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Alcohol consumption is the number one public health concern in the university student population. The heterogeneous nature of university students' consumption has recently been highlighted. Thus, the aim of the current research was to use latent class analysis to employ a person centred approach to describe alcohol consumption among university students with particular reference to gender. Questionnaires were distributed to students attending lectures in randomly selected degrees in one university. A total of 2332 self-completed questionnaires were obtained, yielding a response rate of 84%. Latent class analysis was conducted. In total, 830 men and 1367 women were analysed separately to uncover latent class structures. Harms, attitudes and consumption patterns were included in a model totalling to 26 variables. A 3-class structure best described men, while a 4-class structure best described women. Both men and women reported a class of "Guarded Drinkers", "Responsible Conformers" and "Realistic Hedonists". The remaining class of women was described as "Peer-influenced drinkers". Identifying consumption typologies provides those working on tackling excessive alcohol consumption with profiles to implement tailored health promotion strategies. Additional research is required to confirm these results, develop screening tools and tailor motivational interventions which incorporate these profiles.

Background: Evidence has linked low‐grade systemic inflammation and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with development of chronic conditions. Cytokines and select proteins released by VAT may promote a low‐grade inflammatory response. A number of equations have been developed to estimate VAT levels. In this study, we compared predicted VAT equation relationships with biomarkers of inflammation. Methods: This was a cross‐sectional study of 2038 men and women aged 46–73 years. Correlation and linear regression analyses were performed to examine inflammatory biomarker relationships with four commonly assessed anthropometric measures and 10 predicted VAT equations. Results: Compared with anthropometric measures, predicted VAT equations were found to explain a greater proportion of variance in CRP (R2 =.075, p =.001), IL‐6 (R2 =.060, p =.001), TNF‐α (R2 =.017, p =.005), resistin (R2 =.011, p =.012), monocyte (R2 =.027, p =.001), eosinophil (R2 =.012, p =.01) and basophil (R2 =.015, p =.002) levels in males, and a greater variance in concentrations of C3 (R2 =.175, p =.001), IL‐6 (R2 =.090, p =.001), TNF‐α (R2 =.036, p =.001), adiponectin (R2 =.121, p =.001), the adiponectin‐to‐leptin ratio (R2 =.444, p =.001), resistin (R2 =.025, p =.001), white blood cell count (R2 =.057, p =.001), neutrophils (R2 =.061, p =.001) and lymphocytes (R2 =.020, p =.001) in females. Conclusion: Equations for assessing VAT levels might be useful to characterise metabolic health. Further studies that examine predicted VAT relationships with disease and mortality outcomes are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aside from total time spent in physical activity behaviors, how time is accumulated is important for health. This study examined associations between sitting, standing, and stepping bouts, with cardiometabolic health markers in older adults. Participants from the Mitchelstown Cohort Rescreen Study (N = 221) provided cross-sectional data on activity behaviors (assessed via an activPAL3 Micro) and cardiometabolic health. Bouts of ≥10-, ≥30-, and ≥60-min sitting, standing, and stepping were calculated. Linear regression models were fitted to examine the associations between bouts and cardiometabolic health markers. Sitting (≥10, ≥30, and ≥60 min) and standing (≥10 and ≥30 min) bouts were detrimentally associated with body composition measures, lipid markers, and fasting glucose. The effect for time spent in ≥60-min sitting and ≥30-min standing bouts was larger than shorter bouts. Fragmenting sitting with bouts of stepping may be targeted to benefit cardiometabolic health. Further insights for the role of standing need to be elicited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background This study examines compliance with local travel restrictions and assesses early uptake of mask wearing, during the initial phase of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Ireland, to inform the ongoing outbreak response. Methods A series of four nationally representative telephone surveys were developed. Information was collected at a household level and from primary respondents. Multivariable logistic regression estimated the association between sociodemographic characteristics and compliance with the local travel restriction and with mask use in primary respondents. Results Household compliance with local travel restrictions was similar by region, household size and social position. 73.4% of all household members complied, with high levels maintained over time. Higher proportions reported travelling for non-permitted reasons with time. Older age, female gender and attending higher education were independently associated with compliance to local travel restrictions. Among primary respondents, no factors were independently associated with mask use. Conclusion High compliance with local travel restrictions during the early stages of the pandemic demonstrates the engagement of the population with public health guidance. Although high compliance with local travel restrictions was generally maintained over time, non-permitted activities increased. Early adoption of mask use before required by national policy or legislation provides further evidence of the responsiveness of the population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]