27 research outputs found
Evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis: a consensus document by the Belgian Bone Club
Several drugs are available for the management of postmenopausal osteoporosis. This may, in daily practice, confuse the clinician. This manuscript offers an evidence-based update of previous treatment guidelines, with a critical assessment of the currently available efficacy data on all new chemical entities which were granted a marketing authorization. Osteoporosis is widely recognized as a major public health concern. The availability of new therapeutic agents makes clinical decision-making in osteoporosis more complex. Nation-specific guidelines are needed to take into consideration the specificities of each and every health care environment. The present manuscript is the result of a National Consensus, based on a systematic review and a critical appraisal of the currently available literature. It offers an evidence-based update of previous treatment guidelines, with the aim of providing clinicians with an unbiased assessment of osteoporosis treatment effect
A partially supervised physical activity program for adult and adolescent survivors of childhood cancer (SURfit): study design of a randomized controlled trial [NCT02730767]
A partially supervised physical activity program for adult and adolescent survivors of childhood cancer (SURfit): study design of a randomized controlled trial [NCT02730767].
BACKGROUND
Beyond survival of nowadays >80%, modern childhood cancer treatment strives to preserve long-term health and quality of life. However, the majority of today's survivors suffer from short- and long-term adverse effects such as cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases, obesity, osteoporosis, fatigue, depression, and reduced physical fitness and quality of life. Regular exercise can play a major role to mitigate or prevent such late-effects. Despite this, there are no data on the effects of regular exercise in childhood cancer survivors from randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Primary outcome of the current RCT is therefore the effect of a 12-months exercise program on a composite cardiovascular disease risk score in childhood cancer survivors. Secondary outcomes are single cardiovascular disease risk factors, glycaemic control, bone health, body composition, physical fitness, physical activity, quality of life, mental health, fatigue and adverse events (safety).
METHODS
A total of 150 childhood cancer survivors aged ≥16 years and diagnosed ≥5 years prior to the study are recruited from Swiss paediatric oncology clinics. Following the baseline assessments patients are randomized 1:1 into an intervention and control group. Thereafter, they are seen at month 3, 6 and 12 for follow-up assessments. The intervention group is asked to add ≥2.5 h of intense physical activity/week, including 30 min of strength building and 2 h of aerobic exercises. In addition, they are told to reduce screen time by 25%. Regular consulting by physiotherapists, individual web-based activity diaries, and pedometer devices are used as motivational tools for the intervention group. The control group is asked to keep their physical activity levels constant.
DISCUSSION
The results of this study will show whether a partially supervised exercise intervention can improve cardiovascular disease risk factors, bone health, body composition, physical activity and fitness, fatigue, mental health and quality of life in childhood cancer survivors. If the program will be effective, all relevant information of the SURfit physical activity intervention will be made available to interested clinics that treat and follow-up childhood cancer patients to promote exercise in their patients.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
Prospectively registered in clinicaltrials.gov [ NCT02730767 ], registration date: 10.12.2015
A systematic review of non-hormonal treatments of vasomotor symptoms in climacteric and cancer patients
Bone density and neuromuscular function in older competitive athletes depend on running distance
Summary Individuals who are involved in explosive sport
types, such as 100-m sprints and long jump, have greater
bone density, leg muscle size, jumping height and grip
strength than individuals involved in long-distance running.
Introduction The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship
between different types of physical activity with bone,
lean mass and neuromuscular performance in older individuals.
Methods We examined short- (n050), middle- (n019) and
long-distance (n0109) athletes at the 15th European Masters
Championships in Poznań, Poland. Dual X-ray absorptiometry
was used to measure areal bone mineral density (aBMD) and
lean tissue mass. Maximal countermovement jump, multiple
one-leg hopping and maximal grip force tests were performed.
Results Short-distance athletes showed significantly higher
aBMD at the legs, hip, lumbar spine and trunk compared to
long-distance athletes (p≤0.0012). Countermovement jump
performance, hop force, grip force, leg lean mass and arm
lean mass were greater in short-distance athletes (p≤0.027). A
similar pattern was seen in middle-distance athletes who typically
showed higher aBMD and better neuromuscular performance
than long-distance athletes, but lower in magnitude
than short-distance athletes. In all athletes, aBMD was the
same or higher than the expected age-adjusted population
mean at the lumbar spine, hip and whole body. This effect
was greater in the short- and middle-distance athletes.
Conclusions The stepwise relation between short-,middle- and
long-distance athletes on bone suggests that the higher-impact
loading protocols in short-distance disciplines are more effective
in promoting aBMD. The regional effect on bone, with the
differences between the groups being most marked at loadbearing
regions (legs, hip, spine and trunk) rather than nonload-
bearing regions, is further evidence in support of the idea
that bone adaptation to exercise is dependent upon the local
loading environment, rather than as part of a systemic effect
Agency, expertise and working life skills:students’ conceptions of the generic competences required in the world of work
Abstract
Fundamental changes in working life highlight the demands on the co-operation between the educational sector and working life, that should contribute to students’ employability. In addition to discipline-specific expertise, the development of working life skills has received increasing attention when it comes to employment. Drawing on data from Finnish universities of applied sciences (n=5) and universities (n=3), this paper examines how students (n=380) value the generic competences needed in in the world of work. The study is based on European reforms of labour markets and educational structures. This paper adds to current discourses around employability by highlighting differences between students of universities and universities of applied sciences. The implications of this research suggest paying attention to the concepts of agency, expertise and working life skills as outlined in the integrative pedagogy model, as well as emphasising the requirement for soft skills and generic competences needed in working life
A Review on Possible Approaches for Detecting Early Warning Signs in Projects
In this paper, we attempt to provide an overview of the full extent of early warning detection approaches, which are directly or indirectly addressed in the literature. These approaches can aid project managers in taking corrective actions timely enough for preventing failures. The study is based on a review of the current literature within the field of early warning in project management and our own experiences gained from practice. An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each approach and their applications in different contexts are also performed. We conclude that the choice of the most effective approach is arguably dependent on the type of project, organizational culture, and the project environment