University Students’ Perception of the Pedagogical Use of Podcasts: A Case Study of an Online Information System Course

Previous studies on podcasting assessed the usage impact of this technology on some cognitive and affective variables such as learning, performance efficiency, satisfaction and anxiety. However, these studies assumed that students had adopted podcasting without questioning their opinions. In order to reach a deeper understanding of students’ perception of podcasting, this study aimed at examining two aspects: the advantages and the disadvantages of podcast use. A case study relying on open-ended questions was conducted among 130 participants enrolled in an online undergraduate business course. Obtained results indicated that practical aspects of use of this technology, such as improving attention and facilitating note-taking, dominated among the advantages. Lack of interaction and visual contact was one of the most notable disadvantages. This study could help enrich existing theoretical writings and empirical research about podcasts. It practical contributions would lead professors and educational tool creators to think about the relevance of developing and using podcasts for academic purposes

Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry for Quantification of Visceral Fat

Obesity is the major risk factor for metabolic syndrome and through it diabetes as well as cardiovascular disease. Visceral fat (VF) rather than subcutaneous fat (SF) is the major predictor of adverse events. Currently, the reference standard for measuring VF is abdominal X-ray computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), requiring highly used clinical equipment. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) can accurately measure body composition with high-precision, low X-ray exposure, and short-scanning time. The purpose of this study was to validate a new fully automated method whereby abdominal VF can be measured by DXA. Furthermore, we explored the association between DXA-derived abdominal VF and several other indices for obesity: BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and DXA-derived total abdominal fat (AF), and SF. We studied 124 adult men and women, aged 18–90 years, representing a wide range of BMI values (18.5–40 kg/m2) measured with both DXA and CT in a fasting state within a one hour interval. The coefficient of determination (r2) for regression of CT on DXA values was 0.959 for females, 0.949 for males, and 0.957 combined. The 95% confidence interval for r was 0.968 to 0.985 for the combined data. The 95% confidence interval for the mean of the differences between CT and DXA VF volume was −96.0 to −16.3 cm3. Bland–Altman bias was +67 cm3 for females and +43 cm3 for males. The 95% limits of agreement were −339 to +472 cm3 for females and −379 to +465 cm3 for males. Combined, the bias was +56 cm3 with 95% limits of agreement of −355 to +468 cm3. The correlations between DXA-derived VF and BMI, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, and DXA-derived AF and SF ranged from poor to modest. We conclude that DXA can measure abdominal VF precisely in both men and women. This simple noninvasive method with virtually no radiation can therefore be used to measure VF in individual patients and help define diabetes and cardiovascular risk

Visceral Adiposity Index: A reliable indicator of visceral fat function associated with cardiometabolic risk

Objective: To individuate a novel sex-specific index, based on Waist Circumference (WC), Body Mass Index (BMI), Triglycerides (TG) and HDL cholesterol (HDL), indirectly expressing visceral fat function. Research design and Methods: Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) was first modelled on 315 non-obese healthy subjects. Using two multiple logistic regression models, VAI was retrospectively validated in 1,498 primary care patients in comparison to classical cardio and cerebrovascular risk factors. Results: All components of metabolic syndrome increased significantly across VAI quintiles. VAI was independently associated with both cardiovascular (OR:2.45; 95%CI: 1.52-3.95; p<0.001) and cerebrovascular events (OR:1.63; 95%CI: 1.06-2.50; p=0.025). VAI also showed significant inverse correlation with insulin sensitivity during euglycemic-hyperinsulinemic clamp in a subgroup of patients (R(s)= -0.721; p<0.001). By contrast, no correlations were found for WC and BMI. Conclusions: Our study suggests VAI is a valuable indicator of "visceral adipose function" and insulin sensitivity, and its increase is strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk

Patterns of Abdominal Fat Distribution: The Framingham Heart Study

OBJECTIVE—The prevalence of abdominal obesity exceeds that of general obesity. We sought to determine the prevalence of abdominal subcutaneous and visceral obesity and to characterize the different patterns of fat distribution in a community-based sample

Deterioration of the metabolic risk profile in women. Respective contributions of impaired glucose tolerance and visceral fat accumulation

