Validation of an ion selective electrode system for the analysis of serum fluoride ion

A high impedance unit was developed for use with a fluoride/pH electrode system for the measurement of serum fluoride. The linearity, accuracy, precision and detection limit of the system is reported. At a pH of 1.55, the system was linear over a range of serum fluoride concentrations up to 100 μmol l-1, with a lower limit of detection of 0.3 μmol l-1. Recoveries at this pH were 94-105% in the range 2.6-100 μmol l-1. Within-run CVs ranged from 4.2% at a level of 2.3 μmol l-1 to 1.2% at a level of 55.7 μmol l-1, while day-to-day CVs ranged from 12.8% at a level of 2.2 μmol l-1 to 4.6% at a level of 51.7 μmol l-1. The system demonstrated a rapid response time and has the potential for a smaller sample size requirement with alternative electrode shape. Continued development of this unit into an automated fluoride ion selective electrode system is recommended, since the measurement of serial serum fluoride samples is of greatest importance in assessing the impact of new anaesthetic agents on renal function

Effect of α-lipoic acid and exercise training on cardiovascular disease risk in obesity with impaired glucose tolerance

Obese subjects with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are more susceptible than healthy individuals to oxidative stress and cardiovascular disease. This randomised controlled investigation was designed to test the hypothesis that α-lipoic acid supplementation and exercise training may elicit favourable clinical changes in obese subjects with IGT. All data were collected from 24 obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) IGT patients. Following participant randomisation into two groups, fasting venous blood samples were obtained at baseline, and before and following intervention. The first group consisted of 12 participants who completed a 12 week control phase followed by 12 weeks of chronic exercise at 65% HRmax for 30 minutes a day, 5 days per week, while ingesting 1 gram per day of α-lipoic acid for 12 weeks. The second group consisted of 12 participants who completed the same 12 week control phase, but this was followed by 12 weeks of 1 gram per day of α-lipoic acid supplementation only (no exercise). The main findings show a comparatively greater rate of low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation in the group consisting of α-lipoic acid only (p < 0.05 vs. pre intervention), although total oxidant status was lower post intervention (p < 0.05 vs. baseline) in this group. However, exercise and α-lipoic acid in combination attenuates LDL oxidation. Furthermore, in the α-lipoic acid supplement plus exercise training group, total antioxidant capacity was significantly increased (p < 0.05 vs. baseline and pre intervention). Body fat percentage and waist and hip circumference decreased following exercise training (p < 0.05 vs. post intervention). There were no selective treatment differences for a range of other clinical outcomes including glycaemic regulation (p > 0.05). These findings report that α-lipoic acid ingestion may increase the atherogenicity of LDL when ingested in isolation of exercise, suggesting that in IGT the use of this antioxidant treatment does not ameliorate metabolic disturbances, but instead may detrimentally contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and development of CVD. However, when α-lipoic acid is combined with exercise, this atherogenic effect is abolished

Music tempo: a tool for regulating walking cadence and physical activity intensity in overweight adults?

© 2021 The Authors. Published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18157855This study investigated if music tempo can prompt a desired walking cadence, and if music can provide a stimulus to regulate physical activity intensity in a longitudinal physical activity intervention with free-living adults. Overweight adults (n = 37; 94.26 ± 17.11 kg; 49.63 ± 12.37 years) were randomly assigned to an intervention (IG, n = 17) or usual care group (UC, n = 20) as part of a novel nine-month walking intervention. IG participants walked to self-selected music with a predetermined tempo and received a behavioural change support programme. At baseline, four-, six- and nine-months participants were asked to walk around an elliptical track at their habitual pace (0–2 min) and then in time to a predetermined tempo (2–8 min) designed to elicit moderate intensity. Cadence response (steps/min) was assessed and intensity (heart rate (bpm) recorded using wireless telemetry. A repeated measures general linear model (GLM) examined differences between groups over time (p &lt; 0.05). All data is presented as means ± SD. At each assessment point both groups displayed an immediate cadence adjustment in response to music tempo (p &lt; 0.01) i.e., habitual cadence vs. 3 METs target cadence (p &lt; 0.05) and 3 METs target cadence vs. 5 METs target cadence (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, IG participants displayed an increased habitual cadence (0–2 min) at each assessment point (p &lt; 0.05; 110 ± 9, 121.80 ± 7.5, 121.46 ± 10, 121.93 ± 7 steps/min respectively). UC participant’s habitual cadence was unchanged from 0–9 months (p &gt; 0.05; 120 ± 10, 116 ± 13, 119 ± 12 and 119 ± 9 steps/min respectively). Music tempo may be a useful regulatory tool to prompt the free-living individual to reach an appropriate stride rate to achieve a walking pace that is at least moderate intensity. It also appears that results may be trainable as throughout the study an increased habitual walking cadence was observed, in the absence of music.Published onlin

