Previous measures of physical activity for epidemiologic studies were considered inadequate to meet the needs of a community-based health education trial. Therefore, new methods of quantifying the physical activity habits of communities were developed which are practical for large health surveys, provide information on the distribution of activity habits in the population, can detect changes in activity over time, and can be compared with other epidemiologic studies of physical activity. Independent self-reports of vigorous activity (at least 6 metabolic equivalents (METs) ), moderate activity (3-5 METs), and total energy expenditure (kilocalories per day) are described, and the physical activity practices of samples of California cities are presented. Relationships between physical activity measures and age, education, occupation, ethnicity, marital status, and body mass index are analyzed, and the reliabilities of the three activity indices are reported. The new assessment procedure is contrasted with nine other measures of physical activity used in community surveys.
Project GRAD (Graduate Ready for Activity Daily) is a randomized, controlled study evaluating a 3 month intervention to increase and maintain physical activity among graduating college seniors by altering psychosocial determinants of physical activity. The purpose of this abstract is to evaluate the effect of the GRAD intervention on the determinants of physical activity. The intervention was a 2-unit course with one hour of lecture and two hours of peer-led lab per week. Participants were taught exercise science and behavior change principles and skills. The control condition received a general health education course. Determinants of physical activity, including self-efficacy, social support, enjoyment, processes of change, barriers, and benefits were measured before and after the intervention by questionnaire. Data were analyzed separately for women (n=185) and men (n=153) using a 2×2×2 (condition × active/inactive × time) repeated measures ANCOVA controlling for season. There was an intervention effect (improvement) in self-efficacy for women(p<.001) but not for men. Social support from family decreased among women in the intervention group compared to the control group (p<.03), but not among men. Enjoyment of physical activity increased more in the intervention group for women (p<.05), but not for men. There was an intervention effect for behavioral processes of change among men(p<.002) and women (p<.001). Cognitive processes of change improved more for women in the intervention group(p<.001), but not for men. Surprisingly, perceived barriers increased more among men in the intervention group (p<.002), but not for women. There were no significant intervention effects for social support from friends or perceived benefits. Most of the observed changes in determinants of physical activity were in the expected direction, and the intervention appears to be more effective for women than men. The GRAD course improved several psychosocial determinants, and these changes are expected to lead to physical activity changes.
Mutations that cause pituitary dwarfism in the mouse reside in the gene encoding the transcription factor growth hormone factor 1 (GHF1 or pit1). These dwarf mice (dw and dwJ) are deficient in growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL) synthesis and exhibit pituitary hypoplasia, suggesting a stem cell defect. With antisense oligonucleotide technology, a cell culture model of this genetic defect was developed. Specific inhibition of GHF1 synthesis by complementary oligonucleotides led to a marked decrease in GH and PRL expression and to a marked decrease in proliferation of somatotrophic cell lines. These results provide direct evidence that the homeodomain protein GHF1 is required not only for the establishment and maintenance of the differentiated phenotype but for cell proliferation as well.
No abstract is provided for this article.
NF-kB transcription factors have been suspected to be involved in cancer development since their discovery because of their kinship with the v-Rel oncogene product. Subsequent work led to identification of oncogenic mutations that result in NF-kB activation in lymphoid malignancies, but most of these mutations affect upstream components of NF-kB signaling pathways, rather than NF-kB family members themselves. NF-kB activation has also been observed in many solid tumors, but so far no oncogenic mutations responsible for NF-kB activation in carcinomas have been identified. In such cancers, NF-kB activation is a result of underlying inflammation or the consequence of formation of an inflammatory microenvironment during malignant progression. Most importantly, through its ability to up-regulate the expression of tumor promoting cytokines, such as IL-6 or TNF-a, and survival genes, such as Bcl-XL, NF-kB provides a critical link between inflammation and cancer.
"Engaging Communities to Create Active Living Environments" published on Jan 2011 by Human Kinetics, Inc..
Metallothioneins (MTs) are encoded by a multigene family in man. We have isolated those genes and analyzed the structure of some of them. The MT-II variant is encoded by a single functional gene: MT-IIA. The MT-IIB gene is a processed pseudogene derived from a reverse transcript of MT-II mRNA. On the other hand, the MT-I class of variants are encoded by a large number of genes, arranged in tandem. The MT-IIA and the MT-IA genes show a differential response to glucocorticoid hormones and heavy metals, yet they are both expressed in primary human fibroblasts and in HeLa cells. Expression of both of those genes, in high level after transfer on bovine papilloma virus vectors, leads to increased resistance of the host cells to cadmium-induced toxicity.
Global concerns about rising levels of chronic disease make timely translation of research into policy and practice a priority. There is a need to tackle common risk factors: tobacco use, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and harmful alcohol use. Using evidence to inform policy and practice is challenging, often hampered by a poor fit between academic research and the needs of policymakers and practitioners--notably for active living researchers whose objective is to increase population physical activity by changing the ways cities are designed and built. We propose 10 strategies that may facilitate translation of research into health-enhancing urban planning policy. Strategies include interdisciplinary research teams of policymakers and practitioners; undertaking explicitly policy-relevant research; adopting appropriate study designs and methodologies (evaluation of policy initiatives as 'natural experiments'); and adopting dissemination strategies that include knowledge brokers, advocates, and lobbyists. Conducting more policy-relevant research will require training for researchers as well as different rewards in academia.
Background: Because most adults in industrialized countries do not meet physical activity guidelines, population-wide interventions are needed. Environmental and policy interventions are based on ecological models of behavior and have the potential to influence entire populations. Ecological models are particularly applicable to physical activity because the behavior must be done in specific physical settings. Cross-sectional data indicate that environmental and policy variables are associated with physical activity behaviors of young people and adults. Method: Seven published evaluations of environmental and policy interventions to increase physical activity were reviewed. Results: Two studies showed that placing signs encouraging stair use can be effective. Quasi-experimental evaluations provided limited evidence that broad environmental changes can be effective. Large-scale policy interventions are currently being conducted in several countries. Proposed Model: A model describing the development of policy and environmental interventions is proposed, in the hope of stimulating more research in this area. Advocacy or planning groups identify and work with agencies that control policies and environments that can be altered to increase physical activity. Educational and policy/environmental interventions are seen as complementary. Conclusion: Lack of conceptual models and the inherent difficulties of evaluation have hampered research on environmental and policy interventions. Further research is needed, and practitioners and researchers should work together to evaluate programs.
