Search

Introduction and hypothesis: A previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrated that the app Tät II, for self-management of mixed urinary incontinence (MUI) and urgency urinary incontinence (UUI), yielded significant, clinically relevant improvements in symptom severity and quality of life (QoL) compared with a control group. We aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of Tät II. Methods: A cost–utility analysis with a 1-year societal perspective was carried out, comparing Tät II with an information app. Data were collected alongside an RCT: 122 community-dwelling women aged ≥18 years with MUI or UUI ≥2 times/week were randomized to 3 months of Tät II treatment focused on pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) and bladder training (BT; n = 60), or to an information app (n = 62). Self-assessed data from validated questionnaires were collected at baseline and at 3-month and 1-year follow-ups. Costs for assessment, treatment delivery, incontinence aids, laundry, and time for PFMT and BT were included. We calculated quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) using the International Consultation on Incontinence Modular Questionnaire Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) between the groups was our primary outcome. Sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: The mean age was 58.3 (SD = 9.6) years. Annual overall costs were €738.42 in the treatment group and €605.82 in the control group; annual QALY gains were 0.0152 and 0.0037 respectively. The base case ICER was €11,770.52; ICERs in the sensitivity analyses ranged from €−9,303.78 to €22,307.67. Conclusions: The app Tät II is a cost-effective treatment method for women with MUI and UUI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy is one of the mainstays of glioblastoma (GBM) treatment. This study aims to investigate and characterise differences in protein expression patterns in brain tumour tissue following radiotherapy, in order to gain a more detailed understanding of the biological effects. Rat BT4C glioma cells were implanted into the brain of two groups of 12 BDIX-rats. One group received radiotherapy (12 Gy single fraction). Protein expression in normal and tumour brain tissue, collected at four different time points after irradiation, were analysed using surface enhanced laser desorption/ionisation - time of flight - mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS). Mass spectrometric data were analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS). Using these multivariate projection methods we detected differences between tumours and normal tissue, radiation treatment-induced changes and temporal effects. 77 peaks whose intensity significantly changed after radiotherapy were discovered. The prompt changes in the protein expression following irradiation might help elucidate biological events induced by radiation. The combination of SELDI-TOF-MS with PCA and PLS seems to be well suited for studying these changes. In a further perspective these findings may prove to be useful in the development of new GBM treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/objectives:The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between amino acid (AA) intake and serum lipid profile in European adolescents from eight European cities participating in the cross-sectional (2006-2007) HELENA (Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence) study, and to assess whether this association was independent of total fat intake.Subjects/methods:Diet, skinfold thickness, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), TC/HDL-c ratio, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), apolipoprotein B (Apo B), apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1) and Apo B/Apo A1 ratio were measured in 454 12.5- to 17.5-year-old adolescents (44% boys). Intake was assessed via two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Data on maternal education and sedentary behaviors were obtained via questionnaires. Physical activity was objectively measured by accelerometry.Results:Alanine, arginine, asparaginic acid, glycine, histidine, lysine and serine intakes were inversely associated with serum TG concentrations in both boys and girls. Intake of other AA like alanine and/or arginine was also inversely associated with serum TC, LDL-c and Apo B/Apo A1 ratio only in girls. An inverse association was observed between intakes of alanine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, serine, tryptophan, tyrosine and valine and TC/HDL-c ratio among female adolescents. Similar results were found in males for serine and tryptophan intakes. It is noteworthy, however, that associations were no longer significant in both genders when total fat intake was considered as a confounding factor.Conclusions:In this sample of adolescents, the association between AA intakes and serum lipid profile did not persist when dietary fat was considered. Therefore, dietary interventions and health promotion activities should focus on fat intake to improve lipid profile and potentially prevent cardiovascular disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:Adolescents are at risk of iron deficiency because of their high iron requirements. