Performance of the FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System during an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test and Exercise in Healthy Adolescents.

This study's aim was to assess FreeStyle Libre Flash glucose monitoring (FGM) performance during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and treadmill exercise in healthy adolescents. This should advance the feasibility and utility of user-friendly technologies for metabolic assessments in adolescents. Seventeen healthy adolescents (nine girls aged 12.8 ± 0.9 years) performed an OGTT and submaximal and maximal treadmill exercise tests in a laboratory setting. The scanned interstitial fluid glucose concentration ([ISFG]) obtained by FGM was compared against finger-prick capillary plasma glucose concentration ([CPG]) at 0 (pre-OGTT), -15, -30, -60, -120 min post-OGTT, pre-, mid-, post- submaximal exercise, and pre- and post- maximal exercise. Overall mean absolute relative difference (MARD) was 13.1 ± 8.5%, and 68% (n = 113) of the paired glucose data met the ISO 15197:2013 criteria. For clinical accuracy, 84% and 16% of FGM readings were within zones A and B in the Consensus Error Grid (CEG), respectively, which met the ISO 15197:2013 criteria of having at least 99% of results within these zones. Scanned [ISFG] were statistically lower than [CPG] at 15 (-1.16 mmol∙L-1, p < 0.001) and 30 min (-0.74 mmol∙L-1, p = 0.041) post-OGTT. Yet, post-OGTT glycaemic responses assessed by total and incremental areas under the curve (AUCs) were not significantly different, with trivial to small effect sizes (p ≥ 0.084, d = 0.14-0.45). Further, [ISFGs] were not different from [CPGs] during submaximal and maximal exercise tests (interaction p ≥ 0.614). FGM can be a feasible alternative to reflect postprandial glycaemia (AUCs) in healthy adolescents who may not endure repeated finger pricks.

The Reliability and Validity of a Portable Three-Dimensional Scanning System to Measure Leg Volume.

(1) Background: The study examined the reliability (test-retest, intra- and inter-day) and validity of a portable 3D scanning method when quantifying human leg volume. (2) Methods: Fifteen males volunteered to participate (age, 24.6 ± 2.0 years; stature, 178.9 ± 4.5 cm; body mass, 77.4 ± 6.5 kg; mean ± standard deviation). The volume of the lower and upper legs was examined using a water displacement method (the criterion) and two consecutive 3D scans. Measurements were taken at baseline, 1 h post-baseline (intra-day) and 24 h post-baseline (inter-day). Reliability and validity of the 3D scanning method was assessed using Bland-Altman limits of agreement and Pearson's product moment correlations. (3) Results: With respect to the test-retest reliability, the 3D scanning method had smaller systematic bias and narrower limits of agreement (±1%, and 3-5%, respectively) compared to the water displacement method (1-2% and 4-7%, respectively), when measuring lower and upper leg volume in humans. The correlation coefficients for all reliability comparisons (test-retest, intra-day, inter-day) would all be regarded as 'very strong' (all 0.94 or greater). (4) Conclusions: The study's results suggest that a 3D scanning method is a reliable and valid method to quantify leg volume.

Effect of Changing Match Format from Halves to Quarters on the Performance Characteristics of Male University Field Hockey Players.

The study examined whether the performance characteristics of male university field hockey players differed when the match format was 2 × 35 min halves compared to 2 × 2 × 17.5 min quarters. Thirty-five male university field hockey players (age 21.2 ± 3.0 years, height 1.81 ± 0.07 m, body mass 75.1 ± 8.9 kg), competing at national level in the UK, were monitored over 52 matches played across the 2018-2019 (2 × 35 min halves) and 2019-2020 (2 × 2 × 17.5 min quarters) seasons using 15 Hz Global Positioning System units and heart rate monitors. Total distance, high-speed running distance (≥15.5 km·h-1), accelerations (≥2 m·s-1), decelerations (≤-2 m·s-1), average heart rate and percentage of time spent at >85% of maximum heart rate were recorded during both match formats. Two-level random intercept hierarchal models (Match-level 1, Player-level 2) suggested that the change in format from 2 × 35 min halves (2018-2019 season) to 2 × 2 × 17.5 min quarters (2019-2020 season) resulted in a reduction in total distance and high-speed running distance completed during a match (by 221 m and 120 m, respectively, both p < 0.001). As no significant cross-level interactions were observed (between season and half), the change from 35 min halves to 17.5 min quarters did not attenuate the reduced physical performance evident during the second half of matches (total distance: -235 m less in second half; high-speed running distance: -70 m less in second half; both p < 0.001). Overall, the findings suggest that the change in match format did alter the performance characteristics of male university field hockey players, but the quarter format actually reduced the total distance and high-speed running distance completed during matches, and did not attenuate the reduction in performance seen during the second half of matches.

