Fatigue, reduced sleep quality and restless legs syndrome in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease: a web-based survey

To investigate the prevalence of fatigue, daytime sleepiness, reduced sleep quality, and restless legs syndrome (RLS) in a large cohort of patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Participants of a web-based survey answered the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, and, if the diagnostic criteria of RLS were met, the International RLS Severity Scale. Diagnosis of RLS was affirmed in screen-positive patients by means of a standardized telephone interview. HRQoL was assessed by using the SF-36 questionnaire. Age- and sex-matched control subjects were recruited from waiting relatives of surgical outpatients. 227 adult self-reported CMT patients answered the above questionnaires, 42.9% were male, and 57.1% were female. Age ranged from 18 to 78 years. Compared to controls (n = 234), CMT patients reported significantly higher fatigue, a higher extent and prevalence of daytime sleepiness and worse sleep quality. Prevalence of RLS was 18.1% in CMT patients and 5.6% in controls (p = 0.001). RLS severity was correlated with worse sleep quality and reduced HRQoL. Women with CMT were affected more often and more severely by RLS than male patients. With regard to fatigue, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness, RLS prevalence, RLS severity, and HRQoL, we did not find significant differences between genetically distinct subtypes of CMT. HRQoL is reduced in CMT patients which may be due to fatigue, sleep-related symptoms, and RLS in particular. Since causative treatment for CMT is not available, sleep-related symptoms should be recognized and treated in order to improve quality of life

VersaClimbing Elicits Higher VO2 max Than Does Treadmill Running or Rowing Ergometry

Collegiate varsity oarswomen and coxswain (N = 11) completed maximal aerobic exercise tests on a treadmill, a rowing ergometer, and a simulated climbing machine. Successful completion of each test was evidenced by a plateau in oxygen consumption in response to increasing work rates. VO2 max (l-min-1), and minute ventilation (VE, l-min-1) at VO2 max were significantly greater (P \u3c 0.05) during simulated climbing compared to treadmill running and rowing ergometry. Maximal heart rate (beats-min-1) was significantly greater (P \u3c 0.05) during climbing and running than during rowing. Findings indicate that progressive, incremental, whole-body climbing exercise elicits significantly greater VO2 max values for collegiate oarswomen and coxswain than does graded treadmill running or progressive rowing ergometry

Depression, anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorders in labor migrants, asylum seekers and refugees a systematic overview

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Depression and anxiety in labor migrants and refugees - A systematic review and meta-analysis

Prevalence rates of depression and anxiety among migrants (i.e. refugees, labor migrants) vary among studies and it's been found that prevalence rates of depression and anxiety may be linked to financial strain in the country of immigration. Our aim is to review studies on prevalence rates of depression and/or anxiety (acknowledging that Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is within that class of disorders), and to evaluate associations between the Gross National Product (GNP) of the immigration country as a moderating factor for depression, anxiety and PTSD among migrants. We carried out a systematic literature review in the databases MEDLINE and EMBASE for population based studies published from 1990 to 2007 reporting prevalence rates of depression and/or anxiety and or PTSD according to DSM- or ICD- criteria in adults, and a calculation of combined estimates for proportions using the DerSimonian-Laird estimation. A total of 348 records were retrieved with 37 publications on 35 populations meeting our inclusion criteria. 35 studies were included in the final evaluation. Our meta-analysis shows that the combined prevalence rates for depression were 20 percent among labor migrants vs. 44 percent among refugees; for anxiety the combined estimates were 21 percent among labor migrants vs. 40 percent among (n=24,051) refugees. Higher GNP in the country of immigration was related to lower symptom prevalence of depression and/or anxiety in labor migrants but not in refugees. We conclude that depression and/or anxiety in labor migrants and refugees require separate consideration, and that better economic conditions in the host country reflected by a higher GNP appear to be related to better mental health in labor migrants but not in refugees

Blood Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels in Children Significantly Correlate with BMI and Maternal Lipid Levels