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess iron intake, its determinants and its most important food sources and; (2) to evaluate the relation of iron intake and status in European adolescents.Subjects/Methods:Two non-consecutive 24-h recalls were completed by a computerised tool. The socio-demographic and socio-economic data were collected by a self-reported questionnaire. Weight and height were measured. A distinction was made between haem and non-haem iron.Results:The total iron intake was significantly higher among boys (13.8 mg/day; n=1077) than girls (11.0 mg/day; n=1253). About 97.3% of the boys and 87.8% of the girls met the estimated average requirement, and 72.4% of the boys and 13.7% of the girls met the recommendation for bio-available iron intake. The ratio of haem/non-haem iron intake was lower for girls than boys. Meat (19.2; 76%) and bread and rolls (12.6;3.9%) contributed most to total and haem iron intake. Bread and rolls (13.8%) and meat (10.8%) contributed most to non-haem iron intake. Age, sex and body mass index were associated with iron intake. Only red blood cell concentration was significantly negatively associated with total, haem and non-haem iron intake.Conclusion:Girls had lower iron intakes and ratio of haem/non-haem iron intake than boys. The main total iron and haem iron source was meat, while the main non-haem iron source was bread and rolls. Adolescent girls may be a group at risk for iron deficiency. Consequently, special attention and strategies are needed in order to improve iron intakes during adolescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of this study was to determine the independent relationships of trunk fat, leg fat and arm fat to cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors, after controlling for relevant confounders such as fat mass index, cardiorespiratory fitness and objectively measured physical activity. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 683 university students, aged 18-30 years. Total and regional body fat distribution was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The associations of trunk, leg and arm fat with CVD risk factors (triglycerides-TG-, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol-HDL-c-, TG/HDL-c ratio, HOMA, mean arterial pressure, C-reactive protein) were examined using regression linear models, controlling for age, sex, fat mass index [total body fat(kg)/height(m)], maximal oxygen consumption and physical activity by accelerometer. Results: After controlling for fat mass index, and other confounders, higher levels of trunk fat were found to be associated with a poorer lipid profile, while higher levels of leg fat were found to be associated with a better lipid profile. We did not find any association between arm fat and lipid profile after controlling for total fatness and other confounders. Neither trunk, leg or arm fat was found to be related to insulin resistance, blood pressure or inflammation markers. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the region where fat is accumulated might have a differential effect on lipid profile: trunk fat has an adverse effect, leg fat has a protective effect, and arm fat has no effect. The differences observed between upper- and lower-body peripheral fat depots should be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to examine the association of muscular strength with markers of insulin resistance in European adolescents. The study comprised a total of 1,053 adolescents (499 males; 12.5-17.5 years) from ten European cities participating in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) Cross-Sectional Study. Muscular strength was measured by the handgrip strength and standing long jump tests. Cardiorespiratory fitness was measured by the 20-m shuttle run test. Fasting insulin and glucose were measured and the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) and quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) indices were calculated. Weight, height, waist circumference and skinfold thickness were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. In males, the handgrip strength and standing long jump tests were negatively associated with fasting insulin and HOMA (all P < 0.05) after controlling for pubertal status, country and BMI or waist circumference. When skinfold thickness was included in the model, the association became non-significant. In females, the standing long jump test was negatively associated with fasting insulin and HOMA (all P < 0.001) after controlling for pubertal status, country and surrogate markers of total or central body fat (BMI, waist circumference or skinfold thickness). Findings were retained in males, but not in females after controlling for cardiorespiratory fitness. The findings of the present study suggest that preventive strategies should focus not only on decreasing fatness and increasing cardiorespiratory fitness but also on enhancing muscular strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objectives:To assess the iron status among European adolescents through selected biochemical parameters in a cross-sectional study performed in 10 European cities.Subjects/Methods:Iron status was defined utilising biochemical indicators. Iron depletion was defined as low serum ferritin (SF<15 μg/l). Iron deficiency (ID) was defined as high-soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR>8.5 mg/l) plus iron depletion. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) was defined as ID with haemoglobin (Hb) below the WHO cutoff for age and sex: 12.0 g/dl for girls and for boys aged 12.5-14.99 years and 13.0 g/dl for boys aged 15 years. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used as analytical method for SF, sTfR and C-reactive protein (CRP). Subjects with indication of inflammation (CRP >5 mg/l) were excluded from the analyses. A total of 940 adolescents aged 12.5-17.49 years (438 boys and 502 girls) were involved.Results:The percentage of iron depletion was 17.6%, significantly higher in girls (21.0%) compared with boys (13.8%). The overall percentage of ID and IDA was 4.7 and 1.3%, respectively, with no significant differences between boys and girls. A correlation was observed between log (SF) and Hb (r=0.36, P<0.01), and between log (sTfR) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin (r=−0.30, P<0.01). Iron body stores were estimated on the basis of log (sTfR/SF). A higher percentage of negative values of body iron was recorded in girls (16.5%) with respect to boys (8.3%), and body iron values tended to increase with age in boys, whereas the values remained stable in girls.Conclusions:To ensure adequate iron stores, specific attention should be given to girls at European level to ensure that their dietary intake of iron is adequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To investigate if dietary energy density is associated with measures of dietary quality (food group, micronutrient and macronutrient intakes) in children and adolescents.Subjects/Methods:In all, 551 children (mean age 9.6 years, 52% girls) and 569 adolescents (15.5 years, 55% girls), sampled from schools in Sweden, completed a single 24-h dietary recall. Dietary energy density (kJ/g) was calculated as the energy from all food consumed divided by the weight of all food consumed. Beverages were excluded from the calculation. Food and micronutrient intakes were adjusted for energy intake. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for differences in food group and nutrient intakes across age- and gender-specific tertiles of energy density. Discriminant analysis was used to confirm the groupings formed by tertiles.Results:Subjects with low-energy-density diets were significantly more likely to consume fruits, vegetables, pasta, rice, potatoes and cereals and less likely to consume sweetened drinks, sweets and chocolate. After energy adjustment, their intakes of many foods recommended in the Swedish food-based dietary guidelines were higher and intakes of nutrient-poor foods were lower. The macronutrient energy profile (% energy) of low-energy-density diets was closest to the recommended level. Low-energy-density diets contained greater amounts of most micronutrients. Discriminant analysis confirmed the existence of heterogeneous dietary patterns and the likelihood of correct classification by energy density in 65% of cases.Conclusions:Lower dietary energy density is associated with better dietary quality in children and adolescents. Energy density has advantages over other whole diet analysis methods and may be suitable as a simple proxy of diet quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives:To examine the association of objectively assessed physical activity (PA) with markers of total and central body fat in adolescents, and to determine whether meeting the current PA recommendations (60 min day−1 of at least moderate intensity PA) is associated with reduced levels of total and central body fat.Subjects/Methods:A total of 365 Spanish adolescents aged 12.5–17.5 years participated in this cross-sectional study. PA was assessed by accelerometry and expressed as average PA (counts per minute), and min day−1 of light, moderate, moderate to vigorous (MVPA) and vigorous PA. MVPA was dichotomized into <60 min day−1 and 60. Total body fat was measured by DXA, BodPod and the sum of six skinfolds. Central body fat was measured by DXA at three regions (R1, R2 and R3), and waist circumference.Results:All markers of central body fat were negatively associated with vigorous PA (P<0.01) after controlling for sex, age and pubertal status. Abdominal adiposity measured at R1, R2 and R3 was also negatively associated with MVPA (P0.001), and with average PA (P<0.01). All markers of total body fat were negatively associated with vigorous PA (P<0.01), MVPA (P<0.01) and average PA (P<0.05). Adolescents engaged on at least 60 min day−1 MVPA presented lower levels of total (P<0.05) and central body fat (P0.01).Conclusions:The results suggest that vigorous PA may have a greater effect on preventing obesity in adolescents than does PA of lower intensity, whereas both average PA and at least moderate PA may have an impact on total and central body fat in youth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction:The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was developed to measure health-enhancing physical activity in adult populations. This study explores the concurrent validity of a modified version of the long IPAQ (the IPAQ-A) for the assessment of physical activity among adolescents.Participants and methods:In total, 248 healthy adolescents, divided into one older and one younger age group (aged 15–17 years (N=188) and 12–14 years (N=60), respectively) from nine Healthy Lifestyle by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) Study centres across Europe, voluntarily participated in the study. Data on total physical activity, as well as activities in different intensities derived from the IPAQ-A, were compared using Spearman's correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman analysis, with data from an accelerometer. Tertiles of total physical activity for the IPAQ-A and the accelerometer were compared using Kendall's tau-b.Results:For the older age group, significant correlations between the instruments were found for time spent walking, for moderate and vigorous activities as well as for total physical activity (Rs=0.17–0.30, P<0.05). No significant correlations were found for any of the variables studied in the younger age group. Kendall's tau-b showed low but significant correlations for tertiles of total physical activity (P<0.001).Conclusions:The IPAQ-A has reasonable validity properties for assessing activities in different intensities and for total physical activity in healthy European adolescents aged 15–17 years. For adolescents aged 14 years and younger, the correlations were