Sex differences in postprandial lipaemia after acute high-intensity interval running in young people.

Acute exercise reduces postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations ([TAG]) in boys and girls; however, it is not known whether between-sex differences exist in response to exercise. Fifteen boys (mean(SD): 11.8(0.4) years) and sixteen girls (12.1(0.7) years) completed two, 2-day conditions. On day 1, participants rested (CON) or completed 10 × 1 min high-intensity interval runs at 100% maximal aerobic speed with 1 min recovery (HIIR). On day 2, participants consumed a standardised breakfast and lunch over a 6.5-h period during which seven capillary blood samples were collected. Based on ratios of the geometric means (95% CI for ratios), fasting [TAG] was 32% lower in boys than girls (-44 to -18%, ES = 1.31, P < 0.001), and 12% lower after HIIR than CON (-18 to -5%, ES = 0.42, P = 0.003); the magnitude of reduction was not significantly different between the sexes (8% (ES = 0.36) vs. 15% (ES = 0.47), respectively; P = 0.29). The total area under the [TAG] versus time curve was 27% lower in boys than girls (-40 to -10%, ES = 1.02, P = 0.005), and 10% lower after HIIR than CON (-16 to -5%, ES = 0.36, P = 0.001); the magnitude of reduction was similar between the sexes (11% (ES = 0.43) vs. 10% (ES = 0.31), respectively; P = 0.87). The small-moderate reduction in postprandial [TAG] after HIIR was similar between the sexes.

Acute high-intensity interval rowing increases thrombin generation in healthy men.

PURPOSE: High-intensity exercise induces several health benefits, but may acutely and transiently increase the risk of cardiovascular events due to thrombotic changes promoting blood coagulation and thrombin formation. This study examined the effects of high-intensity exercise on plasma thrombin generation and triacylglycerol concentrations. METHODS: Sixteen healthy men completed two, 2-day conditions separated by 1 week. On day 1, participants rested (control) or completed four, 3-min high-intensity rowing intervals at an average rating of perceived exertion of 17 (exercise). Venous blood samples were collected pre- and post-intervention to determine plasma thrombin generation. On day 2, participants rested and consumed a glucose load (0 h) and high-fat meal (2 h). Fifteen venous blood samples were collected between 0 and 8 h to measure plasma thrombin generation and triacylglycerol concentrations. RESULTS: On day 1, lag time was shorter and peak thrombin and endogenous thrombin potential were greater in the exercise than control condition (ES ≥ 0.37, main effect condition P ≤ 0.03), and post-intervention compared with pre-intervention (ES ≥ 0.49, main effect time P ≤ 0.003). The magnitude of the post-intervention change was greater in the exercise than control condition for all thrombin generation parameters (condition by time interaction P ≤ 0.05). On day 2, no differences in postprandial thrombin generation parameters were seen between conditions (P ≥ 0.21). The total area under the curve for triacylglycerol was lower in the exercise than control condition (ES = 0.34, P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: An acute bout of high-intensity interval rowing increased plasma thrombin generation immediately after exercise, but these differences were eliminated 16-24 h after exercise.

Exercise intensity and postprandial health outcomes in adolescents.

