The SELF Trial: A self-efficacy based behavioral intervention trial for weight loss maintenance.

The SELF Trial examined the effect of adding individual self‐efficacy (SE) enhancement sessions to standard behavioral weight loss treatment (SBT). Participants were randomly assigned to SBT or SBT plus SE sessions (SBT+SE). Outcome measures were weight loss maintenance, quality of life, intervention adherence, and self‐efficacy at 12 and 18 months. The sample (N = 130) was female (83.08%) with a mean (SD) body mass index of 33.15 (4.11) kg m2. There was a significant time effect for percent weight change (P = 0.002) yet no significant group or group‐by‐time effects. The weight loss for the SBT+SE group was 8.38% (7.48) at 12 months and 8.00% (7.87) at 18 months, with no significant difference between the two time points (P = 0.06). However, weight loss for the SBT group was 6.95% (6.67) at 12 months and 5.96% (7.35) at 18 months, which was significantly different between the two time points (P = 0.005), indicating that the SBT group had significant weight regain. Both groups achieved clinically significant weight loss. The group receiving an intervention targeting enhanced self‐efficacy had greater weight loss maintenance whereas the SBT group demonstrated significant weight regain possibly related to the greater attention provided to the SBT+SE group

The Use of mHealth to Deliver Tailored Messages Reduces Reported Energy and Fat Intake.

Evidence supports the role of feedback in reinforcing motivation for behavior change. Feedback that provides reinforcement has the potential to increase dietary self-monitoring and enhance attainment of recommended dietary intake. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of daily feedback (DFB) messages, delivered remotely, on changes in dietary intake. This was a secondary analysis of the Self- Monitoring And Recording using Technology (SMART) Trial, a single-center, 24-month randomized clinical trial of behavioral treatment for weight loss. Participants included 210 obese adults (mean body mass index, 34.0 kg/m2) who were randomized to either a paper diary (PD), personal digital assistant (PDA), or PDA plus daily tailored feedback messages (PDA + FB). To determine the role of daily tailored feedback in dietary intake, we compared the self-monitoring with DFB group (DFB group; n = 70) with the self-monitoring without DFB group (no-DFB group, n = 140). All participants received a standard behavioral intervention for weight loss. Self-reported changes in dietary intake were compared between the DFB and no-DFB groups and were measured at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Linear mixed modeling was used to examine percentage changes in dietary intake from baseline. Compared with the no-DFB group, the DFB group achieved a larger reduction in energy (−22.8% vs −14.0%; P = .02) and saturated fat (−11.3% vs −0.5%; P = .03) intake and a trend toward a greater decrease in total fat intake (−10.4% vs −4.7%; P = .09). There were significant improvements over time in carbohydrate intake and total fat intake for both groups (P values < .05). Daily tailored feedback messages designed to target energy and fat intake and delivered remotely in real time using mobile devices may play an important role in the reduction of energy and fat intake

Sociodemographic, Anthropometric, and Psychosocial Predictors of Attrition across Behavioral Weight-Loss Trials.

Preventing attrition is a major concern in behavioral weight loss intervention studies. The purpose of this analysis was to identify baseline and six-month predictors associated with participant attrition across three independent clinical trials of behavioral weight loss interventions (PREFER, SELF, and SMART) that were conducted over 10 years. Baseline measures included body mass index, Barriers to Healthy Eating, Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), Hunger Satiety Scale (HSS), Binge Eating Scale (BES), Medical Outcome Study Short Form (MOS SF-36 v2) and Weight Efficacy Lifestyle Questionnaire (WEL). We also examined early weight loss and attendance at group sessions during the first 6 months. Attrition was recorded at the end of the trials. Participants included 504 overweight and obese adults seeking weight loss treatment. The sample was 84.92% female and 73.61% white, with a mean (± SD) age of 47.35 ± 9.75 years. After controlling for the specific trial, for every one unit increase in BMI, the odds of attrition increased by 11%. For every year increase in education, the odds of attrition decreased by 10%. Additional predictors of attrition included previous attempts to lose 50–79 lbs, age, not possessing health insurance, and BES, BDI, and HSS scores. At 6 months, the odds of attrition increased by 10% with reduced group session attendance. There was also an interaction between percent weight change and trial (p < .001). Multivariate analysis of the three trials showed education, age, BMI, and BES scores were independently associated with attrition (ps ≤ .01). These findings may inform the development of more robust strategies for reducing attrition

Modelling environmental changes and effects on wild-caught species in Queensland. Environmental drivers.

