University of Jyväskylä

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 26, 2025 -- Eating behavior and consuming certain foods are associated with perceived pelvic floor disorders, according to a study recently published in Women's Health . Mari A. Kuutti, from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional, observational study involving 1,098 Finnish women aged 47 to 55 years to examine the associations of eating behavior with symptoms of pelvic floor disorders. The researchers found that middle-aged women with disordered eating style were more likely to experience the symptoms of stress urinary incontinence and constipation or defecation difficulties (odds ratios, 1.5 and 1.4, respectively) in adjusted models. The associations were abolished by the addition of body mass index to the models. Regardless of eating style, more frequent consumption of ready-made, highly processed foods and fast foods was independently associated with symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (odds ratios, 1.5 and 1.5); consumption of ready-made foods was associated with urgency urinary incontinence symptoms (odds ratio, 1.4). There was an independent association seen for daily consumption of fruits with symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (odds ratio, 0.8). Independent of eating style, daily consumption of porridge was associated with symptoms of constipation or defecation difficulties (odds ratio, 1.7). There was an inverse association for alcohol consumption with constipation and defecation difficulties (odds ratio, 0.9). Lower odds for stress urinary incontinence were seen for women with overall higher-quality diets. "Since we found the disordered eating style and some dietary items to be associated with perceived pelvic floor disorders, our study justifies further studies with longitudinal designs to investigate causality," the authors write. Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

A new study uncovers the remarkable potential of ultrafast lasers that could provide innovative solutions in 2D materials processing for many technology developers such as high-speed photodetectors, flexible electronics, biohybrids, and next-generation solar cells. A new joint study uncovers the remarkable potential of ultrafast lasers that could provide innovative solutions in 2D materials processing for many technology developers such as high-speed photodetectors, flexible electronics, biohybrids, and next-generation solar cells. The manipulation of 2D materials, such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), is crucial for the advancement of next-generation electronic, photonic, quantum, and sensor technologies. These materials exhibit unique properties, including high electrical conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and tunable optical characteristics. Traditional processing methods, however, often lack the necessary precision and can introduce thermal damage. This is where ultrafast laser processing comes into play, offering unprecedented control over the material properties at the nanoscale. Ultrafast lasers for modifying materials Recent advancements in the field of light-matter interactions have paved the way for the transformative use of ultrafast laser processing in 2D materials. A new study by Aleksei Emelianov, Mika Pettersson from the University of Jyväskylä (Finland), and Ivan Bobrinetskiy from Biosense Institute (Serbia) explores the remarkable potential of ultrafast laser techniques in manipulating 2D layered materials and van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures toward novel applications. "Ultrafast laser processing has emerged as a versatile technique for modifying materials and introducing novel functionalities. Unlike continuous-wave and long-pulsed optical methods, ultrafast lasers offer a solution for thermal heating issues. The nonlinear interactions between ultrafast laser pulses and the atomic lattice of 2D materials substantially influence their chemical and physical properties," tells Postdoctoral Researcher Aleksei Emelianov from University of Jyväskylä. A new tool for manipulating the properties of 2D materials The researchers describe progress made over the past decade and primarily focus on the transformative role of ultrafast laser pulses in maskless green technology, enabling subtractive and additive processes that unveil ways for advanced devices. Utilizing the synergetic effect between the energy states within the atomic layers and ultrafast laser irradiation, it is feasible to achieve resolution down to several nanometers. "Ultrafast light-matter interactions are being actively probed to study the unique optical properties of low-dimensional materials, says Aleksei Emelianov. In our research, we discovered that ultrafast laser processing has the potential to become a new technological tool for manipulating the properties of 2D materials," he continues. Reliable tools for advanced materials processing Key advancements are discussed in functionalization, doping, atomic reconstruction, phase transformation, and 2D and 3D micro- and nanopatterning. The ability to manipulate 2D materials at such a fine scale opens up numerous possibilities for the development of novel photonic, electronic, and sensor applications. Potential applications include high-speed photodetectors, flexible electronics, biohybrids, and next-generation solar cells. The precision of ultrafast laser processing enables the creation of intricate micro- and nanoscale structures with potential utilization in telecommunications, medical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring. "It is surprising how versatile ultrafast lasers are in tuning and modifying 2D materials. It is highly likely that lasers could provide innovative solutions in 2D materials processing for many technology developers," adds Mika Pettersson. This review represents a significant step forward in realizing the full potential of 2D and vdW materials, promising to drive new advancements in technology and industry. "Still, there is a need for research on the physical basics of ultrafast interactions between lasers and 2D materials, says Ivan Bobrinetskiy. These should include not only interactions between the 2D material lattice and light but also involve the environment and substrates, which makes the physics of these processes more complicated but exciting at the same time," he continues.

Adolescents with elevated blood pressure and arterial stiffness may experience poorer cognitive functions, according to a recent study. Young people with higher blood pressure performed worse, especially in tasks that measured attention and learning. In addition, arterial stiffness was reflected in weaker working memory. In view of the findings, the importance of preventing high blood pressure and arterial stiffness in childhood and adolescence is emphasized. Adolescents with elevated blood pressure and arterial stiffness may experience poorer cognitive functions, according to a recent Finnish study conducted at the University of Jyväskylä and the University of Eastern Finland. Young people with higher blood pressure performed worse, especially in tasks that measured attention and learning. In addition, arterial stiffness was reflected in weaker working memory. In view of the findings, the importance of preventing high blood pressure and arterial stiffness in childhood and adolescence is emphasized. It is well-established that poor arterial health can lead to cognitive decline in adults. However, there is limited knowledge about this connection in adolescents. To address this gap, this study examined the associations of arterial stiffness and blood pressure with cognition in adolescents and whether these associations differed between girls and boys. Moreover, it examined whether physical activity or sedentary time are confounding factors in these associations. Higher blood pressure was a more significant factor in the brain health of girls Adolescents with higher blood pressure had poorer attention, learning, and overall cognition. Higher pulse wave velocity, an indicator of arterial stiffness, was associated with poorer working memory. Interestingly, girls with higher blood pressure demonstrated a negative association with a broader range of cognitive functions than boys. Conversely, boys with higher arterial stiffness exhibited better attention and working memory. The associations were not influenced by either physical activity or sedentary time. "Our findings underscore the importance of preventing high blood pressure and arterial stiffening to promote cognitive and brain health in young people. However, we did observe some contradictory associations," says Doctoral Researcher Petri Jalanko from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä. "The study provides insight into how blood pressure and arterial stiffness are linked to cognitive function. However, to establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship between arterial health and brain health, and to determine whether increasing physical activity or reducing sedentary time can mitigate the negative effects of poor arterial health on cognition, further randomized controlled trials with appropriate control groups and advanced brain imaging techniques are necessary." The study utilized cross-sectional data from the eight-year follow-up assessments of the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study. A total of 116 adolescents (45 girls and 71 boys) participated, and their mean age was 15.9 years. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured using an aneroid sphygmomanometer. Pulse wave velocity was measured by impedance cardiography, while carotid intima-media thickness and carotid artery distensibility were measured by carotid ultrasonography. The CogState test battery was used to assess cognition, with overall cognition computed from the results of attention, working memory, and learning tests. Physical activity and sedentary time were assessed using a combined accelerometer/heart rate monitor. The study was published in Physiological Reports.