Review and Call for Improved Cannabis Measurement and the Potential for Leveraging Cannabis Seed-To-Sale Systems.

International consensus has emerged, which proposes that the measurement and standardization of the quantity of THC potency, or dose (mgTHC), is a requisite for identifying consistent relationships between patterns of cannabis use and the risk for negative health outcomes, especially critical given the increasing number of U.S. states and European countries considering legalizing cannabis for recreational use.

Adult obesity treatment and prevention: A trans-agency commentary on the research landscape, gaps, and future opportunities.

Given the high and growing prevalence of obesity among adults in the United States, obesity treatment and prevention are important topics in biomedical and public health research. Although researchers recognize the significance of this problem, much remains unknown about safe and effective prevention and treatment of obesity in adults. In response to the worsening obesity epidemic and the many unknowns regarding the disease, a group of key scientific and program staff members of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal and non-government agencies gathered virtually in September 2021 to discuss the current state of obesity research, research gaps, and opportunities for future research in adult obesity prevention and treatment.

Disseminated infection in a horse.

A 19-y-old American Saddlebred gelding was evaluated for epiphora of the right eye and generalized cachexia. Initial examination revealed anterior uveitis without ulceration, for which treatment was initiated. Despite the initial response to treatment, the signs progressively worsened to blindness.

Relations among maternal physical activity during pregnancy and child body composition.

Objective: Physical activity (PA) during pregnancy is associated with lower neonatal fat mass, but associations with child body composition are mixed. The purpose of this study was to examine associations between trimester-specific pregnancy PA and child body composition at 4 years.

Methods: Participants of the Minnesota Infant Nutrition, Neurodevelopment, and Obesity Study were asked to recall participation in any moderate or vigorous PA in the first (T1), second (T2) and third (T3) trimesters at about 5 years postpartum.

Differential methylation of insulin-like growth factor 2 in offspring of physically active pregnant women.

Several studies have suggested that maternal lifestyle during pregnancy may influence long-term health of offspring by altering the offspring epigenome. Whether maternal leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy might have this effect is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between maternal LTPA during pregnancy and offspring DNA methylation.

Evaluation of the activPAL accelerometer for physical activity and energy expenditure estimation in a semi-structured setting.

Objectives: Evaluate accuracy of the activPAL and its proprietary software for prediction of time spent in physical activity (PA) intensities (sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous) and energy expenditure (EE) and compare its accuracy to that of a machine learning model (ANN) developed from raw activPAL data.

Design: Semi-structured accelerometer validation in a laboratory setting.

Methods: Participants (n=41 [20 male]; age=22.

Associations Among Work-Related and Leisure-Time Physical Activity With Level of Nausea During Pregnancy.

Objective: Pregnancy-induced nausea and vomiting are common maladies during early pregnancy and may be related to physical activity (PA). Our objective was to determine relations among work-related PA (work PA), leisure-time physical activity (LTPA), and nausea during the first trimester.

Study Design: Online or mailed surveys with questions on pregnancy-related nausea, work PA, and LTPA were completed by 70 women at 15 to 30 months postpartum.

Wrist-independent energy expenditure prediction models from raw accelerometer data.

(1) Develop artificial neural network (ANN) models for wrist accelerometer data which can predict energy expenditure (EE) using data collected from either wrist. (2) Develop ANNs for detecting the wrist on which the accelerometer was worn. Forty-four adults wore GENEActiv accelerometers on the left and right wrists and a portable metabolic analyzer while participating in a 90 min semi-structured activity protocol.

Validation and Comparison of Accelerometers Worn on the Hip, Thigh, and Wrists for Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior.

Background: Recent evidence suggests that physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior (SB) exert independent effects on health. Therefore, measurement methods that can accurately assess both constructs are needed.

Objective: To compare the accuracy of accelerometers placed on the hip, thigh, and wrists, coupled with machine learning models, for measurement of PA intensity category (SB, light-intensity PA [LPA], and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA [MVPA]) and breaks in SB.

The Influence of Risk Perceptions and Efficacy Beliefs on Leisure-Time Physical Activity During Pregnancy.

Background: Pregnancy risk perceptions and physical activity efficacy beliefs may facilitate or impede pregnancy leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). We examined the separate and joint influence of these variables on LTPA behavior among pregnant women.

Methods: Pregnant women (n = 302) completed a survey containing questions on LTPA efficacy beliefs and behavior, as well as pregnancy risk perceptions with respect to the health of the unborn baby.

Maternal mid-pregnancy lipids and birthweight.

Objective: To describe associations between maternal lipids and birthweight and to determine whether pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) modifies these associations.

Design: Cohort study.

Setting: Multiple communities in Michigan, USA.

Preeclampsia and diabetes.

Preeclampsia is diagnosed in women presenting with new onset hypertension accompanied by proteinuria or other signs of severe organ dysfunction in the second half of pregnancy. Preeclampsia risk is increased 2- to 4-fold among women with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. The limited number of pregnant women with preexisting diabetes and the difficulties associated with diagnosing preeclampsia in women with proteinuria prior to pregnancy are significant barriers to research in this high-risk population.

