Educational differences in leisure-time physical inactivity: a descriptive and explanatory study

In this study we aim to explain educational differences in leisure-time physical inactivity in terms of psychosocial and material factors. Cross-sectional data were obtained from the baseline of the Dutch GLOBE study in 1991, including 2598 men and women, aged 15-74 years. Physical inactivity during leisure time was defined as not participating in any activity, such as sports, gardening, walking or cycling. Psychosocial factors included in the study were coping resources, personality, and stressors. Material factors were financial situation, employment status, and living conditions. Logistic regression models were used to calculate educational differences in physical inactivity. Physical inactivity was more prevalent in lower educational groups. Psychosocial factors related to physical inactivity were locus of control, parochialism, neuroticism, emotional social support, active problem focussing, optimistic and palliative coping styles. Material factors associated with physical inactivity were income, employment status and financial problems. All correlates of physical inactivity were unequally distributed over educational groups, except optimistic and palliative coping. Personality and coping style were the main contributors to the observed educational differences in physical inactivity. That is to say, parochialism, locus of control, neuroticism and active problem focussing explained about half of elevated odds ratios of physical inactivity in the lower educational groups. The material factors, equivalent income and employment status explained about 40% of the elevated odds ratios. Psychosocial and material correlates together reduced the odds ratios of lower educational groups by on average 75%. These results have practical consequences for the design of more effective interventions to promote physical activity. In particular, personality and coping style of risk groups, such as lower educational groups, should be taken into consideration at the future development of these interventions, as well as inequalities in material restrictions related to engaging in physical activity. Supplementary interventions focussing on childhood conditions which, partly, influence both personality and physical inactivity may also contribute to a reduction of socio-economic differences in physical inactivity.     

Familial aggregation of primary Raynaud's disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the occurrence of familial aggregation of primary Raynaud's disease. METHODS: Twenty-three patients with primary Raynaud's disease and their first-degree relatives were assessed by questionnaire and, when possible, by physical examination. The same procedures were performed on the patients' spouses and the spouses' first-degree relatives, who served as the control group. RESULTS: The prevalence of Raynaud's disease was significantly higher in the families of the probands than in the control families when assessed by questionnaire (26.1% versus 5.5%; P < 10(-5)), and by physical examination (11.2% versus 2.8%; P = 0.015). CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that there is significant familial aggregation of primary Raynaud's disease.     

Familial aggregation of female sexual orientation

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether female homosexuality is familial and whether it is cofamilial with male homosexuality. METHOD: Subjects included 84 homosexual and 79 heterosexual female probands recruited through newspaper advertisements. Probands were asked about their siblings' sexual orientations and were asked for permission to contact siblings to confirm their reports. RESULTS: The authors were able to contact 60% of eligible siblings, and the information they provided about their sexual orientations confirmed that probands' reports were highly accurate. Homosexual probands had a significantly higher proportion of homosexual sisters according to four criteria for rating siblings' sexual orientations. Homosexual probands also had a higher proportion of homosexual brothers; however, this difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Female homosexuality appears to be familial. Further research is required to resolve the question of whether female and male homosexuality are cofamilial.     

Familial aggregation of arterial pressure figures and weight indices: study in Cuenca

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the familial aggregation of blood pressure and body mass index levels in schoolchildren of Cuenca city, Spain. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was made including 307 both sexes schoolchildren 9-12 years old recruited in three schools of Cuenca city, and 346 of their parents. There were determined sociodemographics variables, weight, height, body mass index, SBP, DBP and fasting plasma total cholesterol, cLDL, cHDL and triglyceride concentrations. RESULTS: Parents-children correlation coefficients in blood pressure levels ranged between -0.1 and 0.2. Parents-daughters correlations were stronger than parents-sons in ponderal indexes. The relationship of ponderal indexes and blood pressure between spouses was weak, with correlation coefficients between 0.08 y 0.1. By stepwise multiple regression analysis it was found that the only variable that explained a significant percentage of blood pressure variability (both systolic and diastolic) was the weight of the schoolchildren in both sexes. Parents body mass index explained more than 32% of body mass index daughter's variability. In sons any variable explained a significant percentage of variability. CONCLUSIONS: The parents-children aggregation of blood pressure is weak. Parents-children aggregation of ponderal indexes is stronger, though there are considerable sex-differences. Spouses relationship, though positive, is weak in all variables.     

