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Background: This study determined the validity and sensitivity of the SenseWear armband (SWA) during sedentary and light office duties compared with indirect calorimetry (IC). Methods: Participants (N = 22), 30 to 64 years of age, randomly performed 6 conditions for 5 minutes each (ie, supine, sitting no movement, standing no movement, sitting office work, standing office work, walking at 1.0 mph). Steady state for each activity (ie, average for minutes 4 and 5) was analyzed. Results: Energy expenditure (EE) for the SWA (1.58 kcal/min) and the IC (1.64 kcal/min) were significantly correlated, r(20) = 0.90, P < .001 and ICC = 0.90, 95% CI (0.699, 0.966). Correlation results for each condition varied in strength, r(20) = 0.53 to 0.83 and ICC = 0.49 to 0.81, but were all significant (P < .05). A significant interaction between measurement method and condition existed (P < .001). The SWA under predicted EE during standing with no movement, sitting office work, and standing office work. Conclusion: The SWA and IC EE rates were strongly correlated during sedentary and light activity office behaviors. However, the SWA may under predict EE during office work (standing or sitting) and when standing motionless, making it slightly less sensitive than IC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The SenseWear™ Armband (SWA) (BodyMedia, Inc. Pittsburgh, PA) is a physical activity and lifestyle monitor that objectively and accurately measures free-living energy balance and sleep and includes software for self-monitoring of daily energy expenditure and energy intake. The real-time feedback of the SWA can improve individual self-monitoring and, therefore, enhance weight loss outcomes. Methods We recruited 197 sedentary overweight or obese adults (age, 46.8 ± 10.8 y; body mass index (BMI), 33.3 ± 5.2 kg/m2; 81% women, 32% African-American) from the greater Columbia, South Carolina area. Participants were randomized into 1 of 4 groups, a self-directed weight loss program via an evidence-based weight loss manual (Standard Care, n = 50), a group-based behavioral weight loss program (GWL, n = 49), the armband alone (SWA-alone, n = 49), or the GWL plus the armband (GWL+SWA, n = 49), during the 9-month intervention. The primary outcome was change in body weight and waist circumference. A mixed-model repeated-measures analysis compared change in the intervention groups to the standard care group on weight and waist circumference status after adjusting for age, sex, race, education, energy expenditure, and recruitment wave. Results Body weight was available for 62% of participants at 9 months (52% standard care, 70% intervention). There was significant weight loss in all 3 intervention groups (GWL, 1.86 kg, P = 0.05; SWA-alone, 3.55 kg, P = 0.0002; GWL+SWA, 6.59 kg, P < 0.0001) but not in the Standard Care group (0.89 kg, P = 0.39) at month 9. Only the GWL+SWA group achieved significant weight loss at month 9 compared to the Standard Care group (P = 0.04). Significant waist circumference reductions were achieved in all 4 groups at month 9 (Standard Care, 3.49 cm, P = 0.0004; GWL, 2.42 cm, P = 0.008; SWA-alone, 3.59 cm, P < 0.0001; GWL+SWA, 6.77 cm, P < 0.0001), but no intervention group had significantly reduced waist circumference compared to the Standard Care group. Conclusions Continuous self-monitoring from wearable technology with real-time feedback may be particularly useful to enhance lifestyle changes that promote weight loss in sedentary overweight or obese adults. This strategy, combined with a group-based behavioral intervention, may yield optimal weight loss. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00957008

Introduction: In patients with haemophilia, general psychological distress as measured by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) distress thermometer has been associated with pain, disability and increased healthcare utilization. Aims: To develop and validate a measure of haemophilia‐related distress. Methods: After qualitative interviews, the Hemophilia‐Related Distress Questionnaire (HRDq) was developed. To validate the HRDq, adults (≥18 years) with haemophilia were enrolled, reported demographic and clinical information, and completed the HRDq and other questionnaires that measured similar constructs. Analysis included factor analysis and assessment of internal consistency using Cronbach's α, convergent validity using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and discriminant validity by comparing subgroups of patients. Test‐retest reliability was assessed using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: Among 130 enrolled participants, 126 (median age=32.7 years) completed the 24 item HRDq in a median time of 5.4 minutes with overall HRDq scores ranging from 2 to 83 (median score=31.5; higher scores indicating higher distress). Assessment of convergent validity demonstrated a strong correlation (ρ>.60) of the HRDq total score with the NCCN Distress Thermometer, Haem‐A‐QoL total Score, and PROMIS‐29 Profile social role domain and a mild to moderate correlation with all other questionnaire domains (.3‐.59, p <.05). Distress was higher among those who had less education, were not employed, and were disabled and was not significantly different among those with severe compared with non‐severe disease. Assessment of test‐retest reliability demonstrated an ICC value of.84 (95% CI.71‐.91) for the total score. Conclusions: The HRDq demonstrates good internal consistency, construct and discriminant validity, and retest reliability with