PURPOSE: The effect of exercise intensity and sex on postprandial risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adolescents is unknown. We examined the effect of a single bout of work-matched high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) and moderate-intensity exercise (MIE) on postprandial triacylglycerol (TAG) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in adolescents. METHOD: Twenty adolescents (10 male, 14.3 ± 0.3 years) completed three 1-day trials: (1) rest (CON); (2) 8 × 1 min cycling at 90 % peak power with 75 s recovery (HIIE); (3) cycling at 90 % of the gas exchange threshold (MIE), 1 h before consuming a high-fat milkshake (1.50 g fat and 80 kJ kg(-1)). Postprandial TAG, SBP and fat oxidation were assessed over 4 h RESULTS: Compared to CON, the incremental area under the curve for TAG (IAUC-TAG) was not significantly lowered in HIIE [P = 0.22, effect size (ES) = 0.24] or MIE (P = 0.65, ES = 0.04) for boys. For girls, HIIE and MIE lowered IAUC-TAG by 34 % (P = 0.02, ES = 0.58) and 38 % (P = 0.09, ES = 0.73), respectively, with no difference between HIIE and MIE (P = 0.74, ES = 0.14). Changes in TAG were not related to energy expenditure during exercise or postprandial fat oxidation. Postprandial SBP (total-AUC pooled for both sexes) was lower in HIIE compared to CON (P = 0.01, ES = 0.68) and MIE (P = 0.02, ES = 0.60), with no difference between MIE and CON (P = 0.45, ES = 0.14). CONCLUSION: A single bout of HIIE and MIE, performed 1 h before an HFM, can meaningfully attenuate IAUC-TAG in girls but not boys. Additionally, HIIE, but not MIE, may lower postprandial SBP in normotensive adolescents.

Effect of repeated sprints on postprandial endothelial function and triacylglycerol concentrations in adolescent boys.

This study investigated whether repeated, very short duration sprints influenced endothelial function (indicated by flow-mediated dilation) and triacylglycerol concentrations following the ingestion of high-fat meals in adolescent boys. Nine adolescent boys completed two, 2-day main trials (control and exercise), in a counter-balanced, cross-over design. Participants were inactive on day 1 of the control trial but completed 40 × 6 s maximal cycle sprints on day 1 of the exercise trial. On day 2, capillary blood samples were collected and flow-mediated dilation measured prior to, and following, ingestion of a high-fat breakfast and lunch. Fasting flow-mediated dilation and plasma triacylglycerol concentration were similar in the control and exercise trial (P > 0.05). In the control trial, flow-mediated dilation was reduced by 20% and 27% following the high-fat breakfast and lunch; following exercise these reductions were negated (main effect trial, P < 0.05; interaction effect trial × time, P < 0.05). The total area under the plasma triacylglycerol concentration versus time curve was 13% lower on day 2 in the exercise trial compared to the control trial (8.65 (0.97) vs. 9.92 (1.16) mmol · l(-1) · 6.5 h, P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that repeated 6 s maximal cycle sprints can have beneficial effects on postprandial endothelial function and triacylglycerol concentrations in adolescent boys.

Effect of exercise on postprandial endothelial function in adolescent boys.

The ingestion of high-fat meals induces a state of endothelial dysfunction in adults. This dysfunction is attenuated by prior exercise. The response of young people to these nutritional and physiological stressors has not been established. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to investigate if a bout of moderate-intensity exercise influenced endothelial function (as indicated by flow-mediated dilation (FMD)) following the ingestion of a high-fat breakfast and lunch in adolescent boys (aged 12·6-14·3 years). Two, 2 d main trials (control and exercise) were completed by thirteen adolescent boys in a counter-balanced, cross-over design. Participants were inactive on day 1 of the control trial, but completed 60 min of walking at 60 % peak oxygen uptake in the exercise trial. On day 2, endothelial function was assessed via FMD prior to, and following, ingestion of a high-fat breakfast and lunch. There was no difference in fasting FMD between the control and exercise trial (P= 0·449). In the control trial, FMD was reduced by 32 % following consumption of the high-fat breakfast and by 24 % following lunch. In the exercise trial, the corresponding reductions were 6 and 10 %, respectively (main effect trial, P= 0·002). These results demonstrate that moderate-intensity exercise can attenuate the decline in FMD seen following the consumption of high-fat meals in adolescent boys.

