Effects of Lifestyle Modification on Telomerase Gene Expression in Hypertensive Patients: A Pilot Trial of Stress Reduction and Health Education Programs in African Americans

Background

African Americans suffer from disproportionately high rates of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Psychosocial stress, lifestyle and telomere dysfunction contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated effects of stress reduction and lifestyle modification on blood pressure, telomerase gene expression and lifestyle factors in African Americans.

Methods

Forty-eight African American men and women with stage I hypertension who participated in a larger randomized controlled trial volunteered for this substudy. These subjects participated in either stress reduction with the Transcendental Meditation technique and a basic health education course (SR) or an extensive health education program (EHE) for 16 weeks. Primary outcomes were telomerase gene expression (hTERT and hTR) and clinic blood pressure. Secondary outcomes included lifestyle-related factors. Data were analyzed for within-group and between-group changes.

Results

Both groups showed increases in the two measures of telomerase gene expression, hTR mRNA levels (SR: p< 0.001; EHE: p< 0.001) and hTERT mRNA levels (SR: p = 0.055; EHE: p< 0.002). However, no statistically significant between-group changes were observed. Both groups showed reductions in systolic BP. Adjusted changes were SR = -5.7 mm Hg, p< 0.01; EHE = -9.0 mm Hg, p < 0.001 with no statistically significant difference between group difference. There was a significant reduction in diastolic BP in the EHE group (-5.3 mm Hg, p< 0.001) but not in SR (-1.2 mm Hg, p = 0.42); the between-group difference was significant (p = 0.04). The EHE group showed a greater number of changes in lifestyle behaviors.

Conclusion

In this pilot trial, both stress reduction (Transcendental Meditation technique plus health education) and extensive health education groups demonstrated increased telomerase gene expression and reduced BP. The association between increased telomerase gene expression and reduced BP observed in this high-risk population suggest hypotheses that telomerase gene expression may either be a biomarker for reduced BP or a mechanism by which stress reduction and lifestyle modification reduces BP.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00681200     

Joint Effect of Genetic and Lifestyle Risk Factors on Type 2 Diabetes Risk among Chinese Men and Women

More than 40 genetic susceptibility loci have been reported for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Recently, the combined effect of genetic variants has been investigated by calculating a genetic risk score. We evaluated 36 genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified SNPs in 2,679 T2D cases and 3322 controls in middle-age Han Chinese. Fourteen SNPs were significantly associated with T2D in analysis adjusted for age, sex and BMI. We calculated two genetic risk scores (GRS) (GRS1 with all the 36 SNPs and GRS2 with the 14 SNPs significantly associated with T2D). The odds ratio for T2D with each GRS point (per risk allele) was 1.08 (95% CI: 1.06–1.09) for GRS1 and 1.15 (95% CI: 1.13–1.18) for GRS2. The OR for quintiles were 1.00, 1.26, 1.69, 1.95 and 2.18 (P<0.0001) for GRS1 and 1.00, 1.33, 1.60, 2.03 and 2.80 (P<0.001) for GRS2. Participants in the higher tertile of GRS1 and the higher BMI category had a higher risk of T2D compared to those on the lower tertiles of the GRS1 and of BMI (OR = 11.08; 95% CI: 7.39–16.62). We found similar results when we investigated joint effects between GRS1 and WHR terciles and exercise participation. We finally investigated the joint effect between tertiles of GRSs and a composite high risk score (no exercise participation and high BMI and WHR) on T2D risk. We found that compared to participants with low GRS1 and no high risk factors for T2D, those with high GRS1 and three high risk factors had a higher risk of T2D (OR = 13.06; 95% CI: 8.65–19.72) but the interaction factor was of marginal significance. The association was accentuated when we repeated analysis with the GRS2. In conclusion we found an association between GRS and lifestyle factors, alone and in combination, contributed to the risk of and T2D among middle age Chinese.     

