Correlates associated with participation in physical activity among adults: a systematic review of reviews and update

Background Understanding which factors influence participation in physical activity is important to improve the public health. The aim of the present review of reviews was to summarize and present updated evidence on personal and environmental factors associated with physical activity. Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for reviews published up to 31 Jan. 2017 reporting on potential factors of physical activity in adults aged over 18 years. The quality of each review was appraised with the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) checklist. The corrected covered area (CCA) was calculated as a measure of overlap for the primary publications in each review. Results Twenty-five articles met the inclusion criteria which reviewed 90 personal and 27 environmental factors. The average quality of the studies was moderate, and the CCA ranged from 0 to 4.3%. For personal factors, self-efficacy was shown as the strongest factor for participation in physical activity (7 out of 9). Intention to exercise, outcome expectation, perceived behavioral control and perceived fitness were positively associated with physical activity in more than 3 reviews, while age and bad status of health or fitness were negatively associated with participation in physical activity in more than 3 reviews. For environmental factors, accessibility to facilities, presence of sidewalks, and aesthetics were positively associated with participation in physical activity. Conclusions The findings of this review of reviews suggest that some personal and environmental factors were related with participation in physical activity. However, an association of various factors with physical activity could not be established because of the lack of primary studies to build up the organized evidence. More studies with a prospective design should be conducted to understand the potential causes for physical activity

Heart Rate Variability and Urinary Catecholamines from Job Stress in Korean Male Manufacturing Workers According to Work Seniority

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between job stress and indicators of autonomic nervous system activity in employees of the manufacturing industry. A total of 140 employees from a company that manufactures consumer goods (i.e., diapers and paper towels) were recruited for participation in this study. Job stress was assessed using Karasek`s Job Content Questionnaire. Heart rate variability (HRV) was measured using a heart rate monitor, and urinary catecholamines were measured by an HPLC-ECD. Information on demographic characteristics, previous job history, smoking status and alcohol consumption was also collected. Job stress did not have a significant effect on HRV or catecholamines. However, low-frequency HRV was significantly higher in the high-strain group of subjects with a short duration of employment. Low- and high-frequency HRV were higher in the high-strain group than in the low-strain group, but these differences were not statistically significant. The results of the present study indicate that low-frequency HRV was significantly higher in the high-strain group of subjects with a short duration of employment. In addition, the results of this study show that HRV can be used as a potential physiologic indicator of job stress in employees with a short duration of employment.Schubert C, 2009, BIOL PSYCHOL, V80, P325, DOI 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2008.11.005Mitoma M, 2008, PROG NEURO-PSYCHOPH, V32, P679, DOI 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2007.11.011Burr RL, 2007, SLEEP, V30, P913Collins SM, 2005, AM J IND MED, V48, P182, DOI 10.1002/ajim.20204Kang MG, 2004, YONSEI MED J, V45, P838Sztajzel J, 2004, SWISS MED WKLY, V134, P514Towa S, 2004, EXP ANIM TOKYO, V53, P137, DOI 10.1538/expanim.53.137Bunker SJ, 2003, MED J AUSTRALIA, V178, P272Peter R, 2002, J EPIDEMIOL COMMUN H, V56, P294VANGELOVA K, 2002, CENT EUR J PUBL HEAL, V10, P149HA M, 2001, STANDARDIZATION DEVvan Amelsvoort LGPM, 2000, INT ARCH OCC ENV HEA, V73, P255Goldstein IB, 1999, PSYCHOSOM MED, V61, P387PIERCECCHIMARTI MD, 1999, MED LAW, V18, P125Sluiter JK, 1998, OCCUP ENVIRON MED, V55, P407KARASEK R, 1998, J OCCUP HEALTH PSYCH, V3, P322ROVERE MTL, 1998, LANCET, V351, P478Sloan RP, 1996, PSYCHOSOM MED, V58, P25VANDERBEEK AJ, 1995, OCCUP ENVIRON MED, V52, P464HUIKURI HV, 1993, CIRCULATION, V87, P1220PAGANI M, 1991, J AUTONOM NERV SYST, V35, P33PAGANI M, 1991, CIRCULATION, V83, P1143PEASTON RT, 1988, J CHROMATOGR-BIOMED, V424, P263

