103 research outputs found
Effectiveness of Combined Health Coaching and Self-Monitoring Apps on Weight-Related Outcomes in People With Overweight and Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
No full textA multifunctional device as both strain sensor and energy harvester for structural health monitoring
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from IEEE via the DOI in this record.In the context of wireless sensors (WSs)
autonomous in energy, this paper presents a single macro-fiber
composite (MFC) piezoelectric transducer which is used for the
first time as a multifunctional device as both sensor and energy
harvester in a time-multiplexing manner. The MFC is used as
an energy harvester to charge up a storage capacitor. When
there is sufficient energy, the WS is powered up and the MFC
is used as a sensor. A circuit was implemented to harvest
energy from the MFC and use the MFC as a sensor.
Experiment validation shows that the MFC has an accuracy of
up to 97 % as sensor and the circuit harvests energy from the
MFC at its maximum power point with up to 98 % efficiency.This work was financially supported by EPSRC (EP/K017950
Has the first year of the COVID pandemic impacted the trends in obesity-related CVD mortality between 1999 and 2019 in the United States?
No full textBackground During the covid-19 pandemic there was a marked rise in the number of cardiovascular deaths. Obesity is a well-known modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and has been identified as a factor which leads to poorer covid-19 related outcomes. In this study we aimed to analyse the impact of covid-19 on obesity-related cardiovascular deaths compared to trends seen 20 years prior. We also analysed the influence different demographics had on mortality. Methods Multiple Cause of Mortality database was accessed through CDC WONDER to obtain the obesity-related and general cardiovascular crude mortality and age adjusted mortality rates (AMMR) between 1999 and 2020 in the US. The obesity-related sample was stratified by demographics and cardiovascular mortality was subdivided into ischemic heart disease, heart failure, hypertension and cerebrovascular disease. Joinpoint Regression Program (Version 4.9.1.0) was used to calculate the average annual percent change (AAPC) in AAMR, and hence projected AAMR. Excess mortality was calculated by comparing actual AAMR in 2020 to projected values. Results and discussion There were an estimated 3058 excess deaths during the early stages of the pandemic impacting all cohorts. The greatest excess mortalities were seen in men, rural populations and in Asian/Pacific Islander and Native Americans. Interestingly the greatest overall mortality was seen in the Black American population. Our study highlights important, both pre and during the pandemic, in obesity related cardiovascular disease mortality which has important implications for ongoing public health measures
Effects of body mass, climate, geography, and census area on population density of terrestrial mammals