Rapid Vital Sign Extraction for Real-Time Opto-Physiological Monitoring at Varying Physical Activity Intensity Levels.

Robustness of physiological parameters obtained from photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals is highly dependent on a signal quality that is often affected by the motion artefacts (MAs) generated during physical activity. This study aims to suppress MAs and obtain reliable physiological readings using the part of the pulsatile signal, captured by a multi-wavelength illumination optoelectronic patch sensor (mOEPS), that minimizes the residual between the measured signal and the motion estimates obtained from an accelerometer. The minimum residual (MR) method requires the simultaneous collection of (1) multiple wavelength data from the mOEPS, and (2) motion reference signals from a triaxial accelerometer attached to the mOEPS. The MR method suppresses those frequencies associated with motion in a manner that is easily embedded on a microprocessor. The performance of the method in reducing both in-band and out-of-band frequencies of MAs is evaluated through two protocols with 34 subjects engaged in the study. The MA-suppressed PPG signal, obtained through MR, enables the calculation of the heart rate (HR) with an average absolute error of 1.47 beats/min for the IEEE-SPC datasets, and the calculation of HR and respiration rate (RR) to 1.44 beats/min and 2.85 breaths/min respectively for our in-house datasets. Oxygen saturation (SpO 2) levels calculated from the minimum residual wave forms were consistently [Formula: see text]. The comparison with the reference HR and RR show errors with an absolute accuracy of [Formula: see text] and the Pearson correlation ( R) for HR and RR are 0.9976 and 0.9118, respectively. These outcomes demonstrate that MR is capable of effective suppression of MAs for a range of physical activity intensities and to achieve real-time signal processing for wearable health monitoring.

Assessing the use of prescription drugs and dietary supplements in obese respondents in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is a common disease and a known risk factor for many other conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Treatment options for obesity include lifestyle changes, pharmacotherapy, and surgical interventions such as bariatric surgery. In this study, we examine the use of prescription drugs and dietary supplements by the individuals with obesity. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data 2003-2018. We used multivariate logistic regression to analyze the correlations of demographics and obesity status with the use of prescription drugs and dietary supplement use. We also built machine learning models to classify prescription drug and dietary supplement use using demographic data and obesity status. RESULTS: Individuals with obesity are more likely to take cardiovascular agents (OR = 2.095, 95% CI 1.989-2.207) and metabolic agents (OR = 1.658, 95% CI 1.573-1.748) than individuals without obesity. Gender, age, race, poverty income ratio, and insurance status are significantly correlated with dietary supplement use. The best performing model for classifying prescription drug use had the accuracy of 74.3% and the AUROC of 0.82. The best performing model for classifying dietary supplement use had the accuracy of 65.3% and the AUROC of 0.71. CONCLUSIONS: This study can inform clinical practice and patient education of the use of prescription drugs and dietary supplements and their correlation with obesity.

Understanding Information Needs and Barriers to Accessing Health Information Across All Stages of Pregnancy: Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Understanding consumers' health information needs across all stages of the pregnancy trajectory is crucial to the development of mechanisms that allow them to retrieve high-quality, customized, and layperson-friendly health information. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to identify research gaps in pregnancy-related consumer information needs and available information from different sources. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of CINAHL, Cochrane, PubMed, and Web of Science for relevant articles that were published from 2009 to 2019. The quality of the included articles was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program. A descriptive data analysis was performed on these articles. Based on the review result, we developed the Pregnancy Information Needs Ontology (PINO) and made it publicly available in GitHub and BioPortal. RESULTS: A total of 33 articles from 9 countries met the inclusion criteria for this review, of which the majority were published no earlier than 2016. Most studies were either descriptive (9/33, 27%), interviews (7/33, 21%), or surveys/questionnaires (7/33, 21%); 20 articles mentioned consumers' pregnancy-related information needs. Half (9/18, 50%) of the human-subject studies were conducted in the United States. More than a third (13/33, 39%) of all studies focused on during-pregnancy stage; only one study (1/33, 3%) was about all stages of pregnancy. The most frequent consumer information needs were related to labor delivery (9/20, 45%), medication in pregnancy (6/20, 30%), newborn care (5/20, 25%), and lab tests (6/20, 30%). The most frequently available source of information was the internet (15/24, 63%). PINO consists of 267 classes, 555 axioms, and 271 subclass relationships. CONCLUSIONS: Only a few articles assessed the barriers to access to pregnancy-related information and the quality of each source of information; further work is needed. Future work is also needed to address the gaps between the information needed and the information available.