Familial aggregation of colorectal cancer in the general population

To investigate the familial aggregation of colorectal cancer in Denmark, parents and siblings of colorectal cancer patients diagnosed below age 60 years in the years 1982-1984 were identified through population registries. For 1,470 probands with families eligible for tracing, 1,376 mothers, 1,303 fathers and 3,259 siblings were identified. They contributed 222,634 person-years, and 325 cases of colorectal cancer were observed during the follow-up period 1943-1992. All data were retrieved from population registries and consequently were free from any reporting bias. The overall standardized morbidity ratio (SMR) compared with the Danish population was 2.02 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.81-2.25), significantly different between the parents (1.78, 95% CI 1.55-2.04) and the siblings (2.65, 95% CI 2.21-3.17). A strong dependence on the proband's age at diagnosis was seen for the sibling risk; siblings of probands less than 50 years old at diagnosis had a 5-fold risk compared with the general population. This dependence was not seen for parents, but the risk tended to be higher for parents of younger ages. No other factor was seen to influence the relative risk. The observation of an 80% increased risk among the parents and a 170% increased risk among the siblings indicates that the genetic component is one source, but probably not the only one, of familial aggregation of colorectal cancer. The cost benefit of screening siblings of colorectal cancer patients is substantially higher than that for the total population.     

Familial aggregation of blood pressure in 558 adopted children

Blood pressure was measured in each member of 398 French-Canadian families with at least one adopted child of the same ethnic origin. Measurements were made at home by a nurse, usually with the subject seated. One comparison per family between parents and randomly chosen index children was made, using age- and sex-adjusted scores. The correlation in blood pressure scores between parents and natural children was highly significant (P less than 0.001), at 10.2% for systolic and 13.7% for diastolic in 140 homes with at least one natural child, but the correlation between parents and adopted children was nonsignificant, at 0.81% and 1.0%, in 398 homes with at least one adopted child. The correlation between pairs of natural children was significant (P less than 0.05), at 7.84% for systolic and 8.41% for diastolic, in 80 homes with more than one natural child but nonsignificant, at 0.49% and 1.69%, respectively, for pairs of adopted children in 138 families with more than one adopted child. It is concluded that heredity explains most of the familial resemblance of blood pressure in children.     

Reliability and validity of three physical activity questionnaires in Flemish males

Many B cell precursors die while differentiating in mouse bone marrow. To ascertain the mechanisms involved in this process, populations of B lineage cells and their tissue localization were analyzed in bone marrow of transgenic mice overexpressing the apoptosis inhibitor, Bcl-2. Immunofluorescence labeling and mitotic arrest were used to quantitate the number and proliferative activity of mu- pro-B cells (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase [TdT]+B220-, TdT+B220+, and TdT-B220+); pre-B cells (cmu+); and B cells (smu+). Mature B cells (IgM+IgD+) were increased 16- to 20-fold. In addition, immature B lymphocytes (IgM+IgD-/low), representing newly formed cells, were increased three- to sixfold, whereas pre-B cells and late pro-B cells were increased 30 to 60% in production rate. Earlier pro-B cells expressing TdT were unaffected. In spleen, both mature and immature B cells were greatly increased, but cells of precursor phenotype were few and TdT+ cells were absent. The in vivo location of B cells was examined by autoradiography using light and electron microscopy after intravenous injection of 125I-labeled antibodies. B lineage cells (B220+) were increased throughout bone marrow, often within dilated venous sinusoids, particularly in subosteal regions. Many intravascular and perisinusoidal cells were IgDhigh mature B lymphocytes. In contrast, many other IgM+ and IgDlow immature B lymphocytes clustered extravascularly around the central venous sinus. Plasma cells with distended endoplasmic reticulum were numerous. These findings provide evidence that, in addition to expanding the recirculating pool of B cells entering bone marrow from the blood stream, high levels of Bcl-2 can inhibit some of the apoptosis occurring during B cell differentiation, thereby expanding populations of B lymphopoietic precursor cells within the bone marrow parenchyma.     

Familial multiple sclerosis: a study of six families

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disorder of the CNS, of autoimmune pathology and unknown aetiology. Several theories regarding its aetiology have been suggested, although none seems to be completely convincing. Genetically predisposed persons are affected, therefore groups of MS are seen in certain families. OBJECTIVES: To describe the family links, type of illness and evolution of 12 patients from six families with two or more members diagnosed as having MS, and to evaluate any differences from the other cases recorded in our data base. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 12 patients diagnosed on the criteria of Poser, and with at least one first or second degree relation with MS. We compared clinical data, form of presentation and course with 127 patients recorded in the data base. RESULTS: We describe six families: two homozygotic twins, two families in which transmission was from father to child and three families with first degree cousins affected. We found no clinical variation in the presentation, number of attacks or evolution, as compared with the other patients. Nor was there homogeneity between the familial forms of MS. CONCLUSIONS: Familial forms make up approximately 10% of the series. We do not have any data available for early diagnosis nor for prognostic significance of familial MS.     

