A qualitative study of the dark and bright sides of physicians' electronic health record work outside work hours.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of electronic health records (EHRs) has contributed considerably to EHR work outside work (WOW) hours for physicians. Prior research has identified the pressures associated with stress resulting from EHR WOW, yet developing a nuanced understanding of how physicians appraise and respond to this stress, and the resulting impacts, remains absent from the literature. PURPOSE: Grounded in the technostress model, this study takes a qualitative approach to explore both the pressures and opportunities associated with EHR WOW. METHODS: Thematic analysis of data from semistructured interviews was utilized to examine the pressures and opportunities associated with EHR WOW among primary care pediatricians (n = 15) affiliated with a large Midwestern pediatric health system. RESULTS: The physicians in this study regularly spent time working in the EHR outside work hours. They felt the EHR contributed to their documentation burden, which ultimately increased their EHR WOW, and reported a sense of burden from ubiquitous EHR availability. Conversely, they appreciated the flexibility the EHR provided in terms of work-life balance. Suggestions for improvement under the direct purview of practice management included enhanced EHR usability, improvements in workflow during work hours to free up time to document, and more training on both EHR documentation strategies and ongoing software upgrades. CONCLUSION: Physicians perceive that the EHR exerts certain pressures while affording new opportunities and conveniences. This study provides evidence of both the pressures and opportunities of EHR WOW and their effect on physician well-being. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Specific opportunities are identified for health administrators to enable physicians to better manage EHR WOW.

Measuring the impact of epilepsy on families.

OBJECTIVE: Caring for a child with illness or a child with disability impacts family in various ways. The ability to assess the impact of this care on families is one way to proactively provide the necessary support and resources for impacted families. Accordingly, the goal of the current study was to assess the impact of pediatric epilepsy on individual families in a comprehensive epilepsy clinic using a slightly modified version of the Impact on Families Scale (IFS). METHODS: Families of patients with epilepsy completed the IFS up to three times. The IFS score and the six categories (i.e., total impact, financial impact, general impact, family/social impact, coping, and sibling impact) were assessed using Student's two sample t-test to determine the differences between binary groups and Pearson's correlation to assess the associations with continuous variables. Linear regression modeling was used to develop a model to predict IFS score. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-one patients completed the scale at one time point, 314 at two time points, and 61 at three time points. The overall impact of epilepsy on families was 109 (95% confidence interval (CI): 106-112) at time point 1, 111 (95% CI: 108-114) at time point 2, and 112 (95% CI: 105-119) at time point 3. There was no statistical difference in IFS score among the three time points. There were no associations with age or gender. Multivariable modeling using stepwise regression indicated that treatment resistance and seizure-free status were associated with IFS score. No interaction effects were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from the current study suggest that the impact of epilepsy is highest for families that have children with active seizures at the time of their clinical visit and for those with children having treatment-resistant epilepsy. Although intuitive, this is the first study, to our knowledge, that has empirically verified these findings.

Caffeine and heat have additive but not interactive effects on physiologic strain: A factorial experiment.

This study tested the interactive effects of heat and caffeine on exercise-induced physiological strain by using a 2x2 within-subjects factorial design. Thirty-five physically fit Caucasians underwent a bout of exercise under four conditions wherein ambient conditions (heat vs no heat) and caffeine (placebo vs caffeine; double-blinded) were manipulated. Exercise consisted of a 60-min walk and 5-min step/squat test while wearing weighted backpack. Primary outcomes include measures of physiologic strain (Core temperature [Tr] and heart rate [HR]). Secondary measures included blood pressure, markers of sweat loss, and creatine kinase (CK). Repeated measures models were created to evaluate the individual and combined effects of heat and caffeine. Key results indicated that heat and caffeine significantly increased Tr and HR after walking and stair-stepping. No significant heat by caffeine interactions were detected, and caffeine's main effects were relatively low (≤0.17 °C for Tr and ≤6.6 bpm for HR). Of note, heat and caffeine exhibited opposite effects on blood pressure: caffeine increased both systolic and diastolic blood pressure (by 6-7 mmHg) and heat decreased them (by 4-6 mm Hg; ps < 0.05). In summary, heat and caffeine affected physiologic strain during exercise but exhibited no synergistic effects. In contrast, neither factor affected muscle damage. Clinical implications for heat illness risk in the military are discussed.

