Biomarkers of cardiometabolic health are associated with body composition characteristics but not physical activity in persons with spinal cord injury

Objective: To examine (i) the associations between physical activity dimensions, cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition and, (ii) the associations between physical activity dimensions, cardiorespiratory fitness, body composition and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Methods: A cross-sectional prospective cohort study with 7-day follow-up was conducted. Body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness and biomarkers of cardiometabolic health were measured in thirty-three participants with SCI (> 1 year post injury). Physical activity dimensions were objectively assessed over 7-days.

Results: Activity energy expenditure (r =.43), physical activity level (r =.39), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (r =.48) were significantly (P < 0.001) associated with absolute (L/min) peak oxygen uptake (?O₂ peak). ?O₂ peak was significantly higher in persons performing ≥150 MVPA minutes/week compared to <40 minutes/week (P?=?0.003). Individual physical activity dimensions were not significantly associated with biomarkers of cardiometabolic health. However, body composition characteristics (BMI, waist and hip circumference) showed significant (P < 0.04), moderate (r >.30) associations with parameters of metabolic regulation, lipid profiles and inflammatory biomarkers. Relative ?O₂ peak (ml/kg/min) was moderately associated with only insulin sensitivity (r?=?0.37, P?=?0.03).

Conclusions: Physical activity dimensions are associated with cardiorespiratory fitness; however, stronger and more consistent associations suggest that poor cardiometabolic health is associated with higher body fat content. Given these findings, the regulation of energy balance should be an important consideration for researchers and clinicians looking to improve cardiometabolic health in persons with SCI.     

Choristomas of the seventh and eighth cranial nerves.

Choristomas, masses of normal tissues in aberrant locations, contain smooth muscle fibers and fibrous tissues. We describe the MR imaging features of two choristomas located in the internal auditory canals and arising from the facial and vestibulocochlear nerves. Both lesions enhanced with contrast material. In one case, enhancement was seen in the geniculate ganglion and greater superficial petrosal nerve. In the other, a medial component enhanced less than the lateral component did.     

The impact of sequential quality assessment exercises on laboratory performance: the multicentre ECAT Angina Pectoris Study. Report from the European Concerted Action on Thrombosis and Disabilities (ECAT)

As an adjunct to a European multicentre prospective study, five quality assessment (QA) exercises, spanning a period of 2.5 years, were undertaken. In these, fifteen laboratories from eight countries each performed ten haemostatic factor assays. The design of the QA exercises allowed the between-duplicate, between-day and between-laboratory coefficients of variation (CVs) to be calculated. The between-duplicate CV decreased by a factor of one quarter, and the between-day CV by a factor of one third, over the five exercises. The activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) assay consistently showed the lowest CVs, while there was notable improvement in the between-day CVs for von Willebrand factor related antigen (vWF R:Ag) and factor VIII clotting activity (VIII:C). However, the between-laboratory CV, assessing extent of agreement between the different laboratories, did not apparently improve over the five exercises. Thus, while QA exercises may be very useful in improving the performance of haemostatic assays according to criteria which an individual laboratory can assess, improving agreement on haemostatic assay results between laboratories may be more difficult to achieve.     

Teaching behavioral medicine using individual coronary heart disease risk factors

Two hundred twenty-one first-year medical students participated in a voluntary coronary heart disease risk factor self-change project designed to teach the principles of behavioral change. Blood pressure, serum lipids, percentage body fat, cardiovascular fitness, and smoking status were measured prior to the project. Students designed their own programs of behavior modification and, after 8 weeks, repeat measurements were obtained in students whose projects related to coronary heart disease risk (56% of entire group). Despite generally low initial coronary heart disease risk factors, most risk factor groups successfully altered the targeted risk factors. The subgroup attempting to lower serum cholesterol (n = 49) reduced total cholesterol 15 +/- 24 mg/dl (mean +/- SD) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 11 +/- 20 mg/dl (P less than 0.001 for both). The blood pressure group (n = 9) decreased systolic blood pressure 8 +/- 10 mm Hg (P less than 0.05), and the weight-loss group (n = 33) lost 3.0 +/- 2.9 kg (P less than 0.001), reducing estimated percentage body fat 1.7 +/- 1.8 (P less than 0.001). The self-change project was well received by the students and appears to be a useful technique for introducing the principles of behavioral medicine to first-year medical students.