Breaking Sitting Time with Physical Activity Increases Energy Expenditure but Does Not Alter Postprandial Metabolism in Girls.

PURPOSE: Young people spend a substantial proportion of their time at school sedentary; therefore, this setting represents an important target for interventions aimed at displacing sedentary time with physical activity. This study aimed to examine the postprandial metabolic effects of breaking sedentary time by accumulating walking and repeated bouts of nonambulatory standing during simulated school days in inactive adolescent girls. METHODS: Seventeen girls (mean ± SD = 12.8 ± 0.4 yr) completed two 3-d experimental conditions. On days 1 and 2 of the standing + walking (STD-WLK) experimental trial, participants interrupted sedentary time by completing 4 × 10 min bouts of self-paced walking and accumulated 18 × 5 min standing bouts during each simulated school day. On day 3 of STD-WLK, participants attended school as normal with no additional physical activity or standing prescribed. On all 3 d of the control condition (CON), participants attended school as normal with no physical activity intervention. On days 2 and 3 of both STD-WLK and CON, a baseline capillary blood sample was provided to determine fasting [TAG] and [glucose]. Participants then consumed a standardized breakfast (0 h) and lunch (4.7 h), and blood samples were provided postprandially at 2.7, 5.3, and 7.3 h for [TAG] and [glucose]. RESULTS: Energy expenditure was 28% (95% confidence interval = 8% to 52%) higher during school hours on day 1 and day 2 during STD-WLK compared with CON (2171 vs 1693 kJ; effect size = 0.89, P = 0.008). However, no reduction of fasting or postprandial [TAG] or [glucose] was observed on day 2 or day 3 ( P ≥ 0.245). CONCLUSIONS: Two consecutive days of breaking prolonged sitting with self-paced walking and intermittent standing had no meaningful effect on postprandial metabolism in adolescent girls.

Assessing the Use and Perception of Dietary Supplements Among Obese Patients with National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Complementary alternative medicine, especially dietary supplements (DS), has gained increasing popularity for weight loss due to its availability without prescription, price, and ease of use. Besides weight loss, there are various perceived, potential benefits linked to DS use. However, health consumers with limited health literacy may not adequately know the benefits and risk of overdose for DS. In this project, we aim to gain a better understanding of the use of DS products among obese people as well as the perceived benefits of these products. We identified obese adults after combining the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data collected from 2003 to 2014. We found that there is a knowledge gap between the reported benefits of major DS by obese adults and the existing DS knowledge base and label database. This gap may inform the design of patient education material on DS usage in the future.