The Joint Effects of Lifestyle Factors and Comorbidities on the Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Large Chinese Retrospective Case-Control Study

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality. In previous epidemiologic studies, the respective correlation between lifestyle factors and comorbidity and CRC has been extensively studied. However, little is known about their joint effects on CRC.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective case-control study of 1,144 diagnosed CRC patients and 60,549 community controls. A structured questionnaire was administered to the participants about their socio-demographic factors, anthropometric measures, comorbidity history and lifestyle factors. Logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) for each factor. According to the results from logistic regression model, we further developed healthy lifestyle index (HLI) and comorbidity history index (CHI) to investigate their independent and joint effects on CRC risk.

Results

Four lifestyle factors (including physical activities, sleep, red meat and vegetable consumption) and four types of comorbidity (including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, history of inflammatory bowel disease and polyps) were found to be independently associated with the risk of CRC in multivariant logistic regression model. Intriguingly, their combined pattern- HLI and CHI demonstrated significant correlation with CRC risk independently (OR_HLI: 3.91, 95%CI: 3.13–4.88; OR_CHI: 2.49, 95%CI: 2.11–2.93) and jointly (OR: 10.33, 95%CI: 6.59–16.18).

Conclusions

There are synergistic effects of lifestyle factors and comorbidity on the risk of colorectal cancer in the Chinese population.     

Effects of a Multi-Disciplinary Lifestyle Intervention on Cardiometabolic Risk Factors in Young Women with Abdominal Obesity: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Background

Young women are under-represented in cardiovascular disease research, with obesity and cardiometabolic risk factor interventions generally targeting older adults. Furthermore, appropriate study designs for young women remain uncertain. This study aimed to assess the impact of a 12 week multi-disciplinary lifestyle intervention on cardiometabolic risk factors in premenopausal women with abdominal obesity.

Methods

Women aged 18–30 y with abdominal obesity [waist circumference (WC) ≥ 80 cm] were randomised to a 12 week lifestyle intervention (n = 26) of physical activity, nutrition education and cognitive behavioural therapy, or a wait-list control group (n = 17). Both groups completed anthropometric, biochemical, nutrition and fitness testing, at pre (0 weeks) and post (12 weeks), with intervention participants completed follow-up testing at 24 weeks.

Results

Results from a linear mixed model showed no between-group differences, other than increased physical activity in the intervention group, at post. In the intervention group alone, positive within-group changes were observed in WC, waist-hip-ratio (WHR), waist-height-ratio (WHtR), resting heart rate, blood pressure, predicted VO_2max, and total energy intake. Most changes were maintained at 24 weeks post-intervention. Similar within-group improvements were observed in control participants in WC, WHR, WHtR, and systolic blood pressure but no changes were detected in physical activity and nutrition.

Conclusions

Cardiometabolic risk factors were decreased as a result of a lifestyle intervention in young women with abdominal obesity. It is difficult to describe observations in the control group without greater understanding of the behaviour of wait-list participants.

Trial Registration

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12612001017819     

老年轻度认知障碍患者生活高危因素探讨

目的:探讨生活高危因素对老年轻度认知障碍的影响。方法:应用简明精神状态量表(MMSE)、蒙特利尔认知测验量表(MoCA)、临床痴呆评定量表(CDR)和生活高危因素量表对219例老年人进行调查,分析生活高危因素对老年轻度认知障碍的影响。结果:女性患MCI风险高于男性(P=0.03);文盲组患MCI风险高于小学组,小学组高于初中及以上组(P=0.00);农民组患MCI风险高于工人组,工人组高于管理人员组(P=0.01);农村居民患MCI风险高于城市居民(P=0.01);运动影响MCI发病,不运动组患MCI风险高于运动组(P=0.00),运动频率<4次/周高于运动频率≥4次/周(P=0.00),运动年数≤10年组高于运动>10年组(P=0.01);业余爱好影响MCI发病,无业余爱好组患MCI风险高于有业余爱好组(P=0.00),业余爱好史≤10年组高于业余爱好史>10组(P=0.00)。不同年龄的老年人其MCI发病风险无统计学差异(P>0.05);吸烟、饮酒、喝茶等不同年数及频率的老年人其MCI发病风险无统计学差异(P>0.05);是否午休及不同午休频率和不同每晚睡眠时间的老年人其MCI发病风险无统计学差异(P>0.05)。结论:性别、教育程度、职业、居住地、运动时间及频率、业余爱好时间等因素与老年MCI发病有关。     

