Physical activity patterns using accelerometry in the National Weight Control Registry

The National Weight Control Registry (NWCR) was established in 1993 to examine characteristics of successful weight‐loss maintainers. This group consistently self‐reports high levels of physical activity. The aims of this study were to obtain objective assessments of physical activity in NWCR subjects and compare this to physical activity in both normal‐weight and overweight controls. Individuals from the NWCR (n = 26) were compared to a never obese normal‐weight control group matched to the NWCR group's current BMI (n = 30), and an overweight control group matched to the NWCR group's self‐reported pre‐weight‐loss BMI (n = 34). Objective assessment of physical activity was obtained for a 1‐week period using a triaxial accelerometer. Bouts of moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA) ≥10 min in duration, as well as nonbout MVPA (bouts of MVPA 1–9 min in duration) were summed and characterized. NWCR subjects spent significantly (P = 0.004) more time per day in sustained bouts of MVPA than overweight controls (41.5 ± 35.1 min/day vs. 19.2 ± 18.6 min/day) and marginally (P = 0.080) more than normal controls (25.8 ± 23.4). There were no significant differences between the three groups in the amount of nonbout MVPA. These results provide further evidence that physical activity is important for long‐term maintenance of weight loss and suggest that sustained volitional activity (i.e., ≥10 min in duration) may play an important role. Interventions targeting increases in structured exercise may be needed to improve long‐term weight‐loss maintenance.     

Long-Term Weight Loss and Breakfast in Subjects in the National Weight Control Registry

Objective: To examine breakfast consumption in subjects maintaining a weight loss in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR). Research Methods and Procedures: A cross-sectional study in which 2959 subjects in the NWCR completed demographic and weight history questionnaires as well as questions about their current breakfast consumption. All subjects had maintained a weight loss of at least 13.6 kg (30 lb) for at least 1 year; on average these subjects had lost 32 kg and kept it off for 6 years. Results: A large proportion of NWCR subjects (2313 or 78%) reported regularly eating breakfast every day of the week. Only 114 subjects (4%) reported never eating breakfast. There was no difference in reported energy intake between breakfast eaters and non-eaters, but breakfast eaters reported slightly more physical activity than non-breakfast eaters (p = 0.05). Discussion: Eating breakfast is a characteristic common to successful weight loss maintainers and may be a factor in their success.     

Television viewing and long-term weight maintenance: results from the National Weight Control Registry

Objective: To examine the role of television (TV) viewing in long‐term maintenance of weight loss. Research Methods and Procedures: All subjects (N = 1422) were enrolled in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR), a national sample of adults who have maintained a minimum weight loss of 13.6 kg for at least 1 year. Participants self‐reported the average number of hours of weekly TV viewing at entry into the NWCR and at a 1‐year follow‐up. Cross‐sectional and prospective analyses were performed to determine the frequency of TV viewing and the extent to which TV viewing was independently associated with weight regain over the 1‐year of follow‐up. Results: A relatively high proportion (62.3%) of participants reported watching 10 or fewer hours of TV per week on entry in the NWCR. More than one third of the sample (36.1%) reported watching <5 h/wk, whereas only 12.4% watched ≥21 h/wk, which contrasts markedly from the national average of 28 hours of TV viewing per week reported by American adults. Both baseline TV viewing (p ≤ 0.02) and increases in TV viewing (p ≤ 0.001) over the follow‐up were significant predictors of 1‐year weight regain, independent of physical activity and dietary behaviors. Discussion: Individuals who are successful at maintaining weight loss over the long term are likely to spend a relatively minimal amount of time watching TV.     

Features and Trajectories of Eating Behavior in Weight‐Loss Maintenance: Results from the German Weight Control Registry

Objective

Eating behaviors such as dietary restraint and disinhibition caused by emotional and external cues play a relevant role in weight‐loss maintenance.

Methods

Four hundred forty individuals with successful weight‐loss maintenance included in the prospective German Weight Control Registry completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire. Participants were categorized into the following two weight groups: stable weight trajectory (WS) (n = 280) and unstable weight trajectory (WUS) (n = 160) over the 2‐year assessment period.

Results

Those with successful weight‐loss maintenance had significantly higher scores on the restrained and emotional eating subscales compared with a general population (GP) sample. At baseline, the WS individuals had lower restrained, emotional, and external eating scores compared with the WUS individuals. Over the 2‐year follow‐up period, the trajectories of the restraint scores decreased in both groups but stayed elevated compared with the GP sample. Scores of the emotional and external eating subscales remained stable in the WS group but increased in the WUS group.

