Evaluation of Physical Activity and Lifestyle Interventions Focused on School Children with Obesity Using Accelerometry: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Despite the existence of global recommendations for physical activity and lifestyle to avoid childhood obesity, there are no specific recommendations for school-age children. The aim of this meta-analysis was to measure the effects of current interventions with a physical activity component on body mass index (BMI) Z-score and on the moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA) time, measured by accelerometry, and focused on children with obesity. Randomized controlled trial studies (RCTs) based on physical activity interventions focused on children with obesity (6 to 12 years old) from January 1991 to August 2018 were included. The post-intervention mean and standard deviation of the BMI Z-score and MVPA engaged time were extracted to calculate the results using random effects models. Of a total of 229 studies considered potentially eligible, only 10 RCTs met the inclusion criteria. There were improvements in the BMI Z-score for physical activity intervention groups, compared with non-intervention children in addition to a significant increase in time engaged in MVPA. In conclusion, interventions with a physical activity component in school-children with obesity seem to be effective at reducing BMI and producing an increase in time spent engaged in physical activity. Therefore, interventions based on physical activity should be considered one of the main strategies in treating childhood obesity

Assessment of procedural knowledge in volleyball players

Procedural knowledge (PK) is an influential in decision-making and technical execution factor in volleyball.The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of applying an observation tool used by volleyball players to assess their procedural knowledge. The research combines quantitative and qualitative methodology.In the quantitative section, which involved a quasi-experimental design with a control group, a total of 20 U-16 players were distributed into a control group (n = 10; 14.70 ± 0.67) and an experimental group (n = 10; 15.00 ± 0.47). The dependent variable was the PK, which was measured using a validated questionnaire. Between the pre-test and post-test of PK, the players belonging to the experimental group observed the game through the Games Performance Assessment Instrument (GPAI) tool. The implementation of the GPAI observation instruments in the experimental groups had four sessions. The group experimental observed whole-games situations of 4 Vs 4. In the qualitative part, these players were interviewed about their experience in the process. The results proved that PK improves after the use of GPAI. The experimental group showed statistically significant differences with the control group in the total score of the questionnaire on PK (p = 0.000) and in two of the three dimensions (attacking: p = 0.031; blocking: p = 0.000). Other statistical evidence like effect size or the analysis of covariance confirmed the improvements of the group that used GPAI. In the interviews, the volleyball players attributed their improvements to the learning generated by the observation instrument used. This work demonstrates that tactical training in volleyball players helps to improve procedural knowledge