Dietary Supplements: Knowledge and Adverse Event Reporting Among American Medical Society for Sports Medicine Physicians.

OBJECTIVE: Certain dietary supplements (DSs) used by military populations pose a threat to overall readiness. This study assessed members of the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) regarding their knowledge of DS use among their patients and reporting of suspected adverse events. DESIGN: A thirteen-question retrospective, cross-sectional, Web-based survey sought data on practices regarding DSs and adverse event reporting. SETTING: Anonymous Web-based survey. PARTICIPANTS: Military and civilian sports medicine physicians. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary finding of the study was how frequently practitioners report adverse events associated with DS use. RESULTS: A total of 311 physicians responded to the survey. Only 51% of respondents had a reliable source for information on DS safety and 58% routinely discussed DS use with their patients. Although a majority (71%) of respondents had encountered adverse events associated with DS use, few of those (10%) confirmed reporting such events. Reasons that physicians did not report adverse events were lack of knowledge regarding where to report (68%), how to report (61%), and availability of time (9%). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that some AMSSM physicians are familiar with DSs and have encountered adverse events associated with their use. However, reporting of these adverse events to the appropriate agency is minimal at best. The significant gaps in physician knowledge regarding how and where to report such events indicate a need to educate physicians on this subject. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The findings of this survey indicate the need for provider education on reporting adverse events associated with DS use. Although reporting of adverse events is essential for removing harmful DSs from the market, a majority of physicians have limited knowledge on this issue. Moreover, the survey provides insight into the barriers to physician reporting of adverse events.

Variability of Stimulant Levels in Nine Sports Supplements Over a 9-Month Period.

Many studies have found that some dietary supplement product labels do not accurately reflect the actual ingredients. However, studies have not been performed to determine if ingredients in the same dietary supplement product vary over time. The objective of this study was to assess the consistency of stimulant ingredients in popular sports supplements sold in the United States over a 9-month period. Three samples of nine popular sports supplements were purchased over the 9-month period. The 27 samples were analyzed for caffeine and several other stimulants (including adulterants). The identity and quantity of stimulants were compared with stimulants listed on the label and stimulants found at earlier time points to determine the variability in individual products over the 9-month period. The primary outcome measure was the variability of stimulant amounts in the products examined. Many supplements did not contain the same number and quantity of stimulants at all time points over the 9-month period. Caffeine content varied widely in five of the six caffeinated supplements compared with the initial measurement (-7% to +266%). In addition, the stimulants-synephrine, octopamine, cathine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, strychnine, and methylephedrine-occurred in variable amounts in eight of the nine products. The significance of these findings is uncertain: the sample size was insufficient to support statistical analysis. In our sample of nine popular sports supplements, the presence and quantity of stimulants varied over a 9-month period. However, future studies are warranted to determine if the variability found is significant and generalizable to other supplements.

Characterization of Electronic Health Record Use Outside Scheduled Clinic Hours Among Primary Care Pediatricians: Retrospective Descriptive Task Analysis of Electronic Health Record Access Log Data.