Identifying subgroups that succeed or fail with three levels of physical activity intervention: The activity counseling trial.

The authors used recursive partitioning methods to identify combinations of baseline characteristics that predict 2-year physical activity success in each of 3 physical activity interventions delivered in the multisite Activity Counseling Trial. The sample consisted of 874 initially sedentary primary care patients, ages 35-75 years, who were at risk for cardiovascular disease. Predictors of 2-year success were specific to each intervention and represented a range of domains, including physiological, demographic, psychosocial, health-related, and environmental variables. The results indicate how specific patient subgroups (e.g., obese, unfit individuals; high-income individuals in stable health) may respond differently to varying levels and amounts of professional assistance and support. The methods used provide a practical first step toward identifying clinically meaningful patient subgroups for further systematic investigation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Familial aggregation of emotional and behavioral problems of childhood in the general population

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to evaluate the existence and implications of familial aggregation of emotional and behavioral problems of childhood in a general population sample. METHOD: The children included in the study were chosen with the use of a sampling technique that identified households in which there were two or more children aged 4-16 years living at home at the time of the survey. Ratings on checklists of emotional and behavioral problems were obtained from parents, teachers of children in elementary school, and the children themselves if they were adolescents aged 12-16. Children were classified as having problems if their scores on scales of conduct, attention deficit, or emotional problems were in the top 10% of the distribution of scores from any informant. RESULTS: There was evidence for familial aggregation of these problems, particularly conduct and emotional problems. However, this was largely derived from the parents' reports of symptoms, not the teachers' or adolescents' reports. The degree of familial aggregation varied according to certain sibship characteristics and patterns of comorbidity. CONCLUSIONS: Familial aggregation of emotional and behavioral problems does exist in a community population and is not simply an artifact of clinic attendance.     

Relationship between changes in physical activity and plasma insulin during a 2.5-year follow-up study

The association between changes in physical activity, body weight, and diet and fasting plasma insulin was analyzed in a 2.5-year follow-up study of 146 men aged 50 to 60 years. Physical activity was assessed by a 7-day physical activity recall interview, diet by a 4-day food record, and plasma insulin radioimmunologically. Total physical activity decreased from (mean +/- SD) 45.1 +/- 10.1 to 39.0 +/- 6.1 metabolic equivalent (MET) hours (METh).d-1 and conditioning physical activity (> 5.0 METs) from 8.0 +/- 11.2 to 2.7 +/- 5.0 METh.d-1, whereas plasma insulin increased from 8.2 +/- 5.8 to 9.2 +/- 6.7 mU.L-1 and body weight from 80.5 +/- 12.0 to 81.6 +/- 11.6 kg during the follow-up period (P < or = .001 for all). The change in conditioning physical activity correlated inversely (r = -.34, P < .001) and change in body weight positively (r = .42,P < .001) with the change in plasma insulin level. With data adjusted for the baseline insulin level, cardiovascular health status, alcohol intake, change in body weight, smoking, age, and follow-up time, the odds ratio for an increase in fasting plasma insulin was 8.9 (95% CI, 2.1 to 37.1; P = .003) for men with the greatest decrease in conditioning physical activity (< -7 METh) compared with men who reported an increase in conditioning physical activity. The same logistic regression model showed an odds ratio of 9.9 (95% CI, 2.1 to 45.4; P = .003) for the increase in plasma insulin for subjects who gained more than 3.3 kg body weight compared with subjects who lost at least 0.6 kg. Men who consumed at least 12 g.d-1 alcohol at both examinations had an odds ratio of 12.8 (95% CI, 1.7 to 94.5; P = .012) compared with nondrinkers. These data suggest that in middle-aged men, a reduction in physical activity increases the risk for increased plasma insulin independently of alcohol intake and changes in body weight.     