No full textAim The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of climate, geography, census area and the distribution of body mass on the mass : density relationship in terrestrial mammal populations. Location The areas covered include most major terrestrial biomes including the tropics, savannas, and temperate forests. Method Data on population density and body mass from 827 populations belonging to 330 different terrestrial mammal species were derived from a review of the literature. Results LOWESS and polynomial regression analysis indicated that the overall mass : density relationship on log-log scales was not linear and that the slope of this relationship behaves differently across the range of body mass. Body mass explained between 37 and 67% of the variability in population density depending upon the dietary category or the biome group. We also developed two multivariate models that can explain up to 65% of the variability in population density in terrestrial mammals. We also tested for a confounding effect of census area on the mass : density relationship on log-log scales in terrestrial mammals. Conclusions Our findings support previous studies suggesting that body mass is a major predictor of the variance in population density in terrestrial mammals. We suggest that the nonlinearity of the mass : density relationship may result from the fact that the overall distribution of body mass is a mixture of distributions across dietary groups and biomes. In contrast to body mass, our results indicate that climatic and geographical factors have a minor effect on population density. Although census area was closely correlated with body mass, body mass was generally a better predictor of population density than was census area.PT: J; CR: BAKER RH, 1967, SYST ZOOL, V16, P28 BLACKBURN TM, 1990, J ANIM ECOL, V59, P335 BLACKBURN TM, 1993, J ANIM ECOL, V62, P694 BLACKBURN TM, 1996, BIODIVERSITY LETT, V3, P44 BLACKBURN TM, 1996, OIKOS, V75, P303 BLACKBURN TM, 1996, OIKOS, V77, P436 BLACKBURN TM, 1997, J ANIM ECOL, V66, P233 BLACKBURN TM, 1999, ADV ECOL RES, V28, P181 BLACKBURN TM, 1999, OIKOS, V85, P570 BOURLIERE F, 1961, INT UNION CONSERVATI, V1, P102 BROWN JH, 1981, AM ZOOL, V21, P877 BROWN JH, 1984, ACTA ZOOL FENN, V172, P45 BROWN JH, 1986, NATURE, V324, P248 BROWN JH, 1991, AM NAT, V138, P1478 BROWN JH, 1995, MACROECOLOGY BROWN JH, 1998, BIOGEOGRAPHY CAUGHLEY G, 1964, AUST J ZOOL, V12, P238 CHEW RM, 1970, ECOL MONOGR, V40, P1 CHURCHILL SK, 1991, WILDLIFE RES, V18, P343 CLEVELAND WS, 1979, J AM STAT ASSOC, V74, P829 CLEVELAND WS, 1985, SCIENCE, V229, P828 CLUTTONBROCK TH, 1977, J ZOOL LOND, V183, P1 COE MJ, 1976, OECOLOGIA, V22, P341 COTGREAVE P, 1992, FUNCT ECOL, V6, P248 COTGREAVE P, 1994, FUNCT ECOL, V8, P219 COTGREAVE P, 1994, OIKOS, V66, P353 COTGREAVE P, 1995, FUNCT ECOL, V9, P285 CURRIE DJ, 1993, OIKOS, V66, P353 CURRIE DJ, 1993, OIKOS, V67, P56 DAMUTH J, 1981, NATURE, V290, P699 DAMUTH J, 1987, BIOL J LINN SOC, V31, P193 DAMUTH J, 1993, NATURE, V365, P748 DOWSETT RJ, 1966, PUKU, V4, P135 EISENBERG JF, 1981, MAMMALIAN RAD ANAL T FLEMING TH, 1973, ECOLOGY, V54, P555 FREESE CH, 1982, INT J PRIMATOL, V3, P53 FRITZ H, 1994, P ROY SOC LOND B BIO, V256, P77 GRIFFITHS D, 1998, J ANIM ECOL, V67, P795 GUJARATI D, 1978, BASIC ECONOMETRICS HARVEY PH, 1991, COMP METHOD EVOLUTIO HUTCHINSON GE, 1959, AM NAT, V93, P145 JOHNSON CN, 1998, J ANIM ECOL, V67, P689 JOHNSON CN, 1999, OIKOS, V85, P565 JOHNSON RA, 1992, APPL MULTIVARIATE ST LODER