Análisis de la adiposidad y la condición física en escolares colombianos

Introduction: Body mass index and physical fitness are important markers of a healthy life style. Objective: To analyze adiposity and physical fitness in young students from public schools in Armenia, Colombia, and examine differences between sex and age groups. Materials and methods: We analyzed 1,150 students: 46.6% (n=536) males and 53.4% (n=614) females, with an age range of 10 to 20 years (15.45 ± 2.52). Physical fitness was evaluated by the Course-Navette test, the Horizontal Jump test, the 20-meter run test and the Sit-and-Reach test. Body mass index and body fat were also assessed. Results: Compared with males, females had significantly higher adiposity levels, body mass index (20.4 vs. 19.5) and body fat (23% vs. 11%). Males had higher levels of physical fitness in all the variables analyzed, with statistically significant differences (p<0.001), except in flexibility, where females achieved better results (3.1cm vs.1 3cm; p=0.003). In both sexes, body mass index increased with age (p<0.001). However, body fat decreased with age in males (p<0.001) and increased in females (p<0.001). In males, physical fitness improved with age in all variables. In females, no significant differences were found between age groups except in the maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max, p<0.001). Conclusion: Adiposity was significantly higher in women than in men. Males had a better level of physical fitness than females, except in flexibility. Physical fitness improved significantly with age in males, but did not change in females.Introducción. El índice de masa corporal y la condición física son indicadores de un estilo de vida saludable. Objetivo. Analizar el grado de adiposidad y la condición física en estudiantes de instituciones educativas públicas de Armenia, Colombia, y estudiar las diferencias por sexo y edad. Materiales y métodos. Participaron 1.150 estudiantes, de los cuales 46,6 % eran de sexo masculino (n=536) y 53,4 % (n=614) de sexo femenino; el rango de edad fue de 10 a 20 años (15,45 ± 2,52). Las pruebas de condición física usadas fueron el test de Course-Navette, el de salto horizontal, el de la carrera de 20 m y el de Wills y Dillon. También, se evaluaron el índice de masa corporal y el porcentaje de grasa. Resultados. En comparación con los hombres, las mujeres tenían mayor adiposidad, índice de masa corporal (20,4 Vs. 19,5) y porcentaje de grasa (23 Vs. 11 %). En cuanto a la condición física, los hombres registraron un mejor rendimiento en todas las variables estudiadas, con diferencias significativas (p<0,001), excepto en la flexibilidad, en la que las mujeres alcanzaron mejores resultados (3,1 Vs. 1,3 cm; p=0,003). En ambos sexos, el índice de masa corporal aumentó con la edad (p<0,001); en los hombres, el porcentaje de grasa disminuyó con la edad (p<0,0001) y en las mujeres aumentó (p<0,001). La condición física de los hombres mejoró con la edad en todas las variables, mientras que en las mujeres no hubo diferencias significativas entre los grupos de edad, salvo en el consumo máximo de oxígeno (VO2máx) (p<0,001). Conclusión. La adiposidad fue significativamente mayor en las mujeres que en los hombres. Los hombres tuvieron una mejor condición física en todas las variables, excepto en la flexibilidad. En los hombres la condición física mejoró significativamente con la edad, en tanto que en las mujeres no cambió

Assessment of the Persistence of Avena sterilis L. Patches in Wheat Fields for Site-Specific Sustainable Management

This paper aims to evaluate the spatial persistence of wild oat patches in four wheat fields over time to determine the economic feasibility of using late-season wild oat maps for early site-specific weed management (SSWM) next season. The spatial persistence of wild oat patches was analyzed by three tests: land use change detection between years, spatial autocorrelation, and análisis of spreading distance. The temporal trend of wild oat patch distribution showed a clear persistence and a generalized increase in the infested area, with a noticeable level of weed aggregation and a tendency in the new weed patches to emerge close to older ones. To economically evaluate the SSWM, five simulations in four agronomic scenarios, varying wheat yields and losses due to wild oat, were conducted. When yield losses due to wild oat were minimal and for any of the expected wheat yields, some SSWM simulations were more economically profitable than the overall application in most of the fields. Nevertheless, when the yield losses due to wild oat were maximal, all SSWM simulations were less profitable than overall treatment in all the analyzed fields. Although the economic profit variations achieved with SSWM treatments were modest, any of the site-specific treatments tested are preferred to herbicide broadcast over the entire field, in order to reduce herbicide and environmental pollution

Validation and functional characterization of GWAS-identified variants for chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a CRuCIAL study