Conclusions

A certain degree of restraint seems to be necessary for successful weight‐loss maintenance; however, high emotional and external eating may counteract this effect, resulting in weight regain in the long run.     

Low Completeness of Bacteraemia Registration in the Danish National Patient Registry

Bacteraemia is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and timely access to relia-ble information is essential for health care administrators. Therefore, we investigated the complete-ness of bacteraemia registration in the Danish National Patient Registry (DNPR) containing hospital discharge diagnoses and surgical procedures for all non-psychiatric patients. As gold standard we identified bacteraemia patients in three defined areas of Denmark (~2.3 million inhabitants) from 2000 through 2011 by use of blood culture data retrieved from electronic microbiology databases. Diagnoses coded according to the International Classification of Diseases, version 10, and surgical procedure codes were retrieved from the DNPR. The codes were categorized into seven groups, ranked a priori according to the likelihood of bacteraemia. Completeness was analysed by contin-gency tables, for all patients and subgroups. We identified 58,139 bacteraemic episodes in 48,450 patients; 37,740 episodes (64.9%) were covered by one or more discharge diagnoses within the sev-en diagnosis/surgery groups and 18,786 episodes (32.3%) had a code within the highest priority group. Completeness varied substantially according to speciality (from 17.9% for surgical to 36.4% for medical), place of acquisition (from 26.0% for nosocomial to 36.2% for community), and mi-croorganism (from 19.5% for anaerobic Gram-negative bacteria to 36.8% for haemolytic strepto-cocci). The completeness increased from 25.1% in 2000 to 35.1% in 2011. In conclusion, one third of the bacteraemic episodes did not have a relevant diagnosis in the Danish administrative registry recording all non-psychiatric contacts. This source of information should be used cautiously to iden-tify patients with bacteraemia.     

New cases of melanoma as documented in the National Cancer Registry

The authors briefly survey general aspects of crucial importance for the proper functioning of the National Cancer Registry, such as legislation, collected data, identification of patients, the completeness and validity of its content in relation to the results and conclusions of a comprehensive, national supervision performed after the Melanoma Consensus Conference. Compared to earlier national controlling attempts, the present supervision was highly successful: doctors of various hospitals did perform the detailed control of diagnosis in 95.81% of 1361 melanoma patients announced in 2001. They checked whether patients given the C43 BNO code had melanoma indeed, searched for those who received a different BNO code and identified those not announced for any reason to the Registry. After correction the Registry included 1117 new cases of melanoma in 2001. The authors state that the conclusions from this supervision may enhance the reliability not only of the data base of the Registry but that of the hospitals as well.     

Testing the feasibility of a National Spina Bifida Patient Registry

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe the development and early implementation of a national spina bifida (SB) patient registry, the goal of which is to monitor the health status, clinical care, and outcomes of people with SB by collecting and analyzing patient data from comprehensive SB clinics.

METHODS

Using a web‐based, SB‐specific electronic medical record, 10 SB clinics collected health‐related information for patients diagnosed with myelomeningocele, lipomyelomeningocele, fatty filum, or meningocele. This information was compiled and de‐identified for transmission to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for quality control and analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 2070 patients were enrolled from 2009 through 2011: 84.9% were younger than 18 years of age; 1095 were women; 64.2% were non‐Hispanic white; 6.5% were non‐Hispanic black or African American; and 24.2% were Hispanic or Latino. Myelomeningocele was the most common diagnosis (81.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

The creation of a National Spina Bifida Patient Registry partnership between the CDC and SB clinics has been feasible. Through planned longitudinal data collection and the inclusion of additional clinics, the data generated by the registry will become more robust and representative of the population of patients attending SB clinics in the United States and will allow for the investigation of patient outcomes. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Physical activity patterns during weight maintenance following a low-energy density dietary intervention