N, 1997, OIKOS, V78, P195 MACPHERSON E, 1989, MAR ECOL-PROG SER, V50, P295 MARQUET PA, 1990, SCIENCE, V250, P1125 MARQUET PA, 1995, J ANIM ECOL, V64, P325 MARQUET PA, 1998, EVOL ECOL, V12, P127 MARQUET PA, 1999, OIKOS, V85, P299 MONTFORT A, 1972, TERRE VIE, V26, P216 NEE S, 1991, NATURE, V351, P312 NOWAK RM, 1991, WALKERS MAMMALS WORL, V1 NOWAK RM, 1991, WALKERS MAMMALS WORL, V2 PERES CA, 1990, BIOL CONSERV, V54, P47 PETERS RH, 1983, OECOLOGIA, V60, P89 PETERS RH, 1984, AM NAT, V124, P498 PHILLIPSON J, 1975, E AFR WILDL J, V13, P171 PIMM SL, 1992, BALANCE NATURE RAPOPORT EH, 1982, AREOGRAPHY GEOGRAPHI, V1 RICKLEFS RE, 1996, OIKOS, V77, P167 ROBERTS SC, 1991, AFR J ECOL, V29, P316 ROBINSON JG, 1986, AM NAT, V128, P665 ROSENZWEIG ML, 1968, AM NAT, V102, P67 SILVA M, 1994, CONSERV BIOL, V8, P732 SILVA M, 1995, AM NAT, V145, P704 SILVA M, 1997, J ANIM ECOL, V66, P327 SMALLWOOD KS, 1996, OECOLOGIA, V107, P588 SOKAL RR, 1981, BIOMETRY STEVENS GC, 1989, AM NAT, V133, P240 WAND MP, 1995, KERNEL SMOOTHING WERNSTEDT FL, 1972, WORLD CLIMATIC DATA WESTOBY M, 1995, J ECOL, V83, P531 WESTOBY M, 1995, J ECOL, V83, P727 WESTOBY M, 1995, J ECOL, V83, P892 WHITTAKER RH, 1975, COMMUNITIES ECOSYSTE WILSON DE, 1992, MAMMAL SPECIES WORLD WILSON JW, 1974, EVOLUTION, V28, P124 ZAR JH, 1996, BIOSTATISTICAL ANAL; NR: 79; TC: 12; J9: GLOBAL ECOL BIOGEOGR; PG: 17; GA: 482PLSource type: Electronic(1
Effectiveness of Combined Health Coaching and Self-Monitoring Apps on Weight-Related Outcomes in People With Overweight and Obesity: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
No full textBackgroundSelf-monitoring smartphone apps and health coaching have both individually been shown to improve weight-related outcomes, but their combined effects remain unclear.
ObjectiveThis study aims to examine the effectiveness of combining self-monitoring apps with health coaching on anthropometric, cardiometabolic, and lifestyle outcomes in people with overweight and obesity.
MethodsRelevant articles published from inception till June 9, 2022, were searched through 8 databases (Embase, CINAHL, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science). Effect sizes were pooled using random-effects models. Behavioral strategies used were coded using the behavior change techniques taxonomy V1.
ResultsA total of 14 articles were included, representing 2478 participants with a mean age of 39.1 years and a BMI of 31.8 kg/m2. Using combined intervention significantly improved weight loss by 2.15 kg (95% CI −3.17 kg to −1.12 kg; P<.001; I2=60.3%), waist circumference by 2.48 cm (95% CI −3.51 cm to −1.44 cm; P<.001; I2=29%), triglyceride by 0.22 mg/dL (95% CI −0.33 mg/dL to 0.11 mg/dL; P=.008; I2=0%), glycated hemoglobin by 0.12% (95% CI −0.21 to −0.02; P=.03; I2=0%), and total calorie consumption per day by 128.30 kcal (95% CI −182.67 kcal to −73.94 kcal; P=.003; I2=0%) kcal, but not BMI, blood pressure, body fat percentage, cholesterol, and physical activity. Combined interventional effectiveness was superior to receiving usual care and apps for waist circumference but only superior to usual care for weight loss.
ConclusionsCombined intervention could improve weight-related outcomes, but more research is needed to examine its added benefits to using an app.
