Football fans in training: the development and optimization of an intervention delivered through professional sports clubs to help men lose weight, become more active and adopt healthier eating habits

<p>Background: The prevalence of obesity in men is rising, but they are less likely than women to engage in existing weight management programmes. The potential of professional sports club settings to engage men in health promotion activities is being increasingly recognised. This paper describes the development and optimization of the Football Fans in Training (FFIT) programme, which aims to help overweight men (many of them football supporters) lose weight through becoming more active and adopting healthier eating habits.</p> <p>Methods: The MRC Framework for the design and evaluation of complex interventions was used to guide programme development in two phases. In Phase 1, a multidisciplinary working group developed the pilot programme (p-FFIT) and used a scoping review to summarize previous research and identify the target population. Phase 2 involved a process evaluation of p-FFIT in 11 Scottish Premier League (SPL) clubs. Participant and coach feedback, focus group discussions and interviews explored the utility/acceptability of programme components and suggestions for changes. Programme session observations identified examples of good practice and problems/issues with delivery. Together, these findings informed redevelopment of the optimized programme (FFIT), whose components were mapped onto specific behaviour change techniques using an evidence-based taxonomy.</p> <p>Results: p-FFIT comprised 12, weekly, gender-sensitised, group-based weight management classroom and ‘pitch-side’ physical activity sessions. These in-stadia sessions were complemented by an incremental, pedometer-based walking programme. p-FFIT was targeted at men aged 35-65 years with body mass index ≥ 27 kg/m2. Phase 2 demonstrated that participants in p-FFIT were enthusiastic about both the classroom and physical activity components, and valued the camaraderie and peer-support offered by the programme. Coaches appreciated the simplicity of the key healthy eating and physical activity messages. Suggestions for improvements that were incorporated into the optimized FFIT programme included: more varied in-stadia physical activity with football-related components; post-programme weight management support (emails and a reunion session); and additional training for coaches in SMART goal setting and the pedometer-based walking programme.</p> <p>Conclusions: The Football Fans in Training programme is highly acceptable to participants and SPL coaches, and is appropriate for evaluation in a randomised controlled trial.</p&gt

Multimode fibre:Light-sheet microscopy at the tip of a needle

We also thank the UK Engineering and Physics Sciences Research Council for funding under grant EP/J01771X/1. Finally, we would like to thank EXCELLENT TEAMS (CZ.1.07/2.3.00/30.0005) from European Social Fund and CEITEC - Central European Institute of Technology (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0068) from European Regional Development Fund for support.Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy has emerged as a powerful platform for 3-D volumetric imaging in the life sciences. Here, we introduce an important step towards its use deep inside biological tissue. Our new technique, based on digital holography, enables delivery of the light-sheet through a multimode optical fibre - an optical element with extremely small footprint, yet permitting complex control of light transport processes within. We show that this approach supports some of the most advanced methods in light-sheet microscopy: by taking advantage of the cylindrical symmetry of the fibre, we facilitate the wavefront engineering methods for generation of both Bessel and structured Bessel beam plane illumination. Finally, we assess the quality of imaging on a sample of fluorescent beads fixed in agarose gel and we conclude with a proof-of-principle imaging of a biological sample, namely the regenerating operculum prongs of Spirobranchus lamarcki.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

A Rare Sequela of Constriction Band Syndrome: Case Report.

The patient in this case report is a 19-year-old man who presented with left foot cauliflower lesion. He complained of an inability to wear proper shoes, in addition to an unpleasant appearance of his foot. The lesion was present since his birth. Based on history and physical examination, the top 2 differential diagnoses at this stage were pediatric neurofibroma and constriction band syndrome (CBS). Laboratory investigations and x-ray were ordered for the patient. X-ray showed absence of most of the phalanges of the first, second, and third toes, with swelling of the overlying soft tissues of the foot. CBS was confirmed. Excision of the lesion was done along with skin graft applied on the area. Biopsy showed skin with dermal fibrosis and extensive adipose tissue infiltration without any sign of atypia or malignancy. The patient was discharged with regular follow-up appointments

Rol de la Lactancia Materna en la relación de intervalos cortos entre embarazos y desnutrición crónica: Un Estudio de Cohortes Retrospectiva. Ica – Perú.

Objetivos: Determinar si la lactancia materna exclusiva y la superposición de lactancia/embarazo son factores de riesgo independientes que predisponen a que niños con intervalos cortos entre embarazos tengan desnutrición crónica a los 6 y 12 meses de edad. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de cohortes retrospectiva, para lo cual se incluyeron a niños menores de 5 años y mayores de un año con intervalo entre nacimientos menor de 24 meses, atendidos en el Clas Llipata ubicado en la provincia de Palpa, Ica-Perú. Se estimó un mínimo de 90 sujetos a incluir en el estudio para obtener una muestra representativa. Se realizó un análisis bivariado y multivariado, utilizando regresión de poisson. Se consideró como significativo un p<0,05. Resultados: Fueron incluidos un total de 107 niños con intervalos cortos entre embarazos. El intervalo entre embarazos promedio fue de 12,7±6 meses. La incidencia de desnutrición crónica fue de 57% y 22% a los 6 y 12 meses, respectivamente. En el análisis multivariado se encontró que la ausencia de lactancia materna exclusiva se asoció a desnutrición crónica a los 12 meses de edad (RRa: 1,28, IC95%: 1,07-1,53 y p=0,006). Además, la superposición de lactancia/embarazo se comportó como factor protector para desnutrición crónica a los 6 meses (RRa: 0,75, IC95%:0,61-0,92 y p<0,008). Conclusión: La ausencia de lactancia materna exclusiva se asoció a la aparición de desnutrición crónica a los 12 meses en niños con intervalos cortos entre embarazos en 4 establecimientos de salud de Ica

Analysis of ketamine and norketamine in hair samples using molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction (MISPE) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

An anti-ketamine molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized and used as the sorbent in a solid-phase extn. protocol to isolate ketamine and norketamine from human hair exts. prior to LC-MS/MS anal. Under optimized conditions, the MIP was capable of selectively rebinding ketamine, a licensed anesthetic that is widely misused as a recreational drug, with an apparent binding capacity of 0.13 μg ketamine per mg polymer. The limit of detection (LOD) and lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for both ketamine and norketamine were 0.1 ng/mg hair and 0.2 ng/mg hair, resp., when 10 mg hair were analyzed. The method was linear from 0.1 to 10 ng/mg hair, with correlation coeffs. (R2) of better than 0.99 for both ketamine and norketamine. Recoveries from hair samples spiked with ketamine and norketamine at a concn. of 50 ng/mg were 86% and 88%, resp. The method showed good intra- and interday precisions