Long-term effects of a weight loss intervention with or without exercise component in postmenopausal women: a randomized trial

The aim of this study was to determine the long-term effects of a weight loss intervention with or without an exercise component on body weight and physical activity. Women were randomized to diet (n = 97) or exercise (N = 98) for 16 weeks. During the intervention, both groups had achieved the set goal of 5-6 kg weight loss. All women were re-contacted twelve months after study cessation for follow-up where body weight and physical activity were measured (PASE questionnaire and ActiGraph accelerometer). At follow-up, body weight and physical activity (measured by the PASE questionnaire and accelerometer) were measured again. At follow-up, both mainly exercise (- 4.3 kg, p < 0.001) and diet (- 3.4 kg, p < 0.001) showed significantly reduced body weight compared to baseline. Both the mainly exercise and diet group were significantly more physically active at one year follow-up compared to baseline (PASE: + 33%, p < 0.001 and + 12%, p = 0.040, respectively; ActiGraph: + 16%, p = 0.012. and + 2.2%, p = 0.695 moderate-to-vigorous activity, respectively). Moreover, the increase in physical activity was statistically significantly when comparing exercise to diet (+ 0.6%, p = 0.035). ActiGraph data also showed significantly less sedentary time in mainly exercise group compared to baseline (- 2.1%, p = 0.018) and when comparing exercise to diet (- 1.8%, p = 0.023). No significant within group differences were found for the diet group. This study shows largely sustained weight loss one year after completing a weight loss program with and without exercise in overweight postmenopausal women. Although the mainly exercise group maintained more physically active compared to the diet group, maintenance of weight loss did not differ between groups

Goud, zilver & zijde. Katholiek textiel in Nederland 1830-1965

Goud, zilver & zijde Katholiek textiel in Nederland 1830-1965 Paramenten – de zijden gewaden en attributen voor de katholieke liturgie – behoren wellicht tot de meest verborgen schatten van de kerk. Een kleine selectie van dit oude, rijk geborduurde textiel kwam terecht in de Nederlandse musea, maar het meeste bevindt zich op de zolders van oude pastorieën en komt nooit meer tevoorschijn. In de afgelopen twee eeuwen bloeide de paramentennijverheid in heel West Europa. Ook Nederland kende belangrijke ateliers, die regelmatig kunstenaars van naam in dienst hadden en de mooiste borduurwerken voortbrachten. Het dateren, toeschrijven en op waarde schatten van het katholieke textiel was tot nu toe een vrijwel onmogelijke zaak. Er was te weinig kennis voorhanden om onderscheid te kunnen maken tussen belangrijk en onbelangrijk werk, tussen massagoed en uniek handgeborduurd textiel, tussen echt goud en klatergoud. Als gevolg hiervan zijn veel belangrijke stukken verloren gegaan. Auteur Marike van Roon deed jarenlang onderzoek naar de rijke geschiedenis van paramenten. Naast boeiende verhalen over de gewaden, hun makers en gebruikers leverde het onderzoek alle kennis op die nodig is voor een nieuwe waardering en een beter behoud van dit schitterende textiel.LEI Universiteit LeidenDominique en Maria Meens Janssen Fonds (Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds) Barbas-Van der Klaauw Fonds (Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds) Stichting Charema, Fonds voor Geschiedenis en Kunst SNS REAAL Fonds M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandt Stichting Stichting De Gijselaar-Hintzenfonds Stichting Sormani Fonds J.E. Jurriaanse Stichting Stichting L.J. Rogierfonds Stadelmaier BVModern and Contemporary Studie

Abnormal Nailfold Capillaroscopy Is Common in Patients with Connective Tissue Disease and Associated with Abnormal Pulmonary Function Tests

Objective. To assess the presence of a systemic sclerosis (SSc) pattern on nailfold capillary microscopy (NCM) in patients with Raynaud phenomenon (RP) and to explore its association with abnormal pulmonary function tests (PFT). Methods. NCM patterns were assessed in 759 consecutive patients with RP. Patterns were classified as normal (n = 354), nonspecific (n = 159), or SSc pattern (n = 246). Abnormal PFT was defined as forced vital or diffusion capacity <70%. Patients were classified as primary RP (n = 245), or secondary: no definite diagnosis (n = 391), SSc (n = 40), primary Sjogren syndrome (pSS; n = 30), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; n = 30), mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD; n = 7), rheumatoid arthritis (RA; n = 15). Results. An SSc pattern on NCM was frequently observed in most patients with a definite diagnosis: SSc (88%), pSS (33%), SLE (17%), MCTD (71%), and RA (13%). In patients without definite diagnosis, 17% had a normal NCM pattern, 35% nonspecific, and 48% SSc pattern. Abnormal PFT was more frequent in patients with an SSc pattern (35.9% vs 19.5%, p = 0.002), even when corrected for SSc diagnosis (p = 0.003). Absence of an SSc pattern had high negative predictive value (88%); positive predictive values were low. Conclusion. SSc pattern on NCM is common in patients with RP, and in those with connective tissue diseases other than SSc. It is associated with a higher prevalence of abnormal PFT, independent of the presence of an SSc diagnosis. Although these data need validation in a prospective setting, they underline the importance of NCM in RP and putative value to stratify the risk of pulmonary involvement in early stages of disease

Scleroderma-like Pattern in Various Rheumatic Diseases reply

We thank Dr. Lambova for her interesting comment1 on our recent article published in The Journal2 We reported that a systemic sclerosis (SSc) or scleroderma-like capillaroscopic pattern is common in patients with Raynaud phenomenon, and can be frequently observed in patients with connective tissue diseases (CTD) other than SSc

Higher Anxiety Is Associated with Lower Cardiovascular Autonomic Function in Female Twins

Anxiety symptoms co-occur with cardiovascular health problems, with increasing evidence suggesting the role of autonomic dysfunction. Yet, there is limited behavior genetic research on underlying mechanisms. In this twin study, we investigated the phenotypic, genetic and environmental associations between a latent anxiety factor and three cardiovascular autonomic function factors: interbeat interval (IBI, time between heart beats), heart rate variability (HRV, overall fluctuation of heart-beat intervals) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS, efficiency in regulating blood pressure [BP]). Multivariate twin models were fit using data of female twins (N = 250) of the Twin Interdisciplinary Neuroticism Study (TWINS). A significant negative association was identified between latent anxiety and BRS factors (r = -.24, 95% CI [-.40, -.07]). Findings suggest that this relationship was mostly explained by correlated shared environmental influences, and there was no evidence for pleiotropic genetic or unique environmental effects. We also identified negative relationships between anxiety symptoms and HRV (r = -.17, 95% CI [-.34, .00]) and IBI factors (r = -.13, 95% CI [-.29, .04]), though these associations did not reach statistical significance. Findings implicate that higher anxiety scores are associated with decreased efficiency in short-term BP regulation, providing support for autonomic dysfunction with anxiety symptomatology. The baroreflex system may be a key mechanism underlying the anxiety-cardiovascular health relationship