Trial RegistrationPROSPERO CRD42022345133; https://tinyurl.com/2zxfdpa
Social disparities in cardiovascular mortality of patients with cancer in the USA between 1999 and 2019
No full textBackgroundTemporal trends of the impact of social determinants on cardiovascular outcomes of cancer patients has not been previously studied. ObjectivesThis study examined social disparities in cardiovascular mortality of people with and without cancer in the US population between 1999 and 2019. MethodsPrimary cardiovascular deaths were identified from the Multiple Cause of Death database and grouped by cancer status. The cancer cohort was subcategorized into breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, and haematological. The number of cardiovascular deaths, crude cardiovascular mortality rate, cardiovascular age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR), and percentage change in cardiovascular AAMR were calculated by cancer status and cancer type, and stratified by sex, race, ethnicity, and urban-rural setting. Results17.9 million cardiovascular deaths were analysed. Of these, 572,222 occurred in patients with a record of cancer. The cancer cohort were older and included more men and White racial groups. Regardless of cancer status, cardiovascular AAMR was higher in men, rural settings, and Black or African American races. Cardiovascular AAMR declined over time, with greater reduction in those with cancer (−51.6% vs −38.3%); the greatest reductions were in colorectal (−68.4%), prostate (−60.0%), and breast (−58.8%) cancers. Sex, race, and ethnic disparities reduced over time, with greater narrowing in the cancer cohort. There was increase in urban-rural disparities, which appeared greater in those with cancer. ConclusionsWhile most social disparities narrowed over time, urban-rural disparities widened, with greater increase in those with cancer. Healthcare plans should incorporate strategies for reduction of health inequality equitable access to cardio-oncology services
General Public's knowledge, awareness, and perception of Cardiometabolic diseases: data from a Singapore study population
No full text10.3389/fmed.2023.1193829FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE1
Continued demographic shifts in hospitalised patients with COVID-19 from migrant workers to a vulnerable and more elderly local population at risk of severe disease
No full textObjectives: In the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Singapore, the vast majority of infected persons were migrant workers living in dormitories who had few medical comorbidities. In 2021, with the Delta and Omicron waves, this shifted to the more vulnerable, elderly population within the local community. We examined evolving trends among the hospitalised cases of COVID-19.Methods: All patients with polymerase chain reaction-positive SARS-CoV-2 admitted from February 2020 to October 2021 were included and subsequently stratified by their year of admission (2020 or 2021). We compared the baseline clinical characteristics, clinical course, and outcomes.Results: A majority of cases were seen in 2020 (n = 1359), compared with 2021 (n = 422), due to the large outbreaks in migrant worker dormitories. Nevertheless, the greater proportion of locally transmitted cases outside of dormitories in 2021 (78.7% vs 12.3%) meant a significantly older population with more medical comorbidities had COVID-19. This led to an observably higher proportion of patients with severe disease presenting with raised inflammatory markers, need for therapeutics, supplemental oxygenation, and higher mortality.Conclusion: Changing demographics and the characteristics of the exposed populations are associated with distinct differences in clinical presentation and outcomes. Older age remained consistently associated with adverse outcomes
Mechanisms involved in chronic neuropathic pain after avulsion injury
No full textPhDMotor vehicle accidents are the most common cause of injuries involving avulsion of
spinal roots from the brachial or lumbosacral plexuses. This results in chronic
intractable pain that is refractory to pharmacotherapy. This is largely due to lack of
information on underlying mechanisms, and lack of an established animal model to test
drug treatments.
This thesis has: 1) compared the neuroanatomical effects of dorsal root rhizotomy
(DRR) and avulsion (DRA) in the spinal cord. DRR is commonly used to model
avulsion injury but unlike avulsion it does not damage the spinal cord, as often happens
clinically. 2) Developed a behavioural model of spinal root avulsion injury (SRA). 3)
Evaluated the behavioural effects of drugs prescribed to treat neuropathic pain or those
used clinically to treat other conditions like motoneuron disease or spinal cord injury.
DRA produced a greater and prolonged glial, inflammatory, vascular response and cell
loss than DRR. SRA produced thermal and mechanical hypersensitivity in the affected
hind-paw. Neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory responses were observed in both
the avulsed and adjacent spinal segments, but produced no changes in the neuronal
phenotype adjacent dorsal root ganglion neurons, suggesting that the evoked behaviour
is mediated by central mechanisms.
Administration of amitriptyline or carbamazepine reduced behavioural hypersensitivity
in SRA, confirming their limited clinical efficacy in treatment of avulsion injury.
Minocycline and riluzole produced therapeutic efficacy. Both compounds prevented the
establishment of behavioural hypersensitivity, which correlated histologically with
microglial inhibition, although riluzole was transiently effective. Additionally,
minocycline reversed the hypersensitivity, an effect that persisted beyond drug washout,
whereas riluzole had a limited effect that only lasted whilst the drug was
administered.
This thesis provides insight into the mechanisms of avulsion-induced neuropathic pain.
The establishment of a behaviourally reproducible avulsion model provides a platform
to test new pharmacological candidates for treatment, such as minocycline
Acute Myocardial Infarction and Myocarditis following COVID-19 Vaccination.
No full text10.1093/qjmed/hcab252QJMcomplete
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