Young age: an independent risk factor for disease-free survival in women with operable breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The incidence of breast cancer in young women (age < 35) is low. The biology of the disease in this age group is poorly understood, and there are conflicting data regarding the prognosis for these women compared to older patients. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 2040 consecutive primary invasive breast cancer patients who underwent surgical procedures at our institution between 1990 and 1999. The younger age group was defined as patients aged <35 years at the time of diagnosis. The clinicopathological characteristics and treatment outcomes were compared between younger and older age groups. RESULTS: A total of 256 (12.5%) patients were aged <35. There was a significantly higher incidence of nuclear grade 3 and medullary histological-type tumors in younger patients compared to older patients. Axillary lymph node status, T stage, histological grade, c-erbB2 expression and estrogen receptor status did not differ significantly between the two age groups. Younger patients had a greater probability of recurrence and death at all time periods. Although there was no significant difference in disease-free survival between the two age groups in lymph node-negative patients, the younger group showed worse prognosis among lymph node-positive patients (p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, young age remained a significant predictor of recurrence (p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: Young age (<35) is an independent risk factor for relapse in operable breast cancer patients

Optimal cutoff values for anthropometric indices of obesity as discriminators of metabolic abnormalities in Korea: results from a Health Examinees study

Background Obesity is well known as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. We aimed to determine the performance of and the optimal cutoff values for obesity indices to discriminate the presence of metabolic abnormalities as a primary risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in a Health Examinees study (HEXA). Methods The current study analyzed 134,195 participants with complete anthropometric and laboratory information in a Health Examinees study, consisting of the Korean population aged 40 to 69 years. The presence of metabolic abnormality was defined as having at least one of the following: hypertension, hyperglycemia, or dyslipidemia. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for body mass index, waist to hip ratio, waist to height ratio, waist circumference, and conicity index. Results The AUC of metabolic abnormalities was the highest for waist-to-height ratio (AUC [95% CIs], 0.677 [0.672–0.683] among men; 0.691 [0.687–0.694] among women), and the lowest for the C index (0.616 [0.611–0.622] among men; 0.645 [0.641–0.649] among women) among both men and women. The optimal cutoff values were 24.3 kg/m2 for the body mass index, 0.887 for the waist-to-hip ratio, 0.499 for the waist-to-height ratio, 84.4 cm for waist circumference and 1.20 m3/2/kg1/2 for the conicity index among men, and 23.4 kg/m2 for the body mass index, 0.832 for the waist-to-hip ratio, 0.496 for the waist-to-height ratio, 77.0 cm for the waist circumference and 1.18 m3/2/kg1/2 for the conicity index among women. Conclusion The waist-to-height ratio is the best index to discriminate metabolic abnormalities among middle-aged Koreans. The optimal cutoff of obesity indices is lower than the international guidelines for obesity. It would be appropriate to use the indices for abdominal obesity rather than general obesity and to consider a lower level of body mass index and waist circumference than the current guidelines to determine obesity-related health problems in Koreans.This study was supported by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [funding codes 2004-E71004–00, 2007-E71006–00, 2005-E71011–00, 2008-E71006–00, 2005-E71009–00, 2008-E71008–00, 2006-E71001–00, 2009-E71009–00, 2006-E71004–00, 2010-E71006–00, 2006-E71010–00, 2011-E71006–00, 2006-E71003–00, 2012-E71001–00, 2007-E71004–00, and 2013-E71009–00]. The funder had a role in the design of the study and data collection. We declare that the funder had no role in the analysis or writing of the manuscript

Acute high-dose and chronic lifetime exposure to alcohol consumption and differentiated thyroid cancer: T-CALOS Korea

Source: doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151562Background: This study evaluated the effects of acute high-dose and chronic lifetime exposure to alcohol and exposure patterns on the development of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Methods: The Thyroid Cancer Longitudinal Study (T-CALOS) included 2,258 DTC patients (449 men and 1,809 women) and 22,580 healthy participants (4,490 men and 18,090 women) who were individually matched by age, gender, and enrollment year. In-person interviews were conducted with a structured questionnaire to obtain epidemiologic data. Clinicopathologic features of the patients were obtained by chart reviews. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated using conditional regression models. Results: While light or moderate drinking behavior was related to a reduced risk of DTC, acute heavy alcohol consumption (151 g or more per event or on a single occasion) was associated with increased risks in men (OR = 2.22, 95%CI = 1.27–3.87) and women (OR = 3.61, 95%CI = 1.52–8.58) compared with never-drinkers. The consumption of alcohol for 31 or more years was a significant risk factor for DTC for both men (31–40 years: OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.10– 2.28; 41+ years: OR = 3.46, 95%CI = 2.06–5.80) and women (31–40 years: OR = 2.18, 95%CI = 1.62–2.92; 41+ years: OR = 2.71, 95%CI = 1.36–5.05) compared with never-drinkers. The consumption of a large amount of alcohol on a single occasion was also a significant risk factor, even after restricting DTC outcomes to tumor size, lymph node metastasis, extrathyroidal extension and TNM stage. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that the threshold effects of acute high-dose alcohol consumption and long-term alcohol consumption are linked to an increased risk of DTC

