Levels and correlates of physical activity and screen time among early years children (2-5 years): Cross-cultural comparisons between Canadian and South Korean data.

BACKGROUND: Cross-cultural research can provide insight into whether levels and correlates of movement behaviours among early years children vary across different cultural contexts. This study (1) compared children's physical activity (PA) and screen time (ST) and parental and environmental correlates of PA and ST between samples of Canadian and South Korean (Korean thereafter) early years children (2-5 years) and (2) investigated parental and environmental correlates of PA and ST and whether country moderates the relationships. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from 121 Canadian children (3.4 years; 49.6% girls) and 101 Korean children (3.4 years; 54.9% girls) who participated in the Parents' Role in Establishing healthy Physical activity and Sedentary behaviour habits (PREPS) study were used. Demographic information, children's PA, ST, PA- or ST-specific parental cognitions and behaviours, and home and neighbourhood environments were measured using a proxy-reported questionnaire. Two-tailed independent samples T test or Mann Whitney U test, chi-square tests, linear regression and moderation analyses were performed. RESULTS: Canadian children spent more time in non-organized PA compared to Korean children (111 vs. 63 min/day), whereas time spent in organized PA was higher in Korean children than Canadian children (25 vs. 9 min/day). Canadian children had more ST than Korean children (159 vs. 110 min/day). Similarly, Canadian parents reported higher screen (142 vs. 116 min/day) and sitting time (317 vs. 286 min/day) than Korean parents. Though children's behaviours, as well as parental cognitions and behaviours, varied between the two samples, similar correlates of children's PA and ST were observed. The relationship between presence of electronics in children's bedrooms and children's ST was moderated by country, with Canadian children showing a stronger relationship than Korean children. CONCLUSIONS: Supporting parents to adopt cognitions and behaviours that are conducive to healthy PA and ST patterns of their own and their early years children may be important for both Canada and Korea.

Automation of Harboe method for the measurement of plasma free hemoglobin.

BACKGROUND: Although plasma free hemoglobin (fHb) test is important for assessing intravascular hemolysis, it is still dependent on the gold standard Harboe method using manual and labor-intensive spectrometric measurements at the wavelength of 380-415-450 nm. We established an automated fHb assay using a routine chemistry autoanalyzer that can be tuned to a wavelength of 380-416-450 nm. METHODS: The linearity, precision, accuracy, correlation, and sample carryover of fHb measurement using TBA200FRneo method and manual Harboe method were evaluated, respectively. fHb values measured by manual Harboe method were compared with those measured by our new automated TBA200FRneo method. RESULTS: fHb measurements were linear in the range of 0.05~38.75 µmol/L by TBA200FRneo and 0.05~9.69 µmol/L by manual Harboe method. Imprecision analysis (%CV) revealed 0.9~2.8% for TBA200FRneo method and 5.3~13.6% for the manual Harboe method. Comparison analysis showed 0.9986 of correlation coefficient (TBA200FRneo = 0.970 × Harboe + 0.12). In analytical accuracy analysis, the manual Harboe method revealed about 4 times higher average total error % (12.2%) than the TBA200FRneo automated method (2.8%). The sample carryover was -0.0016% in TBA200FRneo method and 0.0038% in Harboe method. CONCLUSIONS: In the measurement of fHb, the automated TBA200FRneo method showed better performance than the conventional Harboe method. It is expected that the automated fHb assay using the routine chemistry analyzer can replace the gold standard Harboe method which is labor-intensive and need an independent spectrophotometry equipment.

Experimental fusion of different versions of the total laboratory automation system and improvement of laboratory turnaround time.

BACKGROUND: Use of total laboratory automation (TLA) system has expanded to microbiology and hemostasis and upgraded to second and third generations. We herein report the first successful upgrades and fusion of different versions of the TLA system, thus improving laboratory turnaround time (TAT). METHODS: A 21-day schedule was planned from the time of pre-meeting to installation and clinical sample application. We analyzed the monthly TAT in each menu, distribution of the "out of range for acceptable TAT" samples, and "prolonged time out of acceptable TAT," before and after the upgrade and fusion. RESULTS: We installed and customized hardware, middleware, and software. The one-way CliniLog 2.0 version track, 50.0-m long, was changed to a 23.2-m long one-way 2.0 version and an 18.7-m long two-way 4.0 version. The monthly TAT in the outpatient samples, before and after upgrading the TLA system, were uniformly satisfactory in the chemistry and viral marker menus. However, in the tumor marker menu, the target TAT (98.0% of samples ≤60 minutes) was not satisfied during the familiarization period. There was no significant difference in the proportion of "out of acceptable TAT" samples, before and after the TLA system upgrades (7.4‰ and 8.5‰). However, the mean "prolonged time out of acceptable TAT" in the chemistry samples was significantly shortened to 17.4 (±24.0) minutes after the fusion, from 34.5 (±43.4) minutes. CONCLUSIONS: Despite experimental challenges, a fusion of the TLA system shortened the "prolonged time out of acceptable TAT," indicating a distribution change in overall TAT.