BACKGROUND: Many of the benefits of electronic health records (EHRs) have not been achieved at expected levels because of a variety of unintended negative consequences such as documentation burden. Previous studies have characterized EHR use during and outside work hours, with many reporting that physicians spend considerable time on documentation-related tasks. These studies characterized EHR use during and outside work hours using clock time versus actual physician clinic schedules to define the outside work time. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize EHR work outside scheduled clinic hours among primary care pediatricians using a retrospective descriptive task analysis of EHR access log data and actual physician clinic schedules to define work time. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, exploratory, descriptive task analysis of EHR access log data from primary care pediatricians in September 2019 at a large Midwestern pediatric health center to quantify and identify actions completed outside scheduled clinic hours. Mixed-effects statistical modeling was used to investigate the effects of age, sex, clinical full-time equivalent status, and EHR work during scheduled clinic hours on the use of EHRs outside scheduled clinic hours. RESULTS: Primary care pediatricians (n=56) in this study generated 1,523,872 access log data points (across 1069 physician workdays) and spent an average of 4.4 (SD 2.0) hours and 0.8 (SD 0.8) hours per physician per workday engaged in EHRs during and outside scheduled clinic hours, respectively. Approximately three-quarters of the time working in EHR during or outside scheduled clinic hours was spent reviewing data and reports. Mixed-effects regression revealed no associations of age, sex, or clinical full-time equivalent status with EHR use during or outside scheduled clinic hours. CONCLUSIONS: For every hour primary care pediatricians spent engaged with the EHR during scheduled clinic hours, they spent approximately 10 minutes interacting with the EHR outside scheduled clinic hours. Most of their time (during and outside scheduled clinic hours) was spent reviewing data, records, and other information in EHR.

Factors Associated With Electronic Health Record Usage Among Primary Care Physicians After Hours: Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: There is limited published data on variation in physician usage of electronic health records (EHRs), particularly after hours. Research in this area could provide insight into the effects of EHR-related workload on physicians. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to examine factors associated with after-hours EHR usage among primary care physicians. METHODS: Electronic health records usage information was collected from primary care pediatricians in a large United States hospital. Inclusion criteria consisted solely of being a primary care physician who started employment with the hospital before the study period, so all eligible primary care physicians were included without sampling. Mixed effects statistical modeling was used to investigate the effects of age, gender, workload, normal-hour usage, week to week variation, and provider-to-provider variation on the after-hour usage of EHRs. RESULTS: There were a total of 3498 weekly records obtained on 50 physicians, of whom 22% were male and 78% were female. Overall, more EHR usage during normal work hours was associated with decreased usage after hours. The more work relative value units generated by physicians, the more time they spent interacting with EHRs after hours (ß=.04, P<.001) and overall (ie, during normal hours and after hours) (ß=.24, P<.001). Gender was associated with total usage time, with females spending more time than males (P=.03). However, this association was not observed with after-hours EHR usage. provider-to-provider variation was the largest and most dominant source of variation in after-hour EHR usage, which accounted for 52% of variance of total EHR usage. CONCLUSION: The present study found that there is a considerable amount of variability in EHR use among primary care physicians, which suggested that many factors influence after-hours EHR usage by physicians. However, provider-to-provider variation was the largest and most dominant source of variation in after-hours EHR usage. While the results are intuitive, future studies should consider the effect of EHR use variations on workload efficiency.

Energy Beverage Use Among U.S. Service Members.

INTRODUCTION: The use of energy drinks (ED) or shots (ES) is becoming increasingly popular in U.S. beverage market. In addition, young, physically active males, such as active-duty enlistees represent a prime target for the advertising of ED/ES; however, the exact mechanisms and safety of these products have come under scrutiny. This cross-sectional, exploratory, web-based survey among U.S. service members describes the prevalence of ED/ES use as well as common side effects and safety of these products among self-reported users. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A convenience sample of U.S. military members (n = 1,706; response rate = 7%) was used to conduct a cross-sectional, exploratory, web-based survey of ED/ES usage among U.S. military members. Main outcome measures included: (1) prevalence of ED/ES use, (2) perceived effects associated with use, and (3) differences among subgroups. RESULTS: Among all respondents, 50% reported consuming ED and 16% reported consuming ES at least once a month. Young, male, enlisted and members of operational military units were significantly more likely to indicate use of ED/ES at least once within the past 30 days than other groups, and were more likely to co-ingest ED and alcohol. Self-reported reasons for using ED included needing an energy boost (77%) and increasing mental alertness (52%). Perceived increases in mental alertness, heart rate, and mental endurance were the most commonly reported effects of ED/ES consumption. About a third (36%) perceived energy beverages and dietary supplements to be safe; while more than half (53%) reported not discussing ED, ES, vitamins/minerals, DS, caffeine, or alcohol use with their healthcare provider(s). CONCLUSION: Military Service members fit the targeted age and gender demographic of many marketing campaigns for ED/ES products, and many perceive these beverages as safe to use. The possible problems associated with overuse/reliance on ED/ES products, particularly relating to operational force readiness, merit further investigation.

