Indicators of abdominal adiposity in middle-aged participants of the SU.VI.MAX study: relationships with educational level, smoking status and physical inactivity

OBJECTIVES: Abdominal fat accumulation is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Identifying the demographic and lifestyle correlates of abdominal adiposity is an important step to target at-risk populations in prevention programs. There are few data of this kind in France. METHODS: Anthropometric indicators of overall (body mass index, BMI) and abdominal (waist hip ratio, WHR; waist circumference, WC) adiposity, educational level, smoking status, and physical activity were assessed in 6,705 middle-aged men and women participating in the SU.VI.MAX study. RESULTS: The likelihood of being obese was increased more than twice in physically inactive subjects of both genders after adjustment for age, smoking status and educational level (OR=2.22, CI95%: 1.74-2.83 in men; OR=2.38, CI95%: 1.84-3.09 in women). Having a high WHR (>=0.95 in men, >=0.80 in women) was more likely in subjects >=50 y, in current smokers, and less likely in men with higher education. The likelihood of having a high WHR was also increased in physically inactive subjects of both genders after adjustment for age, BMI, smoking status and educational level (OR=1.33, CI95%: 1.10-1.60 in men; OR=1.46, CI95%: 1.22-1.74 in women). Having a high WC (>=102 cm in men, >=88 cm in women) was positively associated with age and also with physical inactivity (OR=1.63, CI95%: 1.20-2.22 in women). CONCLUSIONS: These cross-sectional data suggest significant positive associations of physical inactivity with both the WHR and WC, independently of overall adiposity as assessed by the BMI.     

Addressing mental health issues in primary care: An initial curriculum for medical residents

Objective

Many express concern that modern medicine fails to provide adequate psychosocial and mental health care. Our educational system has not trained the primary care providers who care for most of these patients. Our objective here is to propose a quantum change: prepare residents and students during all years of training so that they are as effective in treating psychosocial and mental health issues as they are medical problems.

Method

We operationalize this objective, following Kern, by developing an intensive 3-year curriculum in psychosocial and mental health care for medical residents based on models with a strong evidence-base.

Results

We report an intensive curriculum that can guide others with similar training interests and also initiate the conversation about how best to prepare residency graduates to provide effective mental health and psychosocial care.

Conclusion

Identifying specific curricula informs education policy-makers of the specific requirements they will need to meet if psychosocial and mental health training are to improve.

Practice Implications

Training residents in mental health will lead to improved care for this very prevalent primary care population.     

Protein kinase C inhibitors block acetylcarnosine-induced contractions of ischemic myocardium

Protein kinase C inhibitors chelerythrine and Ro31-8220 blocked acetylcarnosine-induced myocardial contractions during subtotal ischemia, which was associated with an increase in ischemic and reperfusion myocardial contractures and a decrease in the developed pressure and cardiac contractility index during subsequent reperfusion. Neither chelerythrine nor Ro31-8220 decreased the membranoprotective effect of acetylcarnosine determined by its antioxidant properties. The results indicate the involvement of protein kinase C in acetylcarnosine stimulation of myocardial contractions in ischemia. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 9, pp. 305–307, September, 1999     

The clinico-pathogenetic validation and efficacy of using low-energy laser irradiation and glucocorticoids in treating bronchial asthma patients]

Intrapulmonary administration of glucocorticoids and low-energy laser radiation were used in the treatment of infection-dependent bronchial asthma in the phase of exacerbation. To estimate the efficacy of the combined method suggested, the parameters of external respiration, cellular, humoral and local immunity were determined, the provocation inhalation tests with acetylcholine and histamine and exercise tests were performed. The results of the treatment and subsequent follow-up data have shown that the combined use of local (endolymphatic) administration of steroids makes it possible to reduce immunological disorders, to decrease bronchial reactivity, to prolong the disease remission.     

The spatial-temporal organization of erythropoiesis in exposure of the body to hyperbaric oxygenation

A systemic approach to appraisal of the mechanisms of changes of erythropoiesis biorhythms in stress is suggested. The authors studied the daily and seasonal rhythms of serum erythropoietin (EP) level, the production of erythrocytes (PE), the kinetics of bone marrow erythroid cells, and the activity of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and G-6-PDG in peripheral blood erythrocytes in albino rats. As a stress factor hyperbaric oxygenation initiated LPO acceleration and change of PE circadian rhythm with mesor decrease. Increased production of erythrocytes with reduction of their life span was simultaneously revealed. The differences in acrophases and amplitudes of erythropoiesis values in different seasons are caused by changes of erythroid cell kinetics due to mobilization of terminal erythropoiesis.