Comparison of College Student Hypertension Prevalence between the JNC7 and ACC/AHA Diagnostic Criteria

International Journal of Exercise Science 12(3): 898-903, 2019. Hypertension is highly prevalent and associated with non-communicable diseases and increased premature mortality risk. However, the impact of the new hypertension diagnostic criteria on the prevalence of hypertension diagnoses has yet to be examined among college students. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence of hypertension between the JNC7 and the ACC/AHA hypertension diagnostic criteria among college students. The blood pressure of 5,945 college students was assessed, and chi-square tests for independence examined differences between JNC7 and ACC/AHA criteria. The mean age of participants was 21.30 ± 1.05 years, and the majority identified as men (60.5%). Men were found to have significantly higher systolic (p \u3c .001, η2 = .10) and diastolic (p \u3c .001, η2 = .04) blood pressure, so all analyses were separated by sex. Hypertension guideline changes resulted in significant changes in hypertension categorization of both men, χ2 = 7,178, p \u3c .001, Фc = .816 and women, χ2 = 4,670, p \u3c .001, Фc = .816. Under the JNC7 guidelines, 292 (8.2%) men and 67 (2.8%) women were hypertensive. Using the ACC/AHA guidelines, 1455 (40.5%) men and 521 (22.3%) women were hypertensive. Hypertension guideline changes resulted in a significant increase in the prevalence of hypertension among college students, highlighting the potential demand for targeted prevention programs focused on fostering healthy lifestyle behaviors, i.e. physical activity and healthy eating, among students

Physical Activity and Immunity in HIV-Infected Individuals

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship exists among physical activity levels and viral load and CD4+ cell count in HIV-infected individuals. Increased viral load is associated with disease progression and symptom severity. A convenience sample of 66 male and female subjects between the ages of 18 and 64 years of age (mean 399/8) was recruited from a hospital-based HIV/AIDS clinic. Components of PA were assessed for three continuous days using a mini-motion logger wrist actigraph. These components included mean PA level, and PA index and acceleration index. Pearson’s correlational analysis was used to test the strength of association between PA components and viral load or CD4+ cell count. A significant inverse relationship was found between mean PA level and viral load (p=0.047). An inverse relationship was also observed between PA index and viral load (p=0.0061). Neither mean PA nor PA index scores correlated with CD4+ cell counts. Acceleration index, a measure of PA intensity, showed no correlation to viral load or CD4+ cell counts. These findings suggest that increasing levels of physical activity might have beneficial effects on viral load in HIV-infected individuals

Morphological and Molecular Characterizations of Psychrophilic Fungus Geomyces destructans from New York Bats with White Nose Syndrome (WNS)

Background: Massive die-offs of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) have been occurring since 2006 in hibernation site

Engineering online and in-person social networks to sustain physical activity: application of a conceptual model

BACKGROUND: High rates of physical inactivity compromise the health status of populations globally. Social networks have been shown to influence physical activity (PA), but little is known about how best to engineer social networks to sustain PA. To improve procedures for building networks that shape PA as a normative behavior, there is a need for more specific hypotheses about how social variables influence PA. There is also a need to integrate concepts from network science with ecological concepts that often guide the design of in-person and electronically-mediated interventions. Therefore, this paper: (1) proposes a conceptual model that integrates principles from network science and ecology across in-person and electronically-mediated intervention modes; and (2) illustrates the application of this model to the design and evaluation of a social network intervention for PA. METHODS/DESIGN: A conceptual model for engineering social networks was developed based on a scoping literature review of modifiable social influences on PA. The model guided the design of a cluster randomized controlled trial in which 308 sedentary adults were randomly assigned to three groups: WalkLink+: prompted and provided feedback on participants’ online and in-person social-network interactions to expand networks for PA, plus provided evidence-based online walking program and weekly walking tips; WalkLink: evidence-based online walking program and weekly tips only; Minimal Treatment Control: weekly tips only. The effects of these treatment conditions were assessed at baseline, post-program, and 6-month follow-up. The primary outcome was accelerometer-measured PA. Secondary outcomes included objectively-measured aerobic fitness, body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, and neighborhood walkability; and self-reported measures of the physical environment, social network environment, and social network interactions. The differential effects of the three treatment conditions on primary and secondary outcomes will be analyzed using general linear modeling (GLM), or generalized linear modeling if the assumptions for GLM cannot be met. DISCUSSION: Results will contribute to greater understanding of how to conceptualize and implement social networks to support long-term PA. Establishing social networks for PA across multiple life settings could contribute to cultural norms that sustain active living. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT0114280