unsatisfactorily low and objective methodology, such as accelerometry, may be the appropriate alternative.International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, S42–S48; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.182 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To provide an overview of the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS) design, with particular attention to its quality control procedures. Other important methodological aspects are described in detail throughout this supplement.Design:Description of the HELENA-CSS sampling and recruitment approaches, standardization and harmonization processes, data collection and analysis strategies and quality control activities.Results:The HELENA-CSS is a multi-centre collaborative study conducted in European adolescents located in urban settings. The data management systems, quality assurance monitoring activities, standardized manuals of operating procedures and training and study management are addressed in this paper. Various quality controls to ensure collection of valid and reliable data will be discussed in this supplement, as well as quantitative estimates of measurement error.Conclusion:The great advantage of the HELENA-CSS is the strict standardization of the fieldwork and the blood analyses, which precludes to a great extent the kind of immeasurable confounding bias that often interferes when comparing results from isolated studies.International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, S4–S11; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.177 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale:Environmental factors such as dietary habits, breastfeeding, socioeconomic conditions and educational factors are strong influences on nutritional and puberty status, physical activity, food choices and their interactions. Several diseases of adulthood seem to be linked to, or to originate from, lifestyle in childhood and adolescence.Objective:The aims of this study are to describe birth parameters and socioeconomic factors and to assess clinical status in adolescents aged 13–16 years from 10 European countries participating in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) Cross-Sectional Study (CSS).Methodology:A self-report questionnaire on the socioeconomic status, a parental questionnaire concerning neonatal period and also a case report form (CRF), in which clinical items during clinical examination (such as medical history, treatments, anthropometry, Tanner staging, blood pressure, heart rate) were assessed. To develop these documents, first a list of items was established, a search of existing documents was performed and the advice of local and international experts was taken. All documents (questionnaires and an operations manual) were discussed in plenary HELENA meetings; a final version of these documents was fixed, and the process of translation and back translation was performed.Results:The questionnaires and CRF were tested for validation in all 10 participant cities; 208 adolescents were enrolled during the pilot study. All items that caused problems or questions in one or more participating centers or were completed by < 85% of the adolescents were reviewed before the beginning of the HELENA-CSS.Conclusion:These final questionnaires and CRF will contribute to better understanding of the inequalities in nutrition, behavior and health in the European adolescent population. The experience and process should be useful for other multicenter studies.International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, S19–S25; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.178 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale:Research involving humans is regulated by regulatory authorities through their specific requirements and controls. The Healthy Life Style in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS) is a multicenter biomedical research study of adolescents in several representative European cities, which requires satisfying medico-regulatory requirements including Independent Ethics Committee (IEC) approval and agreement by the national or local regulatory authorities. To achieve a high level of quality assurance relating to ethical issues, we followed the good clinical practices (GCP) described at the International Conference on Harmonisation (ICH), which we adapted to the national and local situations of each of the 11 participating cities in 10 European countries.Objective:The main objective of the HELENA-CSS is to evaluate reliable and comparable data of nutritional habits and lifestyle in a representative sample of European adolescents. The aim of this paper is to present the methods relating to the ethical and regulatory issues of this study and to describe the current state of the medico-regulatory requirements involved in conducting this kind of study in each country.Materials and Methods:Following the GCP–ICH guidelines, a protocol describing the HELENA-CSS was written and approved by all partners. In the pilot study, a case report form adapted to the study objectives and its manual of operation was constructed and used by all partners. All information letters to adolescents and their parents and consent forms were first written in English, then translated into the local language, and adapted to each local situation. All documents were then checked centrally for any deviation and corrected if required. An operation manual relating to ethical issues and other medico-regulatory requirements was also developed. This paper presents the current status of the medico-regulatory requirements from each HELENA-CSS participant country.Results:Before the beginning of the study, most centers had satisfied