Short Sprints Accumulated at School Modulate Postprandial Metabolism in Boys.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the efficacy of maximal sprint running accumulated during a typical school day to modulate postprandial metabolism in adolescent boys. METHODS: Nineteen adolescent boys completed three 2-d experimental conditions: a standard-practice control (CON), an accumulated in-school sprint running (ACC), and a single block of afterschool sprint running (BLO). On day 1, a fasting capillary blood sample was taken at 0735 h in the school. Three subsequent postprandial blood samples were taken at predetermined times after consumption of standardized breakfast and lunch. During ACC, participants accumulated four sets of 10 × 30-m maximal-intensity sprint runs across natural breaks in lessons. During BLO, participants performed the same number of sprints (40) in a single after-school exercise session. The blood samples from day 1 were replicated on the day after exercise (day 2). RESULTS: On day 1, no significant differences in total area under the plasma triacylglycerol concentration versus time curve (TAUC-TAG) were observed between conditions (P = 0.126). However, TAUC-insulin was lower in ACC compared with BLO (-26%, effect size [ES] = 0.86, P = 0.001) and CON (-22%, ES = 0.72, P = 0.010). On day 2, TAUC-TAG was 12% lower after ACC (ES = 0.49; P = 0.002) and 10% lower after BLO (ES = 0.37; P = 0.019) compared with CON. No significant differences were observed between conditions on day 2 for postprandial insulin or glucose (P ≥ 0.738). CONCLUSION: Four sets of 10 × 30-m sprints, accumulated in four separate bouts (<5 min) during the school day, reduced postprandial triacylglycerol and insulin concentrations in adolescent boys and may represent an effective in-school exercise strategy to promote metabolic health.

Building Computational Models to Predict One-Year Mortality in ICU Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Post Myocardial Infarction Syndrome.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States. Compared with risk assessment guidelines that require manual calculation of scores, machine learning-based prediction for disease outcomes such as mortality can be utilized to save time and improve prediction accuracy. This study built and evaluated various machine learning models to predict one-year mortality in patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction or post myocardial infarction syndrome in the MIMIC-III database. The results of the best performing shallow prediction models were compared to a deep feedforward neural network (Deep FNN) with back propagation. We included a cohort of 5436 admissions. Six datasets were developed and compared. The models applying Logistic Model Trees (LMT) and Simple Logistic algorithms to the combined dataset resulted in the highest prediction accuracy at 85.12% and the highest AUC at .901. In addition, other factors were observed to have an impact on outcomes as well.

Exploring the Discrepancies in Actual and Perceived Benefits of Dietary Supplements Among Obese Patients.

Dietary supplements (DSs) have gained increased popularity for weight loss due to its availability without prescription, relatively low price, and ease of use. Consumers with limited health literacy may not adequately know the benefits and risks associated with DSs. In this project, we found a knowledge gap between reported benefits of major DSs by adults with obesity in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2014 and those reported in existing DS knowledge databases.

Enhancing Prediction Models for One-Year Mortality in Patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction and Post Myocardial Infarction Syndrome.

Predicting the risk of mortality for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) using electronic health records (EHRs) data can help identify risky patients who might need more tailored care. In our previous work, we built computational models to predict one-year mortality of patients admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) with AMI or post myocardial infarction syndrome. Our prior work only used the structured clinical data from MIMIC-III, a publicly available ICU clinical database. In this study, we enhanced our work by adding the word embedding features from free-text discharge summaries. Using a richer set of features resulted in significant improvement in the performance of our deep learning models. The average accuracy of our deep learning models was 92.89% and the average F-measure was 0.928. We further reported the impact of different combinations of features extracted from structured and/or unstructured data on the performance of the deep learning models.

Small-Sided Soccer in School Reduces Postprandial Lipemia in Adolescent Boys.

PURPOSE: Although laboratory-based moderate- to high-intensity exercise reduces postprandial lipemia in adolescents, this exercise differs to the free-living physical activities in which young people typically engage. This study compared the effect of free-living afterschool soccer activity and treadmill exercise on in-school postprandial lipemia in adolescent boys. METHODS: Fifteen boys (12.6 ± 0.5 yr) completed three, 2-d experimental trials. On day 1, participants rested (CON), exercised for 48 min on a treadmill at 60% V˙O2peak (TM), or played 48 min of 5-a-side soccer (SOC). On day 2, participants attended school where a capillary blood sample determined fasting triacylglycerol ([TAG]) and glucose ([glucose]) concentrations. Participants then consumed a standardized breakfast (0 h) and lunch (4.5 h), and blood samples were collected postprandially at 2.5, 5.0, and 7.0 h. RESULTS: Reductions in fasting [TAG] were small-moderate after TM (-16%, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -27% to -2%, effect size [ES] = 0.46), but large after SOC (-30%, 95% CI = -40% to -20%, ES = 1.00) compared with CON; the concentration was also lower in SOC compared with TM (-18%, 95% CI = -29% to -5%, ES = 0.53). On the basis of ratios of geometric means, the area under the TAG versus time curve was 18% lower after TM (95% CI = -29% to -5%, ES = 0.51) and 25% lower after SOC (95% CI = -35% to -13%, ES = 0.76) compared with CON. By contrast, SOC and TM were not significantly different (-9%, 95% CI = -21% to 5%, ES = 0.25). CONCLUSION: Compared with duration-matched inactivity (CON), after-school small-sided soccer (SOC) and treadmill exercise (TM) resulted in a similar, moderate reduction of postprandial lipemia in adolescent boys.

