Effectiveness of an mHealth intervention combining a smartphone app and smart band on body composition in an overweight and obese population: Randomized controlled trial (EVIDENT 3 study)

Background: Mobile health (mHealth) is currently among the supporting elements that may contribute to an improvement in health markers by helping people adopt healthier lifestyles. mHealth interventions have been widely reported to achieve greater weight loss than other approaches, but their effect on body composition remains unclear. Objective: This study aimed to assess the short-term (3 months) effectiveness of a mobile app and a smart band for losing weight and changing body composition in sedentary Spanish adults who are overweight or obese. Methods: A randomized controlled, multicenter clinical trial was conducted involving the participation of 440 subjects from primary care centers, with 231 subjects in the intervention group (IG; counselling with smartphone app and smart band) and 209 in the control group (CG; counselling only). Both groups were counselled about healthy diet and physical activity. For the 3-month intervention period, the IG was trained to use a smartphone app that involved self-monitoring and tailored feedback, as well as a smart band that recorded daily physical activity (Mi Band 2, Xiaomi). Body composition was measured using the InBody 230 bioimpedance device (InBody Co., Ltd), and physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: The mHealth intervention produced a greater loss of body weight (–1.97 kg, 95% CI –2.39 to –1.54) relative to standard counselling at 3 months (–1.13 kg, 95% CI –1.56 to –0.69). Comparing groups, the IG achieved a weight loss of 0.84 kg more than the CG at 3 months. The IG showed a decrease in body fat mass (BFM; –1.84 kg, 95% CI –2.48 to –1.20), percentage of body fat (PBF; –1.22%, 95% CI –1.82% to 0.62%), and BMI (–0.77 kg/m2, 95% CI –0.96 to 0.57). No significant changes were observed in any of these parameters in men; among women, there was a significant decrease in BMI in the IG compared with the CG. When subjects were grouped according to baseline BMI, the overweight group experienced a change in BFM of –1.18 kg (95% CI –2.30 to –0.06) and BMI of –0.47 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.80 to –0.13), whereas the obese group only experienced a change in BMI of –0.53 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.86 to –0.19). When the data were analyzed according to physical activity, the moderate-vigorous physical activity group showed significant changes in BFM of –1.03 kg (95% CI –1.74 to –0.33), PBF of –0.76% (95% CI –1.32% to –0.20%), and BMI of –0.5 kg/m2 (95% CI –0.83 to –0.19). Conclusions: The results from this multicenter, randomized controlled clinical trial study show that compared with standard counselling alone, adding a self-reported app and a smart band obtained beneficial results in terms of weight loss and a reduction in BFM and PBF in female subjects with a BMI less than 30 kg/m2 and a moderate-vigorous physical activity level. Nevertheless, further studies are needed to ensure that this profile benefits more than others from this intervention and to investigate modifications of this intervention to achieve a global effect

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Asociación del polimorfismo genético HTR2A-1438G/A con el tabaco y la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica

