Triglyceride lowering effect of MaxEPA fish lipid concentrate: a multicentre placebo controlled double blind study

A multicentre, double blind, randomised between-group study comparing the triglyceride lowering effect of MaxEPA, a natural marine oil, and a placebo control is described. Eighty-six patients with hypertriglyceridaemia (fasting serum triglyceride greater than or equal to 2 mmol/l) were studied for three months. There were no significant differences between the groups (48 active, 38 control) in respect of age, sex, height or weight, smoking habits or alcohol consumption. After one month triglyceride levels were reduced significantly from baseline in the treatment group and there was also a highly significant difference between the groups in favour of the marine oil. There was no significant change in serum total cholesterol in either group but there were fluctuations in high density lipoprotein (HDL) in both groups. Minor gastrointestinal side effects were reported by patients in both groups. Standard haematological and biochemical tests were done and there were no significant changes from baseline.     

Evaluating the use of streaming video to support student learning in a first-year life sciences course for student nurses

Streaming video was used to support the learning of first year student nurses on a Life Sciences module, as one of many innovations designed to increase the range of resources and support available to students. This paper describes the background to this innovation, the procedures adopted and the results of extensive evaluation. The use of streaming video was evaluated in three applications in the module. A total of 656 students used online directed-learning sessions that incorporated streamed video. Just over half of these students actually viewed the video streams. Their feedback showed that 32% found access easy, 59% enjoyed using the resources, and 25% were very confident that they learned from them. Different types of video were used, and embedded in diverse ways, but the results were consistent across the three applications. They suggest that streamed video can contribute to useful resources to support learning by student nurses but, for a variety of reasons, it may not appeal or be adequately accessible to all students at present.     

Making the most of research opportunities for nursing

The Department of Health (2005) consultation document Best Research for Best Health: A New National Health Service Research Strategy offers both opportunities for the future development of nursing research and threats to its future. Lessons from the history of health research reforms in the UK suggest that it will take time for any benefits to become obvious and that only some members of the research community will receive funding. In the past few years the quality, potential leadership and skills base for nursing research have shown unprecedented improvements. Combined with a professional understanding of nurses' careers in both practice and education, the proposed new strategy could work to the advantage of nurses and the patients who rely on their expertise. It is, however, essential that the experience and ambitions of as many nurses as possible now feed into this consultation process.     

Physical activity patterns and estimated daily energy expenditures in normal and overweight tunisian schoolchildren

Our aim was to test the normality of physical activity patterns and energy expenditures in normal weight and overweight primary school students. Heart rate estimates of total daily energy expenditure (TEE), active energy expenditure (AEE), and activity patterns were made over 3 consecutive school days in healthy middle-class Tunisian children (46 boys, 44 girls, median age (25^th-75^th) percentile, 9.2 (8.8-9.9) years. Our cross-section included 52 students with a normal body mass index (BMI) and 38 who exceeded age-specific BMI limits. TEE, AEE and overall physical activity level (PAL) were not different between overweight children and those with a normal BMI [median values (25^th-75^th) 9.20 (8.20-9.84) vs. 8.88 (7.42-9.76) MJ/d; 3.56 (2.59-4.22) vs. 3.85 (2.77-4.78) MJ/d and 1.74 (1.54-2.04) vs. 1.89 (1.66-2.15) respectively]. Physical activity intensities (PAI) were expressed as percentages of the individual’s heart rate reserve (%HRR). The median PAI for the entire day (PAI₂₄) and for the waking part of day (PAI_w) were lower in overweight than in normal weight individuals [16.3 (14.2-18.9) vs. 20.6 (17.9-22.3) %HRR, p < 0.001) and 24.8 (21.6-28.9) vs.26.2 (24.5-30.8) %HRR, p < 0.01], respectively. Overweight children allocated more of their day to sedentary pursuits [385 (336-468) vs 297 (235-468) min/d, p < 0.001], and less time to moderate physical activity [381(321-457) vs. 460 (380-534) min/d, p < 0.01]. Nevertheless, because of the greater energy cost of a given task, total and active daily energy expenditure did not differ from those with a normal BMI.

Key points

• The physical activity intensity for the entire day (PAI₂₄) and for the waking part of day (PAI_w) were lower in overweight than in normal weight individuals.
• However, because the energy cost of activity is greater in those who are overweight, they do not differ in total energy expenditure or in active energy expenditure.
• Normal children spend more time in moderate activity and less time in sedentary pursuits than overweight children.

Key words: Heart rate monitoring, activity patterns, energy expenditure, excess weight, obesity.