Customary physical activity and survival in later life: a study in Nottingham, UK

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of broadly based customary physical activity scores, derived from a questionnaire inventory, in predicting 10 year mortality among elderly people. DESIGN: A 10 year survival analysis of participants in the first wave of the Nottingham longitudinal study of activity and ageing who, in face to face interviews in 1985, provided detailed information on customary physical activity, health, and lifestyle. SETTING: Urban and suburban Nottingham PARTICIPANTS: A total of 1042 people aged 65 years and over randomly sampled from general practitioner records. MAIN RESULTS: On the basis of factor scores derived from the interview questionnaire, activity levels were graded as "high", "intermediate", or "low". In Cox regression models controlling for age, health status, and cigarette smoking at the time of the activity assessment, these gradings were significantly related to 10 year survival. Relative to the "high" activity groups, the risk of dying was significantly increased in both the "intermediate" (hazard ratio (HR) 1.53; 95% CI 1.12, 2.09) and "low" (HR 2.07; 95% CI 1.53, 2.79) groups for women, and in the "low" group (HR 1.59; 95% CI 1.12, 2.25) for men (p < 0.01 throughout). CONCLUSION: Since the survival model controlled for age, health status, and cigarette smoking, it is unlikely that the activity gradings used here are simple proxies for physical health. It is concluded, therefore, that within the elderly population, recall based survey assessments covering a wide range of customary or habitual physical activities, can provide indices showing both cross sectional utility and predictive validity.     

Vectorcardiograms in aortic and mitral regurgitation -- a comparative study

Thirteen patients with aortic regurgitation (AR) and 13 with mitral regurgitation (MR) were compared quantitatively from the standpoint of their vector-cardiograms (VCG). Vectorcardiographic parameters were also compared with left ventricular angiographic parameters. The QR time interval was longer and the magnitude of the spatial maximum QRS vector was larger in the AR group, but these differences were thought to be attributed to the differences in length of the left ventricular long axis and the left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV). In the AR group, the ratio of the width to the long axis of the QRS loop in the horizontal plane correlated well with the length of the left ventricular long axis and the angle made by the axis from the middle of the aortic valve to the left ventricular apex and the horizontal axis in the lateral view of the angiogram. In the MR group, these correlations were poor.     

Reinforcing value of physical activity as a determinant of child activity level.

This study examined whether the relative reinforcing value of physical activity (RRVPA) measured in the laboratory predicted physical activity measured in the natural environment in 32 6–11-year-old children. RRVPA correlated with physical activity level (r?=?.42, p?r?=?.35, p?     

Familial hypercholesterolaemia: a pilot study of parents' and children's concerns

OBJECTIVE: To assess psychosocial concerns of families with familial hypercholesterolaemia. METHODS: One-hundred-and-fifty-four single or pairs of parents of children age 6 - 16 years responded to a specifically designed questionnaire. One child from each family was interviewed. RESULTS: Eleven percent of parents thought that their quality of life would have been better had they not known about the disease. None agreed totally that they wished the diagnosis had not been made. However, 20% reported familial conflicts and 8% that their child's emotional or social life had been adversely affected. Conflicts and adverse effects were associated with higher scores on the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL). Among the children, worry about cardiovascular disease (affirmed by 22%) was related to male sex and CBCL score. RELEVANCE: Most families do not indicate that they have experienced psychosocial problems due to familial hypercholesterolaemia. Parental ratings of the child's behavioural adjustment may identify vulnerable children.     

Familial aggregation and covariation of diseases in a Japanese rural community: comparison of stomach cancer with other diseases

PURPOSE: We investigated familial aggregation as well as familial covariation of diseases by means of a questionnaire survey dealing with family histories of stomach cancer, stroke, hypertension, diabetes and tuberculosis as well as life style among 2,769 inhabitants of a rural community (84% of census population). METHODS: The strength of familial aggregation was shown by an odds ratio (OR) that compared the number of families in which siblings suffered from one of the above diseases among families in which at least one parent suffered from it, and among families in which neither did. Probands were divided into two groups for analysis: an under-55 "young group," and a 55-and-older "old group." RESULTS: The OR for stomach cancer was lowest and insignificant in the young group, and significant (2.2, p < 0.05) only in the old group. The OR for stroke, hypertension, and tuberculosis was 4.5-5.1 (p < 0.05) in the young group but decreased to 2.3-3.2 in the old group. Diabetes increased from 3.9 to 5.7 (p < 0.05) with advancing age. Age-related OR trends were not affected by exposure to cigarette smoke in the past. Stomach cancer showed a borderline familial covariation with diabetes and a borderline inverse covariation with hypertension. Hypertension showed a familial covariation with stroke and diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: Among the investigated diseases, familial aggregation was weakest for stomach cancer. The results suggest that stomach cancer may share a common familial etiologic factor with diabetes and hypotension.     

