Step Count is Associated With Lower Nighttime Systolic Blood Pressure and Increased Dipping

BACKGROUND Higher nighttime blood pressure (BP) and the loss of nocturnal dipping of BP are associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events. However, the determinants of the loss of nocturnal BP dipping are only beginning to be understood. We investigated whether different indicators of physical activity were associated with the loss of nocturnal dipping of BP. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study of 103 patients referred for 24-hour ambulatory monitoring of BP. We measured these patients' step count (SC), active energy expenditure (AEE), and total energy expenditure simultaneously, using actigraphs. RESULTS In our study population of 103 patients, most of whom were hypertensive, SC and AEE were associated with nighttime systolic BP in univariate (SC, r = -0.28, P < 0.01; AEE, r = -0.20, P = 0.046) and multivariate linear regression analyses (SC, coefficient beta = -5.37, P < 0.001; AEE, coefficient beta = -0.24, P < 0.01). Step count was associated with both systolic (r = 0.23, P = 0.018) and diastolic (r = 0.20, P = 0.045) BP dipping. Nighttime systolic BP decreased progressively across the categories of sedentary, moderately active, and active participants (125mm Hg, 116mm Hg, 112mm Hg, respectively; P = 0.002). The degree of BP dipping of BP increased progressively across the same three categories of activity (respectively 8.9%, 14.6%, and 18.6%, P = 0.002, for systolic BP and respectively 12.8%, 18.1%, and 22.2%, P = 0.006, for diastolic BP). CONCLUSIONS Step count is continuously associated with nighttime systolic BP and with the degree of BP dipping independently of 24-hour mean BP. The combined use of an actigraph for measuring indicators of physical activity and a device for 24-hour measurement of ambulatory BP may help identify patients at increased risk for cardiovascular events in whom increased physical activity toward higher target levels may be recommende

Study of the atmospheric refraction in a single mode instrument - Application to AMBER/VLTI

International audienceThis paper presents a study of the atmospheric refraction and its effect on the light coupling efficiency in an instrument using single-mode optical fibers. We show the analytical approach which allowed us to assess the need to correct the refraction in J- and H-bands while observing with an 8-m Unit Telescope. We then developed numerical simulations to go further in calculations. The hypotheses on the instrumental characteristics are those of AMBER (Astronomical Multi BEam combineR), the near infrared focal beam combiner of the Very Large Telescope Interferometric mode (VLTI), but most of the conclusions can be generalized to other single-mode instruments. We used the software package caos (Code for Adaptive Optics Systems) to take into account the atmospheric turbulence effect after correction by the ESO system MACAO (Multi-Application Curvature Adaptive Optics). The opto-mechanical study and design of the system correcting the atmospheric refraction on AMBER is then detailed. We showed that the atmospheric refraction becomes predominant over the atmospheric turbulence for some zenith angles z and spectral conditions: for z larger than 30° in J-band for example. The study of the optical system showed that it allows to achieve the required instrumental performance in terms of throughput in J- and H-bands. First observations in J-band of a bright star, alpha Cir star, at more than 30° from zenith clearly showed the gain to control the atmospheric refraction in a single mode instrument, and validated the operating law

The pea branching RMS2 gene encodes the PsAFB4/5 auxin receptor and is involved in an auxin-strigolactone regulation loop

Strigolactones (SLs) are well known for their role in repressing shoot branching. In pea, increased transcript levels of SL biosynthesis genes are observed in stems of highly branched SL deficient (ramosus1 (rms1) and rms5) and SL response (rms3 and rms4) mutants indicative of negative feedback control. In contrast, the highly branched rms2 mutant has reduced transcript levels of SL biosynthesis genes. Grafting studies and hormone quantification led to a model where RMS2 mediates a shoot-to-root feedback signal that regulates both SL biosynthesis gene transcript levels and xylem sap levels of cytokinin exported from roots. Here we cloned RMS2 using synteny with Medicago truncatula and demonstrated that it encodes a putative auxin receptor of the AFB4/5 clade. Phenotypes similar to rms2 were found in Arabidopsis afb4/5 mutants, including increased shoot branching, low expression of SL biosynthesis genes and high auxin levels in stems. Moreover, afb4/5 and rms2 display a specific resistance to the herbicide picloram. Yeast-two-hybrid experiments supported the hypothesis that the RMS2 protein functions as an auxin receptor. SL root feeding using hydroponics repressed auxin levels in stems and down-regulated transcript levels of auxin biosynthesis genes within one hour. This auxin down-regulation was also observed in plants treated with the polar auxin transport inhibitor NPA. Together these data suggest a homeostatic feedback loop in which auxin up-regulates SL synthesis in an RMS2-dependent manner and SL down-regulates auxin synthesis in an RMS3 and RMS4- dependent manner