the medico-regulatory requirements of IEC approval and agreement with other national or local regulatory authorities/organizations. For a few centers, some problems were detected and corrective actions were taken to improve missing information to reach a high level of quality assurance of ethical issues.Conclusion:The GCP–ICH guidelines about nontherapeutic biomedical research are interpreted and applied differently across Europe. This study shows that high-quality nontherapeutic biomedical research can address the ethical issues included in the GCP–ICH regulations and can be harmonized among the HELENA European partners.International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, S12–S18; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.179 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To examine the reliability of a set of health-related physical fitness tests used in the European Union-funded Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) Study on lifestyle and nutrition among adolescents.Design:A set of physical fitness tests was performed twice in a study sample, 2 weeks apart, by the same researchers.Participants:A total of 123 adolescents (69 males and 54 females, aged 13.6±0.8 years) from 10 European cities participated in the study.Measurements:Flexibility, muscular fitness, speed/agility and aerobic capacity were tested using the back-saver sit and reach, handgrip, standing broad jump, Bosco jumps (squat jump, counter movement jump and Abalakov jump), bent arm hang, 4 × 10 m shuttle run, and 20-m shuttle run tests.Results:The ANOVA analysis showed that neither systematic bias nor sex differences were found for any of the studied tests, except for the back-saver sit and reach test, in which a borderline significant sex difference was observed (P=0.044). The Bland–Altman plots graphically showed the reliability patterns, in terms of systematic errors (bias) and random error (95% limits of agreement), of the physical fitness tests studied. The observed systematic error for all the fitness assessment tests was nearly 0.Conclusions:Neither a learning nor a fatigue effect was found for any of the physical fitness tests when repeated. The results also suggest that reliability did not differ between male and female adolescents. Collectively, it can be stated that the reliability of the set of physical fitness tests examined in this study is acceptable. The data provided contribute to a better understanding of physical fitness assessment in young people.International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, S49–S57; doi:10.1038/ijo.2008.183 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review aims to summarize the latest developments with regard to physical fitness and several health outcomes in young people. The literature reviewed suggests that (1) cardiorespiratory fitness levels are associated with total and abdominal adiposity; (2) both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness are shown to be associated with established and emerging cardiovascular disease risk factors; (3) improvements in muscular fitness and speed/agility, rather than cardiorespiratory fitness, seem to have a positive effect on skeletal health; (4) both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness enhancements are recommended in pediatric cancer patients/survivors in order to attenuate fatigue and improve their quality of life; and (5) improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness have positive effects on depression, anxiety, mood status and self-esteem, and seem also to be associated with a higher academic performance. In conclusion, health promotion policies and physical activity programs should be designed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, but also two other physical fitness components such us muscular fitness and speed/agility. Schools may play an important role by identifying children with low physical fitness and by promoting positive health behaviors such as encouraging children to be active, with special emphasis on the intensity of the activity.International Journal of Obesity (2008) 32, 1–11; doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803774; published online 4 December 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ernährung - Wissenschaft Und Praxis is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective:To examine the associations of low-grade inflammation with objectively measured physical activity, cardiovascular fitness (CVF) and fatness in prepubertal children.Design:Cross-sectional study.Subjects:One hundred and forty-two children (74 boys and 68 girls) aged 9–10 years (pubertal stage I and II) from the Swedish part of the European Youth Heart Study.Measurements:Total physical activity and its intensity levels (moderate, vigorous, moderate + vigorous) were measured by accelerometry. CVF was measured with a maximal ergometer bike test. Body fat was derived from the sum of five skinfold thicknesses. The measured low-grade inflammatory markers include C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, complement factors C3 and C4.Results:C-reactive protein and C3 were negatively associated with CVF (β=−0.254 and −0.267, respectively, P<0.05) and positively associated with body fat (β=0.439 and 0.446, respectively, P<0.001), after controlling for sex, age and pubertal development. C-reactive protein and C3 were not significantly associated with CVF once body fat was in the model. Low-grade inflammation was not associated with physical activity, but physical activity was associated with CVF.Conclusions:The results showed that low-grade inflammatory markers were negatively associated with CVF and positively associated with body fat in prepubertal