Randomized controlled trials on PET: a systematic review of topics, design, and quality.

Unlabelled: Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) add important information to diagnostic accuracy studies in the evaluation of PET and PET/CT. We evaluated how many RCTs on PET existed, which clinical topics they addressed, and what their design and quality were.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Clinical Trials) up to August 2010.

Health care costs of physical inactivity in Canadian adults.

The purpose of this study was to provide a contemporary estimate of the health care cost of physical inactivity in Canadian adults. The health care cost was estimated using a prevalence-based approach. The estimated direct, indirect, and total health care costs of physical inactivity in Canada in 2009 were $2.

Neighborhood disorder and screen time among 10-16 year old Canadian youth: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Screen time activities (e.g., television, computers, video games) have been linked to several negative health outcomes among young people.

Active transportation to school in Canadian youth: should injury be a concern?

Active transportation to school provides a means for youth to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines, and this has obvious benefits for child health. Studies of active transportation have rarely focused on the negative health effects in terms of injury. This cross-sectional study is based on the 2009/10 Canadian Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey.

Prevalence of Anemia and Related Deficiencies in the First Year following Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass for Morbid Obesity.

Background. Anemia associated with deficiencies in iron, folic acid, and vitamin B12 are very common after Laparoscopic Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (LRYGB) surgery for morbid obesity. This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of anemia after LRYGB.

Non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of fetal aneuploidies using massively parallel sequencing-by-ligation and evidence that cell-free fetal DNA in the maternal plasma originates from cytotrophoblastic cells.

Blood plasma of pregnant women contains circulating cell-free fetal DNA (ccffDNA), originating from the placenta. The use of this DNA for non-invasive detection of fetal aneuploidies using massively parallel sequencing (MPS)-by-synthesis has been proven previously. Sequence performance may, however, depend on the MPS platform and therefore we have explored the possibility for multiplex MPS-by-ligation, using the Applied Biosystems SOLiD(™) 4 system.

The mediating effects of dietary habits on the relationship between television viewing and body mass index among youth.

Objective: There is evidence to suggest that excessive television viewing is an independent determinant of obesity in young people. However, the pathways between television viewing and obesity are not fully understood. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine whether the relationship between television and body mass index (BMI) is mediated by television snacking and junk food consumption.

Measuring sidewalk distances using Google Earth.

Background: Physical activity is an important determinant of health. Walking is the most common physical activity performed by adults and the presence of sidewalks along roads is a determinant of walking. Geographic information systems (GIS) can be used to measure sidewalks; however, GIS sidewalk data are difficult to access.

[EndoBarrier for counteracting obesity and metabolic syndrome].

The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide. Its primary treatment consists of lifestyle changes. In severely obese (BMI > 40 kg/m2 or ≥ 35 kg/m2 with comorbidity) patients though, bariatric surgery has been found to be the only way to achieve permanent weight loss.

Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years).

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), with assistance from multiple partners, stakeholders, and researchers, developed the first Canadian Sedentary Behaviour Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years). These national guidelines are in response to a call from health and health care professionals, child care providers, and fitness practitioners for guidance on sedentary behaviour in the early years. The guideline development process followed the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research Evaluation (AGREE) II framework.

Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years).

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), with assistance from multiple partners, stakeholders, and researchers, developed the first Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for the Early Years (aged 0-4 years). These national guidelines were created in response to an urgent call from public health, health care, child care, and fitness practitioners for healthy active living guidance for the early years. The guideline development process was informed by the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research Evaluation (AGREE) II instrument and the evidence assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system.

Vigorous intensity physical activity is related to the metabolic syndrome independent of the physical activity dose.

Background: Current physical activity guidelines imply that, by comparison with moderate physical activity (MPA), the benefits of engaging in vigorous physical activity (VPA) are attributed to the greater energy expenditure dose per unit of time and do not relate to intensity per se. The purpose of this study was to determine whether VPA influences the metabolic syndrome (MetS) independent of its influence on the energy expenditure dose of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA).

Methods: Participants consisted of 1841 adults from the 2003-06 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a representative cross-sectional study.

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension among Canadian adults with diabetes, 2007 to 2009.

Background: Prior national surveys suggested that treatment and control of hypertension were poor in individuals with diabetes. Using measured blood pressures, we estimated prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension between 2007 and 2009 among Canadians with diabetes and sought to determine whether a treatment gap still exists for individuals with diabetes.

Methods: Using data from cycle 1 of the Canadian Health Measures Survey, estimates of hypertension prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control were described and compared between individuals with and without self-reported diabetes.