Exercise and postprandial plasma triacylglycerol concentrations in healthy adolescent boys.

PURPOSE: Atherosclerosis is initiated in childhood. Therefore, reducing postprandial triacylglycerol concentrations ([TAG]), even in young people, could potentially slow atherogenic progression. This study investigated whether continuous-exercise and intermittent-games activity would reduce postprandial [TAG] in adolescent boys. METHODS: Nineteen subjects were randomly assigned to either a continuous-exercise group (N = 10) or an intermittent-games group (N = 9) and underwent two 2-d trials. Trials were performed a minimum of 7 d apart in a randomized order, consisting of a rest trial and either a continuous-exercise or intermittent-games trial. In the rest trial, subjects took no exercise on day 1. On day 1 of the exercise trial, subjects completed four blocks (approximately 15 min each) of uphill treadmill walking or intermittent-games activity with 3 min of rest between each block. On day 2, subjects came to the laboratory after an overnight fast, and finger-prick blood samples were obtained in the fasted state. Subjects then consumed a test meal (1.25 g of fat, 1.07 g of carbohydrate, 0.20 g of protein, and 67 kJ.kg(-1) body mass). Further blood samples were collected at 30 and 45 min and at 1, 3, 4, and 6 h postprandially. RESULTS: The total area under the plasma [TAG] versus time curve was lower on day 2 after exercise than the rest condition in both groups (Student's t-tests for correlated means: continuous-exercise group 14%, P = 0.050; intermittent-games group 26%, P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Both continuous-exercise and intermittent-games activity reduce [TAG] in healthy adolescent boys when performed the afternoon before ingesting a high-fat meal.

Increased Complexities in Visual Search Behavior in Skilled Players for a Self-Paced Aiming Task.

The badminton serve is an important shot for winning a rally in a match. It combines good technique with the ability to accurately integrate visual information from the shuttle, racket, opponent, and intended landing point. Despite its importance and repercussive nature, to date no study has looked at the visual search behaviors during badminton service in the singles discipline. Unlike anticipatory tasks (e.g., shot returns), the serve presents an opportunity to explore the role of visual search behaviors in movement control for self-paced tasks. Accordingly, this study examined skill-related differences in visual behavior during the badminton singles serve. Skilled (n = 12) and less skilled (n = 12) participants performed 30 serves to a live opponent, while real-time eye movements were captured using a mobile gaze registration system. Frame-by-frame analyses of 662 serves were made and the skilled players took a longer preparatory time before serving. Visual behavior of the skilled players was characterized by significantly greater number of fixations on more areas of interest per trial than the less skilled. In addition, the skilled players spent a significantly longer time fixating on the court and net, whereas the less skilled players found the shuttle to be more informative. Quiet eye (QE) duration (indicative of superior sports performance) however, did not differ significantly between groups which has implications on the perceived importance of QE in the badminton serve. Moreover, while visual behavior differed by skill level, considerable individual differences were also observed especially within the skilled players. This augments the need for not just group-level analyses, but individualized analysis for a more accurate representation of visual behavior. Findings from this study thus provide an insight to the possible visual search strategies as players serve in net-barrier games. Moreover, this study highlighted an important aspect of badminton relating to deception and the implications of interpreting visual behavior of players.