Estimation of the prevalence of lymphoedema/chronic oedema in acute hospital in-patients

Background: To estimate the prevalence of lymphoedema/chronic oedema and wounds in acute hospital in-patients in 5 different countries. Method: A point-prevalence study was carried out during working day periods in six general hospitals in four countries (Denmark, France, United Kingdom, Australia) and one hospital oncology in-patient unit in one other country (Ireland). The study used validated clinical tools for the assessment and collection of data. Data were collected by expert clinicians through interviews and physical examination of the patients present in the wards. Results: A total of 1905 patients could be included and investigated among the 3041 total bed occupancy in the seven hospitals. Lymphoedema/chronic oedema was present in 723 of them (38%). Main risk factors associated with chronic oedema were age, morbid obesity and heart failure as well as chair bound immobility and neurological deficiency. History of cellulitis was frequent in patients with chronic oedema and wounds (24.8%), chronic oedema alone (14.1%) as compared to the 1.5% prevalence in patients without chronic oedema. Conclusion: Lymphoedema/chronic oedema is very frequent in patients hospitalized in hospital acute wards. It is strongly associated with obesity, venous insufficiency and heart failure. Our results strongly suggest a hidden health care burden and cost linked to chronic oedema independently of chronic wounds

“How we do it”: A qualitative study of strategies for adopting an exercise routine while living with type 1 diabetes

IntroductionFor people living with type 1 diabetes (T1D) the challenge of increasing daily physical activity (PA) is compounded by the increased risks of hypoglycemia and glucose variability. Little information exists on the lived experience of overcoming these barriers and adopting and maintaining an active lifestyle while living with T1D.Research Design and MethodsWe conducted a patient-led qualitative study consisting of semi-structured interviews or focus groups with 22 individuals at least 16 years old living with T1D. We used existing patient co-researcher networks and snowball sampling to obtain a sample of individuals who reported being regularly physically active and had been diagnosed with T1D for at least one year. We used an interpretive description analysis to generate themes and strategies associated with maintaining an active lifestyle while living with T1D. We involved patient co-researchers in study design, data collection, and interpretation.Results14 self-identified women and 8 self-identified men (ages 19-62, median age 32 years) completed the study, led by either a researcher, or a patient co-researcher and research assistant regarding their strategies for maintaining an active lifestyle. We identified five themes that facilitate regular sustained PA: (1) Structure and organization are important to adopt safe PA in daily life “I can’t do spontaneous exercise. I actually need a couple hours of warning minimum”; (2) Trial and error to learn how their body responds to PA and food “Once you put the time and effort into learning, you will have greater success”; (3) Psychosocial aspects of PA “…because it’s not just your body, it’s your soul, it’s your mind that exercise is for”; (4) Diabetes technology and (5) Education and peer support. Strategies to overcome barriers included (1) Technology; (2) Integrating psychosocial facilitators; (3) Insulin and carbohydrate adjustments; and (4) Planning for exercise.ConclusionsLiving an active lifestyle with T1D is facilitated by dedicated structure and organization of routines, accepting the need for trial and error to understand the personalized glycemic responses to PA and careful use of food to prevent hypoglycemia. These themes could inform clinical practice guidelines or future trials that include PA interventions

Shifts in the smart research agenda? 100 priority questions to accelerate sustainable energy futures