Determination of specimen storage conditions for measuring isoagglutinin titers.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the optimal specimen storage conditions for isoagglutinin titration by changing storage time and temperature. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Serum specimens from 60 individuals were stored at room temperature (RT, 25 °C) or at 4 °C and tested every 24 hours until 96 hours by the immediate spin (IS) method and the anti-human globulin method using dithiothreitol (DTT-AHG). These titer results were compared with the titers which were measured when the samples arrived. The titer endpoint was defined as the highest dilution, with clinically meaningful differences defined as more than 4-fold differences (two serial dilutions) in titer. RESULTS: Of the specimens stored at RT for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, 5%, 12%, 12%, and 12%, respectively, showed two-fold (one dilution) differences by the IS method, and 8%, 8%, 8%, and 10%, respectively, showed two-fold (one dilution) differences with the DTT-AHG method. Of the specimens refrigerated for 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours, 8%, 10%, 13%, and 13%, respectively, showed two-fold (one dilution differences) by the IS method, and 13%, 12%, 12%, and 12%, respectively, showed two-fold (one dilution) differences with the DTT-AHG method. CONCLUSIONS: Specimens stored for up to 96 hours at RT and 4 °C showed similar titers using the IS and DTT-AHG methods. These findings suggest that tests can be scheduled regularly.

Erratum: Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Levels and Cancer-related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects of an Exercise Adherence Program.

[This corrects the article on p. 205 in vol. 23, PMID: 32395379.].

Pro-inflammatory Cytokine Levels and Cancer-related Fatigue in Breast Cancer Survivors: Effects of an Exercise Adherence Program.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of an exercise intervention on subjective cancer-related fatigue (CRF) and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in breast cancer survivors (BCS). METHODS: BCS with greater than moderate CRF (≥ 4) were recruited and randomly assigned to experimental or control groups. The experimental group participated in a 12-week exercise adherence program (Better Life after Cancer - Energy, Strength, and Support; BLESS). Interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were determined at 3 time points (M1: baseline, M2: post-intervention, and M4: 6 months after intervention). Subjective fatigue was measured using the Korean version of the revised Piper Fatigue Scale. RESULTS: In this analysis of participants with physiological fatigue measures available (19 experimental, 21 control), there were no statistically significant differences in IL-6 (F = 1.157, p = 0.341), TNF-α levels (F = 0.878, p = 0.436), and level of fatigue (F = 2.067, p = 0.118) between the 2 groups at baseline. Fatigue in the experimental group showed statistically significant improvement compared to the control only at M2 (p = 0.022). There was no significant relationship between subjective and physiological fatigue at the 3 measurement points. CONCLUSION: The BLESS intervention improved CRF in BCS immediately at post-intervention, and this study presents clinical feasibility for the management of CRF in BCS in the early survivorship phase who are already experiencing fatigue.

Implementation of biological variation-based analytical performance specifications in the laboratory: Stringent evaluation of Improvacutor blood collection tubes.

Recently, because the quality of laboratory analyses has increased along with the need for quality improvement, several external quality control bodies have adapted performance specifications using the Desirable Biological Variation Database, termed "Ricos goals"; these criteria are more stringent than those presented in CLIA 88. In this study, we aimed to validate newly introduced serum separator tubes, Improvacutor, for routine clinical chemistry testing in accordance with Ricos goals and CLIA 88. Blood samples were collected from 100 volunteers into three types of serum vacuum tubes: Greiner Vacuette, Becton Dickinson (BD) Vacutainer, and Improve Improvacutor. The samples were subjected to 16 routine chemistry tests using a TBA-200fr NEO chemistry autoanalyzer. In the comparison analysis, all 16 test results were acceptable according to CLIA 88. However, in the comparison of Improve and BD tubes, creatinine showed 4.31% (+0.08 µmol/L) bias. This slightly exceeded the Desirable Specification for Inaccuracy Ricos limit of ±3.96%, but still satisfied the CLIS88 limit of ±26.52 µmol/L. The remaining 15 analytes performed acceptably according to the Desirable Specifications of Ricos. The correlation coefficient of 12 analytes was greater than 0.95 in Passing-Bablok regression analysis among the three tubes, but was lower for four analytes: calcium, sodium, potassium, and chloride. In the stability assay, only potassium tested in the Greiner tube revealed a larger positive bias (2.18%) than the Ricos Desirable Specification for Inaccuracy based on biologic variation (1.8%). The BD tube also showed a positive bias of 1.74%, whereas the new Improve tube showed the smallest positive bias of 1.17% in potassium level after 72 h storage. Thus, the results of this study demonstrate that recently introduced analytical performance specifications based on components of biological variation (Rico's goal) could be extended to criterion for performance evaluation and applied.