老年轻度认知障碍患者生活高危因素探讨

目的：探讨生活高危因素对老年轻度认知障碍的影响。方法：应用简明精神状态量表（MMSE）、蒙特利尔认知测验量表（MoCA）、临床痴呆评定量表（CDR）和生活高危因素量表对219例老年人进行调查,分析生活高危因素对老年轻度认知障碍的影响。结果：女性患MCI风险高于男性（P=0．03）;文盲组患MCI风险高于小学组,小学组高于初中及以上组（P=0．00）;农民组患MCI风险高于工人组,工人组高于管理人员组（P=O．01）;农村居民患MCI风险高于城市居民（P=O．01）;运动影响MCI发病,不运动组患McI风险高于运动组（P=0．00）,运动频率〈4次／周高于运动频率≥4次／周（P=0．00）,运动年数≤10年组高于运动〉10年组（P=O．01）;业余爱好影响MCI发病,无业余爱好组患MCI风险高于有业余爱好组（P=O．00）,业余爱好史≤10年组高于业余爱好史〉10组（P=O.00）。不同年龄的老年人其MCI发病风险无统计学差异（P〉O．05）;吸烟、饮酒、喝茶等不同年数及频率的老年人其MCI发病风险无统计学差异（P〉0．05）;是否午休及不同午休频率和不同每晚睡眠时间的老年人其MCI发病风险无统计学差异俨（〉O．05）。结论：性别、教育程度、职业、居住地、运动时间及频率、业余爱好时问等因素与老年MCI发病有关。     

Urbanicity and Lifestyle Risk Factors for Cardiometabolic Diseases in Rural Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background

Urban living is associated with unhealthy lifestyles that can increase the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where the majority of people live in rural areas, it is still unclear if there is a corresponding increase in unhealthy lifestyles as rural areas adopt urban characteristics. This study examines the distribution of urban characteristics across rural communities in Uganda and their associations with lifestyle risk factors for chronic diseases.

Methods and Findings

Using data collected in 2011, we examined cross-sectional associations between urbanicity and lifestyle risk factors in rural communities in Uganda, with 7,340 participants aged 13 y and above across 25 villages. Urbanicity was defined according to a multi-component scale, and Poisson regression models were used to examine associations between urbanicity and lifestyle risk factors by quartile of urbanicity. Despite all of the villages not having paved roads and running water, there was marked variation in levels of urbanicity across the villages, largely attributable to differences in economic activity, civil infrastructure, and availability of educational and healthcare services. In regression models, after adjustment for clustering and potential confounders including socioeconomic status, increasing urbanicity was associated with an increase in lifestyle risk factors such as physical inactivity (risk ratio [RR]: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.24), low fruit and vegetable consumption (RR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.10, 1.23), and high body mass index (RR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.24, 1.77).

Conclusions

This study indicates that even across rural communities in SSA, increasing urbanicity is associated with a higher prevalence of lifestyle risk factors for cardiometabolic diseases. This finding highlights the need to consider the health impact of urbanization in rural areas across SSA. Please see later in the article for the Editors'' Summary     

Effect of Lifestyle Modification on Adipokine Levels in Obese Subjects with Insulin Resistance