Objective: The objective was to determine the role of physical activity (PA) and energy intake on weight maintenance among former University of Alabama at Birmingham EatRight Weight Management Program participants. Research Methods and Procedures: Eighty‐nine former participants completed follow‐up visits ≥1 year after completing EatRight. BMI was calculated using measured height and weight. Diet intake was estimated from 4‐day food records. PA was assessed using a module from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey. Cut‐off points were chosen based on the distribution of minutes of activity. For moderate and total activity, cut‐off points were 0, 1 to 30, 31 to 60, and >60 minutes. For vigorous activity, the categories were 0, 1 to 20, 21 to 30, and >30 minutes. General linear models determined the association of PA with change in weight at follow‐up controlling for gender and total energy intake (kcal/d). Results: At follow‐up, 80% (n = 71) of participants maintained (regained <5% of program end weight) their body weight and 20% had gained weight. Mean weight change was 1.0 ± 6.5 kg. Maintainers consumed 384 fewer kcal/d on average. Maintainers had a lower energy density dietary pattern (1.58 vs. 2.01 kcal/g, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in PA min/d reported by maintainers and gainers. Discussion: Our results suggest that, despite being minimally active, weight‐reduced individuals can successfully maintain their newly achieved body weight with appropriate caloric intake. Adopting a lower calorie, low energy density dietary pattern may reduce the amount of PA that is truly necessary for weight maintenance.     

Diurnal activity patterns of three heron species in Queen Elizabeth National Park,Uganda

Kasoma, P.M.B. 2000. Duirnal activity patters of three heron species in Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda. Ostrich 71(1): 127–130.

Observations of activities were carried out over 12 h periods on the Goliath Heron, Grey Heron and Great White Egret along the shores of Lake Edward and Kazinga Channel. Behaviour was classified into three major categories: foraging, loafing and other behaviour. For all three species, foraging went on throughout the daylight hours but the level was variable both in the dry and wet seasons and between species. For all three species, foraging basically consisted of standing-and-waiting. The Great White Egret spent more time foraging than the other two species. Overlap between species in foraging activity on an hourly basis was high during most hours of the day implying that ecological separation through temporal partitioning of daylight hours is negligible.     

清凉峰国家级自然保护区华南梅花鹿分布及活动规律

2014年12月至2016年12月,在浙江清凉峰国家级自然保护区的千顷塘区域,利用网格式红外相机法,对华南梅花鹿的分布及活动规律进行研究。结果显示,华南梅花鹿在千顷塘区域的核心区、缓冲区和实验区均有分布。其中华南梅花鹿在1200—1300 m的高海拔区域拍摄率最高(10.32%),其次是700—800 m的区域,而600—700 m的低海拔区域最低;在6种不同植被类型中,落叶阔叶林中拍摄率最高(4.60%),其次是针叶林,而常绿阔叶林最低。华南梅花鹿各月份的日活动差异指数α存在极显著差异(P0.01),冬季的α值的平均数明显高于其他3季,这表明华南梅花鹿在冬季的活动时间分配相对其他季节更不均匀,活动时间较为集中。华南梅花鹿各月份间的昼行性指数β存在极显著差异(P0.01),年度各月份β值的平均值为0.60(13/24),表明华南梅花鹿是一种昼行性动物。利用季节性活动强度指数γ发现,华南梅花鹿四季活动有两个低谷期(10:00—11:00和19:00—20:00),γ值不存在显著差异(P0.05),而日活动高峰期一般有3个(7:00—9:00,12:00—14:00,17:00—19:00)。     

Preliminary observations on the daytime activity patterns of lesser kudu in Tsavo National Park, Kenya*

Free-ranging lesser kudu were observed during the day in Tsavo (East) National Park for periods of up to 12 h and records of activity patterns were obtained. Data grouped into the percentage of animals engaged in feeding, resting, and other activities in each time class show a changing pattern of behaviour through the day. The presence of a biphasic resting rhythm is demonstrated, the initiation and duration of which are variable. Feeding generally predominated in the early morning and late afternoon. Rumination took place during resting periods which were also used for the avoidance of excessive heat stress. Possible factors controlling the phasing of the behaviour seen are discussed.     