Usefulness of a Risk Assessment Tool to Risk Stratify Dietary Supplements.

BACKGROUND: The use of dietary supplements (DSs) is widespread in the military. Service members use DS for any number of reasons, to include supporting general health, increasing energy levels, enhancing performance, and promoting gains in strength. However, some readily available DS products are potentially unsafe. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to assess the ability of military medical students to use the Operation Supplement Safety DS risk assessment tool. The Operation Supplement Safety risk assessment tool was developed to assist Service members in making decisions about safe DS use. METHODS: Fourth-year medical students used an online assessment tool to risk stratify and evaluate the safety of 12 predesignated DS. The assessment tool consists of seven polar questions (yes/no), with an answer of "yes" given a score of 1 and an answer of "no" given a score of 0. Students recorded responses to each of the seven questions for each of the 12 DSs. The tool then generated a total score for each DS, which was compared to the previously identified correct total score. Students' scores for each individual yes/no question and final conclusion about DS safety were also assessed. FINDINGS: Forty responses for the 12 DSs were examined. Five supplements were expected to receive a score of ≥4, suggesting they were likely safe. The average scores (± standard deviation [SD]) for each DS vs. the correct safety score were fish oil (5.9 ± 1.4 vs. 7.0), iron (4.2 ± 1.4 vs. 4.0), melatonin (4.9 ± 0.8 vs. 5.0), multivitamin/mineral (3.8 ± 1.1 vs. 4.0), multivitamin/mineral for men (4.0 ± 1.0 vs. 5.0), performance-enhancing supplement A (1.5 ± 1.1 vs. 2.0), performance-enhancing supplement B (2.0 ± 1.0 vs. 3.0), performance-enhancing supplement C (0.6 ± 0.5 vs. 1.0), performance-enhancing supplement D (1.8 ± 1.0 vs. 3.0), performance-enhancing supplement E (1.5 ± 1.3 vs. 1.0), sexual enhancement supplement (1.3 ± 0.7 vs. 1.0), and weight loss supplement (1.1 ± 1.1 vs. 1.0). DISCUSSION/IMPACT/RECOMMENDATIONS: The DS risk assessment tool provides consumers a quick way to screen DS for safety and can help consumers make more informed decisions when purchasing DS. Scores had minimal intersubject variability and were comparable to expected risk stratification. Our results suggest the assessment tool may be appropriate for medical students to use when investigating the safety of DS. We recommend additional research to verify whether the findings from this study would be similar for other potential users, as well as assess other psychometric properties.

Role of plasma adiponectin /C-reactive protein ratio in obesity and type 2 diabetes among African Americans.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a modifiable risk factor for hypertension and T2D. Objective(s): We examined relations between fasting plasma adiponectin (ADIP), C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations and markers of T2D in African Americans (AA). METHODS: Fasting plasma ADIP, CRP, Insulin (IN), HOMA-IR, lipid profiles, body fat percent (%BF), waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI) and blood pressure measures were determined in AA women (W: n=77) and men (M: n=34). Participants were classified into: 1) Normal fasting glucose (FG) and Normal %BF; 2) Normal FG and High %BF; and 3) High FG. RESULTS: Compared to men, women had significantly higher mean ADIP (W: 31.4±2.9 vs. M: 18.0±4.4 ng/L), CRP (W: 3.2±0.3 vs. M: 2.0±0.5 mg/L), %BF (W: 41.2±0.9 vs. M: 27.2±1.3), and BMI (W: 32.3±0.7 vs. M: 29.2±1.1 kg/m2). Women with normal FG and %BF had significantly higher ADIP (64.0±6.0) and lower CRP (1.3±0.6) concentrations than normal FG/ high %BF (ADIP: 37.0±5.0 and CRP: 3.1 ±0.5) and high FG (ADIP: 15.1±4.1 and CRP: 4.0 ± 0.5) groups. Women with high ADIP to CRP ratio had favorable metabolic and anthropometric profiles. CONCLUSION: Low ADIP and high CRP are associated with excessive %BF and FG in AA women. ADIP/CRP, may be useful for detecting metabolic dysregulation.