Objective: To study the effect of weight loss in response to a lifestyle modification program on the circulating levels of adipose tissue derived cytokines (adipokines) in obese individuals with insulin resistance. Research Methods and Procedures: Twenty‐four insulin‐resistant obese subjects with varying degrees of glucose tolerance completed a 6‐month program consisting of combined hypocaloric diet and moderate physical activity. Adipokines [leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)] and highly sensitive C‐reactive protein were measured before and after the intervention. Insulin sensitivity index was evaluated by the frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test. Results: Participants had a 6.9 ± 0.1 kg average weight loss, with a significant improvement in sensitivity index and reduction in plasma leptin (27.8 ± 3 vs. 23.6 ± 3 ng/mL, p = 0.01) and IL‐6 (2.75 ± 1.51 vs. 2.3 ± 0.91 pg/mL, p = 0.012). TNF‐α levels tended to decrease (2.3 ± 0.2 vs. 1.9 ± 0.1 pg/mL, p = 0.059). Adiponectin increased significantly only among diabetic subjects. The reductions in leptin were correlated with the decreases in BMI (r = 0.464, p < 0.05) and with changes in highly sensitive C‐reactive protein (r = 0.466, p < 0.05). Discussion: Weight reduction in obese individuals with insulin resistance was associated with a significant decrease in leptin and IL‐6 and a tendency toward a decrease in circulating TNF‐α, whereas adiponectin was increased only in diabetic subjects. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between changes of adipokines and the health benefits of weight loss.     

Lifestyle Factors,Medication Use and Risk for Ischaemic Heart Disease Hospitalisation: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study

Background

Lifestyle factors have been implicated in ischaemic heart disease (IHD) development however a limited number of longitudinal studies report results stratified by cardio-protective medication use.

Purpose

This study investigated the influence of self-reported lifestyle factors on hospitalisation for IHD, stratified by blood pressure and/or lipid-lowering therapy.

Methods

A population-based cohort of 14,890 participants aged 45+ years and IHD-free was identified from the Western Australian Health and wellbeing Surveillance System (2004 to 2010 inclusive), and linked with hospital administrative data. Adjusted hazard ratios for future IHD-hospitalisation were estimated using Cox regression.

Results

Current smokers remained at higher risk for IHD-hospitalisation (adjusted HR=1.57; 95% CI: 1.22-2.03) after adjustment for medication use, as did those considered overweight (BMI=25-29 kg/m²; adjusted HR=1.28; 95% CI: 1.04-1.57) or obese (BMI of ≥30kg/m²; adjusted HR=1.31; 95% CI: 1.03-1.66). Weekly leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) of 150 minutes or more and daily intake of 3 or more fruit/vegetable servings reduced risk by 21% (95% CI: 0.64-0.97) and 26% (95% CI: 0.58-0.96) respectively. Benefits of LTPA appeared greatest in those on blood pressure lowering medication (adjusted HR=0.50; 95% CI: 0.31-0.82 [for LTPA<150 mins], adjusted HR=0.64; 95% CI: 0.42-0.96 [for LTPA>=150 mins]). IHD risk in smokers was most pronounced in those taking neither medication (adjusted HR=2.00; 95% CI: 1.41-2.83).

Conclusion

This study confirms the contribution of previously reported lifestyle factors towards IHD hospitalisation, even after adjustment for antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medication use. Medication stratified results suggest that IHD risks related to LTPA and smoking may differ according to medication use.     

Trend and Risk Factors of Diverticulosis in Japan: Age,Gender, and Lifestyle/Metabolic-Related Factors May Cooperatively Affect on the Colorectal Diverticula Formation

Background

Despite the marked increase of diverticulosis, its risk factors have not been adequately elucidated. We therefore aim to identify significantly associated factors with diverticulosis. We also aim to investigate the present state of diverticulosis in Japan.

Methods

We reviewed the medical records from 1990 to 2010 that included the data of consecutive 62,503 asymptomatic colonoscopy examinees from the general population in Japan. Most recent 3,327 examinees were analyzed with 16 background factors.