Alcohol drinking increased the risk of advanced colorectal adenomas.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Age, sex, gene and life style are modulating risks for colon cancer. Although alcohol intake may impact on colorectal adenoma, clear association has not been established yet. We aimed to investigate effects of alcohol consumption on the characteristics of colorectal adenoma. METHODS: Patients who underwent colonoscopic polypectomy of colorectal adenoma in the department of gastroenterology of Eulji hospital through 2005 to 2012, having both blood tests and ultrasound or abdominal CT examination were enrolled. The alcohol drinking patients were subdivided into normal or abnormal laboratory group, and alcoholic liver diseases group. RESULTS: 212 patients with colorectal adenoma were analyzed; advanced adenoma and multiple adenoma were found in 68 (32.0%) and 79 (37.2%) patients. When compared to the nondrinker group (120/212 patients), the alcohol drinker group (92/212 patients) represented significantly high odds ratios (ORs) for advanced adenoma (OR, 2.697; P=0.002), and multiple adenoma (OR, 1.929; P=0.039). Among alcohol drinker (92 patients), the ORs of advanced adenoma were 6.407 (P=0.003) in alcoholic liver diseases group (17 patients), 3.711 (P=0.002) in the alcohol drinker with abnormal lab (24 patients), and 2.184 (P=0.034), in the alcohol drinker with normal lab (51 patients) compared to nondrinker group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that alcohol drinking may influence on the development of advanced colorectal adenoma and multiplicity. Especially in the group with alcoholic liver diseases and with abnormal lab presented significantly higher ORs of advanced adenoma.

Increase in the serum parathyroid hormone level during a bisphosphonate drug holiday.

After discontinuation of bisphosphonate therapy, an antiresorptive effect and antifracture protection persist for an undefined period. Patients are encouraged to continue calcium and vitamin D supplementation, during a bisphosphonate drug holiday. However, assessment of adequate calcium intake during the bisphosphonate drug holiday is difficult. Therefore, we measured the serum intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) level as a surrogate marker. A premenopausal woman discontinued bisphosphonate therapy, after 7.5 years of treatment. Two months later, blood calcium and phosphorus levels were normal, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level was 31.3 ng/mL, but serum PTH level had increased to 94.9 pg/mL. The elemental calcium supplement dose was increased to 600 mg/day, with no change in the cholecalciferol dose (400 IU). Her serum PTH levels decreased to 49.1 after 4 months and 32.9 pg/mL after 5 months. The serum PTH level may be helpful in assessing adequate calcium intake during a bisphosphonate drug holiday.

Erratum: the effects of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation.

[This corrects the article on p. 209 in vol. 77, PMID: 25473408.].

The effects of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation.

BACKGROUND: Bronchiectasis and asthma are different in many respects, but some patients have both conditions. Studies assessing the effect of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation are rare. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of bronchiectasis on asthma exacerbation. METHODS: We enrolled 2,270 asthma patients who were followed up in our hospital. Fifty patients had bronchiectasis and asthma. We selected fifty age- and sex-matched controls from the 2,220 asthma patients without bronchiectasis, and assessed asthma exacerbation and its severity based on the annual incidence of total asthma exacerbation, annual prevalence of steroid use, and frequency of emergency room visits and hospitalizations due to asthma exacerbation in each group. RESULTS: Fifty patients (2.2%) had bronchiectasis and asthma. The annual incidence of asthma exacerbation was higher in patients with asthma and bronchiectasis than in patients with asthma alone (1.08±1.68 vs. 0.35±0.42, p=0.004). The annual prevalence of steroid use (0.9±1.54 vs. 0.26±0.36, p=0.006) and the frequency of emergency room visits (0.46±0.84 vs. 0.02±0.13, p=0.001) due to asthma exacerbation were also higher in patients with asthma and bronchiectasis than in patients with asthma alone. CONCLUSION: Bronchiectasis is associated with difficult asthma control.

A molecular analysis of European porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus isolated in South Korea.

In a situation where European genotype of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has recently emerged in South Korea, this study aims to understand variations in and relatedness among 25 European (EU) genotype 1 PRRSV isolates obtained from Korean pig farms during the period ranging from 2006 to 2009 for their sequences of nonstructural protein 2 (NSP2), open reading frames (ORF) 5 and 7, which, in turn, were compared with those of published Korean type 1 PRRSV isolates (CP6874, IV3140 and KNU07) and other EU PRRSV strains. The sequence data revealed that all Korean type 1 isolates were found to possess notable 19 amino acid deletions within NSP2 between positions 748 and 766. Based on the complete ORF5 sequences, the results showed that the Korean isolates amounted to 82.0-99.5% in amino acid identity with one another, while sharing a lower level of amino acid identity ranging from 71.6% to 92.0% with EU genotype strains isolated in other geographic areas. According to an amino acid sequence comparison of ORF7, the level of identity among the Korean type 1 isolates was found to range from 86.7% to 100%. Phylogenetic analyses based on ORF5 and ORF7 sequences indicated that the Korean type 1 isolates belonged to the pan-European subtype 1; in ORF5 phylogeny, they form three distinct clusters from other EU genotype PRRSV strains. In conclusion, those findings suggest that the Korean type 1 PRRSV may have undergone a high degree of variations since EU genotype virus was first detected.