Coronary artery calcification and high-volume physical activity: role of lower intensity vs. longer duration of exercise.

Aims: While high-volume physical activity (PA) has been linked to elevated coronary artery calcification (CAC), the role of intensity vs. duration of PA has not been investigated. The purpose of the study was to examine the role of intensity vs.

When brain devices go wrong: a patient with a malfunctioning deep brain stimulator (DBS) presents to the emergency department.

A man in his 50s attended the emergency department with an acute deterioration in his Parkinson's symptoms, presenting with limb rigidity, widespread tremor, choreiform dyskinesia, dysarthria, intense sadness and a severe occipital headache. After excluding common differentials for sudden-onset parkinsonism (eg, infection, medication change), an error on the patient's deep brain stimulator was noted. The patient's symptoms only resolved once he was transferred to the specialist centre so that the programmer could reset the device settings.

Increases in erythrocyte DHA are not associated with increases in LDL-cholesterol: Cooper center longitudinal study.

Background: The effects of fish oil products containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on LDL-C levels are controversial.

Objective: To determine if changes in erythrocyte DHA are associated with changes in LDL-C levels.

Methods: In this prospective observational study, erythrocyte DHA levels and LDL-C levels were measured in 9253 individuals who presented for at least two examinations at a medical clinic.

Relevance of Fitness to Mortality Risk in Men Receiving Contemporary Medical Care.

Background: An inverse association between cardiorespiratory fitness and mortality was robustly demonstrated 3 decades ago.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine whether significant advances in disease prevention, detection, and treatment since that time have modified this association.

Methods: A total of 47,862 men completed baseline examinations, including a maximal treadmill test.

The Association of Self-Reported Muscle-Strengthening Activities With Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Older Adults: Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the cross-sectional associations of participation in muscle-strengthening activities (MSAs) with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) among older adults. The data are from 2,557 older adult participants enrolled in an observational cohort who reported no history of cardiovascular disease. MSA was determined using a questionnaire.

The Association of Physical Activity With Carotid Intima Media Thickening in a Healthy Older Population: Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

The purpose of this study was to examine the association between self-reported physical activity (PA) and mean common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA IMT) among older adults. The data are from 1,811 Cooper Center Longitudinal Study participants, who were aged ≥60 years, with no history of cardiovascular disease. A medical history questionnaire was used to assess PA.

Traditional signs and symptoms commonly attributed to hypogonadism do not correlate with testosterone levels: the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study Experience.

Evidence suggests that substantial testosterone therapy is occurring without checking levels of testosterone, presumably based on the presence of symptoms alone. We sought to explore the relationship between total testosterone level and non-specific symptoms, metabolic abnormalities, and sexual dysfunction associated with hypogonadism. This cross-sectional study included 2994 generally healthy men aged 50-79 years examined at a preventive medicine clinic in Dallas, TX from January 2012 to March 2016.

The association of midlife cardiorespiratory fitness with later life carotid atherosclerosis: Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

Background And Aims: While numerous cross-sectional studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and carotid atherosclerosis in middle age, much less is known about the association of midlife CRF with carotid atherosclerosis in later life.

Methods: We studied 1094 participants, free of cardiovascular disease, who completed a maximal exercise test (GXT) for an objective measure of CRF between ages 40 and 59 and carotid ultrasound after the age of 59, with at least five years between studies. Carotid intima media thickness was measured.

Association of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality With High Levels of Physical Activity and Concurrent Coronary Artery Calcification.

Importance: Few data are available to guide clinical recommendations for individuals with high levels of physical activity in the presence of clinically significant coronary artery calcification (CAC).

Objective: To assess the association among high levels of physical activity, prevalent CAC, and subsequent mortality risk.

Design, Setting, And Participants: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study is a prospective observational study of patients from the Cooper Clinic, a preventive medicine facility.

Long-Term Association of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol With Cardiovascular Mortality in Individuals at Low 10-Year Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease.

