The Effects of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) Intervention on Inflammation and Stress Biomarkers: a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background Psychological processes can be manifested in physiological health. We investigated whether acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), targeted on psychological flexibility (PF), influences inflammation and stress biomarkers among working-age adults with psychological distress and overweight/obesity. Method Participants were randomized into three parallel groups: (1) ACT-based face-to-face (n = 65; six group sessions led by a psychologist), (2) ACT-based mobile (n = 73; one group session and mobile app), and (3) control (n = 66; only the measurements). Systemic inflammation and stress markers were analyzed at baseline, at 10 weeks after the baseline (post-intervention), and at 36 weeks after the baseline (follow-up). General PF and weight-related PF were measured with questionnaires (Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, Acceptance and Action Questionnaire for Weight-Related Difficulties). Results A group x time interaction (p = .012) was detected in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) level but not in other inflammation and stress biomarkers. hsCRP decreased significantly in the face-to-face group from week 0 to week 36, and at week 36, hsCRP was lower among the participants in the face-to-face group than in the mobile group (p = .035, post hoc test). Age and sex were stronger predictors of biomarker levels at follow-up than the post-intervention PF. Conclusion The results suggest that ACT delivered in group sessions may exert beneficial effects on low-grade systemic inflammation. More research is needed on how to best apply psychological interventions for the health of both mind and body among people with overweight/obesity and psychological distress.Peer reviewe

Association of ADIPOR2 gene variants with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes risk in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance: the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adiponectin is an adipokine with insulin-sensitising and anti-atherogenic effects. Two receptors for adiponectin, ADIPOR1 and ADIPOR2, have been characterized that mediate effects of adiponectin in various tissues. We examined whether genetic variation in <it>ADIPOR2 </it>predicts the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) participating the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CVD morbidity and mortality data were collected during a median follow-up of 10.2 years (range 1-13 years) and conversion from IGT to T2DM was assessed during a median follow-up of 7 years (range 1-11 years). Altogether eight SNPs in the <it>ADIPOR2 </it>locus were genotyped in 484 participants of the DPS. Moreover, the same SNPs were genotyped and the mRNA expression levels of <it>ADIPOR2 </it>were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and subcutaneous adipose tissue samples derived from 56 individuals participating in the Genobin study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the DPS population, four SNPs (rs10848554, rs11061937, rs1058322, rs16928751) were associated with CVD risk, and two remained significant (p = 0.014 for rs11061937 and p = 0.020 for rs1058322) when all four were included in the same multi-SNP model. Furthermore, the individuals homozygous for the rare minor alleles of rs11061946 and rs11061973 had increased risk of converting from IGT to T2DM. Allele-specific differences in the mRNA expression levels for the rs1058322 variant were seen in peripheral blood mononuclear cells derived from participants of the Genobin study.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that SNPs in the <it>ADIPOR2 </it>may modify the risk of CVD in individuals with IGT, possibly through alterations in the mRNA expression levels. In addition an independent genetic signal in <it>ADIPOR2 </it>locus may have an impact on the risk of developing T2DM in individuals with IGT.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00981877">NCT00518167</a></p

Proficiency Test 01/2022 - Swimming pool water analyses

Proficiency Test 01/2022: Swimming pool water analyses Proftest SYKE carried out the proficiency test (PT) for analysis of chlorine, KMnO4, NO3, pH, turbidity, and urea in swimming pool February 2022. In total, there were 26 participants in the PT. Either the cal-culated concentration or the robust mean, the mean, or the median of the reported results was used as the assigned values for the measurands. The performance of the participants was evaluated by using z and En scores. In this PT 95 % of the results evaluated based z score were satisfactory when deviation of 0.2 pH units for pH values and 10–25 % for the other measurands was accepted from the assigned value. From the results evaluated based on En scores 83 % were satisfactory. Warm thanks to all participants in this proficiency test!Pätevyyskoe 01/2022: Uima-allasvesimääritykset Proftest SYKE järjesti helmikuussa 2022 pätevyyskokeen uima-allasvesien kloori-, KMnO4-, NO3-, pH-, sameus- ja ureamäärityksille. Pätevyyskokeeseen osallistui yhteensä 26 laboratoriota. Testisuurei-den vertailuarvoina käytettiin joko laskennallista pitoisuutta tai osallistujien tulosten robustia keskiar-voa, keskiarvoa tai mediaania. Osallistujien pätevyyden arviointi tehtiin z- ja En-arvojen avulla. Koko tulosaineistossa oli z-arvoilla arvioituna 95 % hyväksyttäviä tuloksia, kun vertailuarvosta sallittiin pH-määrityksissä 0,2 pH-yksikön ja muissa määrityksissä 10–25 %:n poikkeama. En-arvolla arvioiduista tuloksista näistä 83 % oli hyväksyttäviä. Kiitos pätevyyskokeen osallistujille

