Factors Associated with Diabetes Risk in South Texas College Students

International Journal of Exercise Science 7(2) : 110-118, 2014. South Texas has a high prevalence of diabetes and college students may be particularly at risk. While increased BMI, sedentary activity and depression have been associated with diabetes progression in the general population, it has not been established whether these factors contribute to increased diabetes risk in college students. The purpose of this study was to assess diabetes risk and determine whether depressive symptoms or physical activity patterns are associated with increased diabetes risk in college students. Sixty-nine college students were assessed for diabetes risk using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) . Each participant completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) which included a sitting subscale, the Zung Self-Rated Depression Scale, and had anthropometric measures taken. Of the participants, 21.7% reported elevated risk (FINDRISC score 7-11), and 4.3% of participants had a moderate-to-high risk of developing diabetes (FINDRISC \u3e12). On average, the sample was overweight (BMI = 26.81±0.75 kg . m-2), and BMI was associated with diabetes risk (r = 0.626, p \u3c 0.001). While diabetes risk was not correlated with IPAQ total physical activity score (r = 0.019, p = 0.874), it was modestly correlated with time spent sitting (r = 0.295, p = 0.015). There was no association between self-reported depressive symptoms and diabetes risk (r =0.078, p = 0.525). Although diabetes risk was not associated with total activity and depressive symptoms, it was associated with time spent sitting and BMI. These results suggest that in this population, sitting less and reducing weight may help lower the risk of developing diabetes

Agreement of Health Status Classification and Body Composition Differences in Asian Indian Students upon Residence in the United States

Obesity is one of the major health problems in the United States (U.S.). As Asian Indian students immigrate to the U.S., the effect of acculturation to the U.S. lifestyle is an area of concern. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) examine the health-risk status of Asian Indians with respect to agreement in classifications of percent body fat (PF) and body mass index (BMI), and 2) examine the effects of U.S. residence duration on body composition of Asian Indian college students. METHODS: Forty-two Asian Indian males and females were divided into two groups according to length of residence. First year residents resided in the U.S. for ≤ 4 months, second year residents had resided in the U.S. for ≥ 1 year. Height and weight were recorded for BMI. PF was measured by whole body air displacement plethysmography. Percent agreement was determined between the health risk classifications of both BMI and PF. The effect of gender and U.S. residence duration were determined on both BMI and PF using Factorial ANOVA. RESULTS: The percent agreement between BMI and PF on classification of health status was 69.05%. Two exclusive 2 (gender) x 2 (residence duration) between subjects factorial ANOVAs were calculated comparing the BMI and PF by group and gender. For BMI, the main effect for gender was not significant (F(1,38)=0.023, p\u3e0.025). A significant effect for U.S. residence duration was found (F(1,38)=20.193, p\u3c0.025). Students of the second year demonstrated a higher mean BMI (m=26.52, sd=0.78) than the first year (m=21.57, sd=0.78). The interaction was not significant (F(1,38)=0.647, p\u3e0.025). Thus, the difference in BMI due to U.S. residence duration is not influenced by differences in gender. For PF, a significant main effect for the gender was found (F(1,38)=31.354, p\u3c0.025). A significant main effect for U.S. residence duration was found (F(1,38)=13.044, p\u3c0.025). Second year students demonstrated a higher mean PF (m=33.98, sd=1.61) as compared to the first year (m=25.78, sd=1.61). The interaction was not significant (F(1,38)=0.97, p\u3e0.05). The effect of gender was not influenced by residence duration. CONCLUSION: Agreement information indicates the discrepancy between the two methods of determining health status in Asian Indians. Additionally, this study demonstrates that as a result of one year in the U.S., second year students had higher body composition values than first year students

