Observed environmental features and the physical activity of adolescent males

BACKGROUND: It has recently been reported that adult physical activity was associated with environmental features. The aim of this study was to determine whether environmental features were associated with physical activity among male adolescents. METHODS: Physical activity levels of 210 Boy Scouts were assessed for 3 days by accelerometry during 2003 and 2004. Mean minutes of sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous intensity activity were calculated. Environmental features within a 400-meter radius of each participant's home address were assessed by direct observation using the Systematic Pedestrian and Cycling Environmental Scan (SPACES) instrument. Principal component factor analysis reduced the 35 SPACES items to four factors. Hierarchical and spatial regressions were conducted with physical activity as the dependent variable and environmental factors, age, body mass index, and ethnicity as independent variables. RESULTS: Four factors were obtained: walking/cycling ease, tidiness, sidewalk characteristics, and street access and condition. Sidewalk characteristics were negatively associated with minutes of sedentary behavior while age was positively associated. Sidewalk characteristics were positively associated with minutes of light-intensity physical activity and age negatively associated. No environmental factor correlated with moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: A sidewalk characteristics factor, composed of sidewalk location, sidewalk material, presence of streetlights, and number and height of trees, was positively associated with light-intensity physical activity among male adolescents.     

A prospective, randomized study comparing laparoscopic ovarian cystectomy versus fenestration and coagulation in patients with endometriomas

OBJECTIVE: To determine the difference between two laparoscopic methods for the management of endometriomas with regard to recurrence of signs and symptoms and pregnancy rate. DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. SETTING: Infertility and gynecologic endoscopy units of two medical university hospitals. PATIENT(S): One hundred patients with endometriomas who had either infertility or pelvic pain. INTERVENTION(S): Patients were randomly divided into two groups; one group underwent cystectomy (group 1), and fenestration and coagulation were performed for the other (group 2). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): A comparison of recurrence of signs and symptoms of endometriomas and pregnancy rates in two groups. RESULT(S): Fifty-two patients were studied in group 1 and 48 in group 2. The recurrence of symptoms, such as pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea, was 15.8% in group 1 and 56.7% in group 2 after 2 years. The rate of reoperation was 5.8% in group 1 and 22.9% in group 2 and these differences were statistically significant. The cumulative pregnancy rate was significantly higher in group 1 (59.4%) than in group 2 (23.3%) at 1-year follow-up. CONCLUSION(S): Laparoscopic cystectomy of endometriomas is a better choice than fenestration and coagulation because the former technique leads to a lower recurrence of signs and symptoms and a lower rate of reoperation and a higher cumulative pregnancy rate than the latter.     

Prediction of activity energy expenditure using accelerometers in children

PURPOSE: To validate two accelerometer-based activity monitors as measures of children's physical activity using energy expenditure as the criterion measure. METHODS: Actiwatch (AW) and Actical (AC) activity monitors were validated against continuous 4-h measurements of energy expenditure (EE) in a respiratory room calorimeter and 1-h measurements in an exercise laboratory using a portable calorimeter and treadmill in 32 children, ages 7-18 yr. The children performed structured activities including basal metabolic rate (BMR), playing Nintendo, using a computer, cleaning, aerobic exercise, ball toss, treadmill walking, and running. Equations were developed to predict activity energy expenditure (AEE = EE - BMR), and physical activity ratio (PAR = EE/BMR) from a power function of AW or AC, and age, sex, weight, and height. Thresholds were determined to categorize sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous levels of physical activity. RESULTS: Activity counts accounted for the majority of the variability in AEE and PAR, with small contributions of age, sex, weight, and height. Overall, AW equations accounted for 76-79% and AC equations accounted for 81% of the variability in AEE and PAR. Relatively wide 95% prediction intervals suggest the accelerometers are best applied to groups rather than individuals. Sensitivities were higher for the vigorous threshold (97%) than the other thresholds (86-92%). Specificities were on the order of 66-73%. The positive predictive values for sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous categories were 80, 66, 69, and 74% for AW, respectively, and 81, 68, 72, 74% for AC, respectively. CONCLUSION: Both accelerometer-based activity monitors provided valid measures of children's AEE and PAR, and can be used to discriminate sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous levels of physical activity but require further development to accurately predict AEE and PAR of individuals.     