Proficiency Test 06/2022 : Natural water analyses II

Proftest SYKE carried out the proficiency test for the determination of chlorophyll a, oxygen, salinity, SiO2, TIC, and TOC in natural waters in May 2022. In total, 28 participants joined in the proficiency test. Either the calculated concentration or the robust mean or the mean of the results reported by the participants was chosen to be the assigned value for the measurands. For the synthetic sample of salinity, the mean of the participants’ and the homogeneity test results measured by the salinometer was used as the assigned value. The performance of the participants was evaluated by using z scores. In this proficiency test 88 % of the results were satisfactory, when deviation 3.5–20 % from the assigned value was accepted. Warm thanks to all the participants in this proficiency test! Pätevyyskoe 06/2022: Luonnonvesianalyysit II Proftest SYKE järjesti luonnonvesiä analysoiville laboratorioille pätevyyskokeen toukokuussa 2022. Määritettävinä testisuureina olivat happi, klorofylli a, saliniteetti, SiO2, TIC ja TOC synteettisestä näytteestä sekä murto- ja jokivedestä. Pätevyyskokeessa oli yhteensä 28 osallistujaa. Testisuureen vertailuarvona käytettiin joko laskennallista pitoisuutta tai osallistujien tulosten robustia keskiarvoa tai keskiarvoa. Saliniteetin synteettiselle näytteelle käytettiin vertailuarvona salinometrimääritysten osallistujatulosten ja homogeenisuustestauksen tulosten keskiarvoa. Tulosten arviointi tehtiin z-arvojen perusteella, jolloin määrityksissä sallittiin 3,5–20 %:n poikkeama vertailuarvosta. Koko aineistossa hyväksyttäviä tuloksia oli 88 %. Kiitos pätevyyskokeen osallistujille

Proficiency Test 09/2022 : Drinking water analyses

Proftest Syke carried out the proficiency test (PT) for analyses of synthetic samples and drinking water as well as raw water samples in September 2022. In total, there were 37 participants in the PT. Either the calculated concentration or the robust mean of the reported results was used as the assigned values for the measurands. The overall performance of the participants was evaluated by using z scores. In this PT 86% of the results were satisfactory when total deviation of 0.2 pH units for pH values and 5–20% for the other measurands was accepted from the assigned value. Warm thanks to all participants in this proficiency test! Pätevyyskoe 09/2022: Talousvesimääritykset Proftest Syke järjesti syyskuussa 2022 pätevyyskokeen talousvesiä analysoiville laboratorioille synteettisestä vesinäytteestä sekä talous- ja raakavesinäytteistä. Pätevyyskokeeseen osallistui yhteensä 37 laboratoriota. Testisuureiden vertailuarvoina käytettiin joko laskennallista pitoisuutta tai osallistujien tulosten robustia keskiarvoa. Osallistujien pätevyyden arviointi tehtiin z-arvojen avulla. Koko tulosaineistossa oli z-arvoilla arvioituna 86 % hyväksyttäviä tuloksia, kun vertailuarvosta sallittiin pH-määrityksissä 0,2 pH-yksikön ja muissa määrityksissä 5–20 %:n poikkeama. Kiitos pätevyyskokeen osallistujille