Cancer incidence in Iran in 2014: Results of the Iranian National Population-based Cancer Registry

BackgroundWe aimed to report, for the first time, the results of the Iranian National Population-based Cancer Registry (INPCR) for the year 2014.MethodsTotal population of Iran in 2014 was 76,639,000. The INPCR covered 30 out of 31 provinces (98% of total population). It registered only cases diagnosed with malignant new primary tumors. The main sources for data collection included pathology center, hospitals as well as death registries. Quality assessment and analysis of data were performed by CanReg-5 software. Age standardized incidence rates (ASR) (per 100,000) were reported at national and subnational levels.ResultsOverall, 112,131 new cancer cases were registered in INPCR in 2014, of which 60,469 (53.9%) were male. The diagnosis of cancer was made by microscopic confirmation in 76,568 cases (68.28%). The ASRs of all cancers were 177.44 and 141.18 in male and female, respectively. Cancers of the stomach (ASR = 21.24), prostate (18.41) and colorectum (16.57) were the most common cancers in men and the top three cancers in women were malignancies of breast (34.53), colorectum (11.86) and stomach (9.44). The ASR of cervix uteri cancer in women was 1.78. Our findings suggested high incidence of cancers of the esophagus, stomach and lung in North/ North West of Iran.ConclusionOur results showed that Iran is a medium-risk area for incidence of cancers. We found differences in the most common cancers in Iran comparing to those reported for the World. Our results also suggested geographical diversities in incidence rates of cancers in different subdivisions of Iran.     

The French National Registry of patients with Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy

Background

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy is a rare inherited neuromuscular disease with an estimated prevalence of 1/20,000 and France therefore harbors about 3000 FSHD patients. With research progress and the development of targeted therapies, patients’ identification through registries can facilitate and improve recruitment in clinical trials and studies.

Results

The French National Registry of FSHD patients was designed as a mixed model registry involving both patients and physicians, through self-report and clinical evaluation questionnaires respectively, to collect molecular and clinical data. Because of the limited number of patients, data quality is a major goal of the registry and various automatic data control features have been implemented in the bioinformatics system. In parallel, data are manually validated by molecular and clinical curators. Since its creation in 2013, data from 638 FSHD patients have been collected, representing about 21% of the French FSHD population. The mixed model strategy allowed to collect 59.1% of data from both patients and clinicians; 26 and 14.9% from respectively patients and clinicians only. With the identification of the FSHD1 and FSHD2 forms, specific questionnaires have been designed. Though FSHD2 patients are progressively included, FSHD1 patients still account for the majority (94.9%). The registry is compatible with the FAIR principles as data are Findable, Accessible and Interoperable. We thus used molecular standards and standardized clinical terms used by the FILNEMUS French network of reference centers for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients suffering from a rare neuromuscular disease. The implemented clinical terms mostly map to dictionaries and terminology systems such as SNOMED-CT (75% of terms), CTV3 (61.7%) and NCIt (53.3%). Because of the sensitive nature of data, they are not directly reusable and can only be accessed as aggregated data after evaluation and approval by the registry oversight committee.

Conclusions

The French National Registry of FSHD patients belongs to a national effort to develop databases, which should now interact with other initiatives to build a European and/or an international FSHD virtual registry for the benefits of patients. It is accessible at www.fshd.fr and various useful information, links, and documents, including a video, are available for patients and professionals.

     

梵净山保护区食蟹獴(Herpestes urva)栖息地选择与日活动节律

野生动物栖息地选择与日活动节律是其长期生存适应的结果,对物种生存繁衍具有重要意义。2017年4月至2019年7月,组在梵净山国家级自然保护区内布设了41台红外相机进行监测和研究。基于红外相机监测数据,利用占域模型（Occupancy model）和核密度估计方法（Kernel density estimation）,对食蟹獴（Herpestes urva）的栖息地选择和日活动节律进行了分析探讨。结果表明：（1）食蟹獴在常绿落叶阔叶混交林出现频率最高,在落叶阔叶林和针阔混交林出现频率最低,并集中出现于中低海拔区域;（2）在8种栖息地选择影响因素中,具有重要影响的因子为针阔混交林、海拔、水源地和常绿阔叶落叶混交林4种。其中,食蟹獴明显选择常绿阔叶落叶混交林（β=1.79±1.19 SE）,明显排斥针阔混交林（β=-1.93±1.30 SE）,海拔高度、离水源地的距离与占用率呈明显负相关;（3）年活动节律显示,食蟹獴在雨季活动明显增多,4-9月的活动频次在全年活动中占比达83.50%;（4）食蟹獴为完全昼行性物种,日活动时间分配较为平均,在9：00-10：00和13：00-14：00活跃度低,日活动高峰出现在11：00-13：00。梵净山地区作为食蟹獴分布区的北端,其典型的山地气候特征和植被类型与其他分布区存在显著差异,并面临不同的捕食风险和不同程度的人为干扰,食蟹獴对栖息地的选择方式和活动节律也出现了适应性的变化。