children. For most of the variables, the influence of fatness was slightly higher than the influence of CVF. The findings suggest that the potential beneficial effects of physical activity on low-grade inflammation may be explained by its association with CVF. Understanding the interplay between physical activity, CVF and fatness may be of importance to reducing cardiovascular disease risk in young people.International Journal of Obesity (2007) 31, 1545–1551; doi:10.1038/sj.ijo.0803693; published online 24 July 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our aim was to examine the association between markers of insulin resistance and: (1) body fat and waist circumference, taking into account cardiorespiratory fitness in school-aged children; and (2) cardiorespiratory fitness at differing levels of body fat and waist circumference. This was a cross-sectional study of 873 children aged 9.6 ± 0.4 years from Estonia and Sweden. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured. Body fat was expressed as the sum of five skinfold thicknesses. Cardiorespiratory fitness was estimated by a maximal cycle-ergometer test. The studied markers of insulin resistance were fasting insulin and glucose, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA). HOMA and fasting insulin were positively associated with body fat and waist circumference after adjusting for cardiorespiratory fitness, age, pubertal status and study location. HOMA and fasting insulin were negatively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in children in the third (highest) tertile of body fat and waist circumference after controlling for sex, age, pubertal status and study location. Fasting glucose was negatively associated with cardiorespiratory fitness in children in the third (highest) tertile of waist circumference, but it was not associated when body fat was taken into account. In school-aged children, HOMA and fasting insulin are significantly associated with body fat and waist circumference. In addition, cardiorespiratory fitness explains a significant proportion of the HOMA and fasting insulin variance in those children with high levels of body fat and waist circumference. The findings suggest that the deleterious consequences ascribed to high fatness could be counteracted by having high levels of cardiorespiratory fitness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends the development of comparable national physical activity surveillance systems to assess trends within and amongst countries as the Global Strategy for Diet and Physical Activity is implemented. To date, the lack of well-standardised measurement instruments has impeded such efforts, but new methodologies are being developed for this purpose. This paper describes the usefulness of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) in population samples. The Special Eurobarometer Wave 58.2 2002 covered physical activity and provided a good vehicle for assessment of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) in the European Union. Data from around 1,000 individuals in each of the 15 member states were collected after careful translation of the questionnaire. IPAQ scoring protocol version 2 was used for definition of activity categories. Data on the prevalence of sufficient total activity, sedentariness, frequent walking and sitting, in total and by gender across European Union (EU) countries showed consistent patterns. The prevalence of sufficient physical activity for health across the member countries was 29%. It ranged from 44% in the Netherlands to 23% in Sweden. The prevalence of sedentariness across countries was in general the mirror image. Regular walking was most prevalent in Spain. Gender was related to physical activity in that men were 1.6 times more likely than women to be sufficiently active, less likely to be sedentary and slightly more likely to sit for at least 6 hours daily. The findings suggest that two thirds of the adult populations of the European countries are insufficiently active for optimal health benefits. As the IPAQ measurement provides information about the patterns of total physical activity and inactivity, the findings indicate possibilities for targeted health promotion efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical environment has emerged as a potential correlate to physical activity, and altering the environment could be one way to increase physical activity on a population level. The aim of the present study was to assess the test–retest reliability of the Swedish version of an environmental instrument developed for population-based studies. The study population was recruited from a larger study performed at the same time. A random sample of Swedish adults, age 18–74, was invited to participate in the reliability testing of 17 questions regarding the local physical environment. The questions addressed variables such as presence of sidewalks, bike paths and recreational facilities as well as questions regarding aesthetic, social and safety attributes. A total of 98 subjects completed the test and retest questionnaires. Overall percent agreement ranged from 55.1–92.9%. Intraclass correlation (ICC) for the total sample ranged from 0.36–0.98. The questions regarding motorized vehicles produced the highest total reliability score (ICC=0.98) and the question regarding safety from crime during the day produced the lowest (ICC=0.36). Small differences were seen between men and women for a few variables, but no apparent pattern was identified. The test–retest of the Swedish version of the environmental module resulted in substantial agreement for most variables. The instrument showed an acceptable reliability and can therefore be used in future