Pätevyyskoe 03/2022: Jätevesimääritykset I

Pätevyyskoe 03/2022: Jätevesimääritykset I Proftest SYKE järjesti maalis-huhtikuussa 2022 pätevyyskokeen jätevesiä analysoiville laboratorioille. Pätevyyskokeessa testattiin BOD7, CODCr, CODMn, kiintoaine, Na ja TOC synteettisestä näytteestä ja jätevedestä sekä BOD7 ja CODMn luonnonvedestä. Pätevyyskokeeseen osallistui yhteensä 53 laboratoriota. Testisuureiden vertailuarvoina käytettiin joko laskennallista pitoisuutta tai osallistujien tulosten robustia keskiarvoa. Osallistujien pätevyyden arviointi tehtiin z-arvojen avulla. Koko tulosaineistossa oli 91 % hyväksyttäviä tuloksia, kun tulosten sallittiin vaihdella 10–25 % vertailuarvosta. Kiitos päte-vyyskokeen osallistujille!Proficiency Test 01/2022: Wastewater analyses I In March-April 2022, Proftest SYKE carried out the proficiency test (PT) for analysis of BOD7, CODCr, CODMn, Na, suspended solids, and TOC in wastewaters. Additionally, a natural water sample for BOD7 and CODMn determinations was provided. In total, there were 53 participants in the PT. Either the calculated concentration or the robust mean of the reported results was used as the assigned values for the measurands. The overall performance of the participants was evaluated by using z scores. In this PT 91 % of the results were satisfactory when total deviation of 10–25 % was accepted from the assigned value. Warm thanks to all participants in this proficiency test!Kompetensprövning 03/2022: Avloppsvattenanalyser I Under mars-april 2022 genomförde Proftest SYKE en kompetensprövning, som omfattade bestämningen av BOD7, CODCr, CODMn, Na, suspenderat material och TOC i avsloppsvatten. För BOD7- och CODMn-bestämningen fanns också i naturvatten. Denna kompetensprövning hade totalt 53 deltagarna. Som referensvärde av analytens koncentration användes antingen det teoretiska värdet eller robust medelvärdet av deltagarnas resultat. Resultaten värderades med hjälp av z-värden. I denna kompetensprövning var 91 % av resultaten acceptabla. Resultatet var acceptabel, om det devierade mindre än 10–25 % från referensvärdet. Ett varmt tack till alla deltagarna i testet

Choice Architecture Cueing to Healthier Dietary Choices and Physical Activity at the Workplace:Implementation and Feasibility Evaluation

Redesigning choice environments appears a promising approach to encourage healthier eating and physical activity, but little evidence exists of the feasibility of this approach in real-world settings. The aim of this paper is to portray the implementation and feasibility assessment of a 12-month mixed-methods intervention study, StopDia at Work, targeting the environment of 53 diverse worksites. The intervention was conducted within a type 2 diabetes prevention study, StopDia. We assessed feasibility through the fidelity, facilitators and barriers, and maintenance of implementation, building on implementer interviews (n = 61 informants) and observations of the worksites at six (t1) and twelve months (t2). We analysed quantitative data with Kruskall–Wallis and Mann–Whitney U tests and qualitative data with content analysis. Intervention sites altogether implemented 23 various choice architectural strategies (median 3, range 0–14 strategies/site), employing 21 behaviour change mechanisms. Quantitative analysis found implementation was successful in 66%, imperfect in 25%, and failed in 9% of evaluated cases. These ratings were independent of the ease of implementation of applied strategies and reminders that implementers received. Researchers’ assistance in intervention launch (p = 0.02) and direct contact to intervention sites (p < 0.001) predicted higher fidelity at t1, but not at t2. Qualitative content analysis identified facilitators and barriers related to the organisation, intervention, worksite environment, implementer, and user. Contributors of successful implementation included apt implementers, sufficient implementer training, careful planning, integration into worksite values and activities, and management support. After the study, 49% of the worksites intended to maintain the implementation in some form. Overall, the choice architecture approach seems suitable for workplace health promotion, but a range of practicalities warrant consideration while designing real-world implementation

Association of ADIPOQ gene variants with body weight, type 2 diabetes and serum adiponectin concentrations: the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study

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Enhanced Eating Competence Is Associated with Improved Diet Quality and Cardiometabolic Profile in Finnish Adults with Increased Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Eating competence (EC) is characterized by positive attitudes towards food and eating, having regular meals, eating a variety of foods, and internally regulated eating. We investigated the associations of changes in EC with changes in lifestyle, anthropometrics and biomarkers of glucose and lipid metabolism in 2291 adults at increased risk of type 2 diabetes as part of the StopDia study conducted in primary healthcare. EC and diet quality were assessed with validated digital questionnaires. During the intervention, the participants received either (1) the digital lifestyle intervention, (2) the combined digital and face-to-face group-based lifestyle intervention, or (3) standard care. EC increased among the participants independent of the intervention type. Increase in EC was associated with an increase in diet quality, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and with a decrease in body mass index and waist circumference, regardless of baseline EC. Of the subdomains of EC, the contextual skills, food acceptance and eating attitudes were associated with various of these changes. Our results thus suggest that EC could be a potential target in lifestyle interventions aiming to improve the cardiometabolic health of people at type 2 diabetes risk.publishedVersionPeer reviewe

Variations in the Ghrelin receptor gene associate with obesity and glucose metabolism in individuals with impaired glucose tolerance

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