Start with reducing sedentary behavior: A stepwise approach to physical activity counseling in clinical practice

Recently, sedentary behavior recommendations have been included in the public health guidelines of multiple countries, pointing to new opportunities for prevention of chronic disease as well as a potential strategy for initiating long-term behavior change.ObjectiveTo propose an evidence-informed approach to physical activity counseling that starts with a focus on reducing sedentary time.MethodsWe put forward a case for addressing changes in sedentary behavior in clinical practice using a narrative review. We also propose a new approach for the assessment and counselling of patients with respect to movement behaviors.ResultsThere is evidence to support a stepwise approach to physical activity counseling that starts with targeting sedentary behavior, particularly in those who are highly sedentary, or those who have chronic disease, or physical impairments.ConclusionsOur approach encourages clinicians to consider sedentary behavior counseling as a critical first step to physical activity counseling. For many patients, this initial step of reducing sedentary behavior could build a pathway to an active lifestyle.Practical ImplicationsA shift from long periods of sedentary time to daily routines incorporating more light intensity physical activity could result in meaningful health improvements. Importantly, this approach may be more feasible for highly inactive patients.     

Pulmonary Hypertension Registry of Kerala,India (PRO-KERALA): One-year outcomes

BackgroundShort term outcomes of patients with pulmonary hypertension are not available from low and middle-income countries including India.MethodsWe conducted a prospective study of 2003 patients with pulmonary hypertension, from 50 centres (PROKERALA) in Kerala, who were followed up for one year. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) was mainly diagnosed on the basis of Doppler echocardiography. The primary outcome was a composite end-point of all-cause death and hospital admission for heart failure. All cause hospitalisation events constituted the secondary outcome.ResultsMean age of study population was 56 ± 16 years. Group 1 and Group 2 PH categories constituted 21.2% and 59% of the study population, respectively. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of the study participants had functional class II symptoms. 31% of Group 1 PH patients were on specific vasodilator drugs.In total, 83 patients (4.1%) died during the one-year follow-up period. Further, 1235 re-hospitalisation events (61.7%) were reported. In the multivariate model, baseline NYHA class III/IV (OR 1.87, 95% C.I. 1.35–2.56), use of calcium channel blockers (OR 0.18, 95% C.I. 0.04–0.77), vasodilator therapy (OR 0.5, 95% C.I. 0.28–0.87) and antiplatelet agents (OR 1.80, 95% C.I. 1.29–2.51) were associated with primary composite outcome at one-year (p < 0.05).ConclusionIn the PROKERALA registry, annual mortality rate was 4%. More than half of the patients reported re-hospitalisation events on follow up. Uptake of guideline directed therapies were suboptimal in the study population. Quality improvement programmes to improve guideline directed therapy may improve clinical outcomes of PH patients in India.     

La asociación entre Fusobacterium nucleatum y el cáncer colorrectal: una revisión sistemática y metaanálisis

IntroductionThe etiological factors of colorectal cancer (CRC) are not precisely known, although genetic and environmental factors have been implicated. A possible association with Fusobacterium nucleatum may provide opportunities for an early diagnosis.ObjectiveTo review studies that address the association between F. nucleatum and CRC.MethodsThe MEDLINE PubMed database was searched using the terms «colorectal cancer» and «Fusobacterium nucleatum», retrieving publications published up to January 1 2020. Stata software was used for a meta-analysis.ResultsThe systematic review included 57 articles. Meta-analysis results indicated a more frequent presence of F. nucleatum in CRC tumor tissue samples in comparison to control samples of healthy tissue, with an odds ratio of 4.558 (95% CI: 3.312-6.272), and in comparison, to control samples of colorectal adenomas, with an odds ratio of 3.244 (95% CI: 2.359-4.462).ConclusionThere is a more frequent presence of F. nucleatum in the CRC. However, further studies are needed to verify this relationship.     

中药热奄包治疗肿瘤患者腹胀、腹痛的研究

目的：探讨中药热奄包热敷对肿瘤患者腹胀、腹痛的治疗效果。方法：入组80例患者随机分为观察组和对照组，对照组采用常规西药治疗，观察组在对照组的基础上采用自拟中药配方热奄包以神阙穴为中心进行热敷，两周为一疗程，入组前后分别行超声检查及症候积分评估。结果：治疗组有效率85%（34/40），对照组有效率65%（26/40），两组之间有统计学差异（P＜0.05）。结论：常规治疗基础上联合中药热奄包对于肿瘤晚期患者腹胀、腹痛有明显的疗效。     

HGF过表达对慢阻肺小鼠肺功能、肺动脉压力的影响及其作用机制

目的探讨肝细胞生长因子(HGF)过表达对慢性阻塞性肺疾病小鼠肺功能、肺动脉压力的影响及相关机制。方法取30只小鼠建立慢阻肺模型,随机分为模型组、HGF组、HGF+PI3K抑制剂LY294002组,各10只,另取10只小鼠设为对照组。各组小鼠给予相应处理后,采用实验仪器检测肺功能和肺动脉压力指标,ELISA法检测肺组织爱帕琳肽(Apelin)水平,RT-PCR检测肺组织HGF mRNA表达量,Western blot检测肺组织相关蛋白表达量,TUNEL法检测肺组织细胞凋亡。结果与对照组比较,模型组小鼠mPAP水平升高,TV、PEF、PIF、FEV0.3、FEV0.3/FVC、Apelin水平降低,肺组织HGF mRNA和蛋白表达量降低,Caspase-3表达量和细胞凋亡率升高,Bcl-2表达量、p-PI3K/PI3K和p-Akt/Akt比值降低,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05)。HGF过表达可显著逆转模型组上述指标水平,LY294002显著抑制HGF过表达对慢阻肺小鼠的作用效果。结论HGF可通过增加Apelin水平、抑制细胞凋亡改善慢阻肺小鼠肺功能和肺动脉压力,其作用机制可能与PI3K/Akt信号通路的激活相关。     

Substernal Chest Pain and Dyspnea in a Female Patient

A 76-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with substernal chest pain and dyspnea symptoms. She reported that the symptoms started 2 days earlier. These symptoms can arise from both cardiac and noncardiac conditions. It is difficult to ascribe chest pain and dyspnea symptoms to a single cause. Recognizing these symptoms is critical for inpatient cardiac and primary care nurse practitioners to choose the correct diagnosis and facilitate more effective treatment planning.