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Background/Objectives:: Activity-related energy expenditure (AEE) might be an important factor in the etiology of chronic diseases. However, measurement of free-living AEE is usually not feasible in large-scale epidemiological studies but instead has traditionally been estimated based on self-reported physical activity. Recently, accelerometry has been proposed for objective assessment of physical activity, but it is unclear to what extent this methods explains the variance in AEE. Subjects/Methods:: We conducted a systematic review searching MEDLINE database (until 2014) on studies that estimated AEE based on accelerometry-assessed physical activity in adults under free-living conditions (using doubly labeled water method). Extracted study characteristics were sample size, accelerometer (type (uniaxial, triaxial), metrics (for example, activity counts, steps, acceleration), recording period, body position, wear time), explained variance of AEE (R2) and number of additional predictors. The relation of univariate and multivariate R2with study characteristics was analyzed using nonparametric tests. Results:: Nineteen articles were identified. Examination of various accelerometers or subpopulations in one article was treated separately, resulting in 28 studies. Sample sizes ranged from 10 to 149. In most studies the accelerometer was triaxial, worn at the trunk, during waking hours and reported activity counts as output metric. Recording periods ranged from 5 to 15 days. The variance of AEE explained by accelerometer-assessed physical activity ranged from 4 to 80% (median crude R2=26%). Sample size was inversely related to the explained variance. Inclusion of 1 to 3 other predictors in addition to accelerometer output significantly increased the explained variance to a range of 12.5–86% (median total R2=41%). The increase did not depend on the number of added predictors. Conclusions:: We conclude that there is large heterogeneity across studies in the explained variance of AEE when estimated based on accelerometry. Thus, data on predicted AEE based on accelerometry-assessed physical activity need to be interpreted cautiously.

Background:A limited number of studies suggest a higher prevalence of periodontal disease among individuals with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, results have been inconsistent. Further, it is unclear to what extent poor oral hygiene among patients with RA may account for this association. Methods:The association between RA and periodontitis was examined in 57 subjects with RA and 52 healthy controls, matched by age and gender. Oral examination included plaque index (PI), gingival index (GI), probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment loss (CAL). Potential risk factors for periodontal disease, such as smoking, education, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI), as well as chronic diseases associated with RA and periodontal disease were assessed through questionnaires. Results:In a stepwise logistic regression, including RA status, age, gender, education, smoking, alcohol consumption, and BMI, only RA status and age remained significant predictors of periodontal disease. Subjects with RA had a significant 8.05‐fold increased odds (95% confidence interval: 2.93 to 22.09) of periodontitis compared to controls. The strength of the association was attenuated but remained statistically significant after further adjustment for PI, GI, or both. PI alone accounted for 12.4%, GI alone accounted for 11.1%, and PI and GI combined accounted for 13.4% of the association between RA and periodontitis. Conclusions:Subjects with RA have significantly increased periodontal attachment loss compared to controls. Oral hygiene may only partially account for this association.

Duration and intensity of physical activity (PA) are independent protective factors for chronic diseases. Knowing factors associated with duration and intensity of PA might help tailor preventive measures aiming to reduce chronic disease risk. However, previous studies mainly relied on self-reported PA, which is prone to bias, and provides only limited information on PA intensity. The aim of the present study was to examine factors associated with objectively assessed duration and intensity of PA by accelerometry.

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common complication after surgery and involves a spectrum of symptoms spanning from mild to severe cognitive deficits that affect the daily lives of patients. Despite occurring in up to one third of older patients during the first few months after surgery, POCD is poorly characterized in terms of its epidemiology. Lipid imbalance in older age has frequently been linked to age-related cognitive impairment, but its role in determining patients’ risk of POCD is presently unknown. We therefore conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of published research on the associations of dyslipidemia before surgery, use of lipid-lowering treatment before surgery and risk of POCD.

There is substantial evidence including from meta-analyses that higher dairy intake during adulthood is associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer. In contrast, little is known about the association between adolescent dairy intake and risk of colorectal neoplasia. Only two studies have previously investigated the association between dairy intake in early life and later risk of colorectal neoplasia, with conflicting results, but none used a validated dietary assessment tool to define exposure. Therefore, with our study we aimed to investigate the association between dairy intake during adolescence and the risk of colorectal adenomas later in life using data from the large, prospective female cohort Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII) in which adolescent diet was inquired retrospectively by a validated food frequency questionnaire, and participants were followed prospectively for incidence of colorectal adenomas.

Investigates the relationship between physical activity and the obesity-related inflammatory markers. Examination of the relationship between physical activity and measures of insulin sensitivity; Evaluation of the association between diet and chronic disease incidence; Investigation of the association between alcohol and nutrient intake and blood lipids and inflammatory markers; Observance of statistically significant inverse associations between physical activity and plasma levels of obesity-related inflammatory markers.