We examined the temporal longitudinal associations of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) with the risk of ...overweight/obesity and elevated blood pressure (BP)/hypertension. We studied 3862 adolescents aged 17.7 years from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, followed-up for 7 years. cfPWV and cIMT were measured by ultrasound. Total and trunk fat mass and lean mass were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Body mass index and BP were measured. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, linear mixed-effect, and cross-lagged structural equation models, with covariate adjustments. Among 1719 male and 2143 female participants, higher cfPWV at 17.7 years was associated with the risk of elevated systolic BP/hypertension (odds ratio, 1.20 1.02-1.41;
=0.026), elevated diastolic BP/hypertension (1.77 1.32-2.38;
<0.0001), body mass index-overweight/obesity (1.19 1.01-1.41;
=0.041), and trunk fat mass overweight/obesity (1.24 1.03-1.49;
=0.023) at 24.5 years. Higher cIMT at 17.7 years had no associations with obesity and elevated BP at follow-up. cfPWV progression was directly associated with 7-year increase in systolic BP (effect estimate 16 mm Hg 9-24;
<0.0001) and diastolic BP (28 mm Hg 23-34;
<0.0001). cIMT progression was directly associated with the 7-year increase of all adiposity measures and diastolic BP. In the temporal analysis, baseline cfPWV was directly associated with follow-up systolic and diastolic BP, however, baseline BP was unassociated with follow-up cfPWV. cfPWV but not cIMT was bidirectionally associated with adiposity. Obesity and hypertension prevention from adolescence may require developing novel approaches to mitigate arterial stiffness.
We examined the longitudinal associations of fat mass, lean mass, and blood pressure (BP) from childhood through young adulthood with changes in carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), a measure ...of arterial stiffness, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT). We included 3863 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort. Fat mass and lean mass, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, and BP were measured at ages 9, 17 and 24 years and classified into low, moderate, and high tertiles. cfPWV and cIMT were measured at 17 and 24 years of age. Associations were examined via linear mixed effect models and adjusted for cardiometabolic and lifestyle factors. Among 1720 44.5% male and 2143 55.5% female participants, cumulative high exposures to lean mass (effect estimate 0.006 m/s 95% CI 0.001 to 0.010; p = 0.022), systolic BP (0.013 m/s 0.009 to 0.017; p < 0.0001) and diastolic BP (0.023 m/s 0.019 to 0.027; p < 0.0001) from 9-24 years of age were positively associated with the 7-year increase in cfPWV. Persistent high exposures to lean mass (0.012 mm; 0.008 to 0.016; p < 0.0001), body mass index (0.007 mm 0.003 to 0.011; p = 0.001), and systolic BP (0.010 mm; 0.006 to 0.014; p < 0.0001) from ages 9-24 years were positively associated with thicker cIMT at 17-24 years of age. Total fat and trunk fat mass from childhood had no association with cfPWV or cIMT progression. In conclusion, increased lean mass and BP but not fat mass from childhood drives arterial remodeling in young adulthood.
The book Australian Ticks by F.H.S. Roberts (1970) is a land-mark in Australian tick biology. But it is time for a new and improved book on the ticks of Australia. The present book has identification ...guides and accounts of the biology and diseases associated with the 16 species of ticks that may feed on domestic animals and humans in Australia. These comprise five argasid (soft) ticks: Argas persicus (poultry tick), Argas robertsi (Robert's bird tick), Ornithodoros capensis (seabird soft tick), O. gurneyi (kangaroo soft tick), Otobius megnini (spinose ear tick); and 11 ixodid (hard) ticks, Amblyomma triguttatum (ornate kangaroo tick), Bothriocroton auruginans (wombat tick), B. hydrosauri (southern reptile tick), Haemaphysalis bancrofti (wallaby tick), H. longicornis (bush tick), Ixodes cornuatus (southern paralysis tick), I. hirsti (Hirst's marsupial tick), I. holocyclus (paralysis tick), I. tasmani (common marsupial tick), Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) australis (Australian cattle tick) and R. sanguineus (brown dog tick). We use an image-matching system to identify ticks, much like the image-matching systems used in field-guides for birds and flowers. Ticks may be identified by drawings that emphasise unique matrices of uniformly defined morphological characters that, together, allow these 16 ticks to be identified by morphology unequivocally. The species accounts have seven sections: (i) General; (ii) Differential diagnosis; (iii) Hosts; (iv) Life-cycle and seasonality; (v) Disease; (vi) Habitat and geographic distribution; (vii) Genes and genomes; and (viii) Other information. There are 71 figures and tables, including a glossary character matrices, drawings of life-cycles, drawings of genera, species, and colour photographs of tick biology.
1) To investigate the effectiveness of school-based high-intensity interval training (HIIT) interventions in promoting health outcomes of children and adolescents compared with either a control group ...or other exercise modality; and 2) to explore the intervention characteristics and process outcomes of published school-based HIIT interventions.