Recruitment, retention and compliance of overweight inactive adults with intermediate hyperglycaemia to a novel walking intervention

© 2021 The Authors. Published by MDPI. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.3390/Obesities1020008This study evaluated the effectiveness of strategies used to recruit and retain overweight, inactive adults with intermediate hyperglycaemia (IHG) to a novel walking programme. Participant compliance to the nine-month randomised controlled trial (RCT) is also presented. Inactive overweight (BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2) adults (N = 42; n = 19 male, n = 23 female) aged between 18–65 years, with IHG were identified via three recruitment strategies (NHS database reviews, diabetic clinics, and a University population). Participants were randomly assigned to either Intervention Group (IG n = 22; n = 11 male, n = 11 female) or Usual Care (UC n = 20; n = 8 male, n = 12 female). IG followed a nine-month novel behaviour change intervention where they walked in accordance with physical activity guidelines using the beat of music to maintain appropriate cadence. UC received standard physical activity advice. Recruitment, retention, and intervention compliance were calculated using descriptive statistics (means or frequencies). Recruiting from a University population was the most successful strategy (64.2% response rate) followed by NHS database reviews (35.8%) and then diabetic clinics (0%). Study retention was ≥80% in both groups throughout the RCT. Intervention compliance was highest from baseline to four months (70.1 ± 39.2%) and decreased as the study progressed (43.4 ± 56.1% at four to six months and 37.5 ± 43.5% at follow-up). In total, 71.4% of IG walking completed throughout the study was at least moderate intensity. A novel walking intervention incorporating the use of music along with behaviour change techniques appears to positively influence the recruitment, retention, and walking compliance of this population.This work was supported by a Department of Education (Northern Ireland) grant as part of the PhD project of Maria Faulkner.Published onlin

The physiological effects of a walking to music intervention in adults with intermediate hyperglycemia

© 2021 The Authors. Published by Scientific Research Publishing Inc. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://www.scirp.org/journal/paperinformation.aspx?paperid=106787Purpose: Overweight individuals are at risk of intermediate hyperglycemia (IHG) [1]. Increasing physical activity (PA) in IHG is one method to reduce the risk of glucometabolic and cardiovascular (CV) complications [2]. This study investigates walking to music as a modality to increase moderate intensity PA and regulate glucometabolic disturbances. Patients and Methods: Participants were randomized to usual care (UC) or intervention group (IG) who completed a 6 month walking to music program. Physiological assessments for a range of variables (DEXA, flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and glucometabolic biomarkers) were completed at baseline, 4, 6 and 9 months (follow-up). Results: For IG group, walking compliance decreased with time however 71.4%, 79.5% and 73% of walking completed was moderate intensity at 4, 6 and 9 months. At 6 months IG FMD was significantly lower than UC and HbA1Cwas 5% lower. Other physiological markers were not altered. Conclusion: Walking to music may be a novel method to encourage moderate intensity PA. However, the majority of results demonstrate that this intervention was not more effective than UC in managing glucometabolic and CV biomarkers in IHG. Future interventions should include additional support for the entire study duration however this has cost implications.Published versio