Physical Activity Coparticipation and Independent Mobility as Correlates of Objectively Measured Nonschool Physical Activity in Different School Grades: The UP&DOWN Study

Background: The aim was to investigate the association of (i) parental, sibling, and friend coparticipation in physical activity (PA); and (ii) independent mobility (IM) for walking, cycling, and taking public transport with objectively measured nonschool PA on week- and weekend days in different school grades. Methods: A total of 1376 Spanish youngsters (50.8% boys; mean age 11.96 ± 2.48 years) participated in the study. Participants reported the frequency of their parental, sibling, and best friend coparticipation in PA with them and their IM for walk- ing, cycling, and taking public transport. PA was objectively measured by accelerometry. Results: Coparticipation in PA and IM were more frequently related to nonschool PA among adolescents than among children. Friend coparticipation in PA was positively associated with higher levels of nonschool PA in adolescents. IM for walking and IM for cycling in adolescents were related to nonschool PA on weekdays. Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for age-focused interventions and the integration of family and friends to promote PA in youth

Immunohistochemical assessment of Pax8 expression during pancreatic islet development and in human neuroendocrine tumors

The paired box transcription factor Pax8 is critical for development of the eye, thyroid gland as well as the urinary and reproductive organs. In adult, Pax8 overexpression is associated with kidney, ovarian and thyroid tumors and has emerged as a specific marker for these cancers. Recently, Pax8 expression was also reported in human pancreatic islets and in neuroendocrine tumors, identifying Pax8 as a novel member of the Pax family expressed in the pancreas. Herein, we sought to provide a comprehensive analysis of Pax8 expression during pancreogenesis and in adult islets. Immunohistochemical analysis using the most employed Pax8 polyclonal antibody revealed strong nuclear staining in the developing mouse pancreas and in mature human and mouse islets. Astonishingly, Pax8 mRNA in mouse islets was undetectable while human islets exhibited low levels. These discrepancies raised the possibility of antibody cross-reactivity. This premise was confirmed by demonstrating that the polyclonal Pax8 antibody also recognized the islet-enriched Pax6 protein both by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Thus, in islets polyclonal Pax8 staining corresponds mainly to Pax6. In order to circumvent this caveat, a novel Pax8 monoclonal antibody was used to re-evaluate whether Pax8 was indeed expressed in islets. Surprisingly, Pax8 was not detected in neither the developing pancreas or in mature islets. Reappraisal of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors using this Pax8 monoclonal antibody exhibited no immunostaining as compared to the Pax8 polyclonal antibody. In conclusion, Pax8 is not expressed in the pancreas and cast doubts on the value of Pax8 as a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor marker

Maternal physical activity before and during the prenatal period and the offspring's academic performance in youth. The UP & DOWN study

Objective: To examine the association of maternal physical activity before and during pregnancy with academic performance in youth. Methods: This study included 1868 youth (6–18 years) and their mothers. Mothers recalled their physical activity before and during pregnancy. Mothers were categorized into four groups: “remained active”, “became inactive”, “became active” and “remained inactive”. Academic performance was assessed through school records. Results: Boys whose mothers practiced physical activity before or during pregnancy had significantly higher scores in academic performance indicators independently of physical activity, fitness, current body mass index (BMI) and birthweight than those whose mothers did not practice physical activity before or during pregnancy (all p  <  0.05). In addition, boys whose mothers remained active had higher scores in all academic indicators (ranging from +0.358 to +0.543) than boys whose mothers remained inactive. Boys whose mothers remained active had higher scores in Language (score +0.546; 95% CI, 0.150–0.940), average of Math and Language (score +0.468; 95% CI, 0.100–0.836) and grade point average (GPA) (score +0.368; 95% CI, 0.092–0.644) than boys whose mothers became active. Conclusions: Maternal physical activity before and during pregnancy may positively influence youth's academic performance. Continuing maternal physical activity practice during pregnancy may have greater benefits for youth's academic performance

Physical activity coparticipation and independent mobility as correlates of objectively measured nonschool physical activity in different school grades : the UP&DOWN study

