Publications by authors named "Kathryn Burnet"

Background: Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV) is the gold standard measure of arterial stiffness and independently predicts cardiovascular disease. However, obtaining cfPWV requires technical precision and can be difficult in some populations. Brachial-femoral PWV (bfPWV) is a simpler alternative, but there is limited research comparing the two measures.

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Regular exposure to uninterrupted prolonged sitting and the consumption of high-glycemic-index (HGI) meals is independently associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Sitting for as little as 1 h can impair the health of both peripheral and central arteries. However, it is currently unknown whether combined acute exposure to uninterrupted prolonged sitting and an HGI meal is more detrimental to global (peripheral and central) vascular health.

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Acute prolonged sitting leads to cerebrovascular disruptions. However, it is unclear how prolonged sitting interacts with other common behaviors, including high- (HGI) and low-glycemic index (LGI) meals. Using a double-blind randomized cross-over design, this study evaluated the effects of prolonged (3 hr) sitting, with a high- (HGI; GI: 100) or low-glycemic index (LGI; GI: 19) meal on total brain blood flow (Q ) and executive function.

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Carotid-femoral pulse-wave velocity (cfPWV) is the reference standard measure of central arterial stiffness. However, it requires assessment of the carotid artery, which is technically challenging, and subject-level factors, including carotid artery plaque, may confound measurements. A promising alternative that overcomes these limitations is heart-femoral PWV (hfPWV), but it is not known to what extent changes in cfPWV and hfPWV are associated.

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Exposure to acute prolonged sitting reportedly leads to decreased cerebral blood flow. However, it is unclear whether this exposure translates to decreased cerebral perfusion and executive function or whether simple strategies to break up sitting can maintain cerebral perfusion and executive function. This study sought to answer two questions: in young, healthy adults, (a) does prolonged (3 hr) sitting lead to decreased cerebral perfusion and executive function? and (b) does breaking up prolonged sitting, using intermittent calf raise exercises, prevent changes in cerebral perfusion and executive function? Twenty young, healthy participants (21.

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New Findings: What is the central question of this study? There is growing interest in the effects of sedentarism on central and peripheral cardiovascular health. To permit further investigation, including larger epidemiological studies, there is a need to identify arterial health assessment tools that are valid (accurate) and reliable (precise), yet practical. What is the main finding and its importance? Lower-limb vascular health (femoral-ankle pulse-wave velocity) can be determined in a supine position with accuracy and precision using an oscillometrically based device.

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The prevalence of physical inactivity continues to rise despite there being sufficient evidence to indicate the appropriate dosage of exercise to mitigate risk for many non-communicable diseases. This rise in physical inactivity is unlikely related to exercise prescription knowledge, but rather in the way exercise is prescribed. Current exercise prescription guidelines are characterized by the FITT Principle: Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type.

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