studies regarding local environmental attributes and physical activity in Sweden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cysteinyl-leukotrienes (cys-LTs) are potent smooth muscle contracting agents, which play key roles in inflammatory and allergic diseases. The committed step in cys-LT biosynthesis is catalyzed by leukotriene C4 synthase (LTC4S) as well as microsomal glutathione S-transferase type 2 (MGST2) and type 3 (MGST3). Here we report that intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide in rats lead to a strong increase of LTC4S messenger RNA (mRNA) levels after approximately 1 h, particularly in the heart, brain, adrenal glands and liver, without any significant effect on MGST2 and MGST3 mRNA levels. After 6 h, LTC4S mRNA returns to basal levels, concomitant with a 4.9-, 4.0-, 2.9- and 2.3-fold induction of LTC4S protein in brain, heart, liver and adrenal gland, respectively. Hence, challenge with lipopolysaccharide in vivo causes an organ-selective, local priming for leukotriene C4 synthesis. Moreover, these data suggest that LTC4S and cys-LTs may be involved in acute systemic inflammatory responses such as fever and tachycardia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partial least squares modeling of latent structures were carried out on a data matrix consisting of Kováts retention indices of 35 aliphatic ketones and aldehydes and their physical characteristics. The retention indices were determined on capillary columns with 4 different stationary phases, namely bonded methyl-{HP-1}, methyl-phenyl- {HP-50} and trifluoropropyl-methyl siloxane {DB-210}, as well as polyethylene glycol {HP-Innovax} at four different temperatures. It was found that ketones and aldehydes cannot be classified on the basis of retention data solely, whereas the physical characteristics (boiling point, molar volume, molecular mass, molar refraction, octanol-water partition coefficient) contain the necessary information for differentiation of the two classes of compounds. The retention index of but-2-enal does not fit into the general trend of aliphatic aldyhydes and ketones. A predictive PLS model was built to estimate retention data of oxo compounds at different temperatures and various stationary phases of different polarity. Cross-validation suggests a good reliability of the results. Characteristic plots (PLS weights, scores) show the similar retention behavior of oxo compounds (Figures 3 and 4). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) and patterns of physical activity among Swedish male and female adolescents and to relate the amount and intensity of physical activity to existing recommendations (energy expenditure equal to or above 12.4 kJ/kg/day or accumulation of 30 min/day in moderate physical activity equal to 4.5 times sedentary energy expenditure or more).Design: TDEE, physical activity level (PAL=TDEE/BMR), energy expenditure (EE) and time spent in different intensities of physical activity were assessed by using minute-by-minute heart rate monitoring in combination with laboratory measured sedentary energy expenditure (SEE) and peak oxygen uptake.Setting: Department of Physical Education and Health, Orebro University, and Department of Clinical Physiology, Orebro Medical Centre Hospital, Sweden.Subjects: Eighty-two 14-15 y old adolescents (42 boys, 40 girls) from the city of Orebro, randomly selected through a two-stage sampling procedure.Results: TDEE was 12.8 MJ/day and 10.0 MJ/day for boys and girls respectively (P<0.001) and PAL was 1.74 and 1.67 (NS). Forty-four percent and 47%, respectively, of TDEE referred to EE in physical activity, of which 70% for both genders referred to light physical activity (corresponding to <4.5 times SEE). Eleven boys and 14 girls had an EE lower than 12.4 kJ/kg/day and/or did not accumulate 30 min/day in physical activity >/=4.5 SEE. Those (n=20) with the highest PAL values (>2.01 and 1.81, respectively) spent 149 min/day at a >/=4.5 SEE intensity level compared to 40 min/day for those (n=30) with the lowest PAL values (<1.55 and 1.45, respectively).Conclusions: Swedish adolescent boys and girls are similarly physically active. The major amount of time devoted to physical activity refers to light physical activity. At least thirty percent of adolescents seem not to achieve appropriate levels of physical activity considered to be beneficial for health.Sponsorship: Orebro County Council, The Public Health Committee of Stockholm County Council, Sweducation Foundation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Type 1 and Type 2 fibres of skeletal muscle (human m. vastus lateralis), selectively depleted of glycogen by sustained submaximal muscular exercise (running 30 km), were identified at light and electron microscopical level by examination of thin and ultra-thin serial sections treated particularly for visualization of glycogen. Averaged images, obtained by lateral smearing of depleted fibres (Type 1) exhibited five clearly visible cross-bridges in the M-band and had broad Z-bands. Nondepleted fibres (Type 2) showed either three central strong and two weak outer lines in the M-band and intermediate Z-bands (Type 2A), or only three central strong lines in the M-band and narrow Z-bands (Type 2B). The depleted fibres had no subsarcolemmal accumulation of glycogen particles and practically no intermyofibrillar particles. The remaining particles were small in size and seemed almost rudimentary. In nonexercised individuals, a peculiar distribution of individual glycogen particles in the I-band and A-band was found. This distribution was accounted by the structural arrangement of the myofibrillar material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Basic Research in