Familial brain wave patterns: study of a 12-sib family

To identify peptide-specific antibodies which define sperm surface antigens, hybridomas were derived from the splenocytes of mice immunized with swollen human spermatozoa which had been subjected to limited proteolytic cleavage under reducing conditions prior to immunization. A total of 13.7% of the hybrid clones secreted antibodies which reacted with deglycosylated human seminal plasma glycoproteins when screened by an ELISA. A monoclonal antibody, designated mAb 4A8 sp., specifying a peptide epitope of human epididymal and a sperm surface glycoprotein was selected which inhibited human sperm-egg binding in a dose-dependent manner, and totally blocked sperm penetration in vitro. This inhibition did not result from an effect of the antibody on the motility of spermatozoa, nor was it due to premature induction of the acrosome reaction. Exclusion of oligosaccharide chains by chemical hydrolysis with trifluoromethane sulphonic acid (TFMS), enzymatic degradation and binding of lectins, did not abrogate the reactivity of mAb 4A8 to the cognate epitope whereas antibody binding was precluded upon digestion with proteolytic enzymes. In Western immunoblots of human seminal plasma glycoproteins, the antigen presented as a set of immunoreactive polypeptides, a major glycoprotein of M(r) 78 kDa and less prominent bands of M(r) 56 and 44 kDa. Immunocytochemical staining of a number of human reproductive and somatic tissues revealed strong immunostaining of the luminal epithelium of the epididymis as well as of spermatozoa in the lumen. Immunolocalization to the plasma membrane of ejaculated human spermatozoa was demonstrated by immunofluorescence, although on undigested spermatozoa the antigen epitope was less accessible. Upon capacitation the antigen persisted on the sperm surface and was present on the head of capacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa. The pronounced peripheral immunostaining of the sperm head was accentuated after DTT/trypsin treatment, implicating the dynamic accessibility of the epitope on the plasma membrane of capacitated spermatozoa. It is suggested that the protein in question appears on the sperm membrane as a consequence of its modification in the epididymis (insertion and processing), and may be involved in the processes leading to sperm attachment and interaction with the human zona pellucida.     

Influence of diet, physical activity and parents' obesity on children's adiposity: a four-year longitudinal study

OBJECTIVE: To assess the relationships between diet, body composition, physical activity, parents' obesity and adiposity in children at the age of 8 y and four years later. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational study of anthropometric measures initiated in 1992, follow-up examination in 1996. METHODS: 112 prepubertal (age: 8.6 +/- 1.0 y) children were studied. Energy and nutrient intakes were assessed by diet history, body composition by anthropometry and physical activity, by a questionnaire. Obesity was defined as relative body mass index (BMI) (rel BMI) > 120%, where rel BMI = (BMI/BMI at 50th centile for age and gender) x 100. RESULTS: Prevalence of obesity was not statistically different at baseline (22.3%) than four years later (19.8%): rel BMI at the age of 8 y was positively self-related with rel BMI at the age of 12 y (r = 0.73, P < 0.001). After four years, eight (32%) obese children became non obese and five (6%) non obese children became obese. Multiple regression analysis (stepwise procedure) revealed that, in the final equation, the mother's BMI and TV viewing (independent variables) accounted for 17% of the children's rel BMI variance at the age of 8 y (R = 0.42, P < 0.001) while the parents' BMIs accounted for 13.5% of the children's rel BMI variance at the age of 12 y (R = 0.37, P < 0.001). Other variables such as total energy intake, nutrient intake percentage and amount of physical activity, were all rejected. An autoregressive unbalanced measures model regression analysis recognised the mother's and father's BMIs as the only variables able to predict rel BMI in the children (mother's BMI coeff. 2.53 (s.e.m. 0.26), P < 0.0001; father's BMI coeff. 2.07 (s.e.m. 0.23), P < 0.0001). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was also performed. The children who participated in the follow-up, were divided into two groups based on the positive or negative change in the rel BMI between final and baseline measurements. Of all the variables considered, only rel BMI at baseline was selected in the final equation. Other variables such as age, gender, energy and nutrient intake, TV viewing and amount of physical activity, as well as the parents' BMI, were all removed. CONCLUSIONS: The parents' obesity was the main risk factor for obesity in this group of children. Sedentary behaviour (TV viewing) was independently associated with overweight at the age of 8 y. Physical activity and energy and nutrient intakes did not significantly affect the change in rel BMI over the four-year period when the parents' obesity was taken into account.     

Pragmatic assessment of physical activity

Nurse practitioners are confronted with the need to measure the physical activity levels of clients. There is no "gold standard" for measurement in the field. Nurses increasingly use physical activity for assessment, intervention, and evaluation. Selection of the appropriate tool depends on the purpose of the assessment, the client population, practicality, and psychometric properties of the instrument. Nine physical activity instruments with good psychometric properties, economy, and acceptability are presented to assist with instrument selection.