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate the association of (i) parental, sibling, and friend coparticipation in physical activity (PA); and (ii) independent mobility (IM) for walking, cycling, and taking public transport with objectively measured nonschool PA on week- and weekend days in different school grades. METHODS: A total of 1376 Spanish youngsters (50.8% boys; mean age 11.96 ± 2.48 years) participated in the study. Participants reported the frequency of their parental, sibling, and best friend coparticipation in PA with them and their IM for walking, cycling, and taking public transport. PA was objectively measured by accelerometry. RESULTS: Coparticipation in PA and IM were more frequently related to nonschool PA among adolescents than among children. Friend coparticipation in PA was positively associated with higher levels of nonschool PA in adolescents. IM for walking and IM for cycling in adolescents were related to nonschool PA on weekdays. CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the need for age-focused interventions and the integration of family and friends to promote PA in youth

Persistence profile to nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment for patients with chronic hepatitis B

Background There are currently five approved nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs) for the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB): lamivudine, adefovir dipivoxil, telbivudine, entecavir, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate.Objective To determine the persistence rates among patients receiving NUCs for CHB at weeks 48, 96 and 144, compare them in these periods, and analyse the evolution of treatment persistence.Methods We conducted a retrospective study that included patients with CHB who initiated antiviral therapy and were attended to by the pharmaceutical care office between January 2002 and December 2011. Patients included in a clinical trial or patients who did not collect their medication personally were excluded. There were two different analyses: a comparative analysis of the persistence rates in three periods (weeks 1-48, weeks 48-96, and weeks 96-144); and a Kaplan-Meier analysis to evaluate the evolution of persistence.Results A total of 102 patients were included. Persistence rates were different in the three periods. They decreased during the course of the different periods, and the decline was more rapid between the first and second period. There were statistically significant differences in the non-persistence of the five drugs (

Prospective Associations of Physical Activity and Health-Related Physical Fitness in Adolescents with Down Syndrome: The UP&DOWN Longitudinal Study

Background: Numerous studies have focused on examining the association between PA levels and health-related physical fitness components in children or adolescents without disabilities. However, research on the association between PA and health-related physical fitness in adolescents with DS (Down syndrome) is limited, and most of the previous studies have been developed with a cross-sectional perspective. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the prospective association of accelerometer-based PA at baseline with health-related physical fitness at a 2-year follow-up in a relatively large sample of adolescents with DS from the UP&DOWN study. (2) Methods: A total of 92 adolescents with DS (58 males) between 11 and 20 years old with full data were eligible from an initial sample of 110 participants. Fitness was assessed by the ALPHA health-related fitness test battery for youth, and physical activity was assessed by Actigraph accelerometers. (3) Results: The high tertile of total PA was related to decreased motor (Beta [95% CI] = -1.46 [-2.88; -0.05]) and cardiorespiratory fitness (Beta [95% CI] = -2.22 [-4.42; 0.02]) in adolescents with DS. (4) Conclusions: In adolescents with DS, (i) PA level was not prospectively associated with muscular fitness and (ii) high levels of total PA at the baseline were inversely associated with motor and cardiorespiratory fitness at the 2-year follow-up. For comparative purposes, these relationships were also examined in a subsample of adolescents without DS.This study was supported by the DEP 2010-21662-C04-00 grant from the National Plan for Research, Development and Innovation (R+D+I) MICINNV. V.C.-S. is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (IJC2018-038008-I)Ye

Cardiorespiratory Fitness Cutoff Points for Early Detection of Present and Future Cardiovascular Risk in Children: A 2-Year Follow-up Study

Objective To examine the association between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) at baseline and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in 6- to 10-year-olds (cross-sectional) and 2 years later (8- to 12-year-olds [longitudinal]) and whether changes with age in CRF are associated with CVD risk in children aged 8 to 12 years. Patients and Methods Spanish primary schoolchildren (n=236) aged 6 to 10 years participated at baseline. Of the 23 participating primary schools, 22% (n=5) were private schools and 78% (n=18) were public schools. The dropout rate at 2-year follow-up was 9.7% (n=23). The 20-m shuttle run test was used to estimate CRF. The CVD risk score was computed as the mean of 5 CVD risk factor standardized scores: sum of 2 skinfolds, systolic blood pressure, insulin/glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Results At baseline, CRF was inversely associated with single CVD risk factors (all P0.85; P<.001) and to predict CVD risk 2 years later (P=.004). Persistent low CRF or the decline of CRF from 6-10 to 8-12 years of age is associated with increased CVD risk at age 8 to 12 years (P<.001). Conclusion During childhood, CRF is a strong predictor of CVD risk and should be monitored to identify children with potential CVD risk

