: An R Package to Calculate ActiGraph Activity Counts From Portable Accelerometers.

Portable accelerometers are used to capture physical activity in free-living individuals with the ActiGraph being one of the most widely used device brands in physical activity and health research. Recently, in February 2022, ActiGraph published their activity count algorithm and released a Python package for generating activity counts from raw acceleration data for five generations of ActiGraph devices. The nonproprietary derivation of the ActiGraph count improved the transparency and interpretation of accelerometer device-measured physical activity, but the Python release of the count algorithm does not integrate with packages developed by the physical activity research community using the R Statistical Programming Language.

Optimizing muscle preservation during weight loss in patients with cirrhosis: A pilot study comparing continuous energy restriction to alternate-day modified fasting for weight loss in patients with obesity and non-alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver.

Introduction: Obesity is associated with increased morbidity in patients with advanced liver disease, but it is particularly challenging for these patients to preserve skeletal muscle mass during weight loss and accelerating sarcopenia is a concern. Alternate-day modified fasting (ADMF) may be particularly effective for weight loss in patients with concomitant cirrhosis and obesity due to preservation of fat-free mass (FFM).

Methods: A weight loss program featuring either ADMF or a continuous low-calorie diet (LCD) was evaluated in a 24-week randomized clinical trial in 20 adult patients with Child-Pugh Class A cirrhosis and obesity.

Pretransplant Cognitive Function and Kidney Transplant Outcomes: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Background & Hypothesis: Cognitive impairment is common in patients being evaluated for a kidney transplant (KT). The association between pretransplant cognitive function and posttransplant outcomes is unclear.

Study Design: We performed a prospective cohort study to assess the association between pretransplant cognitive function and clinically relevant posttransplant outcomes.

A Prospective Study of Depression and Quality of Life after Kidney Transplantation.

Key Points: Depression and health-related quality of life improve with kidney transplantation and is sustained beyond the immediate post-transplant period. The improvement in health-related quality of life, especially the physical component, differs by age and is higher in younger patients. Depression improves in all kidney transplantation recipients, irrespective of their age.

Peripheral vascular function in stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Peripheral vascular dysfunction, measured as flow-mediated dilation (FMD), is present across all phases of stroke recovery and elevates the risk for recurrent cardiovascular events. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to characterize baseline FMD in individuals' poststroke, with consideration for each phase of stroke recovery. Three databases (PubMed, CINAHL, and Embase) were searched between January 1, 2000 and October 12, 2023 for studies that examined baseline FMD in stroke.

Changes in Cognitive Function After Kidney Transplantation: A Longitudinal Cohort Study.

Rationale & Objective: Kidney disease negatively affects cognition. We assessed the effect of kidney transplantation (KT) on different cognitive domains.

Study Design: Prospective cohort study.

Effectiveness of preconception weight loss interventions on fertility in women: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Importance: Weight loss before conception is recommended for women with overweight or obesity to improve fertility outcomes, but evidence supporting this recommendation is mixed.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of weight loss interventions using lifestyle modification and/or medication in women with overweight or obesity on pregnancy, live birth, and miscarriage.

Data Sources: An electronic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Library, including Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature was conducted through July 6, 2022, via Wiley.

Lower dynamic cerebral autoregulation following acute bout of low-volume high-intensity interval exercise in chronic stroke compared to healthy adults.

Fluctuating arterial blood pressure during high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) may challenge dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA), specifically after stroke after an injury to the cerebrovasculature. We hypothesized that dCA would be attenuated at rest and during a sit-to-stand transition immediately after and 30 min after HIIE in individuals poststroke compared with age- and sex-matched control subjects (CON). HIIE switched every minute between 70% and 10% estimated maximal watts for 10 min.

The combination of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin e-cigarette aerosols induces airway inflammation and mucus hyperconcentration.

Despite concerns over their safety, e-cigarettes (e-cigs) remain a popular tobacco product. Although nicotine and flavors found in e-cig liquids (e-liquids) can cause harm in the airways, whether the delivery vehicles propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are innocuous when inhaled remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of e-cig aerosols generated from e-liquid containing only PG/VG on airway inflammation and mucociliary function in primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) and sheep.

An open-source system for efficient clinical trial support: The COMET study experience.

Exercise clinical trials are complex, logistically burdensome, and require a well-coordinated multi-disciplinary approach. Challenges include managing, curating, and reporting on many disparate information sources, while remaining responsive to a variety of stakeholders. The Combined Exercise Trial (COMET, NCT04848038) is a one-year comparison of three exercise modalities delivered in the community.

Lower middle cerebral artery blood velocity during low-volume high-intensity interval exercise in chronic stroke.

High-intensity interval training (HIIE) may present unique challenges to the cerebrovascular system in individuals post-stroke. We hypothesized lower middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) in individuals post-stroke: 1) during 10 minutes of HIIE, 2) immediately following HIIE, and 3) 30 minutes after HIIE, compared to age- and sex-matched controls (CON). We used a recumbent stepper submaximal exercise test to determine workloads for high-intensity and active recovery.

The Association of Tacrolimus Formulation on Cerebral Blood Flow and Cognitive Function.