Factors Associated with Diabetes Risk in South Texas College Students

South Texas has a high prevalence of diabetes and college students may be particularly at risk for developing diabetes. Early detection and prevention are crucial to reducing the prevalence of this disease. While increased BMI, sedentary activity and depression have been associated with diabetes progression in the general population, it has not been established whether these factors contribute to increased risk for developing diabetes in college students. PURPOSE: To assess diabetes risk and to determine whether depressive symptoms or physical activity patterns are associated with increased diabetes risk in college students. METHODS: 69 college students were assessed for diabetes risk using the Finnish Diabetes Risk Score (FINDRISC) questionnaire. Each subject also completed the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) long form which includes a sitting subscale, the Zung Self-Rated Depression Scale and had anthropometric measures taken. Relationships were determined using Pearson Product Movement correlation, α=0.05. RESULTS: 21.7% of students reported an elevated risk (FINDRISC score 7-11), and 4.3% of subjects had a moderate to high risk of developing diabetes (FINDRISC \u3e12). On average, the sample of students were overweight (BMI = 26.81±0.75 kg . m-2), and BMI was associated with diabetes risk (r = 0.626, p = 0.001). While diabetes risk was not correlated with the IPAQ total physical activity score (r = 0.019, p = 0.874), it had a modest correlation with time spent sitting (r = 0.295, p = 0.015). There was no association between self-reported depressive symptoms and diabetes risk (r =0.078, p = 0.525). CONCLUSION: A substantial number of college students in South Texas are at risk for developing diabetes. Although diabetes risk was not associated with total physical activity and depressive symptoms, it was associated with time spent sitting and BMI. This suggests that in this college-age population, sitting less and reducing weight may help lower the risk of developing diabetes

Agreement of Health Status Classification and Body Composition Differences in Asian Indian Students upon Residence in the United States

Obesity is one of the major health problems in the United States (U.S.). As Asian Indian students immigrate to the U.S., the effect of acculturation to the U.S. lifestyle is an area of concern. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1) examine the health-risk status of Asian Indians with respect to agreement in classifications of percent body fat (PF) and body mass index (BMI), and 2) examine the effects of U.S. residence duration on body composition of Asian Indian college students. METHODS: Forty-two Asian Indian males and females were divided into two groups according to length of residence. First year residents resided in the U.S. for ≤ 4 months, second year residents had resided in the U.S. for ≥ 1 year. Height and weight were recorded for BMI. PF was measured by whole body air displacement plethysmography. Percent agreement was determined between the health risk classifications of both BMI and PF. The effect of gender and U.S. residence duration were determined on both BMI and PF using Factorial ANOVA. RESULTS: The percent agreement between BMI and PF on classification of health status was 69.05%. Two exclusive 2 (gender) x 2 (residence duration) between subjects factorial ANOVAs were calculated comparing the BMI and PF by group and gender. For BMI, the main effect for gender was not significant (F(1,38)=0.023, p\u3e0.025). A significant effect for U.S. residence duration was found (F(1,38)=20.193, p\u3c0.025). Students of the second year demonstrated a higher mean BMI (m=26.52, sd=0.78) than the first year (m=21.57, sd=0.78). The interaction was not significant (F(1,38)=0.647, p\u3e0.025). Thus, the difference in BMI due to U.S. residence duration is not influenced by differences in gender. For PF, a significant main effect for the gender was found (F(1,38)=31.354, p\u3c0.025). A significant main effect for U.S. residence duration was found (F(1,38)=13.044, p\u3c0.025). Second year students demonstrated a higher mean PF (m=33.98, sd=1.61) as compared to the first year (m=25.78, sd=1.61). The interaction was not significant (F(1,38)=0.97, p\u3e0.05). The effect of gender was not influenced by residence duration. CONCLUSION: Agreement information indicates the discrepancy between the two methods of determining health status in Asian Indians. Additionally, this study demonstrates that as a result of one year in the U.S., second year students had higher body composition values than first year students

Detection of pineapple bacilliform virus using the polymerase chain reaction

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay has been developed to detect pineapple bacilliform virus (PBV) in extracts from infected plants. Initially, degenerate primers were designed from conserved badnavirus amino acid sequences and used in PCR with partially purified PBV preparations. A 448 bp DNA fragment was amplified from a region in the reverse transcriptase and ribonuclease H genes. The nucleotide sequence of the cloned PCR product indicated that PBV was related to, but distinct from, other badnaviruses. Specific primers designed from the PBV sequence yielded a 403 bp fragment when used in PCR with extracts from infected pineapple plants, but not from plants infected with sugarcane bacilliform or banana streak viruses (genus Badnavirus). The specificity of the PCR product was confirmed by Southern hybridisation using a digoxigenin labelled DNA probe. PBV appears to be present in all pineapple growing areas along the east coast of Australia. PBV was detected in plants grown from seeds, plants propagated through meristem tip culture and in mealybugs which were collected from infected plants. PBV was detected in crown, leaf and root tissue from infected pineapple plants. PCR results of all field-infected samples were confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy