Memorial University of Newfoundland

About: Memorial University of Newfoundland is a education organization based out in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gadus. The organization has 13818 authors who have published 27785 publications receiving 743594 citations. The organization is also known as: Memorial University & Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Preparation of chitin and chitosan oligomers and their applications in physiological functional foods

Abstract: Chitin and chitosan are known to possess multiple functional properties. Chitin is insoluble in any common solvent containing organic or mineral acid as well as water. Chitosan is water-insoluble and highly viscous in dilute acidic solutions. These solubility problems may restrict their use in physiological functional foods. However, chitin and chitosan oligomers are not only water-soluble and their solutions have low viscosity values, but they may also be absorbed in the human intestine. They may have much physiological functionality in the in vivo systems. This review demonstrates that chitin and chitosan oligomers can be prepared by chemical and enzymatic hydrolyses and that the oligomers with high degrees of polymerization, especially those with six residues or more, show strong physiological activities.

Perception of impossible limb positions induced by tendon vibration.

Abstract: When the wrist flexor muscle is vibrated and the wrist is passively extended to a position close to its anatomical limit, the hand is felt to be bent to a position about 29 degrees beyond its maximum operating range. The mechanism of position sense must in this case be operating on the basis of extrapolation. Ambiguity of sensed position can occur in this situation. Some subjects, when opposing the vibration-induced contraction of bicepts, report experiencing multiple forearms.

Evaluation of a frailty index based on a comprehensive geriatric assessment in a population based study of elderly Canadians

Abstract: Background and aims: Objectives were to develop a frailty index (FI) based on a standard comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) derived from a clinical examination; to assess the validity of the FI-CGA and to compare its precision with other frailty measures. Methods: Design: Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study, with five-year follow-up data. Setting: Second phase of the Canadian Study of Health and Aging (CSHA-2); clinical examinations were performed in clinics, nursing homes, and patients’ homes. Participants: People selected (as either cognitively impaired cases or unimpaired controls) to receive the CSHA-2 clinical examination (n=2305; women=1431). Measurements: Clinical and performance-based measures and diagnostic data were extracted to correspond to the 10 impairment domains and the single comorbidity domain of a CGA. The proportion of deficits accumulated in each domain was calculated to yield the FI-CGA. The FI-CGA was validated and its predictive ability compared with other frailty measures. Results: Within the seven grades of fitness/frailty identified, subjects with greater frailty were older, less educated, and more likely to be women. The FI-CGA correlated highly with a previously validated, empirically-derived frailty index (r=0.76). Frailty was associated with higher risk of death (for each increment in frailty, the hazard ratio, adjusted for age, sex and education, was 1.23 (95% CI 1.18–1.29) and institutionalization (HR 1.20; 1.10–1.32). Conclusions: In a population survey, the FI-CGA is a valid means of quantifying frailty from routinely collected data.