The positive correlation between parent and child blood lipids is established, as is the association between body mass index (BMI) and blood lipids. However, the relative importance of each has not been examined. PURPOSE: The purpose of this descriptive research project was to determine if blood lipids for African American (AA) girls were more highly correlated with maternal blood lipids or with the child\u27s BMI. METHODS: Blood was drawn from apparently healthy, 12–14-hr fasted AA mothers and daughters (n = 44 and 66, respectively) and heights and weights were measured. Data were blocked by BMI for normal weight (BMI \u3e 25), overweight (BMI 25-29.99), and obesity (BMI \u3e 30) and ANOVA tests run to determine differences in blood lipids between the groups. Correlations were run between all variables, divided into mother\u27s vs daughter\u27s, and correlation tests were run between mother and daughter TC, LDL and HDL. RESULTS: The child\u27s blood lipids were significantly correlated with maternal blood lipids (LDL r = .40, p \u3c 0.01; HDL r = .20, p \u3c 0.05; TC r = .32, p \u3c 0.01). Daughters\u27 LDL and TC were not significantly correlated with their own BMI however daughter\u27s HDL was negatively correlated with daughter\u27s BMI (r = .36 p \u3c 0.01). There was not a significant difference for blood lipids between BMI groups (normal weight, overweight, and obesity). CONCLUSION: A child\u27s blood lipids are positively correlated with the mother\u27s blood lipids and HDL is negatively correlated with BMI. Supported by Ohio Board of Regents, University of Dayton Graduate School and The Department of Health and Sport Science at the University of Dayton

Blood Lipid Levels are Related to Physical Activity Levels for African American Women and Children

Coronary artery disease (CAD) results from the buildup of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) in atherosclerotic plaques on arterial walls, and is highly correlated with obesity. African American women are at high-risk for developing CAD, and approximately 50% of African American women are overweight after age 20 and have elevated blood cholesterol levels. Exercise increases high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and is thought to decrease LDL, but African American women exercise less than their Caucasian counterparts. PURPOSE: This descriptive study was conducted to determine the prevalence of obesity, level of physical activity (PA), and blood lipid levels for inner-city African American mothers (ages 21-50 years) and their daughters (ages 5-17 years) (n = 44 and 66, respectively). METHODS: Apparently healthy, inner-city African American women and daughters (ages 5-17 yr) volunteered and gave informed consent to participate. Technicians assisted as subjects reported 24-hr food recalls and completed physical activity questionnaires. Data were blocked by the body mass index (BMI) for normal weight (BMI \u3c 25), overweight (BMI 25-29.99), and obesity (BMI \u3e 30) and ANOVAs run to determine differences in blood lipids and PA between the groups. Correlations were run between variables. RESULTS: LDL decreased as PA increased for all groups except obese daughters, but only reached significance for normal weight and overweight daughters (p \u3c 0.001). There was not a consistent relationship between HDL and PA. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that PA may correlate with LDL in African American women and girls. Additional studies are needed that implement a controlled exercise intervention program to accurately assess these effects. Supported by The Ohio Board of Regents and the Graduate School and the Department of Health and Sport Science, University of Dayton

Predictors for Lower Back Pain for 41 Inner-city Kindergarten thru Third-grade Students

Back pain prevalence rates in children and adolescents are high, and back pain at a young age has a predictive value on back pain as an adult. Preventing back pain in children through the school system to promote a healthy school environment is contingent upon assessing risk factors for back pain in children and adolescents. Poor abdominal, lower back, and hamstring flexibility and strength may contribute to lower back pain. PURPOSE: To determine the hamstring flexibility, lower back strength, and abdominal strength of 41 inner-city children ranging from kindergarten to third grade. METHODS: University of Dayton students/technicians assessed 41 inner-city children\u27s lower back strength (maximal hip and back extensions completed in 30 s), hamstring flexibility (v-sit and reach), and abdominal strength (maximal number of curl-ups completed in 60 s). Individual t-tests were used to compare actual test scores with President\u27s Fitness Challenge standards. RESULTS:The measured scores for curl-ups and v-sit were significantly lower than the age- and gender-adjusted 85th percentile Presidential Fitness Challenge scores (p\u3c0.0001 and 0.085, respectively). Significant gender and ethnic differences included overall lower scores for females and Caucasians compared to males and African Americans, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early detection and intervention in grade school children may reduce the incidence of lower back pain in adults

Body Fat Distribution and Resting Energy Expenditure in Obese Premenopausal Women.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between body fat distribution and resting energy expenditure (REE) in obese women. Abdominal adiposity was determined by six different methods: waist to hip circumference ratio (WHR), sagittal diameter (SD), waist circumference, sagittal diameter/height (SD/H), visceral adipose tissue (VAT), and the conicity index (CI). REE was determined by indirect calorimetry. When age, fat free mass, and fat mass were controlled for, SD and SD/H were the only anthropometric measures to correlate with REE at r = 0.63, P \u3c .01 and r = 0.55, P \u3c .05, respectively