Review of impacts of physical activity on maternal metabolic health during pregnancy.

Our purpose was to review relations between physical activity during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and other maternal metabolic markers (i.e., lipids, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin six (IL-6), leptin, and adiponectin).

Energy Expenditure Prediction Using Raw Accelerometer Data in Simulated Free Living.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop, validate, and compare energy expenditure (EE) prediction models for accelerometers placed on the hip, thigh, and wrists using simple accelerometer features as input variables in EE prediction models.

Methods: Forty-four healthy adults participated in a 90-min, semistructured, simulated free-living activity protocol. During the protocol, participants engaged in 14 different sedentary, ambulatory, lifestyle, and exercise activities for 3-10 min each.

Physical activity during pregnancy and offspring characteristics at 8-10 years.

Aim: We evaluated relationships between mothers' physical activity (PA) during pregnancy and child blood pressure, aerobic fitness, and birth weight.

Methods: Anthropometrics, systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressures, and aerobic fitness were measured on 20 mother/child pairs, 8-10 years postpartum. Pregnancy PA (kJ/kg.

Maternal Physical Activity During Pregnancy, Child Leisure-Time Activity, and Child Weight Status at 3 to 9 Years.

Background: We sought to evaluate the effects of maternal leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy and current child LTPA on child weight status.

Methods: Women with term pregnancies in the Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health Study (1998-2004) were followed-up. A race-stratified subset of participants (cohort A) received extensive follow-up efforts leading to better response rates (592/926 = 64%) and diversity.

United States birth weight reference corrected for implausible gestational age estimates.

Objectives: To provide an updated US birth weight for gestational age reference corrected for likely errors in last menstrual period (LMP)-based gestational age dating, as well as means and SDs, to enable calculation of continuous and categorical measures of birth weight for gestational age.

Methods: From the 2009-2010 US live birth files, we abstracted singleton births between 22 and 44 weeks of gestation with at least 1 nonmissing estimate of gestational age (ie, LMP or obstetric/clinical) and birth weight. Using an algorithm based on birth weight and the concordance between these gestational age estimates, implausible LMP-based gestational age estimates were either excluded or corrected by using the obstetric/clinical estimate.

Body mass index is associated with appropriateness of weight gain but not leisure-time physical activity during pregnancy.

Background: Little is known about how leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) influences gestational weight gain (GWG) among body mass index (BMI) categories. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between pregnancy LTPA and the proportion of normal, overweight, and obese women who meet GWG recommendations.

Methods: Participants included 449 subcohort women from the Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health (POUCH) study.

Improving the physical activity and nutrition environment through self-assessment (NAP SACC) in rural area child care centers in North Carolina.

Objective: To determine if child care centers in rural, Western North Carolina met recommendations for nutrition and physical activity, if focusing on nutrition and physical activity practices and policies was effective in improving the center environment, and if differences existed between centers affiliated or unaffiliated with schools.

Methods: Of 33 child care centers in three counties, 29 submitted mini-grant requests and participated in a pre-post evaluation using Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC). NAP SACC assesses compliance for nutrition and physical activity recommendations and standards.

Health benefits of physical activity during pregnancy: an international perspective.

While early studies on the effects of leisure time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy were concerned about possible harm to the mother or fetus, these fears have not been substantiated. Instead, a growing body of literature has documented several health benefits related to pregnancy LTPA. The purpose of this article was to synthesize evidence from epidemiological studies conducted in the United States, Canada, and Scandinavia on the benefits of LTPA and exercise during pregnancy with regard to maternal health, pregnancy outcomes, and child health.

Association of available parkland, physical activity, and overweight in America's largest cities.

Objective: To examine associations between the densities of available parkland, parkland provided per capita, and levels of physical activity (PA) and overweight in urban United States.

Design: Cross-sectional correlation research using data drawn from the Trust for Public Land's 2010 City Park Facts and The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). City Park Facts is a report containing "basic information on urban park systems--from acreage, to facilities, to staffing, to budgets, to usership, and more" for America's 85 largest cities.

Attitudes of pregnant women towards collection of biological specimens during pregnancy and at birth.

Epidemiological investigations of maternal and child health may involve the collection of biological specimens, including cord blood and the placenta; however, the attitudes of pregnant women towards participation in the collection of biological specimens have been studied rarely. We evaluated attitudes towards collection and storage of biological specimens, and determined whether attitudes differed by maternal characteristics, in a cross-sectional study of pregnant women residing in Kent County, Michigan. Women were interviewed at their first visit for prenatal care between April and October 2006 (n = 311).

Maternal lipids at mid-pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery.

Objective: This study examined associations between maternal lipid levels at mid-pregnancy and preterm delivery, medically indicated or spontaneous.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Women were recruited from 52 clinics in five Michigan, USA communities (1998-2004).

Leisure-time physical activity in pregnancy and the birth weight distribution: where is the effect?

Background: Leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) is recommended during pregnancy and has been associated with lower risk of delivering a large infant. We sought to characterize the effect of LTPA across the entire birth weight distribution.

Methods: Women enrolled in the Pregnancy Outcomes and Community Health (POUCH) Study (1998-2004) were followed-up in 2007.