Generation of T Follicular Helper Cells Is Mediated by Interleukin-21 but Independent of T Helper 1, 2, or 17 Cell Lineages

SummaryAfter activation, CD4+ helper T (Th) cells differentiate into distinct effector subsets. Although chemokine (C-X-C motif) receptor 5-expressing T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are important in humoral immunity, their developmental regulation is unclear. Here we show that Tfh cells had a distinct gene expression profile and developed in vivo independently of the Th1 or Th2 cell lineages. Tfh cell generation was regulated by ICOS ligand (ICOSL) expressed on B cells and was dependent on interleukin-21 (IL-21), IL-6, and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). However, unlike Th17 cells, differentiation of Tfh cells did not require transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) or Th17-specific orphan nuclear receptors RORα and RORγ in vivo. Finally, naive T cells activated in vitro in the presence of IL-21 but not TGF-β signaling preferentially acquired Tfh gene expression and promoted germinal-center reactions in vivo. This study thus demonstrates that Tfh is a distinct Th cell lineage

Association between sleep duration and metabolic syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Background Both short and long sleep duration have been consistently studied as a risk factor for obesity, hyperglycemia and hypertension. In this cross-sectional study, we provide an updated analysis of the Health Examinees (HEXA) study on the association between sleep duration and metabolic syndrome (MetS) occurrence among Koreans age 40–69 year olds. Methods A total of 133,608 subjects (44,930 men, 88,678 women) were enrolled in the HEXA study 2004–2013. Sleep duration was categorized into 4 sleep categories (< 6 h, 6 to < 8 h, 8 to < 10 h, ≥10 h). MetS criterion was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program, Adult Treatment Panel III. Logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Compared with individuals sleeping 6 to < 8 h per day, less than 6 h of sleep was associated with MetS (multivariable adjusted OR: 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05–1.19) and elevated waist circumference (1.15, 1.08–1.23) among men; with elevated waist circumference (1.09, 1.04–1.14) among women. Greater than 10 h of sleep was associated with MetS (1.28, 1.08–1.50) and elevated triglycerides (1.33, 1.14–1.56) among men; with MetS (1.40, 1.24–1.58), elevated waist circumference (1.14, 1.02–1.27), elevated triglycerides (1.41, 1.25–1.58), reduced high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (1.24, 1.12–1.38), and elevated fasting glucose (1.39, 1.23–1.57) among women. Conclusions Less than 6 h of sleep is associated with elevated waist circumference among both men and women and with MetS among men only. Greater than 10 h of sleep is associated with MetS and elevated triglycerides among both men and women and with elevated waist circumference, reduced HDL-C, and elevated fasting glucose among women only.This work was supported by the Research Program funded by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [grant number 2004-E71004–00; 2005-E71011–00; 2005-E71009–00; 2006-E71001–00; 2006-E71004–00; 2006-E71010–00; 2006- E71003–00; 2007-E71004–00; 2007-E71006–00; 2008-E71006–00; 2008-E71008–00; 2009-E71009–00; 2010-E71006–00; 2011-E71006–00; 2012-E71001–00; 2013-E71009–00]. This funding source had roles in study design and data collection

Systematic analysis of expression signatures of neuronal subpopulations in the VTA

Gene expression profiling across various brain areas at the single-cell resolution enables the identification of molecular markers of neuronal subpopulations and comprehensive characterization of their functional roles. Despite the scientific importance and experimental versatility, systematic methods to analyze such data have not been established yet. To this end, we developed a statistical approach based on in situ hybridization data in the Allen Brain Atlas and thereby identified specific genes for each type of neuron in the ventral tegmental area (VTA). This approach also allowed us to demarcate subregions within the VTA comprising specific neuronal subpopulations. We further identified WW domain-containing oxidoreductase as a molecular marker of a population of VTA neurons that co-express tyrosine hydroxylase and vesicular glutamate transporter 2, and confirmed their region-specific distribution by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrate the utility of our analytical approach for uncovering expression signatures representing specific cell types and neuronal subpopulations enriched in a given brain area.This work was supported by the grants from National Research Foundations of Korean Ministry of Science and ICT (2018M3C7A1024152, 2018R1A3B1052079, 2019M3A9B6066967, and 2019R1A6A1A10073437) and the Institute for Basic Science (IBS-R013-A1)