Caffeine Content in Popular Energy Drinks and Energy Shots.

The use of energy beverages is high among the general population and military personnel. Previous studies have reported discrepancies between the actual amount of caffeine in products and the amount of caffeine on stated labels. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the content of caffeine listed on the labels of various energy drinks and energy shots. Top-selling energy drinks (n = 9) and energy shots (n = 5) were purchased from retail stores. Three of each of the 14 products were purchased and analyzed for caffeine content by an independent laboratory. Of the 14 products tested, 5 did not provide caffeine amounts on their facts panel-of those, 3 listed caffeine as an ingredient and 2 listed caffeine as part of a proprietary blend. The remaining 9 (of 14) products stated the amounts of caffeine on their labels, all of which were within 15% of the amount indicated on the label. In this study, although the energy beverages that indicated the amount of caffeine it contained had values within ±15% of the amount listed on the label, a potentially acceptable range, this finding is not acceptable with regard to current labeling regulations, which require added ingredients to total 100%.

Trends in Mineral Supplement Prescriptions From Military Treatment Facilities: 2007 to 2011.

INTRODUCTION: Mineral supplements such as calcium and iron are readily available over the counter and are some of the most frequently consumed dietary supplements. Health care providers also prescribe mineral supplements for treatment of certain conditions and to maintain health. OBJECTIVE: This study examines trends in mineral-supplement prescriptions dispensed by military treatment facilities. METHODS: We examined data from the DoD Pharmacy Data Transaction Service to determine the nature of mineral-supplement prescriptions dispensed by MTFs from 2007 through 2011. RESULTS: Overall, 1,785,158 calcium, 844,655 iron, 166,207 magnesium, and 23,297 zinc prescriptions were dispensed over this 5-year period. Although the number of zinc prescriptions decreased considerably by an average of 30% across the 5-year period, calcium and magnesium prescriptions increased by 3% and 8%, respectively. The number of iron prescriptions dispensed was relatively stable across the 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of mineral-supplement prescriptions in the military changed over the 5-year period examined. However, the patterns within the DoD medical system may or may not represent those of the civilian medical system. Because we could not determine the reasons why the mineral supplements were prescribed, we cannot report whether the supplements were effective for the intended uses.

Trends in Androgen Prescriptions From Military Treatment Facilities: 2007 to 2011.

INTRODUCTION: The role of testosterone in health and quality of life has become increasingly visible and overtly marketed to the public. Some evidence suggests that testosterone levels in men may be low because of a variety of reasons, including stress and environmental exposures. OBJECTIVE: This study examines trends in testosterone prescriptions dispensed by military treatment facilities (MTFs). METHODS: We examined data from the Department of Defense Pharmacy Data Transaction Service to determine the nature of androgen prescriptions dispensed through MTFs from 2007 through 2011. RESULTS: The number of androgen prescriptions increased more than two-fold across the military from 19,494 in 2007 to 45,270 in 2011. Most prescriptions (99%) were for men. Androgen prescription rates rose 23% per year from 2007 through 2011 (p < 0.001, CI 23-24%). The prescription rate for 35- to 44-year-olds increased more than any other age group, with annual increases averaging 33% (p < 0.001, CI 32-34%). CONCLUSION: The number of androgen prescriptions within MTFs rose significantly from 2007 through 2011. This is similar to rises in androgen prescriptions seen in civilian medical systems. Clinical indications for the sharp increase in testosterone prescriptions are unknown, and the indications for clinically appropriate testosterone replacement need further clarification.

Trends in B-Vitamin Prescriptions From Military Treatment Facilities: 2007 to 2011.