Differential diagnosis of septate and bicornuate uterus by sonohysterography eliminates the need for laparoscopy

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether sonohysterography can differentiate septate from bicornuate uterus. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Outpatient infertility clinic of a university hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty patients with history of recurrent pregnancy loss and hysterosalpingographic diagnosis of septate or bicornuate uterus. INTERVENTION(S): Sonohysterography was done in all patients. Laparoscopy was performed to confirm diagnosis in 10 patients and was not done in 10 patients. All patients with septate uterus underwent hysteroscopic metroplasty; simultaneous laparoscopy was done in women who had diagnostic laparoscopy. Abdominal metroplasty was performed in patients with bicornuate uterus. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Shape of the uterine cavity after surgery and pregnancy outcome. RESULT(S): The shape of the uterine cavity was normal in seven cases in each group and almost normal in six other patients after surgery. There were two pregnancy losses after metroplasty, one in a woman who had laparoscopy and one in a woman who did not have laparoscopy. One case of bicornuate uterus occurred in each group. CONCLUSION(S): Sonohysterography can differentiate septate and bicornuate uterus and may eliminate the need for laparoscopy to diagnose these uterine anomalies.     

Caprine cauda epididymal sperm motility pattern in the capacitation medium supplemented with leptin

Leptin is an adipocyte-derived hormone with a role in the reproductive system through metabolic signals. Studies have suggested that binding of leptin to its receptors which have been found in human and boar sperm activates biochemical pathways leading to sperm capacitation. The present study was designed to explore the effects of leptin on sperm kinetic pattern during capacitation in vitro. Epididymal spermatozoa were obtained from 30 adult goat testes in six replicates and incubated in capacitation medium (Ca²⁺-free Tyrode’s medium, Sperm-TALP) supplemented with 0 (Con, control group), 10 and 100 ng/mL (L10 and L100 groups, respectively). Motion parameters were assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis system at 10, 30, 60, 120 and 240 min after sperm incubation at 37°C and 6 % CO₂. Exposure of spermatozoa to two different doses of leptin caused a significant increase (p?<?0.05) in total and progressive sperm motility, curvilinear and straight line velocity, linearity (Lin), mean angular displacement, amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) and beat cross-frequency (BCF) compared to the control group specially up to 60 min. There was not any significant difference between L10 and L100 groups in the evaluated parameters except for the first 10 min that L100 had better result in increasing Lin, ALH and BCF (p?<?0.05) and at the time of 240 min in which L10 showed a significant increase in all motion parameters. In conclusion, this study showed that leptin supplementation had significant effects on sperm motility patterns and so could enhance the sperm capacitation process.     

Magnesium Sulfate Mediates Morphine Administration Reduction in Varicocelectomy Surgery

Aims: Varicocelectomy is the most common operation carried out by doctors for male infertility treatment. The aim of varicocele treatment is to hinder the refluxing venous drainage to the testis, retaining arterial inflow, and lymphatic drainage. A lot of pain is generated after this surgery, and the use of opium should be reduced to nearest minimum, as all drugs are toxins. Thus the aim of the present study is to facilitate morphine usage reduction after varicocelectomy surgery. Material and Methods: One-hundred (100) patients who were varicocelectomy candidate were randomized into two groups: experimental group contain 50 patients and control group contain 50 patients as well. In experimental group, 2 mL magnesium sulfate in 2 mL normal saline was injected into patient immediately after surgery. The control group received only 4 mL normal saline. Morphine dosage administered, and severity of pain monitoring was accessed and recorded with a visual analogue scale (VAS). Result: Result indicated that administration of morphine dosage in the test group 0.21 ± 0.64 mg was significantly lower as compared to the control group 0.75 ± 1.30 mg during the first 24-hour after surgery (p = 0.01). Average VAS scores in the experimental and control groups in the first 4-hour interval were 0.91 ± 1.30 and 2.9 ± 2.50 (p = 0.02) respectively. We observed a significant difference in the VAS score for pain severity and the dosages of morphine administered. Conclusions: The experimental group with magnesium sulfate in its drug formulation showed better pain control compared to the control group which received only normal saline, whose pain manifested after every few hours. This can be used for the formulation of opium for this surgery in a large scale.     

Pro12Ala polymorphism of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPARgamma-2) gene is associated with greater insulin sensitivity and decreased risk of type 2 diabetes in an Iranian population.

BACKGROUND: The Pro12Ala polymorphism of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2 (PPARgamma-2) gene has been variably associated with insulin resistance, obesity and type 2 diabetes in several populations. However, this association has not been studied in Iranian subjects and we hypothesized that this variation might be associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and related metabolic traits in this population. METHODS: The Pro12Ala genotypes were determined by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 696 unrelated subjects including 412 non-diabetic controls and 284 type 2 diabetic patients. RESULTS: The frequency of the Ala allele was 9.4% and 5.9% in controls and type 2 diabetic subjects, respectively [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.457, p=0.005]. The Ala allele did not show a significant effect on anthropometric and biochemical parameters in the type 2 diabetic group, whereas in non-diabetic subjects, carriers of the Ala allele had significantly lower fasting insulin (p=0.007) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (p=0.009) levels compared to Pro/Pro subjects. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that Pro12Ala polymorphism was an independent determinant of type 2 diabetes in this population. CONCLUSIONS: Our results for a sample of Iranian type 2 diabetes cases and controls provide evidence that the Pro/Ala genotype of the PPARgamma-2 gene is associated with insulin sensitivity and may also have protective role against type 2 diabetes.     

Analysis of hospital blood components wastage in Iran (2005-2015)

Back ground

Although blood components are precious resources, their wastage is still a problem in hospitals all over the world. As no comprehensive study has evaluated hospital wastage in Iran, the main aim of the study was to identify the wastage as a percentage of issue during 2005–2015 and the secondary objective was to focus on the reasons of the blood components wastage.

Alteration of peripheral blood T-reg cells and cytokines production in angiography personnel exposed to scattered X-rays

Angiocardiography is an X-ray examination of the blood vessels or chambers of the heart. Cardiologists and staff members applying this procedure are exposed to high levels of scattered radiation. In our previous study the incidence of unstable chromosomal aberrations and cytokinesis-blocked micronuclei were found to be significantly higher in exposed individuals than the age and sex matched controls. In the present study we assessed cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the above cases and the percentage of Treg cells. According to film dosimeter analysis, personnels received 0.25-15 mSv during the previous year (average of 3 mSv/y). Isolated PBMCs from the test and control groups were stimulated with Phorbol Myristate Acetate/ Ionomycin (PMA/I). Cytokine production was measured in the supernatants of cultured lymphocytes. The percentage of Treg cells was studied by flow cytometry. The production of IL-10 and IL-5 was significantly down-regulated in the test group compared to the control group. In contrast, IL-12 was up-regulated. Yet, no statistically significant difference was found for IFN- gamma between two groups. In addition, we found higher percentage of CD4+CD25+(bright) Treg cells in the study group compared to the controls. Taken together, it was shown that low doses of scattered X-rays could skew cytokine profile of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in favour of inflammatory response causing the increase of Treg cells.     

Association of changes in oxidative and proinflammatory states with changes in vascular function after a lifestyle modification trial among obese children

BACKGROUND: The association of changes in oxidative and proinflammatory states with vascular function after diet and exercise intervention among obese children has not been previously explored. METHODS: In this 6-week diet and exercise intervention study in 35 obese children, age 12 to 18 years, we evaluated the relationship between changes in anthropometric indices, measures of insulin resistance, C-reactive protein (CRP), oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), and oxidative stress markers with changes in carotid intima-media thickness (C-IMT) and flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery. RESULTS: At the end of the study, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and percentage body fat were decreased (P <0.05), but participants remained overweight (BMI > or = 95th percentile). Although FMD improved (P <0.05), the improvement in C-IMT did not reach statistical significance. The changes in BMI, waist circumference, fat mass, ox-LDL, malondialdehyde (MDA), CRP, insulin, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) had an inverse correlation with the changes in mean FMD after adjustment for age and sex, with the highest correlations documented for ox-LDL, CRP, and WC. The age- and sex-adjusted changes in ox-LDL, waist circumference, CRP, MDA, and body fat mass had the highest correlations with changes in C-IMT. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a common inflammatory stress condition associated with childhood obesity, notably with abdominal fat deposition, may play a role in the development of the earliest stages of proatherosclerotic inflammatory processes and subsequent vascular dysfunction. These changes might be partially reversible by short-term diet and exercise intervention, even if patients do not reach ideal body weight.