Background: The associations of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease mortality in an exclusively low estimated 10-year risk group are not well delineated. We sought to determine the long-term associations of various LDL-C and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) thresholds and CVD and coronary heart disease mortality in a large, low 10-year risk cohort.

Methods: The study sample included participants of the CCLS (Cooper Center Longitudinal Study) without a history of CVD or diabetes mellitus and defined as low risk (<7.

The association of cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index, and age with testosterone levels at screening of healthy men undergoing preventive medical examinations: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

Background: Currently, exogenous hormone replacement is used in many men with hypogonadism without clear organic cause. This study examines the contribution of modifiable health behaviors, i.e.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Coronary Artery Calcium, and Cardiovascular Disease Events in a Cohort of Generally Healthy Middle-Age Men: Results From the Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

Background: A robust literature demonstrates that coronary artery calcification (CAC) and cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) are independent predictors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. Much less is known about the joint associations of CRF and CAC with CVD risk. In the setting of high CAC, high versus low CRF has been associated with decreased CVD events.

Association Between Sitting Time and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors After Adjustment for Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Cooper Center Longitudinal Study, 2010-2013.

Introduction: Objective estimates, based on waist-worn accelerometers, indicate that adults spend over half their day (55%) in sedentary behaviors. Our study examined the association between sitting time and cardiometabolic risk factors after adjustment for cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF).

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with 4,486 men and 1,845 women who reported daily estimated sitting time, had measures for adiposity, blood lipids, glucose, and blood pressure, and underwent maximal stress testing.

Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Highly Sensitive Cardiac Troponin Levels in a Preventive Medicine Cohort.

Background: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and highly sensitive cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) are associated with risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality as well as incident heart failure. A link of low CRF to subclinical cardiac injury may explain this association. We hypothesized that CRF would be inversely associated with hs-cTnT measured in healthy adults over age 50.

Toward a Theory of Stuttering.

Stuttering affects about 1% of the general population and from 8 to 11% of children. The onset of persistent developmental stuttering (PDS) typically occurs between 2 and 4 years of age. The etiology of stuttering is unknown and a unifying hypothesis is lacking.

Progression of CAC Score and Risk of Incident CVD.

Objectives: The authors sought to determine the relative contributions of baseline coronary artery calcification (CAC), follow-up CAC, and CAC progression on incident cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Background: Repeat CAC scanning has been proposed as a method to track progression of total atherosclerotic burden. However, whether CAC progression is a useful predictor of future CVD events remains unclear.

The association between midlife cardiorespiratory fitness and later life chronic kidney disease: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health problem, particularly in older age and in those with diabetes mellitus (DM), with high comorbidity and treatment costs.

Study Design: Prospective observational cohort study.

Setting & Participants: 17,979 participants, 22% women with a mean age of 50.

Association between omega-3 fatty acids and serum prostate-specific antigen.

We examined the association between omega-3 fatty acids (O3FAs) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in a cross-sectional analysis of 6219 men examined at the Cooper Clinic from 2009 to 2013. We assayed O3FAs from red blood cell membranes and measured PSA levels in study participants. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between O3FAs and PSA.

Lowering levels of bed occupancy is associated with decreased inhospital mortality and improved performance on the 4-hour target in a UK District General Hospital.

Objective: To evaluate whether there is an association between an intervention to reduce medical bed occupancy and performance on the 4-hour target and hospital mortality.

Methods: This before-and-after study was undertaken in a large UK District General Hospital over a 32 month period. A range of interventions were undertaken to reduce medical bed occupancy within the Trust.

Midlife Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Incident Cancer, and Survival After Cancer in Men: The Cooper Center Longitudinal Study.

Importance: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) as assessed by formalized incremental exercise testing is an independent predictor of numerous chronic diseases, but its association with incident cancer or survival following a diagnosis of cancer has received little attention.

Objective: To assess the association between midlife CRF and incident cancer and survival following a cancer diagnosis.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This was a prospective, observational cohort study conducted at a preventive medicine clinic.