Results

Among the 62,503 subjects (47,325 men and 15,178 women; 52.1 ± 9.2 years old), diverticulosis was detected in 11,771 subjects (18.8%; 10,023 men and 1,748 women). The incidences of diverticulosis in 1990-2000 and 2001-2010 were respectively 13.0% (3,771 of 29,071) and 23.9% (8,000 of 33,432): the latter was much higher than the former in all age groups and for both genders. Considering the anatomical locations of colorectal diverticula, left-sided ones have markedly increased with age but not significantly changed with times. Univariate analyses of the 3,327 subjects showed significant association of diverticulosis with four basic factors (age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure), three life style-related factor (smoking, drinking, severe weight increase in adulthood), and two blood test values (triglyceride, HbA1c). The multiple logistic analysis calculating standardized coefficients (β) and odds ratio (OR) demonstrated that age (β = 0.217-0.674, OR = 1.24-1.96), male gender (β = 0.185, OR = 1.20), smoking (β = 0.142-0.200, OR = 1.15-1.22), severe weight increase in adulthood (β = 0.153, OR = 1.17), HbA1c (β = 0.136, OR = 1.15), drinking (β = 0.109, OR = 1.11), and serum triglyceride (β = 0.098, OR = 1.10) showed significantly positive association with diverticulosis whereas body mass index and blood pressure did not.

Conclusions

The large-scale data of asymptomatic colonoscopy examinees from the general population from 1990 to 2010 indicated that the prevalence of diverticulosis is still increasing in Japan. Age, male gender, smoking, severe weight increase in adulthood, serum HbA1c, drinking, and serum triglyceride showed significant positive association with diverticulosis.     

Overlapping Cardiac Programs in Heart Development and Regeneration

Gaining cellular and molecular insights into heart development and regeneration will likely provide new therapeutic targets and opportunities for cardiac regenerative medicine,one of the most urgent clinical needs for heart failure.Here we present a review on zebrafish heart development and regeneration,with a particular focus on early cardiac progenitor development and their contribution to building embryonic heart,as well as cellular and molecular programs in adult zebrafish heart regeneration.We attempt to emphasize that the signaling pathways shaping cardiac progenitors in heart development may also be redeployed during the progress of adult heart regeneration.A brief perspective highlights several important and promising research areas in this exciting field.     

Effect of Environmental and Lifestyle Factors on Hypertension: Shimane COHRE Study

Background

In recent years there has been increasing evidence of an association between residential remoteness and hypertension (HTN); however, no study has examined the effects of residential remoteness-lifestyle associations on HTN. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of residential remoteness, as measured by road network distance and elevation, and lifestyle associations, including access to daily products as a measure of car use, on HTN in a rural region in Japan.

Method

This is a cross-sectional population based study. We analyzed data from the Shimane COHRE study conducted from 2006 to 2009 in the rural mountainous regions of Japan. After excluding missing data, we conducted a logistic regression analysis of the data for 1,348 individuals and examined the effects of residential remoteness and lifestyle associations, including road network distance, elevation and access to daily products as a measure of car use, on the prevalence of HTN.

Principal Findings

In participants without access to car use, the odds ratios for self-reported HTN (i.e. taking antihypertensive medication) were significantly increased in those living in moderate (odds ratio (OR): 2.21, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–4.08) and far (OR: 2.55, 95% CI: 1.00–6.51) road distances, whereas there were no significant associations in participants with access to car use. There were no significant associations between elevation and HTN for participants either with or without access to car transportation.

Conclusions

Our findings show that specific residential remoteness-hypertension associations vary according to access to daily products as a measure of car use in a rural mountainous area of Japan. These results advance the understanding and importance of considering residential environment, “where people live,” in establishing health policy.     

Modification of Baroreceptor Cardiac Reflex Function by Biofeedback

Baroreceptor sensitivity (BRS) is considered a powerful prognostic factor in cardiovascular health. This study investigated the possibility of modifying the baroreflex cardiac function through biofeedback. Thirty-two psychology students underwent 3 biofeedback sessions, with four 5-min trials each, in which they had to increase and decrease baroreflex function. BRS was assessed by a system that analyzed baroreflex cardiac function on-line using a noninvasive spontaneous sequence method in the time domain. Baroreceptor parameters were differentiated in terms of blood pressure increases ("up" sequences) or blood pressure decreases ("down" sequences). BRS in the "up" sequences increased during the Increase Condition and decreased during the Decrease Condition. BRS in the "down" sequences decreased during the Decrease Condition but was unchanged during the Increase Condition. The increase in BRS during the Increase Condition was associated with a significant reduction in blood pressure and increase in heart period. The opposite cardiovascular changes were observed during the Decrease Condition. Suggestions for future research were discussed.     