This work was partially supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant No 856620); grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Madrid, Spain; PI17/02256 and PI20/01845); Consejeria de Economia, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad (Granada, Spain; A-CTS-448-UGR18); Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades (Sevilla, Spain; PY20/01282); Generalitat de Catalunya (17SGR437); Gilead Sciences Fellowship (GLD17/00282); the "Xarxa de Bancs de tumors" sponsored by Pla Director d'Oncologia de Catalunya (XBTC); the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro and Fondazione Cariplo (TRIDEO 16923 and AIRC IG21436); the Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) Scientific Foundation grant GCTRA18022MORE; and the Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), action Genrisk. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.In conclusion, this study confirmed the association of 31 GWASidentified SNPs with CLL risk and shed some light on the function of some of these biomarkers in the modulation of TReg, B, and T cell differentiation and proliferation, blood concentrations of B cell-related proteins, cell survival, and the expression of immuneand non-immune-related loci. Though outside the scope of the current study, it is important to mention that additional functional studies using blood samples from CLL patients are still required to validate our findings and to decipher the exact biological mechanisms behind the observed associations. A potential limitation of this work was the relatively small population size of the CRuCIAL cohort that hampered the validation of the SNPs showing modest associations.European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program 856620Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI17/02256 PI20/01845Consejeria de Economia, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad (Granada, Spain) A-CTS-448-UGR18 Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades (Sevilla, Spain) PY20/01282Generalitat de CatalunyaGeneral Electric 17SGR437Gilead Sciences GLD17/00282"Xarxa de Bancs de tumors" - Pla Director d'Oncologia de Catalunya (XBTC)Fondazione AIRC per la ricerca sul cancro Fondazione Cariplo TRIDEO 16923 AIRC IG21436Spanish Association Against Cancer (AECC) Scientific Foundation grant GCTRA18022MOREConsortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), action Genris

Aspectos medioambientales en los análisis de eficiencia

El presente estudio se focalizó en una revisión de investigaciones aplicadas utilizando variables agroclimáticas con la incorporación de efectos medio ambientales en el análisis de la eficiencia. Se consideró el análisis econométrico, el enfoque de la eficiencia técnico-ambiental, el enfoque eco-eficiencia, el enfoque metafronteras, enfoque de la eficiencia ambiental, el balance de materiales. Las conclusiones del estudio evidencia la necesidad de utilizar el análisis de eficiencia u productividad considerando los factores medioambientales y las variaciones del cambio climático. La importancia de estos factores incide en los procesos productivos para medir la eficiencia y la productividad. Se recomienda la investigación en el desarrollo de nuevas metodologías en esta parcela del análisis de eficiencia, y también que se apliquen las ya existentes para no llegar a malas estimaciones al no considerar la realidad que nos rodea

Aspectos medioambientales en los análisis de eficiencia

El presente estudio se focalizó en una revisión de investigaciones aplicadas utilizando variables agroclimáticas con la incorporación de efectos medio ambientales en el análisis de la eficiencia.  Se consideró el análisis econométrico, el enfoque de la eficiencia técnico-ambiental, el enfoque eco-eficiencia, el enfoque metafronteras, enfoque de la eficiencia ambiental, el balance de materiales.Las conclusiones del estudio evidencia la necesidad de utilizar el análisis de eficiencia u productividad considerando los factores medioambientales y las variaciones del cambio climático.  La importancia de estos factores incide en los procesos productivos para medir la eficiencia y la productividad.Se recomienda la investigación en el desarrollo de nuevas metodologías en esta parcela del análisis de eficiencia, y también que se apliquen las ya existentes para no llegar a malas estimaciones al no considerar la realidad que nos rodea

Autophagy in Hematological Malignancies

Autophagy is a highly conserved metabolic pathway via which unwanted intracellular materials, such as unfolded proteins or damaged organelles, are digested. It is activated in response to conditions of oxidative stress or starvation, and is essential for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and other vital functions, such as differentiation, cell death, and the cell cycle. Therefore, autophagy plays an important role in the initiation and progression of tumors, including hematological malignancies, where damaged autophagy during hematopoiesis can cause malignant transformation and increase cell proliferation. Over the last decade, the importance of autophagy in response to standard pharmacological treatment of hematological tumors has been observed, revealing completely opposite roles depending on the tumor type and stage. Thus, autophagy can promote tumor survival by attenuating the cellular damage caused by drugs and/or stabilizing oncogenic proteins, but can also have an antitumoral effect due to autophagic cell death. Therefore, autophagy-based strategies must depend on the context to create specific and safe combination therapies that could contribute to improved clinical outcomes. In this review, we describe the process of autophagy and its role on hematopoiesis, and we highlight recent research investigating its role as a potential therapeutic target in hematological malignancies. The findings suggest that genetic variants within autophagy-related genes modulate the risk of developing hemopathies, as well as patient survival