Energy transitions are at the top of global agendas in response to the growing challenges of climate change and international conflict, with the EU positioning itself as playing a pivotal role in addressing climate risks and sustainability imperatives. European energy transition policies identify 'smart consumption' as a key element of these efforts, which have previously been explored from a predominantly technical perspective thus often failing to identify or address fundamental interlinkages with social systems and consequences. This paper aims to contribute to interdisciplinary energy research by analysing a forward looking 'Horizon Scan' research agenda for smart consumption, driven by the Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH). Reflecting on an extensive systematic Delphi Method exercise surveying over 70 SSH scholars from various institutional settings across Europe, we highlight what SSH scholars see as future directions for smart consumption research. Building from seven thematic areas (under which are grouped 100 SSH research questions), the study identifies three key 'shifts' this new smart research agenda represents, when compared to previous agendas: (1) From technological inevitability to political choice, highlighting the need for a wider political critique, with the potential to open up discussions of the instrumentalisation of smart research; (2) From narrow representation to diverse inclusion, moving beyond the shortcomings of current discourses for engaging marginalised communities; and (3) From individual consumers to interconnected citizens, reframing smart consumption to offer a broader model of social change and governance. Social Sciences and Humanities scholarship is essential to address these shifts in meaningful (rather than tokenistic) ways. This agenda and the shifts it embodies represent key tools to enable better interdisciplinary working between SSH and teams from the technical and natural sciences.Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic DKRVO, (RP/CPS/2022/005); Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, H2020; European Commission, EC; Horizon 2020, (826025)European Union [826025]; Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic DKRVO [RP/CPS/2022/005

The SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics' resources: focus on curated databases

The SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (www.isb-sib.ch) provides world-class bioinformatics databases, software tools, services and training to the international life science community in academia and industry. These solutions allow life scientists to turn the exponentially growing amount of data into knowledge. Here, we provide an overview of SIB's resources and competence areas, with a strong focus on curated databases and SIB's most popular and widely used resources. In particular, SIB's Bioinformatics resource portal ExPASy features over 150 resources, including UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot, ENZYME, PROSITE, neXtProt, STRING, UniCarbKB, SugarBindDB, SwissRegulon, EPD, arrayMap, Bgee, SWISS-MODEL Repository, OMA, OrthoDB and other databases, which are briefly described in this article

Obésité et alimentation, une approche communicationnelle des discours et des pratiques

It is within the framework of Information and Communication Sciences that our study proposes to analyze the communicational approach of obesity and diet to highlight how discourse influences eating practices. By relying on the study of scientists discourses, experts, health and food professionals and on that of the messages delivered by educators to the wide public, we try to determine why the innumerable recommendations generate in those who receive them, process them, interpret them, confusion or even misunderstanding. However, these are not the sources of information that are lacking to keep abreast of advances in medical science, innovations or progress proposed by Agro-industrials. Arguments, slogans, promotional information messages, advertisements in all media are all jostling to present a more comfortable, more responsible, healthier and even more enjoyable life for consumers as accessible to consumers. But the figures are cruel, obesity is implicated in an ever increasing number of pathologies. And the efforts of the medical world to relay institutional recommendations are lost in the cacophony of communication from the rich, powerful and inventive food sector. Many health programs, such as the PNNS, have not achieved their objectives. We scrutinize the public speeches produced and disseminated by the medical world, by food industry manufacturers, and by prescribers for the benefit of end consumers who have become potential patients. Then we examine how these messages are perceived and received through the prisms imposed by disparate cultures, scales of values, representations and plural but disparate interpretations. Finally, we implement and test the discursive tools at our disposal to promote the transmission of messages against obesity and promote a more fruitful praxeologyC’est dans le cadre des Sciences de l’Information et de la Communication que notre étude se propose d’analyser l’approche communicationnelle de l’obésité et de l’alimentation pour mettre en évidence en quoi les discours influent sur les pratiques alimentaires quotidiennes. En nous appuyant sur l’étude des discours des scientifiques, des experts en nutrition, des professionnels de la santé et de l’alimentation et sur celle des messages délivrés par les formateurs et les enseignants, nous tentons de déterminer pourquoi les innombrables recommandations génèrent chez ceux qui les reçoivent, les traitent, les interprètent, une confusion voire une incompréhension, au point de créer des effets contraires à leurs objectifs.Ce ne sont pourtant pas les sources d’informations qui manquent pour être au fait des avancées des sciences médicales, des innovations ou des progrès proposés par les agro-industriels. Arguments, slogans, messages d’information promotionnelle, publicités sur tous supports se bousculent pour présenter comme accessibles pour le consommateur une vie plus confortable, plus responsable, plus saine et même plus agréable. Mais les chiffres sont cruels, l’obésité est impliquée dans un nombre toujours croissant de pathologies. Et les efforts du monde médical pour relayer les recommandations institutionnelles se perdent dans la cacophonie d’une communication du secteur alimentaire riche, puissant et inventif. Nombreux sont les programmes de santé, tel le PNNS qui n’ont pas atteint leurs objectifs.Nous scrutons les discours publics produits et diffusés par le monde médical, par les industriels de l’agro-alimentaire, et par les prescripteurs à l’intention du consommateur final devenu patient potentiel. Puis nous examinons comment ces messages sont perçus et reçus à travers les prismes imposés par des cultures, des échelles de valeurs, des représentations et par conséquent des interprétations plurielles mais disparates. Enfin, nous mettons en œuvre et à l’épreuve les outils discursifs dont nous disposons pour promouvoir la transmission, sinon la production des messages de lutte contre l’obésité et favoriser, avant toute prétention pratique, une praxéologie approfondie

