10 Year Cardiovascular Risk assessment In university students

Introduction Cardiovascular disease (CVD) causes more than half of all deaths in the European region, and according to WHO, 80% of premature heart disease and stroke is preventable. Healthy lifestyles, such as eating a healthy diet, regular physical activity, and not smoking are the most important preventive measures. Use of CVD risk assessment tools in a young population provides necessary information about risk for CVD which can be used to develop health promotion initiatives for youth. Methods The aim of the study was to compare, BMI, percent body fat (%BF), blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL C), family history, activity behaviors, and the 10 year risk of having a heart attack between 166 students (21.62±2.59 yrs.) from Utah, USA and 198 students (22.11±2.51 yrs.) from Hungary. The body dimensions were measured according to ISAC methods (Norton et al.1996) the %BF was meas- ured with Omron BF 306 and the 10 year CVD risk was calculated online (http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator). Results According to the results, 92% of the Hungarian students and 100%of the Utah students had an estimated 10 year risk of 1% or less, however 8% of the Hungarians had moderate risk. The high prevalence of low risk was due to the young age of subjects, healthy body composition and non smoking behavior. The Hungarians who had higher risk of heart attack had significantly higher waist hip ratio (WHR), TC, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and were smokers compared to the Hungarians with low risk. Four percent of the Utah students and 3% of the Hungarian students had positive cardiovascular family history. Based on self-reported levels of physical activity, 19% of Utah women and 14% of Utah men were sedentary compared to 50% of Hungarian women and 46% of Hungarian men. Conclusion Age is one of the primary risk factors for CVD. Young men and women who participated in this study were, for the most part healthy and had a low risk for CVD. Never- theless, our data shows that even young men and women who are sedentary, smoke, and have high WHR, TC, and DBP have increased risk of CVD. Although, symptoms of CVD may not be manifest until later in life, health promotion efforts should also be targeted to young men and women

Ten-year cardiovascular risk assessment in university students

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is responsible for more than half of all deaths in the European region. The aim of the study was to compare body composition, blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), family history, activity behaviors, and the 10-year risk of having a heart attack between 166 university students (21.62 - 2.59 yrs) from Utah (USA) and 198 students (22.11 - 2.51 yrs) from Hungary. Ninety-two percent of the Hungarian students and 100% of the Utah students had an estimated 10-year Framingham risk score of 1% or less. The high prevalence of low risk was primarily due to the young age of study participants, healthy body composition and non-smoking behavior. Hungarians who had higher 10-year risk of heart attack had significantly higher waist hip ratio (WHR), TC, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and were smokers compared to those Hungarians with lower risk. The self-reported physical activity levels between the two groups of students were not different. In conclusion the young men and women who participated in this study were, for the most part healthy; however the smoking habits and the lower physical activity of the Hungarian students likely elevated their risk of CVD.Scopu

Inside athletes' minds: Preliminary results from a pilot study on mental representation of doping and potential implications for anti-doping

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite the growing body of literature and putative links between the use of ergogenic nutritional supplements, doping and illicit drugs, it remains unclear whether, in athletes' minds, doping aligns with illicit behaviour or with functional use of chemical or natural preparations. To date, no attempt has been made to quantitatively explore athletes' mental representation of doping in relation to illegality and functionality.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A convenience sample of student athletes from a large South-Eastern Australian university responded to an on-line survey. Competitive athletes (n = 46) were grouped based on self-reported use as follows: i) none used (30%), ii) supplement only (22%), iii) illicit only (26%) and iv) both supplements and illicit drug use (22%). Whereas no athlete reported doping, data provided on projected supplement-, doping- and drug use by the four user groups allowed evaluation of doping-related cognition in the context of self-reported supplement- and illicit drug taking behaviour; and comparison between these substances.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A significantly higher prevalence estimation was found for illicit drug use and a trend towards a biased social projection emerged for supplement use. Doping estimates by user groups showed mixed results, suggesting that doping had more in common with the ergogenic nutritional supplement domain than the illicit drug domain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Assessing the behavioural domain to which doping belongs to in athletes' mind would greatly advance doping behaviour research toward prevention and intervention. Further investigation refining the peculiarity of the mental representation of doping with a larger study sample, controlling for knowledge of doping and other factors, is warranted.</p

Russian roulette with unlicensed fat-burner drug 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) : evidence from a multidisciplinary study of the internet, bodybuilding supplements and DNP users