Schwann cell metabolic activity in various short-term holding conditions: implications for improved nerve graft viability.

Strategies for improvement of nerve regeneration and optimal conditions to prevent Schwann cell (SC) loss within a nerve transplant procedure are critical. The purpose of this study was to examine SC viability, which plays an important role in peripheral nerve regeneration, under various incubation conditions up to three hours. To address this issue, Schwann cell metabolic activity was determined using different independent test methods.

Obesity as a determinant of two forms of bullying in Ontario youth: a short report.

Objective: Obesity can have negative effects in terms of stigma and discriminatory behavior. Past cross-sectional analyses have shown that overweight and obese youths are more likely to be involved in bullying. Here, we examine such relationships in a longitudinal analysis.

Bullying as a mediator of relationships between adiposity status and weapon carrying.

Objectives: Although evidence links increased adiposity status with bullying involvement, it is unknown whether this leads to behaviors such as weapon carrying. The purpose of this study was to: (1) analyze relationships between adiposity status and risks for weapon carrying among Canadian school children, and (2) whether this relationship was mediated by reports of bullying.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the health experiences of 7,877 Canadian children.

Lower striatal dopamine D2/3 receptor availability in obese compared with non-obese subjects.

Background: Obesity is a result of a relative excess in energy intake over energy expenditure. These processes are controlled by genetic, environmental, psychological and biological factors. One of the factors involved in the regulation of food intake and satiety is dopaminergic signalling.

The Mexican-American Trial of Community Health workers (MATCH): design and baseline characteristics of a randomized controlled trial testing a culturally tailored community diabetes self-management intervention.

Objectives: Community Health Workers (CHWs) have been recommended to reduce diabetes disparities, but few robust trials of this approach have been conducted. Limitations of prior studies include: unspecified a priori outcomes; lack of blinded outcome assessments; high participant attrition rates; and lack of attention to intervention fidelity. These limitations reflect challenges in balancing methodologic rigor with the needs of vulnerable populations.

Obesity estimates for children based on parent-reported versus direct measures.

Background: Studies based on adolescents and adults have found that the use of self-reported height and weight to calculate body mass index (BMI) yields a lower prevalence of obesity than do estimates based on measured data. Relatively few studies have examined the bias resulting from the use of parent-reported height and weight for children, and the findings have been inconsistent.

Data And Methods: Data are from the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Bias in self-reported estimates of obesity in Canadian health surveys: an update on correction equations for adults.

Background: This study compares the bias in self-reported height, weight and body mass index (BMI) in the 2008 and 2005 Canadian Community Health Surveys and the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey. The feasibility of using correction equations to adjust self-reported 2008 Canadian Community Health Survey values to more closely approximate measured values is assessed.

Data And Methods: Data are from the 2008 and 2005 Canadian Community Health Surveys and the 2007 to 2009 Canadian Health Measures Survey.

Preoperative very low-calorie diet and operative outcome after laparoscopic gastric bypass: a randomized multicenter study.

Hypothesis: A 14-day very low-calorie diet (VLCD) regimen before a laparoscopic gastric bypass procedure will improve perioperative and postoperative outcomes.

Design: Multicenter, randomized, single-blind study.

Setting: Five high-volume bariatric centers in Sweden, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Spain, and Belgium.

Daily step target to measure adherence to physical activity guidelines in children.

Purpose: There is a lack of robust evidence to support a daily step count target that equates to current physical activity guidelines in children and youth. This information would be useful to researchers and practitioners who are using pedometers to monitor physical activity.

Methods: Accelerometer and pedometer data collected on children and youth age 6-19 yr in the Canadian Health Measures Survey were used in this analysis (n = 1613).

Active transportation environments surrounding Canadian schools.

Objectives: Walking or cycling to school represents an opportunity for children to engage in physical activity. The study objectives were to: 1) describe active transportation policies, programs, and built environments of Canadian schools and their surrounding neighbourhoods, and 2) document variations based on urban-rural location and school type (primary vs. secondary vs.

Clustering of unhealthy behaviors in the aerobics center longitudinal study.

Background: Clustering of unhealthy behaviors has been reported in previous studies; however the link with all-cause mortality and differences between those with and without chronic disease requires further investigation.

Objectives: To observe the clustering effects of unhealthy diet, fitness, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption in adults with and without chronic disease and to assess all-cause mortality risk according to the clustering of unhealthy behaviors.

Methods: Participants were 13,621 adults (aged 20-84) from the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study.