Obésité et alimentation, une approche communicationnelle des discours et des pratiques

It is within the framework of Information and Communication Sciences that our study proposes to analyze the communicational approach of obesity and diet to highlight how discourse influences eating practices. By relying on the study of scientists discourses, experts, health and food professionals and on that of the messages delivered by educators to the wide public, we try to determine why the innumerable recommendations generate in those who receive them, process them, interpret them, confusion or even misunderstanding. However, these are not the sources of information that are lacking to keep abreast of advances in medical science, innovations or progress proposed by Agro-industrials. Arguments, slogans, promotional information messages, advertisements in all media are all jostling to present a more comfortable, more responsible, healthier and even more enjoyable life for consumers as accessible to consumers. But the figures are cruel, obesity is implicated in an ever increasing number of pathologies. And the efforts of the medical world to relay institutional recommendations are lost in the cacophony of communication from the rich, powerful and inventive food sector. Many health programs, such as the PNNS, have not achieved their objectives. We scrutinize the public speeches produced and disseminated by the medical world, by food industry manufacturers, and by prescribers for the benefit of end consumers who have become potential patients. Then we examine how these messages are perceived and received through the prisms imposed by disparate cultures, scales of values, representations and plural but disparate interpretations. Finally, we implement and test the discursive tools at our disposal to promote the transmission of messages against obesity and promote a more fruitful praxeologyC’est dans le cadre des Sciences de l’Information et de la Communication que notre étude se propose d’analyser l’approche communicationnelle de l’obésité et de l’alimentation pour mettre en évidence en quoi les discours influent sur les pratiques alimentaires quotidiennes. En nous appuyant sur l’étude des discours des scientifiques, des experts en nutrition, des professionnels de la santé et de l’alimentation et sur celle des messages délivrés par les formateurs et les enseignants, nous tentons de déterminer pourquoi les innombrables recommandations génèrent chez ceux qui les reçoivent, les traitent, les interprètent, une confusion voire une incompréhension, au point de créer des effets contraires à leurs objectifs.Ce ne sont pourtant pas les sources d’informations qui manquent pour être au fait des avancées des sciences médicales, des innovations ou des progrès proposés par les agro-industriels. Arguments, slogans, messages d’information promotionnelle, publicités sur tous supports se bousculent pour présenter comme accessibles pour le consommateur une vie plus confortable, plus responsable, plus saine et même plus agréable. Mais les chiffres sont cruels, l’obésité est impliquée dans un nombre toujours croissant de pathologies. Et les efforts du monde médical pour relayer les recommandations institutionnelles se perdent dans la cacophonie d’une communication du secteur alimentaire riche, puissant et inventif. Nombreux sont les programmes de santé, tel le PNNS qui n’ont pas atteint leurs objectifs.Nous scrutons les discours publics produits et diffusés par le monde médical, par les industriels de l’agro-alimentaire, et par les prescripteurs à l’intention du consommateur final devenu patient potentiel. Puis nous examinons comment ces messages sont perçus et reçus à travers les prismes imposés par des cultures, des échelles de valeurs, des représentations et par conséquent des interprétations plurielles mais disparates. Enfin, nous mettons en œuvre et à l’épreuve les outils discursifs dont nous disposons pour promouvoir la transmission, sinon la production des messages de lutte contre l’obésité et favoriser, avant toute prétention pratique, une praxéologie approfondie