BACKGROUND: 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) poses serious health-risks to humans. The aims of this three-stage multidisciplinary project were, for the first time, to assess the risks to the general public from fraudulent sale of or adulteration/contamination with DNP; and to investigate motives, reasons and risk-management among DNP-user bodybuilders and avid exercisers. METHODS: Using multiple search-engines and guidance for Internet research, online retailers and bodybuilding forums/blogs were systematically explored for availability of DNP, advice offered on DNP use and user profiles. Ninety-eight pre-workout and weight-loss supplements were purchased and analysed for DNP using liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. Psychosocial variables were captured in an international sample of 35 DNP users (26.06 ± 6.10 years, 94.3 % male) with an anonymous, semi-qualitative self-reported survey. RESULTS: Although an industrial chemical, evidence from the Internet showed that DNP is sold 'as is', in capsules or tablets to suit human consumption, and is used 'uncut'. Analytical results confirmed that DNP is not on the supplement market disguised under fictitious supplement names, but infrequently was present as contaminant in some supplements (14/98) at low concentration (<100mcg/kg). Users make conscious and 'informed' decisions about DNP; are well-prepared for the side-effects and show nonchalant attitude toward self-experimentation with DNP. Steps are often taken to ensure that DNP is genuine. Personal experience with performance- and appearance enhancing substances appears to be a gateway to DNP. Advice on DNP and experiences are shared online. The significant discrepancy between the normative perception and the actual visibility suggests that DNP use is-contrary to the Internet accounts-a highly concealed and lonesome activity in real life. Positive experiences with the expected weight-loss prevail over the negative experiences from side effects (all but two users considered using DNP again) and help with using DNP safely is considered preferable over scare-tactics. CONCLUSION: Legislation banning DNP sale for human consumption protects the general public but DNP is sold 'as is' and used 'uncut' by determined users who are not dissuaded from experimenting with DNP based on health threats. Further research with stakeholders' active participation is imperative for targeted, proactive public health policies and harm-reduction measures for DNP, and other illicit supplements

Examining physical activity and inactivity in 9–12 years old children

Information about children’s daily physical activity in Eastern-Europe is essential because of the increasing prevalence in overweight and obesity. Sixty-three children (age=11.16 ± 1.10 years; 33 boys and 30 girls) from two public elementary schools had their physical activity objectively measured using uni-axial accelerometer every 5 seconds for five consecutive days (3 weekdays, 2 weekend days). After data cleaning, 10 children were excluded from database. There were no significant differences in boys’ and girls’ BMI (17.6±2.2 vs. 17.1±2.4) and BF% (18.0±5.2 vs. 19.4±5.0). Children engaged in more sedentary, light, moderate, and vigorous physical activity and had higher counts per minute during weekdays compared to weekend days. There were no sex differences in moderate to vigorous physical activity (87.6±22.4 vs. 93.5±20.6 min and 53.6±21.3 vs. 59.4±22.0 min) during weekday and weekend days. Data indicated that 96% of the girls and 92% of the boys met the international physical activity guideline for children of 60 minutes of MVPA, on weekdays

Comparison of running performances and prevalence of overweight and obesity in Hungarian and Ukrainian adolescents

The 20-m shuttle run (20-mSRT) is a widely used field test to estimate peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) and thus to assess aerobic fitness of adolescents (11). The purpose of this study was to analyse differences in basic anthropometric measurements (stature, body mass, percent body fat, BMI) and in aerobic fitness of Hungarian and Ukrainian adolescent boys and girls. We examined gender differences in maximal speed (km h−1), in peak VO2 (mL kg−1 min−1) and maximal heart rate (HRmax min−1). Two hundred ninety-two Ukrainian (mean age=16.5±0.5) and 374 (mean age=16.5±0.5) Hungarian adolescents volunteered to participate in this study. Differences were analysed using factorial analysis of the variance (ANOVA) and Student’s t-test. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Hungarian boys and girls were significantly taller, heavier and had higher percent body fat than their Ukrainian counterparts. Altogether 10% of Hungarians and 7% of Ukrainians were classified overweight or obese according to Cole’s BMI classification (4). VO2peak of Ukrainians (mean=49.44±5.29 mL kg−1 min−1) were significantly higher than that of Hungarians (mean=41.93±8.40 mL kg−1 min−1). Maximal heart rate also differed significantly (Ukrainians mean=201.12±8.43 min−1 vs. Hungarians mean=185.38±18.38 min−1).In conclusion, aerobic fitness of the Ukrainian adolescents was significantly higher than that of the Hungarians independently of BMI or gender