贲门癌患者营养风险的危险因素及其与生活质量的关系研究

摘要 目的：探讨贲门癌患者营养风险的危险因素,分析其与生活质量的关系。方法：纳入我院2017年8月～2020年8月收治的贲门癌患者102例,采用营养风险筛查2002（NRS2002）将患者分成营养风险组（n=45）、无营养风险组（n=57）,分析患者发生营养风险的危险因素。采用简明生活质量量表（SF-36）评估患者的生活质量,分析NRS2002评分与SF-36评分的相关性。结果：在102例患者中,营养风险发生率为44.12%。Logistic多元回归模型分析显示：年龄≥60岁（OR=3.914,95%CI：1.718-8.917）、术前血红蛋白异常（OR=2.522,95%CI：1.124-5.659）、文化程度小学及以下（OR=3.447,95%CI：1.519-7.822）、家庭月收入≤1000元（OR=2.974,95%CI：1.415-6.251）均是贲门癌患者发生营养风险的危险因素（P＜0.05）,文化程度大专及以上（OR=0.941,95%CI：0.897-0.987）、家庭月收入>5000元（OR=0.947,95%CI：0.901-0.995）均是其营养风险发生的保护性因素（P＜0.05）。营养风险组情绪角色功能、心理健康、躯体功能、躯体疼痛、躯体角色功能、总体健康评分均低于无营养风险组（P＜0.05）。NRS2002评分与情绪角色功能（r=-0.811）、心理健康（r=-0.627）、躯体功能（r=-0.524）、躯体疼痛（r=-0.619）、躯体角色功能（r=-0.587）、总体健康（r=-0.718）评分均呈负相关（P＜0.05）。结论：贲门癌患者营养风险发生率较高,其发生与多种因素存在关联,可降低患者生活质量,临床需尽早对患者营养风险进行评估,并采取相应措施,以期改善患者生活质量。     

The Effects of Environmental Risk Factors on City Life Cycle: A Link Analysis

ABSTRACT

Due to rapid industrialization and urbanization, social economy develops in an unparalleled speed, while it certainly fosters the consumption of natural resources and the pressure to protect the ecological environment. Hence, there is a two-way relationship between the well-being of humans and the natural environment. In this study, link analysis techniques along with multivariate statistical analysis were employed to discover the effects of environmental risk factors on city life cycle, where suicides, immigration, and emigration were considered as the fundamental indicators of how cities evolve. Association rules, classification trees, MANOVA, and linear discriminant analysis were applied to data on air quality, socioeconomic development, and demographical factors belonging to the cities of Turkey. The results indicate that socioeconomic development levels of cities differ along attraction and life satisfaction dimensions. People tend to choose a city with better development level and better air quality in order to increase their life satisfaction. Additionally, developed cities are less likely to have issues with air quality and citizens who live in a poorly developed city are least satisfied with their lives.     

Relative Importance and Additive Effects of Maternal and Infant Risk Factors on Childhood Asthma

Background

Environmental exposures that occur in utero and during early life may contribute to the development of childhood asthma through alteration of the human microbiome. The objectives of this study were to estimate the cumulative effect and relative importance of environmental exposures on the risk of childhood asthma.

Methods

We conducted a population-based birth cohort study of mother-child dyads who were born between 1995 and 2003 and were continuously enrolled in the PRIMA (Prevention of RSV: Impact on Morbidity and Asthma) cohort. The individual and cumulative impact of maternal urinary tract infections (UTI) during pregnancy, maternal colonization with group B streptococcus (GBS), mode of delivery, infant antibiotic use, and older siblings at home, on the risk of childhood asthma were estimated using logistic regression. Dose-response effect on childhood asthma risk was assessed for continuous risk factors: number of maternal UTIs during pregnancy, courses of infant antibiotics, and number of older siblings at home. We further assessed and compared the relative importance of these exposures on the asthma risk. In a subgroup of children for whom maternal antibiotic use during pregnancy information was available, the effect of maternal antibiotic use on the risk of childhood asthma was estimated.