Obesity and food, discours and practices communication approach

C’est dans le cadre des Sciences de l’Information et de la Communication que notre étude se propose d’analyser l’approche communicationnelle de l’obésité et de l’alimentation pour mettre en évidence en quoi les discours influent sur les pratiques alimentaires quotidiennes. En nous appuyant sur l’étude des discours des scientifiques, des experts en nutrition, des professionnels de la santé et de l’alimentation et sur celle des messages délivrés par les formateurs et les enseignants, nous tentons de déterminer pourquoi les innombrables recommandations génèrent chez ceux qui les reçoivent, les traitent, les interprètent, une confusion voire une incompréhension, au point de créer des effets contraires à leurs objectifs.Ce ne sont pourtant pas les sources d’informations qui manquent pour être au fait des avancées des sciences médicales, des innovations ou des progrès proposés par les agro-industriels. Arguments, slogans, messages d’information promotionnelle, publicités sur tous supports se bousculent pour présenter comme accessibles pour le consommateur une vie plus confortable, plus responsable, plus saine et même plus agréable. Mais les chiffres sont cruels, l’obésité est impliquée dans un nombre toujours croissant de pathologies. Et les efforts du monde médical pour relayer les recommandations institutionnelles se perdent dans la cacophonie d’une communication du secteur alimentaire riche, puissant et inventif. Nombreux sont les programmes de santé, tel le PNNS qui n’ont pas atteint leurs objectifs.Nous scrutons les discours publics produits et diffusés par le monde médical, par les industriels de l’agro-alimentaire, et par les prescripteurs à l’intention du consommateur final devenu patient potentiel. Puis nous examinons comment ces messages sont perçus et reçus à travers les prismes imposés par des cultures, des échelles de valeurs, des représentations et par conséquent des interprétations plurielles mais disparates. Enfin, nous mettons en œuvre et à l’épreuve les outils discursifs dont nous disposons pour promouvoir la transmission, sinon la production des messages de lutte contre l’obésité et favoriser, avant toute prétention pratique, une praxéologie approfondie.It is within the framework of Information and Communication Sciences that our study proposes to analyze the communicational approach of obesity and diet to highlight how discourse influences eating practices. By relying on the study of scientists discourses, experts, health and food professionals and on that of the messages delivered by educators to the wide public, we try to determine why the innumerable recommendations generate in those who receive them, process them, interpret them, confusion or even misunderstanding. However, these are not the sources of information that are lacking to keep abreast of advances in medical science, innovations or progress proposed by Agro-industrials. Arguments, slogans, promotional information messages, advertisements in all media are all jostling to present a more comfortable, more responsible, healthier and even more enjoyable life for consumers as accessible to consumers. But the figures are cruel, obesity is implicated in an ever increasing number of pathologies. And the efforts of the medical world to relay institutional recommendations are lost in the cacophony of communication from the rich, powerful and inventive food sector. Many health programs, such as the PNNS, have not achieved their objectives. We scrutinize the public speeches produced and disseminated by the medical world, by food industry manufacturers, and by prescribers for the benefit of end consumers who have become potential patients. Then we examine how these messages are perceived and received through the prisms imposed by disparate cultures, scales of values, representations and plural but disparate interpretations. Finally, we implement and test the discursive tools at our disposal to promote the transmission of messages against obesity and promote a more fruitful praxeolog