Improved precision with Hologic Apex software.

UnlabelledThe precision of Hologic Apex v2.0 analysis software is significantly improved from Hologic Delphi v11.2 software and is comparable to GE Lunar Prodigy v7.5 software. Apex and Delphi precisions were, respectively, 1.0% vs. 1.2% (L1-L4 spine), 1.l % vs. 1.3% (total femur), 1.6% vs. 1.9% (femoral neck), and 0.7% vs. 0.9% (dual total femur).IntroductionPrecision of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is known to vary by manufacturer, model, and technologist. This study evaluated the precision of three analysis versions: Apex v2.0 and Delphi v11.2 (Hologic, Inc.), and Prodigy v7.5 (GE Healthcare, Inc.) independent of technologist skill.MethodsDuplicate spine and dual hip scans on 90 women were acquired on both Delphi and Prodigy DXA systems at three clinics. BMD measures were converted to standardized BMD (sBMD) units. Precision errors were described as a root-mean-square (RMS) standard deviations and RMS percent coefficients of variation across the population.ResultsApex and Delphi values were highly correlated (r ranged from 0.90 to 0.99). Excluding the right neck, the Apex precision error was found to be 20% to 25% lower than the Delphi (spine: 1.0% versus 1.2% (p < 0.05), total hip: 1.1% versus 1.3% (p < 0.05), right neck: 2.3% versus 2.6% (p > 0.1)). No statistically significant differences were found in the precision error of the Apex and Prodigy (p > 0.05) except for the right neck (2.3% versus 1.8% respectively, p = 0.03).ConclusionThe Apex software has significantly lower precision error compared to Delphi software with similar mean values, and similar precision to that of the Prodigy

The design-by-adaptation approach to universal access: learning from videogame technology

This paper proposes an alternative approach to the design of universally accessible interfaces to that provided by formal design frameworks applied ab initio to the development of new software. This approach, design-byadaptation, involves the transfer of interface technology and/or design principles from one application domain to another, in situations where the recipient domain is similar to the host domain in terms of modelled systems, tasks and users. Using the example of interaction in 3D virtual environments, the paper explores how principles underlying the design of videogame interfaces may be applied to a broad family of visualization and analysis software which handles geographical data (virtual geographic environments, or VGEs). One of the motivations behind the current study is that VGE technology lags some way behind videogame technology in the modelling of 3D environments, and has a less-developed track record in providing the variety of interaction methods needed to undertake varied tasks in 3D virtual worlds by users with varied levels of experience. The current analysis extracted a set of interaction principles from videogames which were used to devise a set of 3D task interfaces that have been implemented in a prototype VGE for formal evaluation

The dynamics of temperature extremes

Changes in the occurrence of atmospheric circulation patterns are not well understood. A study finds that these have been a big factor in observed changes in regional temperature extremes during recent decades

Replication of LDL SWAs hits in PROSPER/PHASE as validation for future (pharmaco)genetic analyses

<p><b>Background:</b> The PHArmacogenetic study of Statins in the Elderly at risk (PHASE) is a genome wide association study in the PROspective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at risk for vascular disease (PROSPER) that investigates the genetic variation responsible for the individual variation in drug response to pravastatin. Statins lower LDL-cholesterol in general by 30%, however not in all subjects. Moreover, clinical response is highly variable and adverse effects occur in a minority of patients. In this report we first describe the rationale of the PROSPER/PHASE project and second show that the PROSPER/PHASE study can be used to study pharmacogenetics in the elderly.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> The genome wide association study (GWAS) was conducted using the Illumina 660K-Quad beadchips following manufacturer's instructions. After a stringent quality control 557,192 SNPs in 5,244 subjects were available for analysis. To maximize the availability of genetic data and coverage of the genome, imputation up to 2.5 million autosomal CEPH HapMap SNPs was performed with MACH imputation software. The GWAS for LDL-cholesterol is assessed with an additive linear regression model in PROBABEL software, adjusted for age, sex, and country of origin to account for population stratification.</p> <p><b>Results:</b> Forty-two SNPs reached the GWAS significant threshold of p = 5.0e-08 in 5 genomic loci (APOE/APOC1; LDLR; FADS2/FEN1; HMGCR; PSRC1/CELSR5). The top SNP (rs445925, chromosome 19) with a p-value of p = 2.8e-30 is located within the APOC1 gene and near the APOE gene. The second top SNP (rs6511720, chromosome 19) with a p-value of p = 5.22e-15 is located within the LDLR gene. All 5 genomic loci were previously associated with LDL-cholesterol levels, no novel loci were identified. Replication in WOSCOPS and CARE confirmed our results.</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> With the GWAS in the PROSPER/PHASE study we confirm the previously found genetic associations with LDL-cholesterol levels. With this proof-of-principle study we show that the PROSPER/PHASE study can be used to investigate genetic associations in a similar way to population based studies. The next step of the PROSPER/PHASE study is to identify the genetic variation responsible for the variation in LDL-cholesterol lowering in response to statin treatment in collaboration with other large trials.</p&gt