Results

Among 136,098 singleton birth infants, 13.29% developed asthma. In both univariate and adjusted analyses, maternal UTI during pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] 1.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18, 1.25; adjusted OR [AOR] 1.04, 95%CI 1.02, 1.07 for every additional UTI) and infant antibiotic use (OR 1.21, 95%CI 1.20, 1.22; AOR 1.16, 95%CI 1.15, 1.17 for every additional course) were associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma, while having older siblings at home (OR 0.92, 95%CI 0.91, 0.93; AOR 0.85, 95%CI 0.84, 0.87 for each additional sibling) was associated with a decreased risk of childhood asthma, in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with vaginal delivery, C-section delivery increased odds of childhood asthma by 34% (OR 1.34, 95%CI 1.29, 1.39) in the univariate analysis and 11% after adjusting for other environmental exposures and covariates (AOR 1.11, 95%CI 1.06, 1.15). Maternal GBS was associated with a significant increased risk of childhood asthma in the univariate analysis (OR 1.27, 95%CI 1.19, 1.35), but not in the adjusted analysis (AOR 1.03, 95%CI 0.96, 1.10). In the subgroup analysis of children whose maternal antibiotic use information was available, maternal antibiotic use was associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma in a similar dose-dependent manner in the univariate and adjusted analyses (OR 1.13, 95%CI 1.12, 1.15; AOR 1.06, 95%CI 1.05, 1.08 for every additional course). Compared with infants with the lowest number of exposures (no UTI during pregnancy, vaginal delivery, at least five older siblings at home, no antibiotics during infancy), infants with the highest number of exposures (at least three UTIs during pregnancy, C-section delivery, no older siblings, eight or more courses of antibiotics during infancy) had a 7.77 fold increased odds of developing asthma (AOR: 7.77, 95%CI: 6.25, 9.65). Lastly, infant antibiotic use had the greatest impact on asthma risk compared with maternal UTI during pregnancy, mode of delivery and having older siblings at home.

Conclusion

Early-life exposures, maternal UTI during pregnancy (maternal antibiotic use), mode of delivery, infant antibiotic use, and having older siblings at home, are associated with an increased risk of childhood asthma in a cumulative manner, and for those continuous variables, a dose-dependent relationship. Compared with in utero exposures, exposures occurring during infancy have a greater impact on the risk of developing childhood asthma.     

Effects of Exercise Intensity on Physical Fitness and Risk Factors for Coronary Heart Disease

Objective: To determine whether “low‐intensity” exercise (walking) and “high‐intensity” exercise (aerobic dance), when added to a weight loss diet, have different effects on coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors and physical fitness. Research Methods and Procedures: Ninety obese women were divided into diet only (DO), diet plus walking (DW), and diet plus aerobic dance (DA) groups. DXA was used to evaluate segmental body composition. Leg‐extension strength and maximal oxygen uptake (V?o _2max) were the indicators of physical fitness. Blood pressure, lipoproteins, and fasting glucose were used as indices for CHD risk factors. These items were measured before and after a 14‐week intervention period. Results: Whole‐body plus all segmental fat masses were significantly reduced (p < 0.001). Reductions in whole‐body and lower‐limb fat‐ and bone‐free masses were significantly less (p < 0.01) in the DA group (?1.5 and ?0.1 kg, respectively) compared with the DO (?2.1 and ?0.4 kg, respectively) and DW (?2.5 and ?0.5 kg, respectively) groups. Improvements in leg‐extension strength and V?o _2max were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the DA group compared with the DO group. The CHD risk factors clearly improved (p < 0.05) within each group. Reductions in low density lipoprotein‐cholesterol and fasting glucose were significantly greater (p < 0.05) in the DA group compared with the DO and DW groups. Discussion: Adding higher intensity aerobic dance to a weight‐loss diet program may help maintain fat‐ and bone‐free mass and may be more effective in improving CHD risk factors compared with low‐intensity walking.