Adapting Evidence-Based Strategies to Increase Physical Activity Among African Americans, Hispanics, Hmong, and Native Hawaiians: A Social Marketing Approach

IntroductionUsing a social marketing approach, we studied how best to adapt proven, evidence-based strategies to increase physical activity for use with underserved racial or ethnic groups.MethodsWe conducted focus groups with low-income Hispanic women in Texas, Hmong parents and their children in California, low-income African American women and men in the Mississippi Delta, and Native Hawaiian college students in Hawaii. We also interviewed key leaders of these communities. Topics of discussion were participants' perceptions about 1) the benefits of engaging in physical activity, 2) the proposed evidence-based strategies for increasing each community's level of physical activity, and 3) the benefits and barriers to following the proposed interventions for increasing physical activity. A total of 292 individuals participated in the study.ResultsAll groups considered that being physically active was part of their culture, and participants found culturally relevant suggestions for physical activities appealing. Overwhelmingly, strategies that aimed to create or improve social support and increase access to physical activity venues received the most positive feedback from all groups. Barriers to physical activity were not culturally specific; they are common to all underserved people (lack of time, transportation, access, neighborhood safety, or economic resources).ConclusionResults indicate that evidence-based strategies to increase physical activity need to be adapted for cultural relevance for each racial or ethnic group. Our research shows that members of four underserved populations are likely to respond to strategies that increase social support for physical activity and improve access to venues where they can be physically active. Further research is needed to test how to implement such strategies in ways that are embraced by community members

Measuring quality of life in muscular dystrophy

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to develop a conceptual model of quality of life (QOL) in muscular dystrophies (MDs) and review existing QOL measures for use in the MD population. METHODS: Our model for QOL among individuals with MD was developed based on a modified Delphi process, literature review, and input from patients and patient advocacy organizations. Scales that have been used to measure QOL among patients with MD were identified through a literature review and evaluated using the COSMIN (Consensus-Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments) checklist. RESULTS: The Comprehensive Model of QOL in MD (CMQM) captures 3 broad domains of QOL (physical, psychological, and social), includes factors influencing self-reported QOL (disease-related factors, support/resources, and expectations/aspirations), and places these concepts within the context of the life course. The literature review identified 15 QOL scales (9 adult and 6 pediatric) that have been applied to patients with MD. Very few studies reported reliability data, and none included data on responsiveness of the measures to change in disease progression, a necessary psychometric property for measures included in treatment and intervention studies. No scales captured all QOL domains identified in the CMQM model. CONCLUSIONS: Additional scale development research is needed to enhance assessment of QOL for individuals with MD. Item banking and computerized adaptive assessment would be particularly beneficial by allowing the scale to be tailored to each individual, thereby minimizing respondent burden

Charlson index scores from administrative data and case-note review compared favourably in a renal disease cohort

Background: The Charlson index is a widely used measure of comorbidity. The objective was to compare Charlson index scores calculated using administrative data to those calculated using case-note review (CNR) in relation to all-cause mortality and initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the Grampian Laboratory Outcomes Mortality and Morbidity Study (GLOMMS-1) chronic kidney disease cohort. Methods: Modified Charlson index scores were calculated using both data sources in the GLOMMS-1 cohort. Agreement between scores was assessed using the weighted Kappa. The association with outcomes was assessed using Poisson regression, and the performance of each was compared using net reclassification improvement. Results: Of 3382 individuals, median age 78.5 years, 56% female, there was moderate agreement between scores derived from the two data sources (weighted kappa 0.41). Both scores were associated with mortality independent of a number of confounding factors. Administrative data Charlson scores were more strongly associated with death than CNR scores using net reclassification improvement. Neither score was associated with commencing RRT. Conclusion: Despite only moderate agreement, modified Charlson index scores from both data sources were associated with mortality. Neither was associated with commencing RRT. Administrative data compared favourably and may be superior to CNR when used in the Charlson index to predict mortality

Search for dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks in √s = 13 TeV pp collisions with the ATLAS detector

A search for weakly interacting massive particle dark matter produced in association with bottom or top quarks is presented. Final states containing third-generation quarks and miss- ing transverse momentum are considered. The analysis uses 36.1 fb−1 of proton–proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS experiment at √s = 13 TeV in 2015 and 2016. No significant excess of events above the estimated backgrounds is observed. The results are in- terpreted in the framework of simplified models of spin-0 dark-matter mediators. For colour- neutral spin-0 mediators produced in association with top quarks and decaying into a pair of dark-matter particles, mediator masses below 50 GeV are excluded assuming a dark-matter candidate mass of 1 GeV and unitary couplings. For scalar and pseudoscalar mediators produced in association with bottom quarks, the search sets limits on the production cross- section of 300 times the predicted rate for mediators with masses between 10 and 50 GeV and assuming a dark-matter mass of 1 GeV and unitary coupling. Constraints on colour- charged scalar simplified models are also presented. Assuming a dark-matter particle mass of 35 GeV, mediator particles with mass below 1.1 TeV are excluded for couplings yielding a dark-matter relic density consistent with measurements

Beta-Lactams Clearance Is Related to the Intensity of Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy in Septic Patients

Introduction: Severe sepsis may alter the pharmacokinetics (PKs) of B-lactams, and the use of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) may further compromise them.Hypothesis: The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between B-lactams clearance and CRRT intensity.Methods: We reviewed the data of all patients undergoing CRRT and treated with ceftazidime/cefepime (CEF, 2gq8h), meropenem (MEM, 1gq8h) or piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP, 4gq6h) since January 2010. Serum drug concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV), twice during the elimination phase after a 30-min intravenous drug administration. Antibiotic PKs were calculated using a one-compartment model and the percentage of time spent above four times the MIC (%T>4xMIC) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa was obtained. CRRT data (blood flow, dialysate and ultrafiltrate rates) were collected and CRRT intensity was calculated as (dialysate + ultrafiltrate)/weight (kgs). Results are expressed as median [ranges].Results: A total of 73 serum levels were obtained in 50 patients (CEF = 10; MEM = 44; TZP = 19). There was considerable variability in B-lactam serum concentrations and pharmacokinetic variables. We found a weak, although significant, correlation of CRRT intensity with both B-lactams clearance (r=0.31, p = 0.007) and the %T>4xMIC (r= -0.27, p = 0.02). B-lactams clearance was increased in patients with higher CRRT intensity (45 ml/kg.h = 74.7 [51.3-131.7] ml/min; p = 0.02). Also, the %T > 4xMIC significantly decreased in patients with higher CRRT intensity (p=0.04).Conclusions: B-lactams concentrations and clearances during CRRT are quite variable. The intensity of CRRT may influence drug levels and elimination and should be taken into account when drug regimens are prescribed.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedCommunication at the 42st SCCM Congress (19-23 January 2013 – San Juan, USA)