Unlabelled: Calcineurin inhibitors are inherent vasoconstrictors. Cerebral vasoconstriction can reduce cerebral blood flow (CBF), and negatively impact cerebrovascular response (CVR) to exercise, and cognitive function. The once-daily extended-release (LCP) tacrolimus has fewer side effects than the immediate-release (IR) tacrolimus.

Force sensor reduced measurement error compared with verbal command during sit-to-stand assessment of cerebral autoregulation.

Current methods estimate the time delay (TD) before the onset of dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) from verbal command to stand. A force sensor used during a sit-to-stand dCA measure provides an objective moment an individual stands (arise-and-off, AO). We hypothesized that the detection of AO would improve the accuracy of TD compared with estimation.

The impact of a group based, remotely delivered weight loss intervention in women with polycystic ovary syndrome on ovulation, quality of life and body composition.

Background: Obesity and visceral adiposity are associated with anovulation. The most common cause of anovulatory infertility in women of reproductive age is polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). We conducted this formative study to examine the effects of a remotely delivered, group-based lifestyle program for women with overweight/obesity and PCOS on ovulation, PCOS related quality of life (PCOSQ) and body composition.

Feasibility and Comparative Effectiveness for the Delivery of the National Diabetes Prevention Program through Cooperative Extension in Rural Communities.

The U.S. Cooperative Extension Service (CE) has potential to deliver the National Diabetes Prevention Program (NDPP) to rural residents with prediabetes.

Pre-transplant cognitive screening is a poor predictor of post-transplant cognitive status.

Introduction: Transplant centers hesitate to transplant patients with cognitive impairment. It is unclear if pre-kidney transplant (KT) cognitive screening can predict post-KT cognitive function.

Methods: We evaluated pre- to post-KT cognitive function with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) in a cohort of 108 patients.

Statin contribution to middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity in older adults at risk for dementia.

Purpose: It is plausible that statins could improve cerebral blood flow through pleiotropic mechanisms. The purpose of this investigation was to assess the contribution of statins to cerebrovascular variables in older adults with dyslipidemia and familial history of dementia. Furthermore, we explored the interaction between statin use and sex due to prevalent bias in statin trials.

A Remotely Delivered Yoga Intervention for Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Feasibility and Effectiveness for Improving Skills Related to Physical Activity.

This study evaluated the feasibility of remotely delivered yoga for improving four physical activity-related skills: motor skills, strength, balance, and flexibility in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Nineteen of 20 participants enrolled (age 13.2 ± 2.

The impact of exercise and cumulative physical activity on energy intake and diet quality in adults enrolled in the Midwest Exercise Trial for the Prevention of Weight Regain.

The purpose of this study was to assess impact of different volumes of exercise as well as cumulative moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on energy intake (EI) and diet quality, as assessed by the Healthy Eating Index-2010(HEI-2010), across a 12-month weight maintenance intervention. Participants were asked to attend group behavioural sessions, eat a diet designed for weight maintenance and exercise either 150, 225 or 300 min/week. Dietary intake was assessed by 3-d food records, and MVPA was assessed by accelerometry.

Cerebrovascular response to an acute bout of low-volume high-intensity interval exercise and recovery in young healthy adults.

High-intensity interval exercise (HIIT) is performed widely. However, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the acute cerebrovascular response to low-volume HIIT. Our objective was to characterize the middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv) response during an acute bout of low-volume HIIT in young healthy adults.

Weight Loss Interventions for Adolescents With Intellectual Disabilities: An RCT.

Objectives: In this randomized trial, we compared the effectiveness of 2 diets (enhanced stop light diet [eSLD] versus conventional meal plan diet [CD]) and 2 delivery strategies (face-to-face [FTF] versus remote delivery [RD]) on weight loss across 6 months in adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities who were overweight or obese.

Methods: Participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 arms (FTF/CD, RD/CD, or RD/eSLD) and asked to attend one-on-one sessions with a health educator every 2 weeks to aid in maintaining compliance with recommendations for a reduced-energy diet and increased physical activity. The CD followed the US dietary guidelines.

CONSENSUS: a Shiny application of dementia evaluation and reporting for the KU ADC longitudinal Clinical Cohort database.

Background: The University of Kansas Alzheimer's Disease Center (KU ADC) maintains several large databases to track participant recruitment, enrollment, and capture various research-related activities. It is challenging to manage and coordinate all the research-related activities. One of the crucial activities involves generating a consensus diagnosis and communicating with participants and their primary care providers.

An Open Label Trial to Assess Safety of Losartan for Treating Worsening Respiratory Illness in COVID-19.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause disruption of the renin-angiotensin system in the lungs, possibly contributing to pulmonary capillary leakage. Thus, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) may improve respiratory failure. Assess safety of losartan for use in respiratory failure related to COVID-19 (NCT04335123).

Normalization of Cerebral Blood Flow, Neurochemicals, and White Matter Integrity after Kidney Transplantation.

Background: CKD is associated with abnormalities in cerebral blood flow, cerebral neurochemical concentrations, and white matter integrity. Each of these is associated with adverse clinical consequences in the non-CKD population, which may explain the high prevalence of dementia and stroke in ESKD. Because cognition improves after kidney transplantation, comparing these brain abnormalities before and after kidney transplantation may identify potential reversibility in ESKD-associated brain abnormalities.