INTRODUCTION: The use of B-vitamin supplements has increased over the last decade. Although use is widespread in both military and civilian populations, data on patterns of B-vitamin prescription rates are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study examines trends in B-vitamin prescriptions dispensed by military treatment facilities. METHODS: We examined data from the Department of Defense Pharmacy Data Transaction Service to determine the nature of several B-vitamin prescriptions dispensed through military treatment facilities from 2007 through 2011. The eight B vitamins examined were B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin), B5 (panthenol), B6 (pyridoxine), B7 (biotin), B9 (folic acid), and B12 (cobalamin). RESULTS: The number of B-vitamin prescriptions dispensed from military treatment facilities decreased 7% from 278,972 in 2007 to 260,472 in 2011. Individual vitamin prescription patterns varied widely. Vitamins B6, B9, and B12 were the most frequently prescribed in each year. Vitamin B2 prescriptions quadrupled between 2009 and 2011, and B12 prescriptions showed a steady increase over time. In contrast, vitamins B3, B6, and B9 prescriptions showed a steady decline, and vitamin B7 prescriptions decreased by 66% between 2008 and 2009. CONCLUSIONS: No single pattern in B-vitamin prescriptions was observed. The driving forces behind increases in prescribed and non-prescribed dietary supplement use remain speculative.

Tyrosine for Mitigating Stress and Enhancing Performance in Healthy Adult Humans, a Rapid Evidence Assessment of the Literature.

BACKGROUND: Tyrosine, a precursor of catecholamine neurotransmitters, may help alleviate physical/cognitive performance decrements in humans under conditions of high physical/psychological stress. OBJECTIVE: Determine whether supplemental tyrosine mitigates stress-induced decrements in cognitive and/or physical performance in healthy individuals using Samueli Institute's Rapid Evidence Assessment of the Literature methodology. METHODS: Key databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, and Agricola) were searched for randomized controlled trials from inception to October 2012. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines 50 criteria and Grading of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation framework were used to assess the quality of individual studies and the overall literature pool, respectively. Controlled clinical trials were included later in the overall methodology. RESULTS: 10 randomized controlled trials and 4 controlled clinical trials met our inclusion criteria. On the basis of the available evidence, no recommendation could be made for the effect of tyrosine on physical performance under stressful physical conditions. However, a weak recommendation in favor of tyrosine was made for cognitive stress as all studies showed a positive effect. CONCLUSIONS: This review indicates that the available evidence is insufficient to make confident recommendations on the effectiveness of tyrosine for mitigating stress effects on physical/cognitive performance. However, tyrosine may benefit cognitive performance and is worthy of further study.

Trends in Vitamin A, C, D, E, K Supplement Prescriptions From Military Treatment Facilities: 2007 to 2011.

INTRODUCTION: Although prior studies have examined the prevalence of dietary supplement use among various populations, data on single vitamins prescribed by health care providers are limited. OBJECTIVE: This study examined trends in single-vitamin supplement (A, C, D, E, K) prescriptions by providers from military treatment facilities from 2007 to 2011. METHODS: We examined prescription data from the Department of Defense Pharmacy Data Transaction Service to determine trends in the aforementioned single-vitamin supplement prescriptions. Prescription rates per 1,000 active duty personnel were estimated using population data retrieved from the Defense Medical Epidemiology Database (i.e., [number of prescriptions/population size] × 1,000). RESULTS: Across the 5-year period, the number of vitamin D prescriptions per 1,000 active duty personnel increased 454%. In contrast, the number of vitamin A, vitamin E, and vitamin K prescriptions per 1,000 active duty personnel decreased by 32%, 53%, and 29% respectively. Vitamin C prescriptions remained relatively constant. Across all age groups, total single-vitamin supplement prescriptions increased by 180%. CONCLUSION: Together, prescriptions examined in this study increased steadily from 2007 to 2011, primarily because of the increase in vitamin D prescriptions. The exhibited trend reflects the current general-population pattern of dietary supplement use, with large increases in vitamin D and declines in vitamin E.

Energy drink and energy shot use in the military.