Introducción El consumo de tabaco es el principal riesgo para desarrollar enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC). Los niveles de serotonina se han relacionado con el riesgo de desarrollo de EPOC, siendo el consumo de tabaco un modulador significativo. Los niveles elevados de serotonina producen broncoconstricción y vasoconstricción pulmonar, así como dependencia a la nicotina. Así, la respuesta a serotonina podría verse afectada por los polimorfismos genéticos en los transportadores y receptores de este neurotransmisor. Objetivos El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el papel de los polimorfismos genéticos SLC6A4 (5HTT_LPR) (rs25531) y HTR2A -1438G/A (rs6311) en la relación entre el consumo de tabaco y la EPOC. Métodos Se analizó la asociación entre SLC6A4 (5HTT_LPR) (rs25531), HTR2A -1438G/A (rs6311), grado de tabaquismo y EPOC en 77 pacientes con EPOC (fumadores activos) y 90 sujetos control (fumadores activos sanos). El ADN se extrajo a partir de leucocitos de sangre periférica y la genotipificación se realizó utilizando la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa alelo-específica. Resultados No se observaron diferencias en la distribución de genotipos SLC6A4 entre fumadores sanos y fumadores con EPOC (p = 0,758). Se encontró una asociación significativa entre el alelo A de HTR2A (rs6311) y la incidencia de EPOC en el modelo predictivo (p = 0,02; 1,80 [1,04-3,11]). En los fumadores, este alelo también se asoció al número de paquetes fumados al año (p = 0,02) y, además, de forma marginal con los valores de FEV1/FVC (p = 0,06). Conclusión Nuestros resultados apuntan a un posible papel del alelo A de HTR2A (rs6311) en la patogénesis de EPOC, indicando que este efecto dependería en parte del consumo de tabaco a través de una interacción gen-ambiente.Introduction: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Serotonin levels have been associated with COPD and smoking has been as a significant modulator. Elevated levels of serotonin are responsible for bronchoconstriction and pulmonary vasoconstriction and also nicotine dependence, thus serotonin response could be affected by genetic polymorphisms in transporters and receptors of serotonin. Objectives: The aim of the current study was to analyze the effect of SLC6A4 (5HTT_LPR) (rs25531) and HTR2A-1438G/A (rs6311) genetic polymorphisms on the relation between smoking habits and COPD. Methods: The association between SLC6A4 (5HTT_LPR) (rs25531), HTR2A-1438G/A (rs6311), smoking degree and COPD was analyzed in a total of 77 COPD patients (active smokers) and 90 control subjects (active healthy smokers). The DNA was extracted of peripheral leukocytes samples and genotyping was performed using an allele specific polymerase chain reaction. Results: The distribution of SLC6A4 genotypes did not vary between healthy smokers and COPD patients (P = 0.758). On the other hand, the A allele of HTR2A (rs6311) was significantly associated with COPD incidence in the trend model (P = 0.02; 1.80 [1.04–3.11]). Among all smokers, this allele was also associated with the number of pack years smoked (P = 0.02) and also, we observed a marginal association with FEV1/FVC values (P = 0.06). Conclusion: Our results point a possible role of the A allele of HTR2A (rs6311) in COPD pathogenesis, suggesting that this effect depends partly on tobacco consumption due to a gene-by-environment interactio

Cost Effectiveness of the 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccination Program in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients Aged 50+ Years in Spain

Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at elevated risk of pneumococcal infection. A 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was approved for protection against invasive disease and pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in adults. This study estimated the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of vaccinating COPD patients 50 years old with PCV13 compared with current vaccination policy (CVP) with 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine. Methods: A Markov model accounting for the risks and costs for all-cause non-bacteremic pneumonia (NBP) and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) was developed. All parameters, such as disease incidence and costs (; 2015 values), were based on published data. The perspective of the analysis was that of the Spanish National Healthcare System, and the horizon of evaluation was lifetime in the base case. Vaccine effectiveness considered waning effect over time. Outcomes and costs were both discounted by 3 % annually. Results: Over a lifetime horizon and for a 629,747 COPD total population, PCV13 would prevent 2224 cases of inpatient NBP, 3134 cases of outpatient NBP, and 210 IPD extra cases in comparison with CVP. Additionally, 398 related deaths would be averted. The ICER was 1518 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained for PCV13 versus CVP. PCV13 was found to be cost effective versus CVP from a 5-year modelling horizon (1302 inpatient NBP and 1835 outpatient NBP cases together with 182 deaths would be prevented [ICER 25,573/QALY]). Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the model. Conclusions: At the commonly accepted willingness-to-pay threshold of 30,000/QALY gained, PCV13 vaccination in COPD patients aged 50 years was a cost-effective strategy compared with CVP from 5 years to lifetime horizon in Spain. © 2015 The Author(s