WSTĘP. Celem pracy jest określenie, czy upośledzona tolerancja glukozy (IGT, impaired glucose tolerance) odpowiada za pogorszenie profilu metabolicznego u kobiet, uwzględniając nagromadzenie trzewnej tkanki tłuszczowej, mierzone w tomografii komputerowej. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Przebadano 203 kobiety z prawidłowym wynikiem testu tolerancji glukozy (NGT, normal glucose tolerance) oraz 46 kobiet z upośledzoną tolerancją glukozy - glikemia mierzona 2 godziny po doustnym obciążeniu 75 g glukozy - 7,8-11,1 mmol/l. WYNIKI. U kobiet z IGT stwierdzano większe nagromadzenie trzewnej tkanki tłuszczowej oraz wyższe stężenie glukozy na czczo w osoczu, insuliny oraz C-peptydu, a także wyższe stężenie cholesterolu, triglicerydów i apolipoproteiny B (apoB) oraz większy stosunek cholesterolu całkowitego do cholesterolu frakcji HDL, zmniejszenie maksymalnej wielkości cząsteczek LDL, niższe stężenie cholesterolu frakcji HDL i HDL 2 oraz wyższe ciśnienie tętnicze (p < 0,01) niż u kobiet z NTG. Porównując 27 par kobiet pod kątem nagromadzenia trzewnej tkanki tłuszczowej i masy tłuszczowej oraz występowania menopauzy, wcześniej stwierdzone różnice w zakresie stężenia cholesterolu frakcji LDL, maksymalnej wielkości cząsteczek LDL, niższego stężenia cholesterolu frakcji HDL i HDL2, a także stosunku cholesterolu całkowitego do cholesterolu frakcji HDL i ciśnienia tętniczego zniknęły, natomiast stężenie triglicerydów pozostawało znamiennie wyższe u kobiet z upośledzoną tolerancją glukozy. WNIOSKI. Nagromadzenie trzewnej tkanki tłuszczowej jest głównym czynnikiem powodującym pogorszenie wielu parametrów metabolicznych u kobiet z IGT, z wyjątkiem stężenia triglicerydów, które różniło się znamiennie pomiędzy kobietami z NGT a kobietami z IGT, nawet po skorygowaniu w odniesieniu do trzewnej tkanki tłuszczowej.INTRODUCTION. To determine whether the impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) state contributes to the deterioration of the metabolic profile in women after taking into account the contribution of visceral adipose tissue (AT) accumulation, as measured by computed tomography. MATERIAL AND METHODS. We studied 203 women with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) and 46 women with IGT, defined as a glycemia between 7.8 and 11.1 mmol/l measured 2 h after a 75-g oral glucose load. RESULTS. Women with IGT were characterized by a higher visceral AT accumulation and by higher concentrations of fasting plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide as well as by higher plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, and apolipoprotein B (apoB) and by greater cholesterol&#8211;to&#8211;HDL- -cholesterol ratio, reduced LDL peak particle size, lower HDL-cholesterol and HDL2-cholesterol concentrations, and higher blood pressure (p < 0.01) than women with NGT. When we matched 27 pairs of women for visceral AT and fat mass as well as for menopausal status, differences previously found in LDL-cholesterol, LDL peak particle size, HDL-cholesterol, and HDL2-cholesterol concentrations as well as in the cholesterol&#8211;to&#8211;HDL-cholesterol ratio and blood pressure were eliminated, whereas triglyceride concentrations remained significantly higher in women with IGT. CONCLUSIONS. A high visceral AT accumulation is a major factor involved in the deterioration of many metabolic variables in women with IGT, with the notable exception of triglyceride concentrations, which remained significantly different between women with NGT and women with IGT after adjustment for visceral fat

Association of Lifestyle Factors With Abdominal Subcutaneous and Visceral Adiposity: The Framingham Heart Study

OBJECTIVE— The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between lifestyle factors and abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in a community-based setting

Lipoprotein Genotype and Conserved Pathway for Exceptional Longevity in Humans

Alteration of single genes involved in nutrient and lipoprotein metabolism increases longevity in several animal models. Because exceptional longevity in humans is familial, it is likely that polymorphisms in genes favorably influence certain phenotypes and increase the likelihood of exceptional longevity. A group of Ashkenazi Jewish centenarians ( n = 213), their offspring ( n = 216), and an age-matched Ashkenazi control group ( n = 258) were genotyped for 66 polymorphisms in 36 candidate genes related to cardiovascular disease (CVD). These genes were tested for association with serum lipoprotein levels and particle sizes, apolipoprotein A1, B, and C-3 levels and with outcomes of hypertension, insulin resistance, and mortality. The prevalence of homozygosity for the −641C allele in the APOC3 promoter (rs2542052) was higher in centenarians (25%) and their offspring (20%) than in controls (10%) ( p = 0.0001 and p = 0.001, respectively). This genotype was associated with significantly lower serum levels of APOC3 and a favorable pattern of lipoprotein levels and sizes. We found a lower prevalence of hypertension and greater insulin sensitivity in the −641C homozygotes, suggesting a protective effect against CVD and the metabolic syndrome. Finally, in a prospectively studied cohort, a significant survival advantage was demonstrated in those with the favorable −641C homozygote ( p < 0.0001). Homozygosity for the APOC3 −641C allele is associated with a favorable lipoprotein profile, cardiovascular health, insulin sensitivity, and longevity. Because modulation of lipoproteins is also seen in genetically altered longevity models, it may be a common pathway influencing lifespan from nematodes to humans

Cholesterol and Lipoprotein Dynamics in a Hibernating Mammal

Hibernating mammals cease feeding during the winter and rely primarily on stored lipids to fuel alternating periods of torpor and arousal. How hibernators manage large fluxes of lipids and sterols over the annual hibernation cycle is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate lipid and cholesterol transport and storage in ground squirrels studied in spring, summer, and several hibernation states. Cholesterol levels in total plasma, HDL and LDL particles were elevated in hibernators compared with spring or summer squirrels. Hibernation increased plasma apolipoprotein A-I expression and HDL particle size. Expression of cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase was 13-fold lower in hibernators than in active season squirrels. Plasma triglycerides were reduced by fasting in spring but not summer squirrels. In hibernators plasma β-hydroxybutyrate was elevated during torpor whereas triglycerides were low relative to normothermic states. We conclude that the switch to a lipid-based metabolism during winter, coupled with reduced capacity to excrete cholesterol creates a closed system in which efficient use of lipoproteins is essential for survival