Community health partnerships for chronic disease prevention among Latinos: the San Diego Prevention Research Center.

Over 20 years ago, university-community partnerships (i.e., Prevention Research Centers [PRCs]) across the United States were funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to conduct research and training in order to promote health and prevent disease in underserved populations.

A population-based study investigating the association between sexual and relationship satisfaction and psychological distress among heterosexuals.

This study examined whether sexual/relationship satisfaction are differentially associated with mental health issues. Using data from a population-based computer-assisted telephone survey, the authors included in this study 3,800 respondents who had a regular heterosexual partner. The authors used 2 methods of scoring the K6 to produce measures of moderate psychological distress and serious psychological distress.

An examination of multilevel factors that may explain gender differences in children's physical activity.

Background: Girls are less physically active than boys, yet no single study has examined the factors that may explain gender differences in children's physical activity (PA).

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional analysis of data from 116 caregivers and their children aged 5-8 years who participated in the MOVE study. Caregivers reported various factors that may relate to children's PA (eg, encouragement for child PA and PA equipment at home).

Differential influences of ethanol on early exposure to racemic methylphenidate compared with dexmethylphenidate in humans.

Enantioselective hydrolysis of oral racemic methylphenidate (dl-MPH) by carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) limits the absolute bioavailability of the pharmacologically active d-MPH isomer to approximately 30% and that of the inactive l-MPH to only 1-2%. Coadministration of dl-MPH with ethanol results in elevated d-MPH plasma concentrations accompanied by CES1-mediated enantioselective transesterification of l-MPH to l-ethylphenidate (EPH). The present study tested the hypothesis that administration of the pure isomer dexmethylphenidate (d-MPH) will overcome the influence of ethanol on d-MPH absorption by eliminating competitive CES1-mediated presystemic metabolism of l-MPH to l-EPH.

Fruit and vegetable intake and eating behaviors mediate the effect of a randomized text-message based weight loss program.

Introduction: We hypothesized that fruit/vegetable intake and eating behaviors mediate the relationship between experimental condition and weight loss in a randomized trial evaluating a text-message based weight loss program.

Methods: Overweight/obese individuals from San Diego, CA (N = 52 with complete data) were randomly assigned in 2007 into one of two groups for four months: 1) the intervention group that received 2-5 weight management text-messages p/day; 2) the usual-care comparison group. Three 24-hour recalls assessed fruit/vegetable intake change and the eating behavior inventory (EBI) measured change in eating behaviors.

Neighborhood preference, walkability and walking in overweight/obese men.

Objectives: To investigate whether self-selection moderated the effects of walkability on walking in overweight and obese men.

Methods: 240 overweight and obese men completed measures on importance of walkability when choosing a neighborhood (selection) and preference for walkable features in general (preference). IPAQ measured walking.

Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate improves processing speed and memory in cognitively impaired MS patients: a phase II study.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) causes cognitive impairment including slowed processing speed and problems with learning and memory. Stimulants are attractive candidates for improving mental speed but carry risk of addiction and other adverse behavioral effects. Lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (LDX) is a D-amphetamine prodrug currently approved for attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder with the potential to be better tolerated due to its prolonged clinical effect.

Physician communication and physical activity among Latinas.

Background: Research suggests that individuals who talk with their physicians about lifestyle behaviors are more physically active. Research on this topic is limited in the U.S.

Interactive effects of methylphenidate and alcohol on discrimination, conditioned place preference and motor coordination in C57BL/6J mice.

Introduction: Prior research indicates methylphenidate (MPH) and alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) interact to significantly affect responses humans and mice. The present studies tested the hypothesis that MPH and EtOH interact to potentiate ethanol-related behaviors in mice.

Methods: We used several behavioral tasks including: drug discrimination in MPH-trained and EtOH-trained mice, conditioned place preference (CPP), rota-rod and the parallel rod apparatus.

Text4Diet: a randomized controlled study using text messaging for weight loss behaviors.

Objective: Text-messaging shows promise as a health intervention. This randomized controlled trial evaluated a daily text-messaging weight loss intervention.

Methods: Overweight and obese adults (n=170) in California were randomized to receive daily interactive and personally weight-relevant text-messages or monthly e-newsletters.

Incidence and persistence/recurrence of women's sexual difficulties: findings from the Australian Longitudinal Study of Health and Relationships.

This study presents data on the prevalence, incidence, and persistence/recurrence of 8 sexual difficulties among women. Australian women participated in 2 computer-assisted interviews approximately 12 months apart. Analyses were based on a weighted sample of 2,252 women who were 20-64 years of age, sexually active in the past 12 months, and in the same heterosexual relationship at both interviews.

Associated pathways between neighborhood environment, community resource factors, and leisure-time physical activity among Mexican-American adults in San Diego, California.

Purpose: To examine pathways between individual, social, and environmental factors associated with leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among Mexican-American adults.

Design: Cross-sectional design using random-digit dialing to administer a structured telephone interview.

Setting: Mexican-American adults living in a U.

Demographic predictors of consistency and change in heterosexuals' attitudes toward homosexual behavior over a two-year period.

This study investigated demographic predictors of consistency and change in heterosexual people's attitudes toward homosexual behavior. A nationally representative sample of Australian men and women were recruited via random digit dialling in 2004 through 2005. Participants completed annual computer-assisted telephone interviews over the next five years.

Brief physical activity-related psychosocial measures: reliability and construct validity.

Background: Psychosocial factors have been related to physical activity (PA) and are used to evaluate mediation in PA interventions.

Methods: Brief theory-based psychosocial scales were compiled from existing measures and evaluated. Study 1 assessed factor structure and construct validity with self-reported PA and accelerometry in overweight/obese men (N = 441) and women (N = 401).

Promoting walking among older adults living in retirement communities.

The authors tested the feasibility and acceptability, and explored the outcomes, of 2 walking interventions based on ecological models among older adults living in retirement communities. An enhanced intervention (EI) was compared with a standard walking intervention (SI) among residents in 4 retirement facilities (N = 87 at baseline; mean age = 84.1 yr).

Who gets tattoos? Demographic and behavioral correlates of ever being tattooed in a representative sample of men and women.

Purpose: Despite recent increases in the popularity of tattooing, little is known about the prevalence and characteristics of adults who have ever been tattooed. We investigated demographic and behavioral correlates of ever getting tattooed in an adult population.

Methods: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 8656 men and women ages 16-64 years in Australia.

Physical activity and dietary behavior change in Internet-based weight loss interventions: comparing two multiple-behavior change indices.

Objective: To investigate the effects of two Internet-based weight loss interventions on physical activity (PA) and dietary behaviors using two approaches for computing combined behavior change.

Method: Participants were 352 overweight/obese women and men completing 12-month interventions in San Diego, California during 2002-2007. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) and sedentary time were measured with accelerometers, and dietary fat and fruit and vegetable intake were assessed with food frequency questionnaires.

High school soccer players with concussion education are more likely to notify their coach of a suspected concussion.

Previously published studies have found that concussion symptoms are underreported in youth athletics. This study evaluated the likelihood high school soccer players would identify themselves as having concussion related symptoms during game situations. A questionnaire inquiring about past concussion education and the likelihood of notifying their coach of concussion symptoms was administered to 183 high school soccer players.

Changes in the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis during the early puerperium may be related to the postpartum 'blues'.

Most women experience time-limited and specific mood changes in the days after birth known as the maternity blues (Blues). The maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis undergoes gradual changes during pregnancy because of an increasing production of placental corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH). The abrupt withdrawal of placental CRH at birth results in a re-equilibration of the maternal HPA axis in the days post-delivery.