique electronic characteristics that are intermediate between those of bulk semiconductors and discrete molecules, which is due in part to their high surface-to-volume ratios. The most visible result is fluorescence, in which the nanocrystals emit distinct colours determined by particle size.
  • 1.8K
  • 19 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Ionizing Radiation
The development of protective agents against harmful radiations has been a subject of investigation for decades. However, effective (ideal) radioprotectors and radiomitigators remain an unsolved problem. Because ionizing radiation-induced cellular damage is primarily attributed to free radicals, radical scavengers are promising as potential radioprotectors. Early development of such agents focused on thiol synthetic compounds, e.g., amifostine (2-(3-aminopropylamino) ethylsulfanylphosphonic acid), approved as a radioprotector by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, USA) but for limited clinical indications and not for nonclinical uses. To date, no new chemical entity has been approved by the FDA as a radiation countermeasure for acute radiation syndrome (ARS). All FDA-approved radiation countermeasures (filgrastim, a recombinant DNA form of the naturally occurring granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, G-CSF; pegfilgrastim, a PEGylated form of the recombinant human G-CSF; sargramostim, a recombinant granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, GM-CSF) are classified as radiomitigators. No radioprotector that can be administered prior to exposure has been approved for ARS. This differentiates radioprotectors (reduce direct damage caused by radiation) and radiomitigators (minimize toxicity even after radiation has been delivered). Molecules under development with the aim of reaching clinical practice and other nonclinical applications are discussed. Assays to evaluate the biological effects of ionizing radiations are also analyzed. Ionizing radiation is the energy released by atoms in the form of electromagnetic waves (e.g., X or gamma rays) or particle radiation (alpha, beta, electrons, protons, neutrons, mesons, prions, and heavy ions) with sufficient energy to ionize atoms or molecules.
  • 1.8K
  • 23 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Antioxidants for Patients with Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain. Pain is the predominant symptom; allodynia and hyperalgesia are also frequent. These patients also present severe fatigue, impaired cognition, and sleep disturbance, among others. In recent years, antioxidant supplements have become popular to counteract the effects of oxidative stress in fibromyalgia and one of its most distressing symptoms, pain. 
  • 1.8K
  • 12 May 2022
Topic Review
Addressing, Assessing and Improving Water Security
Water security is about managing too much, too little and/or too polluted water. Water security is about the increasing importance of sustainable management of water resources, drinking water and human well-being and protection of life and property from water-related disasters. Water security is about the health of ecosystems and economic development.  A groundwork of this broad and multi-faceted concept is presented to facilitate understanding, measuring and improving water security. 
  • 1.7K
  • 25 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Non-alcoholic Fraction of Beer
The present review focuses on the effects of non-alcoholic components of beer on abdominal fat, osteoporosis and body hydration in women, conditions selected for their relevance to health and aging. Although beer drinking is commonly believed to cause abdominal fat deposition, the available literature indicates this outcome is inconsistent in women. Additionally, the non-alcoholic beer fraction might improve bone health in postmenopausal women, and the effects of beer on body hydration, although still unconfirmed seem promising. Most of the health benefits of beer are due to its bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, which are the most studied. As alcohol-free beer also contains these compounds, it may well offer a healthy alternative to beer consumers.
  • 1.7K
  • 01 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Asynchronous Environment Assessment
The emergence and global spread of COVID-19 has disrupted the traditional mechanisms of education throughout the world. Institutions of learning were caught unprepared and this jeopardised the face-to-face method of curriculum delivery and assessment. Teaching institutions have shifted to an asynchronous mode whilst attempting to preserve the principles of integrity, equity, inclusiveness, fairness, ethics, and safety. A framework of assessment that enables educators to utilise appropriate methods in measuring a student’s progress is crucial for the success of teaching and learning, especially in health education that demands high standards and comprises consistent scientific content. 
  • 1.7K
  • 30 Sep 2021
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