The role of physical activity in the association between disability and mortality among US older adults: a nationwide prospective cohort study

To examine whether physical activity can mitigate the mortality risk associated with disability in activities of daily living and instrumental activities in daily living among older adults. This analysis comprised 177,360 US participants (104,556 women), aged ≥ 60 years, with valid data from the 1997 through 2018 waves of the US National Health Interview Survey. Participants reported the frequency and duration of leisure-time PA, and their disabilities in activities of daily living and instrumental activities in daily living. Mortality data were obtained from the National Death Index. Over a mean (SD) follow-up of 8.02 (5.43) years, 66,694 deaths occurred from all-cause, 22,673 from cardiovascular disease, and 13,845 from cancer. Among people with disability in activities in daily living, those reaching physical activity recommendations had 25%, 24% and 33% lower risk of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer death, respectively, compared with those who do not meet physical activity recommendations. Values were 23%, 22% and 24% for those with disability in instrumental activities in daily living. Risk reductions associated with reaching the recommended physical activity ranged 16% to 29% for people without disability. Combining disability type and compliance with physical activity, individuals with disability in activities of daily living or instrumental activities in daily living who meet the recommended physical activity had moderately higher mortality than those without disability who did not achieve the recommended physical activity. Compliance with physical activity recommendations can partially mitigate excess mortality resulting from disability in activities in daily living or instrumental activities in daily living in older adults.</p

Maternal physical activity before and during the prenatal period and the offspring's academic performance in youth. The UP&DOWN study

Objective: To examine the association of maternal physical activity before and during pregnancy with academic performance in youth. Methods: This study included 1868 youth (6–18 years) and their mothers. Mothers recalled their physical activity before and during pregnancy. Mothers were categorized into four groups: “remained active”, “became inactive”, “became active” and “remained inactive”. Academic performance was assessed through school records. Results: Boys whose mothers practiced physical activity before or during pregnancy had significantly higher scores in academic performance indicators independently of physical activity, fitness, current body mass index (BMI) and birthweight than those whose mothers did not practice physical activity before or during pregnancy (all p  <  0.05). In addition, boys whose mothers remained active had higher scores in all academic indicators (ranging from +0.358 to +0.543) than boys whose mothers remained inactive. Boys whose mothers remained active had higher scores in Language (score +0.546; 95% CI, 0.150–0.940), average of Math and Language (score +0.468; 95% CI, 0.100–0.836) and grade point average (GPA) (score +0.368; 95% CI, 0.092–0.644) than boys whose mothers became active. Conclusions: Maternal physical activity before and during pregnancy may positively influence youth's academic performance. Continuing maternal physical activity practice during pregnancy may have greater benefits for youth's academic performance

Molecular Identification and Susceptibility Testing of Molds Isolated in a Prospective Surveillance of Triazole Resistance in Spain (FILPOP2 Study).

Antifungal resistance is increasing by the emergence of intrinsically resistant species and by the development of secondary resistance in susceptible species. A previous study performed in Spain revealed levels of azole resistance in molds of between 10 and 12.7%, but secondary resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus was not detected. We used itraconazole (ITZ)-supplemented medium to select resistant strains. A total of 500 plates supplemented with 2 mg/liter of ITZ were sent to 10 Spanish tertiary hospitals, and molecular identification and antifungal susceptibility testing were performed. In addition, the cyp51A gene in those A. fumigatus strains showing azole resistance was sequenced. A total of 493 isolates were included in the study. Sixteen strains were isolated from patients with an infection classified as proven, 104 were isolated from patients with an infection classified as probable, and 373 were isolated from patients with an infection classified as colonization. Aspergillus was the most frequent genus isolated, at 80.3%, followed by Scedosporium-Lomentospora (7.9%), Penicillium-Talaromyces (4.5%), Fusarium (2.6%), and the order Mucorales (1%). Antifungal resistance was detected in Scedosporium-Lomentospora species, Fusarium, Talaromyces, and Mucorales Three strains of A. fumigatus sensu stricto were resistant to azoles; two of them harbored the TR34+L98H mechanism of resistance, and the other one had no mutations in cyp51A The level of azole resistance in A. fumigatus remains low, but cryptic species represent over 10% of the isolates and have a broader but overall higher range of antifungal resistance.Gilead Sciences (IN-ES-131-1600) Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PI16CIII/00035, PI13/02783, FI14CIII/00025, PI13/02145)S