We searched Medline, Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science from inception until 31 March 2021. Studies were eligible if 1) participants aged 5-17 years old; 2) a HIIT intervention within a school setting ≥ 2 weeks duration; 3) a control or comparative exercise group; 4) health-related, cognitive, physical activity, nutrition, or program evaluation outcomes; and 5) original research published in English. We conducted meta-analyses between HIIT and control groups for all outcomes with ≥ 4 studies and meta-regressions for all outcomes with ≥ 10 studies. We narratively synthesised results between HIIT and comparative exercise groups.
Fifty-four papers met eligibility criteria, encompassing 42 unique studies (35 randomised controlled trials; 36 with a high risk of bias). Meta-analyses indicated significant improvements in waist circumference (mean difference (MD) = -2.5cm), body fat percentage (MD = -1.7%), body mass index (standardised mean difference (SMD) = -1.0), cardiorespiratory fitness (SMD = +1.0), resting heart rate (MD = -5bpm), homeostatic model assessment-insulin resistance (MD = -0.7), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (SMD = -0.9) for HIIT compared to the control group. Our narrative synthesis indicated mixed findings between HIIT and other comparative exercise groups.
School-based HIIT is effective for improving several health outcomes. Future research should address the paucity of information on physical activity and nutrition outcomes and focus on the integration and long-term effectiveness of HIIT interventions within school settings.
PROSPERO CRD42018117567.
This study aimed to determine whether estimated cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM), and adiponectin bidirectionally associate with arterial function and structure and if ...CRF mediates the relationship between cardiometabolic health and arterial outcomes in 9- to 11-yr-old children drawn from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort, United Kingdom.
Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), distensibility coefficient (DC), and carotid-radial pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured by ultrasonography; CRF was measured during the submaximal ergometer test; total FM, trunk FM, and LM were measured by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry; plasma adiponectin was measured by enzyme assay; and cardiometabolic health was computed based on the International Diabetes Federation criteria for diagnosing metabolic syndrome. We tested bidirectionality by including CRF, FM, LM, and adiponectin as exposures and FMD, DC, and PWV as outcomes, alternatively.
Among 5566 participants (2816 (51%) girls; median age, 9.75 yr), CRF per body mass0.21 was directly related to DC (β (95% confidence interval) = 0.004 (<0.0001 to 0.008); P = 0.046), whereas CRF per LM0.54 was inversely associated with PWV (-0.034 (-0.063 to -0.003); 0.032) after adjusting for covariates. These associations remained in bidirectional analyses. Total FM, trunk FM, and LM were bidirectionally and positively associated with FMD and DC. Total FM and trunk FM but not LM had bidirectional and inverse associations with PWV. Adiponectin was not related to FMD, DC, or PWV. CRF partially mediated the associations of cardiometabolic health with FMD (1.5% mediation), DC (12.1% mediation), and PWV (3.5% mediation).
Associations of poor cardiometabolic health with adverse arterial structure and function in childhood may be mitigated by increasing CRF. Higher CRF was associated with better arterial structure whereas higher total FM and trunk FM were associated with better arterial function and structure. In the reverse analysis, healthy arterial structure and function were independently associated with increased total FM and trunk FM, suggesting an "arterial paradox."
We investigated the temporal causal longitudinal associations of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV), a measure of arterial stiffness, and carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) progression ...with the risk of dysglycemia, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia.
We included 3862, 17.7-year-old, participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, followed up for 7 years. cfPWV, cIMT, and fasting plasma samples were repeatedly measured. We computed homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) of insulin resistance and percent pancreatic beta-cell function. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, linear mixed-effect, and cross-lagged structural equation models.
A higher cfPWV at 17.7 years was associated with higher insulin at age 24.5 years (odds ratio, 1.25 CI, 1.08-1.44;
=0.003), which slightly attenuated after covariates adjustment. Higher cIMT at 17.7 years was associated with lower insulin (odds ratio, 0.06 0.01-0.95;
=0.046) at 24.5 years, after covariate adjustments. In mixed-effect models, the 7-year progression in cfPWV (predictor) was directly associated with the increase in triglyceride (outcome). cIMT progression was associated with the 7-year increase in LDL (low-density lipoprotein), triglyceride, and glucose. In cross-lagged models, higher cfPWV at 17.7 years was associated with higher insulin (
=0.06, SE, 0.12,
=0.014), HOMA of insulin resistance, and HOMA-percent pancreatic beta-cell function at 24.5 years. However, insulin, HOMA of insulin resistance, and HOMA-percent pancreatic beta-cell function at 17.7 years were not associated with cfPWV at 24.5 years. Higher cIMT at 17.7 years was associated with reduced insulin, HOMA of insulin resistance, and HOMA-percent pancreatic beta-cell function at 24.5 years, but not vice versa. Higher glucose at 17.7 years was associated with higher cfPWV and cIMT at 24.5 years only.
Arterial stiffness in adolescence may be a causal risk factor for hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance in young adulthood.