We report on the findings of a collaborative research project that was designed to identify and measure the effects of environmental drivers on the abundance and population dynamics of key Queensland fishery species. The project was co-funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Fisheries Research and Development Corporation (FRDC) and carried out by a multi-disciplinary team of scientists from the University of Queensland (UQ), the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). The research team applied modern statistical, data science and modelling techniques in combination with biological insights into the life cycles of the three target species. Background With increasing evidence that environmental conditions in the marine environment are changing rapidly, it is becoming ever more important to understand how these changes may impact on the population dynamics and abundance of important fish stocks. Understanding the influence of environmental conditions can provide greater certainty that the risk of overfishing (under adverse environmental conditions) or under harvesting (under favourable conditions) are accounted for by resource managers. This project aimed to identify the environmental factors which may be influencing the recruitment, catchability or productivity of Snapper, Pearl Perch, and Spanner Crab stocks in Queensland. Results from this work will support sustainable management of Queensland’s fisheries by directly informing the assessment and management of these key species within Queensland waters

Early growth response genes 2 and 3 regulate the expression of Bcl6 and differentiation of T follicular helper cells

T follicular helper (Tfh) cells support differentiation of B cells to plasma cells and high affinity antibody production in germinal centers (GC) and Tfh differentiation requires the function of B cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6). We have now discovered that early growth response gene (Egr) 2 and 3 directly regulate the expression of Bcl6 in Tfh cells which is required for their function in regulation of GC formation. In the absence of Egr2 and 3, the expression of Bcl6 in Tfh cells is defective leading to impaired differentiation of Tfh cells resulting in a failure to form GCs following virus infection and defects in production of anti-viral antibodies. Enforced expression of Bcl6 in Egr2/3 deficient CD4 T cells partially restored Tfh differentiation and GC formation in response to virus infection. Our findings demonstrate a novel function of Egr2/3 which is important for Tfh cell development and Tfh cell mediated B cell immune responses.This work was supported by Arthritis Research UK. The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article

Current status of yttrium-90 microspheres radioembolization in primary and metastatic liver cancer

Liver malignancy, including primary liver cancer and metastatic liver cancer has become one of the most common causes of cancer-related death worldwide due to the high malignant degree and limited systematic treatment strategy. Radioembolization with yttrium-90 (90Y)-loaded microspheres is a relatively novel technology that has made significant progress in the local treatment of liver malignancy. The different steps in the extensive work-up of radioembolization for patients with an indication for treatment with 90Y microspheres, from patient selection to follow up, both technically and clinically, are discussed in this paper. It describes the application and development of 90Y microspheres in the treatment of liver cancer

A Measurement of Psi(2S) Resonance Parameters

Cross sections for e+e- to hadons, pi+pi- J/Psi, and mu+mu- have been measured in the vicinity of the Psi(2S) resonance using the BESII detector operated at the BEPC. The Psi(2S) total width; partial widths to hadrons, pi+pi- J/Psi, muons; and corresponding branching fractions have been determined to be Gamma(total)= (264+-27) keV; Gamma(hadron)= (258+-26) keV, Gamma(mu)= (2.44+-0.21) keV, and Gamma(pi+pi- J/Psi)= (85+-8.7) keV; and Br(hadron)= (97.79+-0.15)%, Br(pi+pi- J/Psi)= (32+-1.4)%, Br(mu)= (0.93+-0.08)%, respectively.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

Identification of novel peptide motifs in the serpin maspin that affect vascular smooth muscle cell function

Maspin is a non-inhibitory member of the serpin family that affects cell behaviours related to migration and survival. We have previously shown that peptides of the isolated G α-helix (G-helix) domain of maspin show bioactivity. Migration, invasion, adhesion and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are important processes that contribute to the build-up of atherosclerotic plaques. Here we report the use of functional assays of these behaviours to investigate whether other maspin-derived peptides impact directly on VSMC; focusing on potential anti-atherogenic properties. We designed 18 new peptides from the structural moieties of maspin above ten amino acid residues in length and considered them beside the existing G-helix peptides. Of the novel peptides screened those with the sequences of maspin strand 4 and 5 of beta sheet B (S4B and S5B) reduced VSMC migration, invasion and proliferation, as well as increasing cell adhesion. A longer peptide combining these consecutive sequences showed a potentiation of responses, and a 7-mer contained all essential elements for functionality. This is the first time that these parts of maspin have been highlighted as having key roles affecting cell function. We present evidence for a mechanism whereby S4B and S5B act through ERK1/2 and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to influence VSMC responses