Influence of High and Low Autonomy-Supportive Climates on Physical Activity in Children with and without Developmental Disability

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of two different instructional climates on the accumulation of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during a fully-inclusive adapted recreational physical activity program. A total of 32 children (18 typically-developing (TD), and 14 with developmental disabilities (DD) ranging in ages from 5 to 9 years, participated in six, 60-min adapted recreational sessions. Of those six sessions, three incorporated an autonomy-supportive climate (high autonomy), and three incorporated direct instruction (low autonomy). MVPA was measured using accelerometers. A repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to determine significant differences in MVPA between group (TD/DD), climate (autonomy/direct), and a group x climate interaction. Significant group and climate main effects were observed (p?=?0.002 and 0.014, respectively). However, there was not a significant group x climate interaction (p?=?0.313). These results suggest that although the group of children with disabilities spent less time in MVPA compared to their typically-developing peers, all participants spent more time in MVPA for the autonomy-supportive climate compared to the low-autonomous climate. This study is the first to quantitatively assess the efficacy of a fully-inclusive autonomy-supportive climate on physical activity levels in children with and without developmental disabilities.     

A critical assessment of early warning score records in 168,000 patients

The national early warning score (NEWS) is recommended to detect deterioration in hospitalised patients. In 2013, a NEWS-based system was introduced in a hospital service with over 250,000 annual admissions, generating large amounts of NEWS data. The quality of such data has not been described. We critically assessed NEWS data recorded over 12 months. This observational study included NEWS records from adult inpatients hospitalized in the Capital Region of Denmark during 2014. Physiological variables and the use of supplementary oxygen (NEWS variables) were recorded. We identified implausible records and assessed the distributions of NEWS variable values. Of 2,835,331 NEWS records, 271,103 (10%) were incomplete with one or more variable missing and 0.2% of records containing implausible values. Digit preferences were identified for respiratory rate, supplementation oxygen flow, pulse rate, and systolic blood pressure. There was an accumulation of pulse rate records below 91 beats per minute. Among complete NEWS records, 64% had NEWS?≥?1; 29% had NEWS?≥?3; and 8% had NEWS?≥?6. In a large set of NEWS data, 10% of the records were incomplete. In a system where data were manually entered into an electronic medical record, digit preferences and the accumulation of pulse rate records below 91 beats per minute, which is the limit for NEWS point generation, showed that staff practice influenced the recorded values. This indicates a potential limitation of transferability of research results obtained in such systems to fully automated systems.     

Urinary tetrahydroaldosterone as a screening method for primary aldosteronism: a comparative study

BACKGROUND: The major aldosterone metabolite 3 alpha,5 beta tetrahydroaldosterone reflects up to 45% of the aldosterone secretion. Its 24-h urinary excretion is likely to provide an accurate index of the daily aldosterone production and to be an indicator for primary aldosteronism (PA). METHODS: In a prospective study, the validity of tetrahydroaldosterone as a screening test for PA was evaluated in comparison to serum potassium, plasma aldosterone, plasma renin activity, plasma aldosterone/renin activity ratio (PARR), as well as 24-h urinary aldosterone-18-glucuronide and free aldosterone. A total of 111 normotensive individuals, 412 PA patients and 1453 essential hypertensive patients, were studied. The effect of blood sampling technique on potassium level was also investigated. RESULTS: Tetrahydroaldosterone differentiated PA from essential hypertension with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 95%. The sensitivity was 89% for plasma aldosterone, 87% for free aldosterone, 85% for PARR, 71% for aldosterone-18-glucuronide and 51% for renin activity. Specificities varied between 91% and 85%. The combined use of the parameters plasma aldosterone > or =9.0 ng/dL and PARR > or =25 resulted in a sensitivity of 82% and specificity of 95%. Forearm exercise proved to be a source of erroneous elevations of potassium sufficient to obscure the suspicion of PA. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that tetrahydroaldosterone is the most reliable screening test for PA. Tetrahydroaldosterone determination in combination with aldosterone-18-glucuronide and free aldosterone increases diagnostic specificity for PA. Potassium, renin, plasma aldosterone, and basal PARR are inadequate screening procedures because they are subject to high rates of false-positive and false-negative results.     

Dyslipidaemia and cardiorenal disease: mechanisms, therapeutic opportunities and clinical trials

Dyslipidaemia is an important risk factor for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). CKD generates an atherogenic lipid profile, characterised by high triglycerides, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and accumulation of small dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles, comparable to that in the metabolic syndrome. These changes are due specifically to the effects of CKD on key enzymes, transfer proteins and receptors involved in lipid metabolism. Dyslipidaemia is further compounded by dialysis, immunosuppressive drugs, and concomitant diseases such as diabetes mellitus. Post hoc analyses from large intervention trials suggest the benefit of statins in patients with early CKD, but prospective clinical trials in haemodialysis (HD) and renal transplant recipients have not conclusively shown improvements in hard cardiovascular end-points. The lack of efficacy of statins in late-stage CKD could be a consequence of other disease processes, such as calcific arteriopathy and insulin resistance, which are not modified by lipid-lowering agents. Despite uncertainty and pending the results of ongoing statin trials such as Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) and AURORA (A study to evaluate the Use of Rosuvastatin in subjects On Regular haemodialysis: an Assessment of survival and cardiovascular events), major international guidelines continue to support statin therapy in CKD and renal transplant patients to reduce cardiovascular risk burden. Because of increased risk of toxicity, particularly myopathy, statins and other lipid-regulating agents should be used cautiously in CKD and renal transplant recipients.     

The response to intravenous glucose infusion in normal and diabetic subjects

Summary Data from single injection studies on 23 normal subjects led to development of an intravenous primed — constant infusion test. The plasma glucose response to this test was determined in 48 normal and 24 diabetic subjects. Variation in plasma glucose concentration at equilibrium was minimal in normal and marked in diabetic subjects — assessed by the difference between maximum and minimum glucose concentration over the final 25 min of a 50 min infusion. This parameter was used successfully in predicting the course of 16 pregnant women with clinical suspicion of prediabetes unresolved by oral glucose tolerance tests.Submitted as part fulfillment of the requirements for Doctor of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, 1967.     

Adenylate cyclase: Its probable localization in sarcoplasmic reticulum as well as sarcolemma of the canine heart

Cardiac microsomes prepared by two different methods were compared in terms of Ca-binding and Ca-uptake, believed to represent markers for fragmented sarcoplasmic reticulum, and the (Na⁺ + K⁺)-activated ATPase activity considered to be a marker for the plasma membrane. Microsomes prepared in dilute buffer (H₂O-microsomes) contain two to four times the activity of sarcoplasmic reticulum markers when compared to microsomes prepared in 10% sucrose (suc-microsomes). Conversely, the plasma membrane marker was present in greater amounts in the suc-microsomes. Basal, epinephrine-stimulated and NaF-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities were slightly higher in H₂O-microsomes, as was the degree of stimulation by the β-adrenergic agonist. These findings provide evidence that both β-receptor and adenylate cyclase activities may be present in the heart's sarcoplasmic reticulum, as well as in the sarcolemma.     

Effect of “Speak Up” educational tools to engage patients in advance care planning in outpatient healthcare settings: A prospective before-after study

BackgroundTools for advance care planning (ACP) are advocated to help ensure patient values guide healthcare decisions. Evaluation of the effect of tools introduced to patients in clinical settings is needed.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of the Canadian Speak Up Campaign tools on engagement in advance care planning (ACP), with patients attending outpatient clinics.Patient involvement: Patients were not involved in the problem definition or solution selection in this study but members of the public were involved in development of tools. The measurement of impacts involved patients.MethodsThis was a prospective pre-post study in 15 primary care and two outpatient cancer clinics. The outcome was scores on an Advance Care Planning Engagement Survey measuring Behavior Change Process on 5-point scales and Actions (0?21-point scale) administered before and six weeks after using a tool, with reminders at two or four weeks.Results177 of 220 patients (81%) completed the study (mean 68 years of age, 16% had cancer). Mean Behavior Change Process scores were 2.9 at baseline and 3.5 at follow-up (mean change 0.6, 95% confidence interval 0.5 to 0.7; large effect size of 0.8). Mean Action Measure score was 3.7 at baseline and 4.8 at follow-up (mean change 1.1, 95% confidence interval 0.6–1.5; small effect size of 0.2).Practical valuePublicly available ACP tools may have utility in clinical settings to initiate ACP among patients. More time and motivation may be required to stimulate changes in patient behaviors related to ACP.