a low responder burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distress effects are widely examined in cross-sectional studies with less known about effects on future health. This review summarizes distress impacts on health among adults in prospective studies and describes available distress measurement tools. Four inter-disciplinary databases were searched. Effects of distress on mortality and other outcomes were reviewed and estimated in a meta-analysis. A total of 19 studies were assessed which incorporated 10 distress tools. Distress had a detrimental effect on health regardless of the population studied, distress tool used, and health outcome examined. There was an increased mortality risk among those reporting high versus low distress (pooled hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) = 1.29 (1.15–1.46)). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a synthetic chemical ubiquitous in the serum of U.S. residents. It causes liver, testicular, and pancreatic tumors in rats. Human studies are sparse. OBJECTIVE: We examined cancer incidence in Mid-Ohio Valley residents exposed to PFOA in drinking water due to chemical plant emissions. METHODS: The cohort consisted of adult community residents who resided in contaminated water districts or worked at a local chemical plant. Most participated in a 2005-2006 baseline survey in which serum PFOA was measured. We interviewed the cohort in 2008-2011 to obtain further medical history. Retrospective yearly PFOA serum concentrations were estimated for each participant from 1952 through 2011. Self-reported cancers were validated through medical records and cancer registry review. We estimated the association between cancer and cumulative PFOA serum concentration using proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Participants (n = 32,254) reported 2,507 validated cancers (21 different cancer types). Estimated cumulative serum PFOA concentrations were positively associated with kidney and testicular cancer [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.98, 1.24 and HR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.79, respectively, for 1-unit increases in ln-transformed serum PFOA]. Categorical analyses also indicated positive trends with increasing exposures for both cancers: for kidney cancer HRs for increasing exposure quartiles were 1.0, 1.23, 1.48, and 1.58 (linear trend test p = 0.18) and for testicular cancer, HRs were 1.0, 1.04, 1.91, 3.17 (linear trend test p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: PFOA exposure was associated with kidney and testicular cancer in this population. Because this is largely a survivor cohort, findings must be interpreted with caution, especially for highly fatal cancers such as pancreatic and lung cancer., Introduction Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, or C8) is a synthetic chemical used since the late 1940s in manufacturing industrial and household products (Steenland et al. 2010). It is persistent in the [...]

Background: The purpose was to characterize energy expenditure (EE) during academic subjects and activities during an elementary school day. Methods: Children in 2nd to 4th grades (N = 33) wore the SenseWear Armband (SWA) for 5 school days to measure EE. Teachers' logs were compared with SWA data to extract information about EE throughout the day. Energy expenditure was also compared among grades. Results: After controlling for body mass, grade level was not a significant predictor of average daily caloric expenditure, F(2, 17.58) = .29, P = .75, ω2 = .05. When comparing activities throughout the day, relative rates of EE differed significantly, Wilks' F(7, 23) = 52.2, P = .00, ηp2 = .94, with PE and recess having higher EE. When academic subjects were compared (math, science, language arts), relative rate of EE was also significantly different, Wilks' F(2, 30) = 4.31, P = .02, ηp2 = .22. For the full sample, relative rate EE was higher in science than in language arts. Conclusions: The school day provides opportunity for EE for children. These data support the potential benefit of active instruction in language arts as a method to increase school day EE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adults with chronic bleeding disorders report high distress, but it is unclear how distress varies over time. Patients rated their distress on a 10-point scale at two clinic visits. Of 83 patients, roughly one-quarter reported consistent no/low distress (29%), one-quarter reported consistent distress (22%), and half (49%) reported a change in distress of at least two points. Overall activity levels, depressive symptoms, and non-White race were significantly associated with worsening and consistent distress in adjusted analyses while improvements in activity levels and depressive symptoms during the study period were associated with distress improvement. Our results suggest that distress is modifiable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Approximately 51% of American adults do not meet weekly physical activity (PA) recommendations. Pokémon Go (PoGo) popularity and its required PA participation shows potential for improved daily PA. The primary aim of this study was to objectively measure daily energy expenditure (DEE) of PoGo players and identify whether DEE differs from non-players. A secondary aim was to assess potential motivational factors to play PoGo. Local Middle Tennessee participants (n = 25) were identified as "players" or "non-players" based on current PoGo usage from August till November 2016. Participants donned a SenseWear Armband (SWA) for 7 days. SWA data were included in the analysis if wear time was = 4 days with each day having ≥ 12 hours of wear time. Mean DEE differences between players and non-players were examined using a one-way between groups ANCOVA. Body weight was included in the ANCOVA as a potential extraneous variable. Five participants were excluded from analysis due to < 4 days SWA wear time (players = 9, non-players = 11). We found DEE was not significantly different for players (2735 ± 666 kcal) versus non-players (2274 ± 474 kcal), when controlling for body weight [F (1, 20) = 2,195, η = 0.114, p = 0.157]. In conclusion, interactive mobile games (i.e. PoGo) may be an effective method to increase DEE in individuals interested in mobile gaming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the current study was to determine the accuracy of Jack Daniels' VDOT Running Calculator for the prediction of ...O2max, and recommendations of interval and training paces (pIN and pTH) in samples of National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 1 track athletes (ATH, n = 11) and recreational runners (REC; n = 9). Predicted variable data were obtained using results from indoor 5-km time-trials. Data from the VDOT Calculator were compared with laboratory-tested ...O2max, pace at ...O2max, (...O2maxpace), and lactate threshold pace (LTpace). Results indicated that VDOT underestimated ...O2max in ATH (t(10) = -6.00, p < 0.001, d = 1.75) and REC (t(8) = -8.96, p < 0.001, d = 3.44). Follow-up between-groups analysis indicated that the difference between VDOT and ...O2max was significantly greater in REC than in ATH (p = 0.0031, d = 1.59). pIN was slower than ...O2maxpace in REC (t(8) = -4.26, p = 0.003, d = 1.76), but not different in ATH (t(10) = 0.52, p = 0.614, d = 0.14). Conversely, pTH was faster than LTpace in ATH (t(8) = -4.17, p = 0.003, d = 1.49), but not different in REC (t(8) = 1.64, p = 0.139, d = 0.57). Practically, pTH can be confidently used for threshold training regardless of the ability level. pIN also seemed to be accurate for ATH, but may be not be optimal for improving ...O2max in REC. Practitioners should interpret VDOT with caution as it may underestimate ...O2max. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Previous studies provided evidence for the validity of the PROMIS Pediatric measures in cross-sectional studies. This study evaluated the ability of the PROMIS Pediatric measures to detect change over time in children and adolescents with cancer, nephrotic syndrome (NS), or sickle cell disease (SCD).Methods: Participants (8-17 years) completed measures of fatigue, pain interference, anger, anxiety, depressive symptoms, mobility, upper extremity, and peer relationships at three or four time points (T1-T4). Between T1 and T2, children with cancer received chemotherapy and children with SCD experienced a pain exacerbation. Children with NS were first assessed during active disease (T2), with T3 and T4 conducted at disease remission. For the primary analysis of responsiveness, we expected better scores at T3 (recovery) compared to T2 (event) for all diseases. T1 and T4 are also expected to have better scores than T2. Linear mixed models were used and adjusted for time, gender, age, race/ethnicity, education, comorbid conditions, and disease.Results: Enrolled were 96 children with cancer, 121 children with SCD, and 127 children with NS. Fatigue, pain interference, mobility, and upper extremity scores worsened from T1 (baseline) to T2 (event) (p < 0.01), and significantly improved from T2 to T3 and T4 (p < 0.01). Similarly, anxiety and depressive symptoms significantly improved from T2 to T3 and T4 (p < 0.01).Conclusions: This study provides evidence for the responsiveness of seven PROMIS Pediatric measures to clinical disease state in three chronic illnesses. The findings support use of PROMIS Pediatric measures in clinical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to determine how caffeine affects exercise blood pressure (BP) and active and passive recovery BP after vigorous intensity exercise in physically active college-aged females. Fifteen physically active, ACSM stratified low-risk females (age (y): 23.53 ± 4.07, weight (kg): 60.34 ± 3.67, height (cm): 165.14 ± 7.20, BMI (kg/M2): 22.18 ± 1.55) participated in two Bruce protocol exercise tests. Before each test participants consumed 1) a placebo or 2) 3.3 mg·kg-1 of caffeine at least one hour before exercise in a counterbalanced double-blinded fashion. After reaching 85% of their age-predicted maximum heart rate, BP was taken and participants began an active (i.e. walking) recovery phase for 6 minutes followed by a passive (i.e. sitting) recovery phase. BP was assessed every two minutes in each phase. Recovery times were assessed until active and passive BP equaled 20 mmHg and 10 mmHg above resting, respectively. Participants completed each test 1-2 weeks a part. Maximal systolic and diastolic blood pressures were not significantly different between the two trials. Active recovery, passive recovery, and total recovery times were all significantly longer during the caffeine trial than the placebo trial. Furthermore, the time to reach age-predicted maximum heart rate was significantly shorter in the placebo trial than the caffeine trial. While caffeine consumption did not significantly affect maximal blood pressure, it did affect active and passive recovery time following vigorous intensity exercise in physically active females. Exercise endurance also improved after consuming caffeine in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]