Use of energy drinks and energy shots among military personnel is controversial. High amounts of caffeine (the primary active ingredient in these products) may impact performance of military duties. The impact of caffeine overconsumption and potential subsequent side effects that might be experienced by service members with unique roles and responsibilities is a concern. Reported here are the prevalence of use, reasons for use, and side effects associated with consumption of energy drinks and energy shots among several populations of active duty personnel in the US military. A snowball survey was sent to over 10,000 active duty personnel. A total of 586 (∼6% response rate) individuals completed a 30-item electronic survey. Over half of respondents (53%) reported consuming an energy drink at least once in the past 30 days. One in five (19%) reported energy shot consumption in the prior 30 days. One in five (19%) also reported consuming an energy drink in combination with an alcoholic beverage. Age and gender were significantly associated with energy drink consumption. Young male respondents (18-29 years) reported the highest use of both energy drinks and energy shots. Among those reporting energy drink and energy shot use, the most common reasons for consumption were to improve mental alertness (61%) and to improve mental (29%) and physical (20%) endurance. Nearly two-thirds (65%) of users self-reported at least one side effect. The most commonly reported side effects included increased pulse rate/palpitations, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping. Use of energy products among military personnel is common and has the potential to impact warrior health and military readiness.

Dietary supplements: physician knowledge and adverse event reporting.

PURPOSE: Dietary supplement (DS) use among US military personnel is widespread. Many consume several different DS with multiple ingredients one or more times each week, representing a potential public health concern. The overall purpose of the study was to assess the knowledge and behaviors of health professionals and physicians regarding patterns of DS use and possible adverse events (AE) associated with DS use. We also determined how providers address the issue of DS with patients and evaluated provider knowledge regarding reporting systems. METHODS: Two prospective, cross-sectional, web-based questionnaires were administered. First, health care providers who accessed the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database to gather evidenced-based information on DS and herbal products were queried. Second, physicians who had graduated from the Uniformed Services University were sent a web-based questionnaire regarding DS knowledge, AE knowledge and reporting, and communication with patients about DS. The frequencies of responses were evaluated. RESULTS: Although 60% of the military physicians who responded to the questionnaires believed they had observed AE in association with a DS, only 18% actually reported them. Three of four physician respondents (approximately 73%) did not know how or where to report AE associated with DS. The majority of physicians (66%) routinely asked most of their patients about DS use, and 65% did not have a reliable source of information for herbal and DS products. CONCLUSIONS: Information gaps in DS information and AE reporting were identified. A centralized AE reporting system could serve to identify potentially harmful DS for further evaluation. Health professionals need to remain vigilant for AE associated with DS use and better informed on how to report these events.

[Effect of physical activity and t-786C polymorphism in blood pressure and blood flow in the elderly]. / Efeito do exercício físico e do polimorfismo T-786C na pressão arterial e no fluxo sanguíneo de idosas.

BACKGROUND: the T-786C polymorphism of the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and superoxide anion production may reduce production and bioavailability of nitric oxide, affecting the degree of vasodilation. This effect can be reversed by exercise. OBJECTIVE: to investigate the influence of aerobic training and T-786C polymorphism in the concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in blood flow (BF) and blood pressure (BP). METHODS: thirty-two elderly pre-hypertensive women (59 ± 6 years old) were divided into two groups according to the T-786C polymorphism (TT and TC + CC). We analyzed the concentrations of NOx (plasma) and blood flow by venous occlusion plethysmography at rest, 1, 2 and 3 minutes post-occlusion (BF-0, BF-1 BF-2 BF-3, respectively). Evaluations were performed before and after 6 months of a program of aerobic exercise. RESULTS: In the pre-training evaluations, NOx levels were lower in TC + CC group than in TT group. The TT group showed correlations between NOx and BF-0 (r = 0.6) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and BF-0 (r = -0.7), but no correlation was found in TC + CC group. In the post-training evaluations, there were correlations between NOx and BF-0 (r = 0.6) and the changes in NOx and DBP (r = -0.6) in TT group. There were also correlations between DBP and BF-1 (r = -0.8), DBP, and BF-2 (r = -0.6), DBP, and BF-3 (r = -0.6), in the changes between NOx and BF-1 (r = 0.8) and changes in NOx and DBP (r = -0.7) in TC + CC group. CONCLUSION: it was concluded that 6 months of aerobic exercise can increase the relationship between NO, BP and BF in elderly of allele C carriers.