Home-based high-intensity interval training reduces barriers to exercise in people with type 1 diabetes

People with type 1 diabetes (T1D) are recommended to engage in regular exercise for a variety of health and fitness reasons. However, many lead a sedentary lifestyle and fail to meet the physical activity guidelines, in part because of the challenge of managing blood glucose concentration and fear of hypoglycaemia. A number of strategies designed to help people with T1D to manage their blood glucose during and after exercise have been investigated. Although many of these strategies show promise in facilitating blood glucose management during and after exercise, they do not target the many other common barriers to exercise that people with T1D face, such as difficulty with cost and travel time to gyms, limited access to exercise bikes and treadmills, and a possible dislike of exercising in front of others in public places. In this symposium review, we provide an overview of ongoing research into a virtually monitored home‐based high‐intensity interval training (Home‐HIT) programme that is designed to reduce these other common barriers to exercise. The conclusion of this review is that Home‐HIT seems to offer a strategy to reduce fear of hypoglycaemia, while simultaneously removing other known barriers preventing people with T1D from taking up exercise, such as being time efficient, requiring no travel time or costs associated with gym memberships, and giving them the opportunity to exercise in their chosen environment, reducing the embarrassment experienced by some when exercising in public

Using Google Trends to assess the impact of Global Public Health Days on online health information-seeking behaviour in Arabian Peninsula.

BACKGROUND: Global Public Health Days (GPHD) are public health interventions which serve to improve public awareness of specific health conditions. Google Trends is a publicly available tool that allows the user to view the popularity of a searched keyword during a specified time period and across a predetermined region. Our objective was to use Google Trends to assess the impact of four GPHD (World Heart Day, World Mental Health Day, World Diabetes Day and World Hypertension Day) on online health information-seeking behaviour (OHISB), 4 weeks before and a week after the GPHD, across six countries of the Arabian Peninsula (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates). METHODS: Relative Search Volume (RSV) was extracted for the aforementioned countries from 28 days before the GPHD and 7 days afterwards. Statistical analysis, undertaken using joinpoint regression software, showed that GPHD have significant changes for Saudi Arabia (Diabetes, Mental Health and Heart day) and UAE (Mental Health day) but were short-lived with a fall in RSV of up to 80% after peak interest. CONCLUSION: GPHD appears to be effective in some countries while further research is needed to investigate the reason of its limitations

Skeletal muscle lipid droplets are resynthesized before being coated with perilipin proteins following prolonged exercise in elite male triathletes.