This study assessed the knowledge, behavior, and needs of competitive adolescent (16-18 years) distance runners and distance running coaches enrolled as part of England Athletics' Youth Talent ...Programme in relation to the prevention of running-related injury (RRI). Two online surveys were developed and distributed to the distance runners (survey one) and coaches (survey two). Both surveys included sections related to: (1) current knowledge; (2) current behavior; (3) need and support for RRI prevention measures; and (4) possible content and form of RRI prevention measures. A total of 39 distance runners (36% of total possible sample) completed survey 1, and 29 coaches (32% of total possible sample) completed survey 2. Key findings included that the majority of distance runners and coaches: (1) agreed that it is 'very important' to try to prevent RRI; (2) are currently implementing something in practice (e.g., strength training) to prevent RRI; and (3) view the creation of RRI prevention measures as an important initiative. Differences between distance runners and coaches were identified in relation to their understanding of the most common causes of RRI. Interestingly, distance runners identified a modifiable cause of RRI (i.e., too much training) as the most common cause of RRI, while coaches selected a non-modifiable cause of RRI (i.e., growth and maturation). These key findings were supplemented by competitive adolescent runners and distance running coaches detailing their delivery preferences for such RRI prevention measures. Results from this study will help inform subsequent steps of the larger co-creation process, with an emphasis on developing multifaceted and context-specific RRI prevention measures that are deemed to be feasible and acceptable for real-world implementation.
Intestinal cancer is initiated by Wnt-pathway-activating mutations in genes such as adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). As in most cancers, the cell of origin has remained elusive. In a previously ...established Lgr5 (leucine-rich-repeat containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5) knockin mouse model, a tamoxifen-inducible Cre recombinase is expressed in long-lived intestinal stem cells. Here we show that deletion of Apc in these stem cells leads to their transformation within days. Transformed stem cells remain located at crypt bottoms, while fuelling a growing microadenoma. These microadenomas show unimpeded growth and develop into macroscopic adenomas within 3-5weeks. The distribution of Lgr5+ cells within stem-cell-derived adenomas indicates that a stem cell/progenitor cell hierarchy is maintained in early neoplastic lesions. When Apc is deleted in short-lived transit-amplifying cells using a different cre mouse, the growth of the induced microadenomas rapidly stalls. Even after 30weeks, large adenomas are very rare in these mice. We conclude that stem-cell-specific loss of Apc results in progressively growing neoplasia.
Impairments in vascular function are present in asymptomatic youths with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Exercise can promote vascular health in youth, but the effects of exercise intensity ...and the time course in response to acute exercise are unknown.
Twenty adolescents (10 male, 14.1 ± 0.3 yr) performed the following on separate days in a counterbalanced order: 1) cycling at 90% of the gas exchange threshold (moderate-intensity exercise (MIE)) and 2) 8 × 1-min cycling at 90% peak power with 75-s recovery (high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE)). The duration of MIE (25.8 ± 2.1 min) was work-matched to HIIE (23.0 min). Macro- and microvascular functions were assessed before, immediately after, and 1 and 2 h after exercise by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and laser Doppler imaging (total reactive hyperemia).
FMD was attenuated immediately after HIIE (P < 0.001, effect size (ES) = 1.20) but not after MIE (P = 0.28, ES = 0.26). Compared with that before exercise, FMD was elevated 1 and 2 h after HIIE (P < 0.001, ES = 1.33; P < 0.001, ES = 1.36) but unchanged in MIE (P = 0.67, ES = 0.10; P = 0.72, ES = 0.08). Changes in FMD were unrelated to shear or baseline arterial diameter. Compared with that in preexercise, total reactive hyperemia was always greater after MIE (P < 0.02, ES > 0.60 for all) and HIIE (P < 0.001, ES > 1.18 for all). Total reactive hyperemia was greater in HIIE compared with that in MIE immediately after (P = 0.03, ES = 0.67) and 1 h after (P = 0.01, ES = 0.62) exercise, with a trend to be greater 2 h after (P = 0.06, ES = 0.45).
Exercise intensity is positively associated with macro- and microvascular function 1 and 2 h after exercise. Performing HIIE may provide superior vascular benefits than MIE in adolescents.
To provide an evidence-based review of muscle metabolism changes with sex-, age- and maturation with reference to the development of youth sport performance.
A narrative review of data from both ...invasive and non-invasive studies, from 1970 to 2015, founded on personal databases supported with computer searches of PubMed and Google Scholar.
Youth sport performance is underpinned by sex-, age- and maturation-related changes in muscle metabolism. Investigations of muscle size, structure and metabolism; substrate utilisation; pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics; muscle phosphocreatine kinetics; peak anaerobic and aerobic performance; and fatigue resistance; determined using a range of conventional and emerging techniques present a consistent picture. Age-related changes have been consistently documented but specific and independent maturation-related effects on muscle metabolism during exercise have proved elusive to establish. Children are better equipped for exercise supported primarily by oxidative metabolism than by anaerobic metabolism. Sexual dimorphism is apparent in several physiological variables underpinning youth sport performance. As young people mature there is a progressive but asynchronous transition into an adult metabolic profile.
The application of recent developments in technology to the laboratory study of the exercising child and adolescent has both supplemented existing knowledge and provided novel insights into developmental exercise physiology. A sound foundation of laboratory-based knowledge has been established but the lack of rigorously designed child-specific and sport-specific testing environments has clouded the interpretation of the data in real life situations. The primary challenge remains the translation of laboratory research into the optimisation of youth sports participation and performance.