Cardiology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose. The objective of the study was to investigate the mechanisms behind increased bioavailability of an enzymatically stable thrombin inhibitor, inogatran, after coadministration with a trypsin inhibitor, aprotinin. Methods. Rat jejunum, ileum and colon segments were stripped and mounted in modified Ussing chambers, and the permeability to inogatran was determined both in the presence and absence of aprotinin. Inogatran and aprotinin were also coadministered intraduodenally to conscious rats. Competitive binding of inogatran to trypsin was studied using kinetic dialysis and was compared to aprotinin. The fraction of free (unbound) trypsin probe, in the absence of trypsin inhibitors was determined by performing experiments without pancreatine and without inhibitors, respectively. Results. A 3-fold increased permeability to inogatran in the presence of aprotinin was seen in vitro, in some cases correlated with changed barrier properties of the intestinal segments. The in vitro results were well correlated with the in vivo results. There was a 5-fold increase in the bioavailability of inogatran in the presence of aprotinin. The binding of a trypsin probe was inhibited by both the presence of inogatran and aprotinin. Aprotinin showed a several fold higher displacement than inogatran. The results indicate both an effect of aprotinin on the epithelial membrane and an inhibition of binding of the thrombin inhibitor to trypsin or other serine proteases in the gut. Conclusions. The coadministration of aprotinin with enzymatically stable peptides, like thrombin inhibitors, may improve their absorption after oral administration. This suggests a new additional mechanism for intestinal absorption enhancement of peptide drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biopsies, taken up to 1 week postexercise, from the soleus muscles of 5 healthy males (20-34 years old) suffering from pronounced exercise-induced delayed muscle soreness were analyzed morphologically. There was no evidence for ischemic tissue injury or mechanical fibre disruption. However, at the subcellular level frequent myofibrillar disturbances, especially with regard to the Z-bands, were noted. Thus, the contractile machinery of overloaded muscle fibres seemed to be partially distorted several days following exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by F. B. Ortega, M. J. Castillo, J. R. Ruiz, and M. Sjöström to a letter to the editor about their article "Physical Fitness in Childhood and Adolescence: A Powerful Marker of Health" in the August 2008 issue is presented.

Objective: To test the short and long-term effectiveness of a four week residential program for primary health care patients to control obesity and related risk factors for cardio-vascular disease (CVD), especially blood pressure (BP).Design: Prospective clinical study, with follow up after 1 and 5 y.Setting: Vindeln Patient Education Centre, Vindeln, and Department of Social Medicine, University of Umea, Sweden.Subjects: Approximately 2500 individuals, with two or more of the traditional risk factors for CVD, participated in the program. This report describes a subsample of 100 consecutive patients, 52+/-9 y, 53 men, with obesity and/or high BP.Intervention: Four week residential program with lectures and group discussions as well as practical sessions in smaller groups (meal preparations, physical exercise, etc). The patients were followed-up medically in their home area.Outcome Measures: Weight and blood pressure.Results: Dramatic reductions of weight and, especially, of blood pressure (BP) occurred during the residential weeks, and the reductions were pronounced also after 1 y. After 5 y, the total mean weight among men with initial BMI > or = 30 kg/m2 was still 5 kg lower, and diastolic and systolic BP among those with hypertension was 15 and 20 mm Hg lower, respectively, than before the program.Conclusions: The full-time participation in the residential program and the enrollment and commitment of the patients may explain the clinical outcome. A level of predisposition greater than that required of most weight- and BP-control programs was confirmed and a great preventive or therapeutic potential was indicated. The study illustrates an effective application of the Precede-Proceed model of health promotion planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In preclinical studies, p53 loss of function impacts chemotherapy response, but this has not been consistently validated clinically. We trained a TP53-loss phenocopy gene expression signature from pan-cancer clinical samples in the TCGA. In vitro, the TP53-loss phenocopy signature predicted chemotherapy response across cancer types. In a clinical dataset of 3003 breast cancer samples treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the TP53-loss phenocopy samples were 56% more likely to have a pathologic complete response (pCR), with a significant association between TP53-loss phenocopy and pCR in both ER positive and ER negative tumors. In an independent clinical validation in the I-SPY2 trial (N = 987), we confirmed the association with neoadjuvant chemotherapy pCR and found higher rates of chemoimmunotherapy response in TP53-loss phenocopy tumors compared to non-TP53-loss phenocopy tumors (64% vs. 28%). The TP53-loss phenocopy signature predicts chemotherapy response across cancer types in vitro, and in a proof-of-concept clinical validation is associated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy response across multiple clinical breast cancer cohorts., (© 2024. This is a U.S. Government work and not under copyright protection in the US; foreign copyright protection may apply.)