Intramuscular triglycerides (IMTG) are a key substrate during prolonged exercise, but little is known about the rate of IMTG resynthesis in the post-exercise period. We investigated the hypothesis that the distribution of the lipid droplet (LD)-associated perilipin (PLIN) proteins is linked to IMTG storage following exercise. 14 elite male triathletes (27±1 y, 66.5±1.3 mL.kg-1.min-1) completed 4 h of moderate-intensity cycling. During the first 4 h of recovery, subjects received either carbohydrate or H2O, after which both groups received carbohydrate. Muscle biopsies collected pre and post-exercise, and 4 h and 24 h post-exercise were analysed using confocal immunofluorescence microscopy for fibre type-specific IMTG content and PLIN distribution with LDs. Exercise reduced IMTG content in type I fibres (-53%, P=0.002), with no change in type IIa fibres. During the first 4 h of recovery, IMTG content increased in type I fibres (P=0.014), but was not increased further after 24 h where it was similar to baseline levels in both conditions. During recovery the number of LDs labelled with PLIN2 (70%), PLIN3 (63%) and PLIN5 (62%; all P<0.05) all increased in type I fibres. Importantly, the increase in LDs labelled with PLIN proteins only occurred at 24 h post-exercise. In conclusion, IMTG resynthesis occurs rapidly in type I fibres following prolonged exercise in highly-trained individuals. Further, increases in IMTG content following exercise preceded an increase in the number of LDs labelled with PLIN proteins. These data, therefore, suggest that the PLIN proteins do not play a key role in post-exercise IMTG resynthesis

Home-Based HIIT and Traditional MICT Prescriptions Improve Cardiorespiratory Fitness to a Similar Extent Within an Exercise Referral Scheme for At-Risk Individuals

Exercise referral schemes (ERS) are used to promote physical activity within primary care. Traditionally, ERS are conducted in a gym or leisure-center setting, with exercise prescriptions based on moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT). Home-based high-intensity interval training (Home-HIIT) has the potential to reduce perceived barriers to exercise, including lack of time and access to facilities, compared to traditional MICT prescription used with ERS and improve health related outcomes. We hypothesized that Home-HIIT would mediate greater improvement in cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) by virtue of greater adherence and compliance to the exercise prescription, compared to MICT. Methods: Patients enrolled on an ERS (Liverpool, United Kingdom) were recruited for a pragmatic trial. Participants self-selected either 12 weeks of MICT (45–135 min/week at 50–70% HRmax or Home-HIIT (4–9 min × 1 min intervals at ≥80% of HRmax, interspersed with 1 min rest). The primary outcome was the change in CRF (VO2peak) at post-intervention (12 weeks) and follow-up (3-month post intervention), using intention-to-treat analysis. Results:154 participants (age 48 ± 10y; BMI 30.5 ± 6.1 kg/m20.05). Adherence to the prescribed programs was similar (MICT 48 ± 35%, Home-HIIT 39 ± 36%, P [ClinicalTrials.gov], identifier [NCT04553614]

GLUT4 localisation with the plasma membrane is unaffected by an increase in plasma free fatty acid availability

Background: Insulin-stimulated glucose uptake into skeletal muscle occurs via translocation of GLUT4 from intracellular storage vesicles to the plasma membrane. Elevated free fatty acid (FFA) availability via a lipid infusion reduces glucose disposal, but this occurs in the absence of impaired proximal insulin signalling. Whether GLUT4 localisation to the plasma membrane is subsequently affected by elevated FFA availability is not known. Methods: Trained (n = 11) and sedentary (n = 10) individuals, matched for age, sex and body mass index, received either a 6 h lipid or glycerol infusion in the setting of a concurrent hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp. Sequential muscle biopsies (0, 2 and 6 h) were analysed for GLUT4 membrane localisation and microvesicle size and distribution using immunofluorescence microscopy. Results: At baseline, trained individuals had more small GLUT4 spots at the plasma membrane, whereas sedentary individuals had larger GLUT4 spots. GLUT4 localisation with the plasma membrane increased at 2 h (P = 0.04) of the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, and remained elevated until 6 h, with no differences between groups or infusion type. The number of GLUT4 spots was unchanged at 2 h of infusion. However, from 2 to 6 h there was a decrease in the number of small GLUT4 spots at the plasma membrane (P = 0.047), with no differences between groups or infusion type. Conclusion: GLUT4 localisation with the plasma membrane increases during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp, but this is not altered by elevated FFA availability. GLUT4 appears to disperse from small GLUT4 clusters located at the plasma membrane to support glucose uptake during a hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp